This story takes place soon after the events of Leona's Color Story and tries to stay close to the new canon.
The bridge swayed as the winds rushed across the smooth rock faces and assaulted the aged planks. This was the fifth and final bridge before the fatigued troupe of golden warriors would reach the end of their journey. They left as thirteen, set out to protect the helpless and ensure the preservation of the holy mountain. They return as twelve, one lost to the roaming band of raiders that were shown the Sun's mercy for those who would defile her sacred places and wound her templars.
Each of the warriors held their cloaks tight to their bodies in a largely futile attempt to keep the cold at bay. Each man and woman trudged forward, fueled by the thoughts of hearth, home, and the first warm meal eaten in several days. Of the battle hardened warriors, only one was not brought low by the journey nor by the wind gripping and biting into every exposed piece of flesh. Her golden armor forged of pure sunlight partially hidden under a drab leather cloak, but not even the simple covering could belie the divine nature of her armaments. Compared to the rest of the band, she did not shiver, did not flinch when the mountain saw fit to test her with a particularly harsh gust. She marched determinedly onward.
Eventually each member of the group reached the end of the blustering chasm, then following a set of steps carved into the living rock of the mountain, the final leg of the way home. As they rounded the curve of the mountain slope, they saw the glittering white marble minarets of the Grand Solari Temple. With the sun at its zenith, the gold inlays in the rock twinkled and the flags bearing the red and gold symbol of the Solari could be seen proudly flying on the towers and adorning the sides of the structure's mighty columns. To fresh faces, this would make for an awe inspiring site, and even those that make this place their home still could look on in wonder at the blessings their Lord had provided for them.
For the sun armored commander though, she was filled more with trepidation and skepticism at returning to a place that for so long she considered to be a paradise for those seeking enlightenment and purpose. The beauty of the outside hid what she saw as an ugliness within. Her demeanor turning more morose and prompting the warrior behind her to speak up as they passed under the cornice and between the columns surrounding the temple's outer walls.
"My Chosen, you seem troubled." Curiosity and concern filling her voice. The commander did not realize that she had allowed her emotions to reveal themselves so plainly on her face. She consciously smoothed out the grimace that she must have been showing.
"It's is nothing Atia, just not looking forward to the prattling of the scholars that will not doubt want to illuminate the story of our great battle." She added a grin to her sister in arms hoping that it would be enough to drop the matter.
"Hah! I doubt even Claudius, Sun welcome him, would even consider it anything close to a 'battle'" Marcus exclaimed overhearing the conversation, "but the scholars would no doubt make it seem as if we'd fought off hoards of daemons rather than just thirty spineless outsiders."
"Our Chosen warrior nearly destroyed that band of marauders single handedly. Do you not think that is worthy of a honoring?" Said Ador from behind Marcus' hulking frame. He eyed Leona with something akin to awe, but his youthful face also showed a slight trepidation.
"Don't speak to humbly about yourselves," she began. "That dragon-helmed warrior and his raiders might have thrashed me good if it weren't for the strength of your shields beside me," a sudden rush of pride and happiness filled her from the celestial presence inside of her. It was all too pleased to hear their praise from her comrades. It revelled in the memory of how they scourged the marauders. Leona shook her head a bit to try and clear the passions filling her head. She struggled a bit trying to keep her thoughts separate from the restless being.
"This battle would be a waste of good paint and time I say," Julii said joining in. "Better to save it for some greater clash. I for one would give anything to hear the story depicting the glorious triumph over the great enemy and her heretical pawn." The commander made sure to keep her face from revealing more than she wanted as she continued to lead the troupe toward the temple's entrance. She hoped that this would be the end of the conversation, but Julii had other ideas, "I can imagine the tale now, facing off against her with our Lord at Her zenith. The Chosen's armor shining bright with the truth and justice of our cause." His smile began to grow larger and his voice more excited as he continued, "Think of it, the heretic at your feet, bleeding from the righteous fury you wrought upon her. Groveling and pleading to you for mercy as you show her what kind of mercy the Sun has for deceivers and murderers..."
"You would do best to leave the poetry to the purposeless outsiders, Julii," the sun adorned warrior snarled as she faced the impromptu orator, bringing the whole procession to a halt. She felt the presence inside of her fill her enough to give her eyes a hint of sunfire as she continued "Perhaps if you spent more time training your body in the ways of battle instead of blithering on like a village fool, then maybe Claudius would not be one with the mountain at this moment."
The strength of her stare and the cutting words filled the air outside the entrance to the temple. Her troupe looked upon her both with shock and fear at even the barest hint of their Lord's power reflected in her amber eyes. They knew what that power could do, seen it first hand. The commander's mind buzzed, the presence calling for her to teach this welp what it means to bring upon the wrath of Her being. She clenched her eyes closed, willing the passions and thoughts in her head to subside.
