8 – The Priest (OLD)

Disclaimer
The likeness of Michael Kramer is used in this project through AI-generated technology. Please note that Michael Kramer did not record any audio for this content, and his voice is not being used for any monetary gain. The rights to Michael Kramer’s voice and likeness do not belong to Redmatter Creations. Furthermore, the voice and likeness of Michael Kramer will not be used in the final product.

The old scholars had the tools to deduce that it takes almost exactly twenty passings for the sun to make one full rotation around the planet.

From the Journal of Azura Seren. -Turseno section, 28th rotation

Hadrian’s tent provides shade against the sun. He likes being in the sun, it rejuvenates him. It keeps him feeling alive. However, most of the time, it fatigues him. Constantly being replenished and rejuvenated by the sun’s light took a toll on his body. He isn’t in the same shape that he used to be 30 passings ago.

He tries to study scripture but his mind continues to wander towards unexpected places. He finds himself thinking about his previous leader. The leader of The Brightest before himself. Rancis was a strong leader. A leader Hadrian always aspired to be. Hadrian spent too much time with Rancis, trying to appease him or gain his favor, until Rancis finally declared him his right hand man.

They’d traveled together, fighting bandits and collecting new members to follow The Path. That was until The Light favored Hadrian over it’s own chosen. Overcome by jealousy, Rancis turned on Hadrian.

The sound of his sword penetrating Rancis’ stomach followed by his grunt, played in his mind. He didn’t want to do it at the time, but Rancis was unfit. The Light deemed him unworthy of its power. Now, Hadrian is grateful for being given this opportunity to lead people. The Light wouldn’t turn on him, like it did his predecessor.

Hadrian forces himself to concentrate on scripture. His book is the only one they have in the camp. Most of The Brightest didn’t even know it existed. Hadrian’s purpose is to take the words of scripture and interpret them for his followers. Although he purposely left out many things in his teachings.

They don’t need the whole scripture because they can just go through me to speak to the Light. If they knew the truth, they’d refuse to follow me, he thought. The words on these pages hold too much truth for them to handle.

The truth is almost too much for him to handle. The words blend together as he tries to read again. Hadrian committed himself to read the entire scripture front to back at least once per passing. Today, he is too distracted to continue.

The book snaps shut in Hadrian’s hands, showing the title—The Path. It’s origin is still unknown. Was this written before the Freezing of the World or after? The scripture makes it sound like it was written after the darkness froze over. Unless it was prophetic, predicting the future before it even happened.

Hadrian drops his sound amplification bubble. He keeps it up so he can hear if someone approaches. The sun temporarily blinds him when he moves the curtains over to exit. He is met with the familiarity of Hollyard and the city of Solace behind it in the distance.

It is nice to finally be back, but he did not forget his reasoning for being here. He could not relax until he found what he is looking for. The first place to look would be the most obvious place.

Caelius and Oberon are hunting so that left Hadrian some time. People didn’t question Hadrian’s actions, they just let him do his own thing, which proved to be annoying at times, except this time. Sometimes Hadrian just needs someone to question him and ask if he is making the right decision. The problems he’s faced over the many passings as a leader, wore him down. And the morality of his solutions begin to blend together. He is tired of people blindly accepting each and every difficult decision he makes.

One particular instance that sticks out in his mind is when they accepted a singular man into The Brightest, four passings ago. At first, he seemed mentally sound, but after only a couple of months, he became unruly, hostile, and dangerous. Hadrian felt like he had no other choice than to put him down like a rabid dog. No one stopped him. No one questioned it afterward. It was like they forgot he even existed afterward. That bothered him.

How would he react if someone did question his decisions. Right now, he believes he would accept it. But in the heat of the moment? He became better at controlling his anger over the last many passings. Or did the Brightest get better at dealing with his issues?

The handle on the front door clicks as he pushes it open. It’s dark inside, like his tent. The only light comes through the massive window in the living room. It’s a miracle that the window is still intact.

 The first thing he checks is the couch. He tried checking it earlier but didn’t get a chance to dig through it thoroughly. Next, he checks inside drawers and cabinets in the living room. Nothing.

He ransacks the kitchen next, checking under the sink and in the stove. Where could they have hidden it? He checks the bathroom next. Nothing. Was that water in the toilet?

Hadrian presses the handle down and the water disappears somewhere with a rushing sound. The bowl begins to refill. So Caelius got water running through his house? How did he manage that?

After looking in the bathroom, under the sink, inside the medicine cabinet and even in the toilet’s tank, he does not find what he is looking for.

Caelius’ room yields the same result. Where in the Light could it be? Hadrian’s fist comes up and he throws it at a wall. He stops himself before his fist can collide. Anger, Hadrian. Thirty passings of his abilities taught him to recognize the difference from his own mind and the voice of The Light. This is his mind speaking. 

He wishes the Light would speak to him again. Previously, it gave him clues on where to look, but now its silent. It hadn’t spoken to him in months. Hopefully, he didn’t do something to make it upset.

“Light, please,” He moans, defeated, “I’m trying to follow your request, but I can’t do it if you don’t point me in the right direction.”

Hadrian feels something touch his consciousness. Could that be it? The Light? Or is that just something his mind fabricated? Hadrian waited for it to speak to him.

Nothing came.

What about when he ascends? Who would lead the Brightest? Would he still be present on Nivalis in spirit? What would they do if he wasn’t? They already proved to him that they require a strong leader to survive. None of them are equipped to make difficult decisions. Except maybe one…