Lulush is a weird country in the eyes of most. It is a small country stuck between four beasts and founded by refugees begging for blood and freedom.
It is the first democracy in the middle continent of Indah and still remains as the only one. First two founders made the people of this bleeding land choose which one should govern for that year and the tradition moved like this with more and more participants joining the selection creating the first democracy.
As time passed religions started taking their place even in the hearts of these people that gave up all belief as the struggle for another day became their reality.
Four churches became the winners of this small conflict and claimed their place and authority.
Churches hold more than authority they were a requirement. Some humans can manifest power that lets them bend the reality itself, this power also came with consequences and also with people that wanted to use it for ulterior motives.
Churches created units to handle people like them, anomalies in reality and any type of other distrotions.
He ran on the streets with tears in his eyes. It hurts more than he could ever imagine, the pain of mourning the one that is alive.
It hurts leaving one behind even if it means they will be happier in the end of it all. It hurts knowing that you will never be a part of their life and cry far away while watching them, are they tears of sorrow or happiness? Who knows.
He was right after all. His vision is blurry, he can't even balance himself anymore, he is not even running anymore but rather hugging a wall while taking his steps away from that moment that tore him apart inside out.
He is not moving anymore. He is laying on the ground with his eyes half open yet they see no more than delusions.
Holding her hand, dancing carelessly like children, marrying in the same church he grew in, becoming a father, being proud of everything their kids did. These are such delusions that could have never became the reality.
He died that night. All alone in a middle income neighborhood where no one would have found him until the postman arrived with the mails early next morning.
He died hoping that someone would take him away before she saw him, she wanted to be gone like the mistake that he has been in her life.
He opened his eyes before realizing it is just the same wall he is used to see most days. He looked around to see if father is around yet he was nowhere to be seen. He must have woke up earlier than him today which was weird. He rolled to his left before getting up from the old mattress on the ground he called his bed.
I should go take care of the fruits and go to the place he mentioned. At least he didn't force me through that routine exercise this morning, so merciful today huh father.
He looked down and saw that he was wearing the shirt from yesterday which was wrinkled and a relic from the past. It was father's old shirt before he became a priest. He wore trousers which he bought from a rag shop for a meals money. It fit nice and what more could he want?
His leather boots were on the ground asking to be worn so that they could leave this bland room where priest and the he stayed.
He got new socks, changed his shirt after smelling himself and changed into pantaloons after realizing that he can't wear the same trouser for three days straight.
He opened the door and met with a hall that lead to two doors one leading to the attic and the other to the nave. After entering the nave he was met the voice of his father.
"So you have decided to bless us with your existence at last son."
It was a man in his thirties who would have been called handsome by many who were even ready to curse the fate for letting this man be a man of cloth and not someone of words. He had white skin, not pale just white and light brown hair which never reached the tips of his shoulders in his entire life. His face was sharp and his features had a balance other than his nose which had a high bridge yet still held the the symmetry on top. His figure was muscular but not tall with his height just being slightly above average.
"Sorry father I couldn't get up on time. At least I had a nice dream it is not every day you sleep in your own dream."
"We can talk later I already told sister Anne to get your food ready, you have a lot to do today."
"Lot? I thought I was only going to meet that friend of yours and ask to be his apprentice."
Father sat on one of the benches before letting out a sigh. It was obvious that he was going to ask for another thing as well.
"The grammar school near the Blackwater theater sent me a letter asking for me to give their children a class with other religious figures from other churches so that they can learn about other religions too..."
"You want me to go there instead of you? Did you lose your mind or eat it with bread this morning? Go do your job old man do you want me to get lynched infront of a class?"
"Yeah yeah don't let them bite your ankles as well. I found your useless self a job so you can do something to pay back can't you?"
"Yeah yeah whatever I will go wear your spare robe and handle it. It can't be that hard they must be like 15 at best what will they do? Ask me complicated questions?"
"Thats the spirit now go get a carriage!"
Wasting the money like always. I can just run there and it would only take around twenty minutes.
"What is for lunch?"
"Did you start selecting food as well? Go get your job done and you will see it."
"Why are you so grumpy like an old man with one feet in the grave? You still have at least a year..."
"Look at the milk sucker saying this to me! Stop slacking and do your job."
"Whatever whatever see you later grandpa."
After wearing the robe and grabbing his study notes he ran outside the church and started to jog to the Blackwater theater.
Blackwater theater was right at the middle of what one would call the meeting of different worlds. It is the biggest theater in the city and unlike the other which is one step away from being called a blasphemous by the goddess of Dreams followers because of the streetwoman that are on nearly every corner around the theater.