She slowly opened her eyes and put on a much more gentle look upon her face as the presence acquiesced for now. The focus of her previous anger still looked upon her with fear and dismay, thinking of all the punishments that could come from angering their God. Punishment he was all too eager to inflict on a particular woman, whispered the force in her soul.
She tried to ignore it.
Stepping closer to the initiate, the commander put both hands lightly on his shoulders, "Forgive me Julii, I am tired from our journey home and I'm afraid that I took it out on you and the memory of our dear Claudius." She gave the young man a small smile as she continued, "I did not mean to imply that his death was your responsibility, as his leader that burden belongs to me."
The rest of the warriors relaxed as it appeared the wrath of the Sun had passed. "However," she continued, "I felt the joy in your words at the thought of debasement and punishment. We should not gain personal satisfaction from the enactment of justice, even against those who may have hurt us personally." She looked pointedly at the young templar in front of her, "I know you still grieve for the loss of your father, Elder Tullius, but that pain should not blind you to Her teachings. Bask in Her life-giving..."
"... for our Lord is the light of hope, the cleansing rays of justice, and embodies the world entire" finished the eleven onlookers together in prayer.
Julii nodded his head in affirmation, looking at the ground in somber reflection. She gave his shoulders a final squeeze before turning and passing through the main entry tunnel. The warriors followed their Chosen through the long passage that cut through the dense outer walls of the temple complex. Its thickness strong enough to keep even the harsh weather of the mountain at bay. Through the stone they could all hear the sound of horns blowing from the top of the towers and announcing their return.
The courtyard outside the tunnel quickly filled with members of the Order eager to welcome back the members of the Ra-Horak along with their Chosen warrior. Leona was heartened by the joy filled faces that greeted them in the courtyard, so different from what they had been when she had returned from the top of the mountain. Excited faces and wide smiles awaited a reconnection with their protectors. Leona still did not know how to feel about the pure adoration that people held when they looked at her, their prophesied warrior. Since being brought to the Solari after her near execution, she had looked forward to the day that she could lead her newfound family to prosperity.
But after what she had learned on the mountain's peak, she felt unsure and ill at ease.
Her band of Ra-Horak broke apart to greet friends and loved ones among the courtyard's congregation. Leona looked on as Atia met with her sister, a diminutive little thing by the name of Atronia. The two could not be more physically different from one another, where Atia was strong and tall with her short curly brown hair held back by a golden circlet, Atronia was near a head and a half shorter; lithe and skinny with silver bands keeping her long night-black hair controlled as it flowed over her shoulder all the way down to her waist.
Marcus quickly found his protege, Quintus, among the mass, bringing him into an embrace that lifted the considerably sized lad nearly a foot off the ground. The youth knew better than to resist at this point, not that he'd be able to seeing as how Marcus towered over most of the Order. Marcus had been teaching him everything he knew on combat, hoping that one day that he might be welcomed into the ranks of the Order's templars as well. His devotion and appreciation to the art of battle had always impressed Leona in the past, but it was his surprising care and kindness that always stuck out to her these days. There was a portent lack of such qualities among some of the Solari that she knew not how to break.
Even Julii, still somber after his lecturing, found easy smiles with his small group of friends. Leona saw one of his companion's, Nipia, quickly slip her arm through the crook of his. Both of them sharing a short but poignant glance when the rest were distracted by Drusus' account of the dragon-helmed barbarian that the Chosen had slain with divine fire. The presence within Leona opened up her senses, allowing her to sense the inklings of affection between the two of them. A soft pink hue filling their spirits as Julii used his other hand to lightly brush against her knuckles as Nipia tightened, ever so slightly, her arm's hold on his. Love still flourished on the harsh slopes of Targon, even in the face of Solari tenets on the sins of carnality.
Few were bold enough to truly engage with the Sun's warrior on Runeterra, which left Leona to simply enjoy the sight of her people sharing each others' happiness. The presence grew restless inside her, opening her awareness up to draw in the passions and emotions that surrounded her. Sharing mortal space between her spirit and the Sun's divine light had its drawbacks, often requiring her to maintain vigilant control against its influences. But right now, she simply closed her eyes and let herself experience the happiness around her.
The calmness she felt almost made her forget, there were certain customs needed to be held on their return. "Brothers and sisters!" she began calling attention to all around her, "while we may have returned victorious against this latest scourge upon the holy mountain, we must recognize the sacrifices made."
All eyes were swiftly upon her and silence filled the marble courtyard. "Our dedicated Ra-Horak have continued in their commitment to protecting our mountain, and for that we all give thanks and pray to the Sun that they may continue to protect the helpless, promote fair justice, and ensure truth reigns amongst the holy stones." Leona took a breath, "However, we must remember that with service comes sacrifice, and today we must mourn the loss of Horak templar Claudius who gave his life for the mountain and his shield brothers and sisters."
