CHAPTER 14 - THE CATHEDRAL OF AMORIA
The countryside of Henesys lied out before them. Various kinds of mushrooms were ubiquitous. The ride in the small taxi cab lasted over twenty minutes. It had been quite some time since either Mason or Kara had stepped foot in Henesys. Much of the inhabitants were out enjoying the beautiful weather. At last the taxi arrived on the edge of town near a small group of gigantic mushroom shaped houses.
"Alrighty, that will be ten thousand mesos!" The driver declared. Both Mason and Kara started to open the door but were frozen when they heard the price and gawked at the driver dumbfounded.
"Ha! You kids are funny, Father Shober already paid! Hahahaha!" the driver laughed maniacly.
"That wasn't funny!" Kara rolled her eyes quickly opening the door and jumping out.
"Chill out girl, just joking, geez!" The middle aged driver argued but Kara had already walked out of earshot ignoring him.
"What's her problem?" He asked looking to Mason.
"Why can't we get a ride to Amoria?" Mason asked ignoring his question.
"Town ordinance by request of the church kid, I got to go, time is money and money is time" the driver said a bit bitterly driving off. The cab sped down further in Henesys disappearing around the bend.
"What a jerk!" Kara spat as she watched him disappear.
The town was a very busy place. Many students of first rank jobs were congregating on just about every corner. The houses were all made to fit in with the native orange mushrooms that grew ubiquitously all over the place. The native mushrooms that roamed the countryside were fairly peaceful with all the folk who lived around; however, there were groups of orange, green, and blue mushrooms who were more than a little resentful of the people who live on their land. Some of them, along with the mushrooms who had horns protruding from their heads, were downright hostile.
"Hey! HEY!" a group of young teens shouted as the two of them passed by.
"I'm right here! You don't have to scream in my ear!" Kara scolded the youthful adolescents.
"Well excuse us!" One young girl replied rudely.
"Where are your parents at?" Mason demanded.
"I don't know where are yours?" another teen countered.
"Mason let's go, we don't have time for childish games" Kara said grabbing his arm pulling him away.
"We're sorry, but can we have some mesos plox?" One young man asked with his Hene slang.
"What!? Mason glanced behind them.
"We really need mesos. We need enough money for a cab so we can go to Kerning City Square plox?" the teenage girl begged.
"If you don't have money to go to the shopping center why would you go if you're not going to have money to do any shopping?" Mason asked a bit confused.
"We want to go hang out with our friends there" another teenage boy quickly answered.
"Do I look like your mother?!" Kara said annoyed.
"I don't know… you look pretty close to her" the teenage girl laughed.
Kara could feel anger welling up inside her, but she repressed the urge to slap the young teenage girl across the face.
"Ouch you old bag!" The teenage girl shouted turning to see who had hit her over the head. Suddenly an old broom hit the young teenage girl on the head then one of the boys.
"Get out of here! How many times have I told you kids to stop begging for mesos?" A woman scolded. She wore a long white and brown dress with an apron. Her long brown hair seemed to be combed over to one side as she came rushing out of one of the mushroom houses.
"We have a right to be here old lady!" One boy shouted.
"Not in front of my house you don't! If you don't move along I'm going to inform Chief Stan to inform your parents!" the woman threatened.
"Shut up! You don't even know who we are!" One black haired boy laughed.
"Yea so S-T-F-U!" a blond haired teen laughed.
Suddenly a tall middle aged man with a salt and pepper beard walked up with a cane with contented expression.
"Rina hello, just the lady I wanted to see" he said evenly.
"Why Chief Stan, just the man I wanted to see" Rina smiled snidely at the disrespectful teens.
"Well good, I was hoping to see if I could get you to cook some of those famous Unagis or baby back ribs for a dinner the wife and I would like to have" he said smacking his lips. The teens just laughed.
"Well I would be happy to accommodate you but these delinquents decided they can solicit in front of my house" Rina quickly got to the point.
Before anyone could react, the man took out a digital camera and took a snapshot of the teens.
"Well don't worry, I plan on sending some pictures to the parents; and if these kids continue to break the law I will have to fine their parents or…" Chief Stan paused looking at the teens as he seemed to take the wind out of their sails.
"…or if their parents don't want to be fined I can issue fines in the form of community service" he finished.
The teens immediately disappeared darting behind Rina's house, then down towards the pig farm.
