Within Holy Walls

By Tenshi no Ai

(C) Square Enix

Three: The Gentle Priest, Verden Buremonda

-0-

Reis! Come play with us!

Brown hair.

Big sister!

Amber eyes.

You're always so slow!

Two sets.

Hurry up! We don't have all day!

Wait...

Eyes open. Wince. Shut tight.

Bright.

Why is it bright?

Slowly I open my eyes again, and the light becomes nearly unbearable.

Morning...my room doesn't face the east...

I sit up and nearly choke myself in the process. Easier to fall back and sink into the warmth and close my eyes and what's this?

Purple...

Oh. Right. I'm not in Murond anymore. This is Lionel. My homeland, Lionel. And this purple isn't my purple, it's Beowulf's purple.

Cape.

I meant cape. It's Beowulf's purple cape. God, a color isn't an object unless it's an orange. What am I thinking?

...It's probably too early to be awake.

Work. Right. I have to go to work. Let me just undo this brooch after a few more minutes of sleep...

-0-

I slip on a long-sleeved white shirt, ruefully looking around at all the clothes strewn all over my floor. Too many clothes, made over the years by my admittedly unprofessional hands. Indigo to peach, violet to rust, all these colors inhabit my once-bare floor like colorful snow.

All that, just for a white shirt.

Bending over in my white shirt and brown boots, I sift through the clothes until I find a modest peach dress. Ah. I didn't make this.

Perfect for work.

-0-

As I wander around the church, hopelessly lost, I can't help but notice its unique design. I'm walking in one of the inside corridors, yet...I'm not. The doors that lead into rooms are on my right, and on my left is a wall...but not really. There are huge sections taken out of the wall, so it's like being outside even though I'm inside the church.

This design is very unorthodox. I like it.

Maybe the reason I'm lost is because I keep looking outside at the town, with all the people walking around, instead of paying attention to where I'm going...

--dingdingDONGdingding--

Ah...!

The bells chime loudly, and I cover my ears in pain. They ring continuously in excruciating tones, with spikes of pain jutting through my head at each

--DONG--

...Ow...

They stop. Thank God. I lower my hands from my ears and run them through my hair. Even after years of having these sensitive senses, I just can't get used to church bells. If I weren't a ward of the Church I'd live far away from any establishment with unnecessarily loud bells. I might go to Hell when I die, but at least I'd have some peace before death.

I sigh.

Can't think blasphemous thoughts, Reis, you're in church.

Anyway, main library. I look ahead to the end of the hall. Hm, double doors just ahead. That looks like a good place to check. I walk over to them and pull at the handle.

A musty sigh smashes into my face. Ah, this must be the right place.

I step inside. It's just as bright in here as it is outside in the hall. I look up. There's no ceiling...glass?

I've heard about something like that...a skylight.

A skylight in a library?

"Ah, Reis, welcome to the pride and joy of the 'Celestial Light'." A warm chuckle follows that remark. Lowering my gaze to eye level, I am greeted by Verden's cheerful face.

That's right, this church is called 'The Celestial Light of Saint Ajora'...

"So...the reason this church has that name is because of this skylight?" I point upward, as if he didn't notice the huge ceiling of glass over our heads.

Predictably, he smiles at my assumption. "I didn't think you would be familiar with the concept of a 'skylight', since they have only been in style with the more outrageous castles. But yes, this church is renowned for that particular idea. There is another skylight over the meeting hall, but the nave itself only has stained glass windows." He pauses, staring at me. "You've undoubtedly noticed the hallways?"

I nod. It seems like he says this a lot.

"This church is so named for a reason. Even if this is a closed building, we will let in as much of the Lord's light as He will allow us."

"What about when it rains?" I blurt out.

Verden stares at me for a long moment, then grins. "That's why we use glass."

I giggle, feeling like an idiot.

Turning towards the center of the room, he motions for me to follow him. I do so, looking at all the bookcases. Everything looks in order and even dusted, something I've never liked doing.

In fact, everything looks too in order. At least, too much to transfer a cataloguer out of Murond.

Four tables stand in the middle of the library, two on the left and two on the right. A number of chairs reside around each table. There are a few books on the table closest to me, the lower righthand table. The titles are in ancient Ivalician.

"Please, have a seat," Verden offers, sitting down at the table. I take the seat across from him, looking at the book in front of me.

Prophecies of Saint Ajora as dictated to Bariaus.

That name...

"As you've most likely noticed, this library really doesn't need a cataloguer. The reason why I've asked for your transfer here is because of your translation skills." Verden looks at me, something hidden in his light blue eyes.

It makes me feel weird...oddly pleased.

