Reggie had brought the moody teen back to his home, the grand cathedral of the Arkisium Pantheon. From what little he could gather from the teen, Reggie found out that just about every major kingdom and empire worship the same 12 major gods, just with different names.
Reggie wasn't big into religion even in his old world, but he figured he should at least learn about it while he was here. He can't even recall all the times mentioning the name of a obscure god or shouting some inane religious malarkey has saved his life.
The cathedral was massive. Several stories tall and taking up an entire city block. Multiple gardens and parks surrounding it. Even though it wasn't a prayer day, many people came and went seeking whatever divine comfort they could find.
Reggie felt a weird sensation in his body as he approached the main doors as Lady gripped tightly at his shoulders. 'Fuck, of course it's hollowed.' Reggie thought as he stopped and motioned Clerance forward.
"Hey kid, do me a favor and get me your dad. And I swear if you run off again; I WILL FIND YOU." Reggie emphasized. The boy sneered and went inside without hassle.
Reggie posted up around the corner outside and avoided the in and out foot traffic. He seemingly was having a conversation with himself.
"No! I didn't know it was hollow!"
"Well, not every church is hollowed."
"'Cause it takes a lot of manpower and resources --"
"Listen, I've had a long day and I don't need your sass right now!" Reggie accidentally shouted which startled a couple of women of the cloth who just turned the corner.
"Oh, sorry ladies." Reggie nervously apologized, and after they were gone he apologized again. "Sorry Lady."
A few minutes of quiet went by as Reggie rested on a short bench and enjoy the calmer parts of city life. He'd remembered glimpses of his past. As he'd lived on the road with his father, Caduceus Mark. Horse rides from village to village. Helping damsels in distress, and taking them to bed if they were so inclined. Though, that part was mostly his father's business.
Caduceus was your classic lone wolf adventurer, no place to call home, never seeing the same inn twice, slaying arbitrary amounts of wildlife, and never laying with the same woman more than once.
That all stopped when he came across a town with a much more advanced legal system than he was ready for, as he was slapped with something called "custody". He then found himself being much more careful and responsible as he had to take care of a little thing know as a human child. The one adventure he'd yet to have, and the one he was never prepared for.
This wasn't an uncommon theme of the Mark bloodline. They were known as "Nobles of No King". A wide spread and well known reputation, as a person carrying the Mark name could be found in every country, city, village, and hamlet. Either as some lumberjack, herbalist, or an other craftsman. Not a single one raising above the noble rank of Baronet, but all quite prolific, and adamant about keeping the name.
This all started with one of Reggie's ancestors, Cassius Mark, a man who achieved immortality through unknown means, who had that specific goal in mind, but no one even knows nor remembers why. Cassius disappeared from the world after he had become a great grandfather. No amount of divination or godly help could find him.
"Reginald, I presume?" A masculine voice called out from behind him. "My brother Zackaria told me about you."
Reggie turned to see an older gentleman, roughly the same age and look of Zackaria, just a bit taller and wearing the church's white and green trimmed vestments.
"Oh, yeah, that's me. You must be Father Zeke"
"Just Zeke is fine. May I sit?" Zeke motioned to the bench.
"It's your guys' park, so I think I should be asking that."
"I suppose so." Zeke laughed and took a seat next to Reggie. "Thank you for getting my boy back to me."
"Not a problem. Actually no, a bit of a problem. He was quite slippery and even tried to attack us. Though he really wasn't successful."
"I apologize on his behalf. He's...he's at that rebellious age, and that girl -- friend of his isn't a good influence." Zeke stammered a little ashamed. "I'll find a suitable punishment for him later."
Reggie sat quiet for a second gazing off towards the distant edges of the church gardens. "No. He doesn't need punishment."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"He just needs space to figure himself out. I had a bit of an overbearing father myself, so I ran away from him. Even though I had a friend or two to help... there wasn't much I could do. I slept in alleyways, almost starved a few times, hells, I even got mugged and stabbed both in the same night, and by two different people."