"May the Sun welcome his soul, and the mountain bring his body into her heart." finished the group, their heads dipped in prayer. After a moment of silence the congregation of Solari broke back off into their revelry, Leona smiled and moved to head deeper into the temple. Her senses still enhanced from before, she felt a rather unpleasant emotion in the area. Anger and contempt assaulting her previous contentment. The golden warrior quickly identified the source of the souring, standing next to the door to the hallway she was heading towards was an individual she would give anything not to deal with.
"Chosen Leona," greeted the man dressed in the impeccably maintained gold and white robes of a Solari Elder.
"Caelus" she replied curtly with a small inclination of her head, hoping that a short acknowledgment would dissuade him from his constant petitions. She knew she would not be so lucky though.
He gave a small smile that merely attempted to cover his displeasure at the lack of title. She moved past him into the hallway only for him to match step with her. "I was wondering if I could borrow our Aspect's attention for a short while." Ah, so politeness would be his opener, Leona thought. He's usually more upfront about it. She'd probably prefer that, the politics of it all grated her.
"How has the harvest been going in my absence?" She decided that if he wanted to put up a facade of cordiality, she would too.
"Preparations are going smoothly, even considering our inumerable tragedies of the past year, we have had no troubles preparing for the coming winter. In fact, our stores are markedly larger than in previous years. No doubt a blessing from our Lord." He gave her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, the last sentence said as if it were some kind of compliment directed toward Leona. I don't make the crops grow you sycophant, she thought. "More importantly though, I am certain that this is a sign the heavens are calling us to action.
Us? Leona thought. "Please Caelus," she sighed, pinching her the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes, "one of my Ra-Horak is dead and I'm tired. So would you do us both a favor and get to the point we both know you are itching to make?"
He appeared pleased at this notion, he had never liked dealing with her even before her experience on Targon's peak, keeping things to the point suited both of them. "Very well my Chosen. It has been over two hundred and forty celestial cycles since the heretic defiled our temple and slaughtered our venerated elders." He attempted to stand taller as he got onto his sermon mount. "It is time for justice to be done."
Leona continued walking down the hallway that proved to be much too long, giving Caelus ample time to preach at her for the thousandth time. He continued, "We must right the wrongs we have endured. The she-witch threw our entire order into chaos, threatening the preservation of our Lord's holy mountain. The Sun would not tolerate our idleness when there is justice and punishment needing enactment."
Her blood started to boil slightly at that last assertion, the presence in her head feeding into her agitation and turning it into a dangerous brew. "And what, pray tell, do you know of the Sun's wishes, Elder Caelus?" Leona growled, her eyes filling with fire. "You are speaking to one who has reached the peak of the mountain and seen the heavens above, and yet you again dare to lecture me on this subject?"
"What I can't believe is that whatever you saw on the mountain, if indeed what you said was true, would make you forget about the murder of our friends and companions." Caelus didn't back down from her stare.
"I can personally assure you that the Sun has not forgiven any transgressions," Leona responded, "believe me, sometimes I wish she did, but the situation is not simple." She tried to reign in her anger, it would do no good to enrage one of the few prominent leaders the order had left.
"How could you wish for such a thing?" He asked, aghast. "For time immemorial, our Lord has been the harbinger and purveyor of justice and punishment. To wish otherwise is to blaspheme her truth." It seemed as though her attempt to cool the situation had only made it worse. "Do you not want to get vengeance for our Elders? Do you not miss elder Flavius, or Maera, or Heliodora? They were incinerated by the fire of daemonic powers!" His arms gesticulated until he paused as he appeared to think of something. He continued, his voice low and firm. "Do you tell Horak Julii that he will never see justice for his father's murder?"
At hearing this the presence inside of Leona began to push against the bounds of her mind. It's fickle temperament pointing its rage now toward the heretic, calling for her head. She closed her eyes for a moment, keeping her breathing steady as she tried to assuage the divine spirit within her. The stories on the past aspects never mentioned how tiring having a second being within them could be, especially one as inconsistent and emotional as hers.
Caelus seemed to interpret Leona's moment of spiritual disorder as some form of acquiescence, a true smile breaking out on his face. "Right now is a moment of divine providence, I know it!"
"Why do you think that this time, out of all the times before, is going to be the one to get me to abandon the protection of the holy mountain?"
"Because your protection won't be needed, or at least not for some time. The massacre threw our order into chaos. All our elders dead, the inner sanctum of the temple destroyed, and your disappearance on the mountain left us in shambles." He paused to gather his thoughts together. "But now we have rebuilt, we have stored enough food to last through two winters, and our warriors along with the Ra-Horak can effectively defend the mountain on their own. All our hard work has led us to this moment to achieve justice for the Solari!"
