The First Test

A week passed at a swift pace for Henri. Reports and orders filled with lessons and monitoring. It was the fastest time had moved for him. At least, as far as he thought about it. Speed did him no favors. Miss Sophia showed minor degrees of improvement from his monitoring, but not enough to give him confidence for today. His only relief was that she didn’t have to be perfect, just not make a large blunder. Which still seemed very likely with how she broke down under pressure.

If she could make it through the brief meeting with the High Priest, they would have more time to prepare her for the official announcement. The High Priest and Church tied themselves closely with the Saint and would have made their lives difficult if they didn’t get to see the Saint before the public. It was mostly a formality. Nothing would change from the meeting. But it was important all the same as he impressed upon Miss Sophia. The first impressions would write much of their future.

Miss Ophelia gave him assurances that it would work out. She had spent more time with the woman than he had after the first day. So maybe she saw something that he missed. He would just have to trust in their word, even as part of him silently gripped his hand on the corner of the seat.

For now, they invited the High Priest quietly into the castle. It might have become an open secret within the company of the knights and staff, they still kept what they could out of sight. Secretly wouldn’t last for long. And Henri did look forward to that day. The suddenness of the whole situation sent plans spiraling out of control.

It was a simple room, though more decorated than the halls given its status for an audience of ambassadors, merchants, nobles or royalty. There were a few of similar designs as this, but the room was the most understated of them. Reserved for merchants or ambassadors, the furnishings held the traditional royal colors of green. The wood came in warm tans polished to a fine reflection. A couple of landscape paintings of Eulire filled the large wall with an unlit fireplace opposite. If required, a desk and table waited on the ends and extra seating.

The warm inviting atmosphere that the maids tirelessly worked to present became muted from the presence of the High Priest Gherald Vestner. A large man fat on the wealth of the entire kingdom’s loyal followers of Euthemia. For some modesty, he didn’t present with polished gold or jewels as some clergy he witnessed in his travels to neighboring nations. But his bright blue robes of Euthemia were pure as water and stitched in silver. Even if he didn’t adorn himself in wealth, he still might have been.

The two men quickly stared at each other, already having given their polite pleasantries as the most civility they would allow the other. It was just a wait for the Saint to appear. Gherald had nothing to speak to Henri about. And his visit today would be limited, despite many protests.

After ten minutes of waiting, the door finally opened upon a knock. They both stood in greeting the expected Saint. Henri walked closer to the door making sure she met him first. He could only imagine how nervous the woman had to be. Commoners never met the High Priest in person and she had to present far higher than her station. ‘Let’s just make it through the hour…’

Walking in carefully, Miss Sophia approached him carrying a small manufactured smile that accompanied a striking blue and white dress. He had seen it selected but never worn. It paired well with her soft almond hair finally tamed by Miss Ophelia’s effort. Had she been a noble, far more pomp and flair would have been put into the presentation, but wisely her maid kept her modest and simply stated. A refined and elegant, but pure and quiet Saintly image. One that the High Priest would find pleasing and wouldn’t distance her from the citizens.

He saw her in a rough and disheveled appearance so often that the magic didn’t need to help give a glow to her that had been absent. Miss Ophelia worked well. He needed a moment to catch himself remembering that this was still the conscripted student that collapsed under a raindrop.

Impressively, he didn’t see a flinch from her as she stepped into the room. There was an air of grace, though lacking in perfect clarity, the gulf of improvement from what he witnessed questioned if she was even the same woman he saw accidentally destroying the Mage Jolsi’s room or crumpling under another tripped foot. ‘She might actually pull it off.’

Though as Henri let the moment wear off, he noticed there was a very subtle moving of her lips. For anyone else, they might not have noticed anything more than slightly heavy breathing. But he recognized the rhythm and shape. She was repeating those strange words again. The Sophia he remembered was still in there, but she held up admirably. The question just remained how’d that would last for the whole meeting. She had to speak. She couldn’t mumble words through her conversation with the High Priest.

