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“I’d like to check on Vernie first if that’s alright,” I responded hesitantly to Mother Liora’s enthusiastic request to take me on a tour of the High Temple.

She nodded heartily and again led me through a labyrinth of intersecting hallways, each adorned with intricate but overly similar tapestries depicting a scattered array of colorful stars, suns, swords, shields, and other religious symbols. The repetitive pattern effect made them look like the surface of those overpriced designer handbags.

A little kitschy, if you ask me.

The priestess eventually stopped in front of a set of wooden double doors that weren’t nearly as detailed as the ones leading to my chamber. “Here we are!”

I knocked on one of the doors and called, “Vernie, are you in there?”

“Izzat you, Captain?” came Vernie’s sluggish reply. “You can come in… but oh, no one else. I’m just too embarrassed about last night…”

I glanced at Mother Liora and cleared my throat delicately.

“Oh, no worries, Chosen One! I’ll wait for you right here! Take as much time as you need!”

“Thank you,” I replied, aware she would stand in that exact spot even through an earthquake.

I quietly stepped inside and shut the door softly behind me. Vernie’s quarters were decent but sparse, making it apparent I had been upgraded compared to my companions. She wasn’t resting in bed as I had expected but sat at a small table, sipping tea. After taking one long look at her surprisingly composed nature, I abandoned my plan to lecture her on bad habits she probably hadn’t actually lapsed into.

“Did you get drunk last night?” I asked bluntly.

She looked up at the ceiling momentarily, then slowly shook her head, a smile forming on her lips.

“Then, what are you really up to?”

She took a long and silent sip of tea, set down her teacup, and then grinned widely. “Waiting for you, my accomplice.”

I glanced sideways twice. “Uh…”

“This time,” she advised, leaning forward. “You’re gonna be the distraction.”

“How could I be …” I stopped, realizing the answer was already by default. “Oh. Who am I distracting, and why?”

Vernie nodded several times, obviously enjoying herself as she took her time to reveal her grand work. “I need you to distract the guards around Pravum’s old office.”

“And just how do I get Mother Liora to take me there? I imagine it’s not on my list to tour.”

Vernie waved her hand. “The private confessional across the way. Tell her you want to use it.”

“But,” I started to object. “Don’t you actually have to… you know, confess to somebody?!”

“Yes. And make sure you’re loud about it, too, so the guards come to listen in. Nothing juicier than self-reported divulgences!”

With a groan way beyond my years, I stood up. “One condition.”

She also hopped out of her seat, taking a moment to limber up. “Yeah?”

“I need you to get whatever’s in the false bottom of his desk drawer. Second on the…” I paused, trying to recall Father Irijah’s words.

“Right side,” Vernie acknowledged. “I know.”

“Do you listen in on all of my conversations?” I asked archly.

“Of course not. Just the important ones.”

I sighed. “I’m not sure this is going to work… Surely, not all the guards will abandon their posts!”

Vernie gave a slight shake of her head. “We only need a few to be distracted. And we won't know if it works until we try, right?”

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Mother Liora’s nearly endless tour included several small rooms where several small holy relics had been stored on display tables. Several sat on small pillows, and a few even had their own glass cases.

“And if you look to your right, you’ll see Mother Brigid’s seminal creation!”

I pointed to the closest glass case. “It’s the… cup inside, right?”

“Yes! See how it is overfull but never overflows?”

She was right; the cup seemed to defy gravity with a rich, amber liquid brimming over the top, with one drop starting to collect on the lower edge of its lip. “Uh-huh.”

“Truly an artistic miracle!” she sighed happily.

“Is it a metaphor for something?” I asked, trying to figure out its significance. “Like… all of the things inside us are even greater than the vessel that carries them?”

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“That’s not right. The miracle is that the liquid is still there and unspilled after all these centuries,” she insisted.

It’s a cup full of resin. It just looks like liquid.

“I see… It’s very… creative,” I commented, wondering if I was trying too hard to be someone who appreciates art.

“Truly,” she agreed, her eyes lighting up with pride.

Well, I’m sure Mother Brigid did all sorts of other wonderful things during her lifetime.

“She enjoyed doing arts and crafts and playing pranks on the children she looked after with her silly sculptures such as the one there. However, she was also a fantastic listener," Raedine remarked telepathically.

Oh! You’re back! What do you think I should do about Relias—

“No.”

No?

“I cannot tell you what to do. I can only tell you what you shouldn’t. Don’t let it fester for too long.”

Okay…

Well, if she wasn’t going to help, maybe I could seek guidance from a professional, even if it was all for distraction. “A-anyway, about using the confessional upstairs like I mentioned before…”

Mother Liora frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Relias?”

I cringed. “I wouldn’t dare to burden him right now…”

Confess to the one I’m in conflict with?

I mean… that’s… well… probably the best thing…

No! I want to pilot-test it first with a professional!

Er… a different professional.

I mean, he’s not my professional—conflict of interest and all.

“I don’t want any special treatment,” I concluded lamely, knowing it was probably impossible to execute.

