72 - Shadows

Theo followed Francis, as they made their way through brightly lit marble corridor after slightly-differently-lit marble corridor. It seemed that every piece of stained glass portrayed another scene (if not another God). There were no two that were the same, and Theo had the memory to make sure of that these days (even if some would consider it a wasteful way of using a second tier internal magic).

A silence had coagulated between the two of them, Francis visibly uncomfortable following his interaction with the other priests. Which, admittedly, Theo found odd. “I’m not used to a College having this many people milling about on a Fesday night. Song has people around the Arts Exchange, but that’s it. And I didn’t see many people around at War and Spells when I was there.” He rambled on, filling the air as much as the light from the stained glass.

“Do you think priests are out drinking? We’re here doing work while you all slack off.” Francis snipped back. It had the bitterness of responsibility borne willingly but unhappily, an unprompted burden that they still tried to carry as best as they could.

Theo felt the sting as Francis lashed out, and tried not to flinch. He failed, and he wasn’t sure if Francis noticed but it wasn’t out of the question.

Francis sighed and almost immediately apologised, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Sorry, sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Theo lied, patting his shoulder. He was a little hurt, but he knew that Francis seemed very distressed just moments ago and was more than likely on edge.

“Being in large groups of people makes me uncomfortable. Especially when there are so many talking at the same time.” Francis explained, which was no surprise to Theo. However, it did help him remember why he had been so adamant in his refusal to go to Rowena’s Ball.

“Fair enough.” Theo paused, uncertain how to approach that.

He eventually decided on support. “if you change your mind about Rowena’s Ball, I completely understand.” He added, with as gentle a smile as he could muster.

Francis returned it. “I…I think it would be good for me to participate in more social activities. Especially if, as mentioned, I am under no obligation to socialise more than I have capacity for.” He paused, coming to an intersection at the end of the hallway.

Theo nodded, checking the Coins of Unity and where they were. “Right. I mean, go left, but right as in I understand.” He stammered.

Francis chuckled in response, which Theo counted as a win. His frozen body language unthawed, more someone who wore too few layers than the ice sculpture he was before. Still uncomfortable, but alive at least.

Once more they walked in silence, but a much more comfortable one than the previous. The current corridor was rather long. Theo entertained himself with trying to guess which God would be in the next stained glass ceiling light. There had been no pattern so far, sometimes repeating, other times alternating between a few.

“It’s how we distribute food to all those who need it.” Francis opened up, eventually. “Natureborn such as myself grow and nurture crops, which are harvested and then distributed by others. As a rule, most priests don’t drink or indulge in vice, so Fesday night is a good time for us to operate.”

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Theo made a mental note to ask if that was a requirement, or just something that just tended to happen with the kinds of people who joined the College of Prayer.

“Except for priests of Gilth. They encourage the consumption and indulgence of anything that gives joy.” Theo removed that mental note and threw it aside as Francis continued. “Even then, it isn’t compulsory, and it is very much frowned upon to consume to excess past the point of enjoyment. Either way, they work as hard as the rest of us.”

Of course the God of art and passion wasn’t averse to a couple drinks. Theo sent out a quick prayer, thankful that his God of choice let him drink.

The spark of mana drifted up, and as he craned his neck up to watch it disappear, he noticed Francis surreptitiously looking in the same direction.

“As I might have, uh, previously mentioned,” Francis coughed, clearing his throat, “we are unable to provide enough food to eliminate hunger, but we are able to provide enough that nobody in Union City will starve.” Theo thought back to his childhood, all the messy kids running around, scrounging together whatever food they could grab.

“That is another reason that Fesday is an opportune time for us to provide what we can. Chenday and Fesday. Most of those who would have a problem with us providing free food are drinking and otherwise preoccupied at this time.” There was a pause, and Theo was tempted to interject, but he squashed that instinct.

Francis was starting to remind Theo of some of the stray cats that lived around the Outskirts. They were uncomfortable with lots of people around, but if you were patient they could relax and be comfortable around you. He hoped Francis didn’t bite the same way (he certainly didn’t smell).

“It shames me that we must hide our actions and skirt around the sensibilities of those who are selfish.” He quickly added, “I am not saying we do what we do for praise or renown. Merely that I do not think the duty we undertake is shameful.”

Francis laughed to himself, a wry dry chuckle. “How ironic that the most virtuous action happens in shadow.” He seemed dismissive of it, which irritated Theo for some reason.

As they walked through another corridor, Francis continued. “We balance the benefit of feeding those who cannot survive otherwise with the potential fallout from the merchant and noble sectors. As much as I wish we could simply ignore them, we have to ensure that we will not inflame tensions or give reason for them to treat the vulnerable any worse than they are already. And thus our current predicament. More like rats and cockroaches flinching from the light, than the light itself.”

Francis shook his head. “I think it’s good, actually.” Francis paused, looking over at Theo, inquisitive with an almost morbid curiosity, fascinated with such an alien opinion.

Theo continued. “Yes, nobody really realises the scope of what you do. Hell, I was one of the kids who grew up on that food, and I didn’t think twice about it. But I think it helped. We grew up alright, but we were still wary, especially of strangers. The fact you all tried to hide it a little bit made it feel more… genuine. If you came in, clean and holy and untouchable like the light you wanted, none of us would have trusted you.”

The look on Francis’ face was hard to describe. It was a mix of realisation and relief, and confusion and offence.

“Plus, like you said, it’s not for fame or anything. You do good work, and that’s the important part.” Theo smiled, as he looked down at the map projected from the Coins held in his hand. “And we’ve found it.”

They stopped in the middle of the hallway, between a heavy stone door, and a small alcove that seemed to contain cleaning supplies.

Francis walked towards the door, and once he reached it he realised that Theo wasn’t following him. He turned around.

Theo was smiling, holding the Coins up as he ducked into the alcove, beckoning Francis to follow.

It had been a long trip through winding halls (longer than necessary, almost), but the blinking dots on the map had converged.

They’d found the next chest.