The situation in the capital of Roveaven seemed a chaos of rumors. The whispered words from mouth to mouth spread as slightly as the disease itself. The repercussion of the rumors turned the temple into a completely chaotic place.
The commoners who were afflicted by the unknown disease stood on a line of disbelief and despair. While they blamed the temple for spreading the disease, they knelt at the feet of the priests begging to be treated. With the help of the Emperor, the plebeians were being treated, but hostility toward the priests was only growing.
"I recommend that you stay here and do not leave, Priest Skyler" commented a vicar with a worried face "Our acolytes are helping the court's doctors to care for the sick, but these poor souls are being criticized."
Skyler stood motionless staring at the High Priest bedridden before him. The old man who always cared for him now looked pale and sick, and could easily die at any moment. Clenching his fingers, Skyler could only feel more and more imposing.
"Are you blaming me? I have never been hostile to His Holiness, I have always followed him faithfully... how can you believe such an unfounded rumor?"
"I understand how frustrating you must feel, young man. For us, who live with you, we know that you would never be able to do something so evil" The vicar squeezed Skyler's shoulder, trying to give some comfort to the boy who was increasingly frustrated "But for those who are outside, a sigh can be misunderstood."
"Haa... Did these rumours begin to spread because I assumed the duties of His Holiness temporarily?"
"We believe so. Although His Majesty the Emperor has made it clear that it was an imperial order that someone take care of the affairs of the Temple. Many plebeians sighed accordingly and relieved, but I believe that disbelief and the spread of such rumours may have come from the nobility."
Skyler opened an incredulous smile. Of course it would come from the high nobility. The nobles wanted the temple's power, which had the support of the commoners. The current situation left the temple in a difficult position. The relationship that used to be strong became shaky, and the nobles would take advantage of it to conquer the people and diminish the power of faith.
Unfortunately, Skyler had nothing to do. With the High Priest sick and bedridden, and without the Saint's presence, Skyler needed to take care of urgent matters alone. If he left the main building of the temple, he would be criticized. But if he hid, he would also be criticized.
"If His Holiness could awaken..."
Knocking on the door interrupted the conversation. A young altar boy opened the door and peeped into the room, noticing the heavy atmosphere. He just raised the envelope by displaying it to Skyler.
"P-Priest, a letter arrived for you."
Skyler stood up from the chair and approached the acolyte. Being close enough, he recognized the seal on the envelope. The coat of arms of the most powerful family, below the Emperor. Immediately he opened the seal and withdrew the letter.
The beautiful writing on that letter paper described direct words. It seemed a disguised order.
"Ha... it seems that His Grace is bored to the point of thinking that I will fall for a cheap trick."
The vicar observed Skyler's reaction to reading the letter, realizing that his frustration and disbelief increased as he reached the end of the letter. The curiosity about what was written was great, but the vicar would not dare to question the content when he saw Skyler put it back inside the envelope.
"Something happened to Saint?"
"No. But it seems that the temple owes a favor to the Grimwood" Skyler sighed and smiled with some sadness "I think His Holiness will give me a hard time when he wakes up."
The vicar tilted his head in confusion, but promptly followed Skyler's orders. From that day on, Skyler took the lead in temple affairs, which included public appearances.
Skyler was known as the chosen to be the next High Priest. Thanks to his divine gift and high affinity in reading oracles, he was a widely known figure throughout the Empire. Now with his reputation tarnished, his public appearances were filled with hostility and cruel words.
Over the next few days, Skyler took charge of caring for the sick and medical research. He made recurring reports to the Emperor and also led purification rituals. He assumed the post of Acting High Priest with more conviction, fueling rumors about him.
The absence of the Saint and the High Priest fueled such rumors. Skyler was seen alone with only the priests.
All according to the plan of Magnus Grimwood.
_____________________________________________
A few weeks later: Seyan Sea - Baydenn port
The revolted sea reflected the grey sky, foreshadowing the battle that was approaching. Rayland adjusted his naval coat as he watched the horizon from the deck of his ship, The Raven of Waves, the most imposing vessel in his fleet. Beside him, Dahlia, the Second Princess of Roveaven and now his wife, stood firm, though a visible tension runs through her face.
"It's them, Captain!" shouted the lookout from the top of the main mast, pointing to the red and black sails of Geledel's ships approaching in close formation.
Rayland raised the telescope and watched the enemy line with sharp eyes. The heavy sky and inclement waves seemed to wait for the first charge, as disguised accomplices, attentive to the movement of both fleets.
"Merchant ships, sure, but look at those reinforced sails, you can see even from here. They're equipped with bigger guns than normal ones." He smiled at Dahlia, who looked toward their enemies with a mixture of fear and defiance. "It's a disguised gift they brought us, an opportunity to show what a true captain can do."
Dahlia gave him a determined but cautious look.
