“Grandfather!” Mathis called out as soon as he saw the elderly man, rushing up to him. “How is everyone? Were there any casualties?”
Gideon shook his head. “Serephea be praised, but there were none, only some minor injuries that Collette is patching up as we speak.” Drystan had by now reached the two of them, standing next to Mathis. Gideon glanced at Drystan and smiled. “Thank you…Drystan…for being here in our hour of need. If you weren’t here, that creature would have surely taken the lives of several good men before it would have been overwhelmed.”
Drystan nodded. “No thanks necessary…if anything, if I weren’t here, I’m sure your village wouldn’t have been attacked…but…I assume that means you witnessed what took place?”
Gideon nodded. “Indeed I did, as well as everyone else after the wolves were defeated.”
Drystan glanced around, seeing several villagers casting surreptitious gazes his way before quickly turning away. Gideon chuckled, placing a comforting hand on Drystan’s shoulders. “I’ve already called for a meeting in which everyone is required to attend for tonight. There, you can tell them as much or as little as you want, though it’s impossible now to keep your blessing a secret.”
Drystan sighed but nodded. “I understand. The goddess…scolded me for not using the blessing’s powers against the werewolf, so trying to keep myself anonymous…isn’t the way to go about things now.”
Mathis looked at Mathis. “Pardon if this question offends…but…your manner of speech…it seems…different than what I’m accustomed to. From where did you learn to speak in such a curious dialect?”
Drystan sighed. “You’re not the first person to tell me that. My birthplace is located on the outskirts of the country. We don’t get very many travelers from other areas, with the exception of traveling priests for education and to bring news to and from the village. So, we’ve developed our own manner of speaking. Definitely not as…eloquent…as those who live in cities or farther into the country.”
Gideon nodded. “There’s no need to feel unease concerning your manner of speech. However, it would be prudent for you and Mathis to make your way to my cabin. You two have much to discuss. Once the moon peeks over the horizon, please make your way to the village center for the meeting. I’ll see you both then.”
With that, Gideon walked away, approaching a young farmer who was leaning against a tree. Mathis beckoned Drystan to follow him, the two soon arriving at the cabin. “My apologies for asking a personal question despite having just met. However, my curiosities concerning you have been piqued, especially because of the fact that the goddess has given you her major blessing.”
“Major blessing?”
Mathis nodded. “Depending on who you ask in the church, there’s either two types of blessings Seraphina grants, or thousands of blessings. Though in reality, the thousands can all be labeled as a minor blessing. Her major blessing is what she’s granted the Eldar’s, and it was assumed that she could only give her blessing to one family at a time. So to see you be able to manifest a divine sword…and from appearances…the ability to freeze what you touch…the clergy would be up in arms upon knowing what has transpired.”
Drystan shrugged. “Well…I was granted her blessing just the previous night, so no one would be able to know what happened. Only your grandfather was told by the goddess in a dream.”
“How curious…he failed to mention anything of the sort to me this morning when I went to tend to the fields.”
“He was more than prepared for me when I entered the village earlier, despite the frosty reception from the others…”
Mathis scratched the back of his head. “My apologies for the reception. After what occurred in Erith, and after explaining what happened to everyone…they’ve been on the lookout for any pursuers.”
“What did happen in Erith, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Mathis pulled up a wooden chair and sat down, silent for a moment before beginning to speak. “I…was so excited when I was chosen to begin the process of becoming a priest. I’m confident my grandfather told you about how I was hyper focused reading scripture from as soon as I was taught how to read. It always fascinated me, reading about the stories of times past. The words of the goddess immortalized into physical form…just fascinated me.”
Reaching behind him, Mathis picked up a worn book from a small alcove, opening it to reveal the weathered pages. “One day, when I was learning archery from my grandfather…suddenly the arrows I shot…glowed. I was terrified at first until I delved into scripture and read this verse. ‘Seraphina breathed into her a blessing, and lo, the weapon in her grasp shone bright, illuminating the path ahead.’ Whenever I shoot an arrow, it goes much farther and is incredibly more accurate than an arrow shot by even the most well-trained archer in the military. Upon realizing that I had been given a minor blessing, my mother began preparing to take me to Erith to have me trained to be a priest.”
Closing the book, he looked back at Drystan. “After being selected, I dove head-first into my studies. Reading book after book about theories of Seraphina, listening to seminars from well-respected clergymen and engaging in many a debate with my mentors. However, the deeper I delved, the more…off-putting it all felt. Instead of worshiping the goddess, most priests were more concerned about the pleasures of the flesh or kowtowing to the whims of the Eldar’s.”
Standing back up, he paced around the room. “I suppressed my reservations for as long as I could, but once I had begun hearing whispers of the Eldar’s plan to declare anything that goes against their beliefs to be worthy of punishment, even up to death, I knew I couldn’t be silent any longer. In a matter of one night, I prepared a sermon and, when the populace began stirring the next morn, I began preaching. I told everyone how I believed that the worship of the goddess had been tainted into worshiping the Eldar’s. I preached about the corruption in the clergy, how they ignored explicit commandments, drinking until drunkenness, accepting bribes from high ranking officials, and engaging in…pleasure of the sexual nature with wenches in the taverns, giving away money the populace tithed in order to bed them.”
Mathis bitterly chuckled. “The clergy…were very unimpressed with my sermon and issued me a stern warning to never speak that way again, or I would be arrested for apostasy. I spent the entire day debating with myself whether or not I should comply…but that night, I suddenly got a burst of courage to boldly declare what I believed to be true, which I believe came from the goddess. The next morning, I preached the same sermon, getting as far as I could before the knights came upon the scene. If it weren’t for the populace throwing their support my way, I would have been arrested on the spot.”
The sound of a horse galloping past the cabin caused Mathis to temporarily lose his train of thought before being able to continue. “I immediately ran to my mother’s house, telling her that we needed to leave, but she had developed many close friendships during her time in Erith…and thus wanted to warn them about what could happen to them for associating with someone the church would deem an apostate. She promised she’d return posthaste after she was finished warning everyone…but she has yet to arrive. Needless to say…I’m very concerned for her…”
Drystan, upon hearing Mathis’s tale, nodded. “I…see…well…you were correct, as the goddess has deemed the Eldar’s too far gone to be redeemed through any traditional sense…and thus has given me the same blessing she gave to Caius Eldar. She’s instructed me to end their reign so to speak, preferably peacefully but…by lethal force if necessary…”
“So it has come to this…” Mathis ran his hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Did she…say anything else?”
“Other than to come here because she’s prepared someone to accompany me, no she hasn’t. I’m assuming that more instructions are to come…but if not, we’ll have to come up with a plan as to what to do next.”
“I-I understand…but to think that the goddess herself has chosen me to…to accompany you on your quest…I can’t think of a greater honor than that.”
Mathis stared at Drystan, a look of determination plastered on his face. “With the goddess on our side, I’m confident that we’ll be able to restore true worship of the goddess, and root out the corruption infecting this country. After the meeting tonight, we should–”
The door to the cabin opened suddenly, slamming against the logs as Gideon rushed in. “Mathis! A messenger from Erith just arrived and told me to deliver this letter to you. I’ve already read its contents…it’s…it’s…”
Gideon was unable to continue as he handed Mathis the letter. Quickly reading it, his face paled as he dropped the letter, letting it fall to the ground. He glanced at Drystan, a look of fear replacing the determination he had exuded just moments prior as his hands began to shake. “They’ve arrested my mom…and unless I return to Erith to face my charges…is scheduled to be executed in a week.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs2I9wCzqM
