[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/aRfAXko.png[/img][/center] [hr] [i]Knock knock.[/i] [i]”Come iiiiin~"[/i] Yalen opened the door to the bishop’s office and stepped inside. It was a dark place, dimly lit only by a handful of candelabras hanging from the walls. The velvet colored curtains were drawn closed, blocking out all but a small sliver of light from the outside. As his eyes slowly dilated, he glanced around the room, noting the spartan nature of the superior priest’s work space. Every inch of wall was dedicated to rows upon rows of scrolls, so much so that there was no longer enough room to contain them all within their proper shelves. Hundreds of sealed documents were stacked on top of one another, piled into pyramids in every corner of the room. All other furniture had been removed save for the desk and chair, just to allow one to walk from one end of the office to the other. [color=fd5e53][i]If this is how much work the bishops are getting, I can’t imagine how busy things are up at the top.[/i][/color] Yalen thought to himself. He was slow to approach the bishop’s desk. After spending half the day walking around the city, it felt like he was walking through mud. He came up with an excuse to skip class today to handle some overdue errands, such as buying food for the dragon and picking up a package sent by a certain gun loving friend. This visit was the last thing Yalen needed to take care of for the day. The hooded figure sitting in the bishop’s chair was indeed Yalen superior, but this person was not the bishop. [color=fe2a74]”You’re late you know. It’s not good to keep a lady waiting.“[/color] Gloria crossed her arms and pouted. [color=fd5e53]”My apologies Sister. As you know, it’s been hard for me to get around as of late.“[/color] Yalen replied with a shrug. [color=fe2a74]”Excuses, excuses~“[/color] She sighed and blew a lock of crimson hair off of her nose. [color=fe2a74]”If you had other business you should have let it wait until our meeting was over. Didn’t Colette teach you anything about chivalry?“[/color] [color=fd5e53][i]I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to come see you.[/i][/color] Yalen thought to himself. After getting to know her for the better part of a year, the Biro was beginning to understand why Cardinal Verus rarely let his personal assistant speak out of turn. Her loose mouth was ill fitting someone of her status, especially given the amount of power and responsibility Gloria possessed. He had no idea how such a flippant and salacious woman became entrusted with the power to control time itself. It was not too long ago that his fellow Dark Somnian created an aberration just to stop her past self from tripping over a loose brick. The cardinal yelled at her for so long that he fainted from exhaustion. [color=fd5e53]”You’re right of course. I won’t let it happen again Sister.“[/color] Yalen bowed his head in reverence. Gloria covered her mouth and giggled. [color=fe2a74]”Oh lighten up Yalen, you know I was just teasing you. Why are your responses always so serious?“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I’m sorry for being such a wet blanket. Perhaps you would have more fun chatting with Brother Creed instead?“[/color] The bloodchild gagged. [color=fe2a74]”Yeah right. I can barely get two words out of that mute. Talking with him is about as fun as watching paint dry.“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I wouldn’t go THAT far…“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”Of course you wouldn’t. No balls.“[/color] Yalen could feel a blood vessel throbbing behind his right eyelid. He needed to take control of this conversation quickly so he could go home and prepare for the Trials. The Melon Derby was tomorrow and he had better things to do than get roasted by his annoying colleague. [color=fd5e53]”Yes, yes. My testicular fortitude aside, I believe you have some news to share with me?“[/color] Yalen crossed his arms. [color=fe2a74]”Not in the mood for a chat today? Fiiiiine.“[/color] Gloria huffed. She reached underneath her chair and produced a leather binder filled with documents. The priestess slapped it onto the bishop’s desk and began shuffling through her papers. The process took a few minutes longer than Yalen felt it should have, and all the while Gloria sending looks his way. It was the kind of petty behavior he’d come to expect from her. He took the opposite seat and passed the time by staring at the wall behind her, admiring the patterns in the woodwork. Eventually Gloria brushed against a piece of parchment which gave her reason to pause. [color=fe2a74]”Oh, here it is.“[/color] It was wrinkled due to a lack of care, and she had to rub it against the corner of the desk for a minute just to make the letters readable. Yalen wondered how the cardinal got any work done when his closest aide treated important church documents like they were her freshman year theology homework. [color=fe2a74]”Ahem.“[/color] Gloria held the letter up to her face. [color=fe2a74]”The Quentic Church hereby recognizes your request… blah blah blah… Yalen Castel… mhm… after much deliberation… yeah who cares… sabbatical…“[/color] Her crimson eyes widened with surprise. [color=fe2a74]”Huh? You requested a sabbatical? And it got approved?“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”Yes Sister, I did. Various things have happened this year, and taking a break from my work as a priest would give me much needed time to think.“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”Frankly I’m not sure what to say. If it were up to me this request would not have been approved. We’ve been stretched thin as it is.“[/color] The parchment gradually turned to dust in Gloria’s hands. [color=fe2a74]”Ah well, it’s not my place to object. I don’t know what the cardinal is thinking, but I must abide by his decision. Stand up please.“[/color] Yalen rose from his seat. With an exaggerated flourish, Gloria went about magically altering his robes for a second time. His first makeover saw him transformed from a Brother of Sunset to a member of the High Somnians. Things were different now. When it no longer felt like his skin was crawling, he looked down and tugged at his new clothes. There was no more adornment. No more silver trim. The badges of his office had all been stripped away, replaced by a simple gray robe befitting someone on a religious pilgrimage. From today until the time he chose to return to the fold, the young man was no longer a Somnian. He was just Yalen Castel, son of Charles Castel. The only thing identifying him as a Quentic was the five sided icon hanging from his neck. [color=fe2a74]”There, it’s done. Wow, I just realized how cute you are without all that distracting embroidery getting in the way.