"Are you sure we can beat them? They are fast, have heavy weapons, and Geledel doesn't save on resources when it comes to smuggling."
Rayland shrugged with a characteristic confidence.
"My princess, if I wasn't sure, I would never have promised you this evening of fun."
A drum sounded from the ship ahead, signaling the beginning of the battle. Rayland's crew, made up of seasoned veterans and young sailors eager to prove their worth, began to organize. The craftsmen checked the cannons and gunpowder barrels, while the sailors prepared the nets to prevent the attacks of the opponents.
"Bring the red flags! And raise the starboard cannons!" Rayland shouted, his voice being carried away by the sharp winds. "Ready to strike? Remember, boys, this is not a simple battle; it's the defense of our own sovereignty!"
The Raven of the Waves advanced in front of the pirate fleet of Rayland, which followed in a perfect "V", cutting the waters like sharp blades. The imminent impact was palpable, and everyone from the deck to the bottom of the ship was prepared for confrontation.
"Come closer!" Rayland shouted, his eyes sparking with excitement.
Geledel's first ship, loaded with goods and armed mercenaries, advanced towards the Raven of the Waves. The crew of Rayland was prepared, but the opposing ship made the first shot, a cannon that exploded a few meters from the hull, making the ship swing with the impact.
"Damn... Already so anxious? All right, boys, show them how the sea belongs to us!" Rayland shouted as he adjusted his sheathed sword, waiting for the right moment to attack.
The Raven's cannons resonated in response, throwing incandescent iron balls directly into the bow of the enemy ship. The sound was deafening, and the fragments of wood and metal flew through the air as the enemy ship's bow broke apart, leaving an opening.
"Excellent shot, boys! Now, focus on the rear!"
Dahlia watched the battle, her hands firmly holding the railing, but the determined gleam in her eyes left no doubt that she trusted the man beside her. Rayland smiled, observing her expression.
"You didn't think I was going to put you on some ship, did you, princess?" he asked, his voice charged with an ironic challenge.
Another rumbling shot exploded near the ship, and Geledel's second ship positioned itself, throwing harpoons and nets to trap the Raven of the Waves. Rayland looked at Dahlia with a mischievous smile, then drew his sword.
"All men, get ready for the next fight! Let's show them how we treat intruders!"
The pirates of Rayland responded with fierce excitement. As the harpoons' ropes stretched, Geledel's men began to jump onto the Raven's deck. On board, Rayland led his sailors in a brutal defense, his sword cutting through the air and taking down one enemy after another. He moved with a lethal agility, and his men, encouraged by the captain's presence, kept control of the deck.
"Princess!" he shouted between blows, observing Dahlia who now found herself with a dagger in her hands, confronting an approaching adversary. "I think it's time to show your Roveaven side!"
She nodded and advanced, stabbing the opponent with precision and determination. The man fell to the ground, and she took a deep breath, regaining her balance.
"Don't underestimate a princess in the field, Rayland. I'm here to win as much as you are."
He laughed, pulling her to the center of the deck as more of Geledel's men kept coming up. The battle went on fiercely, and Rayland's pirate crew demonstrated skill and loyalty to the captain. They were outnumbered, but Rayland's strategy and his maritime experience were in their favor.
Suddenly, a scream of the watchman cut the air:
"Captain! Ships left! There are enemy reinforcements!"
Rayland turned around, observing three additional ships of Geledel approaching rapidly. He clenched his fist and looked at Dahlia, who looked at him with a determined expression.
"If they want war, we'll give it to them" he said, looking at his wife. "But let's do it our way."
"I'm with you, Rayland" she replied, confident despite the visible anxiety.
He shouted orders for his fleet to adjust and form an arc, focusing his shots on the newly arrived vessels. The enemy ships, taken by surprise by the accuracy of Rayland's guns, hesitated, retreating to rearrange.
"Now! Prepare the fire nets!"
At the command of Rayland, the crew threw oil-soaked nets into the sea and then set them on fire with torches. The water seemed to burn in flames, encircling Geledel's ships and making an immediate escape impossible. Rayland and Dahlia's crew watched as the flames isolated enemy vessels.
"What a masterpiece, Rayland... "Dáhlia muttered, surprised by the intensity of the attack.
"It is a gift for fools who dared to challenge a man of the sea, my princess" he replied, pulling her close. "Now we just need to watch them fight to escape their own trap."
Geledel's men, cornered and unable to escape the flames, desperately tried to put out the fires in their own boats. Chaos reigned among the opposing fleet, and Rayland took the opportunity to launch a final attack.
With a nod, he ordered the fleet to advance, and the crew, taken by a fervor of victory, attacked the remaining ships. Rayland held Dahlia by the shoulder, guiding her to the stern, as the fighting continued intensely around them.
"The victory is ours, but this battle has just begun, dear" he whispered in her ear. "The sea now knows the power of Captain Rayland, and may Geledel never forget it."