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Okay…. yes that about matches them!
You haven’t mentioned their biggest character difference which is a slight flaw for each of them. We’ll see if it gets picked up later on. 😉
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
@hybridlore @linus-smallprint @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @liberty
NEXT SECTION!!!
The next morning, the four sat about the campfire and discussed their next course of action.
“So, where to now?” Roland asked.
Leon rolled up his cloak and pushed it into his rucksack. “I say we keep pushing toward the Capital and stop in whatever towns and villages we may pass.”
Aelic looked up quickly. “Is that where you are going? The Capital?”
“Yes,” Leon replied. “You don’t have to come with us,” he added
“Oh no, I’m coming,” Aelic said, firmly.
Julian tightened the straps on his pack. “What will we come to next?”
Roland paused in thought. “I believe it is a small town about a day’s journey from here.”
“Is there anything we need to know about this town in advance?” Leon asked.
“It is built around the University,” Roland replied. “The inhabitance are mainly scholars, and they love to argue, discover, and learn. It is a place that we will at least be heard. Whether we are accepted or not is another question. They aren’t as brutal and quick tempered as…” he trailed off.
“As my village,” Aelic finished.
“Hmm, a town of scholars… this will be interesting,” Leon mused.
The four gathered up their gear and put out the fire from breakfast. They were just about to start out when a shout sounded. The young men turned to see a horse and two riders coming at a fast pace along the road. They waited, and as the horse drew near, Roland exclaimed, “It’s Rolf and Ernst!”
Ernst slowed the horse to a stop and Rolf dropped down. He unstrapped a pack from the horse and slung it on his back, then he grasped his brother’s hand and spoke a few words. Ernst nodded and then turned the horse about and rode back the way he had come. Rolf hurried up to the small group and Roland ran to great him.
Rolf stopped in front of Leon. “Julian, Leon, I talked with father yesterday, and I told him I felt God calling me to go with you. He gave me permission, if you will have me.”
“Of course,” Julian said grasping Rolf’s hand.
Rolf looked to Leon. The former Lieutenant nodded and shook his hand. “Welcome to our group.” He then introduced Rolf to Aelic, and the two greeted one another.
The five began the trek down the road, and while they walk, Rolf told them of the long ride through the night to catch up to them, and the others related of their experience in the forest.
They arrived in the town at sunset. It was a small place with a large market square in the center. It was built at the base of a wide, low sloping hill, and at the top of the hill was an almost fortress-like structure. “That’s the university,” Rolf said.
Leon shielded his eyes against the dying sun and looked up at the top of the hill. “I can see several stone benches out on that wide flat space below the hill.”
“That’s the green,” Roland explained. “I was here once, and I saw the students there. They come out in the mornings and afternoons and sit out there in groups to debate politics, religion, new ideas and the like. The town’s people often gather there to watch and listen. It’s almost a form of entertainment. Sometimes one or other of the scholars will stand up and give a speech or read a legend or something he has written. It’s truly fascinating and the town never seems to grow tired of it.”
“I have a feeling this could be the easiest place we’ve come to so far,” Julian said.
“Or the hardest,” Leon put in.
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, these young men have been trained to argue and obviously enjoy it,” Leon said.,
Julian grinned. “I don’t mind it too much myself.”
“Oh, I know,” Leon replied. “But they are skilled at it, and I’m worried they’ll talk us into corners we can’t get out of.”
The companions made their way to the inn and paid for two rooms. After supper, the five of them turned in for the night, promising to meet in the dining hall the next morning.
Once they were in their room, Julian tumbled down onto the bed and rolled over on his back. “Oh, I love beds. Good night.”
“Take your boots off,” Leon instructed.
Julian made a face at him and sat up to unlace his boots.
Aelic took the bed nearest the door. He set his boots on the floor by the bed and took off his belt and cloak. He slid his sheathed knife off of his belt and put it under his pillow. Pulling the blanket over his shoulders, he slid his right hand under the pillow and closed his eyes. A few moments later, he was asleep.
Julian had been watching Aelic, and he gave Leon a raised eyebrow look.
Leon shook his head. “Whatever you do, don’t startle him awake. He’s likely to stab something.”
Julian laughed quietly.
Leon flipped open his pack and pulled out the journal. Grabbing his writing supplies, he set them on the desk and dropped down in a chair.
“What are you doing? It’s late,” Julian yawned.
“I want to write down everything that happened the last three days,” Leon replied as he opened the book.
Julian dropped onto the bed and folded his hands behind his head. “Why? Who’s going to read it?”
Leon shrugged. “I don’t know, but I guess now that I’ve started, I want to make it worthwhile. I’d like an orderly account of everything that happened.”
Julian grinned. “Okay Apostle John, you do that. Meanwhile, I’ll sleep.”
***
The next morning, the five met for breakfast and discuses where to go. “I think we should go to the university,” Roland said.
“I see no problem in trying,” Leon agreed.
“Shall we stay together or separate?” Rolf asked.
Leon reached for the jug of milk and poured himself a cup. “I think we should stay together at first. Judging on the fact that the atmosphere may change drastically.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Julian said.
After breakfast, the five joined hands in prayer and then prepared to leave. The morning was fresh and pleasant as they walked through the town toward the large university. Everything seemed fresh and alive and had the feeling of a fair or spring celebration. Julian liked the place immensely and he quickened his pace, eager to meet the students.
