The following day, rumors of the conflict during the sermon spread throughout the village. The faithful return to the Luminaries Temple, but the tension from the previous day lingers in the air.
Elara, still keeping her distance from the core conflict, once again attends, blending in seamlessly with the rest of the congregation.
High Priestess Aveline begins the sermon, her words even more carefully chosen to reinforce the Order's grip on the faithful:
"The light guides us, even in moments of doubt. To stray from it is to invite chaos into your heart."
But, among the faithful, those Elara influenced whispers amongst themselves. The seeds of doubt, planted deeper over time, have grown roots.
Leonie, one of the more vocal dissenters from the previous day, refuses to back down. This time, she speaks during a moment of silence:
"But what if chaos is the true nature of the world? What if we've been lied to?"
This causes a larger uproar, and this time, several more faithful join in, emboldened by their doubts. Elara watches as the Priests, especially Priestess Evelyne, try to intervene and maintain order.
Before she could, a devoted believer named Edwin, who sits near Gregor, snaps at Leonie, "How dare you! The Divine Order has saved our village from ruin for centuries! You accuse the temple of lies, but it is you who spread poison!"
The confrontation escalates, with Priestess Evelyne pleading with the faithful to maintain calm. Meanwhile, the Council of the Divine members quietly assess the growing discontent.
The higher-ranking members begin to realize that this unrest is not just a mere disagreement. Something more profound is unraveling beneath the surface, and they must act swiftly.
The Temple Guardian move closer, and with their intimidating presence, force the arguing faithful into silence, barely managing to keep the scene from devolving into chaos.
High Priestess Aveline, sensing that things had almost spiral out of control, closes the sermon early, dismissing the faithful with a gentle but firm:
"May the light guide you back to peace, my children. Do not let the shadow of doubt lead you astray."
As the faithful disperse, a few remaining doubters exchange glances, clearly dissatisfied. Elara, once again, observes quietly, knowing her plan is in motion.
No one suspects her involvement, and she is content to watch the disorder slowly unfold.
---
A few days later, during yet another sermon at Luminaries Temple, the fracture within the faithful becomes even more apparent. Elara, as usual, is present, carefully monitoring the situation while maintaining her facade of devotion.
This time, Priestess Evelyne will begin the sermon, the whispers of doubt spread faster than ever. Several of the faithful have begun to voice their concerns openly, emboldened by the past week's unrest.
Leonie once again challenges the teachings, and this time she is joined by others who share her doubts. They no longer whisper; their words are loud enough to be heard by all:
"If the light is true, why do we still suffer? Why are we denied the truth behind its power?"
The confrontation grows more intense as the devout believers like Gregor and Edwin respond aggressively, defending The Divine Order with zeal:
"Blasphemers! You're all tainted by darkness! The light will cast you out!"
The Temple Guardian, now staying on high alert, prepares to step in and forcefully remove the troublemakers. But before they can act, High Priestess Aveline who has been sitting in front with the Council of Blessed members stands up and gestures for restraint.
She speaks in her gentle, but forceful voice laced with her power "Let us not fight among ourselves. The light shall reveal its truth in time. We must trust in the path we are shown."
But the faithful are divided, and for the first time, the tension within the temple cannot be easily smoothed over. The devout argue with the doubtful, and a subtle yet undeniable shift in the atmosphere has taken root. Elara watches from the back, her heart calm but her mind calculating.
The fracture is growing deeper, and soon, it will be beyond repair.
---
After the unrest has been calmed and the faithful exited the temple hall, High Priestess Aveline commanded in a cold voice, "Let's have a meeting." After that, she directly stormed out of the grand hall without looking back.
The other low-level priests and priestesses all lowered their head and do their job, pretending to be oblivious to Mother Aveline's rage.
The Council of the Blessed all shared a look, then quietly stood up and follow after Mother Aveline.
The forbidden hallway of the temple, a place Elara had once stumbled upon by accident, now echoes with the heated voices of The Divine Order's highest-ranking members. The dimly lit chamber, hidden deep within the temple, serves as the private meeting place for the Council of the Blessed, a sacred chamber only known to the most powerful within the temple.
Marble walls inscribed with ancient glyphs of protection surround the room, and a large circular table dominates the center, its surface covered in scrolls, ancient texts, and magical talismans.
Seated around the table are the Council Elders, each representing the highest ranks within the temple. At the head of the table sits High Priestess Aveline, her face was unreadable as she listens in silence to the bickering of her council. Her serene expression is a mask, concealing the fury simmering beneath the surface.
Council Elder Belisarius, one of the most senior members, slams his fist on the table, his voice shaking with frustration.
