Memoirs 262 - Talkative priests (Patreon)

“The one and only!” Raimond announced merrily, his entrance accompanied by what Scarlett hoped was an imagined sparkle in the air.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “…I was not expecting to see you here, Father.”

Raimond’s gaze swept across the group, his expression a mix of amusement and curiosity. “Nor I you, Baroness. Just look at you all! It appears you’ve been through quite an adventure.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Rosa said, stretching droopingly while leaning casually against Fynn. “What brings you to these parts?”

“Why, to offer my most heartfelt devotions to the illustrious Ittar, naturally!” Raimond declared with a grand sweep of his arm, gesturing dramatically towards the altar behind them. “Despite what my dazzling exterior might suggest, I am, after all, an ardent priest at heart.”

Scarlett noticed the masked acolyte standing quietly by, remaining silent. If she were to guess, he’d been instructed to share when she and her companions arrived. Raimond must have gone here to wait for them after receiving news about their appearance.

She hadn’t known he would be in Elystead right now, though.

“But it truly warms my heart to see you all gathered here once more,” Raimond continued, his face softened with what might have been genuine warmth. Maybe. “As you can imagine, the past few weeks have been nothing short of a whirlwind for the Followers and myself. In the bleak expanse of the empire’s current plight, this reunion feels like a rare and vibrant bloom in a desolate wasteland.”

Rosa chuckled. “Laying it on a bit thick now, don’t you think?”

The flamboyant priest shrugged with a lively smile. “Only slightly.” He turned his attention to Scarlett. “are you perhaps just about to take your leave, Baroness?”

“We are.”

His eyes flickered past her, to the back door behind which the fire goddess’ statue resided. “I am most intrigued about what mysterious matters could have brought someone as distinguished as the Baroness to this humble sanctuary,” he said with feigned innocence. “As fate would have it, I was just about to depart as well. Perhaps we could abscond together, hmm?”

Scarlett raised an eyebrow at the act, but decided to let it pass without comment.

“Very well,” she said.

She had no real reason to avoid him. Technically, he was one of her collaborators.

Leaving the seemingly flustered acolyte behind, their group exited the House of Fire. With Fynn’s assistance, they quickly located the coachman waiting a couple of blocks away—parking right in front of the temple for hours on end wasn’t an option—and soon, they were climbing into the carriage. Raimond, ever the gentleman, gestured for the others to board first with an almost saintly demeanour.

Scarlett paused for a moment before stepping inside herself, observing him closely. Was she imagining things, or was there actually a faint shimmer around him?

…She bet that whichever priest had taught this man lumomancy would be rolling in their grave if they knew how frivolously he used it.

Shaking her head at the thought, she finally climbed into the carriage and settled into the soft seat next to the window. Raimond entered after her, his eyes scanning the cabin with evident appreciation as the vehicle began to move.

“I see you’ve acquired a new carriage,” he remarked from the seat opposite her. “Though the last one had a certain cozy intimacy, this one is splendid in its own right.”

“I am sure the artisans would appreciate your praise,” Scarlett said.

“Indubitably.” Raimond’s gaze drifted to the window as the House of Fire soon receded from view. “This feels rather nostalgic, doesn’t it?” he mused after a moment. “Here we are again, ensconced in a carriage after another visit to a conspicuously fire-themed temple. The only thing that is missing this time is an arduous adventure through its hidden catacombs, but perhaps we can imagine that in spirit? Because surely you would never embark on such a thrilling escapade without a certain charming priest in tow.”

Scarlett gave him a flat look.

A soft chuckle left Rosa to her left, the bard leaning back against the padded headrest. “Not that I mind, but I don’t think Scarlett here is in the mood for jokes right now.” She looked at Raimond, then hid a small grin behind her hand as if in shock. “Don’t tell me you’re upset we didn’t bring you along?”

“Words cannot even begin to capture the depths of my sorrow,” Raimond said while shaking his head, though a small laugh left him as well. “But if the Baroness is too weary after her undoubtedly uneventful temple visit to listen to this priest lilt, it would be most inconsiderate of me to add to her burdens.” He turned his full attention to Scarlett. “I must confess, I was rather taken aback when you first sought my help in accessing the House of Fire. Knowing you, however, I trusted there was a compelling reason behind it. A reason that, as you might have noticed, I am quite eager to uncover. From Rosa’s current state, I can only surmise that your visit involved more than simple prayers.”

The man then cast a brief glance at Fynn, his eyes scrutinising the youth intently for a moment. “It also seems that our steadfast Fynn here has recently benefited from some rather extensive healing.”

An expression of mild surprise passed over Scarlett’s features. Could he really pick up on minor things like that? She wouldn’t have been able to notice anything unusual about Fynn herself.

“I suppose there is little point in concealing the truth at this stage,” she said coolly. “There was a hidden sanctuary dedicated to the fire goddess beneath the House of Fire. That was our intended destination, and the trials we faced there are the reason for our conditions.”

