#essywrites

[essythewolf]

Third Chance

Hey-o! Going to try something new and limit myself to a 600 word limit (set by this first fic) and attempt PoVs that aren’t inherit to the Prophet. Let’s go!

@vyntober Day 1 - A New Life

Warnings: None

Word count: 597

No one could say that Mayor Jugar Featherwall did not love his wife. It hurt him down to the soul as Matilda cried out in her sleep.

“No! I didn’t--please!” the woman rolled and groaned within their bed, tears streaming down her face.

“Matilda--“

He thought of that woman. The one that came the day before. Unlike the Apothecarius and that Tarhutie woman in town, she seemed more optimistic to try and help. If not even the best healers could, then what could an outsider do? Jugar shook his head and sighed. Another quack, he reckoned. 

But nothing gained, nothing lost. All he could do was watch, wait and hope. 

“Ah...Ah...”

Matilda stopped. Her face, once twisted in pain and fear, eased into calm. At first, Jugar thought it was just a rest between episodes but the closer he looked...She wasn’t tense from strain. Color returned to her pallid face. In his excitement, he went to find his brother. 

“Meldor? Meldor! Something happened, where are you?” Up and down he searched, even stepping outside of his house. Rain pelted his face, the sudden splash of cold sent him spluttering back inside.

Gone. Where had he gone? He returned to Matilda and studied her intensely.

What...what happened?

His answer arrived a few hours later. Rain continued to fall outside and the woman he called a quack before stood before him now, soaked to the bone but with a weathered smile on her face.

“The episodes...they stopped,” he told her in amazement. Relief flooded through him and he returned her smile.

“But...where is Meldor? What happened?”

The woman’s smile faltered. Her yellow eyes seem to dull, as if to recount a memory. It took another moment before she spoke and her answer set a weight in his gut.

“Meldor and Matilda were having an affair. The fisherman that died? Caught them one day and Meldor hired a mercenary to keep him quiet.”

The fisherman? He had no idea that such a detail could have led--

“The wife committed suicide when Pentas died, right? Her spirit latched on to Matilda. That’s why she was being tormented. It was...”

“That’s enough.”

Jugar swayed in his seat. The woman’s hand steadied him. When he looked at her again, her eyes were shining and her smile was tight and sympathetic.

“I’m sorry. I thought it was best to know the truth.”

“I…” he gathered his thoughts then cleared his throat, “thank you. To think that Meldor and Matilda were…” his mind halted and he cleared his throat again, “Well. What matters now is that Matilda is getting better. And Meldor…?”

The strange-eyed woman shook her head and the pit deepened. Yet his heart soared at the same time. He took a key from his pocket and pressed it into her hand.

“There’s a casket downstairs, whatever is in it, is yours.”

She nodded and mumbled her thanks. Before she left however, he asked, “Why? Why help? You did not ask for a reward, I won’t ask how you succeeded but--”

“Everyone deserves a second chance,” she said, “it’s just a shame Meldor didn’t decide to take that chance.”

“Did you--”

She shook her head. Another pause.

“I suppose someone gave you that second chance?”

“Third,” she corrected and her smile widened though it didn’t reach those eyes, “And as they say, third time’s the charm, right?”

And with that, she was gone.

Jugar Featherwall hardly contemplated the woman’s words. They were strange but they didn’t concern him now. And from across the bed, Matilda, his beloved wife, stirred.

[essythewolf]

Watchtower Blues

For @jhara-ivez

*********

It had to be the wine.

How does one go from ‘talking about past relationships’ to ‘I want to sleep with you, maybe’ without it crashing into an inevitable wreck? Not that it was the end goal, or a goal in general (she bloody hoped and didn’t hope), but the words blurted from her mouth of her own accord. And instead of coming up with a reasonable response  to her companion’s rather detached notion of companionship, she glared into her cup and stubbornly bit out:

“Well, I would like to get to know you better.”

Distant sounds of bugs, guards changing shifts below the tower, and the otherwise oppressive awkwardness, settled between them. 

Definitely the wine.

With a gentle and careful motion, Lea set her bottle down and blew air from her nose. Still, she said nothing. And she didn’t dare chance a glance at Jespar. Her ears and face were burning enough as is. 

You are not an idiot girl. You just met this man. Who helped you. Laughed with you. Made jokes and sometimes smells like he smoked an entire box of tobacco. You are not an idiot--

Finally, he chuckled. A light rumble in his throat that eased the tension.

