i know the way follow me blindly, said the silent whisper in the dark
William's father was the highest rank a priest could be in their little village, and William had always known he would inherit the position when his father passed.
Up until his 10th birthday, his father let him believe it. It wasn't that William was wrong to assume he would inherit the position by right, he was entitled to it. Truth be told, as an only child, if and when his father passed, the villagers would look to him for guidance no matter his age. That was the law, and trying to go around it was considered treason of the highest order punishable by death for the entire family.
So, one could imagine the surprise on William's face when, on his 10th birthday, the day he was supposed to begin learning from his father, the day he was supposed to become a priest in training, the day he would have to command the respect of everyone in the village except his father, making him the second most important person in the village his father took him to the stables. Their arrival instantly made every stable master and shepherd restless, wondering what these two important figures were doing there.
The meeting bell suddenly rang, and all the shepherds and stable masters knelt before William and his father.
"We humbly greet the High Priest," they said.
They could not address William as apprentice priest, as he had not yet been named as such. In their eyes, he was still a child yet to take up any position. Until the day after his birthday, when he would be officially given his role, they would treat him as the child he still was.
"Rise," William's father said with a gentle smile. He was a kind man, beloved by most of the villagers. This was a man who commanded the respect of everyone in the village, including the Village Chief, yet he was more approachable than most people beneath him in rank.
"I'm looking for Lucky's Head Shepherd. I would like to leave my boy under his guidance for the next fifteen years."
As he finished his words, William felt his face burn with rage. His stomach twisted like a fire had been lit inside it. He felt like cursing his father, but the fear of what might happen if he did so in public held his tongue.
As his thoughts stalled, he looked at his father's face, only to see him smiling as though he hadn't said anything shocking. When he looked back to the group in front of them, one of the shepherds stepped forward with a bright smile of his own.
"Surely you jest, High Priest Luca. Isn't the boy taking the reins from your old bones tomorrow?" Head Shepherd Mike asked.
"Don't you worry about that. I still have time left in my old bones at least more than yours, hehe. So, will you do me this favour, ol' Mike?" Luca asked with a playful smile.
"Anything for you, High Priest," Mike replied, his tone growing serious. He couldn't remain playful in front of Luca when others were watching. He could get away with it when Luca visited him privately, since they were childhood friends but here?
It was then that William realized this was really happening. His breath grew haggard, but his father continued on as if nothing was wrong.
William's knees buckled beneath him as he fell, crying out in frustration and betrayal.
"Father, why? Why, Father?"
He couldn't understand what led his father to make such a decision. He felt as though he were being punished, but for what crime?
Having finished what he came for, Luca clasped his hands together as though in prayer and turned to leave. If one had dared to look closely at his face, which no one did they would have seen the pain and fury burning in his eyes.
How could he explain to his son that he had been chosen for a vacant position in Heaven?
How could he tell his son that he was powerless to protect him?
The heavens had chosen, and there was nothing and no one capable of changing that decision.
How could he tell his son that a dream had warned him? That he was too scared to ignore it?
How could he say that he was leaving him there to die?
Just as the villagers feared defying his authority, so too did Luca fear defying the heavens. But unlike them, his punishment would be far steeper. Not only would his family die, but the villagers too.
If that were all, it might have been bearable but it wasn't the end.
All those killed would be barred from entering Heaven. Their souls would be cursed to forever torment the spirit of the one who had brought this curse upon them for one thousand years in the place they died. Only then would their souls be extinguished, never to be reborn again.
But the leader? The one who had caused it all?
He would be reborn with full memories of his past life, along with the thousand years of torment. He would remember every minute of it.
Considering all this, who would willingly go against the heavens?
Besides, all priests and High Priests were chosen from among those most sensitive to the sufferings of others. This was Heaven's insurance ensuring their chosen leaders would obey without question.
All Luca could do when he got home was kneel and scream at the heavens:
"Why?"
Why couldn't they wait just a few more years to take his son?
Why wasn't he allowed to say goodbye?
Why wasn't he allowed to explain?
Why his son?
Back at the stables, in Mike's shack, after what felt like half an hour, Mike finally spoke to William.
"Boy, I don't know what your ol' man was thinking, but for me to start teaching you, I have to baptize you as a Shepherd first. That way the heavens will recognize you. Only then can we begin teaching you our core beliefs without fear of punishment."
Mike paused, looking at the unresponsive child with pity.
"Having said that, we should start by choosing a suitable name one the heavens will recognize you by. You can keep your family name if you want."
William finally spoke, his voice low and bitter.
"I have no need for that name. If that man refuses to give me my birthright, then I too will denounce his name. From today onward, William Juda is no more. I am Simon Oshier."
How a ten year old could think like that was a mystery, but then again that would be exactly how a pampered child would behave at their first disappointment