“[/color] Gloria’s pale face suddenly turned a light shade of pink. [color=fd5e53]”Sister…“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”I know, I know. I’m just saying, if I was a Hundrian and you were single…“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”Gloria!“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”I’m sorry! Have you tried not being my type?“[/color] Gloria gave herself an energetic clap on the cheeks. [color=fe2a74]”Alright, Serious Sister Graziano is in the building now. Nice to meet you.“[/color] She cleared her throat and leaned forward, hands clasped on top of the desk with an air of authority. Yalen couldn’t help but notice that she was sitting exactly like Brother Pierce usually would when having a heated discussion with someone. [color=fe2a74]”So, I’m sure you’re already aware of how this works, but just in case let me remind you of a few things. You have just relinquished your post within the church. Until the day you decide to return to us, your authority has been stripped along with your uniform. From now on, the consequences of any actions you take will fall squarely on your shoulders, and yours alone. In spite of this, we still expect you to respect the tenets of the Menana and conduct yourself accordingly. You may not be a priest right now, but you are still an ambassador of the Quentic faith. Understood?“[/color] Yalen nodded along in acknowledgement. It took several days of prayer and meditation just to come to this decision. He had a vague idea of how difficult things would get from now on. Without the armor of the church’s authority, people would be treating the priest in training very differently from today onward. He would have to be careful not to anger the wrong people lest he find himself in a dark alley with a knife between his ribs. [color=fd5e53]”Understood Sister. Thank you for your help.“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”This is the last thing I’ll be allowed to do for you. You really are on your own. Are you sure you’re ready to face the world like this?“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I’ll be okay. I have friends I can count on now. Besides, no true believer is ever alone as long as the gods watch over us.“[/color] Yalen’s gaze tilted slightly upwards. [color=fe2a74]”Typical Yalen, ever the poet. Maybe that should be your nickname. Poet.“[/color] Gloria grinned. [color=fe2a74]”Well don’t let me keep you any longer you busybody. I can already see your feet inching towards the door.“[/color] She waved at Yalen dismissively. With no reason to object, he gave her a respectful bow and turned towards the exit. However, before he was able to leave, he felt a hand grab his shoulder. [color=fe2a74]”Oh yeah, one more thing.“[/color] Yalen felt a draw of energy from Gloria, but before he could react his entire body was racked with pain. The crazy woman electrocuted him! He would have tried to retaliate if every muscle in his body wasn’t involuntarily seizing up. [color=fe2a74]”There. That should help a little bit.“[/color] [color=fd5e53][i]Help me how exactly!?[/i][/color] Yalen’s jaw was clenched too tightly to speak. Gloria rested a hand on him and alleviated some of the pain with her magic. Apparently that wasn’t her attempting to murder him. She almost had him fooled. [color=fe2a74]”Was it too strong? I apologize, I’m still working out the kinks. I’ve been working on a spell to help a Tethered on four maintain their mobility. Could you try getting up and walking around?“[/color] Gloria picked Yalen up and guided him from one end of the room to the other. She seemed to be paying close attention to his feet. [color=fe2a74]”Hm, still no good. I thought that some electrotherapy might reawaken some of your nerves, even for a short time. The human body is more complicated than I thought…“[/color] Gloria shook her head with disappointment. [color=fe2a74]”All of us are worried about you. Without those magic shoes of yours you would probably need a wheelchair by now.“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I’ll be alright Sister. I’m used to this.“[/color] Yalen peeled Gloria’s hands away and steadied himself against the wall. His helper didn’t appear too convinced, but she made no more attempts to support him against his wishes. [color=fe2a74]”Don’t push yourself too hard. I still have some other ideas for keeping you on your feet, but I’ll need time to experiment. Just don’t go killing off any more of your manas until we meet again, okay?“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I can’t promise anything if I meet another undead saint.“[/color] Yalen joked. [color=fe2a74]”Heh. It’s just like you to say that. Ah! It’s a good thing I stopped you. I almost forgot to give you something. Here, a missive from Captain D’aureville.“[/color] Gloria pulled a folded up letter from her inner robes and pushed it into Yalen’s hands. [color=fe2a74]”The cardinal is sending her overseas to conduct an investigation. The window of departure was too narrow for her to come say goodbye in person. The captain will be spending a few months in Vossoriya.“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”Vossoriya? Why are they sending her so far west?“[/color] The piece of paper crumpled in Yalen’s grasp. [color=fe2a74]”I don’t know much. The order wants her to find someone for us, and our superiors think the trail starts in Vossoriya. Aside from that, I am as in the dark as you are.“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”I-I see. Thank you for sharing this with me. I only wish I could have been there to...“[/color] Yalen fell silent. [color=fe2a74]”Oh cheer up. It’s not like she’s going to war. If she runs into a situation she can’t handle alone she’ll come home right away. I’m sure of it.“[/color] Gloria patted Yalen on the shoulder and ushered him to the door. [color=fe2a74]”Go home and rest alright? You’re a Trials competitor starting tomorrow! You can’t let your anxiety get the best of you or you’ll let your team down, right?“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”Yeah, right. The Trials.“[/color] Yalen mumbled. Suddenly the competition was the last thing on his mind. [color=fd5e53]”I suppose I should go home and practice my spells. I’ll be taking my leave now.“[/color] [color=fe2a74]”Don’t be a stranger, Yalen. We might not be working together for a while, but we’re still friends right? Let’s have a meal together sometime.“[/color] [color=fd5e53]”Sure, that sounds good.“[/color] Yalen faked a smile as he departed Sister Graziano’s company. [color=fd5e53][i]Oh sis… I have a bad feeling about this.[/i][/color]