[He frowns a troubled frown at that. He can feel the truth in Áedán's words, but they go against everything he was taught.] Before I became what I am today, I fought for what is today known as the Catholic Church. In my day, it was just "The Church." Before I could swing a sword, or ride a horse, or even read and write, I was taught that there is but one God, and all the rest are pretenders. I believed this, even after a madman awakened this power in me that would cause many to dub me a god themselves. I have believed this all my life, and now you tell me it is not true. Everything I was taught tells me I should strike you down where you stand. Can you, who sees into my heart as I have seen into so many others, understand the... the dilemma this causes me?
You say you are not a god, Aiden, but I feel something in you that I have not felt from anyone else, not from Queen Isabella who knighted me, nor from Apocalypse who awakened me, nor even from Magneto who I once believed was Him reborn on Earth. If you are not a god, Aiden, then what are you that I feel this from you? Or... perhaps you do not know that yet, any more than I know what it is I am? If that is so, then perhaps Fate brought us to meet to learn from each other.
[As Áedán explains the tenants of Eógan to him, he nods his understanding.] There must be an order to follow in all things, laws which all from the highest to the lowest are governed by. But if that is so, then is there not one God above the others who sets that law? [He frowns again, realizing that might be a lapse into his old way of thinking.] You seem young, even if I suspect that you are in reality much older than I. Travel is the sport of youth, I traveled much in my own youth after being knighted. Though it was usually to places the Church wanted me to go.
[He can feel it when his companion's mode, already difficult for him to perceive, closes off from him altogether. But he doesn't try to force it open. He suspects such power is beyond even him, and he is too intrigued by this being to risk alienating him anyway.]
If what I believed all my life to be truth was falsehood, then I want to know the truth. As much of it as I can, even though I understand that certain truths are too vast for mortals to grasp. In truth, Aiden, it would be a relief to know if I was still mortal. I have lived now for over 800 years, I do not know how long that is in Sîaera but here on Earth that is several lifetimes. In truth... I don't even know if I can die.
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You say you are not a god, Aiden, but I feel something in you that I have not felt from anyone else, not from Queen Isabella who knighted me, nor from Apocalypse who awakened me, nor even from Magneto who I once believed was Him reborn on Earth. If you are not a god, Aiden, then what are you that I feel this from you? Or... perhaps you do not know that yet, any more than I know what it is I am? If that is so, then perhaps Fate brought us to meet to learn from each other.
[As Áedán explains the tenants of Eógan to him, he nods his understanding.] There must be an order to follow in all things, laws which all from the highest to the lowest are governed by. But if that is so, then is there not one God above the others who sets that law? [He frowns again, realizing that might be a lapse into his old way of thinking.] You seem young, even if I suspect that you are in reality much older than I. Travel is the sport of youth, I traveled much in my own youth after being knighted. Though it was usually to places the Church wanted me to go.
[He can feel it when his companion's mode, already difficult for him to perceive, closes off from him altogether. But he doesn't try to force it open. He suspects such power is beyond even him, and he is too intrigued by this being to risk alienating him anyway.]
If what I believed all my life to be truth was falsehood, then I want to know the truth. As much of it as I can, even though I understand that certain truths are too vast for mortals to grasp. In truth, Aiden, it would be a relief to know if I was still mortal. I have lived now for over 800 years, I do not know how long that is in Sîaera but here on Earth that is several lifetimes. In truth... I don't even know if I can die.