Romani Montclaire - Lies of the Faith (4/11)

[20:03] It hurt.

Everything hurt. The burns over his body, explosive stardust in his circuits and searing burns. Sure, it was something that he could come back from with enough medical attention and rest, but Romani was left terribly tired on the way back, raw skin and blood.

"High Keeper. I need healing." The noble would call out, before letting out a sigh.

"And what was all that? We were supposed to check them for occultism, weren't we? So why didn't Inante try talking to them? Why did he call for a siege before people, who may be innocent could get a word out?"
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[20:08] Limp.

Imagine having to walk from Osrona, to Illsburg, fight a battle, and then limp on back to Osrona, on a leg that had nearly been cleaved off. That... That is what Sparrow had just done.

In the moment, when that strange warmth had embraced him, he didn't feel any pain. In fact, he felt incredible! Though the moment that faded away, the mistake set in.

Though he trudged on!

Until they were in the back room of the church. Well, his room here. Which begs the question, how the heck did he managed to own a room in the church?

Something to think about later, right now there was a conversation going on around him. One that he was rather interested in joining in on.

"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Inante did seem a bit too keen for this, didn't he? I get it, we were there to check for Occultists, but that didn't mean we needed to just... Rush in there without hearing them out first."

That part just seemed to throw the teen off.

"It just seems... Odd."
(Sparrow cos Queen)
[20:15] Back towards the church, a forced march to return towards the safety of the walls of the Shimmering City. A loss overall, sadness tinting his eyes as he looked over towards those that had marched with him.

Towards a private room, instantly the High Keeper moved to heal those injuries that seemed more prominent, mainly the burns across Romani's form, the stardust that was hidden away within his circuits.

A hand found its way onto the Keeper's shoulder suddenly, holy light appearing, a feeling of warmth, security making itself known to all as he focused his mana further.

The invasive mana left behind was slowly destroyed, his own control over mana in general vastly increased since his recent breakthroughs in efficiency with energy magic.

"That.. That should be better."

Burns soon followed after the mana was wiped clean, no scars to remain as a gentle caress no doubt spread across Romani's body as injuries disappeared, and undamaged skin formed.

And then questions came, a sigh sounding out from the High Keeper as he took a seat on one of the benches, the fatigue of battle finally settling in within his body.

It was all so frustrating, Basten's recent words running through his mind.

"You're both right, although. They weren't innocent when it came to breaking laws, but the main reason we had even marched towards the desert was to look for influences of occult and Amalia Elaide's descendants."

Mainly the latter compared to the former, a frown overtook his visage again as he stared ahead, blue eyes seemingly scanning the wall as thoughts rearranged themselves.

"The Stellus unfortunately has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, to prove himself worthy of the position of being the speaker of the Stars."

"Their leader denied a search, but, I too am upset that we instantly decided to call upon the Star's blessings for war, instead of looking to approach the situation with a diplomatic touch."

Pericles's words paused, allowing them to soak into the listeners ears as he turned to gaze towards the trio by his side. Smile curling on his lips for a moment.

"I am glad you all made it back in one piece."

Well, not damaged to a point where they couldn't be healed by his magic. His smile remained, supportive in its nature as he delved back into the situation.

"Wars. Truthfully, we shouldn't be fighting in wars like these. We should be fighting, using our light to shine on the darkness that is hidden away, festering within other's homes."

"I saw no sign of occultists as battle commenced, no tint of it within the air as we exchanged blows. I only saw people wishing to defend their homes from an invading force."

Which was an annoying matter to speak into existence, to allow to burrow its way into his mind. Basten's tears, his heartfelt words as he pushed on to battle against the High Keeper.

"We won't march on Illburg again. Unless occultists are confirmed, a coven is confirmed, or Faithful members have been accosted again.."
(Pericles Vitalis)
[20:21] It helped. It certainly helped. The invasive mana and burns filling his veins were slowly lifting due to the holy light brought on by the Keeper's touch. Yet, even as the magic worked, even as he should have felt better, freer, due to what the Keeper just did, it was his mind that remained ever in pain, ever questioning.

