Ernest laughed. "Yes, I can see that," she said with a smile. "I have never seen a temple that was not to a god or goddess. It didn't occur to me that those existed. The temple is very beautiful, though." She decided not to add anything about gods or goddesses. The last thing she needed to do was get into an argument with Silanus.

"Do all of the leaders of the Fratians get statues or temples when they die?" she asked, mentally picturing Silanus criticizing the statue his people were making of him. "Your people seem to have a fondness for art, unlike most I've met." The only use for art most cities seemed to have was making themselves look rich and important.

"You said you often go out to speak to the soldiers," she said, changing topics. "Do you have many enemies? I mean, I know some of the orcs aren't very nice, but other than that?"

It was new to Silanus that other cultures did not show respect to their ancestors by building a temple or atleast a shrine in their name, absolutely barbaric. Ernest's question was a good one, one the general could answer easily.

"Well, only if they ask, or if they take part in a really important event. There was another temple with more statues of previous rulers, before it got sacked by mercenaries and pirates of course…" Answered Silanus, staring at his father's statue. After a brief moment of silence, he spoke once more, with a dedicated smirk on his face: "I guess that one day I could have a statue of myself, just to celebrate when we burn Adeluna." 

Another surprise for Silanus, to hear most other cultures were not fond of art! What savage would not enjoy those beautiful architecture designs? When Silanus listened her last question, he walked and guided her to a place before answering. It was outside the upper districts, in a street they called "The Meeting place" here, people who wanted to meet other people from any social class met. 

"Believe it or not, the orcs are the Fratians best friends. They serve the backbone of our military, and sometimes their tribes annex to us. You can see many orcs here, either tribal chieftains walking around or hard working ones. If you look closely, you will be able to even see hybrids." Tacitus said that, just in case Ernest saw a wandering armed orc serving as a guard and thought he was an invader. "The ones you saw were just… Rebels and treacherous fools." 

It was notorious that Silanus enjoyed speaking, as he kept doing so: "My current enemies are the pirates of the Vipamolan coast, some barbarians of the Highlands, and of course the mindless degenerates of the tyrannical kingdom of Adeluna, nobody else." Turning his look at Ernest, he asked: "You, what would your enemies be, if you have any? Other than the people you… Steal from?"

Ernest was shocked. "You're planning to burn Adeluna? Whatever for?" She had no real friends there, but she had visited the city and had enjoyed it. It would be sad to see it burned.

She listened quietly as he continued speaking. She was surprised that the Fratians and the orcs got along so well. Humans and orcs, from her experience, rarely seemed to get along. She glanced around and realized that, yes, a few of the people in the crowd were actually orcs. She mentally slapped herself for not noticing. 

The plaza he had guided her to was full of people, and Ernest watched carefully all around her. She realized she probably didn't need to, but it was a bad habit. In most places, it paid off to keep an eye on everyone and everything.

She considered his last question. Besides the people she stole from, she didn't have many enemies. Well, except… well, she hadn't wanted to get into gods and goddesses, but it appeared she was going to anyway. "Besides the people I've stolen from, well, the ones who notice, anyway, I suppose I only have one enemy. She's kind of an important one, though. A few months back, I got stuck in the middle of a fight between two goddesses, and I still kind of have a desire to hunt down Dalanesca. She killed my friend."

Ernest's first question did not really matter to Silanus, she was innocent and had no idea about the plans for the new world that the Fratians dream of, a world built on their design and values. The general answered: "So we can get rid of the corruption and greed the city posseses, then we can rebuild the city from it's ashes. A new, perfect Adeluna." What a beautiful sight would be to see such city.

At first, Ernest seemed doubtful about answering his question, but later she seemed to be thinking about a proper answer; the answer she gave was absolutely not what Silanus expected… Dalanesca? Silanus had met that unjust savage before, she had stopped one of his attacks to a caravan of traders, claiming it "disturbed a balance" Silanus, as well as other soldiers, felt a big amount of disgust towards her.

With a serious look on his face, Silanus answered to Ernest's unfortunate anecdote: "Ah… Dalanesca, the barbaric degenerate who goes around Canelux, playing the Justiciar and claiming she's a goddess. Well, we got that in common you and I, she's an infant minded savage, and her followers are a plague." 

Ernest decided not to comment on his ideas about Adeluna. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she thought of it herself. Adeluna was a nice city, but he was right that it could be improved. She knew that from experience.

She raised an eyebrow at his description of Dalanesca. "Actually," she said, "she's changed domains somehow. Apparently she's the goddess of death now. Angela was rather put out." She covered her mouth with her hands. She hadn't meant to say that much. "Also, I'm not sure she's not a goddess. If she isn't, she's very powerful."

She glanced around, a slight part of her needing to make sure Dalanesca wasn't listening. She'd had too much experience with gods and goddesses. "I'm not meaning to say you're wrong," she continued. "It's just… some of my experiences would beg to differ. Although, some of those nasty opinions I kind of agree with. Even A- the person she ended up killing forgave her. But somehow I can't seem to."

It was confusing to see Ernet acting in such an odd way, covering her mouth and often looking around, as if she was scared about something. How innocent she was, thinking that someone would attack them in HIS city. Even if it was fun to watch her superstitious attitude, it was a little confusing for Silanus.