When they reached the green, the companions found several young men were already gathered, and groups of people stood about listening to them talk. The five joined the townspeople and listened to the students, who were marked by the brown, wide-sleeved, open robes they wore over their tunics and britches. Leon was listening with interest to three of the students talking about a new law that had been passed when Julian nudged him. Leon glanced over at him.
“Let’s go listen to those two, they’ve got quiet a crowd,” Julian whispered.
Leon followed his gesturing hand to where two students sat at another group of benches. They seemed to be in deep conversation, and the men standing around them laughed a few times.
Leon shrugged and nodded for the others to follow. The five moved away from the people they were with and joined the outskirts of the crowd around the young men. Leon moved to a place where he could just catch the profile of one of the students. He leaned forward slightly to listen.
“I tend to find the gods fickle and inconstant,” the young man was saying. “It seems in all of the stories we have about them, their personalities very and change per story, though one fact remains the same, they are always trying to thwart the ways of man.”
“So then, are you saying that we should not worship the gods?” his companion asked.
“No,” replied the first. “I only believe that we must appease them as we must, but not much thought should be put into trying to please them. For in all the stories, not only is that impossible, but the gods’ likes and dislikes very in such a wide range that to discover the truth of what really pleases them is beyond any mortal.”
There were several murmurs of agreement.
“So, how would you view the realm of gods as a whole?” his debating partner asked.
“They seem to me very much like us mortals, though they have powers beyond ours. It also seems that they cannot, or will not, get their minds wrapped about marriage, for they never are married… at least, not for very long,” replied the young student.
There was laughter from those gathered there.
“Do you believe we should try to emulate the gods” the other asked.
“By no means!” the first exclaimed. “If that was to happen, there would be far too many children with no fathers or mothers and deaths would rise drastically. Those who survived would most likely turn to a life of crime and violence and this would upset the delicate balance of society. To compensate more laws would be passed, we would lose more freedom, and in the end the weight of the government would break the people of they would break it.” He shook his head sagely. “No, I would not council anyone to emulate the gods, though I fear that too often— especially among our soldiers— the ways of the gods are followed, and many a pour girl has been left alone with an unwanted child and no provider to speak of.”
Leon’s thoughts immediately turned to the man he had never known and the girl who had died when he was born. He bit his lower lip and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“No,” the scholar continued. “The gods and their ways must be left alone. We mortals must continue in the traditions of old and leave the gods and their women to themselves.”
“Some girls have claimed it was not a man but a god in disguise who lay with them, and thus they are not to blame,” remarked the other. “What say you to this?”
The first laughed. “I say it is all lies. I will believe that when I see it. So far, such rumors have only come from frightened girls speaking to enraged fathers. Besides, would not one think that something special would come of the baby if it was half god? I, for one, have never met a child born of wedlock who seemed any different then myself on a scale of morality.”
His companion gave a nod, signifying the other had won some sort of point in the debate. “So, your belief is that the gods are like us, except that they are more powerful?”
“Yes, and they can do freely what is viewed as a sin amongst us mortals.”
“What if this is because the gods are not gods at all, but the creation of human minds?” Julian asked.
There was a gasp from those gathered and the two scholars looked up. Leon bit his lip and looked around for Julian.
“What is that you say?” the first asked.
“What if the gods are like this because they are not real at all, but the creation of man’s imaginings,” Julian repeated.
Ah, there he was. Leon moved toward him.
“Come,” one of the students said, motioning to the stone benches they sat on.
Leon made a grab for Julian’s arm but just missed as Julian easily jumped a stone bench and joined the circle. Murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd. “Who is he?” Leon heard someone whisper.
“A former student?” a man asked questioningly.
Leon pushed between them so that he had a clear view of Julian. His hand instinctively dropped toward his left hip, but neither sword nor dagger were there.
The two scholars had risen, and one was speaking to Julian. “What is your name?”
“I am Julian Damoss,” Julian replied, offering a hand.
The young man grasped it. “I’m Johannes Richter, and this here is Heinrich Vogt.”
Julian shook hands with Heinrich, and then the three sat down facing one another. Several more people had joined the crowd, and voices murmured in excited questions.
Heinrich made a silencing motion with his hand and the people grew quiet.
Johannes turned to Julian. “Tell us, what makes you think the gods could be a fragment of people’s minds?”
“You made a strong argument for it yourself, though you didn’t quiet see it,” Julian replied. “If I may, I will go over what you were saying.”
Heinrich made a gesturing motion with his hand. “Please, continue.”
Julian nodded. “To begin with, the first thing you said was that you believed the gods are fickle and inconstant, correct?”
Johannes nodded.
“You stated that their likes and dislikes are forever changing, making it impossible for one man to find high favor by pleasing one or other of them in some special way. Now, bear with me as I make my case, but think on this a moment. Perhaps this is so, because the gods were created by men throughout the centuries, and each story reflects the personality of the creator and what they believe the gods do and don’t like.”
Johannes and Heinrich were silent for several moments, and then Johannes nodded for Julian to continue.
Julian did so. “Your next statement was that the gods seem very much like mortals with greater power. This may be one of your strongest points yet, for if something was created by man, he can only create what he can imagine, and his imagination must be fed by what he knows. I might create a statue of a winged horse, but did that spring from my imagination alone?”
“No,” Heinrich replied. “You created the horse because you have seen and understood a horse.”
“And likewise, the wings because you have seen and understand the wings of a bird,” Johannes added.
“But I have created something far more powerful than a horse or a bird,” Julian argued.
“Yes, that is so, but only because you have combined things you already know to make something great,” Johannes pointed out.
Julian nodded. “You are correct. Might this not be so with the gods?”