“I’m flattered, Fair Lady. But let’s just...try not to make it any more awkward, alright?”

Lea nodded. The night was clear and twinkling above their heads; the sun long gone beneath Ark’s towers and visage of Malphas. A light breeze brought goose-pimples to her arms; one she welcomed to cool the rest of her embarrassment.

No more wine for me. Next time, I’ll just jump off the watchtower and spare us both the trouble.

“So why don’t you tell me about this girl you took the trial with? I’ve heard some stories about her.”

Lea nearly burst into audacious laughter. Which almost went unnoticed if not for the snort and quick cover up with her hand. Not for Calia herself but for the direction it went.

“Any good ones?” She managed. 

“Besides the one where she’s depicted as a Pathless Witch?”

She chanced a glance and saw his crooked smile. Firelight made the shadows deep on his face and hair. Half covered in mystery.

“Would it help you to know, that she told me herself? Perhaps I can clear the air for you.” She studied the scars on his face. Jagged, almost dancing from the constant waver of shadows. Sea-blue eyes glinting curiously back at her. No animosity. At least, none that she could discern from how guarded they were behind the curious and innocuous questions.

“Try me. I’m always up for a good story.”

[essythewolf]

Masks

He was smashed out of his mind. He couldn’t cope. I don’t think I would either if I were in his shoes.

That still didn’t take away the fact that his final words to her stung. More than stung, they sliced into her. Her kindness, her understanding, as it were, were not real and she didn’t know any better. And yet she pitied him because of what he went through. What she witnessed when he went flying across the clearing in a ball of fire.

He was drunk. He didn’t mean it. 

She repeated this to herself.

He died. I can’t blame him.

 Again. 

Then again. 

And again.

She felt something within her core splinter. Waves of exhaustion rolled over her. Once more she asked, “Why?” Into nothing. To no one. At least no one would give her a straight fucking answer. The Aged Man. For all his wisdom accused her of never asking in the first place. The Veiled Woman. No, no why bother? Grandmaster Aranthael. He would wave it away as little importance and the inappropriate thing to focus on.

But...why?

Lea stood, hands balled into fists at her side, looked unseeing towards an opulent house in the Noble’s District. Onlookers gave her piercing, disapproving glances. She ignored them. She knew already, what her place was supposed to be.

This stop being lucrative a long time ago. You’re here because you still believe in our mission.

Hollow words now as she stood, unsure and seething in front of another obstacle. The talk in the Silver Cloud only added to the boiling pit that was pushing it’s way past the splinter. The pit that ignited after Castle Dal’Galar. How much more would this take? 

She inhaled deeply through her nose then exhaled through the mouth. A mask fell easily into place. A little too easy and a little too familiar, she thought, as she approached the Dal’Geyss estate. The smooth, meek, subservient facade that painted her as innocent and easy. Such a face was needed to survive enslavement and it made the punishments and sessions easier to cope. After all, in the grand scheme of things, she was nothing more than a tool. A thing that led one thing to another. 

When she came here, she thought that aspect would change. If little by little, as all things do. And for awhile, they did. Until she was reminded of her place, despite the skills, despite the armor, despite the people she thought she could be close to. It was shoved back in her face as if she was nothing more than a dumb child who refused to see the “truth”.

She couldn’t blame them.

But...Perhaps, Jespar and by extension Calia, were right in correcting this wrongness of her care. 

As she approached the guard, a resolution was made. Though the weight on her chest settled heavier, she managed to smile at the guard, who tilted his head at her with a scrunched face. 

He would be easy to fool. Easier still, than fooling herself.

[essythewolf]

Draft: A Flight in Winter

So I didn’t have anything planned for the holidays to write but I wanted to share something, so here’s a WIP I had regarding a certain ending for Enderal. It is, by no means, finished and I’m not sure if I will finish it. It’s a jumbled mess and in chunks but a mess I had plodding around my head for quite awhile. Lately, it’s been a struggle to find motivation to create but with this year closing I can try and push that aside and strive for future projects.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and we will see what the future brings! <3

***********

He heard it first; a bottle shattering against stone. Then a heavy thud of a body.

“What was that?” Sha’Rim raised his hands, aglow in crackling green light.

“Prophetess?” Aranthael turned to the noise.

Jespar followed then saw the crumpled body of their Prophetess behind them.  

“Lea!”

He reached her, falling to his knees and cradling her head. Something crunched beneath his knees. The remains of a delicate phial surrounded her like a halo.

************

Jespar blew hard on the whistle. The Myrad above roared in response and began its descent.  

