C5 Leaving the temple
The doors to the Temple of Soeck flew open, one of the handles falling off.
“I’ll do it,” Gerald announced to the echoey chamber. Attendees and worshippers scattered at the sight of him.
“Good evening, my siblings,” he called happily after them as they ducked into the ante-chambers.
“I thought we told you not to come during worship hours,” Priestess An Sol said with a flick of her long lizard-like tongue.
“I know, I’m sorry, but I’m here because we don’t have to close the mission.”
“Why, are you leaving?” Priest Ty’Kall snickered as he packed scrolls and hymnbooks into crates.
“Yes.”
Father O’Theen raised his weary head from where he sat at the base of the statue of Soeck. “Oh... really?”
“Yes, I’ve been offered an academic scholarship off-world, and I’m donating the balance to support the relief efforts here.”
Priestess An’Sol crossed her arms. “You mean, you’re going to become our patron?”
Gerald nodded. “A thousand credits a day. It’s it great?”
Priest Ty’Kall clucked his tongue. “With that much we could feed the whole valley and then some. Maybe even start a second...”
Father O’Theen raised his thick leathery hand. “What about your scripture studies?”
“Don’t ruin this, old man,” Ty’Kall threatened under his breath.
“That’s the best part,” Gerald said. “I already checked, there’s another mission within walking distance of the Academy. I can complete my studies and take my vows there.”
Priestess An’Sol leaned in close to Father O’Theen and spoke in the ancient tongue, knowing that Gerald’s translator wouldn’t be able to pick it up. “Do we really want to subject a proper mission to garbage like him?” she spat.
“He’ll be their problem,” Ty’Kall added with a shrug.
“But I’d feel guilty knowing that we...”
Father O’Theen ignored them and leaned forward. “What about your mother?” he asked in the modern tongue. A heartbeat later the translation sang out in Gerald’s ear.
“If I give any of the money to her she’ll just spend it on digital items and DLC and starve herself to death. By giving it all to the mission, I can make sure she’ll be fed and clothed while I’m gone.”
“I will make sure she is cared for,” Father O’Theen promised, tapping his soul catcher against his chest twice.
“Thank you,” Gerald responded, placing his fist over his heart.
Priest Ty’Kall looked at the crates he was packing and laughed. A deep and throaty sound. “Looks like I’ll have to re-label all the hymn books. The Gerald Dyson Soeck Mission; it doesn’t really roll off the tongue, but we’ll find a way to make it work.”
Gerald shook his head. “I know it’s tradition to name a mission after its largest contributor, but in this case I’d rather break with custom.”
“Oh?”
Gerald walked up to Priestess An’Sol and held out his hand. “I’d like the mission to carry your name.”
She blinked. “Me?”
“Yes, you’ve always been such an inspiration to me. I’ve never known anyone who so perfectly embodied the spirit of giving. I have pledged myself to Soeck and his teachings of compassion. I hope that one day I can be half the sibling you are.”
An’Sol was so taken aback she could barely speak at first. “Oh, well... I...”
She cleared her throat, a habit she had picked up from the humans, and looked very sheepish. “That is very kind of you... I... I don’t know what to say.”
He shrugged. “Say yes.”
Now she looked positively guilty. “Um, okay, I guess that’s all right with me.”
Gerald shook her hand warmly and smiled.
“Listen, about the way I’ve been treating you...” she began.
“Welcome everyone to the Ka’Ama An’Sol Soeck Mission,” he said, cutting her off with a bow, before spinning on his heel with a grin and walking away.
“Um... good luck on your journey,” An’Sol called to him, trying to hide her shame.
“Ka’aarta Tuv’in O’ Val’ia,” Gerald bade them in the ancient tongue as he closed the doors behind himself.
Ty’Kall and An’Sol looked at each other worriedly.
“Wait, does he...?”
“Yes, he has been studying the ancient tongue with me for some time,” Father O’Theen confirmed.
The other door handle snapped off and clanged loudly to the floor.