"That sounds utterly dreadful..." Zeke said with a worried look. Though, Reggie was just smiling.
"Do you know what I thought the whole time I was lost, starving, and bleeding...?"
"I can't say I do."
"...'I wish dad was here.' And what a cruel mistress fate had in store for me."
"My guess is that your father showed up to help?"
"HA! NOPE! The bastard had already been long gone to the next town over. I had to work a few months at an apothecary to pay off them fixing my wound and giving me a place to sleep, and only then did my dad finally show up."
"Oh sweet Saleen... What did he say to you?"
Reggie put on a gruff older voice and sat up straighter. "Did you learn anything, boy?"
"And what did you say?"
Reggie sat back down somber, but still smiling. "...Nothing. I just hopped onto the horse and held onto his back like my life depended on it. I never ran away again until I was old enough to really strike it out on my own, and that was filled with warm-hearted goodbyes."
The was a respectable silence between the two. The wind breezing over the grass infront of them. Zeke lean forward with a pensive look.
"I guess I shouldn't be too protective of the boy. He knows he always has a home here, even if he doesn't realize it."
"That's all you can do for him at this point." Reggie patted Zeke's back. "Hey, what's that phrase you used 'sweet Saleen'?"
"It's the name of the goddess of the Sun and Light."
"You got one for the moon?"
"Yes, Lixin, twin brother of Saleen. God of the Moon and Darkness."
"Huh, got anymore?"
"Yes. The church worships all 12 gods..."
Zeke began to explain the pantheon to Reggie. Starting with the creation of the gods. It has been said long ago at the dawn of the world 10 entities awoke before any other life, and assigned themselves different things to govern. Saleen was the first taking the Sun and Light. Afterward her brother Lixin took the Moon and Darkness.
Next came Jacqueline, Goddess of Creation, who began adding things to the world, but she quickly found she couldn't govern everything. So she handed down her duties to...
Ourobos, God of Nature.
Boarum, God of Beasts and Man.
Sira, Goddess of Water.
And lastly Murick, God of Stone and Metal.
After some time, they realized they created too great of a world. It had no strife, so there was no need for thriving against the odds. There was no progress. So the last three gods took their duties.
Psyche, Goddess of Illness and Health.
Borial, God of War and Conquest.
And finally, Apocra, Goddess of Disaster and Monsters.
Afterwards, both man and beast fought tooth and nail. Humans and other such races became much smarter and faster to keep up with many of the beasts that just relied on natural ability. But then magic was discovered by the beasts, and tides ever shifted.
From the ashes two new gods were born.
Vigil, Beast God of Magic.
And Zylus, Human God of Peace and Family.
With both of their efforts, and the faith of their followers they brought an end to a majority of conflict. Setting the groundwork for cohabitation and cooperation.
"Damn, that's pretty wild." Reggie jested.
"Your sarcasm doesn't amuse me as much as it does yourself." Zeke said sternly.
"Sorry, I'm not big into gods and religion and stuff, but I know it's good to learn and understand it." Reggie apologized a bit embarrassed.
Zeke smiled. "You seem a lot more open minded than many of the people of this kingdom."
"I try." Reggie stood up to get ready to leave. "Well it was a pleasure to help the Wolfbane's once again. If you ever need anything else, don't be afraid to ask."
Zeke stood and bowed. "It was a pleasure as well... Oh before you go, would you like some water or something? I know the weather's pretty mild but you're sweating buckets."
"Oh, no, it's a chronic illness... thing..." Reggie said feigning embarrassment.
"My apologies. I will not inquire further. Have a good day." Zeke took his leave leaving Reggie by himself. Once he was alone he had a sigh of relief.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't freak out everytime I talk to a priest.
You know those only work on demons, right? Not spirits.
I know, I know.
I love you too."