Chapter 373: Leave and Never Return

Michael heard the sound of men outside and knew that an army was waiting for him. His hand reached down for his sword like instinct, but he stopped himself. He couldn’t bring himself to swing his sword here. Tightening the grip around the book in his hand, he pulled open the door and was met with the sight of his brothers in arms.

"Michael. Don’t make this harder than it has to be." Gabriel’s voice, even in a moment of victory, lacked the pride or arrogance one would expect, only the usual coldness. It made Michael happy to know that, despite everything, Gabriel hadn’t done it for power.

Looking at Rameil, Gabriel and Elijah, he felt no anger towards his fellow Grand Templars. They didn’t know what he knew. They still had a vow that they could believe. Glancing up, he saw Constance with a blank expression.

The two locked eyes. Michael could see that Constance was analysing him, wondering what he was going to do and say. Looking around, he took a deep breath. He had already prepared himself for what he was about to do. "The Church has lied to us for generations. And I have proof." Michael felt proud that his voice didn’t shake. It was worse than any battle he fought, knowing he might crush the hopes and faith of many. "I know many of you won’t believe me. But I can quickly prove it."

Michael reached into his pocket and pulled out the key to the Secret Archive. Constance’s eyes widened as he realised what Michael was going to do.’I was stupid. I never expected him to do something underhanded.’

He wanted to give the order to kill him, but stopped himself. If he acted rashly, he could destroy any support he had. Holding his tongue, he watched without a change in expression.

"I call on any member of the clergy who can read Umanic to volunteer to read the relic of our founder." The eldest members of the clergy all brightened up hearing that. They knew the value of the secret archive and couldn’t help but be interested. Despite their excitement, they stopped themselves after seeing Gabriel’s cold eyes scan everyone.

"I shall." An old, withered voice came from behind the Templars, and a hunched-back priest walked forward. He wasn’t a bishop or anyone high-ranked, but seeing his clothes, it was obvious he worked in the archive.

Gabriel looked down at Constacne, who shook his head. "Will I be enough, Sir Michael?" Michael looked at him before looking around. No one stepped forward and gave the key; he nodded.

"Only look at the Old Tablet. Nothing else." The old man nodded and grabbed the key, walking off. Behind Michael, they watched him slowly walk behind the Silver throne and back out. The whole ordeal lasted ten minutes, but it was the longest in all their lives, with not a single man or woman daring to breathe too loudly.

Once he returned, the old man looked down in shame and shook his head, "Sir Michael’s words are not unfounded." His old voice wasn’t loud, but everyone heard his words. Looking up at the Templar, the old man indicated for him to continue.

"In the Secret Archive, the first lie told by the Church is written on an Old Tablet. A message from the first pope." Michael looked down at the old man, and he knew what he wanted.

’As Sol’s chosen, I will usher his light into the World,

Jeremiah.’

Both of them repeated what they read simultaneously. Michael looked up at Constance. Everyone was confused, not recognising the name. The chattering amongst the clergy died down once Michael spoke again. "The First Pope of the Holy Seat was not Pope Phineas. It was Pope Jeremiah ’the Oralce’ and the first Blessed One of the Sol. This is the first lie of the Church, and it is the one that started everything. Constance, tell me I’m wrong?"

Everyone looked to the Pope. Constacne didn’t budge, instead putting on a smile that was comparable to an angel’s. "It’s the truth, but hardly relevant. Jeremiah threatened to destroy the faith of Sol, his light, which could grace us. I disagree with Phineas’s action to purge Jeremiah from existence, but by the time people knew the truth, it was too late. History had already been altered."

Constance looked down at Michael, "If you are telling the truth, Michael, will you say them all? If not, shall I?" To everyone else, Constance’s demand sounded pure, but for Michael, it was sinister. It wasn’t as simple as the Holy Book being altered. He wanted him to expose the truth about the Grand Templars. To crush his brothers in arms’ spirits.

Michael froze and Constancence quickly capitalised on it: "Michael, if you don’t say them all, then you are as much of a hypocrite as I and those who held my seat before me."

Michael knew Constance was right, and looking at the Templars before him, he pulled his sword out. Everyone quickly readied themselves for a battle, but no one expected him to throw the blade on the ground. "You’re right." Michael spread his arms, "And because you are, I will never wield my sword again. Elijah, Gabriel, Ramiel. Our role as Grand Tempalrs is a lie. The vow of sacrifice is nothing more than an excuse to have us become the hitmen of the Church. Created by men who feared losing power. After all, Gideon ’the Brave’ never existed."

