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In Alexandria, Egypt in around 370 C.E., a girl by the name of Hypatia was born.
Hypatia’s father was the mathematician, Theon, who was also the last professor of the University of Alexandria. Refusing to raise her under the traditional roles of a woman at the time, Theon tutored his daughter in many subjects and so Hypatia went on to become a mathematician and a philosopher herself.
Hypatia was well-known for her generosity and her love of learning, but she was far from loved by everyone else. She was a pagan and, although she was tolerant of Christians, not many people were tolerant of her in return.
In 415 C.E., Hypatia's fortune proved to be running low. She was sought after and murdered by a Christian mob based on the belief that she was a witch.
I’ve never understood why humans were so afraid of witches and witchcraft in general, but that apparently hardly mattered then. Just like that, the great Hypatia of Alexandria was no more.
☆☆☆
I wish I had more memories of Hypatia than I did. Other than those of Joan of Arc, it was my memories of Hypatia that intrigued me the most.
As I came back into reality from my vision, I was startled to see Priamos sitting beside me. It was obvious that he had just come out of a vision, too, so I was trying to stay quiet for a few more minutes before I brought up what needed to be brought up.
I didn’t want to talk to him about becoming the High Priest. I knew that that conversation wasn’t going to go over very well. But it wasn’t going to get any easier if I waited any longer.
“What are we going to do when we can’t stay here anymore? Have you talked to Miss Brodeur about trying to get in touch with your parents to see if they will let us stay with them when we leave Wolf’s Hollow or something?” Priamos asked.
Why was everyone trying to get me to talk to my parents? Did they all know something I didn’t? We didn’t even know if they were alive, for heaven’s sake! Miss Brodeur wasn’t even fully certain that she knew where they were living anymore - she just knew the address of the house they moved into after they left.
“I’m not reaching out to my parents yet, but Miss Brodeur thinks she might have an idea that won’t include us leaving Wolf’s Hollow,” I replied.
Priamos raised an eyebrow and looked at me, “Oh? What would that be?”
“We have several ideas for how to take down Serena,” I replied, “I’m just not sure you’re going to like the idea we’re most likely going to go with.”
“I’m not going to be killing anyone, Jade. I’ve already caused us all enough trouble with attacking them and I didn’t even leave a mark on them then.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“Well, Miss Brodeur believes she could find enough people to band together to vote to take down Serena,” I began, “After all, the High Priestess can be removed so as there is-”
“A suitable replacement,” Priamos finished in a flat tone, “Yeah, no, Jade. That’s not happening. I’m in no way fit to be a High Priest or whatever they’d expect me to be called and, while I adore Tempest, we all know that there’s no way that he’s prepared for that kind of pressure either.”
“I think that you would be a great High Priest, Priamos,” I answered.
I knew that he knew I was telling the truth. I never gave out compliments that I didn’t mean whole-heartedly.
“Jade, I can’t,” Priamos replied, “Besides, what happens if they found out what I am? What we all are?”
I hadn’t thought about that... that was going to complicate things.