"This is unacceptable! How could we let the faithful slip into doubt like this? We should have taken stronger measures from the start!"
Elder Caelia, his counterpart, quickly retorts, her voice sharp and defensive.
"And what measures, Belisarius? You would have us force them into submission? We cannot simply silence those who question! We must address their concerns, not stifle them!"
Elder Marek, seated to the left of Caelia, sneers in response.
"Address their concerns? Their concerns are born from weakness! Doubt is a poison, and the more we allow it to fester, the more it will spread. We need to remind them of their place. The faithful exist to serve The Divine Order, not question it!"
The argument escalates as other members join in, their voices growing louder and more accusatory.
"Perhaps if your division hadn't been so lax, Caelia, we wouldn't be in this situation!" one elder accuses.
"Lax? You dare blame me when it was your responsibility to keep watch over the Inquisitors!" another snaps back.
The chamber fills with the cacophony of blame, each council member pointing fingers at the others. The air hums with tension, as magical wards that line the walls flicker slightly under the weight of the anger filling the room. The council is falling into disarray, their unity shattered by the chaos unfolding in the temple.
Meanwhile, High Priestess Aveline remains still, her fingers drumming lightly against the armrest of her chair. She watches the argument unfold with a calculated patience, her eyes narrowing as the council elders tear into each other. But the more they bicker, the more her anger rises, slowly but surely.
Suddenly, with a forceful motion, Aveline slams her hand onto the table, the sound reverberating through the chamber like a thunderclap. The impact causes the council members to immediately fall silent, their eyes snapping toward her. The room is plunged into an uncomfortable, suffocating silence as they await her words.
Aveline rises from her seat slowly, her usual gentle demeanor replaced by a cold fury. Her voice, low but commanding, cuts through the tense atmosphere like a blade:
"Enough."
The single word is laced with authority, and no one dares to speak. Aveline's eyes sweep across the room, locking on each council member in turn, her piercing gaze leaving no room for argument.
"You sit here," she begins, her tone measured but filled with restrained anger, "bickering like children while our temple—our faith—crumbles before us."
She steps away from the table, walking slowly around the room, her presence commanding. Each step is deliberate, echoing ominously in the silence.
"For days now, the faithful have faltered. Doubt has taken root in their hearts, and you argue over who is to blame? Do you not see the bigger picture? This isn't about blame. This is about survival. If this continues, The Divine Order will fall."
Her words are met with a stunned silence. The council members shift uncomfortably in their seats, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation. The High Priestess's fury is rarely seen, but when it emerges, it is devastating.
Elder Belisarius speaks up cautiously, his voice tinged with fear.
"But…what do you propose we do, High Priestess? The faithful are slipping away. If we cannot stifle the doubt, how can we restore their faith?"
Aveline stops her pacing and turns to face him directly, her expression hard as stone.
"We will remind them of the light's power," she says, her voice cold and unwavering. "If they cannot see the truth willingly, then we will show it to them."
The council members exchange uneasy glances, unsure of what she means. Aveline continues, her voice gaining strength:
"Tomorrow, if there is even a single whisper of doubt in the worship hall, we will strengthen the illusions and enchantments placed upon the faithful. I will use my voice, my magic, to reinforce their devotion. They will hear the light in their minds and hearts, and they will believe again."
Elder Caelia, ever the cautious voice of reason, raises a hand slightly in objection.
"But, High Priestess, if we rely too heavily on the enchantments, won't that only deepen the divide if they break free? We've already lost a few to doubt. Forcing belief… it could backfire."
Aveline's gaze shifts to Caelia, her eyes cold and unrelenting.
"We have no choice. The faithful must believe. They must never doubt the light. And if that means using every resource at our disposal, so be it."
She pauses, letting the weight of her words sink in. The council remains silent, the elders bowing their heads in reluctant agreement. Aveline's plan is drastic, but none dare question her now. The situation is dire, and desperate measures must be taken.
"Tomorrow," Aveline continues, her voice softer but no less authoritative, "I will lead the sermon myself. My voice will be laced with the spells necessary to guide them back to the light. We will strengthen the illusions and weave our magic deeper into their hearts. The faithful will no longer waver."
She moves back to her seat, her eyes scanning the room one last time.
"And if any among them still doubt," she says quietly, her voice carrying a dangerous edge, "then they will be dealt with."
The council members nod in silent agreement, their eyes avoiding direct contact with Aveline's. The decision has been made, and none of them dare challenge her.
As Aveline sits down, the chamber falls into an eerie silence once more. The plan is in motion. Tomorrow, the faithful will face the full might of The Divine Order's magic. And any remaining doubt will be crushed beneath the weight of their control.