Chapter 112: Side Story 6: The Fears of Progress

Raven sat at his desk in the cathedral. A new delivery of reports from the many churches and temples around the nation had come through. It was nearing the time of the academy and university’s new batch of students meaning that the church spending had dramatically shot up. Despite this, it wasn’t something he minded. He looked at the new report detailing the linguistic rate of the students at the church and the improvement from last year. Raven looked at it and thought back to three years ago.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A young Alfred sat before Raven. "My friend. Your control on the church is now good enough to where I think we should begin changing it into the organization that it should be." Raven was intrigued and leaned forward interested in what he wanted. For the most part, he had left the church alone after Raven’s ascension to Arch-Bishop. Raven had assumed it was because he trusted him, but instead, it was because the time wasn’t right.

"As you know, with the establishment of Lindonfall Academy we have made an organization that accepts anyone no matter class or status. Despite this, I’m sure many people within this country will be skipped over due to a failure to simply read and write. I want this to change. The problem is that it’s too much money and it is hard to establish schools in every village and town. But a church already exists. With someone leading it who knows how to read and write."

Raven could see where Alfred was going with this. If it was something that went against the principles of what the church should be he was willing to turn it down or at least fight him on it. This however was something he would fine with. Even if it was useless for 95% of the people, it at least meant everyone would be able to read the word of Sol.

"There are a few problems, however." Raven knew however it wasn’t perfect. "Sure we can provide days for these teachings, sermons don’t happen every day, it is a matter of will the common folk will even attend. Most families require their children to help with work. Those few days they get time off, they are either attending sermons or so tired they have to rest."

"I know Raven." Alfred understood this and it made Raven’s life easier as he knew that Alfred had thought about this before proposing it. "Sermons are vital for the faith and I would not dare ask you to sacrifice this for what I want. But we could make it possible to include sermons in these lessons, it would make it feel more personal for each faithful. I also plan to make a single day when children are prohibited from working. It’s annoying to a lot but not something that will lead to ruin for a family. This day all children are forced to attend lessons held by the church. The church in turn will help enforce that the day is respected and Children are not forced to do labor."

Alfred could only smile bitterly saying this. Sure he didn’t want children to work, but he also knew that many families within his Kingdom needed the extra hands for survival. To force the complete end of this and not provide an alternative was asking his people to either die or revolt. He wasn’t an engineer. He couldn’t industrialize and provide them with modern farming equipment. Even then, if he could he wouldn’t. It was irresponsible to send a medieval world into the industrial age, moreover without using an inhabitant to do it. If one of his citizens began to go down this path, Alfred was all for supporting it, but he couldn’t be the one to bring it to the world.

He didn’t have the time to teach everyone how it worked on top of his other duties. It was asking the entire system to fail once he died. If he wanted an industrialisation he knew that it was one small thing that could spiral. He knew from his old world how rapid development was once industrialization was in full swing for countries.

Raven pondered on it. He liked the idea and the benefits the church would get from it. He also believed that the greater interaction between the faith and the people would grow because of it. But he also knew the risks such a massive boost in education posed. Risks that threatened the system.

"I’m willing to help you with this, Your Highness. It will be a hard and long process at first, but I see the benefits." He paused. "However what do you do when the people start questioning things? The lack of education for the people creates a barrier between the nobility and them. Once they begin to learn they will begin to question things. Why do they sit at the bottom? Why is the current system the way it is? What if there’s another way?"

Alfred wasn’t expecting Raven to realize this point so quickly. He knew the man was smart but to realize how democracy can form from the one change was something he never expected. Raven seeing this surprise smiled. "It happens within the church. The more the clergy and those within its ranks learn, the more they question those above. It’s more theological than anything, but they question scripture and wonder why certain laws exist and others don’t. It has led to schisms once in its most extreme circumstance."

"But questioning things is good sometimes." Alfred countered, wanting to know the man’s thoughts on this. "Opposing something because you can understand it more can also be good. It’s very easy for someone to question a tyrant who steals from them, but if they question how the administration is run and can provide a better solution because they now have the knowledge and means to do it, would it not be for the best? Has the church only been set back because people ask questions?"

"No." Raven could only shake his head. "But as I have said, in the extremes it did. The people learning will wonder why they tailor away for the nation."

"And we must provide a reason." Alfred countered. "If they wonder why it’s fair even though they now have they can read and write like a noble, then we must give a new justification for why it is necessary why they live such different lives."

