Chapter 49

No sooner had Narishma stood up then everyone's messengers flashed an emergency red priority message.

"Possible hostiles at the front gate request audience with the High Priest and High Priestess" the message reads. Seriously, can't we make it a whole 12 hours in peace?

"It's an official request, so we might as well bring the whole entourage, right? " Karl asks nobody in particular as we load into the elevator.

"Oh, you guys should put on your robes too, I haven't gotten to see them yet" Lala adds.

I transform my outfit immediately and everyone makes a fuss about how cool the High Priestess garb looks with its gold embroidery. Mary looks especially jealous of the magical outfit.

"Hey, did you know the dress makes your entire eyeball turn glowing black when your hood is down?" Mary asks.

"What? Give me a mirror, that is awesome"

She's right, it's like there's an anti light coming from them that dims the area. When the hood of the cloak is up my whole face is shrouded in shadow.

When Karl changes a most unusual effect occurs. Lala's outfit changes with his, turning to a simple black servants dress with apron and cloak.

"Hey, did you do Lala too?"

"No, just myself. looking good Bunny, how'd you do that? " Karl asks, like it might somehow be her fault.

"I think it's the slave bond. I serve you, you serve the Black Dragon God. Since you're in formal uniform near me the God's power automatically put me in uniform as your servant"

She actually looks pretty good. The contrast with her white hair and pink highlights adds a touch of color to the all black uniform.

"Well let's not keep our guests waiting any longer."

The group appears to be all Priestesses of the Dragon Gods. I suppose this was inevitable, every new employee spends their first day meeting coworkers, right? At least they all seem to be friendly. I dig through my newly implanted knowledge for etiquette on meeting other God's servants.

I find that the formal greetings are fairly simple. High Priestesses greet each other as Lady, then the color of their Dragon aspect. Lower ranks I should greet by either apprentice or Priestess and then color. Putting everyone in color coded formal outfits is a genius idea. Though I feel sorry for those whose chosen aspect clashes with their appearance. Maybe they just dye their hair in that case?

The lower ranks are supposed to address me and Karl as either Highness or High Priest/ Priestess. If their robe has 5 rings of rank in the sleeve they're ranked as an avatar of their God and should be greeted as holiness. Guess we botched that one yesterday.

A red robed, beautiful young lady steps forward. The single ring of embroidery at her cuff marks her as the only High Priestess in the group. The fact she serves the War God concerns me though. She lowers her hood to show her face and we follow suit, Lala's face showing a huge grin of recognition. Is this woman from her world?

"Greetings Your Highnesses. I am called Kal'Elouet, High Priestess of the Dragon Gods Of War" She intones with pride.

"Greetings to the Lady Red and her companions. Welcome to the newly christened City of Arcana." Karl returns.

Arcana? That was the winning name from the base poll? I knew we couldn't trust mages to name things.

She appears to be the only Red robed visitor, the assistant next to her in a burlap quality dress is wearing Black. A quick mental scan tells me that the burlap dresses are apprentices, acolytes or penitents with no rank. The plain wool or linen dresses and robes are junior Priestesses, the fancy outfits with cloaks and bare sleeves are Senior Priestesses.

There are Seniors from the White, Green, bronze, silver and Blue. One Senior with 2 apprentices for each, except the Green which also has 4 juniors.

"Please join us below for refreshments" I motion for them to follow us below and all but the Red look star struck. Did I do something odd?

They do fall in behind or group though, so I can't be too far out of line.

Kal'Elouet the High Priestess of the War God comes to the front of the party to join us. "Is that you Lala? I didn't recognize you with the pink in your hair. Is that a fashion of this world?"

"Yes your Highness Lelou" She giggles. "isn't it pretty?"

"It is, you'll have to show me how to get red to match my scales"

Lala turns to me "Lelou used to run an orphanage on my world, near the castle I grew up in"

"And this naughty girl would sneak out to come play with the kids. How she avoided being executed for insubordination I'll never understand"

Lala laughs at the memory. "I told you, everything's legal as long as you don't get caught"

We settle the party in the lounge on our floor and send the bunny maid golems to bring snacks and drinks. Everyone seems very impressed with the arrangement, being unfamiliar with the technology and some of the magic involved in the base. The elevator was taken as the height of luxury, skipping hundreds of stairs merely for convenience.

"So does this planet have great respect for the Dragon Gods already, or did nobody have the guts to remain on a floor with a High Priestess of the Black?" Lelou asks, looking straight at me.

Hey, why me not Karl? I swear he's the scary one.

"The second option" everyone from the base responds at the same time. Now they're definitely picking on me.

"She doesn't realize how scary the black Lycan eyes and crazy smile look when she's covered in blood" I barely hear Lala whisper to the Dragon.

"Seriously, the eyes and smile are nothing. That giggle sends shivers straight up my spine" Karl adds loud enough for everyone to hear and our guests give me disturbed looks. This guy is ruining my reputation so I give him my best angry look.

"Keep it up and I'll make you a eunuch" I try to whisper at him, but the effect of the ceremonial garb turns it into a raspy hiss.

"Now I understand why everyone is terrified of the Death Priestesses" a blue robed apprentice mumbles louder than intended, drawing everyone's attention, and my glare causing her to blush in shame.

"Sorry your Highness. Please punish this unworthy disciple" She says, dropping to her knees with tears in her eyes.

"You heard the naughty lady" Karl says, handing me a wooden paddle.

I start to take the paddle, turning to the girl before I realize what he's done.

"Dammit Karl, stop causing misunderstandings"

"Life's too short to waste not having fun"

Lelou is staring at us with a giant smile. "I think this city is going to be a lot of fun"

That reminds me, they're all here for a reason, and it's probably not to eat crackers and watch us argue.