The Apostles Palace towered above its surroundings, with fourteen large spires mirroring the defensive towers surrounding the entire Civitass Dei. The white and blue archers lined the walls of an incredibly large banquet hall. We were led inside by two priests dressed entirely in white, signifying their status as Cardinals, Princes of Ehlite. I recognized some from yesterday.
"Cardinals as escorts, hihihi... that boy sure wants to impress you," Gilly murmured, barely caring if the Cardinals overheard her. They stiffened slightly upon hearing the Holy Father called "that boy" but continued leading the way.
"Mnn," Zephyr looked unimpressed, scanning the lavish space.
The Cardinals led us to the head of a giant table, dressed in the signature white and blue. Viego was seated in the middle, the phoney King on his left, nervously playing with his food. They were surrounded by their families on the right side, including the Princess to be married off. On Viego's right, three empty seats were waiting next to my parents and Mary.
"Dear brother... the man of the hour!"
The Pope stood up, and the hall silenced.
"Ladies and gentlemen, meet tonight's guest... Zephyr Astoria."
The crowd clapped politely while scrutinizing us. Zephyr stepped forward, received the happily advancing Pope, and embraced him.
"Thank you, Viego, you're too kind. Please, music! Let us enjoy ourselves."
"MUSIC!" His Holiness shouted.
He led a happy, phoney Zephyr away to introduce him to the royals and to the Pope's own family.
"We were wholly ignored," Gilly was appalled.
"It happens. Now, let us get good and drunk."
We bowed to an absent-minded Pope and walked around the empty table toward our family.
"Can you believe this, Mother? Your son is sitting right at the Pope's table."
She looked as unimpressed as I was. "Yes. My chest is swelling, Enrico."
We took our seats and saw the King laughing like a maniac while Viego hugged Zephyr's shoulders, looking immensely proud. Whatever Zephyr was doing, it was working just fine.
"Look at His Holiness," Mary looked to be in love watching them. "I've never seen him like that, especially in public. Look at his family's eyes; they're just as shocked as us."
She was right. Both ladies sitting closest to them, the Pope's wife, Saint Yolanda, and the King's wife, shared nervous glances at the sudden intimacy the two men demonstrated.
"He is incredible."
"...and very much in love with his wife, Mary. Tread carefully," I warned her.
She turned away, huffing, but had nothing to say.
"So he is a family man?" Gilly made herself comfortable and asked the servants, dressed in white and blue butler outfits, for something stronger than wine.
"He is. Fanatical, in fact. His entire philosophy since he woke up is built around the words: Family is all."
"I approve," she nodded ahead.
That's two approvals. A few more, and she'll move to Insatel herself, I thought as the trays arrived with drinks.
"Carlitos, what do you mean... since he woke up?"
Mother's question threw me. I honestly thought they knew. Perhaps they just forgot with all the revelry that's been happening.
"Zephyr lost all of his memories. He was found by Emet Village residents and nursed back to health, middle of last summer. In fact, one of the women who found him is now his wife."
"Of course she is," my sister snorted.
Zephyr finally sat, but the Pope was still glued to him.
"Some time, but I finally managed to negotiate favorable terms for our little Isabella there. She shall marry the crown prince soon."
Zephyr looked amused. "What an achievement, unity amongst nations. Your ancestors would be proud, big brother."
His flattery worked like magic. Even Saint Yolanda, the Pope's wife, looked pleased hearing the handsome man praising her husband.
"It's nothing... my grandfather, the Great Jima, was twice the man I am. His blessing of foresight allowed Dharma to enter a golden age."
He looked bashful, pouring himself and Zephyr a drink from his personal golden flagon.
I looked at Gilly; she shook her head slightly. The one who had actually seen the Great Jima knew that his power of foresight was rubbish.
Seeing what will happen in the future sounds great on paper, but in reality, it was always just one of many possible outcomes, never a definite one. He lost land previously won and held for generations by his forefathers. Initiated wars based on his visions and lost them miserably. He did, however, predict Viego's birth and his ability, and gave himself the moniker 'Great,' just like Chensler the Conqueror was a self-styled fool.
Zephyr took his golden glass and carefully sipped its contents.
"I enjoy these tales. It's such a privilege, isn't it, brother? Having the word 'Great' forever etched right next to yours." The wonder and longing in his eyes were so real it invoked some sentiment even from me.
The Pope was lost in the thought as well. "So right. However, these are different times, unfortunately. It's harder to earn such titles."
Unless you give it to yourself. Where is he going with this?
I pretended not to care and rhythmically moved my head to the music with my mother but paid attention to every passing word.
"Indeed. Tell me about Insatel royalty. I barely know any of its history or traditions."
"Oh... it's not as storied as ours, little one." He took the empty flagon and handed it to the King. The poor bastard waved a servant over and had them refill it.
I felt my jacket tugged.
"What is he scheming there? Are you pretending not to listen?"
"Stop asking all these questions, Gilly. I have no answers," I told her the truth.
"Is that so? Very well. But others might notice your strange behavior..." she nodded towards the end of the table where the leader of the holy archers sat. He was Blessed himself; his power Enhanced his arrows—or anything he touched, really—and they would explode as he wished. It was a bloody ability. He looked younger despite being my age.
"That bastard can kill you from a mile, apparently."
"Yes, and I can summon the sea. Gilly, pay attention once Zephyr shows off his power. Then you'll understand how ridiculous your fears are."
I turned back toward the main table, no longer hiding my interest. After all, most of the table was now glued to their conversation, which revolved around the Church in Malai.
"...A bastard, really. I'm open to it... but that blasphemous ant won't acknowledge my superiority."
Zephyr listened and immediately agreed with his words. "A despicable villain, that First Acolyte. What a ridiculous name. Your generosity is lost on that savage."
The Pope once again took off his tiara and placed it in front of them, shocking his side of the table. He leaned closer to Zephyr, the alcohol clearly having an effect.
"How I wish to reunite the faithful, little brother... it's always been a dream. Now that you've said it, you're right, he is a savage. What!?"
He turned angrily toward the people closest to the table who were shamelessly watching them. They quickly danced further away while Zephyr consoled the Pope. "History shall remember you as the one who offered his hand, the one who put the faithful first: Viego the Faithful."
The Pope looked up, quite drunk, and smiled, repeating the name as if tasting it.
"You're right... I should offer my hand. LET HISTORY SAY..." He stood up and addressed the entire hall, even though the music had stopped. "...VIEGO THE FAITHFUL PUT HIS PEOPLE FIRST!"
In the stunned silence,
( CLAP CLAP CLAP )
Zephyr stood up, tears in his eyes, furiously clapping and leading the cheers.
I joined him, and the entire room followed suit.
"VIEGO THE FAITHFUL!"
""" VIEGO THE FAITHFUL! """
""" VIEGO THE FAITHFUL! """
""" YEAH!!!! """
Viego's declaration and the action of Zephyr replacing the tiara on the euphoric Pope's head crowned this moment, exploding into an even bigger celebration. I would bet my entire inheritance that this moment would one day be captured in a painting where the blue-haired angel crowned an earthly Pope.
The birth of Viego Aragona the Faithful.
From my perspective, Zephyr's smile, standing behind a deliriously happy man, was that of someone whose plan was already working.
He was done. One down. One remained.