"Yes, but that will require us to be alone," said Beau with a knowing smile. He had no intention of discussing something this important with twenty assistants standing around the room, regardless of how thoroughly they had been vetted. The system contracts prevented them from deliberately revealing confidential information, but secrecy was about more than preventing leaks. If too many people learned about the technology before it was ready, every department in Europe would suddenly demand access to it.
Isaac studied Beau's expression for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. Can you give me an hour and a half?" he asked, turning toward the assistants surrounding his desk. "It seems Beau is being unusually shy today, and you will learn what has caused it tomorrow." The room filled with quiet amusement as Isaac waved everyone toward the doors, and within a few minutes, the president's office was finally empty.
"Right, now you can speak," Isaac said once the heavy doors had closed behind the last assistant. Beau immediately began explaining the situation, going through the research report, the rune tome, the prototype communication device, and the funding problem that had appeared alongside the discovery. He carefully avoided unnecessary details, but Isaac was intelligent enough to understand the implications anyway. By the time Beau finished, the president had leaned back in his chair and was staring silently at the ceiling.
Isaac's office was impressive enough to distract most visitors from the political problems surrounding them. The president worked inside a massive modern castle overlooking Brussels, a building that looked ancient from the outside but had actually been constructed after the war with Russia. Europe had needed a new political structure after the devastation of the conflict, and a referendum had eventually approved the creation of a dedicated residence for the president and several major government departments. The castle had been designed from the beginning as a fortress capable of protecting Europe's highest levels of government.
Before mana arrived, that decision had seemed excessive to many people. The fortress had been filled with the most advanced defensive systems Europe could afford, including technology intended to repel everything from conventional military attacks to sophisticated infiltration attempts. Mana had rendered most of those systems useless, but the castle itself remained perfectly functional. Its thick walls, secure underground passages, protected chambers, and defensible position on the hill made it considerably easier to protect than a modern government complex.
"Right," Isaac finally said, breaking the silence. "I do not want to discuss the phone itself tomorrow." He folded his hands together and looked directly at Beau. "The technology is simply too important to reveal before we understand it, and mentioning runes would immediately raise questions that neither of us wants to answer." Beau nodded because he had reached exactly the same conclusion.
"At the same time, we need the additional funding," Isaac continued with a tired sigh. "The opposition is already using Europe's enormous debt against me during the upcoming election, so announcing another massive expenditure without giving them something they can understand would be political suicide." He paused for a moment before smiling slightly. "Therefore, tomorrow we will say that our researchers have discovered a method for restoring long-distance communication outside the old cities."
Beau immediately understood what Isaac meant. They could discuss the existence of a new communication technology without explaining that runes were responsible for it. They could describe the project as an attempt to make modern phones functional in regions where mana had disrupted conventional technology. That explanation was vague enough to avoid revealing the real discovery while still giving Parliament a legitimate reason to approve additional funding. "Yes, sir," Beau replied. "That should work."
"Good," Isaac said as he returned his attention to the documents. "Now go home before you collapse in the hallway." Beau gave a tired laugh, stood from his chair, and gathered his papers. He had barely slept in days, and tomorrow's parliamentary session promised to be even worse.
"Have a good night, sir," Beau said before leaving the office. He returned to his residence, instructed one of his aides to wake him in time for the parliamentary assembly, and immediately went to bed. Unfortunately, his exhausted body did not cooperate nearly as well as he had hoped.
"Did you have a good night's sleep, sir?" Mette asked the following morning. She found Beau looking as though he had spent the night wrestling an ox rather than sleeping in a comfortable bed. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and his expression suggested that he had personally declared war on mornings. "No," Beau answered flatly, holding a pancake in one hand as he descended the stairs.
"I managed four hours," he continued with a yawn. "Why do we have to wake up this early?" Mette gave him a sympathetic look but did not answer immediately. She had learned that attempting to explain the concept of parliamentary schedules to an eighty-year-old scientist who had been awake most of the night was unlikely to improve his mood.
By the time they reached the underground parking facility, Beau had finished his breakfast. A motorcade was already waiting for the cabinet members who needed to attend the emergency parliamentary session. Under normal circumstances, the government would have used the underground route because it was considerably safer, but today was different. The president and cabinet ministers needed to make a public appearance, and arriving through a hidden passage would create an entirely different political problem.
