"Pedrig, can you close the lights?" I say to my Podium Hand.
"Of course, Ruban Modrig," he answers.
He heads for the back of the altar. While waiting for him, I look at the ceiling; it is adorned with murals depicting religious figures. The altar has a central podium where I stand to give my sermons to the masses. Behind it are the various holographic depictions of Nommar saints. It is certainly nice to see this temple after spending the last two months in a pilgrimage to Prophet's Retreat.
The chandelier closes and the murals are shrouded in the darkness; the various holograms of saints shut off, all except for the saint this temple was dedicated for: St. Yeerak. Unlike the other saints who are Nommar, he is of our overseers, the Yondar Guardians.
Eons ago, the Nommar were a primitive civilization in the middle of an industrial renaissance. Our home planet of Nordam was full of divided nation-states who believed in various religions. However, a religious minority caught the eye of an elder race who were observing us: the Yondar. This religious minority had a faith so similar, sharing similar names to the Yondar religion, that Yondar psychics contacted "the Shroud" in order ask if we were a "Chosen Race" that needed their guidance.
Suddenly, various members of this religious minority began to receive psionic messages and visions, turning them into prophets. They spread the prophecy that the "Divine's Chosen" would descend upon Nordam in the major city of Podici in order evangelize Nommarkind into the true faith. Many of these prophets were then executed and persecuted, forcing them into band together in mutual protection in a religious order led by their head prophet, St. Nodmox.
Eventually, the Yondar descended into the city of Podici, and the prophets proclaimed that the prophecy had come true. The city of Podici, and eventually the nation it resided in then fully converted. After that, nation after nation bowed down to the Yondar and preached the good word of the Divine. The Yondar then established an order that united and governed these nations and were led by a High Ruban. They appointed St. Nodmox to be our first High Ruban.
However, many unbelieving nation-states decided that this new religion led by an alien race was becoming dangerous. So they sent spies to pretend to be converts only for them to steal the technology the Faithful had. After they armed their forces with the Yondar technology, they proclaimed a great holy war known as "The Great Crucible" against the Faithful.
However, the Faithful had the grand vessels of the Yondar Guardians, who teared through the Crucible with divine lighting. In a matter of seven weeks, the entirety of Nordam was finally united underneath the Yondar Guardians and their appointed High Ruban Nodmox dos Perean.
Pedrig's voice echoes through the temple' halls. "It is done, Ruban Modrig."
"Good, head outside now, Pedrig. You did well in today's service."
As he walks out of the doors, I lock the wide entrance doors and close them. I then reach into my bag to grab a white envelope and a book.
"Pedrig! I believe that last Yeerday was your hatchday! I believe that you're fifteen by now, correct?" I call to my Podium Hand.
"Yes, yes I am. Why is that?" He asks me.
I give him the book and the envelope. "I just want to wish you a Happy belated hatchday, Pedrig. This envelope contains credits for your schooling and this is 'Living with the Saints: St. Thodmox.'"
"Thank you so much, Ruban Modrig. What about you, how old are you?"
"I'm sixty-five. You have a lot of things to do with your life right now, Pedrig. Don't squander it," I say. "You served the Divine well with your seven years as my Podium Hand," I say. "Anyways, it's probably time for supper. I think you should head home now."
"Of course. What about you? Where are you heading Ruban Modrig?"
"There's going to be a clerical meeting with a couple other Rubans in the St. Jorim Academy. I'll head be going there."
"Does this have to do with the recent resignation of High Ruban Feldrim?"
"Wait, he resigned?" I asked. For the past two months, the Holotemple was underneath the management of Ruban Goridrig den Sukar. It is customary that people on pilgrimages to the Holy Worlds protected by the Yondar Guardians leave behind any means of communication, as a show of trust in the Divine is protecting them.
