Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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/Later that day…/

/Shua!/

/Land!/

"... Phew… A-Ahem… There's still some sand in my throat." Dale said with a cough as he cleared his throat

He ended up spitting on the ground, only to realize where he was... So he covered his tracks by covering the ground as he walked forward.

Although he previously planned on talking with Jyter before anything else, Dale ended up drawn to the Church, as such, here he was.

"Heh, you do know your priorities…" David joked as he saw Dale beeline towards the hill

"Humph, stop joking, now's not the time."

"..."

David smirked, slowly changing his expression and gaze as he returned to his 'statue' persona.

As for Dale, after changing his clothes and checking himself, he went inside the Church.

Thankfully, most of the blood and gore of the monsters he slew fell onto his red armor, so he wasn't smelling much, although there was a faint smell of sweat from wearing it.

But to most, it was a main smell, nothing else… This still meant he would have to clean it.

/Touch…/

"Oh, wait, there's something I wanted you to help me with, before we enter…" He said as he touched the Church's doors, stopping only a moment before pushing them open

"Better be quick with it, otherwise, leave it for another time…"

"It's nothing serious, I just wanted to know… What is this?" Dale replied as he pulled two disc-shaped objects from his inventory

"Oh, this?... It's just a Religious Insignia... No… Wait… WHAT?!"

"?"

David suddenly exclaimed out loud as he looked at the two insignias in Dale's hands, causing him to take a step back in surprise, concerned Erile might've heard him.

"What is it? Are these cursed? Am I in danger?" Dale asked as he whispered to David

"Danger? No… Not exactly? Well... Just how much in danger is a husband to the advances of his wife?..."

"Huh? I don't think I'm getting your meaning…"

'That's not a good example…'

"How come you don't? How can you get these without understanding their implications? Just where and when did you get them? Did you get them before getting here? Are you planning on two-timing Boss?!"

"What? No, I just got these by chance..."

"... Damn! I knew you had courage but that's like dancing on a thin wire atop a snakepit! Please reconsider your life choices!"

"... Can you just listen to me?... I still don't understand what's going on, be more precise… And fewer jokes this time please."

"Hum… So you really don't know… Dale, my boy, these are Divine Insignias, they represent the deities they are associated with. If that wasn't clear enough."

"That alone isn't important, you can find those everywhere as it's an old tradition from long ago… Most Religions do it anyway. And in a sense, I am one such relic."

"But there's a catch here."

"There are many kinds of these. Religious objects tend to vary in importance and meaning depending on the history behind them and their connection to the doctrines of a Religion and its Patron."

"And these… I feel an intense, almost repelling presence. These weren't created by just any priest, these were likely carved by their respective Patrons themselves!"

"In your hand is an item that represents a deity and at the same time, the very being who carved by it! Can you understand their importance now?!"

"... A little. I mean, I'm honored…"

"TCHE! You shouldn't be! Do not be swayed by the 'chicks' you see on the road my boy! You're already committed to Boss!"

"..."

'I am? Since when?...'

"Ahem!... All jokes aside… These Insignias also represent a God's influence on the land, it's not the same thing as a Holy ground like a consecrated Church, but to a certain degree, it can allow its maker to intervene in a certain area around it."

"Really? I thought this was a communicator of sorts…"

"Huh?! So you do know what they are! How did you get them?!" David said out loud as he returned to his nonsensical exclamations

"Erm… Well… I met this girl and uhh… I asked for her number and she gave me this… Cough…"

"It was kind of a joke!... *she asked for it*… Anyhow, then I met with this other girl, fought her, then she did a strange thing and then she became… Someone else?"

"Then after a long fight, with me pretty much losing, she gave me this as well."

"That's all."

"... Dale… You know… I am so Goddamn proud of you right now you wouldn't even believe it." David said, almost shedding a tear

"Is it that special?"

"Depends from the angle you look at it! For a certain perspective, it means you're favored by them, and quite deeply at that."

"I won't ask how you met them though... That's not to me to pry."

