“But I’d never ask you to do something you weren’t comfortable with,” he began rinsing his body.
“And that’s what makes you so attractive! See, you shouldn’t burn as bright as the others since…well, Gheriballi will explain it to you tomorrow, but you do. There’s just something about you, such purity, such optimism such…” she ran out of words and grabbed his back and kissed him on his shoulders, “Oh, I could just eat you up!”
“Now I feel like a 6 year old.” He leaned back, “Ham and cheese sandwich.” he said, and one appeared right next to him. He took a bite of it, then realized how hungry he was. He had it finished in about a minute. Cheeks still full of food, “Chood I haf anoder, ana boor.” Another sandwich and a appeared his mug again refilled. He ate and drank deeply, while Cecelia gave him a shoulder massage, “I could get used to this.”
“Many do. Most paladins call this place home.”
Obidaan sat back and relaxed, soon he was asleep.
“My poor, pally,” Cecilia said, “looks like its bed time.”
Obidaan awoke, naked and with Cecilia next to him, outside the covers, holding his hand. He looked under the covers to confirm his fear, then looked at her, smiling at him. “Did we..?”
“Of course not,” she smiled at him, “you fell asleep in the bath, so I put you to bed. I’ve just been sitting here, watching you, waiting for you to wake up.”
“All night?”
“I don’t sleep and didn’t have anything better to do.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost time for you to go. I can show you the way.”
“That would be great,” he began to get out of bed. “Um, do you mind?”
“So modest, I love that about you,” she bent over and kissed him, hoped out of bed then floated down to the ground level. “You’re still not getting the whole celestial being thing, but that’s ok.”
“What don’t I get?”
“This modesty thing, to us, there is no shame in being naked, or how you look. We have no true corporal form, this one you see here I use for convenience.”
“So does that mean you’re sexless too and you just chose the form of a female?” he felt somewhat eerie when he said that.
“No, I have a definite sex. It’s kind of like a vibration. Once you’ve hung around us enough, you could tell a female from a male and soon enough you could tell one ball of light from another.”
“Then why did you choose that form over another?” he was dressed and coming down the steps.
“It’s complicated, but to simplify it, this is how I would look if I were mortal,” she handed him a cup of coffee.
“How would you know?” he took it and took a sip, it was perfect.
“Like I said, it’s complicated. Come on, it’s time to go,” grabbing his hand, she led him out the door.
“What about the door?” Obidaan asked as she led him away. Cecilia produced a pamphlet and bopped him in the forehead with it.
“Read,” she insisted.
He read as they walked. It explained everything he learned and more: Paladins are allowed to sense the well being of their loved ones, all other forms of scrying and detection are blocked. Use menus in restaurants, all rooms are sound proof, keys are a formality and only used the first time you enter the room; after that, you can enter and leave at will. It also served as a map. Tell it where you want to go and it will direct you.
She guided him through the outside of the keep. It was a mini marketplace with vendor shops for everything, several bars and restaurants and even entertainers. The place was pretty quiet. There were maybe 10 other paladins walking around. All of them had someone on their arm. They made their way to the Gored Bore. There was Gheriballi, with a woman, waiting for them. They were the only ones in the restaurant. Gheriballi motioned for them to come on over.
“Hi, Shelly,” Cecilia said.
“Hi, Cecilia” Shelly said. “This must be Obidaan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Everyone was standing up.
“Thank you,” He put out his hand as if to shake, but Shelly ignored it, hugging and kissing him instead. Cecilia did the same to Gheriballi.
“Does everyone do that here?” Still feeling like the butt of the joke.
“Pretty much,” Gheriballi replied, still holding Cecilia.
As they all sat, a waiter came with menus. “Would anyone like to start with an appetizer?”
“Champaign all around,” said Gheriballi.
“Very good sir.” A moment later, he returned with glasses and Champaign.
They all ordered and the food arrived swiftly, then the wait staff left them alone to talk.
“Enjoying yourself, Obidaan?” Gheriballi said.
“Yes, it is a beautiful room, can’t wait to show this place to my wife, she’d love it here. By the way, is this your scribe?”
“Yes,” Gheriballi said. Obidaan noticed Shelly hung fairly close to Gheriballi, similarly to Cecilia but tighter. “Obidaan, we have quite a bit to talk about. One of the first things is about our scribes. I can tell Cecelia didn’t tell you the other part. Did you?” He cast a glance over at her.
“He’s so cute. I just didn’t have the heart,” She smooched his cheeks as she said it.
“Well he needs to know,” Gheriballi took a large bite of his steak. Once clear, he continued, “I’m sure she mentioned you were not to be anointed as soon as you did.”
“Yes, she mentioned that, and how the gods forgot about me,” he added.
“Yes, a crucial miss, I might add. Well, here’s the one little fact you don’t know. The one that help all of this make sense: You’re the only married paladin in the corps.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why this place exists, in all of its splendor, and excesses. The paladin life is very difficult, often thankless, and for the most part, lonely. We don’t make normal attachments. Many try though. Some get married, but all end up divorced. Some even have kids, but they live with the other parent. That’s why we have this place; the scribes act as our escorts, or surrogate spouses, and the other amenities. The gods have given us this place to go wild. That’s why all the beings are celestials and everything is free. We have the deadliest job on the planet and without some sort of release it would be a matter of time before someone flipped out. This keeps us sane.”
