Lou stared over his congregation that had grown by several members since his first sermon, and this development only made his good mood heighten.

The incense was lit, he felt confident about the sermon he was about to give, and best of all… he had allegedly lost one of his abilities from Reckish!

What a glorious day it was indeed!

Dropping his gaze down and shuffling his notes on the pulpit, Lou cleared his throat to begin speaking, already noticing that Franny Kelly had already started kicking the back of the pew in front of her, much to the chagrin of the young woman who sat in that particular seat. Despite not having been formally introduced to that particular newcomer, given that she was seated beside Karen Hinterland, Lou judged that the young woman was her daughter. He didn’t pay much mind to her just yet.

“Thank you everyone for coming here today, and a wonderful good morning to you all,” Lou smiled at the congregation, then looked over his shoulder to nod at his military choir who all stood at attention while Lieutenant Crimmins sat at the piano ready and waiting.

However when the monk turned back to face his chapel attendees, he discovered that everyone was frozen, and it wasn’t because they were dutifully waiting for the beginning of the sermone…

No.

They all sat, inhumanly still…

Franny’s scrunched up expression didn’t so much as twitch, the incense smoke hung idle in the air, and then there was the familiar, holy light gradually filling the room.

Blinking in alarm, Lou straightened.

He knew he wasn’t dreaming.

Plus there had never been anyone other than a god in the chapel when he had been dreaming.

Ominously, his heart thudded in his chest just before the doors to the chapel banged open, and in flooded a white light so powerful that it made Lou’s knees quake.

Seizing the pulpit to steady himself and stop himself from unconsciously bowing, he tried to look at the figure that was strolling into the room, but found he could not.

“Louis Barrach.”

The voice brought Lou to his knees.

He couldn’t breathe.

The power around him was too much. It was like it had been with Reckish… only significantly more…

Without needing to ask, Lou knew who had come to him.

“Praise be Zeviras,” he gasped, his eyes closing as, despite being on the ground behind his pulpit, his eyes ached from the light surrounding him.

“I have come to speak with you with regards to your recent set of trials with Tivera.”

Lou couldn’t respond even if he wanted to, all words died in his throat.

“You have been struggling with being the chosen priest of Reckish, but I have come to speak with you about this matter, I hope you can be patient with me.”

Sensing the overwhelming presence of the god moving up the aisle of his chapel and around the pulpit, Lou felt himself teeter on the brink of unconsciousness.

“I am given to understand that Tivera issued two tests for you. The first, for you to learn to not hide for the sake of pride or making life easy. The second…” Zeviras voice gentled. “Was issued in order for you to learn to not take yourself so seriously, especially as handling a confrontation in a more lighthearted manner can negate violence. I am given to understand that you have failed this test as you did, in fact, take yourself incredibly seriously.”

Lou swallowed and tried to speak.

“Th-Th-... Ye-Ye-”

Were the only sounds he could manage.

“We all were rather hopeful of you when you decided to embrace your role as a war priest while choosing daily battles over grand, violent productions. Might I ask why that objective fell to the wayside?”

Lou attempted to speak but drooled a little instead.

Realizing that the poor human was in such a sorry state due to his presence Zeviras did his best to dim his power. He was not used to speaking with mortals that were not his chosen priests.

After a few what felt like ages, but really was no more than a minute, Lou regained the ability to talk, though he was still shaking like a leaf and his heart still raced.

“I-I-I thought it… was the only alternative choice I had. To accept d-daily battles. I-If I was… going to keep unlocking abilities… t-then I had to… find another way to a-avoid a r-real w-w-war,” he stammered tragically.

Zeviras nodded along solemnly. “I see… Louis Barrach, did you read about Tivera while you prepared for your trials with him?”

“A-A little.”

Zeviras clasped his hands before his gleaming white robes. “Well, if you had read everything ever written about him, you would recall that even if you refuse your calling and are exiled by the temple, the gods don’t abandon their chosen people. We merely spend the rest of time trying to persuade you to your true calling. It is what happened back when Tivera was still human. The priests chosen by Berra and Reckish refused to war against each other after Tivera’s intervention, which went against the temple and the designs of their patron gods.”

Lou didn’t bother trying to speak again.

“Your fate is sealed. No matter what, you will be given trials to overcome. We do this for you to not only improve and learn about yourself, but to share with the world the glory of your god.”

Lou wondered if he would be the first human in all of history to vomit on Zeviras.

“You may be wondering why I have come to speak with you today and not Reckish, and that is because your struggles are troubling Reckish greatly, and he needed time to process these recent events… Which leads me to the final matter which has called me to your presence today.”

Wishing he could open his eyes, Lou did not thanks to the distinct impression that if he tried, he would be blind for the rest of his life.

“Louis Barrach, for the first time in our long history of trials for our chosen priests… the gods and goddess have decided that your trials will henceforth break tradition.”

