"It is all intertwined," Belthazor explained to the ss'ressen. "To treat with demons is to risk manipulation, and likewise, the minutiae of the Sarishan Oath requires emotional distance, as the Oath adheres to the letter of the agreement, not the spirit with which it was made, as our recent travels can no doubt attest. Only a handful of members of my family learn those nuances, but of those few, they are among the most respected--and feared--of emissaries in all of Arcanis."
He could see the burden tugging at Vincent's thoughts. "I am no oracular Larissan. My mother did not pass along that gift. I cannot say what your future holds. I have been on this world far too long and seen far too much to think that such cannot be cast aside, your destiny to be written by you, through word and deed."
"I take no offense," he assured the Altherian. "I have rather thick skin in that regard. Your questions are not as simple as you might think, and their answers even less so. The Dark Triumvirate views the world as corrupt and damaged, to be sure, but it is an open expression that I believe to be the opinion of others as well. I resided in Grand Coryan for longer than you have been alive, and I know Mother Church all too well. Similarly, I remember when the Milandric Orthodoxy split away from its tenets. If the world were not flawed, what use would there be in priests to return the flock to the fold?"
He stroked his chin, considering his next words. "There are those among the Dark Triumvirate that believe evil should be embraced to immunize the soul, as it were. There are others, like myself, who believe that evil is a part of this world, not to be embraced, but resisted. Evil comes in many guises, and I assure you, that contrary to popular belief, all of it does not reside in Canceri."
"Much of it, however, does," he smiled. "Does the omnipresence of evil prepare the spirit? I do not profess to know, but you have a narrow view of faith. Nier punishes sins, but if 'wallowing in evil' is the teaching of your church, is doing so a sin? That is a question for the scholars and theologians. Once, long ago, I gave up my soul to be damned in exchange for a good man's rightful deliverance to the Cauldron. My soul was restored years later, but how would you view my actions? Was I a hero for my sacrifice? Or was I a fool? History is written by the victors, but righteousness is written by the church. I come from a land ruled by the church, so I can attest to its fallibility. When it is all said and done, you must do what is right for you in the eyes of your god as you see fit. You will have your answer when you face the Judgement, and not before. I am afraid such concerns are beyond me now, so I give them little thought these days."
He nodded at Tukufu. "I am certain that is not the end that you would have sought for your discourse, but it is the only one I have. There are others far more versed than myself. Like most of those descended from the Valinor of the Dark Triumvirate, I was tutored in the ways of the church, but I confess that I have more faith in people than the gods--faith to do good... and to do bad. I try to understand hidden motivations and desires, and the Lord of Secrets indulges my divided loyalties. I never took my vows, opting instead to become an Emissary, but it was no higher calling. I did so to be close to my children, who were far safer among enemies in the Coryani Empire than with my family in Nishanpur."
_________________ Paul Baughman (no hat) Belthazor Nádasdy val'Mehen of Nishanpur, Bearer of "False Yet True", Noble Born Sorcerer-Priest of Sarish, val'Mehan Emissary
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