"Can you imagine, Marco, what an ordeal it was? Can you imagine the effort I made to prevent the conclave from burning down with all the cardinals gathered there to elect a new Pope?" The two friends sat in one of the numerous chambers of the Apostolic Palace. The room was perfectly suited for their meeting, providing a comfortable solitude reminiscent of brothers-in-arms, uninterrupted by any outside intrusions.
— And so, following your election as Pope, your initial decree and edict was to dismiss twenty-six members of the curia and have them executed by hanging on the square before the Apostolic Palace. The global community remains in disbelief, and across Europe, whispered conversations in the shadows speculate about the return of the Inquisition and whether flames will once again ignite in the city squares.
The head of the secret Inquisition, which officially does not exist but is known only to a select few, sipped from a cup of diluted wine. At one point, in an attempt to cool the tension between religious and secular powers, the Vatican announced the dissolution of the Inquisition and its dismantling. However, this was merely a formality, as it was simply rebranded as the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In the annals of our world's history, this event occurred in 1908. However, in my alternate reality, it transpired in 1839. The catalyst for this divergence was the Church's involvement in Napoleon's conquest campaign, which was akin to a dog chasing its own tail.
The primary instrument of the Church's meddling in these affairs was the Inquisition. This move by the Church was intended to foster reconciliation and mitigate the intensity of passions. Concerned about their own autonomy and the authority of monarchs, they took this step. We have never heard of the Inquisition's arbitrary actions in the Vatican, and thus we declare the end of this institution.
"I do not care what the monarchs and their ilk are saying. If necessary, the flames shall burn!!!" Vencenzenzo exclaimed angrily, striking his fist upon the table. Having ascended the sacred throne, he now bore the name of Konon II, which in ancient Greek meant industrious. This was the word that resonated in his heart when he chose a new name to become pontiff.
How was Vencenzen to know that Svyatozar, at that very moment, had decided to check on his old friend? A part of Svyatozar's mental being, one of the currents of his consciousness, had entered Vencenzo through the connection between a cardinal and an egregore. Svyatozar felt at home there. It was how Svyatozar responded to Konon when Venceo contemplated his new name for the throne.. Svyatozar, himself the perpetrator of the brewing mess in Europe, remained within the egregor, enclosing the very locus of his apprehension with a protective barrier, severing it from the nourishing bahiomen, which had served as a warning beacon, foreshadowing potential future calamities. Following the establishment of the barrier, its intensity began to diminish, yet it persisted, continuing to haunt the new custodian of the egregor. Thus, Svyatozar was compelled to confront this situation head-on.
You cannot fathom the revelation my gift bestowed upon me regarding these creatures, beings I cannot even deign to call human. They were a veritable den of degenerates and sinners. Imagine, of all the cardinals within the College of Cardinals, only four were deemed worthy of this exalted status. The rest, not only within the confines of the Vatican but even as mere parishioners on the fringes of the church, were excluded. And yet, I had no choice but to order their execution, for their transgressions demanded no less than Judas' fate.
"What were the transgressions that warranted your decree of execution?" inquired Marco.
"Embezzlement of funds from the sacred treasury on a scale so immense that the proceeds could have sustained the starving populace of Europe for an entire year! Depravity, pederasty, and one individual who engaged in bestiality on a weekly basis!" Marco choked at this revelation as he took a further sip from his cup, absorbing the pontiff's indictment.
But this was not the worst of it. The most abhorrent aspect, for me, was the presence of apostates, those who had aligned themselves with the minions of the abyss! What was the Inquisition doing at this juncture, I ask you?" And now the inimical gaze of Vencenzenzo — or rather, Conon — was fixed upon the bridge of Marco's nose.
"And in this regard, the credit once again goes to your predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, Count of Pecci, who decreed that no investigation should be conducted against any cardinals without his explicit authorization, granting them immunity from legal proceedings. This is the case, as you know, Vincenzo," the new pontiff addressed his friend, using the latter's given name, a sign of their close relationship.
"Why did you burn Leo?" Vincenzo asked, as the two friends took the opportunity to discuss the events of the past ten days after Vincenzo's resurrection. Since their arrival in the Vatican, things had been moving too quickly, and events had unfolded too swiftly, with the cult of devil worshippers firmly entrenched at the highest levels of church leadership.
