Faith, Fate, and Fools

The City Beneath The Sun

Father Helios stood at his alter as he spoke of the war that brought us all here. His golden robes, accented with ruby and citrine gems, flowed around his body as he motioned his hands. His voice echoed off of the stained glass and marble that made up the walls of the temple. He ended his sermon with the city proverb, "Free from the heathens! Embraced by the light! We are mighty! We are the people of the Sun!" The final words of his speech filled the massive hall, and the citizens of our City Beneath The Sun left the temple, going on to continue their lives as farmers; while the clergymen remained to teach me and my classmates.

From the time we are young children, we are blessed with the opportunity to learn from our clergymen in our beloved Temple of The Sun. All of The Sun's people rise with him, and we fall just the same; but rather than farming through the day after morning service, we have the privilege of earning an education from dawn until dusk. Normally, our studies include instructional classes, in which we learn how to perform necessary tasks: various crafts, cooking, carpentry, and farming. The clergymen teach us all we need in this life.

Today our studies began, as everything does, with a prayer to The Sun; asking for him to shine brightly upon our people. Brother Ra unfolded his hands, and gave the class brief review over everything we've learned in the past few months regarding agriculture. While Brother Ra was in mid-speech, Father Helios entered the room and addressed us, ""It is a glorious day my children!" his voice was loud and joyous, the gems on his sleeves shimmered as he gestured his hands "We have a trip planned for you!" Some of us cocked our heads in confusion; we rarely left the classroom. "Today you will be joining your families in our city's great fields!"

"But sir, it's too hot outside. Why would we go to fields?" one boy questioned, other students groaned in protest.

"My child, what use is your knowledge if it goes unutilized?" Father Helios lay his hand on the boy's head, ruffling his hair as he chuckled. "Now," he hid his hands in his sleeves as he turned towards the door "stay close together on our walk to the fields, I don't have the time to search for those who wander."

He grinned as he led us out of the temple, and into the pristine streets of our clergy's neighborhood. Our Sun's light glistened over the spray of water in the street's fountain, reflecting off the gemstone mosaics that decorated the walkways. The clergymen who lived here call the neighborhood a glowing replica of The Sun - it was the city's pinnacle of beauty, prosperity and elegance.

"Don't you think it's unfair that Helios and his buddies live here, while we live between crops and the chasm?"

I looked around nervously, before my eyes finally rested on the same boy who questioned Father Helios back at the temple. "Excuse me? How dare you speak that way?"

"Calm down lady. We're all the way in the back, Helios can't hear us from here." I wanted to hit him, wipe the smug grin from his face; but we were always taught to be non-violent, mankind could not bear another act of violence.

"Father Helios. And I don't care where he is, don't speak of him, or the clergy that way." I could feel the heat of my blood in my cheeks. The warmth crept through me until my toes felt like coals. I wasn't sure what I was feeling; only that it twisted my stomach.

He stared at my reddening cheeks, "Don't get yourself so worked up. I'll stay quiet. Just keep your mind open, hot stuff." He smiled and laughed before blending into the crowd. I lingered a few steps behind, trying to make sense of what I'd just been told. Father Helios has always preached acceptance. Under his guidance we've all grown with open minds.

I noticed the growing distance between me and the crowd, my pondering had slowed me down. I decided the boy must be foolish, maybe "not entirely there", as the clergy would say. I caught up with my classmates as Father Helios stood at the short, frescoed wall, which separates the western portion of the city from the clergy's neighborhood. Beyond the wall, the mosaic walkways fade from sparkling gems to tattered glass; water from the fountain drains down into wells, carrying fresh water to the crops and western homes. This end of the city is inhabited by families like mine, farmers and crafters, the foundation of our great city- as Father Helios would say.