Riku’s jaw tightened, a cold fury simring within him. The blatant corruption, the callous disregard for suffering... it was a perversion of everything the church should have stood for.
However, he took a deep breath. The intention was not to fight with the church, but to understand more about the creep. So, he did not say anything for now.
Riku guided Lila and a still-hooded Elara towards one of the few occupied cots in their section, where a tired-looking priestess was examining an elderly man.
After a few minutes, the priestess finished, handing the man a small vial. "One dose of Sunpetal Draught. Take it as instructed. May the Light guide your recovery." She turned, her gaze falling on the trio. "Next. What ails you?"
Riku stepped forward with Elara. "Our friend here is suffering from the Crimson Creep. We were hoping to secure a dose of the Sunpetal Draught for her."
The priestess, her face etched with fatigue, beckoned Elara closer. "Let see, child." Elara hesitantly lowered her hood. The priestess peered at the crimson marks on Elara’s forehead and cheeks, her expression clinical. She gently touched one of the marks, then felt Elara’s pulse.
"Hmm," the priestess murmured, straightening up. "The marks are present, yes. But your pulse is relatively strong, child. Your breathing, steady. You don’t exhibit the severe tremors or the burning fever common in advanced stages." She looked Elara up and down. "Frankly, your condition doesn’t appear critical. We have many others in far more dire need."
"Huh? What is that supposed to an?" Lila asked, confused.
"That ans that she doesn’t need the dicine. At least not yet."
"But she is sick!" Lila interjected, her voice sharp with indignation. "She needs the dicine!"
The priestess sighed, a hint of impatience creeping into her tone. "The Sunpetal Draught is in critically short supply. We must prioritize those on the brink. Your friend... she can wait. Co back in a few days if her condition worsens significantly. For now, rest and prayer are advised."
She gestured dismissively. "Next!"
"Wait?" Riku’s voice was dangerously calm. "You see the marks, you acknowledge she’s afflicted, but because she’s not dying in front of you, she gets nothing? Do you do the sa for everyone who is not on the verge of death in front of you?"
Riku was starting to lose his composure. Did the church of light look at human life like cattle?
Lila stepped forward, her fists clenched. "And what about them?" She pointed towards the curtain separating them from the ’Benefactor’s Passage’. "Those healers in there, are they also prioritizing the ’direly needed’? Or are they prioritizing their goblets?"
The priestess flushed. "How dare you question the Church’s thods! We are doing our best with limited resources!"
"Limited resources?" Riku scoffed, his voice rising slightly, drawing the attention of other nearby patients and the few other tired healers. "It seems your resources are plentiful enough for those who can line your coffers, but conveniently scarce for those who paid a hefty sum, let alone those in the ’Supplicant’s Path’ with only two healers for hundreds!"
"This is an outrage!" the priestess sputtered, her face turning red. "You will not speak with such disrespect within these holy walls!"
"What is the aning of this commotion?" A new voice, deep and authoritative, cut through the rising tension.
The few healers in the hall imdiately straightened, their expressions shifting to ones of reverence and slight fear. The patients, even the sickest, tried to sit up straighter or bow their heads. A path seed to part through the sparse crowd as a tall, imposing figure strode towards them.
Clearly, he was a noble. His robes of pristine white and gold thread were far more ornate than any they had seen outside of Vintross. A heavy, jewel-encrusted pectoral cross glead on his chest, and his silver hair was swept back from a stern, unyielding face. His eyes, the color of cold steel, swept over Riku, Lila, and Elara with disdain.
"Vestarch Marius," the flustered priestess stamred, bowing low. "Forgive the disturbance, Your Eminence. These... individuals were questioning the Church’s allocation of aid."
Vestarch Marius fixed Riku with a piercing glare. "This facility is under my direct purview. The distribution of healing and resources is managed according to the sacred instructions and practical necessities. We will not have troublemakers disrupting the peace and order of this holy sanctuary."
"Practical necessities?" Riku challenged, unbudging. "Does that include letting the wealthy hoard healers while the poor are left to suffer with minimal aid? Is that the ’compassion’ your Light preaches, Vestarch?"
Gasps rippled through the onlookers. Everyone held their breath, so admiring Riku’s audacity, but most were just afraid of the consequences.
Vestarch Marius’s eyes narrowed, his face darkening with controlled fury. "You tread on dangerous ground, outsider. Your insolence is noted." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low, nacing growl. "I could have you arrested for inciting unrest and blasphemy."
"We are not asking for a miracle, Vestarch. We paid our fifty gold. We are asking for the dicine this young girl is entitled to. Or perhaps," Riku added, his voice carrying clearly, "you’d prefer I seek an audience with the Arch Bishop himself to discuss these... ’practical necessities’?"
"You think you can scare by bringing up the Arch Bishop? You think he has the ti to entertain soone like you?"
"Maybe not, but if I create a big enough scene, it will definitely reach his ears. And at that point, do you intend to lie your way out in front of all the people?"
The Vestarch visibly seethed. He could not believe that there would be soone who would talk to him like that inside the church.
He glanced around at the watching eyes. The murmurs had started to spread among the people.
An accusation taken to the Arc Bishop... it would be an unwelco spotlight on him, as he had not been exactly clean in his dealings. Though he was not particularly afraid, he would rather avoid this unwanted scrutiny.
"Good.. Good.."
Reviews
All reviews (0)