"We get a lot of beggars and pickpockets these days, so I'm going to beef up the local deputies to get rid of this riff raff" Chief Stan shook his head.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Chief Stand and Ms. Rina, but can we just ask one question?" Mason asked sincerely
"Oh, I'm sorry, what is it you need?" She asked.
"How do we get to Amoria from here?" Mason asked as Chief Stan furrowed his brow in irritation.
"Well first you will have to go passed the free market, and then you pass towards the north eastern part of town where there will be a trail that you can follow. Only the marriage limos and official vehicles are allowed, everyone else must go by horse or foot. Amoria is five miles in that direction, are you two going to get married or something?" He asked suddenly a bit begrudgingly.
Kara almost burst out laughing while Mason just kind of stood wide eyed.
"You mean, Mason and myself? Getting married?!" She laughed.
"Well yea? That's what people go there for you know" Chief Stan pointed out.
"There's nothing wrong with a couple showing their affection through holy matrimony" Rina countered.
"We aren't getting married, he's like a brother to me…we are disciples of the Goddess" Kara explained.
"Really?" Chief Stan eyed them nodding his head when he felt they were telling the truth.
"Yea" Mason trailed off with a slight frown on his face.
"Well in that case, the mayor of the town is here visiting, I can get him to take you there" Chief Stan smiled in relief handing them a couple of tickets.
"What do you have against people getting married?" Rina asked giving the chief a funny look.
"Too many young people think they are in love and have no idea what marriage means which ultimately spells disaster in the end…but that's another subject all together" The chief ranted.
"Well Mason and I are servants of the Goddess" Kara reiterated.
"That doesn't mean anything, last I read the Goddess doesn't forbid her servants the right to fall in love and marry" Rina gave Kara a suspicious look.
"You're right, she does give us the right to choose" Mason finally spoke up.
"Well let's be on our way" Kara laughed walking off with Chief Stan. Mason nodded his head and followed.
"Poor boy" Rina commented quietly after they were out of earshot.
"Wallet? Where's my WALLET!" the mayor suddenly shouted.
"What's wrong Chief?" Kara asked with concern.
"My wallet! My bloody wallet!" he shouted again.
"What's wrong?" Mason asked running up to join them.
"Those little thieves! I'll find them and punish them myself! I had almost two hundred thousand mesos in that wallet!" he blasted again drawing more attention.
On lookers in the small bustling town knew the chief and avoided him when he went on a war path.
"Should we try to find them?" Mason suggested. At that moment a couple of young men dressed in normal civilian clothing walked up. He whispered to them for a minute and they nodded and walked away.
"The problem will be solved soon, but here, take these tickets to the man sitting in the black limo, I have business to take care of" the chief said storming off up a small hill to a big mushroom looking house on top. Mason and Kara watched the spectacle of the mayor running up the hill without using his cane. His robes went flying behind him as he ran shouting unintelligible curses.
"He's a very passionate man" Kara commented.
"I think I would be just a bit passionate too if I just had fifty thousand mesos stolen from me" Mason agreed.
The two young clerics continued walking among the main lane lined with mushroom shaped businesses and homes. Smaller children were riding bikes, playing hide and seek, and singing nursery rhymes. Kara and Mason watched almost enviously as their mothers came out conversing with one another. A few other locals and adventures passed by regarding them with a slight nod.
"It seems like people have grown less friendly these days" Mason commented as they were walking.
"I wouldn't say unfriendly, but cautious, you can't be too safe with minions of the Black Mage running amok" Kara remarked.
As they began to search for their way to Amoria, a small five year old boy fell off his bike scraping himself pretty badly as the bike fell on top of him. He instantly began wailing out in pain. A young woman sprinted to his side pulling the bike off of him.
"I'm sorry honey, let's get something for those scrapes" she said trying to lift the boy off the ground.
"Aarrghh! Mommy it hurts!" he screamed.
Mason and Kara ran to the two, "Mam allow us to help you" Mason said as Kara slowly approached them.
"Who are you?" the woman asked slightly suspiciously.
"We do the Goddesses work" Kara declared.
"My son is hurt, how is that going to help my son?!" she said trying to console and speak over her loud crying child.
Mason stepped closer looking at the child, "He may have some bad bruising".
The woman reluctantly allowed Mason to look at her son.
"He broke his leg" Mason said checking the child's wounds.
"I don't have insurance or enough mesos to pay a doctor for him…" she sighed.