“How does my marriage pose a problem?”
“It doesn’t allow you to take full advantage of the … perks and amenities,” he looked at the ladies as said it.
“I’ll be ok,” he felt almost insulted by the comment. “I have my own form of ‘release’ and I like it very much.”
“I hope so,” he was not reassured by Obidaan’s comment. “Like I said, the scribes act like our spouses while we are here. They are to tend to our every need, to spoil us.”
“I mentioned that to him,” Cecilia piped in, in between bites of eggs and fish. “However, he is devoted to his wife and family; hopes to have children someday.”
Gheriballi got a concerned look on his face, “Is this true?”
“Yes,” Obidaan was unapologetic, “I hope to raise a family.”
“Damn,” Gheriballi dropped his utensils and looked fiercely but concerned at Obidaan, “you still don’t get it do you?”
The ladies looked at each other and held their men tight. Anger was about to be displayed and though a negative emotion, its energy was intoxicating to them.
“You. Are. A. PALADIN! You are not a common man! We don’t use arcane mana like everyone else. Only priests and paladins have access to the divine! Direct communication with our gods! You are better…”
“I’m not better than everyone one else. We’re all the same,” Obidaan blurted out, interrupting Gheriballi. “I may have better abilities, even better access to the magic of this world, but I’m still just a man.”
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“Hmmm,” a collective sigh came from the ladies.
Both men said simultaneously, “Cut that out!”
“Sorry,” they both replied at once, and moved back slightly.
“Now look, kid…”
“I’m not a kid.”
“With thinking like that you are. You don’t get it, and I don’t know how to explain it to you. You have to think differently now. Some rulers spew shit like ‘divine right’ to rule. Well guess what, we really were appointed by gods. Pull out your paladin symbol,” he did, “see that, it looks like this planet, with your gods’ symbol etched in it. And it’s on both sides. Unlike a priest holy symbol, which is just your gods’ mark. No one else has that right, that power, that ability to claim they were touched by the gods and given a mission. Even the holiest of priests, who commune with their gods on a daily basis, only have domain over their church. We have domain over the entire planet! Churches go to war over their philosophies, lands fight for resources and conquer each other for petty reasons: power, expansion, domination, the list goes on. No one can refuse us entry.”
“I know.”
“Then you do understand something, that we are the force to be reckoned with. We are a force to be feared, respected, trusted, loved, hated, embraced, and rejected. We can’t bend to the will of men; they bend to ours. We are the lawgivers, the judge, jury, and executioner. It’s a heavy burden we carry. Things like attachments only cloud our judgment. We are unique in this world. That is our place in this world.”
“I understand what you’re trying to tell me, but I believe I can make it.”
“If you do, you’ll be the first. In the early days, they did like you, married, had kids, and friends. Then people realized if they befriended them, they would cut them some slack, or worse, kidnap their family, they could get away with things. Many a paladin fell when they chose family over duty. Others fell when they chose duty, lost their family, then lost their faith. Originally, this place was only for record keeping and a place to sleep. Then the gods realized what was going on, and quickly changed this to the sanctuary it is now. While there is no official mandate against marriage and family, it was hoped this place would be a fair substitute.”
“Why don’t paladins just keep their families here then, it’s safe?”
“Originally they tried that but there weren’t enough families and they would get restless and go stir crazy. They needed outside contact.”
“So, what do you do if you want a family?”
“Silly question. Firstly, you don’t get that option. Second, you can have kids, but they’ll be bastards. I have a couple myself, one who is heir to a thrown. It’s not a great system, but it’s all we have.”
“Well, maybe I’m here to show that it can work. That we’ve gone too far in one direction. Gotten away from family and I’m here to show we can balance paladinhood and parenthood.”
Gheriballi laughed, “I hope you do.” He raised his glass in a toast and they all toasted. As he drank, he thought to himself, “By the gods, Obidaan, I hope you succeed.”
After brunch they went about the marketplace. Everything was of the finest quality and all free for the taking. There was plenty of entertainment. That night they danced and drank the night away.
Amazingly, the next morning Obidaan didn’t wake up with a hangover. He stopped questioning the place and just accepted it. Cecilia would sit at his side at night, just holding his hand.
Gheriballi trained and tutored Obidaan while they were there. Gheriballi exposed Obidaan to new skills, powers, and prayers he could use with his symbol; things he should have learned long ago. He also showed Obidaan some different fighting techniques and moves for very powerful effects. Effects, until now, Obidaan didn’t know he could do. Obidaan ended up staying three extra weeks. During that time, he felt his power increase. He could feel his paladin powers like never before. It was intoxicating.