The good thing about the Myrad Tower was that the platform had only one way up. But it was twofold. There was no escape either. Nehrimese soldiers noticed their presence and surged to them like an angry wave against the rock. They’d be forced to cone in but who knows how long until their sheer numbers overwhelmed them.  

“Fuck!” Tharael sprang to the top step and slashed away at the soldiers. “That thing better hurry the fuck up!”

Calia jumped in, broadsword in hand, and cleaved where Tharael’s twin blades couldn’t reach. Soldiers already pooled and piled down the stairs; others were knocked off entirely, plummeting into the street or ravine beneath the tower.

Jespar blew the whistle again, then grabbed Lea’s bow. He was better with throwing knives but there weren’t nearly enough for the fuckton of soldiers attacking them. Arrows sunk into a wood by his feet and he swung the supple bow towards the enemy archers. Even missed hits would still make them scatter if it meant buying more time.  

Finally, strong gusts of wind buffeted their backs until the myrad landed behind them with a heavy, wood splintering thud.

Jespar shouldered the bow, “Everyone up! Now!”

He picked up Lea and threw her on the myrad’s neck. Tharael was beside him in an instant and clambering up the myrad to secure her.  

“Keeper! Come on!” Jespar called to Calia who was still cleaving the soldiers. Enough bodies piled to make a small, waist high wall but still the soldiers clawed over their fallen comrades like animals. He could see the shadows flicker around her form. She heaved a final push against some soldiers with the flat of her blade, making them careen and flail back down the stairs. They only had a few precious seconds.

Jespar climbed on and took the helm. Lea’s body heavy against his back. Despite the hard fighting, her breathing was even and deep in sleep.

“Calia!”

What was she doing?! She stood, motionless, sword bloodied and slack in her hands.

“I-“

“Ark, Enderal, is lost! We stay here and we’ll die too!”

Jespar grit his teeth. The soldiers clambered to their feet. The Myrad shuffled restless beneath them and roared at the offenders. An arrow struck the myrad’s leg. A soldier reared back to strike Calia. An arrow sent the attacker reeling and shook the Keeper from her paralysis. Her savior was Tharael, taking over with Lea’s bow and a snarl on his face.

“For fuck’s sake, we will leave you behind!”

Calia finally scrambled on behind Tharael as the Myrad’s wings rose, then bore down with a mighty rush. Jespar hoped everyone clung on for dear life as the Myrad took off from the platform. He could hear someone below screaming, “Shoot them down!” but the arrows bounced off the feathery hide. For a terrible second, he could see sickly green light in the distance. The entropist.  But in a few, tense moments, they rose above the city.  

Then they headed west. West. And away.

***********

This isn’t real.

There it was. That voice. But it was…her voice. She looked around the Golden Queen’s throne room. Nobles, mages, and eunich’s in silken garb filled the space, but, non spoke in the urgency that the voice, her voice, spoke.

You need to wake up.

“Why? What do you mean?”

One of the mages beside her with a golden piercing through his nose and an oily beard looked at her with furrowed brows. She shut her mouth and quickly turned away.

They can’t hear me. Only you.

“What do you want? Who are you?”

Lea spoke in hushed whispers, trying to act nonchalant as the party mulled around her. She lost sight of Jespar and it was a unique moment to herself not to be prodded with questions regarding Enderal.

Isn’t it obvious? I’m you. The real you.  

************

Lea bolts upright; for a moment, all she heard were jumbled voices and a violet “rush” like waves crashing against rock.

Pain, white hot as the sun, flared through her entire body. Gods, she was on fire.

She screamed and screamed until her throat and lungs gave out.

Then, like a switch, all became silent and black.

[essythewolf]

An Unexpected Asset

Fictober19 Day 17 - “There is just something about them/her/him.”

Fanfiction - Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Prophetess | Tharaêl

Warnings: Violence, Language

(I don’t think Lea would fight in the Pits but I wanted to find a way to get her started on the Rhalâta questline somehow...)

**************************

The Dust Pit hosted a wide array of bastards, monsters and poor fucks to warrant anything of true value.

Tharaêl knew this. Veterans tended to keep clear of the Rhalâta. New fighters usually didn’t make it far enough to be of any use. Still, he watched the fights and made sure Rasha paid her shadow tax to keep this bloodied hobby running. Still, he observed; hoping for that one that would survive long enough to meet his expectations.

