Chapter 6
Jay was again seated in a room on a chair in front of a desk. This time however the desk had numerous people behind it and was much larger. At least his chair was more comfortable this time.
Jay looked around the room as the people argued with each other, some talking at Jay, others just yelling in to the void, no one listening to them. The room was quite large and nicely furnished. Not just expensive furnishings either – you could tell these were all items that were expensive AND really well made. None of the items in the room had been assembled. They had all instead been painstakingly handcrafted. It gave the room an understated opulence.
“Excuse me.” Jay attempted, no one able to hear him. After multiple attempts Jay focused on his book.
GLOW, he thought while concentrating.
The book again flared to life, bathing the entire room in a ghostly glow mimicking the reflection of light off of water, and was visible even with the room's natural lighting. The people all quieted down, staring at Jay.
“Hi!” Jay began brightly, telling the book to go dim again. “So there appears to have been a slight miscommunication between us.”
The head priest was seated at the center of the table and looked at Jay intently, “Anyone can Inspect you and see what you are. There is no miscommunication. Your title plainly shows you as a Prophet of Gaia for all who have eyes like mine to see.”
Jay nodded while pursing his lips. “Ok. I kind of understand what you said. So you can see things about me?” Jay was assuming that Inspect was a game ability that let you inspect the statistics and other information of a player or game character. At least that is how it worked in games, hopefully he wasn't making an idiot of himself with his assumption.
The head priest shook his head, “Of course I can. Can't you see our names and titles? When you look at us do you not see our personal information?”
Jay shook his head, “Not even a little. I see you but nothing else. You said yourself earlier that a prophet would come to you like a brilliant beggar. The beggar part wasn't for show. I'm broke, wearing rags, and have pretty much zero knowledge of what your world is like. I'm starting out new.”
The head priest and the others took a moment to mutter to each other when they heard that. “I've heard of such things. Gaia is known for making you work for what you get. Travelers were known to be born in to our world without some of the same abilities the rest of us have. Gaia was known for frequently using Travelers for her prophets.” The priests all nodded along with his words.
Jay nodded along too as the head priest spoke. “Ok. Good, good, good. However, I think you all have a different understanding of what I am supposed to be doing here than what my understanding is.” Jay said, patting his chest with his hand, the tattoo on the back of which glowed light teal.
The head priest and gang all looked at Jay puzzled. “Are you not here to usher in the new Age? To lead us? Didn't the Goddess give you messages for us?”
Jay sighed while shaking his head. “Ok, so get ready to be super disappointed, but just remember, I'm just the prophet here, I didn't have a say in any of this.”
“Disappointed, how?” asked one of the other priests while the head priest glared at him for speaking up.
“First off, I'm pretty sure I spoke with Gaia,” Jay began.
The crowd at the table seemed thrilled to hear that.
“But,” Jay continued, “she never actually SAID she was Gaia,”
The gaggle of priests all slowly nodded their heads. Yes, Gaia DID sometimes act mysterious.
“And I'm afraid she didn't mention you guys at all. She was quite insistent that I perform a number of tasks, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to share those with you.” Jay said, his hands held out imploringly.
The crowd at the table became agitated and started muttering to each other again, this time angrily.
“I don't have any idea of what is coming in the future, or what Gaia might be doing. I'm not even entirely sure of what I am doing yet. I'm not just a Traveler, I'm a Traveler that knows nothing. I need time to get acquainted with your world and find out where I fit it. I can however tell you one thing.”
The high priest looked up at that.
“I'm here for good. I'm not on this planet to visit. I'm here to stay. Just know that I have nothing else for you. I was sent here to do things that do not currently relate to you in any way. I was given nothing to pass on to you. Although yes, I am a prophet apparently, I'm a prophet that doesn't appear to be intended to change the way you are doing things right now. As far as I know I don't even have any powers. I can't even fight.” Jay finished.
The crowd quieted and took that in silently as they all pondered the ramifications of what Jay had just told them. Their congregation was just outside the doors, many still at church, while others filtered in to the courtyard square outside the front steps of the church. They had to tell the crowd something. Telling them that Jay wasn't a real prophet wouldn't work after his entrance. The entire town was talking about it. There really didn't appear to be a way to explain away Jay's appearance as anything other than an act of Gaia.
The group argued among themselves for a time until Jay, weary from the constant sitting on chairs in front of desks over and over again finally cut them off.
“I have an idea.” Jay stated.
“You know nothing about our world, what idea could you possibly have?” asked one of the priests, obviously disgruntled.
“Earlier one of you mentioned that Gaia makes you work for what you have. I would guess, and this is really just a guess, that I have been sent down here with nothing so I can slowly work my way up. Even Gaia's prophet must work the same way everyone else has to work for what they have. If I just appeared with powers and didn't know how to use them can you imagine how much of a mess I could make?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The priests would say that they would never call in to question Gaia's plans. In practice they constantly questioned everything, especially when it made more work for them.
“So you're not here to take over, dispense sermons exhorting the common man to rise up or something like that?” demanded one of the priests, this one bald except for tufts of hair on the sides of his head.
“No. Please no.” Jay said adamantly. “I am absolutely not here to preach sermons or dig in to the daily workings of the Church. I want nothing to do with all that.”
The room went quiet as everyone readjusted to all the information they had not been given, as well as what they had. They had all entered in to the room expecting to have this new arrival take over, issue orders, and proclaim the news the Goddess had given unto him to deliver. They had walked in expecting a fight. Instead, they got a glowing idiot who, while very likable, knew almost nothing. They couldn't call him THE Prophet if he didn't even have any powers.
