My salutations, Goldberry.

On the contrary, I understand quite well. I have heard these arguments
before. They begin to wear thin, but such is the way of life. Should you
feel the hot flame of truth light your way to the paths where no light
shines, you would know just why I say the thing I do. You would find
that a soul hardened by pain will burn just as hot as a soft soul. It
will burn longer, and with more purpose.

An analogy for you. Take pine. A soft wood, open to the world and
fast-growing. Burn it. You will have light and warmth for a few fleeting
moments, but then the fire will burn out and fall as ash at your feet.
Then take ironwood. Hard, slow to grow, slow to catch fire. When the
fire burns hot enough, though, burn it will. It will burn just as strong
as pine, but longer. It will burn for days before falling to decay. It
would burn with a flame with purpose, not wild abandon. So it is with
the fires of faith.

Removing weakness does not make you weaker. Carve out the rotten parts
of an apple and you have a better apple, fit for eating. Carve out the
weak parts of a soul and you have a strong soul. For a short period of
time, perhaps the lack of certain parts of the soul would be
uncomfortable for some, but when it passes your soul will be that much
stronger. I wouldn't know. When I lost the weak parts of my soul,
glorious power was the only feeling that possessed my being.

However, let us not bother the people of Sapience with our philosophical
debate much longer. Come and speak to me in person, Goldberry. I'll
welcome the challenge as you try to shake my faith. If you have trouble
finding me, simply follow the trail of the blood and souls of those who
have come before you in your quest to 'enlighten' me and mine.

This will be interesting, I think.


Vicar Arelas Coldraven

Penned by my hand on the 14th of Sarapin, in the year 407 AF.