"Allow me" Mason smiled.
He knelt down by the crying child laying his hands on the boy. Quietly he began chanting a prayer, and within moments a warm green glow began enveloping him and the boy. The mother's eyes began to widen as her child's wounds began instantly to mend. His cries did a decrescendo until he just slowly began wiping the tears from his eyes, but he was still shocked from the incident.
Miraculously he stood up, "Mommy! It doesn't hurt anymore!" he smiled. His mother stood up looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"You're ok!" she hugged him. Kara smiled warmly at Mason.
"Thank you kind sir!" The mother thanked graciously. Mason put up his hand and nodded.
"Thank the Goddess, I'm sure that will be thanks enough" Mason replied getting Kara to nod in approval.
"I didn't realize you were true servants of the Goddess" she apologized.
"Just make sure that you keep your family close to the light" Kara reminded.
"Of course" the mother beamed.
"We don't see many messengers of the goddess these days" the mother continued.
"They are in Amoria at the grand cathedral" Mason informed.
"Yes, but the few nuns who do see the sick have a waiting list a mile long. The rest of the time the church seems so fixated on money. Amoria has turned into nothing more than some honeymoon resort so I don't even bother going" the mother claimed. Mason and Kara gave each other a disdainful look.
"Well we have to be on our way" Kara frowned.
"Is there anything I can give you, I don't have much, but you're welcome to it" the mother offered.
Mason and Kara both shook their heads. "No, no, just keep share the goddess's love with your neighbors" they both agreed.
"Thank you once again" she said bringing the bike back into her yard. The other women joined her as they resumed their gossipy conversations as the children all stood by watching until Mason and Kara disappeared from their view.
After passing a few blocks, the houses began to be sparsely placed throughout the Henesys valley. Farmers were out in their lands harvesting crops while young children played in the various orchards. When they finally climbed another hill, they reached another social hub of Henesys. Street lights were all over a mushroom shaped cul-de-sac. Elderly people were smoking pipes and conversing, while teens were busy discussing their daily lessons and plans with one another. No one seemed to notice them as they made their way to the top.
"There it is Mason!" Kara exclaimed pointing to the north. Mason saw the top of the grand cathedral as a small dirt road led down a valley and up and down a couple of hills beyond. A small black limo sat there with a man sitting on a bench not too far reading a book. He was a chubby gentleman dressed in a black overcoat wearing expensive meso loafers. His red cheeks and nose were all you could see of his round face with the huge dark police like hat covering the rest of his face behind the book.
"I think that man is who we give our tickets to" Mason surmised as they approached him.
"Hello there, we have tickets to Amoria, can you take us?" Kara inquired. The man sat silently for a moment without acknowledging them, "You getting married?" he mumbled.
"No" Kara rolled her eyes.
"Then I cannot help you" he answered quietly as he resumed reading his book.
"Um, I don't think you heard me, we HAVE tickets" Kara said getting a little annoyed.
"This limo is only for couples to be wed" he finally said putting his book down giving Kara a mean stare with his gray eyes. Mason nonchalantly handed him the tickets. The man snatched them out of Mason's hand. He scanned them for a moment and gave them a look with aversion.
"From Chief Stan why that—just get in…" he trailed off picking up his book slowly getting into the limo. Mason and Kara didn't ask any questions and quietly got in the back trying not to further antagonize the man. The limo was a very comfortable. It was made to comfortably fit four in the back, but perfect for two. There were bottles of champagne in a bucket of ice and fresh red roses in long thin black plastic vases securely fastened on both sides of the wall. They sat quietly until the tinted windows closed. Some of the locals begin looking to see who was going off to Amoria to get hitched. The ride was fairly quick. Within ten minutes after driving up and down three hills due north, they arrived in Amoria as many people were bustling in preparations for marriage. It felt like a circus, yet was beautiful at the same time. They quietly got out once the limo stopped.
"Thank you sir" Mason smiled as they got out, but the driver remained silent and drove off.
As both of the clerics marched up front stairs, the spires of the cathedral towered before them. They quickly moved to the side as crowds of people came out of the front entrance making way for a young couple who had just been married to come ceremonially down the stairs. Friends and family threw rice in the air as the young couple made their way to another limo waiting for them in front.
"Wow, this place is a circus" Kara commented. Mason saw the smaller chapels down the street from the main cathedral and all kinds of bridal and groom shops.
