PHILTATOS // Foolish X Reader

23

It wasn't long before it was the night of the festival, and you still hadn't heard from Foolish. The offerings still disappeared after each day, and you still offered up a prayer (if you could really call it that anymore, with how casual it had gotten), but the temple stayed empty. It seemed that perhaps your time with Foolish had been destined to be short lived.

Even the festival couldn't dig your spirits out of the dirt.

Instead of heading down to the city streets with the rest of the worship, you found yourself back at the olive tree you had taken to sitting under, watching as the last sliver of the sun slipped below the horizon and the festival lights blinked up from the city below you. Silver stars washed the buildings in a gray glow, unobstructed by the moon. Already, you could hear the clanging of the bells in the streets.

"Y/N."

A voice behind you made you turn your head to see Anello, easing himself down onto the bench beside you, folding his hands in his lap as he sat down. "You're not joining in on the festivities?" He asked, tilting his head slightly to look at you.

"I could say the same for you." You said, deflecting the question as you looked back to the spread of the city below the hill. "I would have thought you would be in the center of things, as the head of the worship and all."

"I wanted to watch them light the altars from a distance." Anello said, his gaze turning to the city layout as well. "Down on the streets, it would be hard to watch them all light up at the same time."

"I suppose." You agreed, falling silent then.

For a moment, all that could be heard was the gentle rustle of the night breeze through the leaves of the olive tree above you, and the distant rumble of the noise of the festival. From up here on the hill, it seemed like you could hold the entire night of festivity in your palm.

"I know you were lying to me."

Anello's voice broke through the peaceful atmosphere, sending a spike of panic right through your heart. Your eyes snapped to him, only to find him still watching the city, calm as could be - if you hadn't heard the words, you could have imagined he'd said them.

"About your god in corporeal form." Anello continued, turning to meet your eyes. "Why would you lie to me?"

Words danced on the tip of your tongue, but you were frozen, trapped in his stare. You could see a hint of that manic energy in his eyes as the starlight reflected down onto him - the same energy that had scared you the first time you had gone to him. The same aura that had surrounded him when he had given you the announcement that the festival was going to happen.

For the first time, you were beginning to think that Anello knew more than just what he was letting on.

"It was selfish of you, to keep something like that from the rest of us." Anello said. "In a time like this, why would you hide a miracle like that?"

The spike of panic in your heart turned to something akin to guilt as Anello leveled you with a look of disappointment.

"It was never my intention to be selfish." You said. "I was only worried-"

"You kept it from us for weeks." Anello said. "One of the most important parts of being in the worship is trusting each other, and you've broken that to the highest degree. You had every opportunity to share the wonderful news with the rest of us, but instead you kept him to yourself - breaking your promise to the rest of the worship, and my trust."

You let him finish, his words hanging in the air for a moment before you spoke. "How did you find out?"

"You are not the only one who has been speaking to the gods." Anello said.

Suddenly, it made sense. Why Anello had pressed so hard to try and get you to admit that you had been talking to Foolish. Why he had been so proud of himself for getting Vesapasian to agree to a festival in Sofos honor. He'd had the whole city praying to his god - for all his empathy, he was just as selfish as you.

Only as head of the worship, he could hide it better.

A grin stretched it's way across your face as you turned your head back to the city. "Hypocrite."

Your grin was mirrored on Anello's face. Below you, specks of light flared up around the city - all the altars were ablaze now. The festival had truly begun.

"I can't let you stay here now." Anello said. "You've broken one of the most important principles of being part of the worship."

Strangely, the words had no affect on you. From the moment he had said that he'd known, you had had a feeling that the conversation would end up here.

You dipped your head, looking down at the grass beneath your sandals. "Worried I would expose you, Anello?"

"Worried?" Anello chuckled. "No."

Standing up, you slid your prayer beads off your neck, tossing them down on the stone bench where you had been sitting. The beads landed with a clank, glittering in the starlight as they slid down into the grass. You took one last look at the city - it would be the last time you would see it like this.

"You know exactly why I kept it from you." You said. "And I hope that when you weave the story of how I had malicious intent, you at least feel a little bit of shame."

You didn't bother to hear if he had anything to say in response, starting back down the stone path that would lead you to the gates at the bottom of the hill. First Foolish had disappeared, and now you were losing your home... you might as well enjoy the festival while is was happening tonight.

Though you weren't sure you would be able to, with how heavy your heart was in your chest.