It wasn't a long walk, but it also wasn't a short walk to the Grand Cathedral. What was most amazing to Jack was that no one paid attention to his passing. He wondered if the Templar made many trips between the two places, the Holy Palace and the Grand Cathedral.
For the most part, the Templars positioned themselves as to block The Holy Witch King from view. This was done at the command of the Grand Minister, and as it was, in fact, common to see them going back and forth, many didn't pay attention.
Jack paused only slightly as he took in the design of the Grand Cathedral. A large old Gothic structure, but made entirely out of shining white bones, each bone gave off a golden glow when the light from the Sun God's Skull cascaded across them. The large church that was the Grand Cathedral gave vibes of Winchester Cathedral.
[How impressive. This is old money.] Jack nodded to himself, as he and his group walked into the Grand Cathedral.
Lucius was at the head of the Cathedral, as he welcomed them. Jack could see that Lucius was wearing his Minister garbs, the same that he wore during court. Jack could see clearly the large spacious interior. It looked to made in much the same way as cathedrals were constructed in his last life, especially the Winchester Cathedral, though he had never seen the Winchester Cathedral in life, he had seen it in his games and shows he played and watched. Besides the many many pews all along the walls were many candles that were lit, and gave the entire Cathedral a soft yellow hue. The braziers at the front and back provided the same, but stronger light. Along the walls, into the second story, and into the ceiling were intricate patterns of Holy bones in black and white. These patterns also gave a Gothic feel.
As Jack made his way to the front, the Templar spread themselves out and guarded the Cathedral. This was just an extra layer of protection that could be seen, as the Holy Sentinels were silently guarding from the unseen.
"I'm glad you made it. In fact, now that you're back with us, we should have you come and make sermon again for the people." Lucius said with a bit of joy in his voice.
Jack was slightly startled by this... Make sermon? Preach the word of Deagoth? Jack had just learned of his faith. How was he going to teach others?
Jack had made it to the head of the Cathedral, and as he had, he came to stand next to Lucius. He could already see that Jade and the ladies hadn't made it yet, so he decided to ask a question that was bothering him since he had just seen the Monument of Shame.
"Lucius... How were the reactions of the populace to the Court Cleansing?" Jack asked this, as the feeling of rebellion was weighing on his heart. He thought a few well-placed executions would be fine for corrupted Officials, and to keep the others in line. Serve as a reminder... But the death count was far higher than he anticipated.
Lucius had anticipated this question and had already gathered the information for Jack. He to found that there were far more corrupted Officials than, even he, had expected. Leslie's report of corrupted Officials were thoroughly comprehensive.
"I understand. You can put your worries to the side. While at first the citizens were unnerved, but after hearing of the heinous crimes that were listed by most of the Officials, they gave their full support. I would even go so far as to say the citizens are in celebration, as some of the Officials abused their power and used it against the citizens." Lucius said this last part with a grim tone.
Jack heaved a sigh of relief in his mind. So, they weren't going to get the proverbial torches and pitchforks after him. Good.
Lucius and Jack shot the breeze for a few minutes until Jade came into the Cathedral. Seven paces behind Jade were her ladies that were treading this holy ground with fear, as they looked around the cathedral hall, and observing the Templar guards. Nervousness was easily seen on their faces and through their body language.
Jack saw this and looked to Lucius. Lucius believed he understood Jack, as he stepped to the side, leaving a path for Jack to the pulpit. Jack looked at the podium... He wasn't sure but he decided to give it a try. After all... This was a favor asked by Jade.
He went to the podium and looked over the hall. He could clearly see everywhere within the Cathedral.
[What a great viewpoint!] Jack mused. Jack looked out and could see the group of ladies, fourteen ladies to be exact.
The ladies had seen the movement and looked up to see The Holy Witch King standing in the pulpit. His large statue farmed by his massive shoulder pauldrons and Femur Ferula in hand. They came to a stop halfway down the aisle. It was like the ladies' feet were glued to the white carpet separated the left and right pews. Jade had already made it to the front of the hall and seemed to be largely unaffected. It could be that she was okay because she had met The Holy Witch King before. Then again... She wasn't as religious as the ladies that worked for her. Jade was, however, awed by Jack's royal garb.
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Jack and Lucius could clearly see that the ladies paused in their tracks. Jack decided to make things a bit better, and to ease them some.
[I'm going to have to act this part... Haaaa~ Think, think, think...] Jack was thinking of what reference he could think of to get through this part. After a moment of thought, he cobbled together enough references to make his performance.
He left his Femur Ferula floating to the side of the podium, and raised both his arms in a welcoming gesture, "Ladies come closer so that I can look upon you."
The ladies quivered from the booming voice of Jack. Just like Jack's throne, the pulpit also had the effect of increasing the volume of the voice of the speaker.
"Come now," Jack said again.