Blackwater theater is at the edge of the middle-class households and the upper middle-class who valued art and plays more than their lower counterparts. Both of these places mostly believe in the goddess of Dreams and are somewhat conservative among all the religions yet when we take in the account the religions common here they are the most conservative ones in both culture and belief.
The plays change in nature but as a Harbour city they always have something new but most of the times it is just the same thing played again and again because it has became a classic. Who even cares about the stagnant art? Art is to change.
After passing through streets where houses made of bricks and rarely wooden mansions he arrived at the theater.
Wait where was the school? I don't remember seeing one here not that I come here often.
He looked around curiously but the only thing he saw were woman in their youth wearing colorful dresses slowly making their way to the theater, there must have been a popular one about to play. After stopping one of them and asking for the way he made his way to the building which was no more than a two story house-looking structure.
Well it looks kind of on the lower side. Isn't this supposed to be a rich neighborhood? Who would even send their kids here?
After he got inside he saw another figure in cloth sitting on a chair right outside a door. He made his way next to him before taking a careful look.
He seems pretty young so the priest must have sent him here out of laziness too. Is that a sun emblem on his necklace? Never knew they even had a church here. What is he reading? Seems like a thin book maybe just a short story or poem collection.
"Who went in first?"
The boy who seemed to be around 14 looked up before hesitating for a second.
"It was a woman so I guess the church of Dreams. Then a tall skinny guy went inside and I have been waiting ever since. It has been two hours."
"Well they must have wanted to leave the worst time last. I guess you know how the middle class think of our beliefs and especially the believers of the Goddess of Dreams."
"...I guess so. Do you believe in the coexistence of religions?"
"Well most of us aren't compatible. This limited level of coexistence seems reasonable. I kind of like the mixture of cultures as well...why are you even ruining the mood I think we still have more steps to pass before reaching politics."
"Just came to my mind that's all. You get bored here knowing that your entire job is a ten minute speech and leave after that."
"Didn't you say others stayed inside for for longer?"
"I did but doubt kids will like listening to a believer of the sun."
"I actually don't blame them. The witch hunt lasted far too long and killed too many."
"..."
Well I ruined the mood...perfect.
After a few minutes a slander man came out of the room and the boy didn't waste time and went inside.
Well the wait begins. Hope the last guy comes so that I won't be standing here like an idiot.
He sat on the chair and waited for a few minutes before feeling annoyed about the whole situation. He walked outside and saw someone smoking a cigar which were imported from the islands on the west of Wraogue, a rare delicacy. The man was wearing a uniform which made it obvious he was from the army, no this was to be expected after all most of the politicians believed in the God of Order. He actually knew the man from before as someone who took pleasure from listening to the songs of street performers. He had slicked back black hair and tan skin. His figure was muscular and tall which was to be expected of someone like him. His facial features were sharp especially his eyebrows which made him look serious no matter the situation.
"Ohhh ho ho is that the famous repairman? You saved me back there boy."
It was around a month ago I guess. I was walking around hoping to pet some street cats at the Westart park until I saw him and helped him repair and radio. It was just a problem with the wires we got a new copper and fixed it up. He seemed pretty grateful for a reason. People have weird obsessions I guess.
"Come on admiral you could have fixed it up by yourself even if it wasn't for me. That model had special cables with fitting ends to make assembly easier...I didn't ask that day where did you even get your hands on something like that? I never saw a radio you can take around and use. They are normally pretty heavy and big.
The man offered his cigar to the boy who took it and after a cloud and coughs that followed it he handed it back.
"It was my father's gift. He is a man that rarely buys me anything yet when he does they are always what I want. That radio was the newest model only rich could get but of course dad new some people and they knew some people you know how things are."
Lucky bastard are you gonna shove it up my nose? They probably made it so easy to fix just because those high and mighty ones can't even press some buttons without breaking things.
"Lucky bastard...so did you come here for the same thing too? Didn't expect it you know."
"As you know most of us in the army are believers of the Father. This was just a bet lost after some dice. I am not a strict believer by any means and not a man of cloth for sure so I will just keep it vague."
"Same. Like I told you before I grew in a church and am an actual believer yet I don't read the holy book every every day, just a few chapters a week so it will just be a cultural talk."
"Nice tactic wish that came to my mind first. So why do you think there is a school like this here? Any idea? I only came here a few years ago as you know."
"No idea on my part. It is like that of what you would expect in the slums. Seems like a one classroom place."
"Sorry uhhh...Mr priest?"
A woman opened the door and came outside while a boy followed her and then went on his way. She didn't have much to her looks. Was wearing a brown dress and had what people would call a boring beauty.
