I have not written fanfiction in many years (over a decade), but here is a prologue and idea I have.
Edited by a Bookworm: Redoing My Life as a Book-Obsessed Shrine Maiden
Inside a square, windowless room of white ivory, seven softball-size feystones floated in the air. Each shone with one of the divine colors and moved in a circular orbit, reminiscent of the celestial globe in the Mana Replenishment hall. A glittery substance that I took to be golden powder trickled down from one of their cores.
These seven feystones were connected to the replenishment hall, and the golden dust was the mana coming from it. In other words, it was the mana being sucked out of Ferdinand at this very moment. Even though Ferdinand had been supplying his mana for the best part of the day, the foundation was mostly empty. Still, even if the flow of mana was much slower than expected, it didnât change the fact that Ferdinand was being drained. I watched the falling dust for a moment, just as the glittering mana that trickled steadily from the feystone started to falter. The stream broke apart before vanishing entirely.
I stared, waiting for it to resume.
A cold sensation crept up my spine as I followed the feystoneâs glow, searching for movement, for any sign that mana was still being drawn from Ferdinand. The connection that had once felt taut, like a thread pulled tight between my heart and his name snapped.
The sensation was so abrupt that my knees buckled. The connection to Ferdinand, the man whose existence I had anchored myself to, who protected and guided me, vanished.
I fumbled at my belt grasping the small cage, the metal was cold against my skin as I yanked it free and forced it open.
Inside, the stone that once said Quinta was no longer there. In its place was only gold dust that now spilled through the gaps between my fingers, weightless and final, as if mocking me for ever believing I could save him.
I had endured the royal family and their incessant demands. I had bowed my head, swallowed my pride, and played the role they required of me. I had circled the temples dedicated to the gods, praying, offering mana until my body failed me. I had even obtained the Grutrissheit, the very proof of divine favour they so coveted.
Divine light flared violently, colors bleeding into one another as the foundation of Ahrensbach was claimed in a single, reckless outpouring.
Grief burned too hot, too deep, and from its core rose something sharper, something vicious.
I lifted my head, tears streaming freely, and screamed.
It was an ugly sound, broken and raw, utterly unbecoming of an archduke candidate.
âSo this is how you answer me?â I gritted my teeth, my voice echoing off the ivory walls. âAfter everything Iâve done?â
I had promised Ferdinand.
If anything were to happen to him, I would save him even if it meant standing against the gods themselves. That vow had not been made lightly, nor had it been spoken in desperation. It was a promise I had every intention of keeping.
I will not accept this ending.
âYurgenschmidt is nothing more than your ivory prison,â I continued, lifting my gaze as though I could see beyond the dull white box, beyond the sky itself. âA cage built to bind even your own.â
I felt it, a presence, long restrained. The stillness of winter, cold, dark and ever so patient within me.
A quiet laugh escaped me, brittle and humourless.
âIf this is the world you insist upon,â I said, my voice steady now, âthen I will destroy it.â
Mana surged from my body, no longer a flood born of loss, but a deliberate, focused force.
âIf you will not save Ferdinand,â I declared, my voice ringing clear and absolute, âthen I will tear down Yurgenschmidt itself. I will shatter your foundations, and free the one you bound.â
The divine feystones shook violently now, their orbits wavering. I clenched my fist.
âSo hear me, oh King and Queen of dark and light Versprechredi and Schicksantracht."
"Gods of the Eternal Five, Flutrane. Leidenschaft. Schutzaria. Geduldh. Ewigeliebe."
âSave Ferdinand,â I commanded, âor I swear, I will break your world and open the ivory prison to winter.â
âExcuse me.â I bowed my head a little bit out of habit as I entered the High Priestâs room. For some reason, there was a simple altar in the middle of the room. I could tell at a glance that it was a simplified version of the multi-step altar covered in statues I had seen during my baptism ceremony. There was a blue carpet rolled out in front of the altar.
The High Priest paused his work to stand up and walk in front of the altar.
I hastened over to the High Priest. He looked down at me with his light golden eyes and, after a sigh, looked at the altar.
âUnder normal circumstances, you would vow to serve the gods and temple before the altar in the High Bishopâs room before being bestowed your robes, but as he does not want you to enter his room, I had another one built here as soon as possible.â
â...Sorry for making you do that.â Thanks to me getting ticked off by the High Bishopâs arrogant attitude and cruelty, my mana had gone crazy with emotion. Personally I felt better afterwards, but it made sense that the High Bishop would hold a grudge against me for Crushing him with my mana.
...Not to mention that he already looked down on me for being a poor commoner. With the highest authority in the temple already hating me with no chance of forgiveness in sight, I was probably in a pretty bad situation.