Heinrich slowly shook his head, but Johannes looked intrigued.
“Pick for me one of the gods and tell me of the power it holds,” Julian challenged.
“There is Tonitruum, the god of storms,” Heinrich said.
“And what is he like?” Julian asked.
“They say he is taller than a man with hair black as night. From his hands come lightning and rain, and his voice is the thunder,” Heinrich replied. “He has wings made of shadow and black clouds that resemble those of an eagle.”
Julian nodded in agreement. Now, tell me which of these things is something that we do not already know?”
Heinrich opened his mouth and then paused. He looked first confused, then surprised, and lastly, thoughtful.
It was Johannes who answered, slowly and carefully. “It seems to me, that Tonitruum is but an explanation for why we have storms.”
“But we know how storms are caused,” Heinrich argued.
“Then what is the reason for Tonitruum?” Johannes mused. “We have discovered the truth of the storms, which means that Tonitruum does not create the storms. So then why is he there at all?”
“Perhaps because before we knew this, there was no explanation for storms, so then the people of that day needed something to explain it,” Julian suggested.
The two were silent, thinking over his words.
Leon was watching Julian with astonishment. Never had he heard him give such strong and quick responses in an argument like this. Julian loved to get into heated debates, but he had never been one to enjoy reasoning. Often in the past he had resorted to fists rather than his mind.
After the proper time had passed, Johannes gave a nod, permitting Julian to continue.
“Now, your last statement was the fact that the gods can do freely what is viewed as a sin amongst us mortals,” Julian said. “Could this not spring from the sinful desires of the creators of these gods? If we are tempted to sin, then why not make beings who could sin and not have their actions counted as sin, since that sin seems so wonderful to us. If the gods have no morals at all, then why is sin sin?”
“I don’t completely understand,” Heinrich said slowly.
“Or you won’t let yourself understand,” Julian returned. He turned to Aelic. “Your knife, please.”
Aelic looked confused, but he drew the weapon and handed it over.
Julian turned the blade thoughtfully in his hand as he spoke. “Is it a sin for the gods to kill whomever they chose for whatever reason they may come up with, or for no reason at all?”
“No,” Heinrich replied. “It is not a sin.”
Julian lunged and grabbed the student by the collar, holding the knife poised to stab.
Several people screamed and Johannes started in alarm. Leon gritted his teeth. Here we go.
“Why can’t I kill you?” Julian asked.
“Because you can’t just do that!” Heinrich cried.
“Why?” Julian demanded.
Several other students had moved forward to save their companion, but Johannes motioned them back, putting a finger to his lips for silence.
“You can’t!” Heinrich repeated franticly.
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Why? That isn’t a reason. Give me a reason.”
“It’s murder, and that’s wrong!” Heinrich shouted.
“Ah!” Julian exclaimed triumphantly. “Tell me, why is it wrong?”
“Because… because it is!” Heinrich stammered.
“Why? Who says?”
“Everyone! The… the law,” Heinrich managed.
Julian shrugged. “So? Who created the law?”
“Judges, emperors, leaders––”
“And what are they?” Julian cut in. “Are they gods?”
“No.”
“Then who are they to say that I can’t kill,” Julian asked. “They are mortals, and why must one mortal follow the laws of another dead mortal? Who is to say they are right? What if I believe that killing whomever I please is right?”
Heinrich shook his head. “You just can’t do that,” He had calmed down slightly, seeing that Julian intended to debate this.
“And why not?” Julian asked.
“Because it’s wrong.”
“You’ve come back to the beginning again,” Julian reprimanded. “We’re going round and round in circles. Who is to say what is right and wrong? We’ve already taken the gods out of the argument. Who’s left?”
“The democracy of the people, and common sense,” Heinrich replied.
Julian raised an incredulous eyebrow. “You’re willing to risk your life on common sense and mutual opinion? You’re standing on dangerous ground. Who’s to say somewhere along the lines someone decides that killing whoever you want is right, and they tell others, and they convince them to agree, and then a vote is taken, and this new law passes. Or what if, through flowing speech and tantalizing promises, I convinced the majority of the people to decide that all scholars should be killed? What will happen to our country?”
“It would be horrible,” Heinrich admitted. “Society would collapse in a bloodbath.”
“And what if men decide marriage is no longer necessary and they can take their pick of as many girls whenever and wherever they choose. What was Johannes just saying about that?”
“It would be a disaster, and again, society would collapse.”
“So then, if we do not get our laws and morals from the gods, and we dare not leave it to the common sense and wants of the people, then where do we stand?” Julian let Heinrich go and stepped back. He returned the knife to Aelic and sat down again.
Johannes and Heinrich were both staring at Julian, Heinrich still a little rattled, and Johannes deep in thought.
Leon let out a slow breath of relief, thankful that the situation hadn’t escalated. Still, he was reluctantly impressed with Julian’s argument.
“You believe that the gods aren’t real and are an imagining of the human mind. Yet, you also seem to argue for a higher power governing our ways. Which is it?” Johannes asked.
“Both,” Julian replied. “I have already made my argument for why the gods can be nothing but the creation of man. But I am not finished. I don’t believe in the gods that you know and that I once served. I believe in One, and only One, God. A perfect and holy, triune God.”
“Wait one moment, how is this God any different from the others?” Heinrich demanded.
Julian glanced up and saw that a very large crowd of townspeople and students had gathered. The bells calling for the first class were ringing, but no one seemed to care.