Leona was finished with this conversation, she had heard enough. Her response nothing short of a growl, "We all did not work to rebuild the order or lose friends and comrades in arms to marauders sensing our weakness just to satisfy your lust for vengeance." She turned her back to the upjumped priest and began to walk away. "Now, go pester someone else."
Caelus spoke to her retreating figure, his voice low and filled with disdain, "If you will not go and fulfill your duty as the supposed Sun's chosen champion, then I will have no choice but to have the Elder Council compel you to go or be punished for irreverence."
Leona paused as she approached the staircase that would take her away from this unpleasantness. The presence and her now on the same page as the desire to respond to the threat in kind grew, but she maintained her composure.
"Do as you see fit, Elder Caelus," she responded and hoping to convey as much malice as possible, "may the Sun grant you the mercy that you deserve."
She left the young elder in the hallway, preceding up the marble staircase and hoping that she could get some peace after enduring the previous unwelcome visit. She wondered if Caelus and the council would actually be bold enough to demand her action or risk punishment. Most of the council was of similar mind to the unpleasant Master of Sermons.
The heavens seemed to be on her side as she was left unmolested as she ascended the stairs to reach her destination, an unassuming little room tucked away in a far corner of the temple's residencies. She gave the simple wooden door a few knocks, waiting for a response. The door swung open, slamming into the wall on the other side. A little girl with bright blonde hair appeared in the doorway before tackling Leona in a tight hug across her waist.
"Leona!" she exclaimed, burying her face in the armor plates across her abdomen, not caring in the slightest about the hard surface.
"Why hello Papia, how's our Sun's little golden child?" she gave the young Solari a grin that nearly matched hers.
"Good! Although Elder Lucilia is making me read the Annuads again." A scowl spreading across her face, "She's also trying to get me to eat boulder beets."
"Oh what a tragedy!" Leona sympathized, "I always hated them when I was your age, I once bit into an undercooked one and it nearly shattered my teeth." She made a chomping motion at Papia who giggled while still clinging to her armor. "Are the elders feeling up for a guest? I would love to visit."
"They're sitting next to the window, come, I'll take you." The little girl grabbed her hand and started yanking her toward the other room. They passed through a hearth room not similar to any other room in the temple not built for praying and worship: sparse and simple. A few chairs situated around a simple wooden table tucked away in the corner, shelving carved straight into the walls that stretched completely around the room, a few clay pots adorned only with a gold-red stripe sitting upon them, and some gold and red sheets of fabric providing the only true bits of color in the otherwise stark marble room.
They reached the bedroom which once again demonstrated the Solari Order's interest in anything deemed a non-religious expense. A wide bed of stone covered in a straw mat and furs, more gold and red fabric on the walls, and two rocking chairs next to the window overlooking a sheer drop and facing the eastern sky, a small end table placed between them. Seated in the chairs were a man and a woman who seemed as old and aged as the temple around them. Leona let out a sigh of relief at seeing them, the last two true Elders in the Solari order. The woman sat tall in her chair despite her age, her elderly frame belying the strength of a past warrior. Her partner was much smaller, although he wasn't much larger in his youth if you were to believe the elderly woman's stories. His startling blue eyes were closed as he rested, his ever present smile adorned his wrinkled face even in sleep.
" Lucilia! Pullo!" the young girl hollered, "Leona's come back and she's here for a visit!"
"Girl we are old, not deaf. Don't be yelling at us when we're just right across the room from ya," Lucilia gave an exasperated sigh. Directing herself toward the man sitting next to her, "I swear by morning's light I don't get why you think this one is made for the scholar's priesthood. She has the spirit of a fighter."
"You think everyone is a warrior, my darling," the elderly man replied, opening his eyes. "You're always saying, 'This one's too quiet, a good whack with a shield will break their shell' or 'she makes a good stew, we need that one on the battlefield, it'd keep our spirits up.'" Pullo shook his head and gave a gravely chuckle. "Hello child," now addressing Leona as she stepped up to the pair at the window, "have you come to give me a grand story I can illuminate and add into the annals?"
"You forgetful old saberhorn, you haven't been able to pick up a damn brush in near twenty years!" Asserted Elder Lucilia.
"You don't have to be able to paint to see the illumination, the cacophony of colors blending together to capture the perfect scene." The old man gave a long sigh and closed his eyes.
"I'm afraid my tales of late aren't worthy of being illuminated by a past Grand Master of Scribes," said Leona, a small smile on her face.
"Don't you go and get his ego up," Lucilia replied, "he gets enough of that from that girl's enamored looks as he tells the story of Brion the Bard for the hundredth time. The Sun's light knows I've tried to get her to appreciate the tales of valor and battle written in the Annuad, but the last time I tried she fell asleep halfway through. Can you believe that? A child falling asleep to the excitement of glorious combat."
Papia's eyes wandered around the walls with a bashful look on her face, humming innocently.
