Rafik walked through the slender halls as people in the adjacent rooms bickered between themselves. Slowly the halls became quieter as fewer people were present to chatter. Soon the walls were as flat as the floor as he made his way to the ponderium.
However, this was made so by design. The ponderium is an open space made for, as the name suggests, pondering. A quiet place, far away from distractions, where scholars would indulge their minds in meditation and deep thought. Where the mind would find it so dull yet calming that it would force itself to push its imagination to the limit purely for the sake of keeping itself occupied with anything that isn't nothingness. For this sake, it was always important to make as little noise as possible in the ponderium, so that no one snaps out of their train of thought.
However, many also used it as a place of peace and quiet away from all responsibility. But who could blame them when they spent all their days crunching numbers and copying text from scroll to scroll. It is bound to be stressful at times, and what better place is there to be if not at the ponderium, where no one would bother you until you wished to be so.
But all those who choose to enter be warned. For the ponderium only amplifies your thoughts. So if one's mind is engulfed by negative emotions when they enter, they will only be able to conjure unpleasant thoughts as their mind starts to fuel them with more and more negativity to the point that it will start to fill itself with delusions as a side effect of overthinking itself.
However, there is no complex science behind how the ponderium causes such effects. For it is just like a park which makes you feel like you are the only person present. It is rather the fact that it enables scholars to think peacefully in the rather noisy and crowded city of Arobolus for it to have such an effect. It only allows for the mind to reflect upon itself and catch up with everything it has experienced, manifesting to one's self the positive and negative aspects of the human condition.
Nevertheless, when Rafik approached the doorway at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel, he entered. He was greeted with the familiar sight of a vast space with an open roof where the grey color of stone slabs concealed the floor, engulfing every other color in sign. As if every other color simply didn't exist in this realm. That would be if it wasn't for the people who sat and laid down on huge flat stones scattered around, who wore bright uniforms of the chapel of virtue.
Rafik proceeded slowly through the place, so as to make as little noise as possible while transversing through the thin layer of water marching across the grey floor.
His eyes searched across the mind-dulling view for a purple-colored robe that could only belong to a person of the highest authority in the chapel of virtue. Even though he hadn't inquired about the specific location of this individual when he entered the chapel, he needn't, for he could guess where he liked to spend his time the most.
Soon, all smudge of doubt was gone when he spotted the figure of a purple robe with a long white beard hanging down, which belonged to non-other than the grand overseer himself.
As he silently approached the old man ruminating on top of a boulder half his size, he gently blew some air into his face as is the tradition when you want to grab the attention of someone in the ponderium without making much noise.
The grand overseer lifted his eyelids and his wrinkled face beamed into a grand smile the moment he laid his eyes on Rafik.
He grabbed onto Rafik's arms as he helped him descend from the stone slab. They silently walked towards the exit, not a word spoken to each other.
Once they had made some distance between themselves and the ponderium, the grand overseer reached his hand for Rafik's head. Rafik leaned over to let him kiss his forehead.
"My precious son is back from his journey at last." He exclaimed. "You must be exhausted. Come let's make way to my office. I will have someone bring some refreshment for you."
"Thank you, Grand overseer. But I would prefer if we just talked on our way there since I have some other duties I must attend to."
"You are a cruel son, Rafik. You have left this old man to his own devices for 8 whole months, yet you won't even visit him for tea or even call him father? If this is about reviewing your initiation papers, you have nothing to worry about, I am sure it will end up being splendid as always. Now come." He insisted as he dragged him by his robe.
"I am really flattered." Rafik refused. "But I brought Maquil's nephew with me and I think it is for the best if I don't leave him alone for much longer."
The grand overseer raised his eyebrow over this.
"Is that so?" He commented in a melancholic tone. "It is quite uncharacteristic of Maquil to let him come."
"Really? Do you think so?" Rafik replied surprised.
"You were there when we delivered his nephew, weren't you?" He continued. "Ever since the boy's mother died from childbirth Maquil started distancing himself from us. He would only ask for help when he needed something for the child, other than that he was in a different world. Not much after, he has left to make his laboratory nearby a village to the northwest of here, claiming that it would help him focus on his research. But the grief in his eyes told another story. Now he only visits us everyone blue moon or so to drop off some of his machines. Other than that, it is almost as if he had vanished. What a waste of a kind man and a talented mind. But perhaps that is for the best considering how he is a fugitive of Lazul." He claimed.
Rafik pondered on this in silence as they walked.
"As sad as it is if it was of his own volition then he only did what he thought would put his mind at ease. Can you blame him for that?"
"We all have our way of dealing with grief, I can accept that. He is more than capable of taking care of himself. But I can't help but feel bad for the child. It is hard to raise a kid alone especially when you are still dealing with grief. During the few years he had spent with the child here, he was always overprotective of him. He wouldn't let anyone else near him."
He let out a worrisome sigh.
