The Apostles palace towered above its surroundings with fourteen large towers surrounded much like those surrounding the Civitass Dei.
The white, blue archers lined the walls of an incredibly large banquette hall. We were led inside by two all white priests, signifying they were cardinals, princes of Ehlite. I recognized some from yesterday.
" Cardinals as escorts..hihihi..that boy sure wants to impress you. " Gilly hardly cared whether the cardinals heard her or not.
They did stiffen a little when he heard the holy father being called a boy but didn't stop.
" Mnn.."
He looked unimpressed.
The cardinals lead us in front of a giant table dressed in signature white and blue.
Viego in the middle, the phoney King on his left playing with his food. They are surrounded by their families on the right side. Including the princess to be married off.
On his left, there were three empty seats and my parents and Mary.
" Dear brother..the man of the hour. "
The pope stood up the place silenced.
" Ladies and gentlemen meet tonight's guest... Zephyr Astoria . "
The crowd clapped politely while making eyes at us. He stepped forward, received the happy pope walking in front him and embraced.
" Thank you Viego you're too kind..please music! Let us enjoy ourselves. "
" MUSIC!! " his holiness shouted.
He led a happy..phony Zephyr away to introduce to the royals and to the Pope's own family.
" We were wholly ignored.." Gilly was appalled.
" It happens..now let us get good and drunk."
We bowed to an absent-minded Pope and walked around the empty table towards our family.
" Can you believe this mother? Your son is sitting right at Pope's table. "
She was as unimpressed as I..." Yes. My chest is swelling, Enrico. "
We took a seat and saw the king laughing like a maniac while Viego hugged Zeph's shoulders, looking proud..whatever he was doing, it worked just fine.
" Look at his holiness.."Mary looked to be in love watching them. " I never seen him like that.. especially in public. Look at his families eyes, just as shocked as me. "
She was right. Both ladies sitting closest to them, the Pope's wife and King's shared nervous looks at the closeness they demonstrated.
" He is incredible. "
" ..and very much in love with his wife Mary. Thread carefully. " I warned her.
She turned away huffing but had nothing to say.
" So he is a family man? " Gilly made herself comfortable and asked the servants dressed in white blue butler outfits for something stronger than wine.
" He is..fanatical in fact. His entire philosophy since he woke up build around the words..family is all. "
" I approve.."
That's two approvals.. a few more, and she will move to Insantel herself, I thought to myself.
" Carlitos, what do you mean.. since he woke up? "
Mother question thrown me... I honestly thought they knew.
" Zephyr lost all of his memories.. he was found by Emet village residents and nursed back to health, middle of last summer. In fact, one of the women who found him is now his wife. "
" Of course she is.."
I ignored my sisters snorting.
Zephyr finally sat, but the Pope was glued to him.
" Some time, but I finally managed to negotiate favourable terms for little our Isabella there. She shall marry the crown prince soon. "
He looked amused.
" What an achievement..unity amongst nations. Your ancestors would be proud, big brother.."
His flattery worked like magic. Even Saint Yolanda, his wife, looked pleased hearing the handsome man praising her husband.
" It's nothing...my grandfather the GREAT Jima, was twice the man I am. His blessing of foresight allowed Dharma to enter a golden age. "
He looked bashful, pouring himself and Zephyr from his personal golden flagon.
I looked at Gilly she shook her head a little.. the one who actually saw the great Jima, she knew that his power of foresight was rubbish.
Seeing what will happen in the future sounds great on paper, but in reality, it was always just one of many possible outcomes.. never a definite one.
He lost land previously won and held for generations by his forefathers. Initiated wars based on his visions and lost them miserably.
He did predict Viego birth and his ability and gave himself the moniker Great, just like Chensler the Conqueror was a self-styled fool.
Zephyr took his golden glass and sipped its contents carefully.
" I enjoy these tales.. it's such a privilege, isn't it, brother?..having the word "Great" forever etched right next to yours. " - the wonder and longing on his eyes were so real it invoked some sentiment even from me.
The Pope was lost in the thought as well. " So right...however these are different times unfortunately..harder to earn such titles. "
Unless you gave it yourself..where is he going with this?
I played it off and rhythmically moved my head to the music with my mother but paid attention to every passing word.
" Indeed..tell me about Insatel royalty, I barely know any of its history or traditions. "
" Oh .. it's not as storied as ours little one. " he took the empty flagon and handed to the king, poor bastard waved a servant over and had them refill it.
I felt my jacket tugged.
" What is he scheming there? Are you pretending not to listen? "
" Stop asking all these questions Gilly..I have no answers. " I told her the truth.
" Is that so..very well. But others might notice your strange behaviour.." nodded towards the end of the table where the leader of the holy archers sat, blessed himself, his power Enhanced his arrows or anything he touched really and exploded as he wished.
It was a bloody ability he looked young despite being my age.
" That bastard can kill you from a mile, apparently.."
" Yes, and I can summon the sea...Gilly pay attention once Zephyr shows off his power. Then you understand how ridiculous your fears are."
I turned back towards them, stopped hiding my interest, and after all, most of the table were glued to their conversation, which revolved around the church in Malai.
" ..a bastard really. I'm open to it..but that blasphemous ant won't acknowledge my superiority.."
" A despicable villain that first acolyte...what a ridiculous name. Your generosity lost on that savage. "
The pope once again took off his tiara and placed on in front of them, shocking the table on his side. Leaned closer to Zeph, the alcohol clearly has an effect.
" How I wish to reunite the faithful little brother..it's always been a dream now that you said it...your right he is a savage..what!?? "
He turned angry towards the people closest to the table and shamelessly watched them.
They quickly danced further away while Zephyr consoled the Pope. " History shall remember you as the one who offered his hand, the one who put the faithful first...Viego the Faithful. "
He looked up quite drunk and smiled, repeating the name as if tasting it...
" You're right...I should offer my hand. LET HISTORY SAY.." he stood up and addressed the entire hall even though the music stopped. "..VIEGO THE FAITHFUL PUT HIS PEOPLE FIRST!! "
In the stunned silence..
( CLAP CLAP CLAP )
Zephyr stood up with tears in his eyes furiously clapping, leading the cheers.
I joined him, and the entire room was done so.
" VIEGO THE FAITHFUL!! "
""" VIEGO THE FAITHFUL!!"""
""" VIEGO THE FAITHFUL!!"""
""" YEAH!!!! """
His declaration and placing the tiara on the euphoric Viego's head crowned this moment and exploded into an even bigger celebration.
I would bet my entire inheritance that this moment one day will stand as a painting where the blue haired angel crowned an earthly Pope.
The birth of Viego Aragona the Faithful.
From my perspective, his smile standing behind a deliriously happy man was someone whose plan was already working.
He was done ..1 down..1 remained.