"Amoria used to be a simple shrine town long ago" Mason mentioned.
"Really? How would you know?" Kara asked unbelievingly.
"Master Grendel mentioned it one day during one of his muses; but yes, that was very long ago when the settlers had begun exploring further into Victoria Island from Ossyria" Mason explained.
"Hmm… I bet the founders are rolling over in their graves" Kara sighed in disappointment.
"You know it's not so much that a couple finding love is a bad thing, but it seems a bit too business like" Mason concluded.
They continued walking up the stairway to the front doors after the crowd cleared some. They saw a nun quietly standing by the tall ornate cathedral doors.
"May I help you?" she asked in a friendly tone.
"Hello sister, we are fine, just come to pray and see Father John" Kara answered.
The nun had a confused look in her face. She was a middle aged woman in her early forties standing with her hair neatly tucked out of site. She stood near the door almost as if she were guarding it. The scent of a strong rose perfume wafted from her.
"You mean the High Priest? Well he is very busy, you will have to make an appointment" she smiled a bit condescending.
"An appointment?!" Kara looked aghast.
"The High Priest is a very busy man and has many clients…" the nun continued.
"Clients!?" Mason loudly interjected.
"Well ok, we're going in to pray…" Kara said turning away to walk in.
"Oh you can't, it costs ten thousand mesos donation fee if you want to come in" she replied.
"WHAT!?" Mason and Kara both shouted in unison.
"Only couples getting married and guests to the wedding can enter" she finished.
"Fine, where do we set up an appointment?" Kara asked feeling a sudden sinking feeling. The nun took out a memo from her robe's pocket and begun flipping through her notepad.
"He's booked for the next three weeks! I can put you down tentatively three weeks from now?" she offered.
"Three weeks?! Sister, we are clergy members as well!" Mason finally declared with irritation mounting in his stomach.
The nun looked at him and Kara, "I thought you kids were mages…nevertheless the High Priest is a busy man, now unless you have further business here I need you two to move along" she scolded.
"May the Goddess forgive you" Kara said with much pity and annoyance.
"Pardon me?" the nun looked at them as if they were joking.
"Come Kara, we're obviously going nowhere here. No wonder people seem to be losing faith" Mason commented as he turned away.
They walked down the stairs, "Let's check for a back entrance or something" Mason whispered.
"I'm trying to be nice" Kara shook her head.
"Since when does it cost to enter a church?!" Kara started to get louder.
"Shhh… follow me" Mason whispered as they walked through the church yard. Unfortunately they could see nuns and monks walking the perimeter of the huge cathedral. Some were working in the land behind with a fair sized monastery sitting on top of a hill less than a mile behind. Others were maintaining the grounds. Suddenly a group of men in suits and fine clothing approached the entrance wearing top hats and pink corsages.
"Someone else is getting married today it looks like" Mason pointed out.
"How are we going to get in?" Kara wondered ignoring Mason's observation. Mason thought for a moment and then it hit him.
"Let's get married!" he smiled.
Kara gave him a strange look, "You didn't just ask me to marry you right?" she almost laughed.
"Yes, I did, think about it, it will get us inside and we will be able to see High Priest John!" he said in an excited tone.
"Do you realize how expensive it is to get married?" Kara asked shocked.
"I don't know…I've never been married" he shrugged.
"Bridal gowns, groom's clothes, clergy fees…" she went on as they began walking down the street. As they continued shuffling down towards the bridal shop, a woman in a bridal gown accompanied by five bridal maids came rushing towards them. Kara and Mason had not ever seen anyone actually get married. As they approached, their boisterous attitude was apparent.
Five bridal maids dressed in pink long dresses with pink carnations in their hair seemed to be sharing an inside joke. One woman moved slowly behind, it was the bride. She wore a long flowing white bridal gown with her veil blowing gently behind her.
"Hey look at those two!" one bridal maid whispered.
"Oh wow, look how cute they look together!" the bride whispered back.
"Are they heading to the bridal and groom shop?" another bridal maid continued.
"I think so…" another answered in anticipation.
"I think they may be mages" the shortest bridal maid commented.
"Here they come!" the bride whispered.
They parted to let Kara and Mason through as they continued and quickly stole glances behind. Kara and Mason both peeped through the window in the shop.
"Keep walking…" another maid whispered as they slowed stealing more glances back at the two.
"What are they doing?" the bride asked.
