Mana Wells

Jessica's appearance was vastly different than the last time Kurt saw her. The last time it was like she was this crying angry woman. She seemed happier, her eyes didn't seem like they had been in tears before. The robes though, Kurt didn't know exactly what it meant, but it definitely meant something.

"Lady Rosie, Lady Layla," and "Sir Kurt. Welcome, you are earlier than we expected."

After that a woman came out, and pure sense emanated from her being. Looking in her direction caused an overwhelming sensation. She had green hair and wore a simple green robe as well. Guess that explains Jessica's robes.

So this was a God. It wasn't even power, just a presence, like the world around her responded. He couldn't imagine what Talia would have seen. Her face was human-like but the shape of her skull protruded out the back. Giving her a much longer hair line. What it exactly looked like was blocked by her hair. Her ears were pointed like an elf but much more vertically up. The elf's ears slanted back at an angle.

"May, I introduce the goddess Ishtar," said Rosie.

"Rosie," said Ishtar, "what did you do to them? They look positively terrified of you."

"I didn't do anything I swear, I waited my turn and everything. Tell her," Rosie nudged Kurt, "I never even touched my sword. Tell her. You told me to go, I did everything I was supposed to."

"She did, wait her turn, I guess," said Kurt.

"See, it's not my fault."

The way they were looking at her. That's what she was talking about. They were scared of her and weren't even hiding it.

"So there were no troubles," said Ishtar.

"Not that I remember. Maybe a disagreement or two."

"A disagreement?"

"They were a bit hesitant about the gate. But Horus told me to insist. You remember."

"I see."

"And you," said Ishtar, "Priestess Jessica, is that all you wanted to say?"

Jessica looked down, and said in a low tone "No." And she floated up to Kurt, but came down to her knee. "I must apologize to you, Lord Kurt."

"Huh?"

"I was not well after…what happened to me…and I may have taken some of my anger out on you. Unfairly. My lady has shown me the error of my ways."

"You were hurt."

"It was not you who hurt me, quite the opposite actually. Because of you I could be healed. I see that now. " She turned to Layla. "Lady Layla as well. You misspoke, I was the one in the wrong. I didn't have any of them to target all my anger and you were just there. So I ask for your forgiveness. I was not fair to you"

"I forgive you," said Kurt. Great, she basically just admitted to telling Ishtar everything she knew personally. But what else was he supposed to do, Ishtar just put her up to this.

She seemed sincere though. The last time he saw her she was a mess of a being. She did seem remarkably better.

"There is something I wish to show you two," said Ishtar.

She led the way to the new part of Jessica's well. The structure has more of an open square, some walkways, and a lot of places for gardens. The center was a simple four-column square with a pyramid roof over it, whose sides were slightly concave. The pagoda.

In the center stood a simple pillar, and a large bowl on top. Kurt couldn't see what was inside it. But the bowl seemed smaller than it should be for the size of the building surrounding it.

"Are you familiar with my temples?"

"Somewhat," said Layla, "as a god of growth and decay your temples would reflect that in the gardens usually, with some parts in bloom and some parts in an almost dead state. Which is a little different than most gardens. I'm sorry we haven't been able to get that done here yet."

"The temple has not been ordained," the Kitsune perked up in Layla's arms, "ohh don't worry little one the apostle has done well enough on the time frame two days is not much time. There is more to do. Growth takes time, and so does decay. But," turning back towards Layla "this has to do with the center here, are you aware of its significance."

"It is usually called the blessed or sacred plant of the temple. And usually would go through every day, a lifetime of growth and decay. If the plant has fruits they can sometimes give a blessing if picked. But it would have to be consumed before it rotted. There doesn't appear to be one here."

"It's actually a bit less than a day so the cycles will show at all times eventually, some morning in decay, some in bloom." said Ishtar, "But that's less important now. It wouldn't be properly ordained until one is growing and dying here. Do you know how it was chosen?"

"No," said Layla "I'm afraid not. I hear they are all different."

They came under the podoga and the bowl was an empty bowl of dirt.

"Generally," said Ishtar, "once the temple is ready, I would bless a seed and it would come to the bowl. Sometimes in the wind, other times in an animal if it's too heavy. Generally speaking, it would be the first seed that would land here." She pointed at the bowl. "So yes, all of my temples basically have a different blessed plant. To tell the truth, I sort of cheat, if the same plant seed accidentally lands there I'll blow it away. And sometimes the planter will have to be changed for a larger plant. It is okay if the roots break the first one, as a proper temple it won't be a tree or anything. Even the pieces can be considered a treasure actually. The apostle knows what to do if that happens. This one is almost ready as you can see the soil is there, waiting. It wouldn't be something the apostle could do."

"I see."

"I have decided to give this one a great honor."

"And what is that, my Lady?"

"I will place the seed with my own hands."

"This is a great honor," said Layla.

"Yes, and it is why I am here, and why you are both here."

"Huh?"

"You must have been wondering."

"I don't understand? I don't have any seeds," said Layla.

"But you do, a whole wide world of them."

The Kitsune purred. Seemingly in agreement with the goddess.

"You wish to take a seed from the other side of the gate."

"Yes," said Ishtar. "It seems a bit special to me, I'd like to make sure it's the right one. I couldn't exactly choose it from here you see."

This was close to the worst-case scenario. The worst case being they just come in and attack or bully them all into submission.

"And that's all you are doing there?" said Kurt.

"Hmm," said Ishtar, "I see Rosie. They are hesitant about the gate."

"It is my world I wish to protect."

"Yet you are moving it all around it, are you not?"

"Sir Kurt," said Layla, "is a bit cautious. We would happily join you on this pilgrimage."

"See," said Ishtar, "nothing to worry about young man. You know we can help you, it is clear no one has taught you the first thing about your legacy. So small, barely even there."

Layla said she wouldn't want to make the gate inside the temple's square. And Ishtar agreed, it would be improper.