The unrest in the cathedral ebbed as quickly as the flood came. After it became complete darkness again, as soon as the thing grabbed the spheres they dissolved as if into nothingness, the curtains were drawn aside, and light came again. The stark contrast between holiness, pure shock and these light-rays were unimaginable. It took them a few moments to get a good grip of reality again.

“Gods and Queen Danielle, wot did we just witness? Eye've nevah seen a mass like this in all me years! Did you evah witness something like that?” Guillalme asked as he looked with a face of pure disbelief into the eyes of the Antithetical.

“No,” he replied. “I’ve never witnessed anything that comes close to this. This was like a deep dive into heaven and hell all over again. Revelations, Gods, they showed themselves!”

The spirit of The Antithetical roared. While he strode through the Coastal Town, to the Forest, stayed at the Farm and went to the Cathedral, his mind was working in the background. Silently, diligently. He knew, after witnessing what had happened, it reconstructed his connection.

---

The last few days were like waking up in a dark, familiar but unknown room.

Darkness reigned in this room.

When his mind tried to get up, he wasn't sure if it took a few seconds or hours. Time has been lost here. It held on to something, not knowing where up and down were. It felt a warm, slightly viscous liquid enveloping the fingers of its hand. Then it felt a piece of wood, which it recognized as a table. Slowly, it pulled itself up and began searching. A small box of matches and a candle lay on the table.

The fire enveloped the wick with sheer greed. A battle ensued between the candle and the darkness. It was as if it was trying to swallow up all life and all light for all time. To drag it down into some deep, unexplored abyss. In the flickering light, the shadows danced on the stone walls in the most eerie and bizarre of dances.

An overturned inkwell, a quill pen, and a blank page on the table. The room was made of old, moss-covered bricks and was not exceptionally large. There was a chest of drawers and a door in addition to the table in the middle of the room. The dim candlelight illuminated everything. The mind walked over to the chest of drawers, but it was completely empty, which came as a surprise. Now the door remained. The door was made from ebony wood. It looked new, smelled as if it had just been cut, and shone as if it had just been polished. It reached out for the door handle. Locked.

The mind was unsure what to do, trapped in this space it wandered around the table for a while. It itself knew what had happened. Expected, but unpleasant events. Nothing that *he* could not fix, but the connection was not there. As if locked away, it now found itself in this cell, in the deepest depths of the psyche. In this space of the mind and without time, it could not know how much time had passed. Not that it would have changed anything, but it tried for an awfully long time, until it turned itself to the blank page of paper. It approached it, grabbed the quill pen, and wrote something.

ĉhœb'ǎ!

The room began to shake. The candle flame shot up, bathing the room in a hellish red. The stones rattled. The door shook. A small crack appeared.

- - -

Guillalme noticed the face of The Antithetical, he never saw it filled with these emotions, or more likely emotions in general. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes were wide, and he had a broad grin on his mouth. He was excited, if not aroused. Guillalme himself found the spectacle to be impressive, but also shocking. Yes, the gods were showing themselves, they agreed, but it made him feel as small and insignificant as a maggot. The Antithetical, by comparison, was the exact opposite, and he longed for more. It was the first time that Guillalme felt not only suspicion but also fear towards his new acquaintance. He wanted to finally get over with it, to leave him behind and follow his farmer life as he did for the last hundreds of years. A good faithful child of the Gods, faithful to Queen Danielle and never poking his nose into anyone else's business. That's how he was able to live so long without ending up in Lostlodge.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Finola,” he looked deep into her eyes as he started talkin'. “My dear, would ya go ahead? Ya know that I don't like it, of the Farm and the Animals are alone so long. I'll approach the priest and talk to him about what we've discussed. I'm sure the Priest can help our friend here.” As he finished the sentence, he tried to put on a convincing smile.

“Is everythin' alrigh', me dear?” she asked with a worried expression on her face. “I saw it as well, it was –” She couldn't finish as he interrupted her with a wave of his hand.

“Finola, ma dear,” he said as he moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I'm not worryin' 'bout what we just saw, I'm worryin' 'bout our friend 'ere, he's been givin' me the creeps. I don't want 'im around ya anymore.”