"And how could I have reacted otherwise? When our eyes met, I beheld a creature enthroned, a slave to its own vile nature, its soul branded with a seal of servitude. The stench of its obscene essence was so repugnant that I nearly retched.
My control over the power of my Punishing Eye is still imperfect, and in that moment, my instincts took over, acting faster than my conscious mind could respond. I should have hurled this wretch into the very dungeons of your service, or my own order, and extracted every last morsel of information about their abhorrent cult."
"And you were also opposed to my insistence that we raise all of the knights of your order and my soldiers before meeting with the Pope. Had it not been for our troops surrounding and besieging the pontiff's palace, it would have taken us a long time to process the news afterwards. It is fortunate that our men prevented anyone from leaving the premises until each member of the Vatican Secretariat took an oath of secrecy after being thoroughly vetted, and no cultists were found among them. Otherwise, there could have been unrest, and you would have had to prove to the faithful that you were not the camel and the Pope was not a demon-worshipper."
"Very well, I concede!" the cardinal raised his arms in surrender. "You were right." Vencenzenzo disliked admitting when he was wrong, but when it occurred, he did so.
What changes lie ahead for our church?
Marco needed to be prepared for what was to come, for his friend was not content with what he had accomplished, and the Church would undergo a transformation unless it were reorganized from its very foundation.
Vencenzo, taking a long, thirsty draught, continued.
"We must mobilize all our resources and apprehend every traitor who has abandoned us to the infernal realms. This requires the involvement of all available Dragon Knights, as search and pursuit are among the most formidable aspects of our order. I have instructed the secretariat to dispatch letters summoning all bishops, cardinals, and abbots to attend a meeting in the Vatican within the year. My hopes are high, yet the gallows before the Apostolic Palace remain a potent reminder, and there is no need for haste in dismantling them.
Those who fail to appear before me within the designated timeframe will be apprehended by your agents and brought before me. Should they resist, you have my authorization to use force. It matters not how you bring them before me, so long as they are presented alive. The remainder is of little consequence."
Moreover, you will assemble a group of youthful men under your supervision who ardently believe in God and aspire to combat the darkness, yet for some reason, they are unable to do so on the battlefield. I shall bestow upon them the gift of discerning falsehood and perceiving truth. Thereafter, they shall conduct an audit of all Catholic Church properties alongside a team comprising your men, my knights, and witches.
They will scrutinize the accounts of every parish, church, monastery, diocese, and abbey. Should instances of theft or embezzlement be uncovered, they may subject the perpetrator to excommunication through hanging; the flames of divine justice await their arrival!
Suppose the investigation reveals that a portion of the embezzled funds has been diverted to relatives who are not affiliated with the Church. In such a case, it is imperative to engage with the local government, and the stolen funds should be returned through a secular court of law. If the local authorities resist the triumph of justice, I shall personally excommunicate each and every one of these unscrupulous individuals from the sacred realm of the church.. I have already drafted a plan for this purpose and approved it, but I will make it public only when the audit teams are prepared. Furthermore, I have issued an order that in each monastery, an orphanage should be established for the needy, where every individual will find employment, for which they will be provided with sustenance. He who does not work, shall not eat!
I am determined to dedicate my life to ensuring that within my fief, where our faith flourishes, there shall be no destitute individuals, and they shall have the opportunity to forge a prosperous future. Free educational institutions, including schools and universities, will be established.
In essence, I have resolved to accomplish numerous tasks, although for now, I must focus on managing the current situation.
"He'll lay down his life!" Marco exclaimed, recalling Venchenzo's recent words, "and this despite the fact that you are not at risk of dying from old age due to natural causes and having already returned from the afterlife."
Vencenzenzo burst into laughter.
It is no mere coincidence that I have been granted a second chance at life and bestowed with talents. Thus, you and I possess the potential to witness the kingdom of Heaven on Earth, rather than in the hereafter. After all, the fate of this world is now in our own hands, my friend!
Speaking of the hereafter, have you ever shared with me what lies in store for us beyond this life? Marco gestured towards the heavens, his gaze fixed on the sky above.
