The Lion's Courtyard
Gazing around, the paladin sees to his sides beautiful archways soaring above his head. He glances at a balcony, unnocupied. As he steps, his sabatons clank against the stone. He strides to a pillar, laying a gloved hand on its surface and watching the substance shift. He looks past into a celeste sky populated by white clouds. Beneath spans an endless layer of more clouds, unbroken.
He hears a resounding metal tap, iron on stone. He moves toward the sound, seeing a huge iron lion lying crooked across the platform. The lion taps the tip of its metal paw against the stairs twice more, then rests it hanging over the edge.
A faint creak and low rumble is followed by a deep voice as the lion speaks.
"Welcome," he calmly offers.
The paladin is awestruck, gazing at the god. The lion makes no further moves, easily mistaken for a statue if the liquid golden eyes didn't stare back with such deep resolve.
He gathers himself, replying "Thank you, Magister."
"Now, with greetings aside; you are here to discuss something with me, yes?" the lion asks, shifting his paws idly.
"I do. I have followed your tenets to the best of my ability for years..." the paladin begins, pausing to take a breath.
"You may simply ask. I already know why you are here, though not the specifics," he states.
The paladin stops, taking a brief look around at the sky, before returning his attention to the deity.
"I wish to know why. Why you've laid out such things. It is not my place to question divinity, and I hope I do not transgress here. I believe wholeheartedly in your guidance for my own reasons. I am not a blind follower like some I have seen. But why do you believe these things?"
The lion sits silently, watching the paladin who breathes slowly and stills his heart.
"You are not the first to ask, nor will you be the last. But, to each individual there is a drive to know that must be satisfied. Purpose and duty are strong words, and even stronger things to believe in. We gods have thoughts and reasoning that can be difficult to put to words. I have changed over hundreds of thousands of years, my motives settling as I furthered my interests. I find it appalling to watch beings take advantage of one-another and go unpunished. That has not changed. We deities are set in our roles, after-all. I will give you the simplest answer I can provide that I hope will satisfy your curiosity: It is wrong, and others have the power to rectify that. You can change the world by choosing to say, "this is wrong, and will be made right."
The paladin parts his lips to speak, but holds his tongue.
"I can see you wish to speak. Do so."
"You empower us, paladins, clerics, the common person, through your power. But, I must ask, what do you, magister, do?"
"Be careful not to stick your head in the lion's mouth, dear paladin," the lion flatly mordants.
"I-," he starts.
"There are things you have yet to see, and pray you may never have to. I am ferocious and terrifying when stirred to war. You have channeled my might, you should know that well. I keep things at bay that only I can turn away."
The paladin rolled his words over, "Archdevils from Hell? The demon lords of the Abyss?"
The lion lowly chuckles, "Ensear will see to that for me, I suppose." He ruminates a moment as he observes the paladin, "You are brave, I have seen that. You have many years ahead of you, I hope. You are right to assume they have my ire for their own reasons, but I speak of them and the further monsters that do exist. Should you wish to know, speak to Pontiff Charleyon, ask her of the "things that knock on the door of our world," as she likes to say. After she has granted you such insight, if you wish to face the shadows and servants of what I quell, tell her so. You have my blessing, Paladin Carda. Should you wish to bring them to justice, we will guide you."
"I am honored."
"As you should be. Now, return to your world and let my divine will be done."
"I will balance the scales, magister. Thank you."
He returned to the center of the courtyard, looking back at his god. The lion stared back, observing him.
In a flash of light he was no longer in the divine realm, now back on Bereir. He turned, looking off over a vista, before taking leave to start a new journey.
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