âYou need merely avoid meeting the High Bishop wherever possible, so as to not add fuel to the fire.â The High Priest said
âNow then, let us begin the fealty ceremony.â The High Priest picked up the incense burner by its chain and swung it gently like a pendulum. Smell wafted out of it and into the air as it swung, filling the room with a calming scent.
The High Priest then began telling me about the divine instruments enshrined on the altar, as well as the accompanying assortment of fruits and items.
âNow, your vow.â The High Priest, facing the altar, kneeling on the carpet with his left foot planted forward. He then crossed his arms across his chest and drooped his head. I made the same pose beside him.
Once I was done, he continued. âRepeat after me.â
âO mighty King and Queen of dark and light, most righteous and divine rulers of the wide heavens.â
âO splendid gods of the Eternal Five, most righteous and divine rulers of the vast mortal realm.â
I watched as the cape and crown that lay atop the alter began to glow a faint yellow, and one by one as I said the gods names the adjoining divine instrument began to glow.
âGoddess of Water, Flutrane.â
âGod of Fire, Leidenschaft.â
âGoddess of Wind, Schutzaria.â
âGoddess of Earth, Geduldh.â
âGod of Life, Ewigeliebe.â
And soon I too was glowing faintly in yellow light. I kept repeating the words after the High Priest as I swore my allegiance to the gods, my head started to feel heavy, I closed my eyes tight and tried my best to listen to the now muffled words Ferdinand was saying.
Was that his name? How did I know that?
I felt a hot fever and pain spread throughout my body as the mana within me began to surge
âI vow that I shall pray to thee, gods of nature; I shall thank thee, and I shall prepare offerings for thee.â
Ferdinand furrowed his brows and continued the ceremony,
The priests closest to the altar moved silently, picked up the blue robes on the bottom step of the altar, and handed them to the High Priest.
âBlue encourages growth. It is the divine color of the God of Fire, and it is the color of the wide sky, where the King and Queen rule. I give these robes to you, she who worships the King and Queen, she who swears to grow as the years go on.â
I was given the robes, then changed into them by an apprentice shrine maiden.
âMyne, honorable apostle sent to us by the gods. We welcome you among us.â
âI am deeply grateful that you would welcome me.â
As I raised my leg and arms into the gl*co pose the mana that had been encapsulating me disappeared with a burst, and I felt my consciousness and surging mana return to normal.
"Myne?" Ferdiand called out. A mental dam burst and memories that were familiar, yet not of this age, came rushing through. In the span of a few blinks, the accumulated years of memories crashed through my mind like a flood and beat against my brain, causing me to reflexively clasp my head in horror.
âMyne, are you okay?â
I blinked a couple times, this is all so nostalgic, the last time I felt like this I ceased to be Urano had become Myne.
I looked up at Ferdinand his eyebrows furrowed with contemplation and concerned, he looks so tired, but he is alive and in his blue robes like he belongs. He is home.
"I am fine," I smiled "the dizziness will fade shortly"
Ferdinand sighed, shook his head, and looked at the gray priests lined up along the wall. âI will introduce you to the gray priest and apprentices who will be your attendants,â he said, which signaled three of the gray robes to walk to the front of the altar. One was an adult man, and the other two were a boy and a girl. I knew these three very well, they were so young at this moment of time.
Fran, the adult grey priest's deep brown eyes were serious, and his expression was solemn, not like the Fran who I grew to know. âI am Fran, seventeen years old. I will be in your care.â He introduced himself. I nodded as though that was to be expected and look down towards the young boy.
Gill, was not much taller than myself at this point, he had a nasty look in his eyes and is unnaturally thin. Oh that's right, he didn't eat very well until I came along.
He was blatantly looking me over, from head to toe as if appraising my worth.
âIâm Gil. Ten years old. Youâre supposed to my master? This sucks. Youâre a frigginâ little kid.â
I looked at him with pity when my eyes and didn't respond, he was so strong headed wasn't he.
âMyne, Gil is your attendant. You must reprimand him when he behaves improperly.â
I nodded as my eyes lay upon the very young and smug grey apprentice. âIâm Delia. Eight years old. Letâs be friends, okay?â Despite suggesting that we be friends, Deliaâs eyes werenât smiling at all. Ah yes, back this is back when she was a spy for the High bishop
"These attendants were hand-selected by the High Bishop and myself. Now that you have worn your blue robes, you must act like a proper master, one suitable for their loyalty.â
"Understood" and so begins my second time through the temple, but this time, no matter what happens, I will save Ferdinand.