We shall be rewarded in proportion to our deeds and faith. Should you have lived a life of righteousness, free from hypocrisy, and endeavored to uphold the commandments, paradise shall await you. Each individual has his own personal paradise and his own personal hell. In short, it is a place of great bliss. It was the first time I had truly rested my spirit, and had it not been for Svyatozar's appearance in my paradise, I might have remained unaware that it was but an illusion.
One should not place one's trust in an afterlife and assume that one will receive what one deserves there. Instead, one should strive to create their own paradise in this worldly realm and assist others in their God-pleasing endeavors. Fill their lives with joy and combat injustice here and now! There is no need for such contemplation. Heaven and hell are merely figments of our imagination, places where we indulge in paradisiacal bliss or inflict hellish agony upon ourselves.
And as he spoke, Vencenzenzo was unwavering in his conviction, for Svyatozar had imbued him with a comprehensive understanding of the new paradigm of the afterlife he had established.
Now, all the souls of the faithful who have entered the realm of the One have been carefully selected by the egregore, who decides where to send them. He is guided in his choices based on the vision and assessment of Svyatozar, who has embedded his personality matrix in the control processor of the pantheon of the One.
If, according to Svyatozar's judgment, the soul was a virtuous person in its earthly life, it is sent to the desired paradise, based on the soul's own perception. Upon reaching the peak of its evolution, it continues to draw energy that, at this point, becomes detrimental to it. The egregore bestows upon it a portion of Bahiony, which envelops it, protecting the soul's shells and propelling it towards the cycle of Sansara.. And thanks to this, souls now have a great opportunity in their new life to recall memories of their previous existence, and a rational individual will understand this as a form of gratitude from the deity of their former world for their righteous life, in which they placed their trust.
Now, this world, with its egregore of the one, has become perhaps the largest forge of trapped individuals in the multiverse, as over ninety percent of souls who pass through paradise will remember their previous existence in the new reality and know whom to thank. Imagine such a scenario: a soul awakens as a child in this new world, and what they might say or not say, but most sensible individuals fear losing their identity. For instance, if they find themselves in a world corresponding to the Middle Ages or even earlier stages of societal development, they possess the knowledge of an Earthling from the nineteenth century, which could greatly assist them in adapting to their new circumstances and expressing gratitude.? Indeed, it is to God that they owe their salvation, and they shall be sincere in their gratitude, for it was bestowed upon them unconditionally for the sake of the righteous flock. Now, however, they are aware of how to avoid losing themselves in the cycle of rebirths. All that is required is to follow the precepts, maintain decency, and place one's trust in the Almighty.
Yet, in their new life, this soul shall find itself surrounded by a new family and friends, eager to impart their faith. Thus, they shall begin to propagate their beliefs in the realm beyond. This, in essence, represents a gentle expansion of their faith into other realms.
Within the ethereal realm of each soul that has transcended the threshold of paradise, a concise compendium of "Genuine Tenets of Faith in the Divine" shall be inscribed, serving as a guide for their spiritual journey.
And no turning the other cheek, or do not kill, will be there. Svyatozar interpreted this commandment as follows: "No aggression without cause." If someone appeared at your doorstep with a sword, intent on killing you and depriving you of your wealth, then you had every right to annihilate your enemy, then go to their home, slaughter all the men there, take their livestock, household items, women, and all other possessions, and claim them as your own. What you had fought for, you had earned! The other commandments remained unaltered. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor steal, and so forth. He added the aspiration for personal growth, regardless of the circumstances, but one must have a vocation in which they strive for perfection.
The fate of those who descended to Hell remained unchanged. They were plundered until they were reduced to self-destructive collapse, leaving only the bare Atman to fly off into the cycle of Sansara.
And all this was now also known to the erstwhile cardinal, the current Pope Conon II and Master of the Order of the Creator. Moreover, it was known that the egregore of the One would no longer intervene in the destiny of humanity. The Creator had already bestowed upon the intelligent beings all that they needed to accomplish their desires. He had granted us the gift of existence and reason, and now it was up to us to strive for what we could achieve. To rely on outside forces was foolishness that led to failure and disappointment. Thus did Svyatozar perceive the Creator, and this same message was imprinted upon the mental faculties of the flock of the One.
