The Return of the Almighty

Hushed whispers filled the main hall of the monastery as the morning prayers wrapped up. Rarely any commonfolk attended these considering the extremely early hour they were held at, even a few of the older priests would sometimes skip and make excuses. Aelric gathered his belongings in his small bag that all priests were required to use for carrying around their daily items ranging from the Tome of Epiphany to some common medicines to notes and pencils for various recordkeeping. He was one of the younger priests but showed such enthusiasm and devotion that he’d been allowed to lead the prayers once in a blue moon, an honor that hardly any other novice would ever get to share. Satisfied with his bag and wearing simple black robes that distinguished novice priests from higher orders, he set out about his day.

“Well done Aelric,” said Cleric Drake, his green robes swishing indicating his intermediate rank. “It’s rare, even in our dedicated order, to find one so keen and the way you handled the morning prayers today was flawless.”

Aelric bowed his head in deference to the man as was customary before looking up at Drake. “I’m just glad to be able to be part of something so much bigger than me.”

“I suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Cleric Drake laughed, clapping Aelric on the back. “Your great grandfather was the Pontiff for so long, perhaps you inherited it from him.”

“Maybe so sir,” Aelric replied, the mention of his great grandfather bringing a cloud to his face. “I just wish great grandfather Lucan was in a better condition and able to see me doing my best.”

Cleric Drake nodded sympathetically. “Son unfortunately time is that which is unkillable and yet kills all, Lucan lived a long life and I am glad he’s resting now whatever his mental state may be.”

“I suppose only our Lord Seraphon must be immune to time,” Aelric replied, trying to change topics. “Though I’m not sure if it’s worth it to be locked in battle with Morvak.”

Cleric Drake’s eyes widened and he brought his finger up to his mouth, shushing him. “Boy don’t say the Dark One's name in these consecrated grounds.”

Aelric instantly felt shame and nodded vigorously. “Sorry Cleric,” he said quickly. “I was rereading the passages about their eternal Contest before sleeping and so it was on my mind.”

“That’s alright son,” Cleric Drake replied. “Run along with your activities now, I look forward to seeing you in green eventually, may our lord Seraphon return to us soon.”

“May our lord Seraphon return to us soon,” Aelric replied, perking up at the mention of moving up the order, although pride around ranks was shunned there was no avoiding the benefits. He could be more involved with higher decisions and further help people. Grabbing his bag he walked as quickly and yet as quietly as he could through the monastery and headed outside breathing in the cool autumn air. The leaves were already turning orange on many trees and falling off, crunching under his step as he headed for the House of Physicians.

The scent of sickness and decay greeted him immediately as he passed the doors to the small two storey building where the first floor was used to treat illnesses that weren’t life threatening and the second was used to handle patients suffering from worse. The priests varied who visited the hospital to make sure all the initiates gained experience in dealing with people who were struggling with their health. Aelric didn’t enjoy this as much as the next task on his list for the day but he knew it had to be done. Some of the patients also seemed to recognize him and liked his presence and he couldn’t let them down.

The physicians saw him enter and paid no mind as he darted through the lower floor and dashed up the stairs. The more severe cases were of course more important to address first and he reached old man James who lay on his bed phasing in and out of consciousness.

“Back again, Aelric? I just saw you a few minutes ago,” James said feebly. Aelric sat down on the chair beside the bed.

“Just had some free time so I thought why not,” Aelric lied, he didn’t have the heart to tell the man that he last saw him a week ago.

“What even is the point here?” James sighed. “ I am dying of some strange illness after years of devotion, I just don’t understand.”

Aelric pulled out the Tome but James waved it away in annoyance. “Well James let’s not forget that while your suffering may have been for a few years, our Lord has been locked in combat with the Dark One for thousands of years for our sake.”

James rolled his eyes. “So what? It doesn’t really help my situation now does it lad?”

“I think if our Lord can suffer for so long, we too can suffer for a short period of time,” Aelric explained, as he had many times. “And one day when he wins the Contest, Seraphon will return to us in a shower of golden light, flowers will bloom around him, he will heal illnesses by just a wave of his hand.”

James was quiet now paying rapt attention to the story. He seemed to forget it despite being regularly told it over and over again, but luckily Aelric was a very patient man.

“So have hope, for if he does not heal you in this life then I am sure he will in the next,” Aelric finished before digging into the medicine box nearby repeating the drill taught by the physicians. “Now it’s time for you to take your medicine and rest.”

Once James took his medicine and slowly dozed off, there wasn’t much left to do here since the other patients were also sleeping. “Thank the Lord,” Aelric whispered to himself making his way out of the hospital.

The city was teeming with activity as he hustled over to the Dispute Resolution Centre, already there was a winding lineup of citizens with complaints and it fell to the Church to resolve many of them. Aelric got to work immediately, listening to the pleas of everyone diligently and helping them as best as he could. This was what he enjoyed, it was easy to cut through all the noise and narrow down people’s problems and just offer reasonable solutions. The clock ticked away and much of the day was gone before he even noticed. Satisfied with a job well done, he headed over to monitor the fields around the monastery to ensure all the vegetables and fruits were in the ideal condition.

As he noted down his observations, something felt off. Despite it being the evening there was an unnatural brightness emanating all the way from the town center off in the distance. The air itself felt calmer than usual and a feeling of relief enveloped him. What is going on? he wondered to himself.

