On our way out of class, Ralodan catches up with me. \u201cHey, sorry about Olizara Greatgazer, she\u2019s a bit of a stuck-up crown bird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I laugh at the notion. I can picture the crown bird with its head up high, acting above the other birds. \u201cThat is a perfect comparison.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He smiles. \u201cWhat can I say? I tell it like it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can\u2019t understand why this boy makes me feel so full of hope, love, and compassion. That smile just brings it all out from inside me. I try my best to ignore it. \u201cSay, what do you know of Terel Glarespell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His eyebrows seem to collapse down on his nose. \u201cWhy do you ask?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m just curious. I heard a rumor that he had some secret or something like that,\u201d I say nonchalantly, trying to downplay my curiosity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you hear this rumor or read it out of a book? Maybe someone wrote it in your textbook?\u201d he asks, raising an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes\u2026 How did you know?\u201d I ask, tilting my head as my eyes widen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithin my textbooks are notes written by someone who claims they are the author. However, when I asked about them to Olizara and several others, they have no idea what I am talking about. They say that Terel had no secrets. They even claimed there was no writing in my book,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMay I see your book?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He hesitates. \u201cThe person who wrote the notes told me to keep them secret. I\u2019m not sure I should show you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hand him my book. He opens it and his eyes go wide. He looks at me with his jaw gaping down at the floor. \u201cThey\u2019re the same notes, and it even looks as if they are written in the same handwriting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow may I see your book?\u201d I ask. He hands both books over to me without saying a word. I open them and compare the two books. It\u2019s as if they are identical copies with the same handwriting saying the same thing. \u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou two have the writing in them, too?\u201d We both turn to see Biremeril following behind us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou mean your book has them too?\u201d Ralodan asks. Biremeril says nothing, just hands him his book. Ralodan opens it and his expression says it all. The book must contain the same words written. \u201cWhat does this mean? How many copies are there with these notes in them, and why do we have them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been looking into it, and I suspect there is some kind of charm on the books themselves so that only a select few can read the notes. That is why if you give these books to another who isn\u2019t selected for whatever reason, they can\u2019t see the notes. The writings vanish. I suspect whoever cast the charm only wanted those with specific qualities he sought to read them,\u201d Biremeril explains. \u201cI\u2019ve tested this, and I have verified it. I found that Irlana Blackshadow cannot see the notes, but Prysmeril\u2019s book has the notes within them, and can see them in mine. Whatever this secret is, it is dangerous.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat should we do?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe should find Terel\u2019s books and read them,\u201d Ralodan says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI concur,\u201d Biremeril says. This is the first time I\u2019ve ever heard Biremeril speak more than a few words. There\u2019s more to this boy than meets the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let us find them and read them,\u201d I say. \u201cHave either of you read where they are located?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt says that the books which contain the truth are located where truths are admitted and forgiveness is given,\u201d Biremeril says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d I ask, scratching my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t we have to admit our wrongdoings? Would that be considered truths? It would make sense to be forgiven for them,\u201d Ralodan asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is my thoughts exactly,\u201d Biremeril says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo where is the place where we are to confess for our wrongdoings?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFollow me,\u201d he says and starts heading in the opposite direction. Ralodan and I exchange looks. He shrugs and we follow him. We head up the stairs until we reach the main floor. Then we head into the cathedral itself in all its glory. Rows upon rows of pews made from white marble with silver cushions trimmed with gold resting upon them line the cathedral. An aisle splits them down the middle covered in a vibrant gold carpet that leads to the most grandeur of pulpits made from pure gold. The walls have gold and silver-stained glass that depicts an image of angels. Brilliant chandeliers hang from the ceiling high above with a painting of such magnificence it truly leaves me in complete awe. It shows two angels, a man and a woman, descending from above to shed Light upon the darkness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is Akrasiel with his sister Jophiel. Our savior,\u201d Biremeril says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is beautiful,\u201d I say. I look around and oddly, there\u2019s only one other person in here. A man who\u2019s kneeling on a bench to pray. I immediately recognize his uniform. He\u2019s some officer within the Golden High Elf Trading Company. The way he is dressed, he must be someone important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe feels\u2026\u201d Ralodan says before mumbling under his breath something I can hardly make out. \u201cFamiliar\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stares at the painting long and hard before Biremeril pulls him from his trance-like state. \u201cIt should be over here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We follow him over to several booths made of marble that line the back corner of the hall. He goes through them, inspecting each one. We help, searching for the others. \u201cMay I ask what you are doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all stop and stand up from the booths as a short, stout, pudgy woman wearing a white gown in gold trim with a rather pompous headdress that seems to stand up from her hair to make her appear much taller. It\u2019s white with gold trim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMother Chaetris\u2026\u201d Biremeril gasps. \u201cWe\u2026 we\u2026 we\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were just marveling at the beautiful architecture of this gorgeously built cathedral. It\u2019s quite impressive,\u201d Ralodan says with that beautiful, handsome smile. \u201cHave you seen the way this marble is elegantly chiseled to such perfection?