AN: I have always been a fan of stories that try to stay faithful to the themes of the times they take place in or what they are based off of. Like A medieval story having themes and settings from that time. Or a victorian era story that actually acknowledges and takes on the themes of those times.

So, since this does take place in Medieval times, it will have themes that coincide with that time. Like religion, how it can effect some people, how it can influence people, some gender roles and struggles to go along with it. I'm wanting to make it more... real. Believable. Like how in the game it tackles issues about class systems, noble and peasant. Even some teachings of Mila and Duma, though there isn't a lot. So I want to delve into those topics, about the Faith of both sides. If you don't like that to much, I'll see about dividing up those sections with special markers so you can skip them, alright? But don't be surprised when you end up seeing them here and there in the story, beyond just the full parts. But I'll try not to make them too obnoxious.

So, enjoy!

~*...*~ Will divide the more religious parts of the story.

…

Blossoms and Vines

...

Flostym, 1, 394 V.C.

~*...*~

"Let us pray." The minister spoke behind his podium, the whole town was there in the chapel for the new year, women wearing their best dresses, men wearing their best waist coats and pants. Children were dolled up and everyone had their hands folded, heads bowed and cheeks rosy from the heat of the many candles around the chapel.

"Lady Mila, divine deliverer,

Hallowed name and blessed light,

Thy kingdom flourish,

Thy word spoken and done,

On the earth and as it is in your presence."

The people echoed the prayer, some children stumbling on the words. Little Faye in the front row with her mother, father and baby sister was screwing her eyes shut as she echoed the prayer. She tried to listen to the minister, since she and her family didn't have the money or privilege of school. No reading.

So she had to listen carefully so that she could remember. It may be a long time before she hears this part of the Book of Mila.

"Amen." The people echoed again. "You may be seated." The minister spoke as he opened the old Book of Mila on the podium reverently. The people sat on the pews, most finding a seat while people stood off to the sides and some in the back. "Today is the day our year starts anew. Mila has granted us another year, another bountiful harvest and another day for us to enjoy and be thankful for her gifts." He smiled jovially, "so today, we will welcome young Kliff to the podium to read today's passage. His family was blessed enough to be given the chance to send their child to school so that he can improve himself and bring his family up to a higher status."

Every began to applaud the young boy, along with the minister, as he stood and slowly walked along the aisle. A few of the other children gave Kliff a thumb up and encouraging words, making the boy even more nervous. His parents sat together with his younger brothers, looking prideful in this moment. Any chance to advance one's status was one to be cherished.

Kliff stood at the podium, a stool being brought out so he could stand and see over the podium. He gulped, his eyes going wide at seeing all of the faces of the town looking up at him. He took a deep breath, looking down at the Book of Mila, trying to focus on the words before him.

"A… A r-reading from the… the letters of Saint Anthiese." He glanced up and looked up around him, the people still looking up at him. The minister smiled softly at him and nodded, urging him to continue. Kliff swallowed and continued. "'I will… d-destroy the… wis… wisdom of the wise, and the cleave… no… clever…ness of the clever I will set aside.'" Kliff glanced again, seeing how even though he made mistakes, the people were fine with the words of Mila reaching them by another person. He nodded to himself, focusing on the words. For that is what his family wanted. "For where is the wise man?" A new strength came to him as he spoke the words of Mila, even though he didn't understand them yet. "Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not Mila made foolish the wisdom of the world? It is her tea-teachings that give us our strength, her gifts that make us equal in her eyes. It is through her that man can stand beside their friends and continue to work another day. That the status of their birth is nothing compared to the gifts she had bestowed upon the people."

"'Though many wars have been fought amon…amongst ourselves, it is through her teachings that we can find the steng…strength to come together. Not the wise words of the nobles and bankers who rule your lands.' And so it is written that your actions of sloth in the preen…pray…presence of Mila shall be judged, for you spit upon the gifts of Mila. It is through our actions that we can work towards a better comm…commune…community, than listening to the words of the so called 'wise' that sit upon their ho… hoards and do nothing."

"On the earth and as it is in your presence, the final line of the prayer to Mila. For it tells us to act as Mila would, to step on the earth of our homes as we would in her presence. Do onto others as you would, for self-sacri…sacrifice and duty is blessed by the Mother. There is nothing more noble and celebrated than a person who sacrifices their happiness, their livelihood and their wealth for the benefit of others."

"For that is the teaching of the Mother. Amen."

Kliff let out a breath as the people chorused with their own, "amen," and they clapped their hands with the minister. He let out a shaky smile as he jumped down from the stool and made his way back to his family. Happy to do something to bring his family up in the eyes of the people.

Faye had been enraptured, the words of the Book of Mila had made a resonance inside of her. She imagined Saint Anthiese writing these words, her wisdom and guidance… She wanted to be like that.

~*...*~

Flostym, 6, 401 V.C.

…

He's serious, she thought as she watched Alm speak with the soldier, Lukas. Alm wants to leave the village and join the Deliverance? The year has only just begun…

Gray and Tobin are going along too, her friends separating... They couldn't... She shook in place, blending into the small crowd who gathered near the entrance of the village. Memories of her only encounter with outside forces beyond the village came forward.

