A few days had passed and the statue of Goddess Kartara had not stopped crying. The Day of Prayer was fast approaching and the church would not be able to keep this recent development a secret for long. The Pope stated that he would announce to everyone the reason for the red tears during the sermon. The clergymen all felt relieved to know that he had figured it out.
Not Father Demetri though.
He was inside one of the secluded archives which was designated solely for the storage of ancient scrolls. Only the Pope, himself and Reverend Travis who led the third faction were allowed entry.
Unbeknownst to the clergymen, Demetri was well aware that the Pope had gone through all the scrolls and removed some of them. Which he then secured inside his own underground archive.
Only Goddess knew what he was trying to hide.
There were many changes made under Pope Matthew.
Some symbols with a long standing history of having been a mark of the Goddess had been eradicated or outright declared as the devil's work by the Pope. Some of the younger priests had not studied the ancient scriptures in its entirety. And the older ones had long since forgotten what they once read. There was no way for them to refresh their memories since the scrolls containing the Goddess's message had been removed.
All they could do was nod and bow each time the Pope made a declaration. Even when it didn't sound right, they couldn't figure out the exact reason why.
Does he wish to usher in a new faith? All the while hiding behind the illusion of Goddess Kartara? Where did he get his magic? Which deity blessed that selfish man?
Browsing through three rows of bookshelves, Father Demetri finally stumbled upon what he was looking for. Pulling six different scrolls out of their slots, he walked over to the only table and sat down. Thanks to the location of this room, there was no light accessible and he had to read by candlelight. Demetri only lit one. Though it wasn't the best for visibility, he did not want anyone to know he was here. The Pope was distracted dealing with the upcoming service and he wanted to make the most of this opportunity. He had double checked his shadows to ensure nobody was following him or saw him enter this room. Since the room required a key which only three people possessed, he wasn't too worried.
Still, he had to be cautious. The Pope had his own personal set of knights who did his every bidding.
Spreading open a scroll, Demetri moved it closer to the candle holder and began reading.
An hour passed.
His sharp grey eyes filled with frustration as he sensed that he was missing information. Walking over to the bookshelf, he saw that out of the several scrolls he had pulled out there were empty slots next to it.
So, he removed some of them from this section as well? How annoying! He is obsessed with control.
Demetri brushed his fingers against the empty slots. "What exactly was written in them that you deemed unfit for the consumption of your own brethren?"
"I can't remember. Did he remove them even before he became Pope? I can't even remember the context of what was placed here. When did I last read it?"
Rubbing his chin, he looked further and still found nothing. Knowing he could not stay here for too long as he had informed his most loyal subordinate that he would only be gone for two hours at most and to not inform the other members of his faction where he was, Demetri put everything away.
Except for one particular scroll which he slipped into the sleeve of his robe.
This may prove useful. But I might be wrong.
Locking the door behind him, he walked down the hall and maintained an expressionless face. It was nearing nighttime and the glow of the crescent moon was creating shadows along the open pathway. Crossing the large marble courtyard which led to the lodgings, he reached his chamber door. Glancing around once more, he stepped inside and locked the door. Releasing the breath he realized he hadn't been holding, he walked over to his bedside table and dipped his hands into the bowl. Splashing his face with cold water helped ease his headache.
After blowing out the dwindling candles and changing into his nightwear, he laid on this back and looked at the scroll he placed next to his bed frame. It had spoken of punishments from the Goddess should her trust ever be betrayed.
His lids grew heavier even as he tried to keep himself awake to resolve the chaos in his mind. Ultimately, sleep came.
His mind wandered as he dreamt. He envisioned all of the places and faces which were described in the scripture. He wasn't aware he was dreaming. All he knew was that he needed answers. The confusing texture of his dream cleared up and suddenly he found himself kneeling before the Goddess. The red ruby which was placed on the crown of her head glowed and burst into a million pieces. The explosion caused a blinding light and he heard the screams of the one who was condemned and burned.
You will all pay! You will regret the day you executed your Saintess as a witch! My blood will flow from the Goddess! Doom will be your fate!
Demetri instantly woke up and jerked upright. He was sweating and panting. More than that, he felt terrified. He walked over despite feeling dizzy and checked to make sure his door was locked. It was. Sitting back on his bed, he buried his face in his hands and tried to decipher what he had just seen.
It was a vision. Most people thought that only those blessed by holy magic were given visions, but that was incorrect. Anyone who prayed earnestly to the Goddess could be blessed by her magic and guidance. This was why Saintesses could be born from the rich or the poor. While the Pope was granted visions which targeted the empire as a whole, others may receive minor enlightenment from time to time. It was scarce, but not unheard of. Being a priest for most of his life, he knew he must not take this blessing for granted. It may just save his life.
What is the significance of that ruby placed on the statue of the Goddess? The statue has power, but I don't recall the ruby being a symbol of the Goddess. Is this something I read about and forgot? Was this mentioned in the scrolls the Pope confiscated?
And why did the witch from the Del Montague family appear?
Blood from the Goddess?
Saintess?
Executed....as a witch?
Demetri shot to his feet. His entire body taut with horror.
Oh no! What have we done!?