Stress didn’t disappear, even if she eased it. It would just have to continue. Henri stepped back, directing her towards the High Priest. “High Priest Gherald, the newly chosen Saint Sophia Therodis.” Polite greeting gestures were exchanged before any words.

He was relieved to see that the man had some degree of propriety. Though his eyes couldn’t hide the calculations already being made. “Ah, the Saint Sophia! It’s so wonderful to finally meet you.” They started to approach, but Sophia straightened up a little as the Veil around her flared brighter. It was enough to make him pause.

“High Priest Gherald Vestner. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to meet. First Prince Henri has been familiarizing myself with all of my changes.”

“But of course. Hearing Euthemia speak to you had to be a transcendent moment of awe for you.”

“It was certainly overwhelming.”

Henri nodded slightly seeing that she was able to keep up so far and not stumble. It gave him hope for the rest of the hour. A small gesture to the seating, he walked around to the end of the table and sat. For the sake of appearances, he needed to remain neutral. Miss Sophia took to the couch while Gherald sat opposite of her.

“You must have many questions.”

“More than can be counted, but everyone has been very kind in explaining what I lack.”

Gherlad held a placid face without a wrinkle moving, but his eyes glanced over at Henri for a moment. A momentary betrayal of his thoughts, but not enough to grasp. “Naturally, as the foremost servant of Euthemia and Church, you can come to me for any questions they are ill-equipped to answer.”

Watching Miss Sophia carefully, Henri could see there being a small break in the combled together facade. In the end, she managed a smile for the High Priest. “I’m grateful to have so many knowledgeable individuals to aid me.”

“You are the shining hope of the kingdom. We support you as you support us.”

“Yes. The citizens want for the Saint.”

“You can hear it then. We care for many sick and diseased souls wishing for salvation. Salvation that only you, Saint Sophia can provide. The Goddess has given you a duty to answer. You are needed in the clinics.”

He felt the pressure of the words that Gherald applied with each sentence and punctuated the end. During the reign of the previous King, the health of the kingdom improved to a level that hadn’t been seen before. Through the services of the three Saints during his rule, they dutifully visited villages and towns through the kingdom tending all manner of ailment and injury. The people knew a life that they hadn’t experienced.

The Church run clinics became heavily relied upon so that the Saint didn’t have to go house to house or miss someone. Anyone that needed help went to the church. And the Saint would see them. He read accounts of the Saints staying days exhausted from the visits. And the Church pressed to the next needy town in want of the Saint. A neverending job that left them with less than a personal life and tied publicly to the Church.

Even now without the Saint, the clinics still took in those desperate for aid. The clergy could only do so much to tend to the ailing citizens. Some picked up a degree of medicine or apothecary knowledge to support those suffering. But it always ended in one statement.

‘When would the Saint return?’

“I will visit, High Priest. But there hasn’t even been a public announcement yet. And I’m still learning the necessary spells. The First Prince and King have been supporting and guiding me. When they feel I’m ready we can discuss visiting the clinics.”

“Saint Sophia, it is the Church and the faithful that have held to the teachings of Euthemia and can provide support in this time of uncertainty for you. We have the records of the past Saints to guide you.”

“I’m not excluding your aid. But for now, until the announcement it would be unwise.”

“We have been following the Saint for centuries. We have the wisdom that you need, Saint Sophia. It was the Church and Priest Herald who found the ties of the Silver Ivy Plague that let the Saint finally eradicate it once and for all. You need our support in these early steps.”

While she had been holding well against the pressures the High Priest kept applying, even Henri could see it was starting to bend her. He saw the shaking in her hand coming back and the darting glances. It was a lot to ask of her within only a week. Gherald had the entire history of the Church to back his words. Even if they were self interested. They were difficult to challenge.

Henri leaned a step forward prepared as he had to intervene with this authority if it became too much. She didn’t need to bare it all. But before he could step in, everything about her cleared up. The straightened and proper posture returned like she had been given new life through a spell. Something changed in her. He watched closely.

