He Who Serves

She is waiting.” “I’m a soldier. A low-ranking member of the Summistar Guard. There’s nothing I could offer Iren. I can barely read,” he shrugged. It had to be a mistake, or at best a misunderstanding. “How you lived in this world so far must have pleased her.” “Iren picks from the Circle, why would she need to see me? Because you and I are related?” protested Gaius once more. He had a hard time imagining the Great Iren as a woman. All the stories he was raised on were as Iren the Conqueror, Iren the Gruesome. Iren the Terrible. He had known Iren as a fierce warrior, and to imagine the being in a female form felt blasphemous, “Tell me you are joking.” “Stop saying that,” Celeste said firmly. She stepped closer to him, “Now you will get yourself together and follow me. Our God is waiting to meet you and we are late enough.” She wiped the tears from her face. Only two years younger than Gaius, she was mature for her age. Celeste was used to keeping up appearances. With an exhale, she fixed her outfit and forced a smile. Celeste was too proud to let anyone see her falter. The barracks were empty. The soldiers cleared out at the arrival of Celeste, but many of them had positioned themselves outside the door. As a member of the Circle, Celeste was treated with the deference of a high-ranking member of the religion of Summistar. The Order of Iren. Her duty was to wait in preparation for Iren to return. To serve. Every time Iren reincarnated, they were entirely different. Different beings with the same shared soul, all who made their own choices and declarations. Iren only returned as a man. But to be a woman— Celeste turned her nose as Gaius fixed his outfit. The smell of body odor from the soldier’s barracks invaded her nostrils. Just when she thought it was gone, she would catch a whiff. Gaius suddenly felt self-conscious and smelled himself—it had been a while since he had a bath, and he was expected to meet a literal God. “Iren requested that you be her Servant. If you accept, come with me. If not, then I need to alert her right away, so she may select someone else,” Celeste stayed focused on her purpose. When their God made a decision, there was nothing to do but obey. Iren was not wrong. Iren could not be. Despite Celeste’s feelings, Gaius knew that Iren meant everything to his sister, and there he was—practically complaining that he achieved the position Celeste had wanted her whole life. It was supposed to be her, and they both knew it. Celeste brushed her reddish-brown hair behind her ear as she waited for Gaius to finish. The siblings were each other’s only family and had faced the harsh world as a pair. Their mother arrived in Summistar from a distant land, having heard of the God of Iren and all his mercy. She fled a war-torn path with Gaius in her arms, and Celeste in her belly. In Summitstar, they had found a home. A place where they did not have to run, but instead could live in peace. It was through the generosity of the Iren Temple that Celeste and Gaius had a chance at a real future. An opportunity to raise themselves above their circumstances. The Servant of Iren was the highest position in the religious order that an ordinary human could achieve. It was a position ceremonial in nature, an ornament for the God Iren to lead rituals and festivals, and most importantly, to carry the children of Iren. Gaius was woefully unprepared to take on a role that required more than his skillset as a soldier. And yet, if Iren herself requested him, then there had to be a reason. There was something he was meant to do. “Very well. I will go,” Gaius agreed, his sister’s expression was torn between pride and disappointment. Celeste turned and walked down the aisle between the rows of beds in the barracks and stopped in front of the door. Gaius followed and opened the heavy door that led to the Summistar Gaurd’s facilities, located near the furthest wall from the palace. His unit defended the capital city. The location was not particularly flashy and did not offer room for advancement. It was where the lower-ranking members of the military lived, waiting for the day when they earned a better assignment. Gaius followed behind Celeste. To his surprise the soldiers stood in formation, all equal distance apart. The commander of the barracks called for a salute, and all of them responded in rhythm. Gaius stood amazed at the sight of his fellow soldiers, his brothers that he shared his formative years. They treated him as though he had ascended to General in an instant. They stared ahead. He never expected to leave the barracks with such pomp. A simple promotion was all he expected for his future, but not one to such a scale. It took a single moment for his life to change forever. “Let’s go,” Celeste shook Gaius out of his surprise, the show of respect familiar to her. Gaius’ eyes scanned the outside of the barracks for his closest friend, Nathaniel. He spotted his rather plain-looking friend whose eyes were filled with pride. Gaius wished he could give a proper goodbye. Gaius did not grab any of his belongings, and he felt foolish to ask Celeste to double back now. He was heading to the palace, a far cry from his simple life. Certainly, they would have whatever it was he needed. The walk towards the carriage felt like an eternity as Gaius steadily continued behind Celeste, the realization of what he agreed to sinking in. He was to be married to a goddess. Or at least, as close to a marriage as one could get. Gaius wished he paid attention to the lessons in religious class. Servants were chosen from the Circle, a special order of high-ranking priestesses who showed an aptitude for leadership and knowledge of Iren. The women trained as soon as they came of age to enter the clergy, each competed to be seen. To be chosen. Gaius was overwhelmed with the responsibility of what it meant to be the person to be chosen by Iren. He knew of her in concept only—how she founded the city on the most fertile lands hundreds of incarnations ago. How she was powerful enough to erect walls so large and expansive that it kept the city safe, maintained by her magic alone. The rest of her lands were supposedly blessed by a barrier of magic. The capital city was the heartbeat of the land. Iren was a conqueror. A tactician. A scientist. She eradicated dangerous diseases, and advanced medical knowledge so that the people could help themselves. She spread the arts, encouraging the creation of stories and statues and art. Especially artistic depictions of her. Gaius and Celeste approached a carriage; two members of the Temple Guard opened the doors for them to step inside. Celeste gestured for Gaius to go first. He was not