Julian looked back at the two young men. “The God that I believe in is the one true God. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and unlike the gods of the Empire, He is holy, perfect, and blameless. He created the first man and woman, and he gave them one law; do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The woman was deceived by Satan, who was once an angel of God, but fell when he tried to become God. The woman ate of the fruit and gave some to her husband. After this, sin entered the world, and the punishment for sin is death.”
Johannes tilted his head slightly, a thoughtful frown crossing his face.
Julian continued. “God is just, but also merciful. In mercy, He let the man and woman live for a time. In justice, He sent them from the garden He had created for them as a home and one day the curse of death did come to them. God is pure and holy, and He cannot dwell with sin. He cursed the man and the devil, and he told the woman that her seed would always be at war with the serpent, but that one day a Deliverer would rise up and strike the serpent down. For years the people offered animals as a sacrifice to cover their sins— often a perfect, unblemished lamb to die in their stead. Yet, this would never be enough, for all still tasted death. Then, God sent His only Son to earth to be born of a virgin. He was fully God, yet fully man. Jesus Christ lived a perfect and sinless life, and then He died in our stead. He was the perfect Lamb, a man without sin, dying in our stead. And by His death, the curse was broken once and for all.”
“But how?” Johannes asked.
“As a man, he was able to follow the law of God perfectly and never once sin. Because of that, he would have earned everlasting life. But instead, he chose to die in our place. As God, that sacrifice is perfect and complete and can extend to all men,” Julian explained. “It was love that broke that curse. God loved us so much, that He was willing to die so we might be able to return to Him. By the blood of Jesus, we are cleansed, and if we believe in Him and repent of our sins, then we will be saved. We will have the promise of eternal life— a life with Him even though we die here on earth. Unlike the gods of the Empire, who seek only to thwart, destroy, and ruin us, God loves us and cares about every one of us. He died so we might live.”
“And your God is a God who has laws?” Johannes asked.
Julian nodded. “Yes, it is God who has said what is right and what is wrong. He is the one who has told us what is sin. We were created by Him, and often when we see sin we know that we are witnessing wrong. Sometimes we ignore that, and sometimes we listen to it. He created us to know and obey Him, and that is why it feels wrong when we don’t.”
Johannes was silent and Julian could see the hope in his eyes as he thought over all that had been said.
Skeptical Heinrich was not so easily satisfied. “And how do you know all this to be true?” he asked.
“Because God brought me to life. He opened my heart, and He called me by name,” Julian said.
“How did you hear this story?” Heinrich asked.
“It is written right here,” Julian replied, pulling his Bible from his satchel. “This is the Word of God, and it tells all that I have just told you.”
Heinrich looked at it suspiciously. “God wrote that?”
“God spoke it to men, and they wrote what He told them to,” Julian explained.
“So, the story of your God was also written by men,” Heinrich pointed out. “How can you say this is written by God, and ours are created by man?”
“Let me ask you a question,” Julian replied.
“Alright,” Heinrich agreed. “What is your question?”
“If you took forty different people, living in different places, centuries apart, writing in different moods, coming from different continents, and writing in three different languages about many of the most controversial topics known to mankind, and you put all of their writings together, what would you expect?” Julian asked.
“A jumbled assortment of conflicting ideas, beliefs, and morals,” Heinrich laughed. “Most likely so completely varied one would throw down this collection in despair!”
“Could you ever, no matter how you organized it, come up with a unified, harmonious account?” Julian asked.
“Never,” Heinrich said.
“Are you sure of that?” Julian asked.
Heinrich nodded. “Completely.”
Julian laid his hand on the Bible. “This was written by forty different people— soldiers, shepherds, statesmen, common men, and kings. They all lived in different places— the desert, huts, palaces, small towns, countrysides, large cities, and wildernesses. They lived centuries apart— times of war, times of peace, times of prosperity, and times of need. They wrote in different moods— feelings of great joy, sorrow, fear, security, repentance, excitement, foreboding. They came from different continents. They wrote in three different languages. And they wrote about the most controversial topics known to mankind— the nature of God, moral issues, political alliances, and religious ceremonies. And yet, it reads from Genesis to Revelation–– from the first word to the last–– in harmony and cohesion like a true story.”
Heinrich just stared at him in shock.
Julian looked from one to the other. “This is different from any other religious literature in the way it was written, and it has within it the power to completely change the life of anyone who dares to read it.” He looked at Heinrich. “You yourself have stated the impossibility of the way the Bible was written, yet here it is, in my hands.”
After a long moment of silence, Heinrich spoke. “Would you permit me to take this for a day to examine and study it? I will return it you tomorrow morning, and I swear to protect it and let no harm befall it.”
Julian held out the book and Heinrich carefully took it, treating it with reverence and gentleness.
“This book is very precious,” Julian said. “I pray you will treat it so.”
“I will,” Heinrich replied. “I give my word of honor.”
Julian rose and the two students did likewise. The three shook hands.
“Thank you for debating with us,” Johannes said. “Tell me, are you a graduate of this university?”
Julian smiled and shook his head. “No, I have never been here before.”
“Then please tell us who you are and where you have studied!” Heinrich exclaimed.
“My ancestors worked the ground as farmers, and I served for a time in the Imperial.” Julian replied.
Johannes looked at him in shock. “But surely you were schooled in debating, literature, law, and religion.”
“No,” Julian replied. “I speak only what I believe, and it is God who gave me the words to do so in a way that would be understandable to you.”
“Will you be here tomorrow?” Johannes asked.
Julian gestured to Heinrich. “You have my Bible.”