At the end of his sentence, he rose to his feet and walked towards the Antithetical, signaling for him to follow. Both approached the priest and Minister Iesos who was standing in front of the black marble altar. The Priest was in the process of directing his deacons. They were to carefully carry away the boxes, clean the cathedral and carefully remove any wax that had dripped onto the floor. The Minister looked at them as they approached, his face was grim with a stern expression.

“Father, c'n ya spare us a momen' of yer precious time?” Guillalme asked as he approached with lowered head.

Minister Iesos raised a hand, signaling to stop, looking at Guillalme and especially The Antithetical.

“Harken unto me, for I offer my gratitude for this most splendid Church Mass and the gracious invitation extended unto me. Verily, I feel greatly honored by this esteemed gesture. But alas, I must bid adieu, for there are other pressing matters that require my attention. Father, I beseech thee to pay a visit to my Manor at a later time, for I have certain matters that I would fain discuss with thee.” With a disdainful snort, he glanced once more at Guillalme and The Antithetical before striding away.

The priest nodded, turned to Guillalme, and said: “My child, what's wrong? Is it because of the mass in the church, because of what you saw? Rest assured, if you are faithful to the gods and to us, no harm will come to you. I still have much to do, you know what year it is, so if it does not concern life and death, I would ask to speak to me at another time. “

Guillalme looked at The Antithetical, he did not want to contradict the priest. He looked very unsure when suddenly the antithetical addressed the priest.

“This was phenomenal, eye-opening, a sight to behold. The Gods themselves appeared before our eyes; I’ve never seen things like this!”

Guillalme was in disbelief. To address the priest without father and in addition his personality was like exchanged after the spectacle was over.

“Oh, my son, you look euphoric!” the Priest answered as he turned to The Antithetical. “Yes, this was a very special Church Mass, no costs or lives were too high. I’m glad that you feel invigorated.” He looked him into the face, Guillalme had the hunch that he inspected the face a little bit too long, especially the forehead. “But tell me Son, who are you? I’ve never seen you in my Cathedral as far as you ask me. I know every citizen that resides here in Glisford. Enlighten me, where are you from?” As he said that, the Deacons in the vicinity were looking into their direction. Interested and ready to strike.

“Father let me introduce him. His na… He’s a wanderer that lost his way in Farahns Forest. My wife and I found him two days ago, he was lost, hungry and dehydrated. We fed him, gave him a place to sleep and anticipated this day to bring him forth to you.”

“Oh is that so?” asked the Priest. “Delightful! You are a true, good commoner. But what does this have to do with me?”

“See Father, I’d love if you’d have a talk with him. He, as he said it, came accidentally in contact with the “Flowers” in the Forest. His Mind seems a bit troubled since then.” Guillalme explained.

“Ah, I see,” said the priest. “That's just how it is, a troubled soul. I'm sure we'll be able to put your mind at ease after this unfortunate event.” With a glance at one of his deacons, he called him over. “Make a note of an appointment with this man for tomorrow, right after the Sext. As you may have heard, I have another appointment with Minister Iesos at his Mansion later on, so please forgive me, we must have a talk tomorrow.“

“With the utmost pleasure,” The Antithetical said. Guillalme took a deep bow, “Thank you, Father,” he added.

Then The Antithetical turned and signaled to Guillalme to follow him. He walked out of the cathedral with his back straight, his head held high and his eyes gleaming emerald-green.

As The Antithetical strode out of the Cathedral, Guillalme rushed after him. It was immediately apparent that Guillalme had no stamina, as he began to huff and puff just to keep up with his speed.

“That went well!” Guillalme said. “What a day. Come on, let's go back, Finola's probably finished eating by now.” He was in a better mood. He was still a little wary, but the father seemed very relaxed, even happy to see his guest. He thought: “If he is so friendly to him, I can be more relaxed.

So Guillalme and The Antithetical made their way home, had their Vespers Food and Compline prayer. The Sun settled down, the moon rose and the Antithetical was ready.

He was ready to kill the second Man in Line to the Kingdom's Throne.

Minister Iesos.