Sabatsday, 23rd of Marcia, 470th year of the 5th Era

As the night went on, the feast still showed no signs of going down, in fact it only got livelier and livelier. The people cheered even more when after the main course of the meal was served and the people were eating, the young women of the village brought out the drinks and placed them in clay pitchers at various points around the eating groups. The drinks that were served were the traditional and indigenous liquor of the Halak peoples, among them was ‘Tuak’, a drink made from the fermented sap of palm trees. It was an acquired taste but it went down easy enough. The other, sweeter, liquor was known as the ‘Nira’ which was extracted from the flowers of the palm trees, thus lending itself to be called ‘palm nectar’. The extracted Nira is then left to ferment for a few hours, making for a more palatable and much more enjoyable drink especially for the women of the village.

While enjoying his own drink, Josias looked around the square as he allowed the warm, joyous, and festive atmosphere to sink into his memories. Such familial festivities weren't by any means rare for the Halak as he'd reckon his people can come up with any reason or excuse to go out feasting and drinking be it a baptism, confirmation, weddings, hell - even funerals -, but regardless, perhaps it was because of the cracks that he saw appear within his larger family like his uncle and aunt with their children did Josias decide to cherish such moments while they lasted. Speaking of his uncle and aunt, Josias couldn't help but give them a glance every once in a while to check on them and see if anything's changed. So far, out of any other people in the village, they've made it the most obvious that they weren't participating in any of the Christian practices that Goria had grown used to. While the prevailing Religion within Goria - especially since the events of the old coalition war two decades prior- was overwhelmingly tilted towards the Christian Religion, King Parhal had never officially promulgated any real anti-pagan behaviours personally and no laws existed which called for their persecution either, partially because both Bishop Ludwig and King Parhal saw any form of compulsion within religion to be undesirable as it takes away the basic human Gift that God gave humanity which was a free will and journey within the Faith and to add to that, enforcing the faith at the expense of the old ways would incense the other Kingdoms further and usher into a new age of conflict and though like it did the last time. While Josias was confident that Gloria would be able to defend itself and perhaps even emerge victorious, the end result would still result in a weakened Halaklands ripe for the exploitation of the other more centralized states of Neacordis.

As Josias was having these thoughts, he once more looked to his left as he saw his cousin Timotheus with a heavy expression speaking with the Ephorus Ludwig who was listening to him intently as he crossed his arms. Though he didn't show it, King Parhal was listening as well to the conversation as he couldn't help but frown. From afar, Josias could see that his uncle was engaged in conversation with other members of his clan although every once in a while, he would give a glance towards Timotheus or just eye his son from the side. When Josias looked to his right, he could see his own jovial father not really giving any care to what was going on around him as he was busy stuffing the succulent blood-meat and rice into his face. Parulian was a notoriously quick and heavy eater and Josias noted that it was already his third plate. Josias couldn't help but lose all other thoughts and laughed when he saw this which caught Parulian's attention who straightened his back as he saw his son snickering at him.

“What??” Parulian gave Josias a blank stare as some rice grains were caught in his beard “Something on my face?”

“Well, yes actually, but that wasn't what I was laughing about.” Josias pointed towards an area in his own face to indicate where it was stuck on Parulian’s face “But it always amazes me seeing you eat, father. I'd say you give even our tigers a run for their money!”

“Bwahahahahah!! Eck!!” Parulian had choked a little as he forgot he still had food in his throat before he laughed.

“How many times do I have to tell you, you big oaf! Don't talk while you eat!” Hotma chimed in as she scolded her husband for his immature behavior before turning to her children beside her “Remember that kids! Don't be like your father! You're smarter than that!”

“Bah! That's a little outta line, dear!” Parulian said but one more glare from his wife was enough to shut him up and nod “Yes, dear. Kids, listen to your mother.”

“Hahahahahah!!... -Ow!” as Josias was laughing at his father, Parulian simply smacked the back of his head “What was that for?!”

“No talking while eating!” Parulian said

“I'm done eating though..?”

“No talking while I'm eating. Little rascal.” Parulian said with a grin to which Josias merely shrugged his shoulders, turning his attention elsewhere though when he was about to drink again, he felt a tap on his left shoulder as he saw his grandfather call out to him in a serious expression. Looking more to the side, he saw the Ephorus Ludwig, Timotheus, and Elder Marasi as well as a few other Elders forming a new circle away from the main group. It looked like they were having a rather animated yet hushed discussion. By this point though, most of the people who were done eating with their main course meal had also formed smaller circles with their groups of close friends, creating a more disorganized yet still very festive atmosphere as the music continued to play.

