Across the Northern Sea (November 2017)

He nodded.
"Faith...it's something I've been wondering about. The Sydnicalists were aggressively atheistic. I'm sure your soldiers who have seen some of the churches in Prydania can attest to that."

He grew grim for a moment as he set his drink down. He remembered the need to seem pleasant though. He wasn't in an entirely private setting. His lessons on how to behave when the public could see him resonated strongly, even with William back in Prydania.

"I wasn't just being flowery when I told the media here that I thanked you before God Almighty. I meant it. Not in a theocratic sort of way, but I've seen the good faith did for my followers during some very dark days. And if I'm going to be styled 'Defender of the Faith' for my people then..." he paused for a moment. These thoughts had been swimming around in his head for a while now, but he'd never written anything down or even spoken of them. He was just now realizing what the logical conclusion of it all was now that he was articulating it.

"If I'm going to be styled 'Defender of the Faith' of my people then I think I have a responsibility to prove we can all do better."

Anthony pondered before replying.

"Thank you, It means a lot to know that we are helping make the northeast a better place. I agree with your point. We have a duty to all do better as a society."