And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know

[ofnovalue]

Who: A queen and her knight
What: New arrivals
Where: Melai Temple entrance
When: Before the Brugh begins
Warnings/Notes: None

The journey to the Temple itself had been largely silent, save for Agrias' occasional notes to remain low, to watch her step, or take her hand. Ovelia had been pouring over in her mind, over and over and over again, just what to say to Agrias beyond the simple platitudes of greeting and expressions of happiness that she was safe. But there was so much more to tell, so much more that remained locked away deep within Ovelia's soul, words she found herself too weak willed to even mutter. So instead she remained quiet, passing off her silence simply as watchfulness, a noble in a strange land trusting in her knight to keep her well...

But now they had reached shelter, and apparently found others, she could no longer keep up that pretense. She had to find a new distraction, something to peel her mind away from what she'd left behind. And the Temple provided just that, draping the monarch in its quiet reverie as she wandered past the main entrance and stood within its grand hall.

"Tis as beautiful and yet... more ancient than any holy place standing still in history's Ivalice...," it felt so strangely familiar to her, as if there was a part of her existence that stretched back thousands of eons to touch this hallowed ground before in some spiritual way. Something that seemed to extend even beyond Ivalice's own Great Cataclysm, into truly ancient times. She could feel the presence here of God... but what name this God held was still unknowable to her. And in a soothing way... she didn't have to know their name.

"My thoughts go to Orbonne, and I feel almost as if my prayers would reach them..." she continued wandering into the hall.

[[ feel free to either respond to Ovelia or to Agrias in her top level posted on this post! ]]

Comments

[greyerrant]

"That sounds awful. But you indicated it was long ago?"

He seems quite interested. Like he'd discuss history for years, if given the chance.

[ofnovalue]

"Yes, several centuries at least, back in the time of the King Mesa and Saint Ajora," two figures he'd likely not recognize, but there was some reverie in which the way their names were spoken.

[greyerrant]

"I see. Will you tell me a bit about this monarch and holy person, then? If you would like I can tell you tales of the Imperium of man in return."

He smiles a bit. The idea of recounting the golden age in this place seems like a pleasant way to pass the time for him.

[ofnovalue]

"Hero-King Mesa was the last of the Ivalice Dynast-Kings, from what I understand. He was among the Twelve Zodiac Braves that are said in legend to have fended off the Lucavi, devils born of the Catalcylsm that attempted to destroy the rest of Ivalice. Saint Ajora was their leader, a great and revered holy figure. Together, they destroyed the Lucavi and united the seven kingdoms of Ivalice under one crown, worn by King Mesa's heir, as King Mesa sailed off into the Great Ocean to spread the word of Ajora's works..." she looked thoughtful as she spoke, recalling all of her studies at Orbonne...

"Saint Ajora himself, however, challenged the power of the Pharist Church and of the Holy Ydoran Empire, especially now that Ivalice was a united state under one rule, rather than the divided powers that once fought among themselves. When Saint Ajora was tried for heresy and crucified, it is said God's wrath caused a great tide of destruction to sweep the entirety of the Ydoran capital beneath the waves... The people of Ivalive revered Saint Ajora as a messiah, someone who finally brought order to the world after the Cataclysm had nearly destroyed it, and rid Ivalice of the iron fist of the Pharists. Thus the Church of Glabados was established in Saint Ajora's name, and stands to this day...," she trails off at the end there...

"However, tis only my own honesty in which I can say that since Saint Ajora's time, the Church has become just as corrupt as the Pharists of old..."

[[ fair warning, half of this is head-canon, since the ivalice mythos isn't super detailed or well connected ]]