Chapter Four : A curse and a Blessing

"You are now the High Pope, Antonio. And the goddess has decreed that I shall become the Head Priest as I teach you everything I know."

"No, I don't accept it! He's too young!" Irene screeched.

"Irene." Sheri muttered softly.

"He won't be doing anything too harsh, mainly healing and the like. Learning with the others. I'll be doing things in the background, so that he has no headaches until he can handle them." Argunid said.

"How do we know you won't simply make him a doll...a figurehead who bares it all whilst you pull the strings from behind? Maybe the goddess chose him because you are no longer pure of heart!" Irene accuses him.

I'm surprised she's so... paranoid? No, that's not the right word. Concerned? Maybe. Hmm. I can't find the right word for how's she's acting. Crazy? Usually it's Sheri who's scatterbrained while Irene is calm and composed. That could be the right word! Scatterbrained...let's just go with that for now.

The room is silent, the only sound Irene's erratic breathing.

"...there is a...curse on those with holy power. Before the world can contaminate our souls and minds, the goddess makes us sign an oath in blood...rendering us powerless against her. It is a curse, but also a blessing. It is so she can weed out our weaknesses and our...traitorous thoughts and feelings. I would not have been the Pope if I had even a fleeting...poisonous thought or feeling. She takes from those who are corrupted. There has never been a corrupt Pope, and there never will be." He smiled as if there was a weight that had suddenly fallen off his shoulders.

"I've never been able to tell anyone about the oath. I suppose it's because you are to be the Pope, and must soon bear all of my previous burdens." He smacked his knees lightly before standing up and sighing happily.

"Ahh, how freeing."