Chapter 80: True Sunlight

"Cracks in your soul."

Music

The sun is shining. Hues of Worship in reds, amber, and yellow all hit you as you raise a hand over your eyes. Wincing from the first sunlight and fresh air you've truly felt in weeks, you're smiling so broadly your face hurts.

"Mercy."

​

There's warmth— real warmth— as you take a few steps out into the woods beyond. The soil underfoot is soft, unmarred by demons, fresh, and exposed to the world outside.

You feel like you're already about to faint, but proceed for a few minutes with Ray deeper into the woods. You know the way as you pick through the branches, and head towards Eadric.

A soft breeze kicks up, carrying the scent of berries and something blue. You whip your head around, realizing that five men wearing blue robes are staring straight at you.

Your eyes go impossibly wide. You've never seen the man standing before you— their leader— but you recognize his garb in an instant.

Father Wilhelm, leader of the Church of Dream, is casually lighting a cigar. He doesn't need to look at you, and keeps his eyes to the small flame as it catches on the fractures in his soul. Though his beard is neatly trimmed, his robes are horribly disheveled. They're of a softer make than most holy vestments, and are so wrinkled that it appears he has been sleeping in them for all of his life. It doesn't escape your attention that he's wearing house slippers, either.

​

You realize you're staring, and back up with panic drenching you.

He doesn't move towards you, but instead extends his blessing. "There was a man slick with blood and sin, supported by the hand of a demon. He emerged after weeks of turmoil, back into the light of day. There was a void at his side— a guide— that had not been looked upon in as much Time. He knew not what he sought, though he carried it around his neck. He required Our aid. We have bestowed it upon him."

Father Wilhelm looks to you with eyes of blue. His gaze is soft. His words are forgotten almost as soon as they leave his lips. The men among him are utterly silent. It's almost as if they were in a Dream.

No hands are extended towards you. He offers you a blanket instead, and a change of clothes. The robes placed atop the offering are nondescript— brown and plain— with no indication of your title. Your hands are trembling as you gingerly take them, knowing full well that you need to make yourself presentable before returning to civilization.

"Father Anscham, I do not expect you to know why I am here— or why I offer you my aid— but I am here to interpret. To guide." You're trying very, very hard not to pass out— so much so that he continues after a long pause without any interruption. "The Church of Mercy does not know that you live. I wish to offer you asylum. We have seen this meeting once before."

There's a lull in the Father's voice as he draws even further back, inviting you to listen. "I wish to offer you asylum. Please, retreat with me. I offer you rest. I offer you respite. The Church of Mercy has heard of your exploits, to a degree. There will be no rest for you there. I know you are weary. I have seen your endurance before, but it is not enough to get you back to Eadric safely."

There's a million cracks in your soul— a million cracks in your mind— as you scramble to think of how anyone could have heard anything of what you've done. You remember a man with a reddened beard, blessed by the Goddess of Mercy outside of Ostedholm. Your congregation.

Two of the priests step forward, anticipating your fall before it occurs. You want to faint.

They reach out, and take you gently as your strength gives way to the promise of rest.

Father Wilhelm takes a few steps forward, closing the distance between you two. He doesn't have to gesture for his clergy to lift you to help you onto your feet. They've seen the motion before.

You manage through your exhaustion to ask a single question. There's so much desperation and hope in your voice that your words come out clearly, despite everything. "How many— how many— how many survived?"

Father Wilhelm's gaze softens even further. He closes his eyes. "Three were found by patrols from the Church of Vengeance, far faster than the rest. They have since been relocated to the Church of Mercy, per their request."

You want to vomit. You want to scream. You want to cry. The memory of a woman's head collapsing to the floor— pierced by a javelin, the sickening, wet collapse— pierces your thoughts and memory.

I thought I had saved over fifty.

He continues as quickly as he's able, trying to be reassuring. "Two were discovered on a farm outside of Eadric. The field and family had been ravaged by a demon."

You are too exhausted for all of this, but the Father of Dream understand your intense desire to understand, and to know.

"They were in hiding, rescued safely, and brought to the rest of your congregation."

There's a long pause.

The two robed men beside you shift you upright, jostling you back from the brink of sleep. You had begun to pass out, despite everything.

You blink your eyes open, wearily, struggling to remain alert for a moment longer.

Father Wilhelm looks to you with a slight, apologetic smile around his cigar. "It was speculated that this was all that we may find of your exploits, Father— but several days later, a man arrived in Eadric, accompanied by eight more survivors. They collapsed on the footsteps of the Church. The man begged for a rescue party to be sent. I was not there, but I have dreamed once before."

You look to the men around you, stricken with grief, scarcely able to understand everything that's transpired.

How many of those corpses were of my own making?

The Father before you permits his disheveled hair and his neatly trimmed beard to hang before your face. You can smell the smoke, the blue, and the Dream while he places a scarred hand to your temples.

His hands are fragmented and punctuated with divinity. Sleep courses through you, and your anxiety completely abates for the possibly the first time in your life.

"You have saved fourteen lives, Father Anscham. I suspect you have saved many, many more. Rest."