“Then, we will be waiting here tomorrow morning,” Johannes promised. “Thank you again,” he added, shaking Julian’s hand firmly.
The other students applauded the three as they all shook hands again.
“I will never forget this day,” Heinrich. said
“Nor will I,” Johannes agreed.
Only now that it was over did the spell of the conversation brake, and everyone realized the time. People scurried off to work and the students gathered their books and parchments and sprinted to their classes.
Julian rejoined his companions with a broad smile.
“Leave it to you to dive headfirst into something like that,” Leon grinned. He grasped his friend’s hand. “Well done, Julian.”
Julian looked over his shoulder to where Johannes and Heinrich were running toward the large stone building. “Lord God, work in their hearts,” he said quietly.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
I love it!!! Julian is amazing. The debating scene was a nice change from how they’ve had to speak to others in the past.
“I like good strong words that mean something!"
I’m so glad you liked the change!! One of my favorite scenes, honestly!
I have a passion for debating (kind of like Julian…..) and so I really got into it! It was so fun!
Julian is amazing
haha! Why’s that?
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
Roland looked up. “I’m going with you.”
Called it.
“Well, Roland, what’s next on our path to the Capital?”
So they are heading to the capital then. Did I just miss this earlier? I really need to stop missing things.
“None that has lived to tell the tale,” Roland replied. “Though one boy was found drowned in the river a few days after his friends dared him to go up here.”
These are quite the lumberjacks…
Leon smiled slightly and continued. “Julian and I were sent to the wars in Ardenta, and it was there that we encountered something astonishing. It was a young man who followed a different God. A God that he was willing to die for.”
Several of the people looked surprised, and Leon saw a few of them whispering to one another.
How loyal are these people to thier gods? From this, I would guess that they wouldn’t be willing to die for them.
The boys grinned and began gathering up rocks. Julian, Leon, and Roland made a quick escape, pursued by the yelling of the village boys and the missiles they hurled.
But the seed has still been planted. Maybe we will hear of this village again later.
Oh hey, someone followed them.
“Aelic,” the boy said, grasping Roland’s hand. He shook hands with Julian and Leon and then spoke.
Pronounced the same as Alec?
You weren’t kidding when you said this book was dark (not that I didn’t believe you).
Going back to talking about progress, I think the fact that Roland and Aelic have joined them helps with that. This section did not feel rushed either. Good job!
off to the next section…
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Pronounced the same as Alec?
I was saying it “ay-lec” in my head, but I don’t know if that’s accurate.
Yeah, it gave me very . . . Socratic-discussion vibes. But it was great. That’s funny, I also like to debate… slightly lol. It’s a little stressful.
I don’t know, I just like him. He’s funny and impulsive (like you said) and just acts like Leon’s little brother.
“I like good strong words that mean something!"
Julian dropped onto the bed and folded his hands behind his head. “Why? Who’s going to read it?”
Why is Julian asking this question when he is also documenting event is his own journal?
The five joined the townspeople and listened to the students, who were marked by the brown, wide-sleeved, open robes they wore over their tunics and britches.
Forgive me for imagining them wearing white togas. I hope you understand why my mind is going there.
Julian nodded in agreement. Now, tell me which of these things is something that we do not already know?”
This is an intriguing argument. One I haven’t considered before, but is a very good point. Man has no original ideas. There is nothing new under the sun.
“Judges, emperors, leaders––”
“And what are they?” Julian cut in. “Are they gods?”
“No.”
Okay, so they don’t consider the Emporer to be a god.
I liked this section. I find apologetics interesting and enjoyed reading Julian’s arguments.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
So you thinking he’s gonna be your fav?
Oh fun! I’ll hunt you up when I feel like getting in an argument. XD XD
yes, you did call it.
How loyal are these people to thier gods? From this, I would guess that they wouldn’t be willing to die for them.
Not many Romans (or people who shared such a culture) were. They had absolutely no relationship with the gods and only had this sort of “let’s keep out of their badside and get what we can from them” mentality.
You weren’t kidding when you said this book was dark (not that I didn’t believe you).
uhhhh…… yeah……
@both of you
Aelic is pronounced with a hard “A” sound. Like the word “Gaelic” but drop the “G”
Ā-lic
*shrug*
I was never good at pronunciation guides.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
WYOH!!!!! NO! Bad creature! Go away!
Ugh. let’s try this again.
Why is Julian asking this question when he is also documenting event is his own journal?
because for one, Julian has a bit of an argumentative mentality. For two, he views it as more of a past time whereas Leon wants it to be a very orderly account and record.
Forgive me for imagining them wearing white togas. I hope you understand why my mind is going there.
*sticks tongue out at you* nah, no worries. I considered it, but I decided to lean toward German university clothing.
This is an intriguing argument. One I haven’t considered before, but is a very good point. Man has no original ideas. There is nothing new under the sun.
*bows* Thank you, the idea came to me as I was writing actually! I would put down the student’s arguments and then try to refute it as if I were Julian. It was fun! (I’ll tell him you liked it)
Okay, so they don’t consider the Emporer to be a god.
Noooo…… but they do have some beliefs centered around religion concerning him. And also the––– but we’ll get to that later.
I liked this section. I find apologetics interesting and enjoyed reading Julian’s arguments.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Definitely a new feel.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
He already is. 😉
Oh boy . . . XD *whispers*
What did I just get myself into…Soo… is it pronounced to rhyme with bay-lick?
“I like good strong words that mean something!"
