Somewhere in the back, a movement caught Arbour's eye. It seemed like.. a swish of a tail? When their gaze finally returned to the hall as a whole, a familiar silhouette was sitting in the front row.
Author's figure towered over the rows upon rows of pews. Their paws, only two of them for the moment, were on their knees. Their posture was proper, as if they were simply one of the visitors, awaiting a sermon. Nothing more, nothing less.
The god's gaze drilled into Arbour expectantly. They nodded slightly as a manner of greeting, but not a word left their mouth. They awaited.
rp starter - sermon || @write-like-its-goin-out-of-style
The recognition of the movement was instant - Author's face was the only one she'd had the blessing of seeing during her six hundred years on that damned dock - and Arbour's gaze followed it, returning to the sanctuary after a moment and meeting the god's eyes. Their attention weighed on her shoulders, a presence she was so familiar with. It didn't suffocate, unlike some of the other Councilmen's might have. No. Theirs held her steady, just as it had when they'd visited her in limbo. A buoy in the thrashing waves of her mind. A stone to hold onto against the current.
Her shoulders rose and fell in a deep breath as she let her eyes fall to the empty pedestal before her, the book that had once rested there for her to preach from long gone. Stolen, probably. Maybe burnt, or shredded. Drowned, even. Those were potentials she didn't want to think about.
"Readily approaching us comes a day of solstice and rejoicing, the anniversary of You bringing us and the terrain beneath our feet into reality. Thus, we shall celebrate in Your name, for it is You we have to thank for our humble existence."
Her hands tightened on the edges of the podium. Something in her chest wrenched tight, earning a silent grimace from her as her head fell for a few beats. None of this was right. Prime had abandoned her. Left her for dead. Why was she worshipping Them now? Why, when They had discarded her, acted as if she had meant nothing to Them, after all she had done for Them? After devoting her life, her very being to Them and Their name?
Worship. Fall to your knees and beg. Beg for Their acknowledgement and Their forgiveness, for you are sinful. Ugly and worthless.
Arbour's voice gained an edge as she forced the thoughts out of her head. Praise. Worship. Her hand raised to the heavens, as if addressing Prime themself in those familiar chants. Her voice echoed through the church just as it had so many times before... And yet, it still felt unfamiliar. Alien, even.
"Lord Prime has taken notice of our worship, and They smile upon us. We must prove to Them our gratitude for the approaching day of celebration. I pray to see you gathered at the approaching festival with clasped hands and merry voices. Blessed be."
The smile that had found its way onto her face slid away as the sermon tapered off into nothing. Normally the church would have exploded into conversation after those closing words were spoken, worshipers murmuring with excitement about the celebration. Making plans. Her brothers and sisters in Their name.
But no. This time, the Church of Prime fell into an oppressive silence.
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