Chapter 2 – Father Yosuke

I awoke the next morning quite late. I took a quick shower, put on my robes and head downstairs.

To my surprise, there was an additional person on the breakfast table; Father Yosuke. The one priest I looked up too. Ever since I was an acolyte he always guided me on what to do next, and I idolized him. Too bad he had to go away on a pilgrimage much, MUCH more perilous than the one I was SUPPOSE to undergo…

"Re!" He exclaimed, turning around to face me.

"Father Yosuke!" I yelled as I walked briskly towards him. "So….how was that pilgrimage?"

"I just warped there."

"Oh, I see." Obviously, we were sarcastic, but I think some acolytes took it literally. Poor them.

There was a vacant seat beside him. I took the liberty of taking it, to catch up with him.

He looked at me, then his eyes widened. Apparently, he hadn't noticed.

"You're already a priest?" He exclaimed, as he looked at Mathilda. She ignored him and continued eating her egg. "When….when did you—"

"—yesterday. I can already—"

"..do you know how to exorcise—"

"—exorcise demons and undead…"

"…"

"…"

We paused for a while as I ate a bit.

The rest of the morning seemed to pass by quickly as I caught up with Father Yosuke. After breakfast, we lay under a tree in the fields.

Father Yosuke sat down, his back against the trunk of the tree. It was a bright, sunny day, there were hardly any clouds, and the sky was as blue as ever. "Blessings from God", as he told me.

He stretched out his arm and an apple fell from the tree. I always wondered how he did it, or even how a priest did it….

I looked at him. He didn't change much. Even after 10 years. From the looks of it, I'd say he was no older than 40. His hair was still the same shoulder-length dark blue color, full of energy, bouncing up and down each time he ran, of course he didn't do that much now. Then I saw mounted by his waist was the Grand Cross: a cruciform mace blessed by the pope. In other words, the pope himself saw Father Yosuke as a very able person. Not surprising.

Then he turned around and saw me looking at his mace, envying it, as I honestly did.

"You know what your problem is?" He said, as he bit into his apple. "You're not content with what you have."

Great, more lectures. As if Mathilda didn't give me enough. Even though I admired him a lot, I hated lectures. Not even if they were from Yosuke.

"Tell me, what makes you satisfied? What makes you happy?"

"Others' happiness." I lied. He saw through me.

"You expect me to believe that? That's what a priest examiner wants to hear! Now, honestly. Tell me. It doesn't matter what it is. Priests are mortals too, after all."

I thought about it for a while, digging for an answer. What DID make me happy? Well, his coming back made me happy. But I can't say that. Too gay.

"When…..when I became…"

"Yes?"

"When I became a priest!"

"Of course. Who wouldn't? The fruit of years of labor. BUT--"

I knew it! He's a living lie-detector.

"—you're still lying."

I thought hard. He wasn't going to stop until I told the truth. He was creeping closer and closer. It suddenly came over me: He was reading my mind.

"Fine! I confess! Nadine! Nadine Elisiri!"

"Nadine….wasn't she—"

"—an acolyte, yes!"

"And you do know priests aren't allowed to have a sexual relationship with others, ESPECIALLY a co-priest."

"I know that, but….."

"But what?"

"Well, I never really wanted to be a priest at first. I wanted to be a wizard, really, but…..something happened. I don't remember."

"Well….at least you're honest. Your secret's safe with me."

Thank the Lord! One of the many reasons I like him.

I didn't realize, but I dozed off under the tree. It was heavenly, one of the best naps I've ever had. The gentle wind and the blue sky my lullaby.

Though a nice sleep, it was a horrible nightmare.

I was in a dark, quiet hallway. A prison, to be exact. Slivers of moonlight came through the windows. It was empty. The cells were empty, save for a few, which had corpses of prisoners in them.

I started walking. I had no idea how to get out.

I reached a fork and had a choice: Right or left? I chose the left path.

Then I stopped in my tracks.

At the far end of the corridor, I heard a "clinging" sound….like that of chains. Shackles. I could've sworn I skipped a beat.

I decided to turn around and go the other way. The right path.

But yet again, I heard the shackles. I walked faster. The scene became more and more grim with each step; blood on the walls, mutilated bodies….I couldn't stand it! I began to burst into a sprint.

The hall was getting darker and darker. I was seeing less and less. I snapped my fingers. Nothing. "Ruwach!" I shouted. Not even the incantation worked. Nothing. Total, pure darkness.

Then a hand from one of the cells grabbed my neck. I turned to look at it.

I was petrified both by fear and shock. A bloody, mutilated face stared back at me through lifeless eyes. I recognized the face, though. It was me. ME! But how was this possible? I reached for my wand…..

Then I woke up. I looked around. In the distance, Father Yosuke was walking back towards the sanctuary, apparently in a rush. It was getting dark, so I stood up and went back.

As I walked, I tried to remember the dream: A dark, haunting tower. But I was sure I haven't seen anything like it on any map…