"This is madness," Aldous said, but his voice had lost some of its certainty. "You cannot simply declare yourself leader – "
"I can and I will." Elara's eyes were blazing. "I will do everything in my power to assume your position. To reform this Church. To make it what it should be – a source of comfort and guidance, not control and judgment."
"The Church will never accept this – "
"Then the Church must choose." Elara's voice was firm. "Between a High Priest who uses the Goddess's name for political power, or a Saintess who's actually heard Her voice. Between doctrine that enslaves, or faith that frees. Between your comfortable lies or uncomfortable truth."
She turned to address the crowd directly.