A lithe figure caught his eye outside the caged arena. Their hands and face were pressed against the cage, body stiff as the one known as “Gur Hal’Nan” roasted his opponent with fiery magic from his mouth and a roar like a dragon. The figure carried a bow on their back and a hood covering most of their face. But he recognized this particular person. He’d seen them in the Undercity on several occasions. They mostly spent their time at the Pest House or here in the Pits but never signed up for a fight.

There was something…off about them. Not the usual brand of sick that molested or murdered, but off in aura and in their actions. Usually, it was every man for himself. That was made clear when two, skinny boys barely in their manhood tried to jump them on their way to the market. But instead of cutting them down, they talked smoothly and gently to dissuade. And in the end, they handed a bag of coin to the would be thieves to pay their debts to the Rhalâta.

Tharaêl learned two things from that exchange. One, that the figure was female. Two, that they were a foreigner. Her voice gave that away; feminine but with a lilt and accent that he might place as someone from Nehrim.

Such “generosity” wasn’t found down here in the caverns. Not without a price to be paid for later. Yet he was befuddled again when the woman helped Nathalia Poppyflower AND Kabar Thorwall. Kabar was known to be in deep debt to the Rhalâta and sold crucial alchemical supplies to the Pest House at high prices to make up his losses; much to Nathalia’s predicament as a runner for said house. Tharaêl stalked the foreigner as she conversed with both, shell even more pennies to Kabar once he confessed his sob story to her, then convinced him to sell at half price to Nathalia for affordability.

Who the hell was this wench?

Normally such things didn’t bother him. But it became even more intriguing to see the foreigner venture into the Tar Pits. Apparently to follow some dumb legend of a haunted miner. Though it was no secret Old Aisolon (naturally there were Pyrean ruins this deep in the earth) was crawling with undead, this little woman with a weird accent and “generous” spirit braved them anyway.

He followed, staying well enough back to watch as she fought her way deeper into the abandoned caverns and ruins. Her skill with a bow was to be commended. Each shot found its mark. The eyes of the undead or an oil lantern springing a fire trap; all were made before most could even touch her. Then, something peculiar happened.

A cluster of skeletons blocked the way into a wide cave. Instead of picking them off, the woman began to growl and transform. It seemed Raga Shadowclaw wasn’t the only one with this particular ability. Now, a large half-woman, half-wolf rampaged through the skeletons like a knife through hot butter.

A howl reverberated through the cavern and the she-beast sprinted further in. By the time Tharaêl caught up, she was struggling with an enormous spider. Its mandibles snapped furiously at the wolf’s snout, just out of reach as claws dug into its hairy legs. Tharaêl sprang into action.

He momentarily disappeared, then leapt on top of the spider. Both beasts shrieked in pain and surprise. He dug his twin swords into the spider’s back. Then again. And again until it collapsed. The she-wolf barely dodged the corpse falling on top of her.

Quiet settled into the cavern. The wolf’s ragged breathing filled the empty space but its stare bore into Tharaêl as he stepped off the spider’s corpse. Bright yellow eyes glimmered at him and it almost felt like she was smiling as her maw parted. He watched the transformation again until the lithe female was before him. The hood still covered her face and she was still hunched from the battle. But those eyes remained the same.

“Finally decided to come to me?” She said, the lilt in her voice still light.

Tharaêl definitely wasn’t sure what to make of her. But he made up his mind. She would have to do for what he had in mind.

“You and I need to have a chat.”

[essythewolf]

Bliss

Fictober19 Day 13 - “I never knew it could be this way.”

Fanfiction - Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Jespar Dal’Varek | Prophetess (offhand)

Warnings: Post-sex meanderings. I guess?

*****************

Jespar allowed himself the tentative warmth spreading through his body. From the cushion of the bed, the thick blankets cocooned around him, the press of a body beside his own. He couldn’t stop the grin spreading on his face. It had been a long, long time since he allowed himself to feel this way. Like a greeting from a fairy tale dream or a bard’s song come to life in his skin. It gave him affirmation that he could have this.

And that’s what it boiled down to, wasn’t it?

Letting the walls down, if for a moment, for someone else to take a hold of him. His arms, his skin, his lips, his mind. Not for sating physical desire that so often plagued humans to seek entertainment in a brothel. But something inexplicably more. It was a terrifying thing. More terrifying than if he had decided to jump off the rails of the Starship as the pressure on his neck and chest constricted to where he couldn’t breathe.

And then, just like that, when their lips met, he felt like he could devour her. Like a dam had been broken and replaced the pressure with a need that had long since been buried along with the sins. His sins.