Then one day, while meditating, he saw in his mind a beautiful lit lantern. He began to walk toward it. At first it stayed the same distance away, but he persisted. He thought he was making ground but it felt as though he was walking on sand. He took a step and began to move closer to the lantern. All at once, he woke up. He didn’t want to stop meditating but he couldn’t help it. He tried to go back into a meditative state but it was no use, he was done for the day.
He told Gheriballi about what happened. He was supportive and told Obidaan to keep trying, “Each paladin must face his own test. No one can tell you how to solve it. Keep going and do not give up. You are in a delicate state now. If you give up you will be stripped of your powers. Keep going, no matter how long it takes.”
For the next five days he meditated and continued to see the lantern. As he moved closer it would either stay the same distance or he would break meditation. In a few imaginative tries he tried flying to it, hooking a rope and pulling it, digging to it, and spinning to it, all with no effect. On the sixth day, frustrated and depressed, he entered his meditative state. This time the lantern was there and it burned brighter than ever before. He was drawn to it but like before, it stayed an equal distance away from him. Angry, he sat down and closed his eyes. He calmed down and cleared his mind, hoping to think of a way to get to the lantern. He began to squint, even with his eyes closed the lantern was burning brighter and brighter. Finally, unable to deal with it, he stood up and opened his eyes. To his amazement, the lantern was right in front of him. It was no longer hurting his eyes. He reached out his hands and grabbed it. As he did, the lantern disappeared, only to reappear in his torso. It blinked like his heartbeat, slowing fading with each beat. When the lantern finally faded, Obidaan awoke. He had never felt so much power in his life. Not just any power, it was as if the universe was open to him. His five senses were on overload, yet still normal. He knew more, felt more, believed more. His spirit was boosted to levels he could never dream of. He feltcomplete but a pang of anger entered in. He now understood why the others had laughed at him, why he didn’t have the respect he should have. Why didn’t someone tell him sooner? Why not his gods, his priest, other paladins? Why. Still, he also felt gratitude. Overwhelming gratitude to Gheriballi for helping him finally being able to realize his potential. Gratitude to his family who is always there for him, and even gratitude to his gods for giving him this magnificent gift.
He was beginning to understand; so much power. He understood now why seven paladins could take out a kingdom. However, he did have a question and found Gheriballi.
“I feel the power flow through me like never before. I didn’t realize this is what it is like to be a paladin. I feel like I am floating among the clouds.”
“You are,” Gheriballi said, “you are in the clouds, on the ground. You can tame the lighting, bring forth water. The surge you feel, that’s because you are now fully in touch with the source of our magic, the Divine. That lantern you saw in your meditation was the Divine power. You finally found a way to bring it in. I’m very proud of you, congratulations! I knew you could do it!” He hugged Obidaan, “This is the power the gods have passed to us. Sure, others use it but none wear it. You feel it now don’t you? You know now you can never be drained, your mana is infinite. To others, it is a sink that must periodically be filled. To us it is a river, constantly flowing and you can draw from it whenever you please. Now do you understand why you are different? Now do you see what I’ve been trying to tell you all this time?”
“Yes,” and he truly understood now. It was clear now, all so clear. It was at that moment he felt one with the world moment, he could feel everything, the good and the bad. It overwhelmed him and he fell forward. Gheriballi caught him. “Here son, sit and rest for a moment. I recognize that look. We all get it. You have finally attained true paladinhood. You just witnessed the divine spark becoming one with you. I’m sure you witnessed some things when the light first entered you but it takes some time for it to truly bind and be
come one with you. That’s what just happened. The disconnect you had in the past is gone. Your spiritual journey is complete.”
“Wow!” was about all he could say. In that moment, felt one with the corps part of it like never before. For a moment he could feel every paladin. He felt one with the planet. In that moment, he felt one with the gods, all of them. It was a feeling he could not describe. He laid down for a few minutes. Cecilia was next to him. She could feel the difference. She did not want to let him go.
“What’s it like now, Cecilia?” asked Gheriballi
“Shush,” she snapped, “no talking, soaking.” About 30 seconds passed before she spoke again, “His power has increased so much now. Before I compared him to a bonfire, now it’s more like the sun. So pure, so lovely, so beautiful. I’ve never felt a flow like this in any paladin before,” she sighed as she held him.
“He is special, that’s for sure.” Gheriballi said to Cecilia. Obidaan was now becoming overwhelmed and could not hear them. “No one should have gone five years like he did. That fact that he still a paladin is a miracle unto itself. How was he able to continue on the path for so long, uninstructed and uninitiated?”
“From what I write about him, it has to be his family. It could be argued that his faith in Vanguard is stronger than his faith in his gods. It sees him through a lot. It saw him through this, and even helped him grow in ways being a strict paladin, like you, couldn’t. He’s an anomaly now. He isn’t like you or the others. I wonder what ramifications that will have in the future?”
“Only time will tell.”
About five minutes later the dizziness passed and Obidaan sprang to his feet. He felt like a new man. He was a new man. The naiveté was gone, replaced by Divine inspiration. The uncertainty was gone, replaced by Divine knowledge. He knew what it meant to be a paladin now.
“Still,” he said, “I will make it work with my family.” The others just smiled at him.
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