A Summoner Awakens [A Card-Based GameLit Progression Fantasy]

Chapter 11 [Jason's Decision]

A young man stood beneath the prismatic sunlight that filtered through the stained glass window of one of many Liberation Chapels. This one was a small branch at the northernmost point of the Tenth Floor and attached to the Liberation Exchange stationed there. The man stared at his feet, clutching a crumpled letter tightly between his shaking hands.

"Brother..."

He clutched the letter to his chest and blinked away the tears that tried to fall. First, his youngest sister... now his younger brother? His face twisted as he pictured the men in black he saw sprinting from his family's manor the night of the fire. Jason had done his best to track them down and urged his father--Aldis--to assist, but the man had refused after hearing the ravings of Margeret--Jason's mother.

'The delusions of a distressed young man,' his mother had said when he brought up the people he'd seen. 'We all know it was your brother who started that fire. There's no point in trying to deny it. Only the Tower knows why you're always trying to protect him!'

Jason shook his head. Another "accidental" fire? It can't be a coincidence. And with Zachary's Origin Card and Enhancements... It's nearly impossible for a fire to have killed him.

"Not unless he was already dead..." The words came out slow, barely audible above the muffled voices coming from the next room. Then, as he re-read the letter, Jason was interrupted by the creak of one of the side entrances.

He looked over the rows of pews to see Julian, who was his superior despite them both having been at the Rank of Priest. Jason had only recently become a second-stage Priest, while Julian was in the third stage of his Priesthood... and well on his way to becoming a Bishop.

"Jason, shall we get started?" Julian walked gracefully around the pews, his white robes flowing gently in his wake. He was an irregularly tall man, and would have made a great Guilder if he wasn't so lanky. "We'll have our work cut out for us today. An up-and-coming Guild has pushed its way to the Tenth Floor and seeks our Blessings before confronting the Fiend. Their donation was... quite charitable. They--What's wrong, my friend?"

Julian rushed forward the last few steps and placed his hand on Jason's shoulder, stooping slightly to look into his friend's eyes. Jason watched as his senior studied him, their gazes meeting before Julian glanced at the letter still clutched tightly against his chest.

"Do I need to handle this lot on my own?" Julian asked, concerned.

Jason sighed and eased his grip on the letter, "Are you sure?"

"I am," Julian responded swiftly. "You go and have a word with the Bishop. Whatever it is, if it's enough to have you of all people so worked up, I'm sure he'll grant you leave. Just be thankful you're at this site. Not all of the top brass are so compassionate as our Bishop Lewis."

"I'll have a word with him, then," Jason took a few steps from the window before glancing back. "Thank you, Julias."

He approached the back exit, leaving Julias to handle their shared burden for the day. The door opened to reveal a long, expansive hallway. Artwork covered the walls on either side, depicting the most significant scenes from the Church of Liberation's history.

A calming aura surrounded Jason as he proceeded down the hall--an effect of the Circuits carved within the paintings-- and he studied every image as he walked by. The first painting depicted a scene of the Unknown Founder reaching up with both hands as the first gift of the Tower descended--the first Card. The second image showed a group of men with metal spears surrounding the large Fiend that spawned on the Tenth Floor.

Though he'd seen the paintings a hundred times, Jason couldn't fight the urge to admire each one. Finally, after nearly a quarter-hour had passed, he reached the last--a brilliant portrayal of the Land of Liberation at the northernmost point of the Origin Floor.

It was a beautiful city. Every building was constructed with a pearlescent white stone that could only be found on the upper Floors. However, what really stood out in this scene was the thin, purple bubble surrounding the metropolis. Jason had never seen it himself, but he'd learned through the Church's teachings that it was a barrier fueled by Essence and could ward off most dangers should they approach.

As he finished studying the artwork, the serenity created by the passage faded... and his heartache returned. Yet, the calm had helped him settle his thoughts, and he was more sure than before that there was more to Zachary's death than what the message contained. His fists once again clenched around the letter as he turned and gently rapped on the iron door leading into the Bishop's study.

After a few seconds, a harsh, firm voice blared from within, "You may enter!"

Jason grunted as he pushed against the heavy door, which opened into a spacious hexagonal room. Shelves full of books lined every wall aside from the one with the door and the one opposite, which boasted an impressively large glass window that overlooked a small, dark lake outside.

"Ahh, Jason. To what do I owe the pleasure?" A bulky man sat at a charred wooden desk situated just before the window. He placed down the tome he'd been reading and removed his monocle to look in Jason's direction. His white and gold cassock clashed against his unkempt black hair and bushy beard--both of which were unbecoming of a man of his stature. He appeared more like a grizzled veteran than a clergyman.

"Bishop Lewis." Jason walked forward confidently, stopping only to give a slight bow once he reached the desk before sitting in one of the opposing chairs. The Bishop was not one to mince words, so Jason skipped the pleasantries. "Sir, I wish to request leave to handle a family matter. As the situation is rather complicated, I can't be sure of the time I'll need to settle my affairs."

Lewis scratched at his beard before leaning forward on both elbows and looking directly into Jason's eyes. "You're a diligent member of the clergy, Jason. If you continue on your current path... you'll have no issues reaching your goal of Inquisitor within the next two years. Even one year wouldn't be an impossibility."

Jason took a deep breath, prepared to respond, but the Bishop held up a hand. "I'm not saying I find fault with your taking some time. I already know your situation and feel that I know what decision you'll make, but it didn't sit right with me not informing you of what will happen if you go through with it. So I'm granting your leave, but if it extends to more than two weeks, I'll be required to report it to this Floor's Arch-Bishop. If that happens... I can't guarantee that you'll receive a timely promotion. So, knowing this... What is your decision?"

For several moments, Jason thought over the Bishop's words. I've tried repeatedly to find out who killed Camilla, but no matter what method I used, the tracks were too covered or aged for any of the family's Relics to yield any results...

It was the whole reason he'd chosen to follow the path of an Inquisitor once he became a third-stage Priest rather than that of a Bishop. Inquisitors had the right to access many of the Church's secrets and pursue their own investigations when not directly performing a function for one of their superiors. If his search led him to being away for an extended period... his work would all be for naught.

No. Although it is my best chance, becoming an Inquisitor is not guaranteed to help me achieve my goal. First Camilla... and now Zachary... Jason gritted his teeth. This isn't an opportunity I can throw away. I'll likely never find the culprit if the tracks grow cold again.

"Thank you for your consideration, Bishop Lewis, but this is something I have to do," Jason said after steeling his resolve.

"Very well." Lewis smiled warmly. "I believe that you've made the right decision, but do hurry back. I hate to see young talent go to waste."

Almost as an afterthought, the Bishop added, "Oh, and don't fret over leaving Julian on his own. I'll head down and assist him for the day. Besides, that Guild did make a hefty donation."

Jason stood and bowed slightly--just the right angle based on the difference in their status--before turning and leaving the study. There was work to be done... and this time, he wouldn't fail.