"Yeah, he resigned two weeks ago.," says Pedrig. "But again, you were on a pilgrimage at that time"
"Hmm... Thank you for telling me this, Pedrig. I didn't know." I feel kind of dumb right now. I have been here for four days already, I should have known that by now. But there's no changing that anymore. "I'll head out now, blessings upon you, Pedrig."
"Blessings upon you as well, Ruban Modrig," says Pedrig, and we part ways.
____________________________________________________
The St. Jorim Academy is seminary for aspiring priests. The academy is surrounded by trees, providing a quiet sanctuary that contrasts with the noisy Podici cityscape. I enter the building that leads to the cafeteria where the pupils eat, because the second floor has a dedicated room for the Rubans and Priests who mentor these pupils.
I walk up the stairs and I see a few familiar faces eating in a long table.
"Good evening Ruban Vatoris," says an old Ruban, his feathers dry and aging. He is Ruban Goridrig den Sukar, a 135 year-old Ruban.
I shake Goridrig's hand. "Evening, Ruban Sukar. Thank you again for taking care of my Temple while I was gone."
"It is what is right," says Goridrig.
"Good evening, Ruban Vators," repeats another one. He is Priest Pendirm den Adasga, the Priest who runs this academy.
The Nommar Priesthood follows a distinct hierarchy. At the bottom are the pupils, who are still learning the ways of the faith and priesthood.
Once a pupil is ordained, they become a Piram. Pirams are Priest apprentices who share a Temple with and follow a Priest or Ruban. They cannot enact any liturgies but can act as an assistant to the one enacting one.
Priests oversee a Temple and take care of the spiritual guidance of small communities or entire cities. They can enact certain liturgies but not all of them.
After he is promoted, a Priest becomes a Ruban (also known as a High Priest). They manage Grand Temples (also known as Holotemples) and oversee the spiritual guidance of entire cities as well as the actions of Priests. In each national division in Nordam, each Ruban will elect a National Ruban, who is in charge of promoting different individuals in their national division. A National Ruban's term last fives year before an election falls through.
At the top of the Holy Hierarchy is the High Ruban. When selecting a High Ruban, the Rubans gather in the Celestial Throne in B'Yond. There, the Rubans who cast their nominees for the position, and then the Yondar Emperor (currently Emperor K'nuurak) and their several High Priests would select the new High Ruban from the pool of nominees. If they find no suitable leader, the process would restart. The position lasts for a lifetime, until the High Ruban resigns, or if the person commits a heinous crime (this has never happened due to the pre-cognitive nature of the Yondar).
There are four more fellow Rubans in the table. They appear to be eating.
"Have a seat, Ruban Vatoris. We have important things to discuss."
I take a seat and Pendrim passes me tonight's supper, Pildas, a dish that has a flatbread and a sauce with meats. The dish is spicy because Nommar tend to eat spicy dishes to pass away the usually cold climate of Nordam.
Goridrig clears his throat. "I gathered you all today because you all know that High Ruban Feldrim den Hullos has recently resigned in the wake of the construction of all-new high-tech vessels designed for space travel. The Rubanic Council recently announced that we will be heading to the Celestial Throne for the election of the new High Ruban in four days."
"What should we bring?" asks one of the other Rubans.
"Basic clothing for three days, two pairs of ceremonial attire and equipment. That's the minimum."
"Ruban Sukar..." I say. "You've been a Ruban for quite some time. I believe that you were present when Feldrim was elected as Ruban, can you tell me more about the Celestial Throne?"
"They're incredible. They sing their hymns without opening their mouth; they use their mind," he answers. "Their architecture is adorned with the images of a theological history that lasted an entire millenium. Trust me, your first visit there will change your life." Goridrig stands up from his seat. "Anyways, that's the only reason why I called you all here, just to tell you all about this important announcement from the Council. I'll be heading back home to prepare for the rip."
"Thank you, Ruban Sukar. See you soon and stay safe," I say to him.
The rest of us eat our supper. The meal is quiet and solemn, the only noise being the noisy crickets of the night.
