Deus Vult
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Kazimir
“Once again, alone I rise,
These hollowed walls, no cheering cries.
What glory left, what weight remains
When dawn breaks ties to night’s sweet games?”
(He holds a nearly empty glass, staring into it with a bitter smile, contemplating the emptiness that lingers even after the most extravagant of nights.)
Kazimir
“Fame? Fortune? Empty lies—
What use are tales beneath morning skies?
These walls bear witness, only they see
How shallow the thrill, how cold is the spree.”
(He dresses, gathering his belongings, casting one last look around the room with a resigned expression. The thrill of the night has faded, and he walks out into the morning, carrying the weight of solitude with him.)
(The scene closes on Kazimir, his shadow long in the early light, a lone figure in the quiet morning, moving forward but leaving a piece of himself behind.)
II
(Kazimir arrives at the church in Zlata Koruna, his horse’s hooves echoing in the empty courtyard as he dismounts and steps forward. The heavy oak doors swing open, and he walks inside, the silence enveloping him like a shroud. Incense fills the air, mingling with soft murmurs of prayer.)
Narrator
Upon his steed with silent tread,
Kazimir’s heart weighed down like lead.
Through ancient doors he crossed alone,
Where sin and faith alike are sown.
(Kazimir looks around, his gaze falling on the dark figure of Pastor Ondrej, who stands waiting by the altar, his face obscured by shadows.)
Pastor Ondrej
(with a polite but cold smile)
“Welcome, stranger, do you seek grace?
Or merely shelter in this place?”
Kazimir
(bowing slightly, his tone carefully respectful)
“A knight am I, of noble kin,
I come to seek release from sin.”
(His words flow smoothly, yet there’s a glint of disquiet in Pastor Ondrej’s gaze, as though he sees through the knight’s polished veneer.)
Pastor Ondrej
(with a sardonic smile)
"Our chapel doors they welcome all,
Be they humble souls or ones who fall.
In troubled times, we guide and lead;
Our Lord accepts each broken creed.”
(Kazimir studies Ondrej, feeling the unsettling, sharp gaze resting upon him, but remains composed. His eyes wander to the aisle, where a young woman, Anezka, kneels beside an elder, helping them with quiet care.)
Narrator
Beside the old, she knelt in grace,
A gentle hand, a peaceful face.
Each movement filled with light so rare,
A soul untouched by darkness’ snare.
(Kazimir watches, caught off guard by her serene, radiant presence. Something stirs within him—a flicker of awe and wonder.)
Kazimir
(murmuring under his breath)
“What strange enchantment takes my breath?
What warmth so pure defies all death?”
(He forces himself to look away, shaking off the strange feeling, but Ondrej notes his interest, a sly smile curving his lips.)
Pastor Ondrej
(leaning closer, voice a low murmur)
“She’s new in town—a novice pure,
With spirit bright and heart demure.
A rare gem in a world so grim,
Yet naive enough to sway and spin.”
(Kazimir nods with feigned indifference, yet a spark has ignited within him, unsettling and unfamiliar. He leaves the church, but as he steps outside, the image of Anezka remains vivid in his mind.)
Narrator
In silence left, the Pastor stayed,
Watching Kazimir’s shadow fade.
His eyes alight, his thoughts fell keen,
To shadows of what he had seen.
(The stage darkens, leaving Pastor Ondrej alone as memories stir in his mind, giving way to an unsettling recollection of his first encounter with Anezka.)
III
(Late at night, in the church’s damp, dark cellar, candles flicker softly, casting shadows against stone walls. Pastor Ondrej descends the steps, his figure concealed in dim light. He stops just a few paces away from a group of nuns quietly sorting barrels of wine, eyes cast down. Whispers of his true nature circulate in silence, but fear keeps them bound to obedience.)