Browbeating

Elias immediately started helping himself to the garrison's supplies, much to Lieutenant Drescher's consternation, who was apoplectic over Elias's attitude.

"Hey! That belongs to the army!" Drescher shouted, trying to grab the ale out of Elias's hands, to no avail.

"Which means it belongs to me, you noisy man." Elias said with a guffaw, stuffing food in his mouth. "Now where was I?"

"You wanted to talk with the Captain." Drescher said with a long sigh.

"Does this man even have a name?" Elias asked, gesturing at the stiff lipped Captain, who continued to observe Elias's interactions with Drescher. "Or are you another one of those far too uptight officer school types?"

"Is there a point to all of this, Priest?" The Captain asked, finally speaking.

"Is there a point to anything at all, Captain?" Elias asked in response, as he finished raiding the supplies and finally took a seat. "This is the Kingdom's warning. The High Priest of Chaos has been appointed, and I'm returning to my Cathedral." Elias paused for a moment to pull out a piece of paper, which was glowing a sinister black. "Lest you think me to be a charlatan, see for yourself. A genuine divine artifact from Vordea herself." Lieutenant Drescher went to grab the paper, but Elias pulled it away and laughed. "I'm sorry to say but if you actually touched this you would die screaming. I'll place it on the table and you can both read it."

"D-die?" Drescher stammered as Elias carefully unrolled the letter, looking quite unnerved for the first time.

"This piece of paper isn't an ordinary divine artifact, Drescher." Elias explained as he stood up. "It was made with the power of... well. That's a secret, I'm afraid. But do read it."

Lieutenant Drescher and the Captain stood over the letter, and began to read it. It was long and rambling, using prose and grammar centuries old, and never really went anywhere. Afterwards, Drescher looked over at Elias with a confused look on his face, causing Elias to laugh in response.

"It was written by her. She fancies herself a writer, you know?" Elias said, laughing more. "But, do you believe me now?"

"This doesn't prove anything!" Drescher shouted, finding his anger once more. "It could be a fake!"

"Careful Andy." The Captain said. "You really want divine punishment that badly? I don't think we've been properly introduced, High Priest. I'm not actually a Captain, as such, the men just call me that. I'm with the Vordean Church, you see. Knight of the Wheel, Axel Morgan. Pleased to meet you, High Priest."

"Likewise. Something on your mind, Sir Morgan?" Elias asked, noticing the look on his face.

"That's real. I knew it was real before you even pulled it out of your sleeve. I could feel it when Andy was antagonizing you out on the road. Took her long enough, didn't it?"

"There's an entire story behind that I'll come back and share with you sometime." Elias said, a sly look on his face. "But that's later. For now I'm going to the University, then leaving for the Cathedral."