Raphael's Background

Seeing Father Raphael finally take his seat, Father Marco and the other priests bowed their heads in unison, clasping their hands over their chests, and began to silently recite a prayer. 

Their voices were low and solemn, resonating through the quiet of the chapel.

"Thank you, Lord, for your grace, for the food you have bestowed upon us.

May every bite we take be a testament to Your mercy and love," Father Marco led the prayer, his tone slow and dignified. 

The other priests echoed his words, joining in unison. 

"May the Lord's glory endure in this world, and may each of our souls find peace under His protection."

The flickering candlelight danced over their praying figures, casting shadows on the walls that seemed to move in rhythm with the prayers, adding a layer of sanctity to the moment.

Although their hearts were burdened with their individual concerns, at this moment, all voices and gazes were united in reverence and gratitude toward the Divine.

Father Raphael closed his eyes gently, his hands also clasped at his chest as he softly followed the prayer, his face as serene as still waters.

While the tension around them hadn't fully dissipated, the act of prayer seemed to provide a brief moment of tranquility for everyone present.

As the prayer came to an end, Father Marco softly spoke again.

"May every mouthful of food carry the Lord's grace and blessing."

The others nodded silently before beginning to eat, the atmosphere still somewhat delicate.

The five other priests had already sent people to thoroughly investigate Father Raphael's background and history.

They discovered that Father Raphael was born in a small fishing village called Seabirds Town, into a humble family of six children. 

He was the youngest child.

His family wasn't well-off, and life was tough, but from an early age, Raphael displayed remarkable talent and diligence.

As a child, he attended a free school run by the Church and stood out with exceptional grades.

As Raphael grew older, his outstanding academic performance earned him a place at the Church Academy in Stormhaven.

There, he not only excelled but ranked first in every subject, with a cumulative score that was unmatched.

After graduating, Raphael was assigned to serve as a deacon in Whalebone Town, located in Brightwater.

Despite the remoteness of the town, Raphael showed no signs of dissatisfaction.

In just three years, he had mastered light magic, which is a critical requirement for becoming a priest.

Many deacons spend their entire lives unable to grasp light magic, never advancing to the rank of priest.

However, through his exceptional talent and relentless effort, Raphael quickly took over the position of the old priest in Whalebone Town, becoming the town's new priest.

Yet, Raphael's career was far from smooth.

Despite his unmatched abilities, his unyielding honesty and lack of political savvy made him an outsider within the Church.

He refused to engage in the power games and factionalism that dominated the Church's internal politics.

This uncompromising integrity made Raphael unpopular, especially among colleagues who relied on connections and politics to climb the ranks.

His refusal to bow to authority or involve himself in petty power struggles led to his frequent marginalization.

Whether in Whalebone Town or other assignments, Raphael always performed exceptionally, which ironically made him even more of an outcast—a "misfit" in the eyes of many.

His superiors, especially the District priests, found him to be a stubborn figure, more of a nuisance than an asset.

As a result, he was often sent to the outskirts of the province, assigned to oversee insignificant chapels and handle minor tasks.

Yet Raphael never once complained. He carried out his duties with unwavering faith and a firm resolve.

However, circumstances had recently changed.

The Archbishop of the Southern Province received pressure from the Holy City.

The magical beasts in the Celestoria Mountain Range had become unusually active, causing widespread destruction across various regions.

Even the Purple Cardinal and the Pope had heard of the disasters.

The Purple Cardinal severely reprimanded the Archbishop, accusing him of negligence in handling the affairs of the Southern Province, which had allowed the rampant spread of these magical beasts.

Under immense pressure, the Archbishop of the Southern Province had no choice but to plan a large-scale operation aimed at eradicating the magical beast threat in the Celestoria Mountain Range.

Originally, this mission was meant to be led by the elite priests of the Southern Province. However, the District Priest of Brightwater had other plans in mind.

The District Priest had always been dismissive of Father Raphael's abilities.

He considered Raphael to be stubborn and lacking in political savvy, unfit to navigate the complex world of the Church.

When the task of leading the campaign against the magical beasts came up, the District Priest deliberately assigned it to Raphael instead of the elite priests he usually favored.

His intentions were clear: he did not believe Raphael could succeed in such a significant mission. In fact, he hoped this would be an opportunity for Raphael to fail.

The District Priest planned to use Raphael's anticipated failure as a justification to strip him of his position and send him to an even more remote and insignificant place—or perhaps even remove him from the Church altogether.

Now, as the five priests sat in silence, eating their meal, the atmosphere was entirely different from before. Gone were the subtle undertones of dirty power deals. 

The only sound in the vast church was the faint clinking of utensils and cups. 

Though the meal consisted of simple bread and meat soup, each movement of the priests was slow and deliberate, adding a weight to the atmosphere.

It was clear that each priest was preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Some were contemplating the complex power dynamics within the Church, while others quietly worried about how Raphael's sudden rise in prominence might affect their own positions.

The meal, though simple, seemed to mirror the inner conflicts they faced.

Every bite of bread was taken with hesitation, as if each mouthful held deeper implications for their personal struggles.

Only Raphael stood apart from the others.

He ate his meal calmly, entirely focused on the food in front of him, unaffected by the tension in the room.

His expression remained serene, with no hint of emotion betraying his thoughts.

His slow, measured pace and natural demeanor made it seem like this was just another ordinary meal to him.

Raphael's calm focus on his meal stood in stark contrast to the anxiety of the other priests.

Each time a utensil clinked against a cup, the others would glance at him, only to find him still eating with his usual serenity, seemingly detached from the complexities and power struggles of the world.

This sight deepened the other priests' unease, their internal conflicts growing with every passing moment. 

Just as the quiet dinner was nearing its end, District Priest Marco gently set down his spoon and cleared his throat.

That single cough broke the silence at the table, drawing everyone's attention. 

The flickering candlelight illuminated Marco's composed, contemplative face as he surveyed the table.

His gaze lingered on each of the priests before settling on Father Raphael.

When he finally spoke, his tone was steady, but there was an unmistakable undertone of significance.

"We need to discuss the redeployment of the army."

The other priests immediately put down their utensils, turning their attention to Marco.

They could already sense that significant changes were about to unfold.