Is that admiration?

Wait a minute. He asked for my transfer? But... "I was told by the High Priest that it was to Examiner Draclau that I would be transferred to..."

"Well, Examiner Draclau is traveling to conduct some heresy trials, then he is due in Bervenia for his confirmation to become a cardinal. While he is gone, Beowulf and I are to lead Lionel province in his stead."

Beowulf...he has the same status as Verden...?

It didn't seem like that yesterday...

Hm.

"Oh, I see. So, you just need me to translate...?" I ask, looking at the book in front of me again.

Ah...Bariaus...

"Yes. Of course, you will still be paid your regular salary. I will evaluate your progress at the end of this month and based on that you may receive a raise." Verden smiles proudly. "After all, Lionel is a very prosperous province."

Of course it is. It's Church-owned, so it has nothing to do with the war...unless the war comes to Lionel again...

I lower my head. "I thank you for your consideration."

Verden waves his hand. "Oh, no, Reis, I must thank you. After all, you are the only translator here."

I glance up at his smiling face, before reaching out for the prophecies book and opening it to the first page.

How important can this work be, if I'm the only translator?

I suppose that's not my concern...

-0-

Ajora, child of the Holy Spirit Himself, our Lord God and therefore a Holy Spirit as well, his Holiness limited in the scope of His Father, the Holy Spirit Himself, our Lord God; however, this is not to say that His Father, the Holy Spirit Himself, our Lord God has any limit whatsoever concerning His own Holiness, but rather that Ajora Glabados, child of the Holy Spirit Himself, our Lord God, was borne into a human form--but not a human in spirit since he is the child of the Holy Spirit Himself, our Lord God--and that had limited his Holiness, although in such miniscule ways that it is not worth mentioning...

I stop writing. This took me an hour to translate? That didn't even say anything of importance! Not only is that the longest run-on sentence I've ever seen, but it's not even done yet!

I hate theology. No, I'll amend that. I hate Bariaus' lousy writing skills.

"Ah, Reis, you don't look very pleased with your work."

I look up from my work as Verden places a white bottle in front of the tome I've been translating. "How can you tell?" I ask wryly.

Verden sits down across from me, chuckling lightly. "Your eyes are flashing like a storm cloud." He reaches out and taps the top of the bottle. "I'm amazed at your diligence. It's already almost three. You must be hungry by now, so I brought you some milk."

I look up. The sun's position has moved drastically from when it was nine. "I can't believe I spent six hours working on that preface," I mutter, moving that book and my notepad aside to bring my bottle forward. I pry off the top with my left hand and bring the opening to my lips...ah...creamy... "Ah...thank you very much, Verden," I say after finishing off half the bottle. He waves his hand in dismissal, his face alight with that gentle smile that always seems to grace his face.

He's such a kind man. I wish the priests back in Murond were more like him instead of huddling together with their own kind.

"You know, you look even more lovely than the last time I saw you," he says, and I pause.

I've...no, I've never seen him before. "I don't remember...?"

He leans back in his chair. Although he is obviously at least ten years older than I, he has a very delicate facial structure that makes him look younger...slightly androgynous. And with that gentle curving of his lips and those light blue eyes which almost seem aglow with peace...he looks like a painting of an angel brought to life.

Serene.

I feel so plain next to him...

He laughs, and by the way he's smiling I know he isn't laughing at me and my suddenly faulty memory. "You didn't see me, but I saw you. It was over five years ago, when I was in Murond for my confirmation to become a higher-ranked priest. Let me tell you..."

-0-

(Murond, March of Pantora 42)

Verden Buremonda stood in a group of his peers, not so much listening to them expound on theological ideas as he was taking in the mild March day. The climate was similar to Lionel province, as both Murond and Lionel were in the same area, latitude-wise, of Ivalice. He had always enjoyed coming to Murond for this reason, especially this time because he was due to be blessed by the High Priest tonight.

Gold passed by his eyes, and he had to blink in the wake of its beauty.

A young girl stood just before him, head turned in such a way that she did not notice his staring. Although she wore rather plain clothes, signifying that she was either a pilgrim from somewhere in war-torn Ivalice or perhaps employed by the Church for menial labor, she had a presence that belied all that.

She had long hair, a veritable golden waterfall flowing down to the small of her back. There was a thick strand of it blocking off the side of her face, but he was content with what was before him.

It was enough.

She turned, so that most of her face was available for his eyes to assess. While there was a blank expression on her face, suggesting that she was someone who didn't readily show her feelings, she still had a lovely face.

Light brown eyes. High cheekbones. Creamy light skin.

"Priest Buremonda..."

