Chapter 1000 (1/2)
The last time Loren came to church was when he went to the capital, Golovin.
At that time, Byrne Cathedral still did not come out of the shadow of the ”evil beast of red blood Castle” incident a few years ago - because of the Centaur war, the civil war in the dwarf Kingdom, the construction of new army, wizard guild and ”sky wing corps”, Byrne did not have much funds and materials to really invest in the restoration of the church.
In addition, a large number of middle and high-level churches are crazy to resell all kinds of metal utensils in the church, even the statue of the Holy Cross. As a result, three years later, we can still see many ruins damaged by explosion and fire at that time, and only the cathedral itself has barely been repaired.
On the one hand, it is really helpless. On the other hand, it is also to avoid being influenced by too many church voices when developing the wizard Guild - for a long time, Bain cathedral was more like a well decorated grave, in which everyone living could not wait to leave.
When Weber took over the Byrne church, the whole church had taken on a new look in only one year.
Although the Byrne church lost a lot of wealth and stable income after abandoning a large number of parish administrators, land and real estate, it also reduced expenses and won the friendship of the upper echelon of the principality.
No matter how much Loren resisted the church, he had to admit their influence in the Empire and even in the principality. Almost half of them had the faith in the Holy Cross and the traditional worship of the female warrior God.
After reaching an agreement with the Countess of red blood castle and having a small stable income, Weber used donations from all over the principality to repair the cathedral and planned and designed according to his inner thoughts.
The little clergyman, who was born in the imperial capital but stayed in lottel for a long time, was very disgusted with the mysterious and dignified style of Golovin or the extremely luxurious style of Byrne. Instead, he respected lottel's ”simple style” - the place of church sermon, which only needed a sermon platform, a statue, a bench and a holy pool.
As for the organ, incense cans, crystal chandeliers and marble statues... After meeting the corrupt deacons of the Byrne church, Weber was extremely disgusted with these things.
He denounced in public more than once that these were ”wealth goods” that ”corrupt the mind”. He told Charlotte that he should advocate thrift, spend money on moral cultivation, let the workshops in the city produce cheaper tools, drugs and daily necessities, rather than expensive luxury goods, and reduce the number of monthly banquets and drinking.
Of course, the proud Countess of red blood Castle couldn't listen at all.
The banquet was still held. The Duke's seat in the round table hall was replaced by marble high backed chairs from wooden chairs, and the crystal chandelier was replaced by a better fluorite lamp; The luxury goods produced by the alchemy workshop and Byrne's wine are still sold throughout the Empire.
For Charlotte, a ”pure Bain”, if there is no banquet, no food, wine, music, painting, sculpture, art, incense and beautiful clothes
What is the meaning of such a boring life?
Weber even doubted that for Charlotte, the faith of the church and the Holy Cross, like wine, food or beautiful clothes, was just a ”luxury” to enrich life and spirit?
After several ”attempts to save” failed, Weber was very helpless. He could only focus on the purity of the church itself - he was trying to restore the ancient church model from beginning to end. He always hoped to build the Holy Cross Church into a moral model and a benchmark for believers.
”I already know about ayin... Ah, I'm sorry.”
Outside the corridor of the cathedral, seeing the obviously unhappy expression of the black haired wizard, Weber quickly apologized and said, ”I was outside when you quarreled with Isaac. I didn't mean to...”
”It doesn't matter, I know what's going on.” reluctantly waved his hand, Lauren interrupted him: ”you didn't come to persuade me, did you?”
”Of course not. I'm your friend, but I'm not your family. I have no right to interfere in your marriage.” little priest Weber nodded with a natural expression:
”The Holy Cross belongs to the Holy Cross, and the power belongs to those in power - what I want to do is to marry you and bless you in front of the Holy Cross, rather than interfere with your rights.”
”As for Charlotte and Ayn, they are good girls, although... They are not devout believers of the Holy Cross.” Weber sighed involuntarily.
Whenever you fail to preach or are not understood, you will have a strong sense of frustration.
”Really, just not pious enough?” Lauren glanced at little priest Weber. ”I thought you would use the Bishop's power to force me to judge them.”
Weber was stunned and then lost his voice and smiled.
This kind of ”joke” can only be opened between them.
”The old Scripture of the Holy Cross says that birth and knowledge... These are never sins. The real sins come from our own infinitely expanding desires. This is the power that can destroy everything.”
With a faint remark, Weber stared at Loren with a sincere look: ”Ayn is also my friend, and I also know her; as a humble servant of the Holy Cross, her kindness and courage still make me ashamed.”
”As for impiety... That's the sin of us; just as it's the sin of shepherds to let innocent lambs disappear in the pasture.”
”If someone uses the excuse of 'witch' to send her to the frame of fire, the cause is not pious - this kind of people with ulterior motives, lust for profit and bad intentions are the poor people who are really destroyed by inflated desire.”
Nodding silently, Loren breathed a sigh of relief at the bottom of his heart.
Of course, he was not only joking, but also confirming Weber's attitude.
Weber can't snitch or expose the real identity of the little wizard, otherwise he won't have to wait until now, but his view on this matter is still very important.
The church's attitude towards witches... Even wizards has always been very tough; Weber, a little priest born in the imperial capital, knows more about the church's attitude towards witches and pagans than Loren. He deliberately ignores or even conceals what is the crime in the church.
In a sense, this is tantamount to the complete separation of Weber and the Byrne church behind him from the Holy Cross.
”In fact, you don't have to worry about me at all, Loren.” the little priest's usual peaceful voice sounded: ”this is almost inevitable for me from the day I became bishop Byrne.”
”At first, I had fantasies that I could change the atmosphere of the church bit by bit, but the story of little Joad soon taught me a lesson and let me see a... Terrible fact.”
”That is, the present church is more similar to a semi independent 'principality' than a church - but the principality is too divided, the 'territories' are distributed throughout the Empire, and the system is more dispersed.”
”This' principality 'has an independent army, finance and people; bishops and church priests everywhere are more like appointed governors and tax collectors, who are responsible for exploiting and collecting money, or competing for power with local lords...” the little priest seemed to sigh and decide:
”If I don't destroy this monster, if I don't fundamentally deny it, the church I hope... Can only exist in hope forever - because if they really understand what I want to do, they will kill me.”
Closing his eyes, the little priest with a painful expression trembled slightly.