"Not every hero needs to bash someone in the head with a club, my beloved flower bud," Elder Pullo said.
"Maybe not, but the exciting ones do," she retorted. "Speaking of warriors, what's bothering you girl? Run into Caelus the Canting on the way here?"
"Hmph," Leona grunted, mildly surprised she could be read that easily by the retired warrior. "His pestering really knows no limits it seems, this must be the four hundredth time he's petitioned me."
"By my count it's his three hundred and fifty-third attempt," supplied Elder Pullo.
Lucilia continued, "Bah, could use a few good skull thumps. But he's the Grand Master of Sermons now, gotta keep his precious little head in one piece don't we?"
"Elder Lucilia, that's not a very nice thing to say," the blonde headed girl interjected.
The elderly man gave a light laugh before waving the young girl over. She scampered up to him as he revealed a few little candies in the palm of his hand. Papia grinned, snatching the sweets and stuffing them in her mouth. "You should be used this annoyance by now, Leona. Never known you to be whittled down by mere rhetoric," said Pullo.
Leona's mouth set into a hard line. "He's gotten more forceful it seems, he even dared to threaten me today," she said remembering his audacity. This caused the presence inside her to become restless again, pressure building inside her head as it raged and called for his punishment. Leona closed her eyes and tried to breathe evenly, thoughts and emotions getting fuzzy at the celestial's influence.
Seeing this, Elder Lucilia got a worried look on her face. Directing herself to the youngest one in the room, "My sweet, could you give us old people a moment? Tell you what, we can put off the Annuad lessons for right now. You can go and read about the tales of Arria the Dreamer in the hearth room for the time being"
A broad smile appeared on Papia's face. She gave a little giggle before whipping around and running out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Lucilia then addressed the golden warrior, "Tell me child, the Sun still a harsh mistress?"
Leona stepped toward the window, leaning against the frame and looking up at the evening sky. "Everyday. It's always something, when passions run hot it gets as loud as a braying herd of razorbacks," she said. "Just the other day, Horak Imi spilled hot soup on me and for a whole hour afterward it wouldn't stop telling me to shove my sword through his chest."
The older woman gave a hearty snort at that, but her partner was a little less amused. "I've studied our scriptures my entire life, I can tell you about every single scrap of paper that discusses our Lord's proclivities," Elder Pullo began. "But none of them depict Her nearly as fickle or emotional as you tell us."
"Bah, all you fancy scholars think you know everything," Lucilia commented, "It's all that reading they do. They gotta get a taste of the real world outside the dusty tomes and sermons written by those who've never left the mountain."
"Sweet bear, I don't think leaving the mountain to kill raiding bandits and marauders as you've done counts as 'tasting the real world'," Pullo chuckled, "and life on the mountain is more real than any lands ruled by people who have never seen the holy carvings on the mountain's face."
"What do you know about it? I'll tell you, you can learn more from someone when you are trying to bludgeon them with a club than by reading about them!" The now elderly and now diminutive warrior exclaimed, swinging her arm like she once swung a sword. Leona laughed, she didn't really know about that, she didn't get any kind of insight into the dragon helmed warrior they had fought. She definitely got an impression of his brutality, she guessed.
"The presence is not all violent, my Elders, it just seems to get… caught up in the passions around me, regardless of where they come from," Leona continued. The being inside her seemed to be able to tell they were not saying particularly praiseworthy things. It began to get restless, angry at Pullo, Lucilia, and even Leona herself. Her jaw clenched as it called for their comeuppance and divine punishment be brought down upon them all for their insolence. You're wanting to punish me now? We are sharing the same space if you haven't noticed, Leona thought exasperatedly.
"I have had a recent experience with the violent side though. It's difficult not letting it control my thoughts completely," the Sun's chosen said. "When I give it what it wants, when I give in to its passions, it's so easy. Simple. And the power I feel by giving myself over..." she shuddered a bit. She remembered the feeling when she had all but vaporized the group of marauders trying to flee shortly after she had melted the skin off their dragon helmed leader. The power and intensity, every inch of her body alight with energy. By the heavens, she had never felt anything so exhilarating in her life.
But then she remembered the looks that her Ra-Horak templars gave her as the sun was setting over the aftermath of the battle. They looked upon her with terror at her half-crazed smile, eyes wide and still alight with sunfire as she stared over what remained of the marauders. Every cell in her body imbued with divine energy gave her enhanced senses and allowed her to feel those around her. Their fear overpowered her, bringing her down from her high. In that moment she wasn't their leader, their comrade, or their friend. She was some daemonic creature there to maim and punish. Leona shook her head, willing the images away when Lucilia leaned forward and grabbed her hand tightly.