"It looks like the boy is emptying his pockets—he doesn't look like he has much money" the tallest bridal maid frowned.
"Go invite them to my wedding" the bride smiled.
"Sure" the shortest bridal maid said dashing back towards the shop.
"Looks like this is going to be a very cheap wedding" Mason sighed looking at the few meso notes and coins he had.
"How much do you have?" Kara asked.
"I have less than a thousand mesos" Mason admitted.
"I have even less" Kara frowned as she saw various beautiful bridal gowns.
"Excuse me!" a bride shouted at Kara and Mason. Kara and Mason turned with puzzled looks.
"Hello? Are the two of you planning on getting married?" she asked bluntly.
Mason and Kara regarded her strangely. The girl was a petite short young girl with blond hair and eyes wearing a long pink bridal maid gown with pink carnations in her hair. She didn't appear to be any older than fifteen years.
"Not exactly…why you ask?" Kara spoke up quickly.
"You're not?" the bridal maid frowned.
"Well we were thinking about it?" Mason smiled.
"Is that your friend who is getting married?" Mason asked.
"No, that's my sister" she smiled proudly.
"Well congratulations to your sister" Mason smiled back.
"Well, my sister wanted to invite the two of you if you're thinking about it" the young girl beamed.
Mason could see the other bridal maids ahead occasionally glancing back as they made their way back to the cathedral.
"We'll come" the over enthusiastic girl motioned. Kara looked at Mason and shrugged helplessly.
"Great! We'll come on! Let's go!" she exploded with enthusiasm running ahead.
"Walk please!" the bride ahead shouted.
"They're coming" another bridal maid gasped in amazement.
"Of course, because they want to get married, I can see it" the tallest bridal maid laughed.
"Well, a little inspiration goes a long way" another bridal maid said seriously.
"Here, give these two invitations to the young couple so that irritating nun will let them in" the bridal maid said handing them to her younger sister. As they approached the cathedral a couple of nuns led the bride and her maids in through a side entrance.
"Here everyone, you'll need these to get in, thanks for coming!" she said handing the envelopes and dashing ahead to catch up with her sister.
"So are we just going to go to a wedding dressed like this?" Kara asked rhetorically looking at her color washed robes. Mason made a half smile taking notice. They walked up to front of the cathedral as people were starting to enter as a couple of nuns were taking invitations from guests that entered. People were dressed in many variations of long gowns and tuxedoes.
"We can't go in like this, look at everyone else" Kara pointed out.
They got in line as everyone around just kind of gave them strange looks. "Who are you people?" one older woman dressed in a long green gown asked waiting in line.
"We're friends" Mason spoke up quickly.
"Oh really?" the lady said narrowing her eyes. At that moment one of the bridal maids came running up to them.
"Come follow me…" she said panting.
"Ok…" Kara shrugged looking at Mason. They ran out of line over to the side entrance as the nuns were busy taking invitations to let people in.
"We have an extra bridal dress which my sister didn't like and an extra tuxedo that the groom was originally going to wear" she said leading them down a hallway on the side of the cathedral. The marble stone floor, the many paintings on the wall, and the fine tapestries were signs of just how old this cathedral really was. Torches were lit on the walls as they observed the gothic style windows that were yellow and green stained glass pictures of different divinities.
"Come on hurry!" the young girl shouted.
They ran further down the long corridor until they came to an old tall wooden door.
"Wait just a moment" she said disappearing in the room. She was in there for only a minute, and then she came out with two outfits in each arm.
"You come in here and change, you go down another door and change, and be quick about it, the wedding is about to start!" she prompted as they could hear the massive pipe organ begin a fancy prelude.
Mason went into a room where it looked like a priest's changing room. There were wardrobes and chests as well as a couple of study desks. Mason had never been in the cathedral of Amoria before and just wondered what it would be like to be privileged enough to get chosen to work there.
"Hurry up!" a voice shouted from outside the room. Mason looked at the white tux and the white button up shirt. The tuxedo was really bright, and the bright red bowtie was a bit much for Mason, but he reluctantly put the rest of the suit on. He looked briefly in the mirror and tried to straighten his dark brown hair as best as he could, then he walked out. After a couple more minutes he stopped stunned as Kara stepped out of the dress room. She wore a long white gown with a pink carnation in her hair with two braids wrapping around to meet in the back. The full sleeves and the lace on the borders made her stand out not to mention her long red hair which set the entire outfit off. Mason stood dumbfounded.
