And in the beginning the gods started to speak. And the first word they spoke was light. And there was light so that they could see.
-Verse 1 of the Text of Silence
Mella sighed loudly and brushed a red strand of hair out of her face. Another boat came up onto the pier and inventorying the contents would take at least half an hour, making her late once again. As daughter of the port master she was expected to help out with the harbor administration, and while she was eternally grateful to her father for this opportunity, it was not her lot in life, that she was certain.
Suddenly she heard woops of joy. Darek ran into the port, straight to the new arrivals. She waved at him, but he ignored her as usual. She however just smiled, because that was typical. Vanna, the port master’s apprentice, joined her. “You can go, I will cover for you” she said with a smile. Mella smiled back, thanked her profusely and walked over where Darek interrogated a sailor.
“Do you know the word for sun in the tongue of the northerners? What about light or fire or water…” she heard Darek say before quickly drowning him out. While she loved him to death, not even she could listen endlessly to his monologuing. He was her oldest and best friend, and they met years ago in the city library, where he ran her over searching for some books on mathematics, while she just wandered around looking for adventure books, because that was all she wanted in life, to take part in an adventure.
After he was finished, he turned around and saw her. She laughed at the surprised look on his face. “You are never going to be a Confessor like your dad if you don’t start paying attention to your surroundings.” she said while poking him into the side. He smiled weakly, looked briefly into her eyes and then away, and answered: ”You know that is never going to happen. But you are on your best way to join the church.”
He never looked her for more than a brief moment into the eyes, but he never did, to anyone, so it was fine. He always was skittish around people, since she knew him. He only warmed up to her in the library back then when she started talking to him about mathematics, which she knew all about being the port master’s daughter. Not knowing how to calculate tax for the inventory would result in a pretty short stay as port master.
Since then, his fascination with mathematics has changed into other interests, and lately into a love of languages. Being the son of the high priest of the town he had high hopes placed upon him, but he did not care about religion. Same as her, actually, but becoming a confessor was the best way of experiencing adventures.
That did not mean that she would ever blaspheme, by the gods return, it was just that her faith was not as encompassing as she led others to believe, except Darek, who knew her real feelings regarding the subject.
Darek was apprenticed to a tinkerer in the city by his fathers orders. If he could not fulfill the expectations of his father by joining the church, he could at least further the survival of mankind with his mind.
He already improved the security of the city by allowing the giant fixated crossbows on top of the city walls to reload faster. But his heart was not in it. She ruffled through his brown hair, which did not match his blue eyes.
They walked in silence to church for their afternoon lesson (as was mandatory until graduation), because it would not be possible to get Darek out of his headspace while he digested some new information.
Lessons started soon afterwards. First hour was Literacy, because everyone should be able to read church proclamations. The side effect of being able to write was unintended but beneficial, so that people could set up their own contracts and not strain the already overburdened church bureaucracy. After that was Self-Defense, where Mella excelled at and Darek always ended up on his behind, no matter his opponent. He never could hurt anyone, not even a fly. She liked that side of him. There was enough harshness in the world, and it could really use more people like Darek, in her opinion.
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They then had a break where they were allowed to wash themselves with water from a watering trough. Mella got swept up with some other girls from class, all roughly the same age as her.
“Did you all hear about the confessor arriving?” Donna asked excitedly. She always knew everything about everyone and she loved to gossip. Mella felt her heart start to race. ‘Could this really be?’ she thought to herself before resolutely squashing her thoughts.
“No, how do you know about it?” Kelli asked. Donna blushed, and then whispered theatrically: “Oh, Garet was stationed at the gate today.”. Mella tried to hide a smile. Probably the whole city already knew of the budding romance between Donna and Garet.
Suddenly Kelli turned to Mella and said:”So, how is it going between you and Darek? You are practically inseparable.”. If looks could kill, Kelli would spontaneously evaporate due to the force of Mella’s glare. Kelli raised her hands defensively and smiled disarmingly. No one could stay mad at Kelli for long.
