Hylius
Dragons are just bigger swallows.
Ares patiently listened to the young friar's words, explaining why he was so frightened of him, also telling him that he indeed did have some information from looking through the files. When Stephan told him that he thought he would be very upset with him for having such information, Ares just shook his head. "What reason do I have to be upset with you for knowing things of me? I couldn't care less about whatever you found out. It's what you do with said information that can potentially upset me."
The friar then had a little rant, telling his only interest is to serve the goddess, and his former bishop. He also complained that a lot of people are so mean. Ares closed his eyes. He did not look as stressed out anymore, his frown had disappeared and he sat a bit more relaxed on his chair. He still was tired, but... less so. "That's just how reality is, friar. Under our current Archbishop's reign, times have been rather grim. You have to accept it and move on, or else you will pay. That goes for newcomers like you, but also veterans like me."
He could see himself inside the young man. Not the Ares from now, but the Ares that first entered the capital. They both were naive young lads that wished nothing but to serve the goddess, and thought that joining the church would be a great step to show their dedication. That's what Ares thought back then, at least. He was not fully sure what the full reason was for Stephan to join the church, but he had a feeling it also was something among those lines. Ah, if only Stephan had joined a few years earlier... Ares had the luck that he joined during a time when the church was still in its prime and beloved, while Stephan now joined during a time where the church was thrown in a dumpster fire.
"Ha, it surprises me that the files don't contain any lies of sorts to worsen my name. That seems like something the Archbishop would do anyway... But yeah, that does not seem too different from what I read back then. I guess the only differences are that there are more... incidents in those files. But what else is in there?"
The friar then had a little rant, telling his only interest is to serve the goddess, and his former bishop. He also complained that a lot of people are so mean. Ares closed his eyes. He did not look as stressed out anymore, his frown had disappeared and he sat a bit more relaxed on his chair. He still was tired, but... less so. "That's just how reality is, friar. Under our current Archbishop's reign, times have been rather grim. You have to accept it and move on, or else you will pay. That goes for newcomers like you, but also veterans like me."
He could see himself inside the young man. Not the Ares from now, but the Ares that first entered the capital. They both were naive young lads that wished nothing but to serve the goddess, and thought that joining the church would be a great step to show their dedication. That's what Ares thought back then, at least. He was not fully sure what the full reason was for Stephan to join the church, but he had a feeling it also was something among those lines. Ah, if only Stephan had joined a few years earlier... Ares had the luck that he joined during a time when the church was still in its prime and beloved, while Stephan now joined during a time where the church was thrown in a dumpster fire.
"Ha, it surprises me that the files don't contain any lies of sorts to worsen my name. That seems like something the Archbishop would do anyway... But yeah, that does not seem too different from what I read back then. I guess the only differences are that there are more... incidents in those files. But what else is in there?"