A look of contemplation crossed Raimond’s face. “Hmm, I see.. Quite unexpected, but not entirely unthinkable. The temple was once dedicated to the fire goddess, after all. Still, I have never personally heard about there being such a sanctuary, though I did start to suspect after you contacted me.” A curious glint appeared in his eyes as he studied Scarlett. “So, would I be correct in assuming you found something interesting down there?”

“You would.”

The priest held her gaze for a few moments, as if expecting her to elaborate further.

She didn’t.

“You know, I might actually be a little hurt if you don’t deem me trustworthy enough to share more,” he finally said.

“I fail to see how this concerns you,” Scarlett replied.

Raimond’s eyebrows rose dramatically on his forehead. “I am sure that you are aware, but even ignoring the incredibly generous assistance I provided as a reliable accomplice and friend, the Followers do hold authority over the House of Fire. Anything discovered there could, by rights, be considered our property.”

Scarlett casually leaned an arm against the windowsill, her finger tapping rhythmically on the polished wood. “The Followers own the House of Fire, yes, but they have no claim to the sanctuary beneath. Should you wish, however, I am sure the matter could be brought before an Imperial Tribunal for adjudication.”

The Followers of Ittar hadn’t even known the place existed, so for once, she would probably have the law on her side. Under Imperial decree, the discovery of sites such as Zuverian ruins meant that the discoverer had the initial claim to whatever was found there for the first few weeks, and she was pretty sure the same argument could apply here. The law was mainly designed and lobbied by groups like the Ustrum Assembly and the mage towers, but that didn’t mean nobles like her couldn’t make use of it.

That thought seemed to amuse Raimond as he smiled at her. “No, I must say, that particular proposition doesn’t appeal to me much. I shall graciously step back from this matter. However, I would be grateful if you could maintain discretion regarding my involvement should word of this spread. The prospect of the Quorum hounding me more than they already do is not one I am particularly keen on.”

Though his words were said in a light-hearted tone, they shifted the mood in the cabin to a more serious one. Scarlett eyed him for a few seconds.

“…How are you faring on that front?” she eventually asked.

A sober look settled across Raimond’s face. “I was not indulging in needless hyperbole earlier when I said things have been hectic. First, there were the Tribe’s relentless raids and the Citadel’s sudden appearance, and now we face monster incursions across the empire, leaving countless citizens in fear before the Citadel matter has even fully resolved. On my end, I had to endure an exhaustive inquest following the events in Crowcairn. They questioned me in excruciating detail about everything that transpired and why my supposed negligence allowed one of the suspected perpetrators to escape.” A lamentful sigh escaped his mouth. “Although I’m certain that my peers deeply appreciate the role my heroic efforts played in averting an indescribable disaster, some of them often fail to grasp the…finer points of my admittedly unconventional methods.”

“I see. Nevertheless, it is commendable that you appear to have finessed your way out of such a predicament,” Scarlett said.

Considering that she’d yet to have any inquisitors or Dawnbreakers knocking on her door, she assumed he’d kept to his word and managed to ensure there wasn’t too much suspicion directed at her. No doubt that was a lot harder than it sounded, so she did actually genuinely appreciate his efforts.

“I had hoped for a smidgen more praise than that, but alas, one’s efforts being unappreciated and misunderstood is the plight of an artistically inclined soul such as mine,” Raimond replied. “I will say that I did not escape those inquests completely unscathed. My once vast influence has been somewhat curtailed, and I am certain that some of my colleagues are now watching my moves with heightened scrutiny. Despite what some may believe, however, I do still have allies within the Followers who may come to my aid, so you do not need to worry about today’s visit reaching the wrong ears.”

“I was not worried. I had confidence in your discretion, Father.”

“Oh? Then allow me to rescind my earlier lamentation about being unappreciated.” The priest cleared his throat. “But as I said, there do remain those who stand by my side still. Notably, Deacon Solnate, though she has perfected the art of concealing it and appearing disgruntled with me, has been a steadfast friend of mine for quite some time. She has been instrumental in helping me investigate the matters we discussed previously, Baroness.”

He was referring to the current corrupt elements within the Followers, which included a deacon who was working with a Vile and another who had dealings with Mistress.

“That is fortunate indeed,” Scarlett said. “It would have made matters significantly harder for me if you had been ousted from your position entirely.”

Raimond flashed a broad smile. “I pity anyone who claims you possess only a frigid soul, Baroness.”

Scarlett frowned slightly. “Who says that?”

“About half of Freybrook,” Rosa replied. Scarlett shot her a small glare, but Rosa just responded with a playful, yet tired, smirk. “Never said they were right.”

With that, what remained of the serious atmosphere dissipated, and a brief silence settled over the carriage.

“Am I the only one who still has a hard time believing that this guy is an actual, honest-to-Ittar deacon?” Allyssa suddenly asked.

Everyone turned to her.

The girl looked at Raimond. “No offense, Father.”

“None taken, of course.”

