The church was not very ostentatious. With simple decorations here and there, the only thing that stood out were the stained glass windows depicting various Hexian representations. Basil could recognize all the figures from the Kaet with pride.
Far from what he thought, the place was not so empty. He had assumed it would be because he was in a mostly Celeina city, but aside from a few stalls, the rest of the benches were occupied by families praying.
The cleric fell silent upon seeing the group enter but quickly composed himself. He did not forget to scan the faces of Auryn's group; he was surprised that there were new believers.
The group had to sit in the only empty place, the back pews. The peligris did not mind the idea; being able to contemplate the stage was an artistic delight.
Castian sat next to him, and behind them were Ferned and Fauste. Paul was about to sit next to Basil, but Auryn sat down first. Basil gave him an inquisitive look, but Auryn's dead eyes assured him that he wouldn't get an answer.
—That cat lost its seventh life at the hands of the Lord, who decided that everyone forget his name. —the priest finished narrating.
Damn, I missed the verses about the golden cat.
Basil couldn't help but feel sad; it was a fragment of the Kaet that he remembered with happiness.
—That's why we must always act; leaving things for tomorrow will take away our advantage of doing them today. —that cleric began a new discourse—. Because our Lord once said, "bleed, remember, live and die. Thus you will discover the cure for eternal sleep. And in your soul, fear will not be a poison".
At that moment, Basil recited the same phrase in his mind. He had quite a bit of confidence in his memorization of the Kaet; he would swear he could say it forwards and backwards.
—Brothers and sisters, life does nothing but put us to the test. And we as a group are going through one of them. —The man continued.
When he said this, the believers' gazes became heavy. Some clenched their fists while others stared fixedly at the cleric.
—I'm sure you've already lived it. A slight rejection, disdainful looks, higher prices, unanswered letters, and denied opportunities.
Everyone present listened attentively. Thinking about the growing conflict, Basil became even more interested. The church of Hex had also promoted a discourse of hate. Is this man going to say it in a Celeina city?
—For some years now, many of our friends have distanced themselves from us. We have received hostile looks and insults. —There was a brief silence as the pastor debated whether to continue or stop. He tightened his grip on the Kaet and continued—. And we have returned them... doubled even.
He stopped speaking as he looked at the crowd. At that moment, people held their breath.
—But is it truly right to return the attack?
When he said those words, people erupted into alarmed murmurs. Priest Gare was focused; his calm gaze quieted the whispers. Eventually, an awkward silence filled the place.
—Excuse me, your grace. —An elderly man with a tired appearance stood up hesitantly—. Could you explain? I believe many of us do not understand.
—It's just as you heard, Mr. Germal. —Gare looked at the man with a slight nod—.Brothers, we must not repay evil with more evil. We must make them understand that we are not like other believers from distant cities; we are not dangerous and do not seek war.
The crowd did not quiet down. They didn't even bother to whisper anymore. Basil noticed some surprise on Ferned and Fauste's faces.
—Hm, is a Hexian priest promoting peace speeches? —Ferned said with his fingers on his beard.
—Could it be part of a political plan? It's not the first time they've tried to appear docile. —Fauste murmured.
Basil listened with interest. Fauste's theory didn't make sense; Gare had already said it: other Hex churches showed hostility. This was an isolated case.
Aren't they aware of Hex's church's attitude? That seems unlikely...
—Are you suggesting we pretend nothing is happening!? Please tell us we're misunderstanding! I don't want to look at you with contempt, Mr. Gare! —Another elderly person stood up; the energy of his words spread through the crowd.
—Please explain! —said a woman with tired eyes.
—Endure? After losing my business? —Another person spoke harshly.
—Who do they think they are treating us like this? Those Celeinos…
—We never harmed anyone; they were the ones who started!
—Priest Gare, say something!
—That's exactly it. —Gare Henem's gaze was filled with resolve; his words silenced the crowd—. Resolving things with violence will only bring more violence! If we do so, we will be breaking this era of peace.
»Lord Hex was the best warrior precisely because he knew when not to fight. Do you really want another holy war, full of blood and desolation?
Gare's words made the crowd reflect. They had never entertained the idea of something as grand as a holy war, but it was true that the conflict could escalate in the city.
—I won't stand by and watch as they insult my children. —The elderly man who had shouted before left, not without muttering incomprehensible insults.
—If you agree to fight with blood, not only will you have to fight. —Gare paused, his voice resonating in everyone's ears—. Your children will also do so... and your children's children.
With those words, most of the people began to leave. Gare could understand them. Hex was the god of war and struggle. Preaching for them to yield to blows was like blasphemy in itself.