"Well, are you ready?" she smiled.
"I-I think so" Mason smiled mesmerized.
"Shall we?" Mason smiled for permission to take her arm.
"Ok, let's go" Kara replied hastily ready to enter the main chapel.
As they entered down through a side corridor exit into the main chapel, half the pews were full of family and friends. At that moment the organ began another majestic piece of music echoing all over the cathedral as they sat in the tenth pew. Some guests were sitting high up in the balconies.
"Look Mason!" Kara whispered as she turned to look at the entrance of the cathedral. Couple by couple, bride's maids and groom's best men were walking together ceremonially to the front. Mason turned back around and could see the High Priest John standing at the center of the altar with the groom awaiting the bride. Younger clerics dressed in ceremonial white and red robes were assisting the high priest with ceremonial procedures. Eventually the second piece of music ended and the main one began as the bride and her father entered. People were teary eyed as the beautiful bride now veiled was led up the isle by a tall man with brown hair graying at the sides with a clean cut mustache sporting a black tuxedo.
After the father brought the bride to the groom, the High Priest began his ceremonial speech. Mason and Kara both stared impressively as the speech began.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this lovely young couple in holy matrimony. The Goddess has brought you here today in the sanctity of her home for us to give you her blessing" The High Priest started.
The ceremony continued for almost another fifteen minutes until everyone's head perked up when they heard, "You may now kiss the bride". Then the boisterous sound of the organ began as the bride and groom began exiting the cathedral, people began gathering among the steps of the cathedral to bid the bride and groom farewell.
"Now's our chance, come on!" Kara whispered leading Mason to the front as High Priest John began retreating to the back of the cathedral. Kara and Mason began rushing to the front but were stopped by another priest and nun.
"May we help you?" the priest said blocking their way.
"We need to speak with High Priest John" Kara demanded.
"Who are you anyways? You have to have an appointment to see him, and both of you have neither!" the nun declared.
"Please! We need to speak to him!" Mason said forcefully trying to advance as another priest tried to hold Mason back.
"I'm afraid we must ask you to leave now!" the priest said assertively.
"High Priest John!" Kara yelled desperately.
The tall old man turned to look at who was calling out to him.
"Who wishes to speak to me?" he asked his fellow priestly body guard.
"I don't think that is important, we do not know who they are or if they bring ill intent" His body guard replied.
"I'll be the judge of that" He said walking past his body guard toward the two young clerics.
"Go now, or we will have you both arrested for trespassing" the nun threatened.
"We ARE clerics! Your attitude towards the children of the Goddess is deplorable!" Kara exclaimed pushing struggling with a monk running to subdue her. The struggle went unnoticed by any of the guests as they had already exited outside.
"Stop this nonsense at once!" High Priest John said as he approached.
"Now what's this about?" The High Priest asked looking at the spectacle in front of him.
Kara pulled her arm away from the monk and reached in her gown pocket. She produced a sealed envelope.
"For me?" High Priest John asked as Kara nodded.
He regarded Kara and Mason carefully and opened the envelope. After a couple of minutes of silent reading he folded the letter back and put it in the envelope.
"What are you two doing dressed like this?!" he scolded.
"We had to, we didn't have a few weeks to get on your list" Mason explained.
The high priest looked suspiciously at them, "Are the two of you planning on getting married or in a relationship?" he asked suspiciously.
"They were wearing mage robes slightly affiliated with the church earlier" another nun mentioned.
"I see, they are not formerly trained clerics of the church, but by Father Grendel; and also sent here by Father Shober. Follow me" he said walking swiftly back to his study.
Mason and Kara were lead to the back of the cathedral where the high priest's main study was. The other priests, nuns, and monks watched with a bit of discontent as Kara and Mason were led away.
When they walked in the study was full of ornate furniture and an old daybed. The high priest led them in as his guards waited outside
"So, do you know why you have been sent here?" the high priest questioned.
"We fought off a small unholy invasion at Lith Harbor" Mason spoke up.
"Ok" he nodded waiting for more explanation.
"We have come to seek help from the Holy Church of Divine Order" Kara added.
"Well the issue is much more serious than I thought. I've been feeling a shift of power here recently. I have been so busy lately that I haven't paid much attention to what's going on outside the church" the High Priest admitted moving his scarf folding his hands.