The Serpent, having explored this matter, discovered that the Bahion, derived from the Egregor of The One, which he had gained access to, did not adversely affect his soul or its evolution when he employed it. Through his investigation, he deduced that only the utilization of Bahiony directly linked to the essence of this deity rendered him susceptible to dependency, depriving him of the ability to cultivate his own facets through independent development, unencumbered by reliance on the collective belief in his divinity. As if he were the rightful heir and successor, claiming his authority over the Egregor of The One's domain, he remained immune to the detrimental influence of this power, as it did not engage with his soul at the same level it engaged with the creator's soul.
The emissaries, who will awaken memories in new lives and express gratitude and prayer to God, will address not the divine essence of Svyatozar personally, but the creator! They will offer thanks to Him, and since they have already been part of the egregore of the One, all the energy of their faith will flow into it.
This variant of faith operates in Rowling's universe, so why not employ this proven method to broaden the influence of the One's/Creator's egregore on other realms? After all, it benefits everyone! Souls evolve, attain paradise, and in their earthly lives, they recall their past incarnations without being weighed down by the sense of losing loved ones in their previous rebirths, knowing that they will live and remember in their new births. The flock of believers in other realms will grow, increasing the amount of energy flowing to the pantheon led by Svyatozar. Isn't that delightful?
And so, with this egregor, a curious narrative unfolds. Yahweh's act of exaltation has left such a trail of chaos, as if he had attempted to usurp the work of the creator. Yet, even after his departure from our realm, the egregor of belief in him persists. It continues to function, albeit at the cost of believers' own suspicion that they have unwittingly imbued this deity with the essence of an entirely different, transcendent entity. Thus, the egregor has gradually become de-personalized, and, since the creator's essence encompasses everything that exists around us, I have easily assimilated and harnessed the energy of faith directed towards it.
It would seem that a deity created the egregor, which is addressed to its creator, who did not bestow it without reason, and now a cunning Zmiev exploits its benefits. Who was the first to rise up and claim ownership? To assume control of the egregor from Svyatozar could only be the creator, and no one else. However, to concern oneself with such matters is simply foolishness. If the creator desired something from me, there was no way I could oppose him, for everything that surrounds me, including my indestructible atman, is energy and orderly chaos fashioned by him. Having departed this world, Yahweh relinquished his claim to the egregor. Only by crossing my threshold can the divine essence assume administrative control of the entity.
Let us return to the intimate confines of one of the smaller reception chambers within the Apostolic Palace.
One source of solace in this matter, concerning the Council of Cardinals and Brother Marco, lies in the fact that the stain of betrayal of the faith has not been cast upon my family. Nevertheless, my namesake — named, as it turns out, in honor of me — Vincenzo Amati, thrice-great-grandson of mine, has not been tainted by either crimes against the holy church or association with demonic worship. Moreover, he has proven to be an upstanding young man. A pity that he was not blessed with talent.
Well, he is no ordinary man, for he can perceive magic. And since you are certain that Svyatozar lives, as soon as you encounter him, request his assistance in helping your relative. He is the one who initiated the new line of witches, and if he can aid them, he may also be able to assist your grandnephew.
Marco also held a high regard for his kinsman and the progeny of his late friend, whom he had once considered to be akin in spirit, and he frequently compared them. Their physical appearance may have differed, but their shared faith remained unwavering!
*********
"Why not assist the young man," said a voice from the corner of the room, "since my two companions deem him a worthy individual, and his gift may prove instrumental in his service to the Church."
As Vencenzo and Marco cast their incredulous gazes in the direction of the voice, they beheld Svyatozar Zmiev entering the room as though a shadow had parted from the darkness, revealing the portal's mouth.
"Svyatozar?!" exclaimed Marco and Vencenzo almost simultaneously. While Marco's exclamation was questioning, Vencenzo's was affirming.
"And who else?" Svyatozar responded with a disarming smile, his most charming grin, rivaled only by the true Serpent in his art of enchantment.
"Where have you been, Svyatozar?"
Marco's tone remained tinged with scepticism regarding the newcomer's authenticity, despite his instincts and abilities indicating that he was no imposter but the genuine Svyatozar.
"I cannot believe that you are unaware of the news regarding the collision of divine forces at the border between the Catholic and Orthodox realms," Marco said, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. He had already formed his own opinion, even if he was still seeking confirmation. Vencenzenzo, too, had drawn a similar conclusion upon receiving this information from their agents in Poland.