Lou was beginning to have the terrible premonition he was not going to be able to rely on failing the tests as he had so ardently hoped…

“You will be given trials from the gods and goddesses already selected, however… you will not be given a warning of any kind. Or any dreams from the gods, and they will not be given in any specific order. You could have one trial given by Bilsib one day, and another by Gogun once Bilsib’s trial is concluded. Then it may be time for Bilsib’s second trial, but I say this as example”

Tears crept out of Lou’s closed eyes.

“These trials will also now range in severity and size so that you aren’t necessarily aware of them happening. We have done this, Louis Barrach, in order to give you space to conquer your own shortcomings, and make peace with your fate.”

“W-W-Will I… still have a power t-taken away?”

Zeviras chuckled. It was a wonderful, warm, safe sound; one that made Lou long to curl up at the god’s feet and rest for eternity in his magnificent presence.

“No. We have decided you are far too unique a case for the usual rules to apply to you. Your former Abbott Carey is a wise man… He realized this about you many years ago.”

At the mention of his old mentor, Lou began to openly weep.

He missed the days when a quiet word from Abbott Carrey was all he needed to set his world right again.

“I understand these changes are not what you were hoping for. Therefore I will continue to hold time still for you while you collect yourself. When you are ready to commence your sermon, simply call my name.”

A shifting of the light alerted Lou that Zeviras was beginning to move away from him.

“Until your trials are complete, you will not hear from the deities again, and so I will leave you with this thought… Examine what you believe you are, and question whether that is your truth. If so, will it always be what you are? The living grow, and the dead decay into darkness. I ask you these questions, and implore you to remember that you are alive, Lou Barrach, and the living will always face challenges, and change. Blessings on your journey.”

There wasn’t a dramatic shift in the air when Zeviras left the mortal realm…

Rather, his presence lingered and ebbed away little by little as Lou continued to weep and mourn the loss of what little hope he had had that he could perhaps control his life as he wished.

*

“Brother Lou, are you alright?” Benny’s whispered words snapped Lou out of his reverie as his congregation mingled around the tea and snacks he had set out for them in his vestry.

The room was crowded with the fifteen attendees of the mass, and despite there being only three women in attendance who had taken it upon themselves to don perfume for the event, the air was hot and sharp with their brewed smells.

“Ah, sorry. Yes, I’m quite alright. Has everyone been able to have a cup of tea?” Lou couldn’t bring himself to meet Benny’s eyes as he addressed the room. He had a hunch that Benny’s gentle, observant gaze could tell that despite him conducting his sermon successfully as far as he was aware, at some point Lou had been crying..

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“We’re a few cups short, Brother Lou!” Karen Hinterland called out in a business-like tone a short ways away. “If you would like, I can host the after sermon meetings going forward. Our home is only a few doors down– it's beside my husband’s office.”

“Oh, what a splendid idea! Kylise, wouldn’t you like that? You and Annie can spend more time together that way as well!” An older woman Lou hadn’t met before chimed in while tugging her daughter’s sleeve.

Lou resisted a grimace when he eyed the young woman. She had her mother’s brown hair and brown eyes, but she was several inches shorter and a little on the heavier side– though still pretty. What made Lou wary however, was the look on the young woman’s face. There was haughtiness in her upturned nose, mixed with a scornful, smug smile as she glanced at Maureen Kelly who stood a few shoulders away, completely ignoring her mother.

“Ah, Brother Lou, this is Naomi Hillier and her daughter Kylise,” Karen Hinterland introduced the pair while feigning ignorance of the look Kylise was giving Maureen. “I convinced Naomi to join your sermon, and of course after hearing that my dear Annie was joining, Kylise decided to join as well!”

Lou nodded toward Karen’s daughter.

“Oh, and of course, this is my daughter, Annie Hinterland.”

While the other young woman did not appear snobbish, she had a sullen air surrounding her that would deter the faint of heart from engaging with her in conversation.

Part of her downtrodden countenance simply came from her facial features. She had Karen Hinterland’s long face, but the faint droop of her eyes was similar to her father the burgomaster, with the same deep lines under them. She had a small beauty mark flecking her left cheek, and a rounded chin… All in all she appeared to be the serious type, and judging from her pale skin, was not at all a fan of the outdoors.

“Glad to meet both of you young ladies,” Lou gave a cursory bow, but immediately avoided any and all eye contact with the pair of young women.

“If you wouldn’t mind the imposition, Mrs. Hinterland, I believe everyone would appreciate more space at your home. Thank you for the invitation.”

“But she doesn’t want us there!”

The emphatic interruption was made by none other than Franny Kelly who was pointing up at Annie Hinterland with an accusatory scowl.

Annie gave a small roll of her eyes.

Maureen did her best to scurry after her daughter but the little girl had slipped through the crowd of people far more easily being the size she was. It didn’t help matters that Maureen Kelly also had her youngest daughter on her hip who was beginning to fidget.

“Oh, well that isn’t true, is it Annie?” Karen smiled kindly down at the little girl who lowered her pointing hand back down to her hip. Franny’s eyes remained fixed and narrow pointed toward Annie.

Lou had zero motivation to intervene.

