Sam’s view
While Ariel read books in the Library, I decided to head out and learn what I could around town from listening in on conversations.
...
“I wonder when the next hero journey will start.”
“What’s it matter to you? There’s no way you’d become a hero.”
“Well, with the rumors of a daughter of Dina showing up, I can’t help but wonder if it’s time again.”
“You mean the one that supposedly defeated the entire Fenix Order without a single injury on either side?”
“Yeah, if someone that powerful is showing up, something must be happening.”
“I hope you’re wrong about that. Each time the hero’s journey gets longer and more frightening. I can’t help but worry that someday the hero will fail.”
“Fenix will surely protect us!”
“You trust Fenix entirely too much.”
“You just lack faith.”
Not everyone trusts Fenix?
…
“We’re lucky this daughter of Dina is so kind.”
“You mean how she didn’t harm any of the Fenix Order despite Facile sending them to attack her?”
“Yeah, somehow I doubt Facile expected it to end so peacefully.”
“What do you think that monster’s intentions were?”
“Don’t know, but the whole academy is in an uproar about it.”
“I guess it’s more fuel for their constant arguments over the true intentions of Fenix and the spirits.”
“Hmph, seems obvious to me that those monsters are all just toying with us. At least I thought so before. Why then would this daughter of Dina spare the Fenix Order?”
“Maybe she didn’t want complications for her entrance into town?”
“Yet, Facile was clearly trying to create complications.”
“Maybe Dina and Facile don’t get along?”
“There’s been no evidence of that before. Perhaps I should look more carefully at the histories.”
Do the people in the academy know Fenix is a monster? Maybe I should investigate this academy more.
...
It’s getting late, I should go back to Ariel. Eh? She’s getting intercepted by Facile. Where are they going? A meeting at the castle? Luckily I can sneak past the security here pretty easily. I want to listen in on this meeting.
“Why are you bringing this upstart brat?”
“She's the daughter of Dina, surely that means something.”
“What, exactly, does it mean?”
“It means she has better parentage than you.”
“How dare you insult my mother! She beat the demon lord faster than your father did!”
“Only because she had less to do. It's clear from the decline of your house, how poorly she's raised her children.”
“Children, please, do refrain from constant bickering.”
I recognize that voice as the lady that greeted us at the gates, High Priest Facile, I believe
Facile:
“The selection of the next hero is rather important.”
“You still haven't explained why you invited that girl here.”
Facile:
“Do I need to?”
“It's alright, no explanation is necessary. It's obvious that the hero's journey would involve her in some way.”
“Her mother is the one that matters, not her! Unless you think a youngster like her is enough to handle that Great Wolf in the west?”
“We still can't afford to do anything that might make her mother upset.”
“That doesn't relate to hero selection. All that matters in the end is whom the Fenix church chooses to support. Without their healing, no hero will stand a chance.”
Facile:
“Fenix won't be sending a priest this time. Healing will be provided by Ariel here.”
Ariel:
“Eh? I'm not a healer though.”
Facile:
“You’re creative, I’m sure you’ll do fine. Just don’t try to do the hero’s job for them.”
Ariel:
“Uh, yes, of course.”
If I understand Ariel's rank descriptions properly, she's probably stronger than any human hero ever has been. That must be why Facile is telling her not to do the hero's job for them… what exactly is the hero’s job?
“Wha… you, you mean she’s the one who’ll have the final say?”
“You’re just sad that the priest you’ve been seducing won’t be involved.”
“Why you! Don’t think I’m not aware of how you’re trying to curry favor with the next hero with your orphanage! Not all heroes are orphans.”
*laughter of several people*
“Surely you realize the orphanage is a project backed by several families? Pretty much every family founded by an orphan hero supports that orphanage.”
“Not everyone is as greedy as you.”
“So, what’s the selection test this year? Are we having another tournament?”
Facile:
“We had one last time, I was thinking we should try something different.”
“Doesn’t Ariel have a church already? Wouldn’t her involvement give her existing followers an unfair advantage?”
“We all know you don’t really care about that, you’re just worried you won’t be able to get your own preferences chosen.”
“Surely we want the most competent person to be the hero, right?”
*several sighs*
“We have no way of knowing whom is actually qualified, only Fenix knows. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told, yet now Ariel is involved in this? Does she know who can qualify?”
Facile:
“I’m certain anyone she accepts will qualify, so long as she remembers the hero must be a pureblood human, elf, or dwarf.”
