Sirius Zero: Building A Corporate Kingdom After Being Expelled-Chapter 52: The Resurrection of St. Ignatius Academy Part 2

Father Joseph awoke groggily to the sound of beeping medical equipment.

His senses slowly returned, the slight stinging from the IV drip in his arm, the antiseptic smell of the hospital room, tenderness in his chest, and a metallic dry taste in his mouth.

The room slowly came into focus, and he saw Father Abel sitting in a chair next to his bed, smiling at him.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Joseph," said Father Abel.

Memories flashed in Father Joseph’s mind: The brutal school shootout, the demolition of the gothic buildings in favor of a modernist design, the relaxation of the uniform policy, and finally, the icy blue eyes of a 13-year-old boy whom he had sacrificed to the fire of moral outrage instead of protecting.

"You should have let me die," he croaked bitterly.

"Now that’s one thing I’ve never heard someone who survived 3 bullets to the chest say," chuckled Father Abel.

Father Joseph tired to sit up, but struggled as his torso felt like jelly.

"Easy there, they had to pull out 3 bullets from your lungs and ribcage," said Father Abel, gently pushing him back down.

"I should have died. I went into that shootout as a penance for what I did to young Zakhrov back then," sighed Father Joseph.

Father Abel raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you actually remember that?" he asked.

"Remember it? Those blue eyes have haunted me ever since St. Ignatius started getting converted into a public charter school! It was like the entire ethos of order and discipline left with him," said Father Joseph, with a bitter laugh.

"Well, how about you stop wallowing in self-pity, and accept the new chance that God has given you?" said Father Abel, his voice firm.

"New chance?" asked Father Joseph.

"Yes. St. Ignatius Academy is being rebuilt, under new private ownership, and we need our principal back," said Father Abel.

The door to the hospital room opened, and a tall blond nurse walked in. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Ah, Father Joseph, you’re awake! How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice warm and soothing.

"Like Lazarus, I guess," said Father Joseph, a weak smile on his face.

"Well, your vitals are stable, and your wounds have healed nicely. You’ll need a few days of physiotherapy, but you should be able to walk out of here in a week," said the nurse, checking his IV drip.

"Thank you, nurse," said Father Joseph, his voice hoarse.

She smiled, and left.

----

Father Joseph stepped out of the black Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and took a deep breath, surveying the new campus with awe and disbelief.

"Is this really the same place?" he thought, as he took in the high walls, the watchtowers, and the Gothic buildings.

The red mud had been replaced with lush lawns. The fountains shot jets of water into the air, and a team of sleekly intimidating campus security officers cantered around the campus walls on horseback, their black leather uniforms gleaming in the sunlight.

"The school has been rebuilt, but we’re not open yet. Our new benefactor is waiting for you to consecrate the chapel and bless the campus, before we can open for admissions," said Father Abel gently, as he stood by the older man’s side.

Father Joseph said nothing, but slowly walked towards the main admin block.

He opened the freshly varnished black rosewood door of the Principal’s office, and stepped inside.

The office was spacious, with a massive rosewood desk, a comfortable leather chair, and the black rosewood paneled walls were adorned with framed portraits of Catholic saints - St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Francis Xavier, St. Edmund Campion and St. Miguel Pro.

Behind the desk was a massive portrait of the school’s patron saint, St. Ignatius of Loyola. His slogan - Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God) - was emblazoned in ornate black lettering just below the portrait.

Father Joseph slowly ran his fingers over the desk, feeling the smooth surface of the polished wood.

He sank to his knees, before the massive portrait of St. Ignatius.

"Noble knight, leader of a brave array, lead us on, oh lead us on.

We will fight neath thy sway, neath thy sway.

What the foes gathered near, we’ll not fear, we’ll not fear.

We’ll not shun, we’ll not quit, this, our noble career.

We will stand ever true in faith to thee.

True to God and faith to thee, true to thee.

Lead us on gallantly, ever on valiantly, neath thy banner to fight for the Church and its right.

All for God’s own greater glory is our cry, battle cry.

Not for gain, nor in vain is our fight in this life.

But for God who is our King, all of our hearts to Him we bring.

Growing stronger and stronger as fighting lasts longer, and purer and purer to make Heaven surer with crosses and trials and many denials, we’ll stop.

But to die true loyal to our King who reigns on high. Ignatius lead us on, till we die." he sang, as tears streamed down his face.

After a minute, he stood up, and wiped his tears away.

"All right. I’m ready Abel. Let’s consecrate the chapel and bless the campus," he said, his eyes burning with a new fire.

----

"Is this a chapel or a full-blown cathedral?" chuckled Bishop Xavier, as he surveyed the massive chapel that had been built in the center of the campus.

Like the other buildings, it was a massive Gothic structure, with a pair of massive steepled spires, and a massive rose window above the main entrance.

The interior was just as grand, with high vaulted ceilings, stained-glass windows depicting the Stations of the Cross.

The altar was rosewood, and a massive carved wooden crucifix hung above it.

"Whoever built this place sure knows his Gothic architecture," he mused, surveying the tall columns and its giant cross layout.

He finally turned to Father Joseph and Father Abel.

"All right. Everything seems to be in order. We’ll consecrate the chapel, and then you can bless the campus. To whom is the chapel dedicated?" he asked.

"To St. Miguel Pro. It seems fitting, since the campus has been rebuilt after a gang war," said Father Joseph.

"And since you yourself managed to be saved after taking three bullets to the chest," added Bishop Xavier with a smile.

He nodded to his aide, who stepped forward with an ornate box, containing the relic, and other items needed for the consecration.

"All right, see you in the vestry," he said, as he walked towards the vestry.