Chapter 55: They’re Pretty Good
Aurora entered the great temple.
Usually, the temples of Terra nova gods were created in an older style.
Large pillars, marble sculptures, and architectural features similar to Greek ones.
Strangely, there was no image of the god they worshipped.
As one of the primordial existences, the God of Time and Space, also known as the God of Destiny, had interfered in very few matters since the beginning of their existence.
So it was difficult to put a detailed image to him, unlike other gods that in Terra nova’s long history had descended.
Aurora, waving to some priests who recognized her, made her way to the back of the temple.
When she reached the end, she found a garden with a small center that was free and in which stood a strange sculpture.
It was the sculpture of a man who was sometimes young, sometimes adult, and sometimes old.
One could tell the difference in age, but not his details or his expression.
“It’s quite a strange sculpture,” Aurora murmured in an honest tone.
Has one ever seen a sculpture that seemed to change only at the sight of others?
—It’s a representation of time.
Aurora knew that that didn’t take away from the fact that the sculpture was both strange and a great work of art.
That was the way Aión, the God of Time and Space, was represented.
“Sorry to keep you waiting...”
A voice sounded at Aurora’s back and she turned only to see a grown woman with slight wrinkles on her face, who gave the impression of being in her late forties.
She wore a rather simple and clean white priest’s robe.
“It doesn’t matter how much I see you. When I grow up I want to be as young as you Cardinal Brousseau,” Aurora said sincerely.
This woman who looked in her prime in her forties was approaching her seventies... For Aurora, it was certainly a dream to maintain such a figure.
“Knowing your mother, I guess you’ll be the same,” the woman replied with an amused smile.
Aurora gave a smile but wisely kept silent.
Her mother looked quite young, but it was just that... Aurora wasn’t willing to think about her true age.
It was normal in this world for some elders to become rejuvenated and revitalized because of magical energy, items, or important treasures... But for it to happen naturally was rare.
“Let’s go. We’ll talk in my office,” Cardinal Brousseau said taking her by her arm and pulling her along as if she was seeing her lost granddaughter.
Aurora let herself go, as she knew Cardinal Brousseau’s personality.
Fiona Brousseau, also known as Cardinal Brousseau, was that person of highest authority in Zerzura City on behalf of the Church of Time and Space.
She was also the person who came on behalf of the Church of Time and Space when Zerzura City was just a village being converted by the Apicius Company into a city.
“How are your parents? Are they still on vacation?” Cardinal Brousseau asked curiously.
“Yes. They seem to have no interest in coming out of retirement,” Aurora replied in a simple tone.
She hid the fact that she didn’t know where her parents were vacationing and all she knew was that Alice had something to do with their vacation.
But Aurora didn’t care.
She received calls from her mother and from time to time from her father at the same time they were informed of everything that was going on around them.
—You were always independent. Her parents supported that independence.
At that comment about her system, Aurora nodded.
With a system that gave her sword when she asked for it and took her to an elder to train or study in a space with a different schedule... She would certainly mature earlier than others and become independent.
—You forget that it was you who went out to exterminate monsters, risking yourself to save others.
Aurora ignored those words from her system that sought to justify herself, pushing the ‘blame’ on her.
Was she to blame? Sure, after all, she always liked to help those in need.
However, that didn’t take away from the fact that it was entertaining to remind her system of his past actions.
Cardinal Brousseau made conversation with Aurora by talking a bit about her or asking about Alice and her group.
As her parents were former members of the Church of Time and Space, Aurora had known Cardinal Brousseau when she was young, and now, after five years of cooperation, they were quite close.
So Aurora stopped talking to her system and started asking her about casual topics.
When they reached the office, which was heaped with books neatly arranged on the rustic sideboards, Cardinal Brousseau ordered some drinks to Aurora’s liking.
“So you’ve come for the ‘Ark’ mission, have you?” Cardinal Brousseau asked, sipping her tea.
“Yes, Cardinal Brousseau,” Aurora replied, giving a serious expression full of professionalism.
The woman’s lips quivered in a subtle way, giving her a look that did not hide the smile on her face.
“Call me Fiona...” Cardinal Brousseau said calmly.
Aurora’s expression remained serious, without any change, provoking some laughter in that woman.
“Never mind,” Cardinal Brousseau said with her soft smile and observing her calmly, she pointed. “As always, the church has already taken care of organizing and planning where the refugees can settle when they arrive. We will give them a warm welcome no matter how many there are.”
The ‘Ark’ mission was a fairly simple mission.
Africa was a huge continent with many problems.
The magic forest that occupied a large area of the center of the African continent was only a few of the minor problems.
Mixed forces guarded the undead calamity in Egypt while the calamity was ‘dormant’ and while some countries in Africa were still safe, like Morocco, south of Spain or South Africa, everything else was a huge disaster.
Two decades passed from the Great Cataclysm and the African continent truly became a no-man's-land.
A place full of strong warlords being S Ranks or SS in extreme cases.
They acted like kings or looked like gods... Lunatics and ambitious people gathered together, turning Africa into a playground.
Ruining the lives of millions of people.
Although the population of Africa decreased when the ‘Great Cataclysm’ and the subsequent great migrations occurred, it still continued with countless inhabitant.
Mainly those who could not leave their homelands for lack of resources or other personal reasons.
Rescuing refugees from those conflicts and bringing them to Zerzura was Aurora’s mission... That was the goal of the mission with the code-named ‘Ark’.
And that was what she talked to the Cardinal about.