I guess that last statement is to ensure us beastkin don’t get chosen as heroes, not sure why.
Ariel:
“If we need a contest for selection, with a focus on teamwork and physical fitness, perhaps we should have a sports contest.”
Facile:
“This sounds interesting, do go on.”
Ariel:
“Um, we could have candidates form soccer teams and compete in a soccer tournament.”
Facile:
*smiling* “We’ll need you to explain soccer to everyone as well as arrange for everything. I’ll leave you in charge of it all.”
Ariel:
“Eh?”
Facile:
“You can be in multiple places at once, and since you’re the only one who knows what this soccer is, so it’s only appropriate that you’d need to coach all the teams.”
Ariel:
“Ehe, right, I, I understand.”
Facile:
“Now that’s settled, I’ll be leaving the details to Ariel here.” *rises and leaves the room*
It’s getting late, I should go back to Ariel. Eh? She’s getting intercepted by Facile. Where are they going? A meeting at the castle? Luckily I can sneak past the security here pretty easily. I want to listen in on this meeting.
“Why are you bringing this upstart brat?”
“She's the daughter of Dina, surely that means something.”
“What, exactly, does it mean?”
“It means she has better parentage than you.”
“How dare you insult my mother! She beat the demon lord faster than your father did!”
“Only because she had less to do. It's clear from the decline of your house, how poorly she's raised her children.”
“Children, please, do refrain from constant bickering.”
I recognize that voice as the lady that greeted us at the gates, High Priest Facile, I believe
Facile:
“The selection of the next hero is rather important.”
“You still haven't explained why you invited that girl here.”
Facile:
“Do I need to?”
“It's alright, no explanation is necessary. It's obvious that the hero's journey would involve her in some way.”
“Her mother is the one that matters, not her! Unless you think a youngster like her is enough to handle that Great Wolf in the west?”
“We still can't afford to do anything that might make her mother upset.”
“That doesn't relate to hero selection. All that matters in the end is whom the Fenix church chooses to support. Without their healing, no hero will stand a chance.”
Facile:
“Fenix won't be sending a priest this time. Healing will be provided by Ariel here.”
Ariel:
“Eh? I'm not a healer though.”
Facile:
“You’re creative, I’m sure you’ll do fine. Just don’t try to do the hero’s job for them.”
Ariel:
“Uh, yes, of course.”
If I understand Ariel's rank descriptions properly, she's probably stronger than any human hero ever has been. That must be why Facile is telling her not to do the hero's job for them… what exactly is the hero’s job?
“Wha… you, you mean she’s the one who’ll have the final say?”
“You’re just sad that the priest you’ve been seducing won’t be involved.”
“Why you! Don’t think I’m not aware of how you’re trying to curry favor with the next hero with your orphanage! Not all heroes are orphans.”
*laughter of several people*
“Surely you realize the orphanage is a project backed by several families? Pretty much every family founded by an orphan hero supports that orphanage.”
“Not everyone is as greedy as you.”
“So, what’s the selection test this year? Are we having another tournament?”
Facile:
“We had one last time, I was thinking we should try something different.”
“Doesn’t Ariel have a church already? Wouldn’t her involvement give her existing followers an unfair advantage?”
“We all know you don’t really care about that, you’re just worried you won’t be able to get your own preferences chosen.”
“Surely we want the most competent person to be the hero, right?”
*several sighs*
“We have no way of knowing whom is actually qualified, only Fenix knows. At least, that’s what I’ve always been told, yet now Ariel is involved in this? Does she know who can qualify?”
Facile:
“I’m certain anyone she accepts will qualify, so long as she remembers the hero must be a pureblood human, elf, or dwarf.”
I guess that last statement is to ensure us beastkin don’t get chosen as heroes, not sure why.
Ariel:
“If we need a contest for selection, with a focus on teamwork and physical fitness, perhaps we should have a sports contest.”
Facile:
“This sounds interesting, do go on.”
Ariel:
“Um, we could have candidates form soccer teams and compete in a soccer tournament.”
Facile:
*smiling* “We’ll need you to explain soccer to everyone as well as arrange for everything. I’ll leave you in charge of it all.”
Ariel:
“Eh?”
Facile:
“You can be in multiple places at once, and since you’re the only one who knows what this soccer is, so it’s only appropriate that you’d need to coach all the teams.”
Ariel:
“Ehe, right, I, I understand.”
Facile:
“Now that’s settled, I’ll be leaving the details to Ariel here.” *rises and leaves the room*