*rubs hands together* you just wait and see. XD
Soo… is it pronounced to rhyme with bay-lick?
uh sure. lololol. Never heard that word before, but yes, it would rhyme.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
@hybridlore @linus-smallprint @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @liberty
NEXT SECTION!!!
The day passed, and the five young men explored the town. Everyone seemed to be very busy, and no one was interested in talking with them. So, the five decided to scout out the town and see what it was like. As Roland had said, the town was mostly students, but there was an inn, shops, and a few other small establishments that sold things to the students and provided food and supplies for the university.
When noon came, many of the students came out on the field in front of the university, but they walked alone or stood in small groups and seemed bent on study and private discussion. Apparently, the time for public speeches and debates was strictly confined to the morning before classes.
The companions went back to the inn and ate a good meal before going up to the room Leon, Julian, and Aelic shared in order to work on making more copies of the Scriptures.
Aelic was extremely interested in this, and he read over Roland’s shoulder as he worked. Since they only had Julian and Leon’s Bibles with them, it was decided that the four eldest would take shifts. Aelic stated that he would rather watch and read.
It was dusk when they finally took a break, having made a good start for the day. They ate supper and then retired for the night.
The next morning, they were up bright and early, eager to find Johannes and Heinrich. After breakfast, they set out for the university grounds.
Just as the day before, many students sat on the benches that had been arranged in small circles over the green, and people stood about listening to the different arguments and discussions.
“There,” Rolf said, pointing to where two young men sat.
They made their way over and were greeted by Johannes and Heinrich, who shook hands with Julian’s companions and introduced themselves politely. The two looked exhausted, but they seemed eager to talk. They sat down again, and Johannes motioned for Julian to sit with them. He did so, and almost immediately a crowd began to form.
The other debates came to a dwindling halt, and by the time Julian and the two students had finished politely asking after one another, a large crowd had formed.
Heinrich picked up Julian’s Bible from where he had set it on the bench at his side. He held it for a moment and then gave it to Julian.
“Did you read it?” Julian asked eagerly.
“Yes,” Heinrich smiled. “On our way to class, as I walked through the halls, I felt compelled to take just one look, and that was the end of it.”
“Neither of us went to class yesterday,” Johannes grinned. “We just couldn’t stop reading it. You were right, it changes lives. We read from that moment until early this morning. I have never read or heard of anything like it. It was truly remarkable, and it is indeed a treasure.”
“So, what are your thoughts on the truth of it?” Julian asked.
“I am studying to serve in the council of law,” Heinrich began. “One thing that convinced me of the truth of this narrative was the gospels. As I study law and court, I have come to see how witnesses who are telling the truth never say the same exact thing. For instance, if I was to describe this situation right now, I might say that there were two students and a former soldier debating religion. Someone else might not know who you are and simply say it was three students debating religion, while a man standing where they cannot see Johannes would say it was two students debating religion. The point remains that there was a debate about religion and involved students. Do you get my meaning?”
Julian nodded and motioned for him to continue.
“When I read the gospels, it was clear that they were written by four different men, and that being so, those four different men record what they saw, how they saw it, and what details they believe were most important,” Heinrich explained. “Matthew, for instance, has a long genealogy in the beginning of his account and writes everything in a clear and orderly fashion, often referring to prophesies of old to prove who Jesus was. Luke has very detailed and numerous accounts of miracles concerning healing and the raising of the dead. Mark seems most interested in the action and drive of the main events, and his account is by far the shortest and has a fast pace. John seems to care deeply about the personality of Jesus and often draws our attention to it. While some might say that since they differ it must be untrue, I say this strongly points to the truth. If all the accounts were completely identical, then there would be only two possibilities; these four men collaborated and created this story together, or one man wrote under the names of four different men. When many witnesses say the exact same thing, you must become suspicious if you have any sense,”
“I agree,” Julian said. He turned to Johannes. “And what about you?”
“It was two things for me,” Johannes replied slowly and thoughtfully. “One was the idea of a God who loves us. I can hardly grasp or fathom that. All my life I have been taught to outsmart, appease, and generally leave the gods alone. But this God… He is a God of love and seeks a personal relationship with His people. I was almost convinced, but still I had doubt. Then I read of the deaths.”
Julian looked at him in surprise. “Deaths?”
Johannes nodded. “The death of Stephen, James, and the others. When men tell a lie, they are hardly willing to die for it, and hardly more than one would die for the same lie. Yet so many willing gave their freedom, possessions, comfort and lives for this. Would hundreds of people willingly do that for a lie they created? I know that if I told you I had seen a god, and it came down to my death or else taking those words back, I would take it back in an instant. Men will die for a lie, but it is normally only the men who have been deceived. I would hardly believe that the amount of people who claim to have seen Jesus and were hunted by the law would all be willing to hold to the lie that they had created. Someone somewhere would have given the whole thing up! And another thing; if you told me I must give up worshiping the gods or die, I would give up the gods in a moment. They are not worth my life.” Johannes paused a moment and then looked up at Julian. “I cannot bring myself to believe that I would die for my faith in the gods, because my faith in them is weak and crumbling. And, quiet honestly, they don’t deserve my life.”
Julian nodded in understanding. After a moment, he spoke. “The first person I ever encountered who believed in God was a young man named Aaron, who was put to death by order of the Empire. I was there and I watched him die. His courage and faith made an impression on everyone there, and not one person could truthfully doubt that he died for something he believed in with all that was in him. His death affected my little brother so much, that he went out to find answers. He believed, and he was arrested. He was subjected to brutal interrogation for two days as they tried to convince him to sway, but he held fast to his new faith, and he died a cruel death on the steps of the Pantheon in Ardenta.”