“By the way,” Rosa said, her eyes turning to the priest again. “What’s the preferred title for someone of your particular ecclesiastical versatility? ‘Ray’ or ‘Raimond’? ‘Father Abraham’ or ‘Deacon Abram’? That question’s been tiptoeing through my thoughts for a spell, and I’m hoping I haven’t been going around unwittingly committing blasphemy all this time.”

“I go by both, so it truly doesn’t matter,” Raimond answered in a charming voice. “For friends and compatriots, especially those who have no lack of exceptional talent and breathtaking beauty, they may call me whatever they please.”

“Yeah?” Rosa studied him for a moment. “You sure are generous, giving a demon-ladened soul like me that much power. Pretty sure you’re technically supposed to exorcise me or something.”

“I have faith in your character.”

“Lucky me.” Rosa let her eyes close partway as she leaned even further back in her seat.

Scarlett glanced between the two, then focused her attention on Raimond. “Father Abraham, if I may ask, what was the reason for your visit to the House of Fire? Was there something in particular you wished to discuss with me?”

“That depends on your perspective,” the man said. “While I have been quite preoccupied of late, I happened to be in the vicinity of Elystead on one of my priestly endeavours when your request first reached me. It seemed the perfect opportunity for a clandestine rendezvous among comrades. Naturally, my curiosity regarding what you might be up to in the House of Fire also played a part, though it appears I shall remain in the dark about those tantalising details, even now. Beyond that, I thought this might also be the ideal moment to have a long-overdue conversation with Rosa.” He cast a glance at the worn-out bard. “Though, it appears now might not be the best time for that either.”

Rosa shook her head. “Nah, I don’t mind. Just resting my eyes a bit. Been wanting to talk with you as well, so why don’t we have it back at the mansion?”

“That would be perfectly acceptable to me.”

Scarlett considered Raimond for a bit. She wondered what had brought him to the capital under the current circumstances. The man didn’t usually involve himself in political matter, so she doubted he was here to attend the conclave. The fact that he hadn’t just told her outright likely meant he preferred to keep quiet about it, though, and she wouldn’t pry.

Still, since he was here, perhaps she could make some good use of him.

Extending her hand, she used her [Charm of Expeditious Change] to unequip her [Depraved Solitude’s Choker] and have it appear in her palm, offering it to Raimond. “I presume that you have plenty of mana available, Father Abraham. I would appreciate it if you could refill this.”

The man blinked, looking at the necklace before meeting her gaze with a wounded expression. “I hope you don’t see me only as a convenient source of mana. I am more than merely my exquisitely luxurious hair and undeniably impressive mana reserves, I’ll have you know!”

“Hah. Now you know how I feel,” Rosa laughed.

Ignoring their comments, Scarlett extended the necklace further. “I will be attending the conclave in Dawnlight Palace this evening, and I prefer not to go without any mana, given what occurred in Windgrove.”

She wouldn’t be able to use most of the mana in the necklace due to exhaustion, but it was better than having nothing. That said, it was incredibly unlikely that anything like what happened during the Tyndall ball would occur in the imperial palace. The palace had magical protections second only to those on the Rising Isle, making it nearly impossible for the Hallowed Cabal to easily infiltrate it. Not to mention, several of the empire’s most powerful individuals defended the place.

Raimond finally accepted the item, touching a finger to the crystal at its center, his fingertip glowing with a radiant light. “I was wondering if you would attend the conclave, Baroness. As it happens, the Followers of Ittar will also have some of our distinguished representatives present. Perhaps you will have the opportunity to engage with them.”

“Perhaps.”

He regarded her closely. “Forgive my bluntness, but are you truly in the best state to attend such a gathering right now? You certainly appear more lively than Rosa, however…”

“Whether I am or not does not matter,” Scarlett said. “I will manage.”

Raimond seemed to consider her for another moment before leaning forward to return the [Depraved Solitude’s Choker] to Scarlett, having recharged it surprisingly quickly. He then extended his hand towards her, and it lit up with a bright golden light that reached out towards Scarlett.

Suddenly, she felt her headache ease somewhat as a bit of energy returned to her body.

“Lumomancy isn’t perfect for these kinds of things, but at least I can do this much for you,” he said.

Scarlett looked at him, a bit surprised, then lowered her head slightly. “Thank you.”

His teeth showed in a sunny smile. “Do mention it.”

She continued to study him, a slight crease forming between her brows.

“Is there anything else on your mind?” he asked, a touch of amusement in his tone.

“…Will you be visiting Freybrook again in the near future?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”

“Evelyne, my sister, was injured during the recent monster attacks, and she is still recovering from those wounds. I was wondering if you might be able to offer your assistance.”

Raimond seemed to ponder it for a moment. “I will see what I can do. If time permits, I might be able to offer my help. Although, I assume Rosa has already done what she could, so I can’t promise anything beyond what she achieved.”

“Your evaluation would be enough,” Scarlett said, turning to look out the window.

It felt awkward asking, but if it meant Evelyne could recover more quickly, it would make things easier for her.