"Ohh I am sorry ma'am I was talking with my friend he is the last priest...or a man of religion to be exact. Don't worry he might not look like it but his education is in place."
He entered inside and followed the woman into the classroom who was at first a bit shocked about the soldier standing next to him yet calmed quickly after remembering who he believed. She must have been a believer of the Goddess of Dreams from her looks.
Well ehat did I expect? Preaching infront of people just a few years younger than you feels weird. I better get this over with or things will get weird.
"Hello kids, hello ma'am I am a seminarian from the church of the Great Lord that created the endless blue. I am here to explain out religion and belief in this short amount of time given to me."
Why do they look so uninterested? Am I supposed tk do something? I should cut the boring parts and leave or I might suddenly drop dead.
"As the beginning I want to ask something. Are all humans equal in your eyes?"
The silence didn't break even with this question until a quiet voice said yes.
"Yes nearly all religions believe that but my lord tells us that they are not. No human is equal."
The sound of rejections, objections and mumblings of the students filled the air. This was pure blasphemy getting spat on their face by someone only a few years older than them. A figure with their straight hair touching their shoulders was smiling at them with pure belief.
"How can humans be equal when all of us have different lives, different nature, different dreams, different ambitions and different capabilities. Even in the moment of our creation some of us are born without limbs or the inability to speak. We are not equal that is why we must unite and save each other. The one that can write must write for all and the one that can hunt must hunt for the rest. My lord orders for us to help each other in moments of need and take care of each other in all the ways we can. The misunderstanding surrounding the teachings of my lord has caused us to be misunderstood. So much so that it hurts me deeply to see that we are now seen as primal people that are one step above the cattle."
After around an hour of this heated preach he left the class with face covered in sweat. When he came out Mr rich boy was sitting on the chair or sleeping to be exact. He couldn't even blame him after how long things took yet he still found it unprofessional considering it came from someone in the army.
Well it is to be expected of someone high up. If their kind didn't slack off we would have low taxes and no dirt roads anymore. They suck the poor dry in their factories until they drop dead on the streets of this hell.
He left the so called school and walked to the the church. The church itself was pretty small especially compared to a cathedral. It had a small building behind where nuns stayed. They cooked food for the homeless begging for help and the priest. They took care of mostly simple tasks around while the priests entire job is listening to confessions and things alike. For his case he was in the middle. He helped the nuns with simple tasks and sometimes helped during rituals with candles. He never felt close to the nuns the same way with Graham who he saw as his father more than anything else. He always acted like a brother yet the need of a father always overwhelmed his mind and made him see him as a father.
"You are late did you even check the time? Did you go eat breakfast outside? You got them worried you know."
"Yeah sorry father I couldn't find a carriage so had to run all the way...and I forgot my watch as well."
"You can eat later...Sister Anne! Sister Anne! He is back please tie his hair after he changes."
A woman around mid forties came inside wearing a tunic and a veil. She had always looked older than her age because of her face similar to a crumbled piece of paper. She had brown eyes and a pale skin that was pink half the time because of exposure to sun.
"Hey sister Anne sorry for troubling you I am still bad at tying it myself. I just want to look good on my first day."
He went to their room before getting changed into a suit. It's was an old one from father and didn't fit him well with the arms being too long. It had a few patches yet the colour mismatch wasn't a problem as long as someone didn't look for long. He wore a fresh shirt inside it and trousers from the morning. He didn't have congress boots or anything similar so he wore his boots again and left his room. He grabbed his cap which was that of a brown officers cap which was no different from the ones wore by mailman.
Ughhhh! Wish I didn't run everywhere I should have stopped and thought about it now I smell like a pig. Hope they don't make me start from my first day.
He went inside and saw sister Anne again. She had a black piece of cloth in her hand. He got on his knees before her as she gathered up his hair. Father didn't seem tk be around.
"So the day has come..."
"Yeah I didn't expect to start things like this. I am pretty lucky wouldn't you say?"
"I never expected that I would see you grow. I always thought you would stay as the child you have been."
"Yeah thought I would die to some disease by now. Well wait a year or so and you might even be here for my wedding."
Her voice was low yet it almost felt as if it had sadness hiding deep inside for reasons unknown.
"I hope for that too...I will not tie one side of your hair I heard this is a new fashion trend or something in those lines."
"Whatever you say sister anything is better than looking like a wet rat."
After getting his hair done he got up only to have a letter pushed against his chest. He looked down at it as she spoke.
"Father told me to give you this letter. He said it is for your boss."
"Must be something like a recommendation letter. Well who wouldn't want someone like me. I will see both of you later!"
He walked out the church with letter in hand.
This is how it all started.