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“Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna!”
A massive crowd swarmed the streets of Jerusalem, cheering and singing. In the distance, the crowd split and made a path for a man riding a donkey, laying down palm leaves before Him.
On a rocky outcropping nearby, a group of Chaldea’s servants looked upon the sight.
“So this is how the Holy Land looked like in the Savior’s time,” Molay said, looking at the distant crowd with awe.
Jeanne looked over and noticed that Martha looked forlorn rather than excited like she expected.
“Everything alright Martha?”
Martha teared her eyes away from the crowd and gave her a nod.
“Yes, I'm just thinking. If this was a mission I don’t be as affected but since we’re here to see… it’s just a lot to take in all at once,” she said.
“No camera George?” Molay asked the Saint standing next to him, breaking the brief silence that had come over the group.
George shook his head. “I decided not to this time, it feels rather irreverent. We're not exactly going sightseeing this time.”
“I agree.” Amakusa said, jumping down from a small overhead, joining them.
“Even if we were to disguise it with Mystic Code like we're using on ourselves, there aren't many in Chaldea who would care much for plain pictures.” he said.
“They're monitoring us as well. Though I think some need to monitored more than others,” Jeanne said, looking at Amakusa as she finished her sentence.
“Still can't let that go huh.” Amakusa laughed.
“We all know the significance of the upcoming days, no one is going to do anything reckless. Just observing the events was all we asked for,” Molay spoke up.
Jeanne pursed her lips. “We'll have to thank Master for fighting on our behalf to allow us this rare opportunity. Compared to many modern mages, they actually see us as humans not just beings to fight at their request. They understand what the chance to see our Lord means to us. Especially since we're Saints.”
Her eyes flicked over to Molay. “Well, most of us are.”
“I still count myself lucky to be summoned here among you all. Never would I have imagined I could talk and fight alongside actual Saints,” he said.
Martha clapped her hands, getting everyone's attention.
“We’re only here for a few days so we better find a place to stay. Unless you feel like doing some penance by sleeping outside, we should get going.”
The group stretched and started to walk towards Jerusalem.
“We could always go into our spirit forms.”
“True but there's something nice about experiencing the culture of the people firsthand.”
“If we're able to find some lodging then we should be thinking about food as well.
“I'll take care of the cooking, hopefully the modern kitchen in Chaldea hasn't spoiled me too much!”
—
Plates and cups clinked as the Chaldean Servants are the last pieces remaining of their meal.
Martha had brought out some traditional prepared food to loud praise from her fellow servants but as the meal went on, the conversation slowly died down into reflective silence.
“It's a strange feeling isn't it? Thinking about what we saw earlier,” Amakusa said quietly, finishing his cup of water. “All those people, praising Him yet a few days later yelling for Him to be crucified.”
Martha sighed. “It wasn't their fault, what they wanted was a savior from Roman rule. But like He said-”
“My kingdom is not of this world.” Molay finished the quote and Martha nodded at him.
Silence came over them again as they cleared the table, all of them taking a brief moment to offer up a prayer of thanks.
“What was the plan again?” Jeanne asked once they were all finished. Everyone looked at Martha.
“The place we're most likely to remain hidden as part of the crowd should be the Scourging and onwards. Anything before that would be too risky. The few days we have before that will be spent getting to know the city,” Martha answered, wiping away a few remaining crumbs off the table.
The rest of them nodded and rose.
“Let's get some sleep then.”
—
Yells and jeers came from the crowd, rising with every crack of the whip.
“Crucify him, crucify him!”
Every cry of anguish served only to incite the Roman soldiers even further.
Hidden amongst the crowd, the Servants watched on with grim faces.
“So that's how it went,” Molay murmured, staring at the sight before them.
“And this is only the beginning,” George said quietly, eyes watching the Roman soldiers.
Jeanne was quiet, reminiscing about the end of her own life.
“I never imagined-”
A pair of eyes looked over at them.
Those eyes saw it all and through it all. Their Mystic Codes, their Spirit Cores, the Throne of Heroes, everything. A single glance that could see through the texture of the world. Before those eyes truth itself was revealed. A Divine power far beyond the strength of any pair of Mystic Eyes.
Eyes that gave them a pitiful look.
A pair of Roman soldiers broke their line of sight and it took everything they had to remain standing.
“Are our Mystic Codes still working!?” Amakusa whispered, looking at the rest of the group. A quick check revealed that they were still working.
They all shivered, drawing their clothes closer to them. It felt as if they were suddenly naked. Slowly, the feeling went away, replaced however with a growing feeling of shame.
“We didn't need to come here,” Jeanne whispered, tears silently streaming down her face.
“Forgive us oh Lord.” Amakusa striked his chest softly as an admission of his fault.
“Even Saints are not above temptation of human curiosity,” Martha said through shaky breaths.
Silently they watched until the Scourging was finished and soon after, the cross was brought out.
“We have to see it through to the end.”
With heavy feet and sorrowful hearts, they started to follow Jesus along the Way of the Cross.
—
The sky was pitch black, thunder rumbled in the distance.
Three crosses stood in front of the Chaldean Servants. None of them spoke or made a sound as they walked towards the one in the center.
Some of them cast their eyes downwards to the foot of the cross.
Others raised their eyes towards Him, upon the cross where His divinity was concealed, humanity revealed.
For a brief moment of time, they all mourned before the crucified body of their Savior.
—
“You want to come back already? You're still allowed one more day,” the voice on the comms told the group of servants.
They all looked at each other.
“We all agree. We don't need to stay another day.”
“We were reminded of what belief really means. Without it, none of us would be here right now. None of us would have answered our Master's call to aid humanity.”
“There's no reason to check the tomb, we have faith that it is empty. Our duty now is to return to our Master just like He returned to the Father and fight with all our strength and all our heart.”
“All so they can once again see the world that was taken away from them.”