| 21: The Weight Of Deicision With the disappearance of Eterniu at the hand of Chronos, the Empire immediately crumbled. Its overseas forces, allied with Pendinmortica in the Esperimentian War of Independence, were immediately ordered to break ranks with the Pendinmorticans and allow the Esperimentian Army through its positions, in effect resulting in a landslide victory for Esperimentia as the Apostle Invogueman, high priest in Moderonlei, was driven to the negotiating table. Closer to home, though, Eterniu was deprived of the bargaining chip he would have had by the death of Formicus, and he held onto Kristianbubbel Ward by virtue of Vanana's uncertainty of whether to drive him out once more. *** "This is disgusting," spat Vanana. "What blasphemy! Monk cells turned into a concubinery!" Cale of Base, the frazzled-looking member of the saints quartet of Columnia, looked around. "It could be worse. It could be a petting zoo." "Dude, it sort of WAS a petting zoo, if you think about it," Lest of Beat piped in, laughing at his own joke. "I really don't think they stopped at petting, man," Cale shot back, chuckling as well. Vanana was mystified. She understood, she KNEW that they were not gods, that the traditional understanding of the Four was wrong. But even so, it was just disconcerting to see them treating such holy things, things that people had lived their lives in honor to, with such indignity. But they were the Four. Which meant nothing. Or was supposed to mean nothing, but didn't. Confusion raced through her head as she took in the whole of the violated sanctuary. She knew that others were having the same crises of faith that she did, and she knew that the restored government needed to address it. The Theocracy just won the war, but it would lose the peace if she didn't have an answer to give to the people. "What must I do?" she asked of Cale and Lest. "Should I restore this place?" "We want no glory to come to us," Cale replied, sobering up from the earlier joking. "But..." she protested. "But what?" "This government was founded upon the glory of the coming of the Four!" "We never wanted this, any of it," Lest said, gesturing to the icons of Robh, Noe, Lest and Cale that were painted on the very walls. "We came a long time ago, abd we offered up a simple message of faith. The people of this land built a religion, a false one, and now they must deal with it." "But they CAN'T deal with it!" Vanana said. "Not now, not after we just summoned up the will of the nation to overthrow a tyrant in your names!" "Formicus hurt you all, and we helped rally you," Cale answered. "We didn't proclaim a crusade, a jihad, a holy war. We saw evil and we did what we could to end it. We don't want your worship." Vanana just stared at them now, her face contorting in fury. "YOU INGRATES!" she shouted. "Like it or not, there are millions of people out those doors who believe in you four, who believe that they're going to mosh at the right hand of Noe of Axe in Tymescuare when they die, and whether it's right or wrong, it's what we built this land upon! It's the only thing that will bring us peace-how DARE you take that away from us!" Vanana then stormed out of the palace. *** In the ward of Lotira Discuz was Wittig Memorial Hospital, founded in ancient times by an anonymous musician. Chronos of Augusta was being treated for his injury there, and was bedridden and cursing at the Pendinmortua News Network when Vanana walked in. "-ucking dirtbags, THEY SUNK PROIECT-oh, hey Loe!" he greeted. "Having fun with the television?" she asked. "Eh, PNN's belittling the guerrilla movement in Western Proiectica. Oh, and High Priest Invogueman has declared me a terrorist. You have twenty-four hours to turn me over before they introduce a motion in the CCM to invade." "Heh, right," she scoffed. "Look, what are we gonna do about the Theocracy?" "You mean, about the mass of government-sponsored lies that have just been found out as such?" Chronos asked. She scowled at him. "We built our nation on those lies. If we change our minds, there will be revolution." "What do you mean 'will be'?" asked Chronos. "A small revolt has broken out near the Esperimentian border. Some group called the Zapocistas is trying to overthrow the Columnian state religion by force of arms. They're also trying to initiate other reforms, such as the institution of socialism." "Socialism?" she asked. "Wait, isn't that the whole legalized theft thing going on in Earth?" "Yes," Chronos answered. "The Zapocistas hate the Four and want to make stealing legal. A single UA division should be enough to shut them down, though." "Wonderful... I hate this job," she confided. "I really can't stand it at times. I can't please the Four, I can't please the people, and even when I win I still lose." "I know..." soothed Chronos, smiling at her and reaching out his arm to hold her hand. "It's hard, cruel and thankless. But one day, people will look back on your reign and say 'she left Columnia a much better place'. I know they will." "Thanks, Chronos." They sat there for a moment. "So what should I do about the Theocracy?" "The Four aren't gods," reminded Chronos. "I came to this land to preach that truth." "I KNOW they're not. But is the truth worth it if it will throw our land into turmoil?" "So found the rule of this land on the Four. Or rather, on the worship of the God of the Four." "Who is that?" "The Kyrios, the same that I preach." "That may just work..." she pondered. "We will still be following the edicts of the Four, per se, yet we will be abandoning known lies. But will the Four go along with this scheme?" "Only way to find out is to ask." |