Michael watched. Unlike what he expected, Ramiel wasn’t the first to break, but Elijah. The man looked up at Constance with hate. He remembered his soft voice telling him how he was the protector of the faith. He had believed it and had no reason to doubt Michael after he had been in the secret Archive. If it was a lie, he didn’t understand what he fought for.

"Michael," Elijah said through gritted teeth. "I have protected the faithful. Are you honestly telling me it was fake?"

"No." Michael answered quickly, "You all did what you believed protected the faithful, that is real. But the reason we exist isn’t for that. It’s to carry out any order of the Pope. Something which has led me to commit an innumerable number of sins. I have butchered my fellow faithful and heathens for decades, because of a lie."

"Michael." Gabriel spoke up next, stepping forward, "Just because you suffered a crisis of faith does not give you the right to make others suffer like that." Pulling his sword, he stared deeply into the old man’s eyes. "You may be lying about the origin of the Grand Templars, but you were right when you said. We protect the faithful. You are an enemy to them now."

"Gabriel." Constance called down, "Wait." Constance stared at Michael. "Michael, what is it you want. To tell every secret. To shatter the hopes of millions. To destroy the safeguard against the Heathens. Those who would see us slaughtered. Because if you want to bring war to the Holy Seat for this reason, I will tell them all myself. Or do you want me dead, along with anyone else who hid this?"

Michael looked up at him. "No. It’s not enough. The Church lost its way. Shackled by the politics of man. We lost our way the day Jeremiah died. We should worship God, not power. Something that those who have led us for generations forget. I don’t want you or anyone dead, for that matter, Constance. We all have committed enough sins. All I want is a return to the purity of faith. To make the worship of Sol the only concern of those who dedicate themselves to him."

Constance frowned and looked away. Gabriel knew what it meant and looked at his Templars. "Arrest the traitor, Michael."

Those loyal to Gabriel moved quickly, but were stopped by the Templars loyal to Michael. A melee quickly broke out, and Michael gritted his teeth in hate. "STOP! DO NOT SHED BLOOD IN THIS HOLY PLACE!"

Despite his words, no one listened, and the two sides fought. Michael looked down and saw Ramiel moving forward, his eyes sad about what he had to do. "MICHAEL!" Elijah shouted and went in front of Ramiel. "LEAVE! NEVER RETURN!"

"Don’t do this." Ramiel softly said to Elijah, but the man shook his head. Pulling his sword, Ramiel swung fast and powerfully. Elijah blocked and looked at Michael. "GET OUT! DO WHAT YOU MUST!"

Constance watched the fighting on the floor below and frowned. It was bad for him and the Church. "STOP! GABRIEL! RAMEIL!" Constance’s voice called out. The fighting died down, and everyone looked up to Constance. It looked like he was about to cry to the people watching, and with a deep frown, he gulped. "Michael. Leave. Never return. You have no home here anymore."

Constance looked at the bodies. Some men had gone through pain, and a small few had died. "Bury them. And clean this up." Turning around, he walked off, leaving everyone to stare at Michael.

Looking at Elijah, the man mouthed ’go’. Michael looked at Gabriel and threw the key to the Secret Archive before leaving. Carefully, he walked through the sea of people. Hundreds of eyes watched him, and quiet whispers filled his mind.

"He is a traitor."

"He thinks for Sol."

"We didn’t need to know the truth."

"He’s a hypocrite. Like His Holiness said."

"How do you know the old man wasn’t in on it with him. No one else stepped forward."

"We lost our way years ago. I could tell. I was just afraid."

"If he wanted to repent, he should have killed himself."

"What does it change knowing the Church lied. Everyone does."

Michael tried to drown out their voices but couldn’t, and reaching the large set of double doors, he gave one final look at the place he had called home for decades. He knew that doing this would mean abandoning his home, but now that the time had come, he didn’t want to. Wiping away silent tears from his eyes, he quickly turned his head, not wishing to let anyone see him in that state, and forced himself to leave. If he stayed any longer, he knew he wouldn’t be able to go.

Constance didn’t keep him alive out of the goodness of his heart. Michael knew that. It was reputation. Sure, blood had been spilt in the Holy Seat numerous times, but this was different. This was a schism in the making.

’A schism.’Michael looked up to the sky. He had to leave and find a new place to live. He couldn’t think about that now; first was getting out alive.