“Mrs. Hinnerlan, you seem nice. But her and her,” Franny nodded at Annie then at Kylise. “They said my family are inbred an’ smell bad.”

“Franny!” Maureen gasped as she at last reached her daughter and seized her shoulder. “Apologize this instant. Mrs. Hinterland was kind enough to invite us back to her house, and that is a very rude thing to say!”

Kylise gave a small condescending giggle behind Karen Hinterland’s back.

Lou’s gaze snapped to the young girl angrily.

He’d always hated laughs like that one…

Apparently so did Franny, who wrenched herself free of her mother’s grasp, and stomped straight up to Kylise.

Lou would never outwardly admit he was actually looking forward to hearing whatever the child said next.

“I don’t know why you think you’re so great! No one likes you!”

Kylise’s churlish expression froze for the briefest of seconds before she scoffed and jeered at the young girl, knowing that she didn’t have to say or do anything with so many people watching Franny commit several errors in her conduct. However there was a glint of hesitancy behind the young woman’s eyes after the unrestrained insult…

Lou bit his tongue as hard as he could to stop himself from laughing.

There was Franny Kelly staring down an eighteen year old… and from the looks of it, she already had the upper hand. He wasn’t surprised.

“Frances Kelly! You will apologize this instant or you will have no dessert for the next three months!” Maureen’s voice took on a dangerous edge that had a few members of the congregation backing up a few steps (most notably members of Lou’s choir who were all part of the military).

“I’ll say sorry when she apologizes for what she said! About us being inbred and smelling bad! You should try and handle pigs and cows and see how good you smell!” Franny fired off again at Kylise with her hands on her hips.

“Do you even know what inbred means?” Kylise laughed condescendingly while shaking her head at the small child before anyone else could speak.

“Sure I do, it means brother and sister, father and daughter, cousin or… whatever! You rut together and have babies! An’ those babies aren’t always normal!”

One or two gasps broke out in the crowd, and even Kylise looked mortified by the crass description, but oh… Franny Kelly wasn’t finished.

“Did you ask ‘cause you didn’t know what it meant? You shouldn’t have used the word if you didn’t! My brother Ollie always says to know what you’re saying before opening your mouth or else you’re just wasting air.”

The shocked silence that followed the child’s inappropriate– albeit accurate response to what the term ‘inbred’ meant, followed by her scathing insult thereafter left everyone wholly, and utterly, speechless.

Lou’s eyes were watering with the effort it took not to laugh.

What was happening was wrong. The insults, the fighting, the hatefulness of it all, and yet he lacked the energy to properly conduct his emotions after his draining encounter with Zeviras that day…

He was allowed to be a little bit mad wasn’t he? He had met the divine god that no one save for his chosen priest had ever met before…

Still… At the rate she was going, Franny was going to ostracize her family from all of the new Oxby residents.

“Mrs. Kelly… Franny… I think I’ll come by for a visit in a few days to see if we might have a chat, hm?” Lou called out softly. Easing a bit of the tension from the cramped, stuffy room.

Maureen looked at him, her gaze filled with such unimaginable fury that despite Lou knowing it wasn’t meant for him, still winced a little.

Then, the matriarch of the family closed her eyes and took a steadying breath.

“Of course, Brother Lou. Frances Kelly, outside. Now!” Maureen Kelly seized the young girl’s shoulder and steered her toward the nearest door that would lead down to the alley.

Franny gave one final devastating blow however by sticking out her tongue at Kylise.

Prompting Maureen, whose cheeks were flaming scarlet by then, to seize her daughter’s ear, earning a yelp from the child who was then hauled out the last few steps.

Lou then turned to regard the Hinterland and Hillier family.

Karen Hinterland was looking stressed over the altercation, and was already ringing her gloved hands. Naomi was shaking her head disapprovingly and making a ‘tsking’ sound.

Kylise was smirking again, and Annie seemed bored and mildly annoyed at best.

This didn’t sit right with Lou at all. It appeared neither Karen nor Naomi were going to discipline their own daughters, despite their own abysmal attitudes.

Raising an eyebrow, his gaze hardening, Lou stepped toward the group.

“I believe I will also need to speak with you four as well, would you mind stepping into the chapel?”

He gestured toward the other door that led out of the vestry.

Naomi raised an eyebrow at Lou in much the same manner her daughter had when staring at Maureen Kelly, while Annie looked as though she were about to voice a protest.

However, Karen straightened her shoulders and nodded eagerly. “Of course, Brother Lou.”

She then turned, and slipping her arm through her daughter’s, pulled her along back into the chapel, while the Hillier’s reluctantly followed.

Lou’s former weariness over the day dimmed in light of his new righteous frustration, and so he regarded the remaining congregation in his vestry sharply.

“Pardon me everyone. Feel free to continue enjoying the refreshments.”

Momentarily locking eyes with Benny before he started making his way to the chapel, the young man raised his teacup and sent a smile toward Lou that perfectly communicated the sentiment:

‘Best of luck. I’m afraid you’ll need it.’