"This town isn't what it used to be I hear" Mason mentioned.
"Who says this?" High Priest John asks as if he is offended.
"Master Grendel" Mason quickly answered.
"Is that so…" The High Priest said a bit seriously then softened his expression and chuckled.
"We need support from the Church" Kara finally spoke up.
"But help is coming young lady. I have been working on a uniform for all of the servants who choose to serve the goddess out in the battlefield" he said opening a wardrobe pulling out a couple of robes and head accessories.
"These are for the two of you…and there will soon be more for those who earn their blessing from the Goddess" he said laying them out on his daybed.
"With all due respect, but how are these robes going to help us with all the maladies the church is experiencing?" Kara asked a bit confused.
"One thing at a time young lady" the High Priest held up his hand.
"What are they?" Mason asked quietly.
"I have been working on a certain type of garments that identify us directly as followers of the Church. Our power is divine and those out there who we serve can sometimes forget who we are. You say we need to be more visible in the community" he explained.
"We need to be actively present" Mason remarked.
"This is the bastion which we branch off from" The High Priest said walking back over to his desk.
Both Mason and Kara examined the robes. One outfit was a black pair of linen pants and the shirt was a long sleeved black shirt with a white stripe at the color. The hat was a smaller version of a mitar with the holy symbol embedded on it in gold. The robe was black with a white scarf that also had the Goddesses mark on it.
"This looks interestingly ornate, but not practical" Mason commented.
"These aren't just ceremonial robes" the High Priest quietly replied.
Kara inspected her robes. They looked just like a nun's outfit with the exception of the holy symbol embedded on the wimple. "I have not taken the oath of a nun" Kara mentioned and Mason's eyes brightened for just a split moment.
"You can serve the Goddess however you wish, I'm not asking you to take a vow of celibacy" the High Priest shook his head.
"So what's so special about these robes?" Mason finally asked.
"These clothes are what I call the Sanctus Battle Gear, for those servants of the Goddess who put their life on the line to help the protectors of our realm. They are divinely blessed" he smiled mysteriously.
"Those who see you will know you are a representative of not only the church, but the Goddess" He pulled out a burlap sack from a chest behind his chair and handed it to Kara.
"I want you to take these back to Father Shober and assist him however you see fit" He finished.
"What will the church do?" Mason asked seriously.
"Child, understand that politics are not always the most cut and dry thing, but know that money is necessary for building new chapels over the world and to living expenses of those who go to share the love of the Goddess and heal the sick" he replied almost sternly.
"What about the entry fees?" Kara asked a bit accusingly.
"What entry fees?" High Priest John seemed a bit confused.
"They wanted us to pay just to come in the cathedral" Mason agreed.
"There are fees for historical tours around the cathedral and the grounds, not for entry, everyone is welcome in the cathedral. I'll look into it" High Priest John scratched his chin. Mason and Kara nodded ready to leave.
"Wait, one more thing" he said as a bright light appeared. That moment, each had a set of crystal beads in their hands.
"What are these?!" Kara asked surprised.
"They are Holy Sanctus Beads, carry them everywhere you go be it in battle or prayer" he replied.
"Go now, and tell Father Shober the church will act in due time" The body guards walked in almost on cue.
"I want these two escorted to the parish and given something to eat, then I want a ride for the two paid for back to Lith Harbor" High Priest John told his body guards.
"I bid both of you farewell and may the Goddess always watch over you" he concluded their meeting.
Mason and Kara looked at each other still mesmerized at the importance of their meeting as they were led out.
"How many are in there?" Mason asked.
"I don't know, but this sack is a bit heavy, you carry it" she said handing it to Mason.
"Whoa, I think we have enough of this Sanctus Battle Gear to give to about ten clerics" Mason strained.
"Come on, be a man" Kara laughed.
XXXXXXXXXX
High Priest John sat back down at his desk pondering the meeting. He turned around and opened the chest once again pulling out an illuminated golden holy symbol. He began to ponder his encounter with Novas the angel and what they discussed.
"The mission of the church must change. The Goddess is growing weaker. The time for the Divine Order to openly defy the darkness has come. The time for the Revival of the Goddess has arrived. The chosen ones will come forward very soon, you must have them go into the ancient catacombs and reclaim the ancient holy relics. Remember, there are other evils out there other than the Black Mage"
The High Priest held the symbol close to his chest, "So much work to be done, Goddess save us all".