A messenger ran up to the monastery out of breath and red faced panting, he paused to catch his breath outside and Aelric was unable to control his curiosity. “Messenger what is going on?”

The man huffed for a few moments before finally straightening his back. “HE HAS RETURNED!! OUR LORD SERAPHON HAS JOINED US!!!”

***

Months had passed since the grand revelation of the Lord descending, triumphant from his contest. All the doubters had been silenced after seeing all the miracles the Lord performed quite regularly. He visited towns and cities alike doing his best to help those who needed it the most. Aelric was grateful that his prayers had been answered and he could see this day in his own lifetime after so many years of waiting.

Old man James walked up to him with a spring in his step. “Heading over to the Dispute Resolution Centre boy? Don’t work too hard now!”

Aelric smiled as the man walked away feeling better than he had months ago, and it was all thanks to the Lord. His responsibilities as novice priest hadn’t changed much besides the addition of monitoring the harvest. The Lord had decreed that all towns and cities must gather a specific number of sheep, cows and goats along with a certain amount of gold and silver as well as other precious metals mined through grueling labor. Towns and cities all over the world were doing the harvest and were required to gather all these materials to specific locations across the globe. Seraphon promised that it was necessary to make the world into paradise.

“It’s still hard to believe that it’s finally happening,” Aelric said to his fellow acolyte Revin while they sorted through the disputes. “The Lord is here!”

“I know, and he even healed my grandparents,” Revin said shuffling some paperwork. “Did you ask him to help your great grandfather Lucan?”

Aelric shook his head. “The miracles require consent and Lucan was completely opposed, though I don’t know if he even understands what’s going on around him.”

The last of the disputes were dealt with and once he had checked the harvest that was to be gathered in their monastery Aelric arranged a plate of food and made his way over to the back where the priests lived. Lucan had his own room slightly separate from the others, it was more for their sake than his with the mad ravings of the man. He sat on his bed staring off into the distance, a confused and disheveled man. To think he had commanded the Church as Pontiff years ago, it was surreal seeing him like this now.

“Grandfather, I’ve brought your food again,” Aelric said putting the plate down and sitting down beside the man. Thankfully he wasn’t having one of his strange fits again.

“You know Aelric there’s still so much to teach you,” Lucan replied in a surprising moment of lucidity. “What my master taught me was never meant to be written down and only passed down orally to the apprentice.”

Aelric motioned to the plate. “We can get to that but you need your strength so do eat up please.”

Lucan reached for the plate hesitating before slowly eating away at the food, sitting in silence with his great grandson. Once he was finished Aelric took the plate and left some extra water nearby.

“Wait son, there are secrets!” Lucan said grabbing Aelric’s arm. “Secrets that aren’t common knowledge anymore!”

Aelric gently removed the madman’s hand and helped tuck him in so he fell asleep soundly. The Lord had returned, miracles were being performed, the harvest was going well in all towns according to messengers. The world would become a paradise and hopefully Lucan would be healed too. Only a few more days of harvesting left.

***

Seraphon stood in front of the harvest gathered at the monastery, the largest in the world examining it carefully. He had a glow to him and a grace to his movements that was otherworldly. There was no way to look at this man without realizing he is much more than a man.

“Yes we are ready,” his voice spoke directly into their minds. “The ritual will begin soon, paradise awaits us now that the great evil has been vanquished!”

Cheers went up from the priests and townspeople gathered around to watch. Everyone across the world had arranged their harvest at specific locations, Seraphon was here because it was the most bountiful.

Cleric Drake stepped next to Aelric whispering in his ear. “We managed to get him onto the wheeled chair like you asked, he did resist at first but he gave in eventually.”

Aelric shook the man’s hand and bowed solemnly. “Thank you, you don’t realize how much this means to me.”

Drake motioned and two novice priests rolled up a wheeled chair where Lucan was seated looking around bewildered. “What is going on son?”

“Grandfather see our lord has returned,” Aelric motioned to Seraphon who had begun chanting and focusing on the harvest. “You didn’t leave your room at all when I first told you or in any of the months after but today I had to make you see.”

Lucan squinted his eyes at Seraphon and the noticed the harvest behind him. Instead of appearing joyful he seemed aghast. The ancient man started struggling in his chair. “What have you done? You fools!”

Aelric knelt next to him hoping to calm the man down. “Grandpa what do you mean?”

“Aelric,” Lucan breathed heavily, struggling to speak. “This was in the secret knowledge that I was meant to give you.”

“What do you mean?” Aelric looked at him with confusion and fear filled his voice.

“Cows, goats, sheep, silver, gold, precious metals are not used for by Seraphon,” Lucan explained quickly.

A loud laughter rang out from Seraphon and began filling the monastery, a haunting sound that didn’t match their Lord.

“The winner of the Contest gets the powers of the loser and can do all the things the loser could do,” Lucan continued as the maniacal laughter got louder and louder.

Aelric finally connected the dots. “Seraphon never won… Morvak won and used the absorbed powers to trick us.”

“Yes boy!” Lucan grunted. “The ritual won’t create paradise, it’s meant to end the worl-”

He never finished his sentence, for in that next moment Morvak was done casting the spell.

The world ended.