Jespar thought of Adila and the grin faded.

He wanted to make it right, he really did. Coming back to Enderal, that was his first mission. Everything else had been secondary. The jobs he took, the one at the Sun Coast he vowed to be his last. But luck, it seemed, was a fickle thing. One moment, at his side like a brother in arms; the next, a jester, pointing and jeering at his failure. In the end, Adila found comfort in shadows and madness. One fueled by the High Ones. Even if he planted the seed, they reaped the reward from his sister. And that was something he could focus on in the fight.

Jespar shut his eyes, rubbed them with the heel of his hands and decided to focus on something else.

Lea slept peacefully at his side. No whimpers, no screams, no thrashing. He carefully sat up and leaned over her, catching her face haloed by honey locks and pillow down. Something swelled in his chest as he looked at her face, no longer creased in pain. It was the first time since they had met, that she wasn’t besieged by nightmares.

Did I do that? By the name of the sun, did I do this to you?

Something witty came to mind; how amazing sex could put someone at ease but it was more than that. At least, now that these thoughts had begun to trickle in again, that’s what he hoped.

I helped you, for once.

He knew she would argue that statement. The Suncoast. The Temple. She would argue he led her there to start her own fate. And that he was also patient enough with her curiosity as she prodded him about the world around her. And that was just fine. He liked it. He liked the draw of her brows, the pouting lips when they got into it. He even liked it when she got under his skin. Not too deep, but enough to make him think, make him talk.

Never knew it could be this way…I blame you for this, fair lady. You just had to be that insufferable.

Jespar was loathe to wake her but couldn’t help himself. He nuzzled her neck. Took in her earthy scent, the warmth of her skin, the shiver that it sent down the length of her body beside his own. He heard her deep inhale and a yellow eye blinked blearily up at him. She mumbled something, then her eye closed and she shimmied against him, wanting to be close. He kissed the crook of her neck, fulfilling that wish and savoring the little moan she made.

For now, he shoved away the other thoughts that pushed against this coziness that he was in. Nothing would last forever. There was no guarantee how long they would survive. If they survived until the end. And if they did, how much longer after? Muses for another time. They always came back.

Seek bliss, avoid pain.

By those standards, perhaps he was doing right afterall.

[essythewolf]

Whale Watching

Fictober19 Day 12 - “What if I don’t see it?”

Fanfiction - Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Prophetess |  Rynéus

Warnings: None

**************************

The stars seemed brighter in Silvergrove.

Lea meandered away from the inn and down to the beach. Each person she passed hailed her with a smile and wave. She returned them, if only to keep the illusion that she was enjoying her time here.

Everything seemed brighter in Silvergrove. The sands not so rough; the buildings not so shoddy and worn. An oasis bordered the quaint settlement and the wildlife paid little heed to the denizens that wandered Moonglow Meadow or the Old Mill. It was oddly safe. She couldn’t lower her hackles enough to really enjoy it. Maybe she never would.

The machine holding the starling sphere was still on the beach. She climbed on top of it, making sure the hatch was firmly shut and sat on top of it. The ocean was remarkably calm; waves lapped lazily by the machine, just enough for her toes to dip into the foam. Lea closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.

The calmest of tides and the coolness of night couldn’t smooth over her stress. Her eyebrows furrowed and she hunched, crossing her arms over her thighs. She sighed.

“Sister?”

Lea straightened immediately.

“Are you okay?”

She turned to the young boy. Rynéus shifted from foot to foot, looking both hopeful and afraid to approach her.

“Of course. It’s pretty late,” she shrugged, appearing nonchalant, “you should be in bed, little man.”

The boy hesitated, “Someone said there would be whales.”

“Whales?”

Rynéus brightened, nodding his head, “Yeah! I thought you came here to see them too!”

No. She wanted peace and quiet. But peace and quiet meant replaying the conversations with Jespar and Calia in her head.

Everyone else knows better, so what’s the deal with you?

She clamped it shut and forced a smile at him, “The whales, right. Yes, why don’t you come up here? You can see them better.”

He clambered on top of the machine and sat hip to hip beside her. They sat in relative silence, with Rynéus swinging his legs and Lea sitting as casually as possible. She crossed her legs and propped her head on her hand. As long as she kept looking at the waves, she didn’t need to focus on the itch creeping up her side.

Friends, you just don’t get it, do you?

Maybe I should just leave. Go far away so I won’t hurt anyone every again.