"Our Lord can be as harsh and unforgiving as life on the holy mountain," she began, "but I know that she chooses her champions well. She knew you could be strong enough for the trials to come." Leona looked at the two Elders in front of her and saw in their eyes an absolute and unwavering confidence in her. "There is a change on the mountain, young one. Greater forces than this simple soldier could understand are making moves, I can feel it in very depths of my soul. I know you will be ready" she paused before continuing, "You must be ready."
"There was a time when I believed that I deserved your faith. But after my time on the mountain's peak I'm not so sure anymore," her gaze dropping from theirs and staring at the floor. She used to beam with pride when the Elders would speak of her prophesied destiny, the chosen one to bring order to the celestial realm and to usher in a great new era for the Solari. "I was so sure of the truth I spoke, but now I'm filled with doubt."
Elder Pullo straightened up and leaned closer to the two women, his face grimacing in pain as his old back protested. "I remember when you were first brought here, Leona. Still bandaged and wounded from your near execution among the Rakkor. You were not so sure then either. Looked about as out of place as a green pasture in the dead of the mountain's winter. But you didn't back down, you faced your new life with your head held high and a determined resolve in your eyes to discover your new place here. There is a beauty in those who confidently tread, yet still with an open mind, through unfamiliar canyons and across untraversed mountain slopes."
The wan old man then spoke with a seriousness she wasn't used to hearing out of the soft-spoken scribe, his blue eyes staring straight into hers, "For all my knowledge and examination into the celestial realm I must admit that I, truly all of us, know not the plans of the Gods. In this you must not be a slave to the past or the traditions of mere men. For you have been gifted with a higher purpose, and that means you might have to face things within yourself you'd rather not." His eyes pierced through her, seeing thoughts that she had been trying to bury through her duty to rebuild and protect the Solari. Thoughts of a a day of burning fire, death, and a woman in silver armor.
"I can't stay here," Leona said.
"No, you cannot," replied the battled seasoned elder still gripping her hand.
"This may be the holy mountain, but it is as much a part of the world as everywhere else," continued Pullo. "When the last sun sets, the final battle won't just be fought here, but anywhere that life thrives."
Leona sighed, "I don't even know what I'm supposed to be accomplishing. Vague feelings and visions from a tempermental presence is not anything resembling a guide." She paused for a moment before giving a slight chuckle as a thought entered her mind, "At the very least I won't have to hear Caelus' screechings anymore, his petitions and obviously targeted sermons on vengeance and justice were enough to make me want to push him off one of the minarets."
Lucilia gave her a short laugh in response, "He has a pretty voice even if he does drone on about the most painful subjects." Her face grew a little somber at the reminder, "You will begin your travels at the behest of pain and tragedy. This old razor-goat and I lost many friends on that fateful day, people that we had known since we were all children. I remember each of them. You remember Elder Eluti, right?"
Leona nodded, "She helped train me in Solari combat techniques after I came here."
"Well, I remember when she was nothing but a gangly-limbed scholar who wanted to become a Ra-Horak templar. She tried to train with me using the hooked halberd, but the damn thing was at least three times her size!" She guffawed, "but she didn't stop training with it till she was able to bring me down. I remember how her face beamed at that." Lucilia got a sad, wistful sort of look in her eye and looked away from the both of them. Seldom had Leona ever seen the gruff old warrior get emotional like this, Pullo reached across the table between them to grab his partner's hand, stroking the back of if softly.
"I miss Elder Samun's cooking," Pullo began, "he always found a way to make even the tough, mountain-grown ingredients of Targon into something delicious and filled with love. When I was engrossed in reading an old text or illuminating a passage and ended up missing a meal, he always saved me a helping and would scour the whole temple to find me. He always said that if it weren't for you and him, I'd end up starving in some dusty corner of the temple sprawled over some ancient manuscript." He gave Lucilia a small smile, "We must try and celebrate their lives, not focus on their deaths, my resilient tusk-bear."
Leona didn't want to think about this subject right now. She closed her eyes, memories of mentors, burning white fire, and her filled her mind as the presence inside or her shared the two elders' sadness. Lucilia saw her reaction, concern alighting her face, "Dammit, we didn't… Listen, we're just two old bones who let their minds wander far too much for their own good."
Opening her eyes Leona gave them a small smile as the presence calmed a bit, "Think nothing of it, we've all been through a lot as of late. If I get to be your age, I hope my mind is half as strong as the both of yours."
Outside the window, the Sun was beginning to set behind the mountains, grey clouds sweeping in with the inkling of an early winter storm. "I believe we should all follow the sun's guidance for the moment and turn in for the upcoming night," Elder Pullo told her. She nodded in response, saying her goodbyes to them and shutting the window shutters to keep the chill out. Grabbing two fur pelts from the bed she draped them over the elders' laps, promising to visit them tomorrow and finally walking out the bedroom. Leona found Papia laying on the ground of the hearth room with no less than seven different scrolls and three books arrayed around her. The little girl bolted up, giving her another crushing hug as Leona said goodbye to her as well. She told her to ensure the two elders were comfortable before she returned to the youth quarters, and then Leona then left the simple room behind and headed down the hallway.