"I will lend you a piece of advice that I personally believe in. And one day, it might also help you look after those who you care about." He continued. "A child always inherits the personality of those who they look up to more than anything else in their life. Let's just hope it is the good characteristics of Maquil that have rubbed off on him."
Rafik contemplated this statement for a short while. But when he looked at the frail man walking beside him, then thought about himself, it was hard to disagree.
"Perhaps you are right." He smiled. "Well, in that case, I will become someone he can look up to in these next few days so that he aspires to become outgoing and dependable." He joked.
The grand overseer chuckled to himself.
"If you think you are so outgoing and dependable, then why didn't bring the boy with you to the chapel?"
"Actually now that you mention it, that is what I had planned at first. But we ran into a situation at the bazaar you see …" Rafik stopped in his tracks as he began explaining the girl's situation face to face to the grand overseer.
"That pure little thing. I will make sure to send one of our best physicians to examine her tomorrow evening. It is terrible how often children get abandoned these days. Ever since the Insurrection took hold of Judic more and more people have been leaving their kids behind due to the two people immigration rule."
"Considering how much they have advanced in the last decade, they do put us at shame." Rafik complained. "Perhaps we have gone out of touch."
"Watch your mouth, Child." He snapped. "You have no insight into the twisted methods they use to have their way with people. There are some means that no ends can justify. We would never stoop down as to commit such inhuman acts in pursuit of knowledge."
Rafik was taken back by his reaction. It had been a long time since he had seen the grand overseer this furious, especially at him. It was clear that something was making him restless.
An awkward silence has taken over as they stood inside an indoor garden. He let out a wearied sigh.
"I am sorry that you had to hear that." He apologized as he walked to sit down on a nearby bench. "I am just worried for the future of the church. With how the Lazulians are leaving us in the dust, it is hard to keep everyone's morale high. Perhaps, it is time for an old-timer like me to step down."
Rafik knew what he meant. Countries all around Rimar have started exchanging resources for Lazulian tech. Even, they had imitated some of their designs for their own gain.
He hugged the old man as everything in the garden stood motionless.
"Everyone in the chapel stands with your father." He whispered over his shoulder. "No one here would work half as hard as they do if it weren't you. We wouldn't have anyone else to lead us but you."
Rafik hugged him by his shoulder. After he had let go of him, the old man stood up from the bench and pulled onto his robe by the sleeve.
"Save your sympathy for someone other than the elderly." He joked. "If you cared about me that much, you would have already taken the seat of grand overseer from me."
"Then what else would you have left to do with your free time?" He jested back.
"I am being serious, Rafik. You might only be 27 of age. But you are a prodigy in scholarship. You already know as much if not more than scholars twice your age. If you choose to take my seat, then not even the vice overseer would refuse. Many respect for what you have proven yourself capable of. You could lead the chapel into a new age with a little bit of experience."
"I … I don't know if I am capable of carrying the burden of overseeing the chapel of virtue. I am –"
"I am not asking you if you can carry any burdens. All hardship can be overcome with experience. I am asking you if you are all willing to take this responsibility." He corrected. "My body will fail me sooner or later. No matter what you choose, someone will take up the seat of the grand overseer. I want you to decide what you are going to do with your future."
"I …." Rafik hesitated.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of pattering coming from his surrounding.
"Thank the gods you are here." Frishta panted.
"Frishta?" Rafik exclaimed out of confusion.
"A black … ribbon … for you." She said between her breaths before she handed him a scroll.
Rafik was in awe when she gave him the scroll sealed with a black ribbon. Who could have sent an urgent message to him?
He scanned the scroll for the sender's initials, only for a chill to pass through his spine when he found it.
"Maquil …" He announced worryingly.
The grand overseer raised his eyebrows as an unease started stirring within him.
His quivering hands struggled to open the simple knot. When he finally got it untied, his eyes skipped over each letter while mumbling to himself as he read them.
The other two could only watch in suspense as his expression grew ever more dreadful with each passing second.
When he was finally done, his arms dropped to the side.
"So?" The grand overseer asked.
"The Insurrection has gotten hold of Maquil and might be after his nephew too." He replied feeling defeated.
The old man tumbled back onto the bench behind him as he gasped for air.
"Grand overseer are you alright?" Frishta inquired as she rushed to his aid.
He started coughing uncontrollably.
"Rafik help him or something." She beseeched him, but he only stood there, staring into the sky as he clenched his fist with the paper in his hands.
Frishta rubbed his back trying to get him to relax, which seemed to have helped him stop coughing.
"Why...?" Rafik grunted. "Why … why, why?!"
"After all he had sacrificed," He cried out in anger. "Why couldn't they just leave him alone?"
"Didn't he already suffer enough?" He grunted as he held his fist in the air.
"Rafik." She called out to him worryingly. But Rafik could only downcast his eyes, trying to hold in tears of frustration.
A sorrowful breeze blew across the garden.
"What shall become of the poor kid?" His frustration quickly turned into sadness the moment the thought crossed his mind.