Mother Liora’s face continued to contort, but she ultimately agreed. “Alright then. Let’s go see who we can find…”

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I spent an indeterminate amount of time in the dark oak confessional booth, sitting on a padded bench while I watched the dancing lights from a nearby crystal dance through its latticework screens. I had spoken about the confession in a loud voice so that the nearby guards could hear, but I wasn’t entirely sure they would all be duly distracted. However, as I waited for a priest, I caught a few snippets of conversation, suggesting at least some of them had moved closer.

Seriously guys? No privacy at all? This isn’t at all how it’s supposed to be.

The opposite door of the confessional slowly creaked open. “May Euphridia’s peace be with you. How may I help you seek her forgiveness and guidance today?”

It wasn’t her forgiveness that I was worried about, but I still figured it couldn’t hurt to ask this guy for his opinion on the matter. As long as I didn’t say his name or make specific references to him, I could probably get some sound advice on reconciling with Relias, maybe even without losing face. But how do these things start again?

“Um, forgive me, Father, for I have s—”

“Chosen One?!” An incredulous eyeball appeared abruptly in one of the holes of the inner latticed screen. “She didn’t tell me it’d be you in here!”

“Uh… anyway…” I tried to ignore his reaction. “As I was saying, forgive—”

“I know why you’re here…” he said softly.

Wait. Had Relias told everyone about our conflict?!

“I have been indolent and neglectful of my duties,” the priest admitted sorrowfully. “That is why I have been relegated to the confessional instead of being mindful and present during the General Assembly’s deliberations in this time of crisis. I have only myself to blame for not engaging in meaningful service with my body and spirit, and—”

“Father,” I interjected. “I didn’t come here to hear your confessions; I came here to—”

“Assign penitence?” he asked fearfully. “Yes, I’m sure Euphridia has already apprised you of my sins. I am ready.”

No! I needed a longer diversion for Vernie! And also what about my needs?

“No, Father… I’m not here for that. I was hoping you could give me advice when you, you know… when you do something you think is best, but you end up disappointing someone important to you. You see, recently—”

“Yes. I have disappointed my Brothers; you’re right! I thought my time would be better spent talking with the pilgrims, but I neglected my duties at the Temple and burdened my colleagues with my unfinished tasks.”

He was listening but missing the point!

“Okay, so you thought you were doing something more important, right?”

“Yes… but I see now I was wrong not to finish my work.”

I sighed. “Doesn’t your work include attending to the spiritual needs of others? Like the pilgrims?” Or me?

“Yes…”

“And what duties did you miss here in the Temple?”

“I… I missed Euphridia’s Invocation of Return.”

“Is that… a special church service?”

“A sacred ceremony dedicated to our beloved goddess! We, the faithful, gather daily to offer our prayers and heartfelt pleas for her to return to this world, for her presence is sorely missed!”

Daily? So you were only absent once?

“Have you tried explaining to your Brothers directly why you spent time with the pilgrims instead? If you ask me, it sounds like time better spent.”

Okay, our situations might be a little similar in a weird way, but I couldn’t follow my own advice because of… many, many important reasons!

“My Brothers would not understand. To miss such a service is incomprehensible to them. I must serve penitence for my sins! Then… perhaps I can apologize.”

There was no way I could do what he wanted. I wasn’t a priest, and Relias had made it very clear there were boundaries I just couldn’t cross, especially here. However, as a kindred soul, I couldn’t let him continue feeling guilty about something that wasn’t worth it. With a sigh, I gave up on confessing my sins to a proxy and decided to throw him a bone.

“What do you think would be appropriate in terms of penitence?”

The priest remained silent for a few moments. “I should… take time to personally reflect, dedicate myself to prayer— specifically to Euphridia for her return, in recompense for not attending the Invocation… and then, I should make amends to my Brothers.”

I squirmed, realizing we were way off-topic now. “You won’t stop attending to the needs of the pilgrims outside the walls though, will you? I think that’s very important.”

“I won’t,” he promised. “Maybe I can find others to join me so I am not alone in this task.”

“Wait— you’re the only one going?” I suppressed a gasp. “Father… promise me you will also forgive yourself!”

“I…” He hesitated.

I hung my head, knowing what I had to do. “And you should know that I cannot assign penitence, as I am not a priest… and while you cannot assign it to yourself, either, I do recommend you voluntarily undertake such acts as you’ve listed, but only if you forgive yourself as well.”

“It shall be as you say, Chosen One.”

“I know this sounds strange, but if you would trust me enough to give me your name, I would… also talk to Relias on your behalf.” Eventually… Since I had to make up with him first.

“You… would like to know my name?”

“I understand it is not customary to ask such a thing here in the confessional booth, but—”

“Father Titus!" he exclaimed. “My name is Father Titus, Chosen One. I look forward to you calling upon me in your hour of need!”

“Huh? No, I just needed your name for when I talk to—”

He cleared his throat and shouted, “When the Chosen One asks for your Name, speak it without hesitation, for you will now serve her Purpose above all others, save the Goddess herself!”

Oh, what have I gotten myself into now?

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Post-Chapter Omake:

Nora: I wonder what would have happened if you started your confession with something a little lighter.

Rae: Like what, exactly?

Nora: Overindulgence of sweets?

Rae: Are you kidding me? We’d have been there for days swapping tales of dessert degeneracy!

Nora: Yeah… you might have gotten the guards to pick you something from a bakery, though.

Rae: … What a missed opportunity!

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