Episode 36| Playing the Part
Morning sunlight spilled across the Temple courtyard, illuminating rows of white marble pillars as priests gathered for the day's assignments.
Ryan stood among them, her golden hair catching the morning light. Although shortened by the artifact rings, it still retained its unmistakable brilliance. Around her, priests chatted casually while waiting for the assignment board to be updated.
Riley quietly observed them.
People don't follow authority forever...
They follow people they trust.
That had been true in her old world.
It was true here too.
---
"Brother Ryan!"
Brother Elias jogged over carrying two cups of tea.
"I knew you'd skip breakfast again."
Ryan accepted the cup with a grateful smile.
"You know me too well."
"I do."
Elias laughed.
"You're always helping everyone else before yourself."
Ryan chuckled awkwardly.
"If I collapse, who's going to listen to Brother Thomas complain all day?"
"I heard that!"
Thomas appeared from behind a pillar carrying a broom over his shoulder.
"I have many excellent complaints."
The three burst into laughter.
Nearby priests couldn't help smiling.
Ryan had become something of an oddity within the Temple.
She was only a mid-level priest.
Yet everyone-from novices to senior clergy-found themselves naturally gravitating toward her.
Not because she demanded attention.
She simply made people feel seen.
---
Assignments were finally announced.
"Brother Ryan."
A senior deacon stepped forward.
"You've been requested to oversee today's charity kitchen."
Ryan nodded.
"Of course."
As she walked away, another priest quietly muttered to his companion.
"If Brother Ryan ever becomes a High Priest..."
"I think the Temple would finally feel like a home again."
His companion quickly elbowed him.
"Lower your voice."
Even so...
Several nearby priests had already heard.
Ryan pretended not to.
But inwardly...
She smiled.
---
The Temple's charity kitchen stood near the outer walls, where poor families gathered every afternoon for a simple meal.
Large cauldrons simmered over open fires.
Children ran around laughing.
Old women folded bread.
Several novice priests handed out bowls of stew.
Ryan rolled up her sleeves.
"Let's get started."
Hours passed peacefully.
She chopped vegetables.
Carried sacks of grain.
Helped wash dishes.
Whenever someone thanked her, she simply smiled.
"No need."
"It's why I'm here."
The atmosphere felt nothing like the main Temple.
Here...
The walls between nobles and commoners disappeared.
Everyone simply shared food.
---
As lunchtime ended, Ryan noticed a young novice staring at her.
The boy couldn't have been older than fourteen.
"Something wrong?"
He hesitated.
"...Brother Ryan..."
"...can I ask something?"
Ryan smiled warmly.
"You just did."
The boy laughed nervously.
"I mean..."
"...why did you become a priest?"
Several nearby priests unconsciously slowed their work.
They wanted to hear the answer too.
Ryan leaned against the serving table.
"When I was little..."
"My mother became gravely ill."
Her voice remained calm.
"The Temple refused to help because we couldn't afford the donation."
The courtyard gradually fell silent.
"I lost her."
Nobody interrupted.
"I remember thinking..."
"...if someone with healing magic had simply reached out their hand..."
"...my mother might still be alive."
Ryan looked toward the children eating happily nearby.
"So I became a priest."
"So that no child would have to ask the same question I did."
The young novice lowered his head.
"I'm... sorry."
Ryan smiled gently.
"It wasn't your fault."
She looked around at everyone present.
"The Goddess never asked us to measure someone's worth by the weight of their coin purse."
"We were blessed with light..."
"...because someone trusted us to share it."
No speech followed.
No grand declaration.
Only silence.
But sometimes...
Silence carried conviction better than applause ever could.
Brother Thomas quietly wiped at his eyes.
"...You're going to make an old man cry."
"You aren't old."
"I'm thirty."
"Exactly."
Laughter erupted once more.
The heavy atmosphere vanished.
Ryan had intentionally done that.
She never wanted pity.
Only understanding.
---
Unbeknownst to everyone...
A cloaked figure stood across the street, watching the entire scene.
The High Priest's shadow investigator.
He observed Ryan laughing with the children.
Helping elderly women carry baskets.
Cleaning tables after everyone had finished eating.
Nothing seemed suspicious.
Nothing appeared calculated.
Yet...
The investigator couldn't shake a strange feeling.
"If this is all an act..."
"Then Brother Ryan may be the greatest actor alive."
He quietly disappeared into the crowd.
---
Later that evening...
The investigator knelt once more before the High Priest.
"You've returned."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Report."
The investigator bowed deeply.
"I watched Brother Ryan from sunrise until sunset."
"And?"
"He never once acted against Temple law."
"He spent the entire day feeding commoners."
"Cleaning."
"Teaching children."
"He even gave away his own lunch."
The High Priest frowned.
"...Anything unusual?"
The investigator hesitated.
"There was one thing."
"Speak."
"...People follow him."
The High Priest remained silent.
"They trust him."
"They listen when he speaks."
"When he smiles..."
"...they smile."
"When he works..."
"...they work harder."
The investigator lowered his head further.
"I've investigated generals."
"Kings."
"Guild Masters."
"I've never seen influence spread so naturally."
"He isn't gathering followers deliberately."
"They're simply choosing him."
Silence consumed the chamber.
The High Priest slowly closed the report.
"...Continue watching."
"Yes."
After the investigator departed...
The High Priest walked toward the window overlooking the Temple.
Far below...
Ryan was helping several novice priests extinguish the kitchen fires before nightfall.
Ordinary.
Harmless.
Yet somehow...
Threatening.
The High Priest whispered quietly to himself.
"A leader..."
"...doesn't always wear a crown."
He turned away from the window.
"If I leave him alone much longer..."
"...the Temple itself may choose Ryan over me."
Far beneath the floor...
Within the darkness of his own shadow...
Asmedious slowly smiled.
The first domino had indeed fallen.
And now...
Others were beginning to lean.