“High Priest Gherald. That accounting is not correct. Saint Orphis was a practiced apothecary and hunter before being selected. He used his knowledge of herbs and plants to be able to determine the source. He spread this to the Church so that they could rapidly stave off the toxic growth.”

The man always had a quick, almost striking reply back to her at each word. Yet this time, his tongue finally became caught, stuck in something that he didn’t count on. Henri almost found himself grinning, if he hadn’t kept his composure. The High Priest recovered quickly enough. “The Church’s records are quite clear, Saint Sophia. I would know what happened.”

“You may not be aware, High Priest Gherald, but before becoming the Saint I was a student at the Academy. And my field of research was the history of the Saints and the ancient language of Sulish. The Academy holds the same records gifted by the Church for our studies. I’ve read them many times. I too would know what happened. They were quite enlightening reads, especially about the help the Church provided to Saint Orphis. I could recount them for you as well. My memory is keen.”

“No, that won’t be necessary, Saint Sophia. I’ve read all of the tomes in the care of the Church. At my age, it is a lot of retain. I must have confused it for another.”

“But of course.”

The meeting continued at a much more casual pace as the High Priest found that his efforts wouldn't work. Henri was pleased to see her hold against him. Though it was certainly selective. Had Gherald known her better, he would have had better luck in breaking her. It was a relief he didn’t. They prepared her the best they could, but it still wasn’t enough. She wasn’t really for the court or Church.

An hour passed quickly and with little settled. It was what they coached her on. As much as he wanted to interrupt for her, he knew the High Priest would use his position to fight down any attempts by him. They would keep leveraging their close ties over the royal family for rights over the Saint. Gherald could try to make the claim he was trying to stop the Saint from helping the citizens by interfering with the Church. He could only squeeze his fist watching it.

But they finally gave farewells to the old man. The tension in the air finally dropped. Though Miss Sophia immediately crumpled into the corner of the room with only Henri present. “Ust. Hui. Feur. Bauve.” She was at it again.

Henri carefully approached the tiny shaking ball of blue. Her dress almost entirely swallowed her up with her burying herself. “You did well, Miss Sophia. Miss Ophelia will be pleased.” It took a little more coaxing to get her to peel out of her shell. The stress she had to be feeling through the whole thing, he wondered how she managed it.

“That was far too scary!”

“But you held together.” She only gave a shaky nod. “The High Priest is a trying individual.”

“The High Priest could use a diet and donate his meals to the starving.” It came out of her so fast and natural without any hesitation. And then promptly when she realized what she said, she collapsed again. Though this time he swore she managed to break her bones. He hadn’t seen her get that small before.

He coughed and choked a little as a small smile came over him. He tried to hold it back, but he broke his stoic mold letting out a surprising laugh. It consumed him for several moments before Henri saw that Miss Sophia was looking at him confused. He groaned and pulled himself back into control. “You’ll be quite fine with that energy. Get some rest.”

Henri started to go for the door, but paused while she pulled herself together. “One thing, Miss Sophia. You made remarkable progress. It wasn’t perfect, but it was far better than the practices I saw. What changed?”

“I asked Miss Ophelia for some books. I remembered I don’t do well in lectures, but if I read it I can recall it better.”

“You just need books…” She almost bounced forward with energetic glee as she nodded. This was a far different woman from the one trying to flee from her barbs over breakfast. He remembered anytime books came up she turned in this child-like figure. “Then a reward.”

“Reward?”

“Yes. The public announcement is soon and you’ll be expected to speak to the citizens.” She immediately started shaking like he was ringing her himself.

“I-I can’t, in front of thousands!”

“That’s why it’ll be a reward. Clear with no mistakes and I’ll grant you the privilege of reading a book from the royal library.”

The fear disappeared in an instant as she jumped almost in his face. They were barely a hand’s width apart. “Truly? Your Highness would let me read from your library! Anything I want?”

“Of course.”

“I’ve tried for a year to get the Headmaster to petition for access for even five minutes! I’ll do it! I’ll be the perfect Saint!” She then bolted to join Tolen and Noan. A spring her step followed with the two knights looking on and back at the First Prince in confusion.

She was motivated.