“The ‘Lord of Mombasa’ has been confronting the warlord the Somali Terror. The Church has been able to contact the Lord of Mombasa to allow us to take refugees and those in need. He has accepted,” Cardinal Brousseau reported with a serious expression and with a gentle smile, she added. “I have already prepared the supplies, the medicines, and the area for when we return. As for the travel trucks, you must have already taken care of with the Apicius company along with the other travel supplies and artifacts in case of emergency.”
Hearing the last words, Aurora nodded.
This was not her first ‘Ark’ mission, and this was not the first warlord conflict she had intervened to help refugees.
Zerzura City and its zone of influence were peaceful, but Africa was a turbulent continent.
The Lord of Mombasa and the Somali Terror were both S-Rank individuals, but their confrontation was not as simple as both fighting head-on.
They used modern soldiers, militiamen, and equipment while sending A or B Rank individuals to fight their wars.
As for the important countries... The Middle East was conquered by real demons in a lawless land.
The highest priority of European countries was focused on that area, as for Asia or America... Both had their own conflicts and interests.
However, Aurora focused on one word.
“We return?” Aurora asked curiously.
“Sure. Ark missions are recurring, but it’s been a while since we’ve done it with a magnitude like this,” Cardinal Brousseau reported solemnly and with a soft smile, she added. “Besides, my skills will be needed. I have heard that the situation is quite dire.”
Aurora nodded.
The Apicius Enterprise supported this kind of mission... It wasn’t supported to maintain their image, but real direct support.
All three government agencies supported this kind of missions which made the city grow and it was done since it all started around a small village.
Food, artifacts, medicine, potions... All that had already been approved by Zerzura City.
However, sometimes a medicine or even a ‘magic’ potion could not change some situations, and only a healing mage could do that.
Cardinal Brousseau, whose S-Rank skills of healing magic were well known, turned out to be an extraordinary support.
“That will be very helpful. I have already taken it upon myself to ask Yoshihisa Akira and her group to support us in this mission.” Aurora reported with simplicity.
Akira was a well-known S-Rank psionic in Japan and also an acquaintance of Aurora.
She was a good person who would readily help when asked.
“Excellent. I have already been recruiting volunteers and quite a few individuals have enlisted to support the Protectors of Zerzura,” Cardinal Brousseau remarked, hiding the mischievous grin on her face.
Aurora’s lips quivered.
That unofficial name was not to her liking, but unfortunately, it had already become quite widespread among Zerzura’s citizens and high-ranking people.
“I’ll pass on the list for you to choose from. I’m not kidding when I say they are quite willing,” Cardinal Brousseau commented with an amused tone and, remembering something, she pointed out. “Even the young lady you sent, she has decided to join.”
“Vanessa Moráis?” Aurora hesitated as she heard the last words.
“Yes, the same one. When she learned of the mission, she volunteered despite warnings from her superiors,” Cardinal Brousseau explained calmly.
Healing mages were few and although potions could be got en masse, their effects were lost with constant use.
A healing mage was always useful and necessary, however, very few mages could defend themselves and on missions such as this, it was quite dangerous.
“I understand. If she wishes to take part knowing the dangers, that is fine. Any help will be needed,” Aurora determined without too much concern.
It was the duty of people like her to protect the support groups, so she couldn’t tell her that it was dangerous and that she shouldn’t go.
Since avoiding danger was part of her job.
Before she could continue, her holographic watch vibrated, and asking for a moment, she watched the recording that the surveillance drones were transmitting and realized that the students were about to finish.
The group encountered some fire ants that gave Érica trouble, but Clémentine protected Nicole and Nicole went to attack her enemies while she was engulfed in flames from those ants.
The barrier of her suit and the elemental resistance of it, together with Clémentine’s psionic barrier, made her come out unharmed from among the corpses of the fire ants.
Aurora figured she had a few minutes left to clean the entire dungeon and so she just checked to see if Liam had already ordered a cleaning crew for the dungeon.
They would spend a portion of their money to hire such a team, but the group would have free time to leave after eliminating all the creatures.
“Excuse me. I must be going. I have other business to attend to,” Aurora said after careful thought.
This mission wasn’t that important, but it would be nice for her to be there when the students finished clearing the first dungeon.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. I heard that this past week, you guys have been very busy with your new members,” Cardinal Brousseau commented and, with a pleasant smile, added. “The news about your daily missions is quite amazing.”
Aurora just gave a smile.
She was also surprised because of the students and their constant effort.
“Oh, by the way. This morning, a murder case happened inside one of the temporary dungeons,” Cardinal Brousseau added suddenly, and with an enigmatic smile, she asked. “Do you want to take it?”
Aurora nodded earnestly.
She had added this kind of mission to her organization of the month, but it was an extra mission that was hard to happen... After all, murders inside dungeons were not that frequent.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll take on the mission with the group,” Aurora replied simply.
Cardinal Brousseau just waved her hand as a sign not to worry.
The Church of Time and Space had some of the best criminalistics systems for cases like these and in Zerzura City, the church had control over that part of the local law enforcement.
Granting her in this case was a rather unique privilege, and Aurora would not waste it.
Being accompanied by the Church Cardinal and one of the most important authorities in Zerzura City, Aurora walked calmly towards the exit while conversing calmly and at times, showing her scenes of the students’ group battle.
“They’re pretty good,” Cardinal Brousseau commented, nodding several times.
Aurora couldn’t hide her smile.
They certainly were a pretty good bunch.
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