Julian’s voice went hoarse, and he paused. After all these years, it was still impossible to talk about his brother without tears threatening. “My brother was not strong. He was weak, easily swayed, and easily frightened. The strength I saw in him was not his own, and he faced death with such courage, knowing it was not the end, because of his faith in Christ. I saw and heard of so many who gave their lives for Christ during that awful time. The Ardantin Christians continued to worship God, and they continued to spread His Word, even though to do so meant death. It was only by God’s grace that Leon and I were spared along with many others when God delivered that country. Tell me, who among the followers of the gods would have the courage to do such things as those brave men, women, and children did?”
“I don’t think anyone,” Heinrich replied. “We have no reason. The gods don’t deserve that sort of devotion. What have they ever done to earn it?”
There was a long silence. Then, Johannes looked up. “I’m ready.”
Julian looked to Heinrich. The young man smiled slightly. “After all that I have seen and read, how could I not believe it?”
***
Johannes and Heinrich might have been the first of the small town to accept Christ, but they were not the last. It wasn’t long before more of the students came to Christ. Heinrich and Johannes were well liked and respected by their fellows, and the fact that they had so drastically changed–– throwing off the gods of their people and worshiping the One they claimed was the True God–– stirred much interest in the others, and they began to talk to them and seek out the truth for themselves.
Soon, over half the university had turned to Christ, and they were not alone. The townsfolk were turning and so were the instructors and teachers at the university.
It was with great joy that Julian and Leon baptized the new converts, and soon the university doors were thrown open on the Sabbath, and townsfolk mixed with students in the great hall as Leon or Julian taught them from the word of God.
The five young men remained in the town a full month, and that time was spent in cleansing the town, training up leaders, and copying the Scripture. All the idols and things pertaining to the worshiping of the gods were burned, and the town was purified by the spirit of Christ and the zeal of the new Christians. Cleansing the university was a wild day, and the students and teachers alike went up and down through halls and searched shelves and shelves of scrolls and books. That evening, huge bonfires were lit on the green and all the writings that pertained to the gods, sorcery, or divination were burned. After that, the building was put back in order, and all the occupants gathered in the main hall and prayed, asking God to purify the university, seeking His forgiveness, and asking for His blessing.
The university became the center of work when it came to copying the Scriptures, and the companions were offered a place to stay there.
Night and day, students worked to meticulously copy word for word in clear near writing, the Word of God. They worked with a passion that had never been seen within those walls, and Leon and Julian rejoiced to see the change that had come over the town and her people.
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
November 28th
The EmpireGod has worked a miracle this past month. The university town we stopped in has completely and wholly turned to God and abandoned the idols of their country. Those of the university busy themselves daily with the copying of the Scriptures. The students spend much time in studying the Word of God, and they are eager to learn all they can about Him. It is so, so wonderful to see the people so completely changed. And here, so many young men who are skilled in reading, writing, speaking, and studying have turned to God and are ready to take up the task of guiding the people in His ways. After much discussion, the students voted to reserve the morning hours for Academic studies, and the rest of the day for working of the copies of the Scripture. Everything has changed! Each morning all students and teachers alike gather in the Hall of Speeches, and there they pray and sing. Afterwords they separate to their classes which are also opened in prayer. Several young men, including Johannes and Heinrich, have started studies with their fellows as they work their way through God’s Word. What a change has come over this place!
My hope is that someday this will be the town where the wood of the Empire comes to this place and steps forth from this university as sharp arrows against the enemy. I can hardly dare to imagine what God will do with a place like this. What will it look like a year from now? I wish I could catch just a glimpse of it. Maybe I will live to see it.
I pray Lord, that You will pour out Your blessing and Spirit upon this place. Strengthen those here and work wonders for Your glory. Thank You for what You have done here!
How encouraging this time has been after the blind and deafness of the Lumberjacks’ village. Yet even there, God saved one of His children from eternal death. One life is as precious in God’s sight as the many lives won here. Oh Lord, let us never forget.~Julian
***
“So, where to you plan to go next?” Johannes asked. He and Heinrich were sitting in one of the rooms in the university with Julian, Leon, Aelic, Rolf, and Roland.
“Our aim is to press on to the Capital, but we plan to stop in towns and villages along the way,” Leon replied.
Heinrich got up and walked over to one of the shelves in the room. He searched along it until he found a scroll. coming back, he unrolled it across the table they sat around. “We are here,” he said, pointing to a town marked Lentrenk. He began to trace his finger along the road. “If you stick to the main road, it will bring you past the sea as this is a trading route. The first place you will come to will not be for a good three days’ travel. It is the town of Wiedlisbourg.”
“And there are no more farms or houses along the route?” Julian asked.
“There are, but I have been discussing something with Johannes and several other students.”
Leon motioned for him to go on.
“We believe you five should focus on the large towns and villages on the way to the Capital,” Heinrich said. “We will send out young men from the University to and bring the gospel to individual homes and small family settlements. That way you can cover more ground and spread the Word farther afield.”
“You are the planters,” Johannes added. “You plant the seed of truth and then we send out runners to continue the spreading of the plant. Like… like a strawberry patch.”
They all laughed at the comparison, but it was a good one, and Leon and Julian agreed with the reasoning.
“You could spend a lifetime here,” Heinrich said. “If you stay in one small area, how is the rest of the Empire to know? How are they to hear?”