"Anyhow… What you do with this is up to you… According to my contract, I am "forced" to recommend my Goddess. Would you like me to recite the benefits of such choice?"

"My previous offer still stands."

"I think…"

But he didn't have the time to finish his sentence...

"UNLESS!" David exclaimed with surprise as he looked at Dale, "understanding" him

"Are you perhaps…"

He looked at both sides as if it would change anything…

"Interested in all three?"

"..."

"I knew it!"

"I didn't say anything." Dale replied with a tired gaze as he touched his forehead

"Your eyes said it all, I know that you are interested in all three, how can a man not be?!" David said with an understanding nod, acting all-knowing as if he was a guru of romance

"Not everyone is like you."

"Humph, your pathetic attempt at denial is amusing to me."

"Very well, after much thought, I've decided to wholeheartedly cooperate with you so you may achieve your goals!"

"My what?"

"Yes… I can already see it! Three above, so bellow!" David said as he looked at the sky

"..."

'He's letting himself go a tad too much…'

"I'll call this… Operation Heaven Taken! A story to be sung for Eons!"

"..."

/RUMBLE!/

"!"

Suddenly, the skies began to quake as clouds formed.

Both of the discs in Dale's hands shone with light, and the carvings on the Church's doors seemingly began to intertwine as well…

Dale felt a heavy, gut-wrenching feeling, and it was at that moment he realized…

/Throw…/

That if he did not let go of David right now, he would be in for a world of pain.

"How could you?! Traitor!!!" David exclaimed in desperation as he fell on the soft grass like an apple falling from a tree

It was underwhelming.

/THUNDER!/

"AHHHHH!"

A single bolt of thunder fell from the skies directly onto David, painting him black.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Resko gazed at the skies, wondering if the flood season would be arriving faster than normal…

"... You okay?"

"Huff... Huff... Shut up. Just... Clean me up…" David said weekly as he looked at the ground

The silence between the two was audible.

…

"..."

/Creak…/

Once done, Dale pushed the Church's doors open, getting inside.

…

""...""

/Silence…/

In the main hall of the Church, Dale and Erile sat side by side in silence, each thinking about how to approach the other after how they parted last time.

Dale himself wasn't much concerned about it, however, knowing how embarrassed she was due to his previous jokes and innuendos, he was afraid she may be upset…

Meanwhile, Erile was thinking about something else entirely…

"Ahem… Here, take him with you. Thank you for letting me borrow it for a while, he was of great help to me." Silver said with a smile as he tried to break the ice with David

"Oh, it's nothing. Although… Nothing…"

"Are you curious about what I needed him for?" Dale asked as he noticed her expression

"Mnn… A little… But if it's too much I won't ask anymore…" She said awkwardly as she looked at David

"It wasn't anything serious. Although the Holy Icon is a statue to most, it also possesses unique powers to those that know how to wield it."

"I can't say I'm one such person, however, I know how to make use of it somewhat and I needed it for a certain matter. It's already resolved now, thankfully."

"I see! I heard stories of the Relics as I grew older but when I first saw it… Honestly… I felt it underwhelming." She said with a small smile as she looked at Dale

"###!!!"

"..."

Dale could clearly see that David's expression was twisting as he heard that despite his attempts at keeping his cool.

"Well, a statue is a statue, still, most of its powers were drained over time, you know the story already don't you? About where I found it."

"Yes, I did. It's such a shame it was left there for so long… Not that it wasn't needed! Were it not for the relic I imagine… Umnn…"

Erile got a little lost as she tried to remedy her own words, but Silver only laughed at her, brushing it off as he said:

"It's nothing to be concerned about, if there's someone to blame, then point at the priests that left him there and did not return to fetch him."

"Anyhow, as I discussed with you before…"

"Yes, follow me." Erile said as she got up from her seat, walking into another deeper section of the Church

Dale followed her, silent.

Despite already knowing what was about to be discussed, to her, this would be a rather emotional revelation, he needed to go through it all gently and peacefully if he wished to preserve her feelings.

It was time to go over the truth of the past.

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Notes