The ladies walked to the front before The Holy Witch King. while a bit slow, they were steadier than when they first showed.
Jack looked down at the Ladies and wished he could smile. The one thing he hated the most about having a skeletal face was that he couldn't smile. What Jack didn't think of is how much this skeletal face saved him with its poker-faced ability. So, to make up for the smile, Jack softened his voice.
"Ladies of Jade, I hear that you have sinned, and now are no longer worthy of being in my Holy Palace, or unworthy of me, The Holy Witch King. What say you?"
Jack looked down at the ladies, as the dancing flames within his eyes flickered about, instilling more fear into the ladies, than was necessary. None of them spoke up, as they huddled together as if together they could make it through this trail. The ladies didn't know why they were invited, as Jade was quick to just get them, but didn't explain the situation.
Jack could see that the nervousness of the ladies had turned to fear. Thinking for a moment, he decided to pull the robe from around his head back to expose his bald skull head.
"Ladies of Jade, there is no reason to fear me. Look upon me and know me, as I look upon you to understand you." Jack said softly.
The ladies looked up again to see Jack. They could see he was a skeletal undead, though with eyes of flames, he looked less scary to them. Though they were still shaken up by the huge pile of skulls they just passed, they felt much better looking at The Holy Witch King like this.
One of the ladies gathered her courage and spoke, "Your Grace, I... I am Charlotte. Charlotte Underwood."
"Yes, my child. It is good to finally meet you." Jack nodded and looked to the lady next to her.
One by one, each of the ladies said their names. While this was occurring, a certain banshee floated into the Cathedral, unseen by anyone. Jack wasn't paying attention, and missed her presence, as he was focused on acting.
"Ladies of Jade, I have asked Lady Jade to bring you here, so that I may absolve your sin, and have you become a part of my Holy Palace if you wish." Jack finally got to the topic at hand.
The group of ladies muttered to each other the word 'absolve' questioningly.
"When I say absolve your sin, I am speaking of removing your sin, to purify you. So that you may serve in the faith of Deagoth, again."
The ladies were stunned... before the silence became awkward, one of the ladies named Nikki prostrated on the ground, "Yes! I wish to be absolved of my sin! Please purify us!" Seeing this action, the other ladies followed suit.
Jack mentally frowned. They didn't have to prostrate, but to just kneel, at least that made sense to him, according to what he had seen before.
"Ladies of Jade. I will be more than happy to do this. I will need you all to kneel, instead of prostrate."
The ladies quickly changed their positions and were waiting with zeal within their eyes and posture.
"Children of Deagoth, confess your sins to me and let me take them away. Without Crown or Gavel, I will not judge you but absolve you. Air out the grievance in your heart, so as to lighten the burden to you. Free yourself from the demons of your heart, so that you are no longer tormented by them."
Nikki again started first and confessed. Then the next and on, until all the ladies had spoken. Lucius stood to the side and frowned inwardly. Thankfully, he too had a skeletal face, and no one could see what he was thinking from his posture. These working ladies had been up to quite a bit of stuff in the time they worked. He also came to believe that many undead had really weird fetishes. He usually never dirtied his hands in this manner.
Jack decided to make this look good, "We are all, as children of Deagoth, and I absolve each of you as one of these children." He used his right hand to make a circle in the air and then a line from top to bottom, "All is one. Now go and sin no more. Ego... te absolvo"
As Jack said these last words, he also silently muttered spell. A golden hue of light surrounded Jack as it covered him and rushed to the point of his index finger he had outstretched. The light made a pinpoint at the end of his finger before it slowly fell from his finger until just before the ladies. As it neared the ladies, it expanded into a circle of light that surrounded them and filled them with a holy warmth. They could actually feel warm in this glow, and it eased their hearts! No pain, only warmth! The circle expanded until he rose to the ceiling in a rush before exploding into light shards, that produced no impact, but just a light puff sound.
"Rise ladies of Jade, you are no longer the you of the past, but now the lightborn of Deagoth!" Jack said bringing his voice up to a fevered pitch.
Stirred but Jack's voice, the ladies rose, with zeal in this eyes and righteous passion in their hearts. Lucius, Leslie, and Jade were stunned at looking at the ladies now!
They no longer were cowering as before but stood straight and rigid. They can confident postures and faces of stoic expression. Each had a different thought, that all came to the same conclusion.
[Haaaa~ Jack really is a divine being. He's created another miracle... He could bring all the underworld into the fold!] Lucius thought with righteous reason.
[Are these really my girls? His Grace could unite all of the world like this!] Jade could only have such a thought in mind, as she looked at these girls. She even harbored the thought of becoming absolved herself.
[Did he really absolve them? There is no way he just faked this... Their expressions! Their pose! He really took their sins! Jacks going to bring the Faith of Deagoth to the pinnacle!] Leslie almost couldn't believe what just happened!