"My dear children" the man began "you have traveled far and wide, near and distant," he said, giving a dramatic sweep of his arm as he did so "You have survived the trials, read the psalms, and seen the light!" he announced spreading his arms and looking to the heavens, bending back in what appeared to be fanatic ecstasy and causing Cane some confusion
Had he missed something? He couldn't remember any Psalms or trials, did he somehow get a scholarship into a religious degree?
He'd only been conscious for under an hour and had apparently seen the light of a wackjob deity!?
However unlike himself, all the other people nearby seemed to agree with his statement of Lapis, some even going as far as to cry or cheer at his words, leaving only Cane and the girl beside him glaring blankly at the man preaching.
"All who stand beside you share the gifts of our mother, all who you shall know, meet, and inherit shall feel her grace, and your children shall be the same!" Lapis continued, his voice growing more excited by the word, causing the mass of people listening to him to stir "you have been brought here because this is where you belong! You are special! You are better than the slaving masses that cannot feel Emancia's Grace!" he shouted to the crowd
Cane however at this point had already begun to tune the man, instead choosing to focus on the girl clutching to his elbow, her eyes staring at him in wonder, glittering in the light of the bright cathedral as she finally was able to look at him clearly and as he stared back at her smirking she soon began to blush bright red, before hiding her face in his side, practically trying to mash herself into his shadow
"You are here because Emancia has called for you! You are here to spread and further the needs and goals of our family!" Lapis continued, screeching his preachings across the cathedral like a foghorn on a misty night "And to finally free us of our constraints!"
Appearing to have finished his speech, the platform that Lapis stood upon began to sink into the floor, his long flowing robes dragging down with him like snakes into a burrow and another platform began to arise from behind his now disappearing figure.
He was a more petite man, one colored in gold robes and wearing a mask similar to that of the shepherds, except his was instead in the visage of a weeping man. Walking hurriedly over to the crowd and stopping just a few meters away from the mass of people he clasped his hands in front of him and began to speak
"Welcome children" he greeted, his voice filled with a gentle tone like that of a guide or secretary but also somehow emotionless in its words "I am the one known as Able, I am here to answer any questions you may have and then direct you to your new homes"
…
"DFADBE^%$#@FEFNY(&^%UYR!@#$%F!!!" the cathedral filled with the sounds of hundreds of voices as each and every person present, excluding the shepherds, "Able" and Cane, began to scream and whisper their own queries at the same time
The sound was deafening and echoed off the cathedral walls, creating a pounding in Cane's head as he covered the ears of the girl beside him, helping her avoid going deaf.
"CALM YOURSELVES!!!" the words screamed out of the gold-robed man, Able, his voice thundering across the mob and causing them to instantly quiet and reorder themselves, like soldiers in a drill. A moment of silence reigned as the man stared at them silently, his crying mask emanating a feeling of cruelty and anger before suddenly lightening and turning directly to the man closest and pointing to him
"Your question?" he asked, his voice returning to that of the calm guide
"M-mine?" the man in question asked, pointing to himself with a dubious expression as if he had never expected such an outcome
"Yes"
The man seemed to think for a moment, looking from side to side before gently taking the hand of the woman beside him, looking into her eyes as if conveying a question, before asking "Why are we paired?" gesturing between himself and the woman
"Because she is your wife" the Able answered, his voice clear and concise, as if this were a simple question
"My wife!?" the man shouted, clearly surprised "I've known her for only a few weeks!" he began to look between himself and his new spouse as if completely shocked, somehow not noticing the bright smile on his partner's face, a smile Cane recognized
A smile only particular types of women could pull off
"Yes your wife" Able confirmed nodding gently, before looking towards the crowd and raising his voice "your new wives and husbands have been chosen by Emancia so that your gifts can be passed on properly! The person who has been with you in the dark will be with you in the light!"
…What?
Not even hearing the new outburst of the crowd surrounding him, Cane slowly tured his vision down, looking towards the one beside him, the girl he had only just met and who didnt even reached his chest height.
"I… got married… to a child?" he stumbled, unable to process the new knowledge he had jest been given
Oh god
The girls were going to kill him… and the child… and the cult… and probably more
****
I met god
I MET GOD
He is so handsome! And kind!
He carried me like a lost lamb into the light!
He comforted me!
He won't leave me!
He touched me! He Pat My heAd!
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper,
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Wait… we are getting married!? But I'm a nun! We already are! Are we redoing our vows?
Am I the real wife of God??
Heheheheheheheheheheheheheheehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehhe
Cane, my god on earth,
I DO
NOW AND FOREVER
[author note: don't know why but I really struggled with this chapter, love yall]
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