With Romani's body fixed, he could only look towards the Keeper.

"We marched to check them for Occultism. If we were going to war them for the laws, we should have claimed so. We were checking them as the church, as defenders of people, not as people to smite them down." Romani said, frowning heavily.

"He's had a lot of pressure. But that's because he doesn't listen. It's like the time he was in the market place accusing someone of being a bandit when they stole nothing. He didn't listen to me and Del then, and he didn't even try to listen to the opposing forces now. He just prayed forbloody, prayed for a siege."

"That's.. not right." It troubled him, and it showed. Even if he was fixed, his body was tense, pointing to Sparrow and nodding. "Exactly. He wasn't keen to find occultists. He was keen to see people hurt. He was keen to make it a battle field."

"I heard Asta's words. She wanted the right then. But then he came, and yelled, and messed it up. He wanted to rush. And it's that reason that so many of our people are hurt." He shook his head.

"I'm glad we won't march on Illburg, but,"

"Pericles? Do you believe in the actions we had to take today?"
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[20:31] "At least we all came out of it mostly safe."

Well, at least Romani had an injury that could be properly treated. Unlike his leg which needed time to properly heal before it could be tended to. Though that wasn't really what the conversation was about, was it?

Well, the earlier stages of it, sure, but not what they were discussing now.

"It just seemed... Messy. I can understand going to war against them for their acts of banditry, and y'know, the constant attacks on the citizens of Osrona, and all that, but that's... More of an Order thing than a church thing."

A sigh escapes from his lips, as he slowly shook his head, back, and forth.

"That wasn't our battle, and the fact that our Stellus seemed incredibly keen on shedding a heck ton of blood, and for what? We didn't even find any signs, or traces of occultism. People were hurt for... Nothing.

It doesn't sit well with me, not in the slightest. I joined the church to help people, not to hurt them. Witches, Demons, and other foul creatures of the night I can understand wanting to take them out, but.. Those people?"

The teen pauses for a moment to lean forwards in his seat, slowly shaking his head as he does so.

"They were just people trying to defend their homes. I ain't like it, not one bit."

Romani's last statement, well question not statement, causes the teen's ears to perk up.

"Yeah, I'm glad we ain't marching on them anymore, but... Well, Romani asked it better than I probably could have."
(Sparrow cos Queen)
[20:40] Glad that one of the group had been fixed of their pain, he patiently waited for the duo to continue to speak. He knew they had thoughts whirling within their minds.

Doubts that had grown as time went on.

"I agree."

How could he not? The start of this 'Holy War' from Myllenoris only seemed like a feeble attempt at stitching together an excuse to march upon their neighbours.

A sigh left his lips at Romani's words.

"We marched with intentions to look for those that had fallen to depravity, allowing occult to grow within their magical circuits. That's the only reason I truthfully marched.."

"And we found none."

Pericles's words paused as that soft toned voice of his entered the ears of those willing to listen. An index-finger began to drum along to the cosmic-codex's cover.

An eyebrow rose towards Romani, a situation he hadn't actually heard of left the teenager's lips, a frown couldn't help but make itself known once more.

Something he had been doing a lot lately.

"It's not. Too often it seems people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply..."

He had been guilty of doing the same recently. Head tilting to the side as more words came, blue eyes flickering over towards Sparrow as the other Keeper began to speak.

"People were hurt, people died. Lights extinguished because of a misguided cause that should of properly been communicated by those lead..-" he paused, head tilting downwards.

"By myself and the others who lead."

Another matter he should think on further. Constantly taking a reactive stance instead of taking a more proactive one just as he advised others to when they came to him with confessions.

"At first? Did I believe in our march towards Illburg to look for occultists, absolutely."

"But now, how could I? Not a single occultists fought, not a single witch was there to whisper in the ears of another. We fought against men and woman, we fought against those wishing to protect their homes."

Discouraging, Pericles's head shook to the side as he bowed his head towards the trio, apologetic words soon following.

