Subjugation

Perses sat in his seat with his legs crossed. Truthfully, this reveal had surprised him. However, it did not impress him. Knowing that Machia was such an important person was not all that surprising. The fact he hadn't bothered to reveal such a thing also made sense. Not to mention, the importance of the title 'prince' was lost on him. Machia was just Machia. Neither were the type to make a big deal of things like status.

The Reverend's delivery was exquisite, to say the least. Returning to stand by his chair, he went to grab the black book he had left lying on the table. As if ready to leave, he scanned Perses's unflinching figure.

"If that will be all-"

"No, not yet."

The Reverend's tone had continued to elevate and exaggerate as he delivered the news of Machia's position. However, that tone was now gone, disturbed by Perse's assertive response."

"Well, if it's for you, Perses, I suppose I can answer some more of your queries."

"Ok, tell me about Circe."

'If he really will only tell me the truth, I should extort him now as much as possible. I should probably also leave, that thing for last.'

Perses mulled over his thoughts as he waited for the Reverend to respond.

"How do you know about her?"

"Machia mentioned her once."

'Right now, I can lie, and he can't. This is a perfect opportunity. If I find out where Circe went, I'm sure Hectate would want to know, too."

Reminded of the strange girl, Perses couldn't help but feel a pang of regret for leaving her alone in that house all this time. Not that he particularly liked her; she was a one-of-a-kind problem child, one he wanted to stay clear of. Despite that, a minute reluctance must have been brewing inside for him to ask such a question.

"Did he really say something like that?"

For the first time, the Reverend showed a disapproving gaze as he sought to determine the truth from Perses's eyes. Failing to find what he was looking for, he gave up.

"Well, Circe is a witch, one that was outcasted for a grave criminal act. I don't have anything too interesting to add to that.

"Is learning magic a crime?"

The clergyman's face tightened as he took a moment to sit delicately in his chair. After resting for a moment, he responded.

"Yes. I am uncertain how you learnt of such a thing as magic. Is this something a student or a peer of yours may have told you?

It was apparent who the Reverand was referring to. Perses considered lying but couldn't spare the effort for someone that had caused him so much trouble.

"That's right."

The Reverend nodded gently.

"Well, thank you for your honesty, Perses. There's no need to worry about your friend either. Her's is a special case, so I suppose it can be overlooked one time."

Regaining control of the conversation, the Reverend smiled kindly, assuring Perses it wasn't a problem. Something akin to relief also appeared to coat his figure.

"Though you would do well to understand that magic is a heretics greatest weapon, please do be weary from now on, Perses."

Perses dismissed the Reverand's words, uninterested in the man's advice.

'I have so much to ask, yet now, of all times, I'm drawing a blank. It's not like I can risk asking about the black monster from under the barracks, and I can't seem to take 'that' off my mind. 

The more Perses thought, the more he couldn't avoid asking the question.

"I sense your distress, Perses. Being awoken in this world with Machia gone and no one around to guide you, it must have been quite the burden. If you have something else undermining your comfort, it is my job to relieve you of it and guide you, so please assist me."

Perses realized precisely what the Reverand was attempting to insinuate, yet didn't want to trust the man. But he was left with no other lead.

"Machia has been hiding something from me. A couple things actually, why is that?"

Concealing his desire to learn of the secret blessed's identity, Perses pursued something simpler.

The Reverand's eyes did not falter. He relaxed in his chair as if touched by something. Staring longingly out the window, he left the room in a stiff silence.

"Perses, perhaps you, yourself, have tasted already the suffering this world possesses. You see, most people spend the beginning of their lives haunted by simply their continuous reality. As children, they lack any and all control. After reaching adulthood, they possess the knowledge and the ability to control that reality. However, their conscious, knowledgeable minds soon begin to haunt them. This suffering that we must all share and that we must all endure. Why is it that they, or you even, wish to live in such a world?

Perses was no ordinary person. He could count the times he was treated similarly to others on his hand. His initial friendship with Mars, his talks with Machia and the recent seminar were all that came to mind. It was because of this that Perses doubted his own answer so profoundly.

"...strength"

The Reverand was taken aback and couldn't help but let out a gentle laugh.

"Haha, really? You don't seem like the type Perses. Haha, well, I will tell you what I think you meant to say. What you're really talking about, Perses, is desire."

"Strength and desire are the same?."

"Yes, what you desire is strength, supposedly. What you must understand is that desire is entirely different for everyone it is the crux of suffering. There are some, for example that dream of strength, others maybe knowledge, others companionship, some security, some supremacy and authority."

Perses eyed the man sceptically as he considered his words. He couldn't help but feel like the conversation was being misdirected. 

"Then what about you?"

"I was just getting to that part. You see Perses, I desire love."

"Love, for god?"

"I wish for God to be loved by others, and I wish for him to love others in return. You saw it yourself, did you not? That warm light we all basked in, could there be any truer salvation? I believe only that salvation can ease the suffering we all partake in through merely living. For my community, for my God, I built what surrounds us at this very moment."

He took a moment to gesture towards the grand hall and then the whole cathedral proudly.

"Only through devotion, through hard work and, most importantly, loyalty was I able to build all of this."

"So your saying you alone built the cathedral."

"Through only my wit and loyalty I built the kingdom's most prominent, most largest building."

The Reverend laughed aloud as he answered Perse's question. "Not with my hands, of course, haha, but with my work. You see, Perses, only by working together with the kingdom can you gain what you desire."

"So what are you saying, that it doesn't matter what Machia might have lied about."

"That's right, Perses. Only with someone dependable like him, important like him and someone strong like him can you gain that strength you desire. I know that better than any."

Perses was mostly convinced. His desire to believe in Machia, who was like a brother to him, could be felt stronger now that he was gone than before. His conclusion was interrupted.

"You see, Perses, as long as you do not fly too high, you will not have anywhere to fall. Await his return patiently and believe in Machia."

Before he could be convinced by the cunning man, a creeping, smouldering impulse arose within him. Just then, a single thought triumphed amongst the others. A similar sensation he had felt during his talks with Lugh resurfaced.

'Is he mocking me?'

Clearly, the man had told that whole story from the seminar with the intention of persuading Perses. He had guessed the contents of their conversation before they had even started. He was no longer being treated ordinarily but instead like a child. He felt like he was being manipulated.

"Reverand, just one last question."

Blinking in surprise, the Reverand gathered himself before nodding with a gentle focus.

"Tell me, how many blessed are there?"