“So, what is Darek’s newest obsession? Weaponry?” asked Donna. Mella shook her head. “Languages” She answered curtly, not wanting to be teased more by the other girls. Suddenly they heard a commotion nearby and started running.
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Hello, my name is Darek, and I am the smartest boy alive. At least that's what my mum told me, and she was always right. Even dad always had to admit that, before she died. He met her through their service, both being confessors on the border to the center, before being stationed in Skipherberg. This is the name of our city, in case you do not know.
I found some records in the library regarding the name of our city. Skipherberg is just the old name given to a ship port, and just stuck so that the whole city is named after it. That is not to say that the name is wrong. Adjacent to the open sea, nearly the whole purpose of the city is fishing and trade, next to some farming. Being one of the biggest ports in the country, most of the grain and other edibles are either produced or get through Skipherberg before being transported to Konigshaim, the capital. This means Kingshome, if you are interested in how language evolves over time.
Today I learned that fire in the northern language (so named for being, unsurprisingly, very far in the north) is pronounced fyr. This is very similar to fire as we say it in Skipherberg. Does this now prove the church dogma of the scattering? I’m not sure, but it's worth thinking about.
Suddenly my face collides with the ground and my mouth fills with dirt. Astonished, I try to turn around and spit out the unwanted contents of my mouth. But then I feel pressure on the top of my back. I stop moving and whisper:”Please don’t touch me.”
I then hear laughter from all around me. Looking to the side I see many people standing around me, pointing. “Stand up weakling, let us see how you fight.” I hear Doran say. Doran always tries to get me to fight him. What does he expect of me? I just lie there, waiting for him to stop. He always stops when I do not fight back.
Suddenly the pressure on my back lifts. I hear a dull thump and looking to the side I see Doran lying in the dirt. Turning around, I see Mella relaxing into a normal stance, seemingly after throwing Doran down.
“Traitor take you, Doran.” she spits, while every person around gasps. Me too, because that was the harshest curse I ever heard her utter. “You would fit right in in the Traitor’s cohort. Where is the compassion that the gods taught us, instead of the hubris that led to the fall of mankind? You will never be a confessor like that.” She says, while the crowd tentatively tries to not exist under her glare.
Suddenly a voice thunders:”What is the problem here?” Everyone suddenly stands stockstill, while my father marshes out of the main building, walking towards us. I avert my eyes, not wanting to see the disappointment in his eyes. Doran hurriedly stands up:”Nothing, Father Darok.” and vanishes into the crowd.
My father runs his eyes over the crowd, and satisfied that everyone is there, he raises his voice:”A messenger came from the capital today. It seems our city will soon have a new confessor in our ranks. Congratulations, Mella.”. My heart sinks and I try to keep it from showing on my face. No one realizes this however, because a cheer rises up from the crowd.
I want to be happy for her, and I really am happy that her wish comes true, but I do not want to be alone. “And to celebrate these awesome tidings, we will leave the city for the customary excursion today. We will meet in 5 minutes at the city gate.” says Father, before leaving. Awesome, I think. Why does it have a different meaning compared to awful? Shouldn’t it mean exactly the same thing? Did people in the past have the same feeling I have now, both excitement and fear? Excitement of finally leaving the city for the first time, and fear of the Unknown? Leaving the walls of the city, as everyone knows, is tantamount to suicide, because of the monsters that lurk outside for unprepared humans.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay? You look spooked.” asks Mella. “Yeah, everything is fine.” I answer. Then I blurt out:”I am happy that you are going to be a confessor, but I am going to miss you so much.”
Mella takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. “So, not everything is fine?” she asks teasingly. I grinned, chastised, and then Kelli and Donna join us. I smile shyly at Kelli, always having had a fancy for her. She catches me looking at her and quirks her lips.
I walk with them to the gate. Soon after my father joins us with a sword belted to his hip. I swallow audibly. Not having any reason to be outside the walls all my life, this will be my first chance to directly experience the might of the church through the confessors and their famous demon killing swords, the only reason humanity has not gone extinct so far.