Chapter 2
At eight o'clock the next morning the two of them met outside of Beth's apartment and headed off to the seminary, where they were to meet with the clerics there to discuss finding this last history book in order to complete the thesis Wilfred was working on. They were puzzled by the reactions that the clerics had given them before.
The seminary was built out of stone, and a sort of ponderous nature filled it. Even passerby who did not know that this was a religious school were able to understand that the matters dealt here were weighty and important. The builders of the seminary well understood that by linking the form of the building with the function it served, common people would be able to understand the role and importance of certain types of buildings, and see how their very structure and form were emblematic of their importance and vitality.
The couple walked into the seminary and into the open square, where the clerics were all standing together. All were dressed in their most solemn robes, as was Wilfred. After some introductory prayers, where all of them silently sent a plea to God for wisdom in this matter, they set to talking.
"As you all know, I am in need of one more book before my doctoral thesis is complete. I am writing on the identity of the mages before they became immortal sons and daughters of God. This book is not in any library in this city, nor indeed is it in this realm I have been told. My question to you here today, is where is this book, that I may find the answers I need," Wilfred said patiently.
"You ask a hard thing, student," the eldest cleric among them said.
"Yes, Wilfred," his thesis advisor said, "You must know that it has been since the Animal Star Empire that we have seen the book ourselves, and we cannot remember which passage it is that you seek, though we know it is in the book. We do know where the book is, but the journey to the book, and back, is one so dangerous that we fear to tell you."
"Why do you fear to tell me. What dangerous place could there be in the Empire?" Wilfred asked.
"The book is not in this empire, and that is the danger," another cleric said.
"Where could this book be, then, if it is not in the empire?" Wilfred asked puzzled.
"The book is in the old Viceroy's Palace, in the area now ruled over by the former Secfenian Central Guard," the senior cleric said.
"The book is in the Viceroy's palace?" Wilfred asked even more perplexed.
"Yes, and as a citizen of the empire, indeed, as an intruder at all, your going there would be extremely dangerous. Not only is the SCG unfriendly towards all they think of as spies for the Empire, the mages themselves do not like their secrets known. We told you when you chose this topic that it would be of extreme difficulty, hoping that you would pick something less dangerous to your health. Now you understand the path you must take in order to finish your search for the knowledge of the beginnings of human life here in Secfenia," the thesis advisor said wearily.
"Yes, young one," an old cleric said, "The mages would not let us take the book with us when the Animal Star Empire was falling and we left the palace for the last time. They told us the book would become known when the time was right. I hope, for your sake lad, that the time is right, or else your life could be forfeit."
"This is all too much to take in. My study of the beginnings of humanity on this earth have been marvelous, and I have found out much that greatly elucidates the problems we have to face, such as the intricate nature of the relations of the three races. If I make it to the mages, I will ask their permission to make at least some of the knowledge about them public. It is time for people to worship the true God instead of worshipping the mages, who were at one time human like them. I wish for the mages to be known for who they really are, so that humanity may marvel at them for the right reasons. I have no intention on stopping now. I will do what it takes to find the book," Wilfred said solemnly.
"I figured you would say that," the senior cleric said, "but you must realize that even getting to the island where the Viceroy's Palace is will be difficult. The emperor would have to grant a ship to be used on your behalf, and then again for you to come back, under a flag of truce, for we are at war with the people who rule that island. I hope that your search is successful, but there are many dangers ahead."
"I understand that," Wilfred gulped, "and I want to go anyway."
"This is the reason we do not take to many Bravian students," the thesis advisor said with a slight smile.
"We will need to go to the emperor now. After all, this is in his hands now, and in God's hands, as always," the chief cleric said.
Together the group of them walked to the emperor's palace, talking amongst themselves. The people on the street were most perplexed to see this many clerics walking together. There must be something big going on. Finally they got to the palace gates, and the guard asked them their business.
"We are here to see the emperor about a trip to the Viceroy's Palace in search of an ancient manuscript," Wilfred said.
"I will see about that," the guard said, "You wait out here."
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