Herald of Steel



"We welcome the lord."

There was a large gathering of dignitaries and council members at the gate of the Temple, who cheered the phrase even before the parade could fully reach the temple.

Off from a distance, Alexander's eyes could spot Menes, Menicus, Krishok, and a whole more, all dressed in their best garments waiting to receive him at the gates.

They primarily wore the tunic, made of linen or wool, they were thick and vibrant, with many being heavily designed and decorated with intricate stitches and gemstones and pearls.

Colorful leather belts, oftentimes with golden belt buckles fastened to this expensive to their hips and wrapped around their right shoulders was another outer tunic, appearing almost like a cloak or mantle.

That cloth of a man's attire would be usually the most heavily embroidered, with all kinds of brocades and patterns in gold and silver stitches worked into them, depicting all sorts of themes and motifs, ranging from beautiful art, eye-catching brocades and patterns, intricate and byzantine symbols, playful arabesques and much more.

Prosiac nobles might even put mundane things like the family crest, while truly the creative ones would even stitch in beautiful short stories on their external cloak using nothing but pictures.

There was even one noble who had written a 6 part story on his cloak, told over multiple balls and parties.

Alexander had found this cultural practice probably the most advanced aspect of Adhania and considered it to be something even the 21st human would find difficult to top.

Below their tunic, the gathered honored guests wore tight, fitting trousers, almost like leggings, sometimes multiple layers if the weather was cold enough, being usually brown or black, followed by colorful and stylish shoes.

While the women folk wore gowns of various colors, and neck cuts, showing different amounts of the neck and arms.

Married women usually had their hair done just like Cambyses, looking like beautiful pagodas, while the maidens could take on any hairstyles they wanted, sometimes even supplementing their natural hair with false hair to produce gorgeous styles.

All the women, just like men, had beautiful belts around their hips and they covered their feet with expensive velvet or fur shoes.

And lastly, they embellished themselves with various accessories of gold, silver, and gemstones on their neck, ear, and arms, with some even decorating their nose.

As the procession finally stopped at the new Temple of Gaia, Menes quickly and purposefully walked towards Alexander's carriage, with all the council members quickly in tow.

"My lord, welcome, welcome," Menes had a big grin on his face as he personally opened Alexander's carriage door.

"Menes! How's everything?" Alexander made some small talk as he got down from the carriage, before helping Cambyses to do the same.

In traditional Adhanian weddings, all this would have been reversed.

According to the customs, Alexander and his family would have gone to the bride's house.

And when they arrived at the front of the house, the guardian of the girl would have led the bride out of her house just like how Alexander led Cambyses out of his manor to greet the groom.

And it would be she who would open the carriage door to help her husband get down, as a symbol of her eternal willingness to aid her husband.

Getting down Alexander waited for all the other guests to join him, and once completed, the group was led into the new Temple.

As Theocles had said, the house had been once a noble's manor, but over the last two months, it had been so heavily renovated that one would find it hard to find the resemblance.

Firstly the simple walkway had been replaced with one paved using granite and onyx and mixed in with a special stone that glowed yellow in the sunlight, making the entire length of the path to the temple look like a heavenly bridge under the beautiful winter sun of the afternoon.

Expensive and beautiful flower trees had been planted along the sidewalk, with many colorful paper festoons and designs hanging off them, while overhead were rows and rows of bells and lanterns on strings, jiggling in the slight wintery breeze as if heralding the coming of heaven's emissaries.

The couple moved slowly, particularly because Cambyses was not used to wearing such high heels and had to be careful to not step on her own gown, but finally, the festive crowd entered the Temple of Gaia.

Inside, the very first thing that Alexander noticed was the huge statue of Gaia at the altar of the temple, situated at the very edge of the room.

Usually, such a sculpture would take months if not years to make, just as the one he had ordered the construction of in Adhan.

But with the magic of cement, such a thing was accomplished in weeks, and it looked to less majestic.

In front of the statue, way at the end of the room, stood three people.

There, in his simple, white, priest robe, wearing a blue chasuble on his right shoulder and a stole on his left side was Theocles.

The chasuble was similar to the cloak worn by the men, being heavily embroidered.

While the stole was a long narrow strip of cloth that Theocles wore about the neck and down to the front of his left chest, almost like a belt.

And this stole was indeed like a belt as the color and workings on it would denote a priest's rank and power, with Theocle's black stole on golden stitch workings showing off his highest authority.

Besides Theocles were the twins, wearing the similar, simple robes they had worn the first time Alexander met them.

They appeared clean and refined, their plain clothes not diminishing any of their charms, but instead letting their natural beauty shine.

They appeared like two divine dark elves.

As a side note, one might question why Gaia's sacred priestess was not there at the altar, and the reason was Alexander wanted the poor girl to enjoy this grand parade instead of their holed up in that temple and so simply made up the excuse, "The sacred priestess should be with her master, serving his needs."

Moving his eyes away the main attraction, Alexander recorded the surroundings of the altar.

The back of the altar was not walled off, but just open.

Large strong pillars with various stone work on them held the roof over the altar, and peering through them, Alexander spotted many circular tables dotted around the garden behind, with one particularly huge, rectangular one in the center.

Over on the front side of the altar, there were sitting arrangements, made exactly how a modern wedding would arrange their seats, parted on two sides, with a walkway or aisle in the middle.

Large comfortable couches were placed on the front few rows, designated for the royal members and council members, while after them came many furnished and beautiful chairs.

Overhead the tall roof hung many lit chandeliers, and dropping off them were many stings of pearls and tiny bells, with beautiful paper flowers attached to them, seeming like flowers were blossoming out of the sky.

These huge bright red, blue, pink, and golden flowers mesmerized the crowd as they looked up in awe, and even Mikaya chuckled, "If my marriage is like this, I would not mind doing one too," in a hushed voice meant for only those close to her.

And though the four other women did not say anything out of courtesy for the occasion even though they knew what Mikaya was like, they could certainly empathize with the sentiment.

"It seems the pasha really knows how to throw a party. He has spared no expense" A rare token of praise came from the unlikeliest of sources- Hellam.

Even she was moved why how much Alexander was willing to spend on Cambyses.

"That new dress he is wearing is also nice. Looks like a clothed armor." Nafia then blurted out.

It was unknown if she said it because she liked the suit, or because Alexander was wearing it.

"I heard from Lady Gelene that His Grace wanted all to gift all the men such a dress. But did not have the time and men to do it," While her sister Tafia let the others know another useless tidbit.

"My dear Alex has certainly done his best for his big day." Mikaya said nodding, and then with a giggle said, "And even if another, even richer man were to try and beat, hehehe,.... he might not have the head for it."

It was plain as day who she was referring to in this suggestive comment.

Only the king could be said to be richer than a pasha.

And this type of banter poking fun at Ptolomy was a running gag among Mikaya and Seelima.

"Come let's take our seats. The ceremony is about to start," Seelima did not like such talks in public, fearful of whose ears might pick up on the words, and so abruptly interjected the conversation, then leading the group to the very front rows seats.

And once all the honored guests made themselves comfortable, they saw Alexander and Cambyses walk up to the altar, where Theocles fully bowed to Alexander as the 'Divine son of Gaia' while Azira and Azura performed a different bow, one that nobles used to greet one another.

Finally, the main ceremony could begin.

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