"I hate that we have to do this whole routine again," Beau muttered as he climbed into the vehicle. The convoy would take roughly an hour to reach Parliament, and every minute of the journey would become part of the public spectacle surrounding the emergency session. Isaac, naturally, wanted to wave at supporters along the route, but his security detail immediately rejected the suggestion. The last few public motorcade appearances had ended badly enough that nobody wanted to test their luck again.
There was also the historical precedent nobody wanted to discuss too loudly. One previous motorcade had ended disastrously during the First World War, and the security service had never forgotten it. Whatever Isaac's political instincts told him, his guards had no intention of allowing him to stand outside a moving vehicle and wave at thousands of people. In the end, the president accepted their decision with a theatrical sigh.
The European Parliament was already crowded when the convoy arrived. Ministers, representatives, journalists, and observers had gathered because the Pope's announcement had created an entirely new political problem for Europe. The revelation that humanity had collectively created gods through cultural energy had forced governments around the world to reconsider questions that had previously belonged almost entirely to religion and philosophy. Now, with Christianity preparing to expand its influence, Parliament needed to establish exactly where the European Union stood.
"Good morning," announced Nadia Bergman, Speaker of the European Parliament. She struck the desk in front of her with the ceremonial gavel and waited for the chamber to settle. "It is eight in the morning, and I hereby call this emergency session of the European Parliament to order." Her expression became more serious as she glanced across the chamber.
"Today's primary agenda concerns faith and the political consequences of the recent revelations," Nadia continued. "A last-minute addition has also been made to the agenda, concerning Minister of Technology Beau Putman and his request for additional funding, as the existing budget for his department is expected to run short by quite a bit." A wave of murmuring passed through the chamber at the mention of the enormous request. "However, the first speaker will be the president, who will address Parliament concerning the question of faith."
Isaac rose from his seat and approached the podium. "Good morning," he began, looking across the packed chamber. "We may have called this session somewhat early, but I hope nobody minds." A polite laugh spread through the room, although several representatives clearly noticed the double meaning behind his choice of words. Isaac waited until the laughter faded before continuing.
"The European Union grants every citizen the right to freedom of religion," Isaac said, his voice becoming more formal. "That right is protected by our constitution, and nothing that has happened in recent days changes that principle." He paused before delivering the statement that everyone had been waiting for. "However, there is now no longer any serious doubt that gods exist."
The chamber became almost completely silent. Isaac continued before anyone could interrupt him, making certain that the distinction he was about to draw was understood. "At the same time, we now have compelling evidence that humanity itself played a role in creating these gods through cultural energy." He raised one hand slightly as murmurs began spreading through the chamber again. "Therefore, we ask every citizen who chooses to follow a religion to do so with a clear understanding of what that relationship actually means."
Isaac then turned toward the constitutional issue that concerned the government most. "Freedom of religion is protected by our constitution, but so is the absolute separation of church and state." His expression became noticeably firmer as he addressed the Catholic Church directly. "Citizens are free to worship, pray, and follow whatever faith they choose, but the European Union will not allow religious organizations to become alternative governments operating above European law."
That statement immediately generated another wave of discussion throughout the chamber. Isaac waited patiently before continuing, knowing that the next point would be considerably more controversial. "There are also unresolved legal questions concerning citizens who formally join religious organizations that claim political sovereignty, particularly the Catholic Church." He took a breath before explaining the government's position.
"Under our current laws, joining an organization that considers itself a separate sovereign entity creates a complicated legal situation," Isaac said. "Several constitutional provisions are potentially affected, and we are still determining how those laws should apply after the recent revelations." He looked directly toward the cameras broadcasting the session across Europe. "Therefore, I ask our citizens for patience while Parliament works through these issues rather than attempting to solve them through panic or political pressure."
Finally, Isaac gave the church a direct invitation. "As for the Catholic Church, the European Union welcomes a discussion with your representatives, preferably sooner rather than later." He stepped away from the podium after delivering the statement, leaving the chamber to absorb what he had just said.