It’s better to be alone. Clean cut and you don’t drag anyone else down with you. It’s just better that way.

A gentle tug on her sleeve made her flinch. Rynéus must have noticed because he looked downcast and immediately dropped his hand.

“Sorry, was just deep in thought,” she looked down at him with a small smile. It faded when she saw the crestfallen look on his face.

“What if….what if I don’t see them?”

The stars dimmed just a little at his sadness. Lea put an arm around him and gestured with her other hand towards the watery expanse.

“Well, if they don’t come tonight. We can try tomorrow night. And the next and the next. We can’t control when they come you know. But if you keep trying, then you just might see them.”

“Really?” He drew out the word like a young, star-struck wonder that made her chest contract. Pleasant but painful.

“If you want.”

They looked out onto the ocean once more.

“Is that what you want?”

No.

“Sure. I’ve never seen a whale before,” She squeezed his shoulder, “have you?”

“I always miss them. But with you here, maybe I can stay up long enough to see them!” He giggled then yawned.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” She laughed with him. And they stayed, side by side until Rynéus fell asleep against her side.

The whales never came.

[essythewolf]

Temple Tour

Fictober19 Day 2 - “Just follow me. I know the area.”

Fanfiction - Enderal: Forgotten Stories

Prophetess | Calia Sakaresh

Warnings: None

**************

“I can show you around the temple, if you want.”

Lea felt like the victim of a beating. Not only did her head throb but her limbs and chest ached beyond the point of sore. Still. She found she liked Calia Sakaresh and felt it would be rude to deny the offer.

“Sure, that sounds nice.”

The other woman smiled, stretching the swirling mark on her cheek. Was it a tattoo? Maybe she should ask later…

She instructed Lea to grab her things from a nearby chest and follow. She did and they descended a set of stairs into what looked like a church. Rows of pews dotted both sides of the room. Beside them, a large statue of a man pointed towards the kneeling Keepers and acolytes in their pews. Vaulted walls of stone and stained glass lined each side, briefly illuminated by the occasional strike of lightning. Lea counted the seconds until a boom resounded in the distance. Twenty seconds. Pretty far, perhaps it was moving away?

Calia took Lea’s arm and whispered, “This is the Sanctum, a place of player and reflection. It’s also where the Grandmaster will anoint us as Keepers.”

Lea schooled her face to remain neutral. Right, the whole reason she woke up feeling the way she did. The “test” that she had to partake in led her into a vivid nightmare. A test of her spirit and resolve. And then, meeting them. All because her visions marked her as “special”. Maybe to a religious order that really was something. She shuddered. Calia passed her a wary look but kept going. They rounded a corner and down some more stairs until they were beneath the Sanctum. Shelves lined with herbs, crystals and books marked a path to a door leading outside.

The storm was indeed moving away from them. The stone at their feet still wet from the rain and the air held a clean, pure smell. Lea took several deep breaths, letting it fill her up. She continued to count the space between each lightning strikes and thunder. Twenty. Twenty two. Twenty five. Thirty. She didn’t realize she stopped walking until Calia gave her arm a gentle tug.

“Are you okay?”

“Hm? Right, sorry.”

“It’s alright, just follow me. I know the area so it won’t take too much longer.”

Calia smiled knowingly and continued her tour. The Emporium where the meetings were held. The Eye of the Gods, where Lea had her talk with Grandmaster Arantheal before the trial. The Scoula and bathhouse, a smithy and an alchemy shop. Finally they stopped on the far side of the temple from where their journey began.

“And this is the Chronicum. All of our knowledge and artifacts are stored here. You will probably see more of this place as their...our mission continues.”

Lea hoped not to get too familiar. Calia let go and turned to her.

“I think that covers all of it.”

“I appreciate it.” Lea even felt some of the aches subsiding.

Calia smiled then sighed, “You better go back and speak with the Grandmaster. I will make preparations in the meantime.” She tilted her head, as if lost in thought, “It’s still kind of hard to believe…” She shook her head and waved, “It doesn’t matter, I will see you soon. Walk Blessed, Sister.”

Lea watched, perplexed but otherwise did as she was told. These were all supposed to be steps towards a greater good. That’s what the Grandmaster said. Yet, going back, she had her reservations. But then…who were they? The ones that taunted her in her dream that took the guises of people she knew and met. But something in her gut told her to keep moving forward. Go along with it.

You will burn.

She looked over her shoulder, Calia was already gone and out of sight. Maybe, there would at least be one friendly face here.