As Josias dragged himself over the carpets to head towards the new circle he asked his grandfather, “Ompung, shouldn't my father be a part of the discussions too?” He said in a slight whisper to King Parhal's ear to which the old man only shook his head.

“He'll find out soon enough… but we need cooler heads on this night so as to not have any… unnecessary… confrontations.” King Parhal said to which Josias nodded. Though his father was a boisterous and jovial man, even when compared to the other Halak, it was no secret that he too was a rather brash actor, sometimes letting his fists speak faster than his mind could think. With that in mind, as Josias took a spot sitting next to his grandfather and Elder Marasi, he finally caught the gist of what the conversation was about as Timotheus had caught sight of him joining the conversation.

“Ah, brother Josias! He was the one who was there from the beginning so I'm sure he can explain it better.” Timotheus said as he gestured towards Josias who could only furrow his brows in confusion as to what he needed to say.

“I'm a little confused, gentlemen. What is it exactly that's being discussed right now?” Josias asked as he scratched his chin

“The events pertaining to yesterday near the stream and the Old Pagan tree…” Timotheus answered

“...Ah yes.. that…” Josias nodded before he shot a quick glance towards his uncle and aunt from afar, noticing that they were starting to get uneasy despite not outwardly showing any unrest and were still conversing with their own circle of friends. “...So what exactly do you want to know? I mean, I don't really think I can remember it all too clearly as it was dark and…”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Brother, there's no need to beat around the bush.” Timotheus said as he looked seriously at Josias who was attempting to avoid directly mentioning the issue that would implicate his uncle and aunt despite his own personal objections towards them “I have already told the gentlemen here the gist of it.”

“Has my son… truly apostatised?” Finally the question came out of King Parhal's own mouth as he looked to his grandson with eyes so deep and a look so stoic, Josias couldn't help but have his defenses broken before finally he sighed and nodded weakly.

“...It is true…” Josias said to which King Parhal could only close his eyes as his hands were holding the ground. King Parhal always had a reputation for being stoic and steadfast yet no one knew if it was either a result of his recent ailments, the softening of time with old age, or a combination thereof, the old man who was now sitting in front of Josias gave off a completely different air. He looked weakened, broken. Not just spiritually, but mentally as well. It didn't help that despite the King's age to be factually younger than even the Ephorus Ludwig, physically Parhal looked to be in his seventies despite barely even being sixty years old. Although it pained Josias to do so, at his grandfather's insistence, he finally relented and relayed to the people there of all that had transpired in regards to the events around the old Spirit tree. By the end of his recounting, the air grew increasingly heavy as everyone had darkened expressions after finding out that not only were there still people clinging to the old ways, but to have prominent members of the ruling Sigumogo clan, heralded as Champions of the Faith, to fall away into a state apostasy was too much of a shock especially to the Bishop Ludwig and above all to the old King.

“...I had always known that there were still some who had yet to accept the faith…” Ludwig started “But to hear that people who have given themselves over to be baptized to then throw away and prove reprobate. It pains me to no end… I am at a loss as to what to do. Truly, Lord King, I don't know how to move forward with this in mind.”

King Parhal still had his head down as he crossed his arms in what appeared to be deep thought. It was only after a few moments did the King look up again and began speaking. “I was only twenty years old when my father, the Old Raja Hamonangan Nabolon, fell into battle against the Snake-men of the North. Though we had won the battle, the price we had to pay for it was steep. Before the battle, my father had taken my beloved younger sister Narea… as a sign that he too would sacrifice his most precious treasure and possession for victory and so in the night he had taken his beloved daughter and strangled her before he brought her to that very tree to be hung, behead her and have the blood that flowed from it to be drunk by his warriors to strengthen them… I still remember when with tears in his eyes but a grin on his face he had also forced me and many of the elders here to drink it as well before we set off to war. Such a thing had never happened before where we sacrificed an innocent. My father was well and truly insane, a demon taking human form, yet not a single one of our priests or elders said anything about it!... My lords and elders… though I can not say that such barbarity is a staple of those who follow the old ways, when times of extreme duress comes… who's to say that the people in their wanton ignorance, desperation, and superstition would not resort once more to such extreme measures? The fruit of the Old ways is clear and I will not have my people returned once more to such barbarism! I would rather have our criminals to be eaten by our actual tiger beasts than having our own people act like beasts themselves…”