Verden turned back to his companions, flushing guiltily at having been caught staring at a woman. He held his appointment as a priest very seriously.

But she had a presence far beyond a woman decades older than she, almost inhuman...

"Did you need to talk to that cataloguer about a book or something, Buremonda?"

"I..."

He did want to see her.

"...Yes, but I don't even know her name."

Tell me her name, his eyes silently begged.

One of the older priests spoke up. "Her name is Reis Dular. The newest head cataloguer, if I remember correctly. A cold woman. You're best off getting your books from another cataloguer."

Verden understood the implied order and obeyed.

-0-

Hearing this from Verden's perspective, one would think that I was an amazing woman in all aspects. Presence...beauty...

--I can't just let a beautiful girl go indecently around town, especially if she's in employ of the Church--

As long as I have a beautiful cocoon, will no one care what sleeps inside?

--You know, you seem like the type of person who thinks so much that they never bother to have a conversation outside of their mind--

He would've talked to me, if he had seen me then.

Well, maybe.

"Reis? Is something wrong?"

"No." My answer is instantaneous. "I was just thinking...it would've been nice if you had talked to me that day."

It's not like I was looking for a friend that day. I remember. I was looking for the cloth peddler, who only comes to Murond once a month.

Verden smiles brightly. "Well, at least I can talk to you now."

Hn. "Yes, that's true."

I don't believe that at all. To say 'well, in the end everything turned out all right' may sound right, in accordance with God's will, but...is that really right?

Is just relying on God really all right?

Is that really faith...or dependence?

--It must've been fate that we met--

Fate...

"May I ask what you are thinking about?"

"Fate," I blurt out. At Verden's confused expression, I try to explain myself. "Do you believe that there is such thing as fate?"

His eyes shift away from me as his chin lowers to rest on a propped-up hand. "Do you mean 'fate' as in the ultimate fate of all those devoted to the Glabados faith?"

I blink. That's pretty far from what I was thinking. "I mean, that each person has a predestined course on which to run their lives, that there is a power that controls and sets up events...such as an accidental meeting."

"A power other than God?" He doesn't look too happy about that.

"Well...or that God, perhaps, may hold that power..."

"While God is an omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient being, he decreed through his son Saint Ajora that people are beings imbued with free will, blessed so long as they follow his son's words." Verden pauses, staring at me strangely. "Of course, you knew that already, didn't you?"

I did... "Yes, of course."

...But it doesn't seem like everyone does.

"I just like to think about other faiths in correspondence with my own, that's all."

'My own'. Wow. That's appropriately vague.

"Hm..." Now he has his normal serene expression. "A true intellectual, I see. However, God gave us the gift of free will under some rules of common sense. So please, think about subjects with more value to them."

I almost want to argue.

Who are you to dictate what I think about?

Almost.

You are like the corporeal body of the Church, and I am the Church's ward...

But there wouldn't be any value to that. Some people would rather die than change their beliefs.

That's why there are heretic examiners and Temple Knights and...

--It must've been fate that we met--

I...I'm looking into this too much.

I'm looking into him too much.

I push my chair back and stand. "I think I'll just start again tomorrow. Thank you for your kindness, Verden."

"Of course." He stands as well. "But please get something to eat first. You already look so thin."

I nod, turn and leave.

-0-

My room is clean now, with all my clothes folded nicely into my valise. I'm on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, completely surrounded by the darkness.

I'd like to grab my valise and run back to Murond.

Back into my anonymous life.

Back in emotional stasis.

It's safer that way.

--I'd like to hear what's going on in your mind--

I'd like for you to get out of my mind...but...

Even if it's just your voice, it's nice to know that I'm not alone.

-End to Three-

Love triangles, to me, always end in tragedy. In the end, someone is always left out, and even the people who are together have to live with the fact that they caused that hurt. It would be easy to paint Buremonda as the 'bad guy', and make it a story of true love and the evil that gets in the way, but...no. That would be too easy, and less painful.

And less true.

Religion is not my forte...well, not Christianity and Catholicism and the likes. We only see the Glabados church doing political things within the game, so I thought I'd expand a bit on the religious part of the Church. Maybe I failed, but maybe it actually looks okay.

Reviewers!

Mavina, thank you very much! I'm trying to make this into a very good story, but I'm afraid that romance isn't the easiest thing for me to write about. I'm assuming that, by your comment, there are Reis/Beowulf stories around? Please point me towards one or two of them, I've not found any yet!

All comments and questions are always appreciated! But if you're just reading and reserving your judgment for later, I respect that as well. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 4: A Friendly Outing (the thread tied around my finger): "So, do you often go to these 'restaurants' with women?"