Tests of Faith

The past week and half has been incredibly testing. My path to absolution will be long...this I knew when going in to this scenario.

An incredible couple passed away, reportedly due to a shuttle accident. The couple was Raze and Victoria Valadeus. I would be lying if I said they had no hand in helping me on the path I'm on now; Raze's steadfastness and courage in sticking with what he believed in was (and still is) incredibly inspiring. So too was Victoria's seemingly infinite kindness and patience for everyone, including those who disagreed with her or were otherwise vulgar or mean-spirited. I was fortunate to be invited to pay my respects to them. On Raze's coffin I left an empty scabbard, engraved with a few common prayers of the Ammatar Rite. I figured it symbolized Final Peace (a scabbard without a sword = peace) as well as how valiant he was in life for defending and holding to his ideals. On Victoria's I left a leather-bound book with empty pages. On the cover it read "A New Story in Heaven" in Amarrish. But these trinkets that I describe? They don't do them justice. As Headmaster Shutaq eloquently pointed out, we do them justice by living and acting as they taught. Where two bright lights of warmth and enlightenment were burned out in this dark universe, perhaps a dozen or more other lights were lit. I will strive to be a light, even when things seem to be at their darkest.

Peace be upon them both, and may God bring them eternal honor.

Other things that vex me as of late are the Matari capsuleers loyal to the Republic. I understand their opposition to the Empire's institution of slavery; even I oppose it on the grounds of it being an incredibly weak method of bringing people into the fold (if I may dare suggest, I believe the Empress would agree; she is freeing all ninth generation of slaves. Surely slavery is coming to an end!). What I fail to understand is their opposition to the Faith itself. There are aspects of traditional Matari culture which I admire highly and have even likened to analogs of Imperial social structures (clans being similar to houses, for one. The Nefentar caught on to this quickly). It goes without saying that I admire much of what the Empire has to offer (namely, the religion). I do not see why some sort of accord can be brought about. At the very least, a hybridization of the two cultures isn't impossible. If we are to bring God's light to all people, they should come willingly. I do not wish to wipe out the Republic or tell it what to do, but I do want my voice to be heard rather than be ignored or scorned as "blood-traitor lies".

Of particular concern are Ava and Kikia. I understand their anger towards the Empire due to its dark history of enslaving others (which, again, I am against anyway). Why must their anger also be directed towards God and the faith? I care for them like I would any other bredren or sistren. Why can't they see that? I don't want to hurt anyone..