Thoughts of leaving the mountain weighed heavy on her mind as she traversed the silent temple. Most of the other Solari were still attending evening prayers. Her lack of attendance would be noted by Caelus and the other disgruntled elders she was sure, but soon she wouldn't be seeing any of them anymore so she knew that she didn't care. Her room was situated on the top floor of the Ra-Horak living quarters on the southeast corner of the temple. She had been given a larger and relatively more extravagant room on her return from the mountain's peak, both as an acknowledgment of her divine providence and the fact that she was the only one to survive the tragedy that had consumed the other elders.
She reached her door and lifted the latch, entering the main hearth room. It was significantly grander than the hearth rooms in the other Solari living quarters, a round solid stone fireplace of black granite situated in the middle of the equally round room. Similar gold and red draperies to Elder Pullo and Lucilia's room adorned the white marble walls along with rows of clay jars painted red and gold along the stone-carved shelving. Leona set about making a fire in the hearth to bring some light and heat to the room. She quickly had a warm fire going, the properties of the marble wrought from the very mountain warming every nook and cranny of the room in no time at all. She sighed in relief as she sprawled herself out on a fur covered divan.
She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep right there after such an arduous day, but it was damn uncomfortable in her golden armor. The furs on the chair only doing so much to keep it from jabbing into her. The armor was perfectly made for her from pure sunlight when the Sun adorned her in it after climbing the mountain. Swords and spears were fine, but divans were its limit it would seem, thought Leona dryly. She got up and began to take the armor off, flinging the various pieces across the room till she was left in her violet undersuit. Removing the sweaty garment from her body, she pushed aside the curtain separating the bedroom. Leona grabbed a pair of loose trousers and a simple brown sleeping tunic out of a cupboard and slipped them on before flinging herself onto the large bed in the middle of the room. She groaned in ecstasy as she buried herself in warm furs on the soft sheep wool cushion, hoping that she would find a restful sleep tonight.
Her hopes, however, would be ignored. .
She awoke to screams of anguish. Leona's eyes bolted open only to see the walls of a foreign city in front of her. It's walls a startling white, brighter than any marble found on the slopes of Targon, but with its splendor dimmed by black scorch marks and cracks spreading along it. She could see the city burning with bright flames billowing over the high walls. Guttural screeches of unknown beasts sounded behind her as the ground began to shake. Whipping around she saw the source, across the once verdant fields surrounding the city was a hoard of gnashing teeth and razor claws. The land around them was blackened, the ground reshaped into some horrid conglomeration of spikes and harsh earth. A monstrous behemoth taller than even the Solari Temple's towers gave a blood curdling call and at once the legion of beasts charged the crumbling walls, right at Leona.
Her heart jumped into her throat and she found herself unable to breath as she stared down the stampeding creatures. She brought her hands up in front of her and closed her eyes in a futile gesture of defense right as they reached her. When she opened her eyes Leona then found herself inside the same city in the middle of a central square. Startling white buildings and exalted statues of great heroes lay broken and or burning around her. Soldiers dressed in silver plate mail and adorned with bloody blue and green colors fought all around her against nightmarish creatures. A man with a polearm and wearing golden, spiked armor was on the front lines fighting alongside a large man swinging a giant broadsword as if it were as light as a feather. The golden warrior shoved his spear through a monster seemingly made entirely of teeth, the tip of the spear shot out the back of it, extending to skewer three other creatures before retracting to its owner.
These soldiers fought bravely against the hellish horde, but for every monster the soldiers killed, hundreds more poured into the square from every direction, ripping them to pieces. A great shadow loomed over Leona and she looked up to find a great white stone golem stumbling about as it tried to tear various creatures from its body as they climbed over it. The weight became too much to bear, however, and it was sent careening down into the bedlam below with a deafening thud. It didn't get up again as the daemons flowed over its body like an avalanche flowed down a mountain.
Leona closed her eyes to block out the sights of brave men and women being torn limb from limb in a horrific slaughter. When she opened them again she saw a different city, this one yellow, and surrounded by miles and miles of sand stretching across the horizon. Above her was a massive disk made from the purest gold and covered in ancient runes. The skies were a black maelstrom of storms, and above the city were what appeared to be ruptures in the very air. They shined with a bright amethyst color and from them swarmed a never ending stream of winged horrors. They shrieked as they descended on the golden city, attacking the people in the streets. Spear touting soldiers marched around the city trying to fight off the beasts. A golden man with the head of a falcon commanded the soldiers, standing side by side with a blue eyed woman swinging a bladed disk through scores of daemons. As before, this wasn't a valiant defense, it was a slaughter culminating in the two of them being slowly overpowered. The golden disk above began to fall then. She watched in horror as the surviving people of the city clung to one another, feeling their fear and desperation as they were crushed beneath its weight.
