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"Which is a major part of our Path," Vernie said. "There are other, less glamorous aspects, though, Nari."
"Quiet ones, locked alone," I agreed. "Also not really my thing. Research is fun for a bit, but not every day. I don't like children enough to dream of being a teacher. I don't have the patience to spend all day scheduling assignments or looking over records. I want todo, not sit and handle paperwork. In truth, I was leaning more toward the Path of Action than anything."
"Which would have been a waste for my Chosen," Zeal said. "So I gave her this. She's made it more than I could dream of. I also seem to have taken over your class, Priestess Vernie."
"Nonsense," the woman scoffed. "This entire course will be on understanding what your recorded comments meant. We will be studying your intentions for your temple, and the rules that our traditions are built upon. What better way to do that than by listening to the man - god? - who designed it all."
"I didn't actually do that," Zeal said. "You see, my siblings and I came up with a general idea, but our very first priestess helped us work out the nuances. We called her Mother, because we didn't have a better word. She explained to us that we'd need rules, and that people wouldn't automatically understand what we desired. Sadly, she didn't live to see the results, but much of this was based on her wisdom - that of a kind human woman."
"Well, fuck me," Delran breathed. "That was not at all what I expected to hear."
Zeal shrugged. "I've come to realize that a lot of things in this temple are close, but not quite what I intended." He looked over at Konas. "The rings, as an example. They weren't my idea."
"What?" the man gasped, sitting up straighter.
Zeal just shook his head. "No, a cruel priest designed those because he was amused at the suffering of the kids he was tasked to train. He was pissed that he'd been assigned such a menial job. Causing guardians to hurt meant he could ignore them for weeks, calling it an adjustment period. He just didn't stop to think that I wanted my guardians to love their wards, however they chose to love them! I intended for my temple to be filled with families that were formed their own way. I wanted to pamper my priests, notabusethem!" His voice rose with each sentence until he thumped his fist down on the desk.
"Zeal," I said calmly. "They're less intimidated when you use your inside voice."
And from the back of the class, the guy from my year snorted in an attempt to keep from laughing. It was enough to make a smile flicker across Zeal's lips.
"Point taken," he said. "I'm just angry about it. I'm trying to undo the damage, but some guardians..." He paused to rub at his mouth. "Sometimes, lessons learned are hard to unlearn. I'd like to stop that from happening to any more priests, because there's a whole batch who are currently trying to learn how to ignore the pain."
"This year's Choosing," Orilee realized.
Zeal nodded. "Sadly, not everyone can see me."
"But if you told the High Priest," Zevon suggested, "then couldn't that - "
Zeal cut him off. "Not everyone can see me, Zevon. I can't talk to those who don't. Rank in this temple has nothing to do with faith right now. It has to do with power, and I never left. You all simply stopped believing in me. I had to find a way to change that, and it's not something that will happen fast."
"Nariana," Konas said. "That's what you chose her for?"
"Exactly," Zeal agreed. "I needed to find someone strong enough to save me, and I have. The question is how you all can help. That is what this class is really about."
"Then should I assume you'll be a regular in here, Zeal?" Vernie asked.
"As often as you'll have me," Zeal assured her. "Hopefully, Livia will be able to see me next time, or maybe the time after, because I'm not going away again."