She saw in her mind's eye the same knights who had attacked them in the past. She was reminded of that day; how close they came to being killed and her and Celica... They're girls, at the time she didn't know why that made a difference. Why being a girl was so dangerous when outside the protection of the walls of the village. Well, she understood now and that made the memory even more terrifying to her.

He's alive out there, and if Alm leaves to fight in the war, what if they see him again? What if they see Slayde again?

She wrapped her arms around herself; her mind transporting her to that day in the forest all those years ago. She remembered the faces of those knights, of Slayde, as they spoke about wanting her and Gray's sister. About their fun.

Then she remembered when her, Alm, Gray, Tobin and Kliff had dog piled and grabbed the knives they carried while they stabbed one of the Knights over and over and over and over...

War means that. War means killing people. War means seeing the worst parts of people. War is nothing but sorrow.

She just wanted to stay in the village, away from the fighting. She wanted to stay by the hearth at home and sit in her favorite chair, knitting the day away and helping her mother with dinner, waiting for her father to come home and to hear him asking when she was going to accept the marriage proposals that he's been propositioned.

Home.

Normalcy.

Fire.

Peace.

Family.

She let Alm leave to go and find his grandfather, she was rooted to the spot as she tried to get her mind from the memories of the past.

Stay home. Stay with your parents, don't leave the village. War is not meant for women, women should stay home and be protected. Women and men have their places, and hers is at home to wait for the men to come back from war as society dictates.

But it's Alm.

Can she really let him leave like this? What if he dies out there and she never knew? She doesn't have a claim on him, so why would they come and tell her if he died in the war? Sure, his mother and grandfather are here but still...

Can she truly just go back to her home and continue on like nothing has changed while all her friends go off to war? Can she dare to be like Saint Anthiese? The queen who gave up her crown to serve in the priory and to be a direct servant to the Mother? To give up her role in life to pursue something bigger than her?

But he'll most likely be out there, Slayde.

But her friends...

Slayde...

Friends...

Nothing will be the same again, she'll be all alone here without anyone her age here. She had to...

She didn't know if she could. She didn't know if it was possible, she didn't know if she can do that.

Can she willingly go into war with her friends? Can she swallow her fears and fight and most likely kill people? Can she become just like Slayde?

She closed her eyes and clenched her hands before her, quick breaths coming through her nose as she deliberated what to do.

War is not for women. War is not filled with the comforts of home. War is not a game. War is...

Women are like delicate blossoms, away from the ground and held to a higher standard than the grass below them. They had to be tended to with care lest they break with the smallest of touch. They are fragile, delicate and pure. Meant to be kept in a gated garden away from others.

Unlike the vines along the fences that creep their way upwards, in a perpetual chase for something higher than they were given. Vines are strong, like men, as they protect the garden and show a strength of their own; not needing to be tended to. Like him…

Alm...

War is worth Alm.

Saint Anthiese set off to serve Mila because it was her duty to serve the Mother of her own volition. She's going off to serve in war for someone she cares for. It isn't the same, but she does want to help…

She took a deep breath; her vision had been clouded while she had been standing there in the entrance of Ram village. A wind had cut through, rustling the trees and their branches, the sounds and smells of the forest wafting through to her as she was reminded of home.

The scent of oranges, of fresh cut wood, of fresh manure on the fields and lunch being prepared over the hearths of the homes around her. This is home.

She can fight to keep her home safe. She can remember this, the scent and feel of Ram Village. This is something worth protecting.

Alm is worth it, he had been there to save her all those years ago, he had been the one to start his training with Mycen, he had been the first one to change from child to adult. He is her friend, he is the object of her love...

She can swallow her fear to force herself to get up and go to war.

So, when Alm came back to the entrance of the village to speak to Lukas, she had run up to Alm and spoke to him.

She told him that she was going to join them. She wasn't going to accept a no and that was the end of the discussion!

She is terrified, she doesn't want to kill anyone, she doesn't want to leave and possibly get killed or wish she was killed. But her home is in danger, Alm could be in danger.

So even though she is a woman and women have no place outside the home... She'll do it.

And she'll make sure she doesn't show her real feelings, no one needs an emotional woman in the army. But a soldier who doesn't complain and willingly fights with no concern for their own feelings and fears?

That's something she can do.

Even though her chest tightens and makes her stomach churn when she sees Alm take out the amulet he had been given to by Celica and held it with an almost loving reverence.

…

It had been a few days since they left the village. Alm, Lukas, Tobin, Gray, Kliff and her made up their party.

They weren't even in the war yet and she already wanted to go home. Her feet were tired, her hands ached from using the sword she had and her mind was already beginning to break. She killed five people. Five people are dead because of her. Their blood is on her hands, they wouldn't smile again, redeem themselves and go back to their families, their lives were cut short because of her.

