The Runic Alchemist

Einar continued,

"It's a culmination of our people's fear. They assume Damian will not be able to remain impartial because of Vidalia, but completely ignore all that we have done till now. First of all, Damian, the keeper, is not the only one who makes decisions in Sanctuary. They underestimate the position of a sanctum head. Second, I was a keeper once, and Evrin was with me back then. Did that make me question my loyalties? I did my duties. Damian has been with Lucian for almost a year now; both of them are from Dawnstar. Is that not favouritism? Did that suddenly make him unworthy of being called a leader of our people?"

The hall became deathly silent for several minutes.

"We are of the people. There are no secrets in Sanctuary." Torwin voiced, breaking the silence. "Sanctum does everything in the open. I agree that the bill was made in haste because of fear. But there is a reason for people's fear. The partnership with Eldoris was done behind closed doors. People, the core system of Sanctuary's government, the House of Lords, did not have any information about it till we announced the partnership."

A round of wild applause took a while to calm down. More than the exploitation of feelings done by Leon's nobleman or the strict refutation done by Einar, Torwin's words gave more clarity to people as to what was actually the root of the problem. Why did this one thing feel so wrong, even though the Keeper and the table of seven had made decisions before this all the time?

Now they had the answer. Because of all the secrecy and the suddenness of it all. Every major thing before this, decided by the Sanctum leaders, had been circulating as rumors for months before it was officially confirmed.

Damian listened without speaking a single word as the eight people discussed the new bill. Words of Ilvanya were often met by angry shouts and disdain, but not everyone showed that hostility openly.

Torwin, Souldealer, and Evrin spoke for the people. Putting all the hesitations and confusions they had regarding this decision. Sam, Lucian, and Einar spoke clearly about the benefits and reasoning behind this partnership and tried to make a case for why this decision needed to remain a top secret. Ilvanya spoke about the partnership and how the relationship had been older than the keepers and the sanctuary. She pushed for people to have faith in the house of Eldorian.

At last, after an hour and a half of talking and thinking about all sides of this matter, there were no more words to say. Even the active hall had quieted down. People were thinking and rethinking their decisions. Some were shocked to realize how deep the importance of this one decision was. Some had not even considered the details Souldealer, Lucian, Sam, and Evrin brought up.

But it finally ended. Only one thing remained to do now. After an hour and a half, Damian spoke up,

"All in favor of the bill passing?"

No hand was raised from the seven before him. The decision was made.

The disappointed grunts and murmuring were cut short as Damian continued speaking,

"After hearing all sides of the implications of the decision I made as a Keeper, which led to the recent disturbance in not just the capital city but all over the Sanctuary land, I have understood where the issue lies. The partnership itself is not the problem here. On a normal day, we would have celebrated this friendship. I hope the future shows us a time when we are grateful for these neighbours of ours who have helped us from the very beginning."

Damian stood up and walked forward, letting all the people see him clearly.

"The issue lies in our faith." He declared. "People of Sanctuary have been affected by the changing times. Whether it be the change in leadership in Faerunia, the growing distance from the Empire, or because of my recent marriage to someone I had known for a long time."

"Yes, Vidalia Eldorian has been a friend of mine for years now. I met her when I was barely ten years old. We share a bond now, and I am nothing but grateful for it. I do not regret it. I will never regret it."

"Faith has been broken. You, the people of my sanctuary, believe someone will take over us? I say, how much longer are you going to look down on yourselves!? We are Sanctuary! Even when none will remain on the mainland, we will remain! We are barely 30% in size compared to the other three countries, but even in the most turbulent times, we stood tall! We fought the shadowborne from the frontlines! Our technology! Our pathfinders, because of the easy dungeon access! It surpasses any place on the mainland and beyond!"

"You don't believe I can be impartial? That's fine, I understand. But don't you dare believe for even a single second that this Sanctuary.. My Sanctuary can not stand shoulder to shoulder against all these ancient nations! Hell, forget being rivals, we will lead them one day! That's what I believe! Do you know why? Because this place protects and cares! This place gives shelter to the homeless, opportunity to the poor, and hope to the desperate ones!"

"I am Damian Sunblade! Not of Dawnstar or Eldoris but of Sanctuary! I am proud of it! My faith is not broken. I believe, as I always have, that this place, this land, is the future of the mainland. Whether someone else believes or not, I will make this place a home of my dreams. I don't care what name it has. To me, it will always remain a Sanctuary that accepts anyone who knocks on its doors!"

The sound of the applause and shouting forced the furniture to vibrate dangerously in the hall. It did not stop. Even his fellow Sanctum heads smiled and applauded without care.

Damian raised a hand, and it finally quieted down.

He continued, "But as I said, the faith has been broken. I once did everything I could to push for a hundred-year peace treaty, but I failed. I hoped we would grow and thrive after all the wars the mainland suffered through. But it remained a dream. The failure pushed me to seek out allies. I accept Eldoris as my friend; this country is a friend of ours. But like all friends, we will only know for sure in our time of need. Which I hope never comes."

"But that's my decision, marrying the princess of Eldoris was my decision. I understand how that would make some of us unsure of our future. This bill is not the best thing for Sanctuary. I truly believe that. Which is why our capable sanctum heads have rejected it. I am proud to say their faith is not broken. I am lucky to have such companions."

Damian smiled at the seven people present beside him. They were reliable, and they had proven that time and again. Even today. Nothing anyone said today was previously discussed or planned. They all knew what to do and did that, giving their hundred percent.

He continued, "If words were enough, the people of my Sanctuary would not falter to begin with. I truly believe that. But they are not enough. My decisions were part of the reason for people's fear. But that's the great thing about Sanctuary. We are not old and grizzled like these kingdoms. We are the future, and it changes when the time is right."

"That's what we need to do right now as well. If the problem lies with Lady Vidalia and me, it's easily solvable. Eldoris remains a partner of Sanctuary, but people should not live in fear that I might be influenced over time. And so I propose another vote for the high table of sanctum."

The faces of people beside him showed expressions ranging from confusion, shock, to almost horror and disbelief. They understood.

They could not reveal the gods. But people deserved to get angry with all the confusion as well. If people wanted to blame, it's easier for him and Vidalia to take that instead of shifting that to the whole Sanctum leadership.

People's faith will not be broken because of him.

Damian turned from the side to face the whole hall, which somehow had gotten more and more crowded with time.

"And so as of today, I resign from the position of Second Keeper. My final act as a Keeper is to propose the change in leadership before the high table. By law, I am required to appoint a successor. I wish that to be Samuel Stormcaller."