"The same thing we did with you, Frishta, and all your siblings." The grand overseer replied with an empty tone as he slowly stood back up. "We will adopt him into the chapel."
"But what if they come for him too. If they have pursued Maquil for this long then what would stop them from coming here to take him away? Are you just gonna lock him up and leave him alone as Maquil did?." He shouted furiously at him.
He suddenly felt the impact of a slap on his face. He was overcome with shock when he saw Frishta on the verge of tears.
"How could you shout at your old man like that?" She yelled at him. "And how could you suggest that we such a cruel thing?"
"The chapel saved us from a life of poverty and illiteracy out of the kindness within their heart. How could you forget that?" She continued as she began to sob.
He felt ashamed of himself. Not only did he disrespect the man who treated him like a son for the last 14 years of his life, but he also made Frishta cry by acting unpleasantly. He couldn't even bring himself to look her in the eye anymore.
The grand overseer patted her on the back trying to comfort her.
"The duty of the chapel of virtue is to find out how we can help that less fortunate than us." He started slowly walking away. "But we will sometimes encounter an obstacle that we can't overcome. But despite its futility, we still try. Because even if we can't treat people's problems, we can still provide them the comfort of knowing that someone cared enough about them to try at the very least."
"But rarely someone will decide to dictate the entirety of their life and purpose for helping the stranger with an impossible task. And by some miracle, despite having all odds stacked against them, they overcome all hardship and turn the entire world of that person around." He turned his head to face Rafik who was still keeping his head down. "If you believe there to be is a better alternative, then please show me."
Rafik knew that no matter where they took Zekes, the Insurrection would have a way to find him. It didn't matter if whether was in Arobolus or the depth of Rimar. There was only one method that could have a slight chance of keeping Zekes away from the hands of the Insurrection. Not only could it put Zekes in even greater danger, but it would also mean that Zekes' life would be in Rafik's hands. It was too great of a burden for Rafik to fulfill. Just the thought of it alone felt asphyxiating. But he had promised Maquil that he would take care of Zekes when he left and breaking his last promise to him wasn't something that his heart would allow him to do.
"I have decided." He spoke in a low tone at first."I will become a traveling epidemiologist and bring Zekes with me all around Rimar." He raised his head but this time with determination filling his every move. "We are leaving first thing in the morning, so you better have my documents and travel permit ready for me by then, Father."
The grand overseer let out a puff through his nose, before waving his hands back as he walked away.
"Sure thing."
Frishta snapped out of her sorrowful mood. "Wait, what?"
She chased after the grand overseer confused at what just transpired.
"Wait a minute. You weren't being serious about that were you?" She complained, but he kept on walking in silence.
"You can't send him back into gods know where as soon as he came back. He still a god damn kid." She protested, but he kept on walking.
"You know what perhaps Rafik was right about you. If you are heartless enough to send your son on a suicide mission, then it wouldn't surprise me if you locked up kids in cages."
"12 years ago." He began when Rafik was out of sight. "His brother Eugine passed his initiation research and became a traveling botanist. He would go from country to country to study the agriculture of the land and document plant species. Every few months or so, he would come back and tell him tales of distant lands that were filled with wondrous customs and vibrant creatures of all shapes and colors. It was easy enough to notice that Rafik looked up to big brother and greatly respected him. Before he would leave for his journeys, he would always promise Rafik that he would take him on a trip once he had finished his initiation research."
"But when the tyrant king of Judic was found to have eaten his own heart out, Judic grew too unstable and began to crumble. Not long after it was invaded by the Insurrection. But by some cruel twist of fate, Eugene happened to be staying there when the first wave of invasions started. It has been 10 years since we last heard from him. When the news reached Rafik, he blamed himself for his brother's demise. He thinks that if he had studied hard enough, he would have been able to go with his brother and perhaps save him."
"Now he works so hard to be prepared for any situation he could help with. He has grown wise and capable. Yet no matter how much gratitude people show him, he still greatly doubts his ability. He doesn't think of himself as much and loathes any attention that comes his way. I have seen him grow less confident in himself with each passing day."
"But this is the first time I had seen such conviction coming from him. Trust me, he can be one stubborn ass kid. However, if you deny him this opportunity to save the kid's life, then he would never live the guilt down."
Despite the grand overseer's words, she still had her doubt about letting Rafik go on such a dangerous journey while also taking care of a child.
"I-i just … don't want him to hurt himself for the sake of others." She worried when she remembered how hard he had it at Winterbreeze village. "Please talk with him and ask him to reconsider."
"And you think that will change his mind?"
She wanted to protest back, but she couldn't. So she let out a sigh of defeat.
"No…"
The grand overseer hummed from satisfaction.
As for Rafik, even though every inch of his body was filled with doubt, fear, and worry, he knew no matter what happens from here onward, he has to be ready for the path it leads then. For it meant keeping a promise to an old friend