used to going first. Not used to being treated with such deference. And, Gaius did not have the luxury of time to get used to it. His life changed. What was he expected to say? To do? To represent? Suddenly, he felt like he no longer knew what anyone expected of him. As a soldier, he had to follow orders. As a man, he wanted to live a life he was proud of. But now? He stepped inside the carriage. Celeste followed after. The carriage rocked forward with an unfamiliar lurch. Silence filled the cabin. Gaius was uncomfortable, unused to the rocking motion of the carriage against the cobblestone streets, “I prefer riding,” he mentioned filling the air. “You are a Servant now,” Celeste said simply. “Yes…of course,” Gaius responded to her gently, “But what does that mean?” Celeste did not answer. “I’m sorry, Celeste,” he apologized softly. He knew it would not be enough. Gaius did not try to peek out of the window. He did not know how quickly word spread and was not ready for more eyes on him. Gaius never considered himself particularly shy, he was simply used to being in the background. He realized he may not ever step into a room where he went unnoticed again. The carriage climbed up a path, the incline unusual. Gaius knew from his time in the city that it was the path for high-ranking members to enter the palace. It was the only path within the city that ascended in such a straight, smooth row. A single file path for added security. It was rumored that secret passageways had countless routes to bring important people to the palace. Some of the secret passages underground were sealed away. The original settlement of Summistar. The roads were ant trails, and the palace itself an anthill, an entire world beneath the gem of Summitstar. The enormous palace was home to the highest-ranking members of the clergy, including Celeste as a member of the Circle. Gaius had never seen where she lived. He was too unimportant and uncultured to receive an invitation. Instead, it was always Celeste who visited him on her rare days off. The carriage stopped. Gaius pulled back the curtain to see the entrance of the Palace of Summistar. They were in the central stone courtyard located at the highest point of the city. It was a large, wide tower with four wings that spread in the cardinal directions. To the East was where the clergy lived. To the West was where the highest-ranking military officials lived. The North was the Academy of Science, while the South was the Academy of Arts. All of them were within reach of Iren during her incarnation. Gaius never believed he would be so close to the central palace. He had seen artistic paintings but was in awe at the architectural marvel of witnessing the palace in person. It was made from the finest stone, crafted by legendary artisans. The entrance had two enormous depictions of Iren that loomed down on them. One showed off a militaristic incarnation, while the other the ornate. Two sides of the diety with unimaginable power. The entire palace was a shrine to her glory. The door to the carriage was opened by a member of the Temple Guard. Gaius was impressed by the party that welcomed him. Priestesses and monks in matching robes stood organized in a row from the carriage to the entrance of the palace. Gaius was expected to exit the carriage first. He had to remember. He stepped out and remained frozen. “Walk inside,” whispered Celeste when he did not move, “You have to go in first. Alone.” Gaius nodded. With as much grace he could muster—unclean and in his soldier’s uniform, he stepped out of the carriage. In unison, the clergy all bowed their heads to him. Gaius was out of place in this new world. He kept his focus straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with everyone as he approached the doublewide doors of the palace. At his presence, the doors opened before him, the largest doors he had seen aside from the gates to the city itself. He stepped through the threshold. Gaius was humbled to take in the sights that only the most prominent people in Summistar were able to see. Not even the military was allowed in this portion of the palace—it was a place of hearth. History. Presence. The home of a living god. An old woman stood at the stairs inside the foyer of the palace. Her hair done up intricately, decorated in jewels and bells. Her robes were heavy under many layers, her rank on display. “Welcome Gaius Mistail, we hope the carriage ride was pleasant,” she spoke with arms open. “High Priestess,” he bowed instinctively. He was ignorant in most ways of the Temple, but he knew who the head of the religious order was. “Please, none of that,” she said clearly. Her voice was wise and gentle. She moved down the stairs, her long robe like a tail behind her. “We are happy you answered the call of Iren. She is waiting for you.” Erma Duclas was the head of the Order of Summitstar. She had been in the role of High Priestess for as long as Gaius could remember, and felt in awe to have the complete attention of someone he had revered his entire life. She bowed her head to him, and gestured for him to follow, “Please, come this way.” Gaius nodded; his voice caught in his throat by the overwhelming realization that he would be meeting his God. His Goddess. There were those who dreamed of having a private audience with Iren, who would do just about anything to share the same air as her. He arrested a few merchants who claimed they sold fabrics that were worn on her body. A feat nearly impossible given Iren had not re-incarnated in lifetimes. All false, just a chance to make easy coin. Such a genuine artifact would be priceless. His heart drummed loudly in his chest as he walked closer and closer in the heart of the palace. The further in he went, he was met by an overwhelming presence of warmth. Gaius desperately wished that his legs did not feel like stones as he climbed up the stairs. He looked back to see Celeste standing at the foot of the stairs. He did not realize she had followed, but the look on her face told him everything. She could not join him any further. The sights of the palace were marvels. The floors were cleaned and gleaming. Even the servants dressed elegantly. All avoided the gaze of Gaius and the High Priestess as they walked up the wide staircase. Once they reached the top, Erma stopped in front of doors made of solid gold. The chamber where Iren slept between lifetimes, “She waits for you.” Gaius stared at the front doors, “High Priestess…what am I supposed to do?” She smiled at him, “Iren has everything figured out. She has decided you would be her Servant, so it is she who will let you know what to do, not me.” The soldier shook his head, “I am not prepared.”