Julian nodded in agreement. “You are right,”
“So, what can you tell us about Wiedlisbourg?” Leon asked.
Johannes leaned forward to look at the map. “It’s a very large town— almost a city. They are the midway point between the large coastal cities and rest of the region, and their wealth comes from the slave markets they hold there.”
“Hmm,” Leon mused. “This could be difficult.
“The greatest event are the games that lead up to the Tournament of the gods which is held in the Capital.” Johannes continued. “Young men from many places come there to fight for a place in the tournament, and of course it is also where several slaves are trained to fight in the blood games held during the tournament.”
“If the people turn to Christ, they must abolish the games and slave trade,” Julian said firmly.
“Of course,” Heinrich agreed. “But if you are able to do so, you destroy a trading empire, for slaves are not sold so well or numerously anywhere else in the Empire. Not even in the coastal towns”
“Well good,” Leon said. “It is an empire that needs to collapse.”
Heinrich nodded. “Again, I agree. However, this will make you many bitter enemies and put your lives in danger.”
“We’ve done both already,” Julian laughed.
“The slave traders are very strong, and much of their profit is shared by the priests, who take a gold offering for the games and a fee for blessing the market. If you destroy all of this, it will put you in much more danger than you have been in so far,” Heinrich warned.
“And there is another thing,” Johannes continued. “I would not advise leaving yet.”
“Why?” Leon asked.
Johannes motioned toward the window. “The winter storms could begin any moment now. Wait until the spring to continue your travels. You know how dangerous the snow can become, and you have no assurance of shelter from these towns and villages. Stay with us until the winter is over. Once the snow starts, you know it will not melt until spring.”
“Besides, we need you,” Heinrich put in. “You have completely turned our town, University, and lives upside down, and we are excited to see what God will do, but we need leadership. Please don’t go yet, we aren’t ready to continue alone.”
“Yes, stay with us until the spring. We will be ready to send out our own young men by that time, and we will be rooted strongly in Christ,” Johannes urged.
“We will see,” Leon said slowly. “I had hoped to continue on and weather the storms as well as we may.”
“Is that wise” And more importantly, is that what God is calling you to do, or is that only your eagerness to spread His word?” Heinrich asked.
“I don’t know,” Leon admitted. “We will have to pray about it.”
“Either way we will go, whether it is in spring or winter. So, you might as well tell us what lies beyond and what you know of it,” Julian suggested.
“Well, after Wiedlisbourg you would go through the seaport of Clonabay,” Heinrich said tracing the route with his finger.
“And what might we find there?” Roland asked.
Johannes tapped the map with a finger. “This is where the main docks the slave traders use are, and there is everything you would expect from a seaport— from swindlers and murderers to prostitutes and slavery. It is not the sort of place one would go unless they had to.”
Julian was studying the map thoughtfully. “How is it in terms of devotion to the gods?”
“Oh, that is lacking,” Johannes replied. “Of course, there are your idols and shrines here and there, but no one is really devoted to the gods. The sailors come from all over the world, the townsfolk are crass and irreverent toward everything, and the priests there are few and far between. It may be one of the easiest, and at the same time hardest, towns you will encounter.”
“And from there?” Leon asked.
Heinrich pointed to the map. “Landstraten.”
“And what sort of place is that?” Leon asked.
“It is calmer than the others. It is the main place farmers sell their crops to traders who take them to the Capital or port towns,” Heinrich replied.
Rolf looked over Julian’s shoulder. “And after that?”
“The Capital,” Johannes said.
The young men studied the map, and the different towns pointed out to them by Heinrich and Johannes.
At last Leon let out a deep breath. “If there is snow in the morning, we will know not to go.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“Then we will pray for a blizzard,” Johannes chuckled.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
“When I read the gospels, it was clear that they were written by four different men, and that being so, those four different men record what they saw, how they saw it, and what details they believe were most important,” Heinrich explained. “Matthew, for instance, has a long genealogy in the beginning of his account and writes everything in a clear and orderly fashion, often referring to prophesies of old to prove who Jesus was. Luke has very detailed and numerous accounts of miracles concerning healing and the raising of the dead. Mark seems most interested in the action and drive of the main events, and his account is by far the shortest and has a fast pace. John seems to care deeply about the personality of Jesus and often draws our attention to it. While some might say that since they differ it must be untrue, I say this strongly points to the truth. If all the accounts were completely identical, then there would be only two possibilities; these four men collaborated and created this story together, or one man wrote under the names of four different men. When many witnesses say the exact same thing, you must become suspicious if you have any sense,”
All four gospels and Acts in one night? Wow. These guys love to read.
“Hmm,” Leon mused. “This could be difficult.
You forgot a quotation mark on the end here.
“The greatest event are the games that lead up to the Tournament of the gods which is held in the Capital.” Johannes continued. “Young men from many places come there to fight for a place in the tournament, and of course it is also where several slaves are trained to fight in the blood games held during the tournament.”
Why do I have a feeling someone from Leon and Julian’s group is going to end up in these games?
“Then we will pray for a blizzard,” Johannes chuckled.
That would do it.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Definitely a new feel.
Well, thank you for venturing into new grounds! This does help freshen up this story from the others.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
linus-smallprint
All four gospels and Acts in one night? Wow. These guys love to read.
First off, that’s not THAT MUCH.
secondly, they started in the morning and went on through the night to the next morning.
thirdly, yes, they love to study.
Why do I have a feeling someone from Leon and Julian’s group is going to end up in these games?
hmmmm.
That would do it.
lololol.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
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