“My King, while I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments and I bear personal witness as to what the followers of the old ways are capable of doing, I don't believe we should go out of our way and enforce the faith upon the people…” Bishop Ludwig said as he expressed sympathy with the King's viewpoints but still laid out an objection towards more strong-arming methods “As Christ himself had shown to us through the scriptures, it is with Preaching, Teaching, Love, and Mercy should the faith be spread. Look at all the good that it has brought to us now where most of our Realm has embraced His Gospel.”

“...I understand, bang. But we have to be realistic here. My death is approaching soon and I can feel it…”

“...Ompung, you shouldn't say such things-...” As Josias and Timotheus were apprehensive about their grandfather's comments, Parhal merely raised his hand to silence them.

“Quiet, the both of you… I have lived long enough on this world… and nothing would bring me greater joy than to pass on to the eternal Kingdom to be with my God and my Beloved wife…”

“God Rest, Lady Maulia…” Bishop Ludwig said reflexively as he held his chest at the mention of the late Queen.

“But I fear for the fate of all that we have built should I make the final voyage to the Kingdom Everlasting. If we do not establish a firm root for our faith here in Goria itself, then it will all be for naught.” King Parhal continued

“Surely my father would not allow that to come to pass.” Josias said “Neither would most of the other Clan Elders stand for it!”

“Your father has always dearly loved your uncle - as we all do - but he will be willing to tolerate such affronts if it means he's able to protect his brother. Allowing the old faith to continue to propagate will only serve to undermine our realms efforts in missionary work and if the traditionalists find themselves a rallying point from within our clan, then any hope for a peaceful transition would be lost… we must act decisively.”

“Any decisive effort will force the other Kings to act against our interests, Ompung!” Josias protested once more “Another war will loom over us and that would only cause more of us to suffer!”

“That would be the case if we were proactively acting out against people who are following the old ways… I may be old but I'm no fool and that is not what we'll be setting out to do, at least not yet.”

“... I'm confused. So what then are you proposing that we do?” As Josias was scratching his head, Timotheus and Ludwig had already realised what the King was hinting at

“... Excommunication…” Timotheos said as while the King nodded his head.

“While forcing the those who had never accepted the faith to be baptized would be overstepping our bounds, disciplining those who have fallen away would fall under our jurisdiction…” Ludwig nodded in understanding and realisation at the King's plan

“...At the ordination tomorrow… I want this all to be done…” King Parhal finally said as he eyed Elder Marasi once more who nodded as he got up. “We will make the announcements…”

And so Elder Marasi bellowed aloud once more to get the attention of the people as the crowded atmosphere settled down once more, “HEAR YE! THE KING SPEAKS!”

“...As you all know, tonight has been a great blessing as we could all enjoy such a wonderful atmosphere together. But the hours are getting late and tomorrow, we must ready ourselves for an equally important ceremony. We must prepare as always to meet at the House of the Lord and though that in and of itself is… already reason enough. Moreso with Holy and tempered pride do I remind everyone that the ordinations of our very own native children will take place and among them another one of my beloved grandsons would do me proud as he has chosen to give his life in service to the Lord and to his people. To my beloved grandson, Tuan Timotheus Taruli Mulia Sigumogo…” As the King motioned towards his grandson who had gotten up and stood beside him, the people clapped and cheered at the news, especially the younger ladies of the village who had all grown to admire the handsome young Prince who was to be their new shepherd and priest. And so the King spoke again but this time with emphasis in his raspy voice as he stared straight at his younger son and Timotheus' father Partogi “And so I would hope for you all to return now in peace as you join me and my entire family for celebration at the church. And so with that, I bid you all HORAS!!”

‘“Horas!!”” All the people replied and with that many had started getting up from their spots to return to their homes while others stayed behind to clean up after the feast. Some of the older women though were busy placing the leftover foods into containers to bring home with them for food tomorrow as was a peculiar habit to Halak women.

Josias only shook his head as he prepared for what was to come. It was a crazy week for him, but it didn't look like the craziness was about to end anytime soon.