Silanus frowned, looking somewhat confused, since he could not understand a thing Ernest said. Who the heck was Angela and how can someone change domains? He asked his first question, with a lot of doubt on what he was saying: "Oh… Absolutely, of course… Anyways, I am sorry for your loss, however… How is a dead person able to, you know… Forgive? And how can you know? Excuse my lack of… Knowledge…" This time, the general did not mantain eye contact, instead he was simply looking around.

The general led his friend Ernest to another place of interest while they spoke. This time he showed her one of the last extravagant buildings; It was in the Merchant District, the one they first visited, where the most people were. Of course, every citizen approached Silanus, until some local guards told them to back off. The building was a public place: A forum.

"Ehm… Just before we continue talking about divinities and all those… Extraterrestrial topics, let me show you the Forum, the center of Amiternum. Here, important messages such as bounties, news or job offers are displayed. Everyone can add a notice here." It was pretty obvious that Silanus was a little more serious than before; this was because of the uncommon things they were talking… Talking about the divines did not please his ancestors, that's why he guides Ernest from the temple. "Try to talk about that unnatural woman Dalanesca a little quieter, would you?"

This place was something Ernest had never seen the likes of. In all of the cities she had been to - not that that was many - there had never seemed a convenient place to post things like this. If there had been, she would have found it - something like that could be very useful to her.

She was glad to see, at least, that Silanus shared her paranoia about talking about deities. She had never been able to quite shake the feeling that she was being watched whenever she talked about them. Perhaps it was her underlying fear of being watched. Ernest had always liked being able to blend into the crowd and hide.

She thought back to his last question and sighed inwardly. It had not occurred to her that her explanation was somewhat flawed. "On the topic of my friend, she came back to life. That's how I know she forgives Dalanesca. I don't really know how it happened." She paused, considering. "The World Tree probably had something to do with it. I can't imagine anyone else having that sort of power." She shrugged. "I'm sorry, my explanation wasn't very good. I'm not used to knowing more than people, you see."

Silanus raised one tear when he saw how Ernest sighted, probably tired of explaining these things to someone who didn't understand a thing, like him; or atleast that's what he thought. Again, the general could not comprehend anything that came out of her mouth… What in the hell was a World tree?

What a tedious conversation, everything Ernest said was simply incomprehensible to Silanus! If she was so close to her friend why was she always alone? Why did the so-called Goddess kill someone and then resurrected that person? And, as uncivilised as it may seem, Silanus wanted to end this conversation as fast as possible, without being rude; after all, how could a governor be rude to his visitor?

Silanus looked around as Ernest spoke about all the divine talk, fearing it may be blatant how little he understood. Well, the error here was not the explanation, but his lack of knowledge in "Adeluna Mythology". So, instead of interrupting, changing topics or asking more questions, Silanus did what he saw in a comedy theatrical drama his favorite poet did… The general kissed her, that's right, the "almighty governor of Amiternum and the Fratian Empire" kissed Ernest in the lips, so he could finish the conversation in a classy, chic way, without being rude or uncivilised. 

This idea had worked in the teather performance, so he hoped that this unexpected event may work too. After that, Silanus smiled, a little shamed of his action. "I am glad your friend is alive, where is he or she?" He asked, as if nothing had happened.

Ernest was so shocked, she didn't even hear what Silanus said next. Thoughts flashed through her head. Her first thought was that she wanted to kill him. What was he doing? He had no right! Calm, Ernest, she told herself, trying to keep from shouting. She was a guest. She should not yell at her host. She would not shout. Calm.

Her next thought was that she would have quite a story to tell. The first time she had been kissed was by a general who - she hoped - had other motives behind it. And suddenly she was angry again. She had had no say! What gave him the thought that he could do this?

She waited for a second, calming down. "What was that for?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm. Inwardly, she had several insults she would love to throw at him, but she tried to keep calm. Maybe there was a good reason. Then again, maybe not. Dealing with Silanus was always a bit risky.

It was such a relief to be able to change topics, no more mythology, magic trees or gods! On the other hand, Silanus now had to explain himself to Ernest, who didn't take his action very lightly. She was staring at him with a murder face, how… Awkward…!

The general slowly shrugged and, with his usual arrogant smirk, answered: "You usually talk about how you are a skilled thief, yet you got mad when I stole a kiss from you! Did I have bad breath?" Of course, Tacitus was quite delighted at the moment, being able to finally stopping acting as a general and governor, but acting as a burden free person. As someone who can do something childish and silly, without triggering an insurgency in the city.

Now, a shameless, unconcealed grin appeared on the general's face, while he turned his view away for a while. "Being so formal and serious all the minutes of the day can be really weary and exhausting, you know?" He said, while turning his gaze at Ernest once again: "Acting as a child sometimes is truly refreshing, you should try it sometime and see for yourself!" These words were unusual for him, as he has always thought badly of careless people, clumsy people.

"Now, don't look at me with that murderous, bloodthirsty face! If you really want you shall take back the kiss I stole from you!" Said the general, as he unsuccessful tried to hold back a light chuckle. He was eager to see her next, even more fiendish, fierce cutthroat reaction!