CHAPTER 159: BETTER THAN STEEL, HOLY SWORD

After recording their daily work, the slaves dispersed.

This brief moment was the only shred of freedom they got in a day.

Some used their reward coins to buy food, some bullied others for theirs, and others gambled them away in desperate bids for more. The rule was clear: return to the cells before dark.

Aires, still adjusting to his new reality, followed the crowd down the mountain road to a bustling cluster of stalls. The air hummed with activity—miners bartering for goods with vendors, and the vendors shouting their wares for customers.

The sheer number of people startled him. They had been far more than he’d seen in his cell.

He stopped at a meat stall, where a burly woman with a no-nonsense demeanor presided. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice gruff as she sliced through a slab of meat.

"I want to buy meat," Aires said, raising his single silver coin. As she prepared his order, he seized the chance to ask, "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

She nodded without pausing, her practiced hands moving swiftly. His whole demeanor already marked him as a newcomer. And since he was purchasing, she wouldn’t mind answering a few questions.

"Why are there more people out here than in the cells?"

"Do you think there’s only one cell?" she replied, her tone as plain as possible.

Aires’ eyes widened. ’All these people are slaves?’ The realization was staggering. Then he went into thoughts, ’Should I just ask her for everything while I’m at it?’ It felt like through this woman, he could get a better scope of where he was.

After deciding, he slid his silver coin toward her. "I’ll give you this if you answer more questions for me."

She glanced at the coin, then at him, her expression softening slightly as she nodded.

"What are those black objects we mine?"

"Ether glass."

"Ether glass?" Aires echoed, curious. "What is it used for?"

"It’s better than steel," she said.

Aires’ mind raced. He didn’t need to be told more.

One could say it was the backbone of any empire, kingdom, or organization worldwide because the use of steel was widespread. Weapons, armors, carriages, buildings, even flying vessels, all needed steel as their structure, and unless one got something better, steel was the standard.

The strategic value was immense; kingdoms would wage wars for such a resource. In Solaris, the Ironborn controlled its flow, but here, in the temple of Light’s domain, they mined something better.

After reeling, he pressed further. "You said there are other cells. Then are there other teams besides mining?"

"Yes. There’s the raiding team."

"Raiding?"

"Yes, they clear abandoned areas where some beasts tend to make the place their home, and scavenge the various ruins around the parish territory."

Aires nodded, filing away the information. Her mention of "parish territory" sparked another question. "What’s the parish territory?"

She didn’t look up from her work. "Lying between ten parishes, with each led by a bishop, is a temple which is led by an arch-bishop, and lying between ten temples is a grand temple which is led by a cardinal, and lying in the middle of the ten grand temples is the grand cathedral led by the pope."

Aires processed the hierarchy. ’That means there are 1000 parishes each led by a bishop, 100 temples each led by an arch-bishop, 10 grand-temples each led by a cardinal, and one grand cathedral. And I am in the 3rd parish of the 20th temple, meaning the leader here is a bishop.’

He continued, curious, "So, where do the inquisitors fit in?"

"Below the bishop are the head priest, head inquisitor, and head enforcer. The head priest handles rituals, blessings, and communion with higher powers. The head inquisitor oversees investigations, trials, and interrogations—hunting heretics, corrupt spirits, and traitors. They also take in and manage slaves." She nodded toward him, emphasizing his own status. "The head enforcer commands the militant arm, upholding law, leading crusades, and maintaining order."

Aires nodded. The structure of the Church of Light crystallized in his mind, but another piece was missing. "Where do hero candidates fit?"

Her knife paused, surprise flickering across her face. "You want to be a holy knight?"

"Holy knight?" Aires asked, unfamiliar with the term.

She muttered, "He really is a newbie." Aloud. For someone not to know of the holy knights, they had to be new. "The holy knights are the most powerful organization under the church, part of the Holy Sword."

"How do I become one?" he asked, his voice steady despite the weight of his circumstances.

She studied him, sensing the resolve in his eyes. "Why?" ’Is he willing to forgive the church for making him a slave?’

"I think I might find purpose there," he said honestly.

After a moment of silence, "Each parish holds a tournament for holy knight candidates. The winner advances to the temple to compete with ten others for a holy knight position. Are you up for it?"

"Yes," Aires replied without hesitation.

She nodded, handing him a wrapped portion of meat. "It’s ready. Come back tomorrow."

"Thank you," Aires said, settling at the stall’s lone table to eat.

That night, he was her only customer, the quiet allowing him to reflect on his path forward.

Back in the cell, Aires found Charis, her smile as bright as ever despite the grime on her face. "Hey, Aires, how was your day?"

"It went well," he said, then mirrored her question. "How about you?"

"Well, you know," she replied, her tone evasive.

Aires didn’t push, instead shifting to his next goal. "Do you know how to switch to the raiding team?"

"Raiding?" Charis blinked, surprised. "You want to move?"

"Yes," he nodded. This time, no one mocked him.

"At the end of tomorrow, tell the man recording your results you want to switch teams. But are you sure?" Her voice carried genuine concern.

"Yes. I heard you can clear your debt faster that way," Aires explained.

"Yeah, but they also die faster," she countered, her eyes darkening.

Aires fell silent, unsure how to respond. The weight of her words hung between them.

"I-I’m sorry," Charis said, bowing slightly.

"No, it’s fine," Aires assured her, but as she hurried away, he caught a faint, metallic scent in the air.

’Is that... blood?’