Chp. 21: By Your Word
September 12, 2020
Dragon Continent
Evernight Castle
A few more days had passed and outside the castle, Salem and The Hound were approaching the doorway. Salem stops upon noticing two armed men in robes standing guard in front of the door. After a short pause, she walks up to the door. Upon noticing Salem, the two guards quickly knelt before her.
"We have been expecting you, my lady," the first guard said.
"Who are you?" Salem asked.
"We are a few of many who are to follow your word and truth," the other guard answered.
"We are the Order of Salem's Temple. And we are your humble servants," the first guard said.
"The White Fang, The Crown, and your associates are inside right now," the other guard said.
The two guards stood back up and opened the double doors. Salem stepped inside as The Hound followed behind her. Salem walks down the hall and sees members of the White Fang and the O.S.T. moving crates, weapons, and supplies. She looks at everything around her as she and The Hound paced down the hall. Upon noticing Salem's presence, the O.S.T. stopped what they were doing and either bowed or knelt before her.
"BEHOLD!"
Salem turns her head forward to the source of that voice. She sees three people standing in front of a door. The one in the middle caught her attention the most. The person in the middle was a man wearing a black cassock with a dark red cincture tied around his waist and a matching clerical dickey. He also wore a black cloak and hood with the dark red trim inside. He has trimmed black hair and wore a pair of round glasses over his brown eyes.
"Her holy grace, our beloved messiah, Salem, has blessed us all with her grace, beauty, and presence!" the man spoke.
The man approaches straight up to Salem. He then bowed before her and then spoke.
"Great, blessed, and divine Salem, I am Father Abbott Cecil, high priest and founder of the Order of Salem's Temple."
"What do you all see in me?" Salem asked.
"We see you as the woman who turned her curse of immortality into a stepping stone to godly hood. We see you as the divine goddess that will save and bless us all from the corruption and lies of your enemies. Especially from Ozma, your grace," Abbott explained.
"Why follow me instead of your god?" Salem asked.
"Because God has abandoned us. You have shown us to us and proved to us that you are the true messiah," Abbott answered.
Salem turns her head thoughtfully for a moment, looking in the direction away from the high priest and bringing her fingers to her chin. She turns her head back to face Abbott.
"Where are my associates?" she asked.
"In their quarters," Abbott answered. "Shall I have them assembled, your grace?"
"Yes. I shall be with them in a few minutes. Have them ready," Salem replied.
"By your word, my lady," Abbott said with a bow.
The high priest and the two followers stepped aside as Salem and The Hound walked past them. She opened the door and stepped through to the other side with The Hound following behind its master.
Conference Hall
Meanwhile inside the conference hall, Watts and Tyrian sat in their seats. Seated to Watts' right was Dr. Merlot, Adam seated across from mad scientist, and on the bull faunus' left was Gillian with Umber and Carmine standing in between her.
The doors open and everyone stands just as Salem enters, donning a new set of clothes. Her hair had been redone back to what it was. She now wears a long sleeved black partially exposed "cold shoulder" robe, ending in middle finger loops, with red trim flowing from her raised collar bordering through the vertical window exposing her bust, to the sides of her hips and three crimson stripes flowing all the way down to the bottom hem of her robe. Additionally, she has ornate light gray bone arm cuffs on her upper arms, and an elaborate, cross-shaped brooch with a rhombus-shaped ruby gemstone atop her clavicle, closing her outfit and forming the aforementioned slightly wider, diamond-shaped window. Completing her ensemble is a similar black cape with matching red trim, with a couple additional red gemstones hanging from her bun.
Salem glides alongside the table with soft footsteps before reaching the head of it. She takes her seat and gestures to everyone to sit down, which they do.
"My lady, you have finally returned!" Tyrian said.
"I presume that you have been filled in about this new cult that worships you?" Watts asked.
"Indeed. We at the very least have some form of aid. They may end up being useful, but it is not enough," Salem said.
"Ma'am?" Merlot asked.
"There are a few reasons why we had been bested those few months ago. Retaliation from the humans of Earth after our attacks were almost instant, Hazel, Emerald, and Mercury's betrayal, and Cinder's impulsive craving for the Fall Maiden's power and her need to overstep her boundaries. But overall, we had underestimated this new world, and that is something I do not wish to make again," Salem explained.
"So what do we do now?" Gill asked.
"Yeah, sooner or later, our enemies will find us here," Umber said.
"Ma'am, I believe may have a solution to that problem," Watts said.
"Explain," Salem replied.
"After some time of thinking, we have a growing number of followers in the millions coming here in your name. Perhaps we should create our own kingdom... or sovereign nation," Watts explained.
"What good would that do, Doc?" Carmine asked.
"Think about it for a minute. If we were to do that, then the world's governments would have a hard time trying to get us without inciting conflict with other nations," Watts answered.
"That's good and all, but where are we gonna get the resources? Where are we gonna get the fundings?" Merlot asked.
"Not to mention, how will fighting us insight conflict with other nations as you put it?" Gill asked.
"We'll have to make some deals with some of the other nations," Watts answered.
"In case you forgot, Doctor, we attacked them. They're not going to want to listen to us," Tyrian said.
"Not all of them won't listen. There's China for example. They are willing to do anything to be the number one supreme power in the world. Even working with us," Watts said.
"And what do you have that they don't?" Adam asked.
"The gravity Dust outside. We have more than we know what to do with," Watts answered, gesturing his hand at the windows.
"And weaponry? That cult and the White Fang don't have enough weapons and ammunition," Adam said.
"We can make some deals with those pirates we've met off the coast of Somalia. Their country was a dumping ground for weaponry during the Cold War," Watts replied.
Salem closed her eyes, pondering in thought for a moment. She finally opened her eyes and spoke.
"Very well. At this time, it may be our best option."
"If you're having a kingdom, then The Crown wants one of our own!" Gillian said.
"I request that the White Fang have one too," Adam said.
"If that is your request, then fine. But remember where your loyalty lies," Salem said with a sigh, then turns her head to face Watts. "Arthur, find some more associates that might be of use to us. And when you have the time, Tyrian is in need of a new tail, as well as Adam needing a new hand.
"Of course, ma'am," Watts replied.
Adam grits his teeth as he clenches onto the stub of where his right hand use to be.
"It will be done," Watts replied.
"Tyrian, tell Father Abbott to address the O.S.T. of our plans," Salem said.
"Gladly," Tyrian replied.
"Doctor Merlot, See what you can find from Earth to improve the Grimm," Salem instructed.
"Already in the works," Merlot said.
"The rest of you, make preparations for our new countries. I want them to be ready as soon as possible," Salem said.