No, this is not blasphemy! The lord makes the best decisions; like one who preaches his teachings, I must do so too!
Over time, only he and Basil's group remained. Gare glanced at them briefly and nodded in an attempt to withdraw. But just before leaving, Basil's voice stopped him.
—Excuse me, could you guide me to the altar of purification?
Gare looked at him strangely. The altar of purification was seldom mentioned, especially among believers. Not because it was hidden by the church; people simply no longer used it.
—What do you want with the altar? —Gare asked while reevaluating his impression of Basil. His hidden identity and the people following him made it clear that he was important. Perhaps a noble?
—I want to perform the blood ceremony.
The priest had no choice but to assume he was of high birth; the blood ceremony was a ritual that was rarely performed. It used to be more well-known, but over time customs changed and it became obsolete. It was already surprising that this person knew what the blood ritual was, and even more surprising that he would do it in a public church. Generally, the few nobles who still practiced it did so in their own premises, away from public view.
—This way, sir.—His tone changed slightly. Although being a priest gave him enough power to speak comfortably with a viscount, it wasn't wise to make bad connections with such people.
The priest guided the group away from the nave, next to the confessional. They passed through a hallway whose bland decoration displeased Basil. Even if it's a Hexian church in a Celeian city, honor the name of the lord!
Gare didn't turn to look at the group, but his mind was pondering Basil's attitude and his entourage.
He seems to be knowledgeable about Hexian customs; most likely he is a faithful believer. But if that's so, why didn't he get angry with my words?
A tempting idea enveloped him, making him lower his guard.
Maybe... this person agrees with me?
He quickly dismissed that thought. The idea that an important man might share his views filled him with hope, but he couldn't convince himself without evidence.
Nothing will happen if I ask him implicitly. It would be best to do it when I'm not busy.
They arrived at a door at the end of the hallway where Gare stopped and indicated the end of their journey, stepping aside for the mysterious believer to enter. Basil did so without delay; his escorts followed him diligently. Gare was surprised; it was rare for the blood ceremony to take place with more people present. Usually there were two: the noble and a healer. Even he as a priest wasn't necessary for the ritual.
Doesn't he mind being looked at by these people?
The truth was that Basil couldn't afford to go alone with Ferned. Firstly, supposedly a demigod wanted to kill him, and he was sure that even a healer wouldn't save his shattered body from such an encounter. Secondly, they wouldn't let him enter alone.
The room was scarcely decorated; the only thing that stood out was the marble altar in the center. It had some beautiful halberds sculpted on it, characteristic symbols of the Hexian church.
Paul handed over the ritual materials to Basil and he knelt before the altar; Auryn leaned beside him with a naturalness that surprised the gray-haired one. Castian also knelt beside him shortly after. The rest stayed back, observing the trio with various emotions.
Basil clasped his palms together and mentally recited one of Kaet's verses.
His wings brushed against the winds lightly, marveling at all that the world offered him. The forests and prairies greeted him; rivers quenched his thirst; plants offered him gifts; animals granted him their flesh. He felt loved and fascinated.
Basil's thoughts were interrupted by the piercing gaze Auryn gave him. He turned to look at her inquisitively, but she merely returned a barely alive stare.
—Is there something you need? —Basil said, not expecting an answer. In fact, there wasn't one. Even stranger, Auryn's eyes lost their sparkle once again.
It's not unusual at all...
He tried to continue praying, but once again felt Auryn looking at him. He turned around annoyed to confront her. But he realized something curious; Auryn was focused on her intertwined palms. Having a strange assumption, he stopped the gesture of prayer with his palms and did it again. Again and again, he realized that Auryn was interested in the prayers.
—Do you want... to be the proclaimer? —he asked, but she just kept looking at his hands. After a brief silence, he asked a rather bold question. —Do you want me to be the proclaimer?
Her response was a barely perceptible nod. With a bit of interest, Basil began to pray aloud.
»His curious gaze wandered through valleys and mountains, always in search of something new. Every grain of sand, drop of water, and leaves belonged to him. The world was his home, his kingdom.
»"Oh, dear hopeful sun, thank you for showing me such beautiful work. My heart is filled with an inexplicable longing, my mind has an unlimited curiosity, and my soul is more alive than ever" said the lord to the heavens.
Auryn, who was listening attentively, noticed how Basil's eyes acquired a strange glow.
»When the sun hid behind the mountains and the skies turned dark, the lord could hear a commotion in the distance. Annoyed by the sound, the lord decisively moved towards that place.
»There, he found a huge porcupine with its chest held high. "Behold my being, the strongest of these mountains; I proclaim myself invincible before all beings!" said that porcupine, looking down on the lord over its shoulder.