Leona blinked. The ground lurched beneath her and sounds of explosions filled the air. Gathering her bearings she saw that she was now on a ship slicing through the water. Similar ships filled the ocean around her. Men and women carried long metal poles that shot out smoke and fire at webbed creatures crawling from beneath the watery depths onto their ships' hulls. A woman with fiery red hair bellowed orders from her ship's wheel, her weapons coming out to blast fire at the daemons that were unlucky enough to climb the ship's side rails around her. Soon the ship was stopped, heaving as razor sharp tendrils flowed up from the dark water around them. Faster than they had any right to be, they darted around and impaling the crewmen of the ship while simultaneously slicing into the wooden hull. It creaked and groaned before the ship finally could take no more. Masts splintered, the deck breaking to pieces and throwing them all into the water where gnashing teeth waited just beneath the surface. Her body hit the cold water below as she felt slimy hands and sharp talons dig into her flesh.
Leona blinked. A great army, greater than she could have ever imagined, was in the midst of a battle like the others. Hoards of mutated and terrifying daemons fought against every type of warrior Leona could think of. Warriors from every corner of the world fought under a single red banner against the unending fiends. Mages hurled fireballs at wave upon wave of claws while warriors in simple steel armor slashed and hacked with halberds, daggers, broadswords, and other fantastic weapons she did not recognize. Battle calls from a hundred different cultures filled the air as their strength was put up against a foe they could not beat. A grey haired man wearing a simple soldier's armor yet draped in an officer's coat stepped into the foray. He whipped his coat away to reveal a glowing red arm before great wings of red magic sprouted from his back, a whirlwind engulfed him as he launched bolts of eldritch lightning into the never ending wave of monstrosities.
Just as the warriors were finding their second wind, a high pitched whine blanketed the battlefield. Every member of the warband turning their heads as a great oozing beast the size of a castle lumbered forward. It drew air in a vortex into its gaping maw, a violet hue filling it and bathing the air around it in light. Finally, a great wave passed through it moving from its tail to its head and a beam of bright purple light shot into the mass of soldiers. Men and women let out short gasps and screams of horror before being incinerated. The beam swung around, sweeping across the entire battlefield and vaporizing all in its sight. Leona began to run as it started to turn toward where she was standing, but no matter how fast she ran it continued to gain on her. Sounds of torment and pain surrounded her as the warband broke, each soldier either being chased down by gnawing daemons or reduced to nothingness by that great beast. Her breaths was coming in uncontrolled gasps, she could feel the pulsing power of the beam behind her. It grew closer, singing the back of her heels. The beam caught her, bathing her in its light as she felt every inch of her skin blister and boil…
Leona bolted upright in her bed with a loud scream. Sweat covered her body and tears ran down her face as she could still feel her flesh melting of her bones, could still hear the innumerable cries of anguish. She couldn't get any air. She needed air. She threw herself out of the bed, stumbling as she scrambled to the balcony. Looking back, Leona would think it was a miracle she only fell once on the way out the curtained doorway. The mountain air was still, the storm from earlier having left some hours ago. The brilliant heavens above Targon were lit up with so many stars, constellations depicting ancient beings and great heroes adorned the night sky. Leona's eyes saw none of this, however, her mind was filled only with scenes of horror and death.
She filled her lungs with the chilled air, her heart still racing. Her hands gripped the balcony railing tightly and resting her flushed face against the cool stone. Breathing began to settle and the images, while still burned in her memory, started to fade from behind her closed eyes. A pervasive calm overtook the troubled warrior as the night was silent around her. Too silent she thought, and Leona immediately realized that for the first time since coming down from the mountain's peak, the presence inside her was calm and quiet. She could still feel it within, but its incessant buzzing and pressure on the inside of her skull was noticeably placated. Savoring the feeling for a few moments she became aware of the strangeness in the stillness. Leona felt as though she were being watched. Although it was unnerving and she couldn't say why, but she could tell that it wasn't threatening.
Her head rose from its place resting on the railing, eyes drawn toward the sky above her. Staring back at her was the full moon, shining like the central diamond adorning a crown of stars. Leona had been raised her entire life, from amongst the Rakkor to the Solari, to see the moon as a false light, a harbinger of darkness. Right now though, all she felt was the serenity of the mountain air, and all she saw was how the celestial body bathed the slopes of the mountain in a breathtaking silvery light. She stared at her supposed enemy in the sky, wanting nothing more than for things to make sense. So much of her knowledge gained from the mountain's peak was hidden, half-truths and incomplete visions was all she had.
But Leona did know that there was one person who held what was missing, and she needed to find her.