"Indeed, it was I," Vencenzenzo replied. "As I have recently discovered, not all Pagan deities have departed our world. I had to assist them in making the right choice, ensuring that they no longer burden the earth with their presence."
I had already taken my seat in the third chair, which had magically appeared next to the diminutive table, where my erstwhile companions were seated. I was making the most of the Vatican's hospitality, dispensing a liberal portion of wine from the decanter into my chalice and depositing a slice of peach into my mouth.
It should be evident, even to those unacquainted with NLP and psychology, that sharing a meal with others reduces the tension and formality of the atmosphere. This is inherent in human nature, stemming from our tribal past, when we gathered around a communal fire with our small societies. At the table or around the fire, there is an ingrained instinct that we belong with our own people, and strangers are not welcome.
"We have heard of these events, but our people are unable to access this information. The incidents related to you occurred on the far side of the boundary between our territory and that under the protection of the Orthodox Church."
Marco responded to me as Vencenzo seemed lost in thought, but he emerged from his reverie and inquired:
"And with whom specifically did you engage in combat, Svyatozar?"
I saw no need to withhold this information from the Catholics, so I answered truthfully:
"With the outcasts from the Slavic pantheon who found no acceptance among their own when they departed this world. The lowest scum and the most abhorrent remained on Earth, imprisoned within a domain bound to this realm. Yet, they were dissatisfied with their fate as eternal captives and sought with great determination and fervor a means of escape. However, there is no longer any cause for concern; they pose no threat to humankind."
My sole regret was that I did not witness what Vasilisa did to her equally repugnant and bloodthirsty kin when they realized that the source of their troubles and impending dissolution into chaos lay in this creature who had chosen to discard me and used me as leverage.
At that moment, a satisfied smile of a predator could not be wiped off my face.
"Are you not human, Svyatozar?" Vencenzo asked me, bringing down my fantasy of what could be done to Vasilisa, who had committed a deadly mistake for the rest of the Slavic pantheon.
"No, and I have never claimed to be part of the human race," I replied.
But Konon II was not satisfied with this response and asked for another question.
"Are you a deity?"
"Yes," I replied, in a casual manner, as if responding to a query about the weather or any other trivial matter. I shared a fragment of the truth about myself with those present in the small room, continuing to eat without being distracted from my fruit and cheese snack.
Vencenzenzo's expression bore witness to the theory that had guided his entire life, the path of confirmation and acceptance that his society had validated. Marco, on the other hand, wore a comical expression, with his jaw agape, eyes wide in disbelief, and a dumbfounded gaze that seemed to evaporate even from his skin and forehead.
"So you personally descended into paradise to fetch me and then returned me to Earth?"
"Vencenzenzo," I said, "let us not be overly servile, adoring, or deferential. We have been on friendly terms before, and we can do without all that. Simple respect suffices."
"Well, well," the Pope responded, his demeanor calm and unperturbed by this form of communication. He had not been swayed, nor would he be, but if one wishes to be mistaken, then so be it. I had not deceived him, my words were truthful, and if he had mistaken me for Yahweh — well, in a sense, I was now the successor to his work, having assumed control over his former Egregor.
"And the reason for my visit," I continued, "is that I am about to be married, and require a priest to officiate the wedding. It would be remiss to disregard the affections of two young women who have long cherished me, and for whom I hold the deepest affection. Might I count on your assistance?"
The Pope, while not entirely convinced, seemed to hesitate. After all, he had just learned that I was indeed God, having brought Vencenzo back from Paradise and returned him to Earth. I was their Lord, a divine being, not some obscure pagan deity.
It was a difficult task for him to assimilate and accept the notion that all along, he had known the person he addressed in his daily prayers personally. I did not think I could persuade them otherwise. That is a relief for me.
"Is there any scripture that states a man can only have one wife?" I asked. "And don't I know what Christians can and cannot do?"
They had no response.
What can be said about it when Catholics in the early Middle Ages had periods when polygamy was not only permissible but even encouraged? Charles the Eighth, who seized control over most of Europe and the Catholic Church in the eighth century, permitted polygamy, and according to some accounts, had as many as nine wives. Indeed, half of the Old Testament prophets, whose actions were considered pleasing to God, had two or more wives, and the Catholic Church does not seem eager to condemn them for it.