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree, it is quite impressive and surely deserves such adoration. However, it should not be dirtied by such impure hands. I suggest you three should put in extra hours of chores to put such dirty hands to their proper use,\u201d she says with a look that makes a crown bird seem humble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA\u2026 as\u2026 you wish\u2026 Ma\u2026 Mother Chaetris.\u201d Biremeril tries to spit out in a trembling stutter. He turned into a complete mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat makes our hands so impure?\u201d I ask, meeting her judgmental eyes with defiance on my own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou dare question me, you low-born\u2026 Child?\u201d the stout, pudgy woman asks with eyes full of fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat she meant was how can her hands become pure such as yours? She only seeks to better serve the Light such as yourself,\u201d Ralodan says. I go to correct him, but he speaks over me, giving me a warning glance. \u201cLike we all do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI suppose that is a worthy goal, but I\u2019m afraid low-borns such as yourselves aren\u2019t capable of reaching the level of purity that I and the other high-borns obtain. It\u2019s just how things are and will always be. Now, go and do us all a service and put yourselves to good use and get to work cleaning our beloved cathedral,\u201d she says raising her hand to shoo us away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before I can say a word, Ralodan ushers both of us out, practically dragging me behind him. I see the short stout woman spot the other man. \u201cAhh, Admiral Myrdin Sylkas. I\u2019m sorry about them. Novices do not know any better, despite that, they shouldn\u2019t be in here disturbing the peace of the faithful, such as yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you, Mother, Chaetris. I appreciate it. Order is of the utmost importance to me,\u201d he says as he stands up. I realize he\u2019s not the tallest man. In fact, he\u2019s even shorter than Mother Chaetris, if that can be believed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat an impetuous, stuck-up, arrogant cunt!\u201d I spit out when we get far enough away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLura! You shouldn\u2019t say such things. She\u2019s a noblewoman. A high-born. We\u2019re just low-borns who have no right to even be in the same light as a high-born,\u201d Biremeril says, his eyes wide in fear as his face pales in shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeriously, Biremeril? Didn\u2019t you read what Terel wrote? He was talking specifically about her! Those who call themselves pure and demand that others follow in their own light,\u201d I say, quoting what Terel wrote in secret, word for word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t even know if that was Terel himself. Besides, it\u2019s acrimony to speak ill of nobles. We are but humble low-borns of no real value. Our only purpose in life is to serve those who are above us. That is why I am here. To serve the best I can,\u201d he says, and it looks like he\u2019s on the verge of tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen ask yourself, why are you able to read the notes and not someone like her? Or Olizara?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026 I just\u2026 It is not our place to question them. Please don\u2019t say such things,\u201d he says, dropping his gaze to the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have been treated like gutter trash my entire life by those who think themselves above me just for the simple fact that I was born in poverty and grew up in a tent. I won\u2019t suffer it from anyone, especially not from someone who is a hypocrite like her.\u201d I feel my face getting hot with anger as I fold my hands against my chest and glare back at the cathedral. I hate high-borns like her. \u201cShe is supposed to be of the Light and yet she acts to place herself above the rest because she was born in wealth with a fancy family name. She is nothing but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLura, that\u2019s enough,\u201d Ralodan says, cutting me off. Biremeril doesn\u2019t say a word but instead walks away with his head hanging down. \u201cLook, I understand where you are coming from, but you don\u2019t know what Biremeril\u2019s been through. He was raised as a slave. Born into it by his parents who were slaves. His entire life he was taught that his only purpose was to serve the noble high-borns. That it was their birthright to rule and his to serve. Your anger is certainly deserved, but don\u2019t blame him for his misguided views and take it out on him. He only does what he believes is right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My eyes fall to the floor as I let out a breath. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I didn\u2019t know that. I shouldn\u2019t have said those things. But still, it isn\u2019t right. And neither was what was done to him. Surely, he can see that slavery is wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree with you, and I think in time he\u2019ll come to see that as well, but don\u2019t rush him. He needs time to understand that what he lived through was not how life should be. This freedom we have is new to him. He needs time to adjust,\u201d Ralodan says. I nod as I look down the halls to the back of Biremeril as he walks away. What a truly awful way to be raised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aratheon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Prevous-Chapter.png?resize=223%2C63&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aratheon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Next-Chapter.png?resize=223%2C63&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n