Church of Merciful Radiance

Central Temple

Royal Capital of Swordbreak

Holy Empire of Yggdrasil

3rd day of Spring-End

187 years into the New Age

Clergyman Erdem Fairsborough,

May the merciful light radiate within us. This may come as sudden, but you are being hereby summoned to the Central Temple at the royal capital.

You may have a day to prepare for the journey and say your farewells, as this matter is of utmost importance and may station you away from your current mission for a substantial time. It is advised that you accompany the envoy we sent on the way back to the capital for safety reasons and less cost on your part.

Do not worry, by the time this summon has reached you, the Outer Cloister should have already arranged a replacement teacher for the village of Riverdale, kindly inform the village chief of this. Your replacement should be there in a couple of days after your departure.

The reason for this summon shall be discussed once you arrive at the Central Temple.

May the merciful light guide our way,

The Inner Cloister

***

"I know it is a summon, not to mention from the Inner Cloister no less, but isn't this a tad too sudden?" I asked. I don't even know who and why I was asking. Minister Cedia is just an envoy, and she certainly don't have any authority here even if she cared to intervene.

Minister Cedia was just quiet, clearly not knowing what to say, and I do not blame her.

Marziner was the first to speak. "I know I'm not in the position to speak here since this is church affairs, but what I am concerned are the children." I passed him the letter after I read it. "Children are going to be children. They are going to take time to adjust to this. Ever since they reached learning age, it was Clergyman Fairsborough who was with them. To them, he is their third parent." he explained.

"I'm afraid this is out of my hands, Chief." Minister Cedia apologized. "Clergyman Erdem, I'm going to be staying at the local inn to pass the night, then I'll be going back to the capital first thing in the morning. Are you planning to accompany me back to the royal capital?"

There was an awkward silence after that. It took me a long time to respond to that. "I don't really have a choice from the start." I saw Marziner's expression sank. "It is from Central, from the Inner Cloister to be specific. It is absolute." I just replied with a sigh. I felt Marziner's hand on my shoulders.

It was Minister Cedia's turn now to make an awkward silence and take time to reply. "Very well," she said after a while, "I'll be seeing you tommorow at dawnbreak then." She stood up and pressed her habit and scapular down. "I'll be taking my leave now, Clergyman, Chief." Minister Cedia declared, nodding to us before proceeding to the door, and leaving the two of us bewildered.

"What now?" Marziner mused.

"I... I don't know." I stammered. "You read the letter. It is from the Inner Cloister. It is absolute."

"That's what actually confuses me. What is the Inner Cloister?"

"Oh. I forgot that you probably don't know."

I paused, took a deep breath, and started explaning. "In the Church of Merciful Radiance, there is a governing body made up of the most powerful church officials. That body is divided into two, the Outer Cloister, and the Inner Cloister." I shifted in my seat. "The Outer Cloister is the one in charge of day to day operations of the church. From organizing evangelical missions, conducting services in the royal house and houses of nobles, to assigning which priests or priestesses do what. The Inner Cloister, on the other hand, they only have one function. They're the decision makers. Anything they say, the Outer Cloister executes. Whatever they say, goes. Their word is absolute."

"I see." Marziner look down again at the letter and understanding dawned on him.

"Well, I guess I need to go inform my students and their parents then." I stated as I got up from my seat.

"And how will you do that Clergyman Erdem?" he was shaking his head. "I don't think it's a good idea to inform the children now." I looked at him and saw that he was serious. "If I may, let me handle this one. I'll go talk to their parents later, we will meet later anyway for the harvest planning, and then we will go on from there, I guess." My friend got up from his chair and put a hand on my shoulder. "I think it would be wise if you spend this time preparing for your journey."

"You make it sound that I won't be going to return here again for a long time." I grimaced.

"Am I?" Marziner retorted while holding the summon in his hand.

"I guess not." I just smiled awkwardly. The Marziner that I know, the one before I became a priest and before he became the village chief, is slowly returning.