Jay looked around the room, “I have a little bit of experience with a number of various religions. Something I've always found to be true is that those who believe often believe things that do not match up precisely with what is in scripture. Does your scripture actually say that a prophet has to do anything specific at all?”
The group conversed among themselves before the head priest finally almost grudgingly admitted that no, their scripture did not actually say what the prophet would do. It merely said that Gaia would send them a prophet when needed. 'Needed by who?' was the real question.
“So all of you assumed that Gaia would send someone down because you all needed something. But what if Gaia sent me down because SHE needs something?” Jay asked.
The priests were all nodding now. This idea had legs, they could work with this. Scouring the congregation clean of preconceived notions in regards to prophets seemed an easy enough fix. No new positions needed to be created, no authority needed to be given up. The priests could all go on living exactly as they had. In a way it was a relief for most of them.
It had been thousands of years since the gods last walked on Eden. People were used to the idea of not having a god or goddess around, and the idea of them popping in for a visit was rather frightening to the gathered priests. That is what they all assumed a prophet was for – to prepare the way for their Goddess's return. She had never quite said straight out that She would be returning however, which was probably for the best. Things would be much better if they just kept on as they were.
The head priest finally came to a decision. “You are a prophet, but you are not The Prophet.”
Jay chuckled, “Oh I would have to agree with you on that.”
The head priest did not look happy to be interrupted but...prophet. Even a lower case 'p' prophet stood above a priest in the hierarchy of things. They actually stood outside the entire line of authority. Ordained by the Goddess Herself, a prophet did not answer to the Church. You don't play nice with a prophet and next thing you know you might find yourself in front of an angry crowd.
The head priest continued, “We will tell everyone that you are a Traveler, a prophet of Gaia, but your journey for Her is your own, and not the Church's. You may come and go as you please, obviously, but if you do so I can not promise you that you won't run in to danger. If you truly know so little about our world immediately striking out on your own may not be your best option.”
Jay paused, “That actually makes some sense.”
The gathered priests all nodded. This was perfect. A real live prophet in the town where Gaia Herself once resided. So many people would want to speak with Jay, just to be able to say they had done so. The children all wanted to touch him to see if he was real, the adults all wanted to talk with him because they weren't sure he was. As soon as Jay left the church he would be swarmed.
“That sounds perfect. It also sounds accurate and truthful which I like.” Jay nodded, smiling thinly towards the end of his sentences. “I'm not a savior. As long as everyone expects nothing I should be fine.”
The head priest grunted grudgingly. “I don't know about everyone expecting nothing – in my experience its usually the other way around. Do you know anyone here?”
Without any pause Jay answered, “I don't even know your name, let alone anyone else. Scratch that. I met a nice guy who gave me a ride in to town. Technically Henri is the ONLY person I've met so far.”
The priests all had the good graces to look slightly guilty at that. Right after Jay had walked in to the church he had been politely escorted in to the meeting hall he currently found himself in. They had offered to hold his book and walking stick but Jay had refused. They weren't going to leave his side if he had anything to say about it.
Jay paused at that thought. He had really become attached to the two objects. The book was amazing. That one was easy. Magic book. That was a keeper for life. The walking stick though just seemed to be a nice walking stick, but he felt hesitant to let it out of his sight. Odd thing, that. Jay shrugged.
“I am sure you have many questions. I apologize for us not introducing ourselves, terrible oversight on our parts.” the head priest said. He raised an eyebrow as if to ask if he should do introductions now, but Jay waved him off. He was getting tired. It seemed that every time he woke up he had more questions than the last time he woke up, and it just kept happening. Jay was at the point of giving up, and had that look about him.
The head priest stood up, “While we could continue talking there are people outside and if we don't say something to them soon things might get rowdy. Henri is known to us and is a good man. He lives at the edge of town and should make a nice quiet spot for you to rest.” He waved at a nearby priest to go fetch Henri.
“Shouldn't we ask Henri?” Jay said, right as the priest returned with Henri. Henri must have been waiting right outside the door. Jay supposed it wouldn't have been smart to take Jay but not Henri out of the crowd initially.
“Sure,” said the head priest. “Henri, would you be willing to have a prophet stay with you for tonight, perhaps until he gets settled in?”
Henri was very willing and seemed to vacillate between terror and excitement. “My home is no place for a prophet! But should he wish it he is welcome to stay with me and mine.” Henri nodded as he spoke as if to convince himself.
“Henri is quite pious, even for a worshiper of Gaia. I am sure he can answer any questions you might have at first. Why don't you two head home while the rest of us herd the masses back to their senses and stop a riot? Yes?”
Everyone nodded and Jay along with Henri were shuffled out of the room through a plain looking door and in to a side room. A waiting priest gave Jay a thick cloak and bowed slightly. “Prophet!”
Jay shook his head, “No, Jay. Me Jay,” he said while thumping his chest through the cloak as he put it on.
The priest looked awestruck and unsure of how to respond. “Uh...” he got out before Henri grabbed Jay's arm and walked him out of one of the church's many side doors. They could make out the main courtyard from where they were and could see all the people gathered and shouting at the church.
“That looks like a mess.” Jay said, staring off at the crowd.
“That IS a mess,” replied Henri as they hopped in to Henri's cart which had been brought around for them. Henri got in to the driver's seat and motioned Jay to hop on in to the back.
“Cart time!” Jay said brightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Henri stared back at Jay, not picking up what Jay was putting down. With a “Hyup” they were off, both silent with their thoughts as they rode to Henri's place at the edge of town.