Similar, yes. That wouldn't work for us, though - the barriers are meant to protect against sura attacks, which can come from any direction, and they easily break through regular walls. We need magic to repel those attacks, and even then, it isn't always enough.
No, we have to choose to become magicians. If we do that, and we have the right birth attributes, then we can be considered as priest candidates. When the last priest dies, the magic guild and temple magicians decide who will be able to hold the strongest barrier.
I wasn't strong enough on my own to become priestess when my mother died, so I summoned Agni to help. They didn't know it was being powered by a god, but the barrier was perfect, so the choice was obvious.
Yes, it was. Just... a bit unexpected, in how it turned out. Agni... He acts like an idiot and a bum, but the barrier has never broken while he was there. I didn't really expect to be treated like a queen, though... I never did get used to that part.
Wouldn't you feel awkward, being made to stand in front of the population and smile for 15 minutes every day because the people adore you so much? They think I'm perfect, but none of them even know me.
Maybe. They would listen to anything I said, too... and learning that it wasn't my barrier that was perfect didn't change anything. It was a bit unnerving.
No, of course not. [ she... hopes?? why is atera like this! ] The gods' word comes before mine, always. It's just because they thought my barrier was perfect, and then because I summoned a god without dying in the process... that's all it is, really.
Sounds like that's something special enough to get you, and you specifically recognition. Okay, so if it's not a cult, it sounds like they've made you a figurehead and hang what you want.
...In the simplest terms... yes, I guess you're right. Most people haven't been able to summon a god since the Cataclysm - they usually die trying, so it's... a big thing. Besides myself, only one other has managed to summon a god and keep him in the human realm.
Yes. It takes a lot of vigor and life force for your voice to cross the barrier between the human and god realms. It's too much for most to handle... I'm honestly not certain how I survived casting the spell twice.
Ah... It was just Agni again. There was a while that he stopped answering me altogether, and stopped coming to Atera. I think he was angry with me, because I yelled at him...
[ she. still isn't really sure what it was about, tbh. ]
When the sura attacked Atera, their leader dragged me away from the barrier stone. I tried to fight back, but she's far stronger than I am, even with my magic, and she disarmed me so easily... So when nothing else was working, I tried summoning him again.
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also, she sees that. but she will allow it, just this once. ]
...It is, yes. Without someone in my position, the barrier of the city would fall, and my people would be vulnerable to attacks.
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Like a forcefield? Most places just have walls and guards stationed for protection where I'm from.
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I wasn't strong enough on my own to become priestess when my mother died, so I summoned Agni to help. They didn't know it was being powered by a god, but the barrier was perfect, so the choice was obvious.
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[ he knows about the whole lifespan drain now, but-- ]
Sly move there, Bril. Was it what you wanted?
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That's not being treated as a queen, that's more like being treated like idol.
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No, of course not. [ she... hopes?? why is atera like this! ] The gods' word comes before mine, always. It's just because they thought my barrier was perfect, and then because I summoned a god without dying in the process... that's all it is, really.
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Sounds like that's something special enough to get you, and you specifically recognition. Okay, so if it's not a cult, it sounds like they've made you a figurehead and hang what you want.
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...In the simplest terms... yes, I guess you're right. Most people haven't been able to summon a god since the Cataclysm - they usually die trying, so it's... a big thing. Besides myself, only one other has managed to summon a god and keep him in the human realm.
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You said it takes a lot out of you, literally. But... [ hearing a lot of people died, is. wow. ] It takes that much?
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Yes. It takes a lot of vigor and life force for your voice to cross the barrier between the human and god realms. It's too much for most to handle... I'm honestly not certain how I survived casting the spell twice.
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Twice?
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...Yes.
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What else were you summoning?
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[ she. still isn't really sure what it was about, tbh. ]
When the sura attacked Atera, their leader dragged me away from the barrier stone. I tried to fight back, but she's far stronger than I am, even with my magic, and she disarmed me so easily... So when nothing else was working, I tried summoning him again.
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So he let you burn through more of your life force to summon him again, because, what? He was having a tantrum?
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