Theapan Temple (Part 16)

Johan Lovette was standing by the wall just as Ashley had predicted. The man was giving out orders to his men while his aid Uriel acted as a messenger when needed. Johan was strict in his orders so it was rare that anyone would go against him. Everyone under Johan respected the man and rarely did the temple ever witness someone who would question the words Johan spoke. Whether it was due to the connection to the gods he held or his aura when it came to important matters of the temple he was always taken seriously.

"Your Holiness, I have come to speak with you about something." Vorbuk said respectfully as he walked up to Johan. Watching as Johan went quiet in order to glance at him questioningly. It would be hard for Vorbuk to wait for a proper time to talk. When King Luke's knights and the vampire were outside the wall there was no such thing as a peaceful time for the temple to relax for a calm conversation.

"What is it?" Johan asked back with a calm demeanor.

"It's.." Vorbuk glanced at their surroundings.

Johan could understand his action as a sign that he wanted to talk privately. Waving his hand the pope shooed the others around him away. Returning to their given tasks as Johan was left standing there in front of Vorbuk, Leo, and Ashley.

"I have two things actually," Vorbuk began to speak quietly so that others could not overhear them once they had all stepped a safe distance away. "First I have someone who has come to the temple as of last night."

"Last night? Who would do something like that in the middle of a battle with Theapan's King?" Johan knit his brows as he imagined only a crazy person would sneak through a battlefield without a proper reason.

"Princess Isis." Vorbuk answered him with a calm expression. Contrary to his expression his heart was pounding chaotically in his chest as he admitted to the pope about the princess's presence.

Johan Lovette's expression blanked out completely. Near impossible to understand what was on the pope's mind Vorbuk could only continue forward with the conversation. If the pope could not find a proper response he would just push through this conversation without giving a chance of disaproval.

"I know what you're worried about," Vorbuk tried to calm Johan down. "but as long as she is with our group we will take care of her. She is not interested in siding with her father over serving the will of God Chynir."

"There is no way to predict someone's heart." Johan refuted those words Vorbuk spoke.

"She wont be allowed on the battlefield. We will keep her safe within the temple where she can not interfere." Leo supported Vorbuk by suggesting that she does not leave the temple at all until things were finished.

"... What is the other thing you needed?" Johan sighed heavily.

He was not going to harm someone who had not tried to cause him harm. There was no way to tell what the others who served under him would think about the princess. However Johan would never allow his people to run wild and harm innocent lives. His temple was not built to become thugs who preyed on anyone. As long as Johan felt the princess to be harmless he would not pursue going after her. If Vorbuk could keep the princess from interfering in the battle she would bring no reason to be targeted.

Johan had no interest in the Kingdom of Theapan's throne. He was not interested in ruling a kingdom. Authority over a kingdom of his own was not something he desired. The temple was all the all the kingdom he needed. It's power was equal to one and it already consumed much of his time and effort to run smoothly over the years. To add on to his work load would only become a shackle that he did not want.

"After the war," Vorbuk began to speak his second matter of business. "I intend to invite Priestess Mai to the palace after I obtain the throne."

Johan's face had a shadow cast over it as he stilled at Vorbuk's words. It felt like Vorbuk was dropping one bomb on him after another. For a split second he wanted to know if he was dreaming or if he really heard those words.

"We are the reason the king was sent after the temple. We will help take care of the vampire and deal with the king. Afterwards," Vorbuk repeated once again more clearly so Johan would understand him better. He could see Johan's bewildered and annoyed expression at the mention of his daughter going to the palace. "I will be requesting her to join the palace as a teacher."

"A teacher?" Johan lifted a brow after hearing that.

"Hoh~" Ashley who was observing the conversation between them felt amused as he understood.

"She has done great with Zoe. If she really takes up a position as a teacher she could really do great at helping guide others as well in the future." Leo nodded in agreement as he understood.

"That-" Johan started to reject the idea of his daughter leaving the temple to head into the palace of Theapan. Teacher or not it would still be dangerous in the future if she went to the palace.

"Your Holiness," Vorbuk could tell from Johan's reaction that he was about to reject him so he pushed more. "She is already old enough to know what she wishes to do with herself. I will be asking her directly. If she agrees that it is what she wants to do in the future I simply hope you can support her own decision."

Foul play! It felt like foul play Johan Lovette.

When it came to his daughter he had a hard time ever refusing something she asked of him. If his daughter personally told him that she wished to head to the palace it would be hard for him to refuse her. She was already old enough to make her own choices about where she chose to stay. In the past she had no choice but to stay at the temple. If she was offered a relatively safe way to enter the outside world she was bound to agree.

Priestess Mai had always loved helping others around the temple. It wouldn't matter if it was healing, guiding, or even simply lending an ear to others. Her life revolved around having people around her that she could reach out to in some form. Helping others gave her a sense of satisfaction that made her feel achievement. It gave her life purpose.

Johan's heart dropped as he could already imagine his daughter accepting the job as a royal palace magic tutor. Vorbuk was not even asking Johan's opinion. If Johan didn't like the idea he still wouldn't harm Vorbuk. His brow twitched as he realized Vorbuk was not asking him permission at all. Vorbuk was simply warning him in advance that he would be extending his daughter and job offer that they both knew the priestess was likely to accept.

"... Damn it." Johan Lovette muttered under his breath causing everyone to flinch at the sight of the pope swearing to himself.