Eren, as the bona fide title holder of Edinburgh, enjoyed a range of privileges and advantages.
This bestowed title signified Edinburgh's acknowledgment of Eren's actions, and it held weight in the eyes of the Anfang Alliance. With this recognition came access to classified information previously out of Eren's reach. Marla, having served as an ambassador for the Amazonians, believed it was appropriate to share certain insights with him since he was invited by the Matriarchs.
Eren's medallion prevented him from triggering the continent-encompassing array's suppressing effects, safeguarding him from any repercussions related to the privileged information he would be exposed to. As the highest-ranked medallion, it granted him the freedom to discuss and be knowledgeable about almost any subject of Anfang's past and present.
However, certain limitations and restrictions still applied, ensuring that information was shared only among rankers with similar levels of access. Nevertheless, Marla had no doubts about sharing the pertinent details with Eren.
Beginning with the basics, Marla delved into the manner of address used among the Amazonians. While the Amazonians were well-versed in the customs and practices of Edinburgh, Marla believed it would be beneficial for Eren to familiarize himself with the Amazonian terminology. This knowledge could contribute to his ability to make a positive impression on the Amazonians, understanding their unique system of recognition.
Highlighting the parallels between the two worlds, Marla explained how rankers in Anfang were referred to as Novices at the F-Rank, and Aces once they advanced to the E-Rank. In the Amazonian society, however, these terms differed. Progressing from F-Rank to S-Rank, the Amazonians used the following designations: Initiates, Champions, Mystics, Valiants, Matrons, Matriarchs, and ultimately, Valkyries, who was held in similar regard as the revered Sages of Anfang.
"Wait a minute? Priestesses? Do you mean…" Eren asked with a doubtful tone, purposely letting his question trail off without completely forming it.
Marla didn't take long to confirm Eren's doubts, "That's right. We Amazonians have a goddess we worship ardently. We call her the Great Mother."
Eren's eyes opened wide with surprise when he found out that the Amazonians are backed by a goddess. But before he could voice any of his questions, Marla continued with a solemn voice that was laced with piousness and faith.
"The Great Mother allows us to harness the Life Mana that belongs to her. And since the females are more suitable to harness this mana, they can progress faster than their male counterparts.
Every Amazonian is required to have faith in the Great Mother irrespective of their gender. They need to offer their prayers to her. The females are needed to be more diligent in their prayers.
You could say that the Great Mother's blessings are the reason behind why ours is a matriarchal society."
This was a matter of intent-based magic, the manipulation of followers' emotions for the gods' own purposes. Eren found the parallel intriguing, drawing him deeper into his own deductions.
Silently, Eren followed Marla through the forest, captivated by her explanation. The significance of the female Amazonian rankers as Priestesses, able to harness the Life Mana bestowed by the Great Mother, resonated with Eren. He contemplated the similarities with the orc Kilaba, who had received a divine blessing in the form of a runic tattoo. The memory stirred a sense of caution, reminding him of the consequences of meddling with such divine powers.
'The intent-based magic is at work here. Just like demons, these gods are harnessing their followers' emotions. The customs set by the gods and demons and their way of harnessing emotions may vary depending upon their allegiance and individualities.
However, the fact that all of these gods and Demon Princes need to harness their followers' emotions to further themselves in their path is the same. Interesting! Very interesting indeed!'
Marla's revelation about the Mother's Embrace, the blessing given by the Great Mother, furthered Eren's understanding. The concept of blessings, whether divine or demonic, was not unfamiliar to him. He had experienced the power and consequences of such blessings firsthand, as evidenced by his Mark of the Seven Sins.
"Wait a minute. Eren, do you know about the calamity war and the origins behind the continent-encompassing barrier, right?" Marla asked to confirm, just in case she needed to explain these things to him.
"Hm? Oh yeah." Eren replied promptly. He thanked Nira Nightshade for providing him with valuable information. Without her, he wouldn't have been able to connect the dots in his information.
Marla's inquiries about Eren's knowledge of the calamity war and the origins of the continent-encompassing ensured her that she could skip the basics. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place for Eren, weaving a tapestry of interconnectedness. As such, he didn't want Marla to talk about the calamity war either– something that he had already learned from Nira Nightshade.
As they continued their journey, Marla maintained her steady movement spell, her voice unwavering as she revealed the importance of keeping the Amazonian zones autonomous. The sacredness of the forest zones, blessed by the Great Mother's intent-based magic, demanded the protection of their faith and the prevention of uninvited intrusions.
Eren absorbed the weight of responsibility that the Amazonians carried, entrusted as keepers of the only remaining legal faith in the land of Anfang. Since the Amazonians sided with the Anfang Alliance in the calamity war, they were accommodated in the same manner as the denizens from the land of fey.
Of course, Anfang Alliance was not okay with the Great Mother's faith proliferating on this land. So it asked them to keep our faith restricted to their autonomous zones.
The continent-encompassing array did not allow the Amazonians to fully leverage their faith either. The goddess could not interfere in the world of Anfang directly. She could also not harvest the faith energy as efficiently as she wanted to. As a result, the blessings from the Great Mother the Amazonians received were rare and limited in number.
Amidst the tranquil forest, Eren's mind expanded, connecting the dots of knowledge and understanding. He was poised to unravel the intricacies of gods, blessings, and the interplay of faith in the tapestry of Anfang's history.
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