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661. The Empire's Age of Exploration: Fatima Fatesh's Spiritualism
🕑 Added 2025-04-10 00:01:12 +0000 UTCFatima sat at her desk, checking on patients while doing her administrative duty as the head of the Soul Department. However, it was evident she was distracted as she kept refreshing one particular screen, and her mood shifted every time there was no update.
Fatima realized she was slowly spiraling, so she closed all the holographic screens and rested on her chair. However, not even a second passed before someone knocked on her door.
“Dr. Clarence?” Fatima asked as she looked at the handsome doctor with chocolate skin. She recognized this man since she was the Vice-Director of the Soul Department along with Dr. Foster..
“Are you here about my papers? They should all be published in three days,” Fatima said. There is an unwritten rule that everyone else must wait for the person who performed a brand new surgery to choose their topics and publish their papers before everyone else can get their opportunities.
“I’m not here for that, but that’s good to know,” Dr. Clarence replied with a smile. “The chief sent me to get you. There is a department meeting about your surgery.”
“Here we go,” Fatima sneered. She followed Clarence to the meeting room, where numerous doctors and healers from her department attended. Fatima and Clarence had a seat at the front and took their position. Dr. Foster, sitting only two seats opposite them, scoffed as soon as Fatima entered.
Chief Sharma entered the room a few minutes later, garnering everybody’s attention. Everyone looked at him, wondering what this meeting was genuinely about.
“So, have you regained your lost marble?” Dr. Foster immediately snarled.
“Dr. Foster, simmer down.”
“That woman almost killed the patient with her reckless and unapproved procedure. But you let it happen without doing anything,” Dr. Foster continued.
“Dr. Foster, you heard what I said,” Chief Sharma reinterrated.
“Why are you getting snappy with me instead of her,” Dr Foster argued.
“Alright, I wanted to do this gently, but you left me with no choice,” Chief Sharma said. “Effective immediately, Dr. Foster is dismissed from all her positions in the hospital. Her Healer License is also suspended, pending an investigation for bigotry, improper etiquette towards her peers, and medical misdemeanors.”
“What?” Everyone looked at the Chief in shock, including Fatima.
“What nonsense are you babbling about?” Dr. Foster yelled.
“I think you heard me clearly,” Chief Sharma stated. “No, leave the premises before I call security.”
“You bastard!” Dr Foster yelled. “Do you know who I am? My brother-in-law is a Senator in the Arcane Council, and he will be running for an Elder Position next term. You dare fire me?”
“Unfortunately for you, this was not my decision.”
“What do you mean?”
“Koa Ulilanu is a high-profile client, so I reported everything that occurred after his operation. Someone was not happy with how close to death he came, and in a few seconds, someone from the Department of Healthcare Security came to check.
“They’ve discovered all your past infractions, and your immediate resignation was ordered,” Chief Sharma stated before showing her the order. Of course, he did not mention how his job was also on the line for covering for her for so long.
“No, no — this can’t be,” Dr. Foster muttered. Her eyes then turned hateful as she glanced at Fatima. “It’s all your fault. It’s because of idiots like you who believe in False and imaginary Gods that good people like me will face trouble.”
Foster spit at Fatima, but a shield appeared to block this vile attack. However, Foster was not satisfied and launched herself toward her. However, before she could reach far, the hospital’s security system activated, releasing black Ant-Magic Chains that captured and sealed her mana and soul.
“You stupid woman,” Dr. Foster yelled. “Your god is not real. Any miracle he can perform, I can do it better, and you are stupid for putting yourself in the servitude of some imaginary entity.”
Chief Sharma’s face contorted as he activated the security protocols to take her away as fast as humanly possible. “Dr. Fatesh, I’m really sorry about this.” The chief felt genuine sorrow as he realized he was responsible for letting them reach such a point.
“It’s fine,” Fatima replied calmly. “I’m used to it.” Religion had to develop differently after the reveal of magic and the growth of the Empire. Christianity and Islam were the biggest religions in the world, with billions of believers, meaning they were the most affected.
With the development of the Empire, religion was affected in different ways. First, there were the Extremists who rejected all magic and even the Empire. These people acted as extremists trying to bring the system down, or they lived in No-Magic Zones designated by the government. Those zones looked no different from the early 21st century and rejected all outside visitors.
Besides the extremists, there were the Provers. These people believed that since magic could do anything, then they could create a god based on their religions. The use of Faith and the birth of Gods is strictly controlled by the Empire, so these people were an underground group that also conflicted with the law. Luckily, the Age of Exploration has given them more room to maneuver in their attempt to create the God from the bible, Quran, or any other religious texts.
The Naturalists are the religious people who are in denial. They preserved their religion in the previous states without any changes. They won’t talk about magic or acknowledge it. Many of them are Arcanists, but they won’t mention it; they live their lives in contradiction. There was once a movement started by the Naturalist that Edward — the Arcane Emperor — was a prophet sent to earth by God to lead the people, but the movement was swiftly quelled for various socio-political reasons.
Finally, there are the Spiritualists. These people believed in their Gods, doctrines, and magic. They believe magic is a gift from God or Allah and that religion is a personal and spiritual practice. Religion is their beliefs, their faith, and the guidance to their lives, as well as morality. They have intertwined religion with magic by turning their prayer into a form of meditation that uses their God’s Image and Scripture as the core to increase the potency of their soul and gather mana.
Spiritualism is the most accepted form of religion in the Empire and is currently the most “popular” due to propaganda by the Empire. Fatima is a Spiritualist, and while this is the most accepted form of religion, she has faced her fair share of bigotry and discrimination.
Arcanists are—by design—rational beings. Edward designed them to be as such to ensure their productivity and the development of magic. As such, it’s hard for them to believe in any entity when they can understand what an entity can do and replicate it. Many people do not get close to Fatima because they find her faith irrational; hence, she is used to this kind of treatment.
“No, it’s not fine,” Chief Sharma stated. “The government has promised to reimburse you for your treatment, and I will do the same as the Chief.”
Fatima’s eyes lit up when she heard of the government’s reward. She was broke because of her upcoming expedition and was planning to get some Arcane Merits from the papers from Ulilanu’s operations. However, this news meant that her pocket would be further refurbished.
“Thank you.”
The meeting soon ended since the two primary topics had already been discussed, and Fatima returned to her office. She immediately contacted her best friend, Marie Leyman, from the United States region. Soon, a black woman with a large afro appeared on the screen, and Fatima swiftly told her what happened.
“Girl, how many times have I told you to use your power to get that racist fired,” Marie said.
“You know I only became a Tower Master three months ago.”
“You know damn well that’s not why you didn’t do it,” Marie rolled her eyes. She was a Tier 8 Grand Arcanist for her accomplishment in Summoning Magic. They met when Fatima was researching the souls of summoned creatures and became Grand Arcanists around the same time. So, Marie knew how much they had, and if she wanted, Fatima could have at least forced Foster to be transferred to another hospital.
Fatima sighed: “She’s just a pitiful woman.”
“I have told you countless times,” Marie said with a serious face. “In this world, kindness will easily get you killed.”
“I know, I know,” Fatima nodded.
“Well, it’s your life,” Marie sighed. “How are things proceeding with your expedition?”
“I’m still waiting for the Divination Department,” Fatima explained. “They said they will have an answer for me by the end of the week.”
“Hmm, now you have said Koa Ulilanu’s life, the government should pay more attention to you and make things easier at the Divination Department.”
“Now that you mention it, you may have a point,” Fatima thought, her mood improving slightly. News from the Divination Department may not necessarily be good.
“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine,” Marie reassured her.
“Let’s hope so,” Fatima sighed.
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