The emperor's reception drew closer, and the day before, Eleftherios took you to the city's largest church, the Hagia Agnótis, not to pray but to show you something.
<span class="mu-i"> ''Halt, barbarians aren't allowed into the Hagia Agnótis.'' </span> The guard at the entry spoke, not to you, even though you could now understand him, but to Eleftherios, who in turn reared his head to you, and gave you a nod. Then you spoke.
<span class="mu-i"> ''I am no barbarian, for if I were a barbarian, wouldn't I know of our language?'' </span> you asked of the man.
<span class="mu-i"> ''By right of tongue, I do grant you permission. Be aware that you may not disturb the priests. That also applies to you, Eleftherios. The princess might have arranged you a pardon the first time, but you won't escape the consequences if you do it a second time.'' </span>
As you walked into the massive domed structure, you whispered to him, <span class="mu-i"> ''What was that about? I think he was more upset about seeing you than me.'' </span>
<span class="mu-i"> ''A correct observation, my pupil, but it is a story for another time. Come, do you see that fresco over there? Let's go over there.'' </span>
It is a massive fresco depicting a great battle. The battle every child with access to a religious book gets thought about. The great one, the last one, the struggle that lasted ten years and was fought on a battlefield taking up about the size of Greifswald twice over. On the left stands Scillarion, the dark one, the Schwarzherr, he-without-mercy, the witch-king, master of winter, and so many other titles. In Curian cultures, the personification of evil. Beneath him, his minions, march, orcs, men, dwarfs, elves, and other creatures enthralled under his will. His face isn't depicted. Only two red lights shine where his eyes probably were, his skin is sickly and purple, and he is wearing dark blue robes over his armour. The depiction makes you feel disgust and relief. Disgust at the fact that such a figure could ever arise, and relief at the fact that he is long dead.
On the right stands Isidoricus, the last emperor, the Sunlord, he-who-shines-brightest, the champion of summer, and many other titles. In Curian cultures, together with his party, the personification of good. The battle between these two eternal foes is said to have shaped the world as we know it today.
<span class="mu-i"> ''I am not a religious man, but this is one of my favourite pieces of art in this city. Good against evil, light against dark, civilisation against barbarism, order against tyranny. It represents more than the battle from the histories. A struggle all our people are involved in. The one against malevolent forces, for a better world.'' </span> He remains silent after that.
>’’Its…. magnificent’’ awe, that is all you have for this work of art.
>’’I do argee that it is great, but may I ask who made it?, and when?’’
>’’But where are the other great heroes? Isidoricus didn't defeat him alone.’’
>Write-in
