Ace & Lareye 3
“Let me tell you, that girl had no idea what she was talking about! She’s clearly unfit to lead a country! If she can’t interpret our VERY clear texts right, then there’s no hope for her presidency!” Lareye passionately complained to Ace. “Wow, you’re really getting into all this election stuff, huh?” Ace didn’t really know what else to say. She’d never seen Lareye angry like this. “Naturally! I mean, how do you make your whole campaign your RELIGION, and refuse to actually understand it? Actually follow its beliefs! ‘Sin will be punishable by law’ who do you think you are?! That’s not at all what we wanted when we made this planet! Different beliefs and interpretations are welcome, so long as there is SOME truth to it! By all the stars above, she got ONE thing right, and that’s to ‘help your friends as taught by Cosmo’, oh wow, you’re really clever for figuring that one out, you insufferable troglodyte!”
Cosmo interrupted. “At least she knows that!” He says, trying to find some silver lining in her beliefs.
“Yes, that’s true, at least that half witted worm of a being can understand at least that!”
Lareye was fuming. “I like worms!” Cosmo commented. Lareye sighed. While Cosmo’s whimsy was usually welcome, it was hard to understand how he could come up with these things. Let alone stand to see someone be so objectively wrong. To see someone get to stand on a stage and tarnish their memories, freely twist their words for personal gain like that?
“Cosmo, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but that’s not relevant right now.” Lareye rubbed her temples, exhausted from having to deal with all this. “Uh-” Ace was suddenly interrupted by a cheery voice. “I see you are also a devout follower! Where’d you get your moon necklace? It looks so real!” Eunice asked, clearly unaware just who she was talking to. “Actually, this is Lar-” Cosmo’s attempt at a correction was quickly muffled when Lareye put a hand over his mouth.
“Indeed. Just so very devout. In fact, I believe you interpreted the holy texts in a… very interesting way. Mind expanding on how you came to some of those conclusions, or how you got some of your ideas? For example, sin being punishable by law?” Lareye asked, trying to hide how offended he was.
“Of course! I assume you don’t attend church often, then?” Eunice asked, a hint of disdain in her expression. “My ideals are widely considered as the modern interpretation of the holy texts. They’ve been adapted to fit modern society, compared to the archaic one they were originally written for.” She explained.
That explained some of it, Lareye had no idea that newer interpretations had been made, at least not ones these extreme. “I see.I personally prefer to follow the older texts, so there’s where our beliefs differ.”
Ace just sighed, knowing that this conversation was probably going to go on for a while. “So you’re a traditionalist then? Not many followers are like you, I’ll admit. Just know you’re always welcome at my church.” She said, offering the god a card, presumably with the information for the church.
Seeing the offer, she took her hand off of Cosmo’s mouth and took the card, though it was clear that it would never be given a second thought after this interaction. “Oh, and here’s a copy of the scripture, in case you don’t have one of your own.” Eunice also handed Lareye a thick book, with star symbols on the cover. Lareye took the book that he was handed, a clear look of displeasure on their face. “I’ll be sure to read it.”
Eunice walked away, a polite smile still on her face. Once Lareye knew she was out of earshot, he spoke again. “Stars above, that was difficult. I didn’t even know these were a thing.” He said, waving the book around. “I will probably end up reading it, though. I can’t help but wonder how much this differs from what we all actually wrote.”
“I wanna read it too!” Cosmo chimed in. “I know they at least got what I wrote right!”
“True, you can read it as well.”
Ace looks around, waiting to see if the two gods had anything else to say. “Okay, now that that’s over with, are we gonna talk about my training?” “Oh, yes. Have you decided on a preferred sword, or would you like to continue testing out different ones?” Lareye asked. “I’ve been enjoying my training with the shortswords, but I don’t have much of a preference.” With that, Lareye began to discuss with their apprentice about different options for shortswords, other possible sword types that they could try, and a few more training methods that they could practice as they walked, all while Cosmo looked incredibly bored. As the three of them approached Ace’s house, Lareye and Cosmo waved their goodbyes.