"You don’t mean to make the faith for this? It won’t work. Sol sees all creation as equal, even those who rebelled against him. He believes in punishment and law. We only exist on this mortal plane to prove we are worthy to rejoin his grace. To say that Sol has given nobles a right to rule over others won’t work. Maybe only for your Highness, as a Blessed One, could claim this, but the rest." Raven shook his head instead of finishing his words.

"No. Faith is a good way to teach morality to the people. It gives morality to humanity that we would be unable to impose on one another. Sol teaches fairness. He punished Khors, humanity but himself as well for letting things escalate that far. But he also was fair to us all. He stripped Khors of himself but allowed him to stay with his son in exile. He made humanity prove they had redeemed themselves before allowing themselves to return to him. He loves all of us even for our imperfections but refuses to let those who he deems unjust return to his side, forever to fill the sky as stars that can never reach him. He split himself from everything he loved, even his innocent daughter, to punish himself."

"No." Alfred’s voice became firm, "We must make the people believe these things work for another reason, and for that, I think the only way is to make everyone believe they work for the greater good of the Kingdom. Make each person feel they are valued for their contributions no matter what it is. Each farmer, beggar, and noble. We are all one organism that strives to help not the nobles or King, but the Ammary people and nation. We instill into them that each role has a part to play, and a divergence from this is a failure on their part."

"And what if a divergence occurs? They start to want more. They learn that their role is important but don’t believe it. And then what of those who read scripture and don’t agree with the current church? If things go for the worst we could have both the Church facing a new schism and the Kingdom’s very foundations upended."

"A valid concern, but also the worst-case scenario. To instill a belief that they work for the betterment of everyone is inherently a just way of thinking. And when those few who begin to act out and question everything come before the remaining who believe their role in society is important and start to tell them they are wrong, how do the people react? They won’t just rally to their side but see them as wrong. They are the ones working against the social order."

"We are not creating a society built on fear Raven, but on justice and communal identity. My vision is a way to make it so my people all see themselves as important as me in their jobs. They look at their fellows and see them working hard for the betterment of everyone and wish to work harder for them. And those who rise with invalid complaints we give the stick but those who are right we give the carrot"

Raven sat and thought about what he had been told. He was still scared of the problems that could arise but Alfred also made points he couldn’t really refute. It was a dilemma. On one hand, he knew the church’s history and had read about the worst-case scenario. But on the other hand, he knew that it could greatly improve the lives of the many. He didn’t want to hold back the opportunities of the people but he also didn’t want to see his beloved Church and Alfred’s Kingdom potentially collapse.

"I will write up a draft of how I wish to achieve this. I’ll let you think on it." Alfred said politely flashing a smile and leaving. Now alone Raven fell into deep thought.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Raven smiled thinking about the debate he had with Alfred. His worries still existed but had been proved to be unfounded so far. It was a process that was far from complete for what he believed to be Alfred’s visions, only really showing great progress in the cities of the kingdom due to the large wealth available to them and less of a reliance on the Church to see it happen, and having its own institutions.

He reached into a drawer he had tightly locked, pulling out the original plans Alfred had drafted for him. It went into great depth to create the cultural identity of the Ammary people. It took liberties from the Commonwealth, who were forced to create one to avoid collapse. Raven could see it bordered on indoctrination, especially for the teaching material used within the cities which differed from more rural locations.

The creation of national pride within the nation for the people to feel a sense of worth for their origins. It was the first step Alfred had told him and the one he classed as most important, arguing that people wouldn’t care about their roots if they had no pride in it. Within the cities, the history of their Kingdom was used to install this whilst more rural areas couldn’t spare as much time and were taught to take pride in being an Ammar for the benefits that they received that no other nation had access to.

Next was a way to install a reason to justify the system. As he had argued all those years ago it was to justify each role not overshadowing the importance of any. It once more differed from location to location. Finally, it used the teachings of Sol to reinforce morality.

It was just a plan and many scholars, nobles, and clergymen had debated with Alfred on the exact things that should be taught but eventually, they had reached a middle ground and began his plan. He couldn’t get much data on its effects within the rural areas, as the people had more important things to worry about in their lives, but within the cities, it showed after a few years.

Rallies and parades would occasionally begin to celebrate the Ammary culture, some with the interface of the crown starting them. His worries with the church had also not been seen yet. It was the usual amount of questions of doctrine that he faced before.

Raven put away the draft. He looked forward to the future but he still kept his fears in his heart, always ready for them to pop up.