"I am sorry for leading you to something you shouldn't of had any part in."
(Pericles Vitalis)
[20:43] Osiris waltzed into the church and peeps into every room, as you do. Avoiding Del's scene with Xyth, they stumble upon a group of familiar faces that they liked. Well, two of them anway. Their heads cants to the side a little, listening to the tail-end of Sparrow's dialogue.

"You're all safe..." The Felinae spoke up.

"That's good. I'm glad."

A seat is taken by Sparrow's side, leaning forwards to look upon everyone present - as if searching for injuries that might need someone to tend to them. But, most here are medics anyway.

Their gaze narrowed slightly as they hear Pericles admit to this.

So there aren't active occultists that sought to defend their lands. Illburg had told Pericles and Osrona as much.
(Osiris)
[20:47] "We did. But what about the people who didn't? What about the people who got hurt, or the people without magic who got trampled because the Stellus yelled siege? We're the church. We're supposed to be a light. We're supposed to be a hope."

"And we prayed for battle." Romani shook his head, an almost disgusted look on his face. He looked towards Sparrow, nodding in agreement, pointing at the boy as he seemed to get the same message that Romani did.

"I believe in acting on what I believe is right. I didn't feel right to fight there. The fight I did have was due to someone trying to hurt me. I do feel right defending myself or others, but we aren't write if we march for the wrong reasons. We're not right if we just march on people defending their homes."

"When they're attacking us? Kidnapping? Sure. That's right to keep people safe. But not this." Romani sighed, his arms firmly wrapping around his chest and shaking his head. He stood, marching up from the bench and through the room, trying to take the edge off, but it would not cease.

"I do not blame you, High Keeper. Do I do blame the Stellus. I blame the people who don't listen. I blame the people who don't try before they accuse. And you're right. Not a single occultist, Witch, or anything was found there."

"We were wrong. We were lied to." He took a breath, seeing Osiris walk into the church. A small exhale left the boy as he shook his head.

"We're safe. I'm going to see if I can find people and tend to the ones who are not."

With that, Romani would begin to depart from the room.
(Romani cos Montclaire)
[20:49] * You have been awarded 1 Roleplay Points! *
[20:49] The girl was in a daze ever since she returned from the raid. She'd stepped after the others, not to eavesdrop, but because she felt a need to just be lead somewhere. Her brain was a mess right now- both from her own thoughts, and from the thoughts of others.

"... Th'guy I fought,"She commented,"He didn't want to really hurt me, he didn't even hurt me. But I... He just wants to protect his home. It felt wrong, yeah."

She finally spoke up, sighing. Then, she turned and began to march out, seeming to rub at her eyes.

"Star, I'm out of it today."
(Dianna)
[20:56] "I just... Meh."

'Meh' was truly the only way to describe how the teen felt right now. The battle they had just fought, the one were people were injured, and lives were lost was all for nothing.

No witches, not occultists.

Nothing.

"For the life of me, I can't even think of anything else to say here." A sigh followed, as the noble pushed himself out from his seat, as he too began to make his way towards the exit, but not before waving to Osiris!

"Yeah, thankfully no one was hurt too badly. Well, I hope... I haven't seen everyone who's come home from the battle just yet."

A quick shake of his head follows, as the teen continues to depart, but halts at the door, to say one last thing.

"It ain't on you, Teach. You ain't the one who lied to us. You did what you thought was right at the time, we all did. It just turned out that what we thought was right, was wrong."

Very wrong.

"I'm gonna... go get some rest. Maybe talk with gramps a bit. Sort something out. Everyone... Please stay safe."

With that, he'd depart.
(Sparrow cos Queen)
[20:58] Pericles rose to a stand himself as the others looked to depart, so much to be thought on. That slight smile of his returning as he nodded towards those leaving.

"I understand, do be safe. And may the stars guide you."

A moment to offer well wishes, and then an offer thrown out for the duo as he gripped the cosmic-codex against his side.

"If you need to speak again in the future, only ask. I'll always be around to listen."

And then he too was departing from the room, heading off in such of those that needed healing, the faith's forces had taken a heavy low.

It seemed they would all have a lot of think on lately.
(Pericles Vitalis)
[20:59] Romani cos Montclaire says, "May the stars guide you too, Pericles."