»The lord, annoyed by its unnecessary buzzing, warned it: "Porcupine, my patience has limits. Your senseless words interrupt the whisper of the winds. When you shout again, I will rip off your legs and you will never be able to look down on someone again".
»"Impudent human! Without a doubt ignorance is the worst poison of all! I have reigned in these mountains since I was born! How could I be defeated by a mere hairless monkey?"
»The lord did not respond; his words turned into actions. His bare hands moved towards the porcupine's flesh. However, he could not advance because of the spines.
»"Haha! I've told you before; I am invincible! It is impossible for you to attack me without bleeding first; if fear resides in your heart, you will never defeat me!"
Basil paused briefly; he had a strange smile on his face. Quickly, he lifted the ceremonial dagger and cut his palm, letting his blood fall onto the silk handkerchief. Ferned was surprised and tried to move forward to heal him. However, he was stopped by Fauste, who whispered with some doubt.
—This is how the blood ceremony goes, Mr. Ferned. Wait a moment before healing him.
Ferned nodded in understanding. Basil paid no attention to them; he turned to Auryn with an excited expression.
—The lord stood still for a moment and sighed. "It seems I have no other choice. It truly is a shame to waste my blood; but I suppose I have no other option."
»His hands approached without protest and were pierced by the spikes. The porcupine's laughter grew louder; it didn't believe that the lord would advance further. However—his will is strong; his will is relentless; his will is eternal!
»The lord was pierced all over but continued advancing without hesitation. Blood spilled onto the ground, staining the green grass. The porcupine's laughter quickly ceased; its face lost all color as the lord approached close enough.
»Before it could ask for forgiveness and kneel down, the lord destroyed its legs and brought it to its knees. It also bent over from the spines but its greatness allowed it to remain standing.
»"What is a little pain?" Said the lord in response to the porcupine's doubtful gaze. "Why would I stop?"
»He reached out his hand and touched the porcupine's face. He looked into its ochre eyes and gave one last explanation.
»If I want to cause harm, I must prepare myself to receive harm. If my desire is to kill, I must prepare myself to be killed. Someone dominated by fear will never obtain what they want. In this life, those who take action and take risks are the winners!
»Without further ado, the lord crushed its head and breathed calmly, because the sound had disappeared, leaving only the rustle of the wind in his ears.
Basil stood up and approached Ferned, who began to heal him quickly. Auryn and Castian followed him, just as expressionless as before. However, Basil did not feel that it would be an impediment to boast about his knowledge in the church of Hex.
—"The mountain porcupine." The blood ceremony is based on this story from the Kaet, more specifically, on that penultimate paragraph. —He moved to an oven near the altar, where he lit it and let the handkerchief with his blood burn—. It was created in the year 810, two hundred years after the ascension of Hex and Celei. However, after the Witness Jungle treaty, it gradually ceased to be practiced, becoming an extravagant custom to this day.
The eyes of the peligris reflected the flames, his voice became deep as he spoke.
—In the end, what is a little pain? A wise person must assume damage. When you go for something, you lose something else. It is the law of life. —He turned towards Auryn's group calmly—. That is what this ceremony means.
—You... seem to know quite a bit, Mr. Basil. —Ferned said with a hint of doubt.
Basil fell silent for a moment and replied.
—I am just an informed believer.
Though there's no way you believe that, right?
Basil concluded the ceremony and left the ceremonial hall. There, illuminated by the light coming from the stained glass windows, was Priest Gare with a polite posture.
—It seems you are finished now, sir. Tell me, did you shed your blood with devotion?
Basil looked at him for a second and smiled.
—Indeed, my blood has been shed as desired by Hex's will. The fear in me is not a poison.
—I'm glad to hear that, sir. I'm sure Hex's will will guide you through the struggles to come. —Gare's tone took on a subtle hint of suggestion—. As believers of Hex, we must stay united and fight against adversity.
—Haha, indeed. Well then, see you later. —Basil bade farewell with a dry courtesy. Gare watched him leave and sighed inwardly.
The gray-hair noticed a piercing gaze, turned calmly and saw Castian watching him with a subtle spark of curiosity.
—Hehe, are you wondering why I declined his invitation for a chat?
Castian nodded. Paul wondered at which point in their conversation there had been an invitation. Basil paid no attention and explained.
—You know it as well as I do, Castian. —His golden irises shone subtly—. Advocating for peace? War is something inevitable; the best we can do is prepare for it.
»I do not despise that Priest, but I fear that his struggle will bear no fruit...
Not while war is something beneficial.
With those ominous words, the group continued their way out of the church.