I presume your chosen ones are Maria and Konécko.
«Of course, it is Vincenzo who is to blame, who else could it be? You are aware of my promise to Maria that, should she attain immortality, I shall make her my wife provided she remains faithful to me in the interim and does not waver. She has met my conditions, and I am not one to cast words to the wind.
With Koneka it is even simpler, for where her mistress goes she goes. It would be unjust of me not to welcome her into my fold in accordance with all the tenets and precepts of Christian faith, for although she desires to be my companion, she has no choice in the matter.
I see. Does the Church's stance on polygamy and plural marriage apply to all members of the flock, or only in your particular case? Interesting, will he extend his vision of love and plural relationships to the masses, based on my own preferences? But who am I to question it? He regards me as the Lord God himself, and a priori I can only act in a manner that is true and right, befitting of perfection.»
Certainly. Allow me to elucidate, as the voice of God upon Earth, God's perspective on this matter. While a woman may only be wed to one man, her husband may take as many wives as his capabilities allow. Indeed, there is another aspect to consider. Intimacy between women is not sinful, provided it occurs between wives of a single man or between unmarried women. However, homosexuality is a heinous sin that demands divine punishment.
Even in my previous incarnation, when I resided in Russia, the West, with its propaganda of equality and elevation of various minority groups, including the introduction of their absurd gender identities, elicited nothing but teeth-gnashing and disgust.
In my understanding, there is a binary: man and woman. A husband is a provider and protector, while a wife is the keeper of the hearth and mother to one's children. Each individual has a role predetermined for them by either God or evolution. However, this is not the crux of the matter. What truly matters is that defying these roles is sheer idiocy and will not bring any good to humanity as a whole. Bisexuality is an abomination. If a man allows himself to be penetrated, he is a homosexual, period. He should either be treated or shunned if his behavior is irreparable.
With women, however, it is different. Their nature is more spiritual than that of men, making their inclinations towards bisexuality more understandable.. They need more avenues to express their passion and emotions, and from an aesthetic perspective, it is quite a captivating sight. Thus, here I stand, a dictator, a reactionary, a homophobe, and much more in that vein.
— That's quite true. In essence, such transformations have occurred in the annals of our church before, but they have invariably proven counterproductive.
I have no doubt about it. Vincenzo was a highly erudite individual who was well-versed in the history of Catholicism.
— It is all a testament and a vestige of the corrosive influence of Hellenic culture. The Hellenes, for the most part, were effeminate. In their pagan society, having more than one spouse was strictly prohibited, but having any number of paramours was almost officially permitted. And in cases of equal marriages among aristocrats, having both lovers and spouses was not forbidden.
It is repugnant to me that Christianity adopted the worst aspects of the culture of these heterodox individuals, even in such fundamental aspects. How could they have arrived at such a point, when there were still apostles alive, some of whom also had multiple wives? Hypocrisy and selectivity of vision struck the leadership of the church, which was supposed to be the guiding light and voice of God's will on earth.
— Very well, we can discuss this later, but I caution you both: no one must know of my true nature, except you. I may assist you in reforming the church, but I am on my honeymoon, which will last for fifty years.
"And when do you intend to consummate your nuptials?" Vencenzo addressed me with the familiarity of a friend, but the manner in which he spoke, the inflection of his voice, and the emotion behind his words immediately put things in their proper perspective, making it clear which of us was the elder and which the younger.
Vencenzon was so elated at the moment that his spirit shone with a radiance far greater than when I had first encountered him in paradise. For he sees me as his master, one whose will must be obeyed, a will that does not reside in the sacred scriptures but rather in the plain language I use to convey it to him, and this is the highest form of joy for him.
Indeed, his enthusiasm has soared beyond the clouds, and only when he has completed all the tasks I have assigned him will he find respite.
Well, with a flag in hand, I shall not have to resort to the holy fire to purge the infested Europe of heresy, which would be swarming with all manner of degenerates. Vencenzenzo shall excise these malignant growths from the body politic of his domain without recourse to anesthesia. Meanwhile, I shall bask in the sun in the Caribbean, with two beautiful nymphs to my left and right, warming my bones!