But if she didn't kill them, they would have killed her. She had a choice to make and she chose to end their lives. But isn't murder one of the greatest sins against the Mother? Did that make her dirty? Did that make her a nonbeliever now? Is she not good enough for her own faith now?

She had been sitting by the campfire, Gray and Tobin had gone off to hunt for food while Lukas tended the fire. Kliff had been patrolling the camp while Alm had finished up with the tents. She had been preparing the broth for dinner, waiting for the men to return with their dinner.

She had been jolted from her thoughts when Alm had taken a seat by her, letting out a breath of relief as he took the time to sit down for the first time that day. "Man, my legs are killing me." He groaned, stretching his legs and letting the bones crack.

Lukas chuckled to himself, adding another log to the fire carefully so the cinders don't hit Alm and Faye. "Well, we still have a lot longer to go, I'm afraid. We're about halfway to the southern outpost, so we'll have to stick together just a bit longer." He sniffed the broth Faye was stirring and left a small smile come on his face. "The broth smells divine, Lady Faye."

She attempted to put a smile on her face, but it was tight and seemed a bit strained. "Thank you, Sir Lukas. Though it is only what I could scrap together from what meager ingredients we have."

"Even still, we all thank you for your skills." Lukas spoke amicably as he went back to tending the fire and soon leaving to chop some more wood for the night.

Faye thought she had been able to hide her emotions and her distress, but she should have known Alm would see through it and ask her about it. Like he did the moment Lukas was gone from earshot.

"Hey, Faye?" He spoke, causing her to make a small noise in acknowledgment as she stirred the broth, waiting for the meat to come by soon, hopefully. "Are you ok? Are you feeling any shock from the battles?" He asked, somehow knowing why she had been so quiet since starting camp.

She sighed then put a smile on her face, much less force this time and more genuine since it was Alm she was smiling at this time. "No! Don't worry about me Alm! I'm doing fine, so just worry about getting your rest." She had waved off his concern, since she knew he must be feeling worse than she. He was away from the only family he had ever had without even having the chance to say goodbye. He wouldn't want to hear about her troubles. Whatever she is feeling, he must be worse. As with the teachings of the Mother, care others before thyself. 'On the earth and as it is in your presence.'

Alm sat up, trying to get a better look at Faye. She is one of his friends, so it pains him to know if there is something wrong with her or with any of them. "Are you sure? It's okay to be…" He trailed off.

Faye shook her head and waved it off, "It's fine, Alm. And tomorrow when we end up fighting more enemies, just point me in the right direction. I'll fight and slay any enemies you tell me to!" She smiled again and went back to cooking, especially since Gray and Tobin had come back with a few rabbits for the stew. With her back to him and her mind occupied with the makings of dinner, Alm was left to his own thoughts.

Last he recalled, Faye was one of the more devout followers of the Faith, attending every mass on every seventh morning. He paused as he watched her, seeing how her smile had changed. She had seemed more… real? Real, yes. She seemed more real with her smile when they spoke just a moment ago, but now… It felt different.

Could it be because the fighting goes against the Faith? One of the commands of Mila was that one should not kill, so maybe that was eating her up? Of course it would, with how devoted she is it must be agony. That and she was… well… Grandpapa always told him to never underestimate someone because of their sex but… She sewed, she cooked, she did all the things that women usually do in the village. Sure, she trained with Grandpapa, but in the end…

If she was this distressed, would have been a better idea to just have her stay at the village? Today had been the seventh morning, and she had been working and fighting. The commands of Mila had forbid work on the seventh days, and here Faye was, breaking another command of the Mother.

And when he tried to speak to her, she just waved it off and kept on going. Smiling and keeping her sunny personality.

Usually when he's around her, he can smell the scent of oranges from the village. That or the fresh orange blossoms and the scent of home cooked meals and fresh bread.

But at the moment, it felt off. She didn't have anything on her. She looked the same and acted the same, but he didn't get those vibes from her anymore.

It felt… empty.

And it made him want to fix it.

…

AN: Does anyone know how the calendar works in this game? I'm assuming it's the same length of year as us, 365.25 days. But there is only four months that I have seen. Flostym 92 days, Avistym 91 days, Pegastym 91 days (92 days every leap year) and Wyrmstym 91 days. And that's assuming the length of the year is the same as ours. I know Flostym is first since in Act 5, it's the one of the four that shows to have the changing year with Wyrmstym as last as the last month to happen before the year change. Avistym comes after Flostym according to the Flostym of Act 1 and the Avistym that happens after in Act 2. Pegastym happening after Avistym according to Act 3 and Act 4 with Wyrmstym. I haven't seen any other months so it's safe to assume I have a general idea on how the calendars work in this game. So no leap year in this timeline so far, since leap year only happens every 4 years.

Well, the salt I got from my unlikely muse has been astronomical. So I shall write another story about my couple, all in the hopes of making them angrier. At this point, I don't even feel bad anymore. The shits and giggles I get from this is beautiful. This ship is really on the saltiest sea.

Also, I have drawn the cover art for this story. I hope you hate it, FanficLovingPerson, or as I know you better, SharenatheAskrPrincess.