36.- Michelle
A regular day in the business for Michelle, she's the tour guide for the Montsegur castle in southern France. An unlikely couple has come to her agency, a young American with a British lady. She's trying hard to hide it, but she's definitely British, and definitely a lady. You can't hide your manners. "What a fine couple," Michelle says. "You want to visit the castle today?"
Lara pulls out her wallet and pays. "When the lady pays, that's love," Michelle thinks. Of course, Ms. Croft's perception might differ a bit. She's just playing for sport, and she's likely to wind up married to some fancy British Lord to protect the family estate. That's the way of things in her life. Of course, there's always the choice to resign nobility titles but… since Egypt it's becoming ever foggier for her that she may live on as an archaeologist 24/7, especially given that her findings are more on the edgy than the mainstream side. How can you scientifically explain the Scion, or the Dagger of Xian?
"You are surely enjoying this, honey…" Kurtis jokes. Lara looks at him. "You are certainly not going to get near any boiling oil today," she says. Michelle overhears this, and tries to cut the tension a bit. "But a fine gentleman should take out the lady for dinner every now and then," Michelle says. "We won't be kitchen-bound forever…" Of course, Lara laughs. "You see, Kurtis," Lara says. "She's even trying to help you to settle for good."
The Montsegur castle is in ruinous conditions. It hasn't been properly maintained since the Cathars were taken away from the castle. Yet, there are always secrets to be discovered. A sloppy meddling of the stone walls, or perhaps a professional one, depending on who's perceiving it, Lara or Michelle, activates an underground mechanism, and the three end up falling to an unexplored area of the castle. "This is not safe," Michelle says. "Not to worry," Lara says. "I've been doing this for a living. So long as it isn't collapsing we will be OK." Michelle is surprised at Lara's confidence, and she gets near her, since she's the only one actually carrying flares.
BOO!
AHH!
KURTIS, QUIT WITH THE JOKES AND LIGHT A TORCH!
"Why are we exploring this without professionals?" Michelle says after recovering from the joke. Lara suddenly turns and faces her, so she steps back. "Have you ever heard about the Lux Veritatis?" Lara asks. Michelle simply stands muted. "Look, it's a religious order, and their architectural features are displayed all over the place," Lara says. "I am an archaeologist, first and foremost, and then, I am Lady Lara Croft." Michelle goes fangirl mode. "Are you that girl who went hunting BigFoot in 1995?" She asks. "Oh, yes," Lara vaguely remembers. "But that didn't end well."
After killing some annoying insects in the way, the contraption is found. "A small-scale replica of the arc where St. John was thrown boiling oil," Lara says. "Turn it on!" Kurtis stops for a while to consider it, but Lara is impatient and throws her flare to a golden pot over the mini-arc, which starts flaming, as it has oil all over it. "Greek fire!" Lara says in rejoice. "Now, activate it!"
Kurtis doubts for a while. "Are you sure what we have to do?" He asks. Yet, he doesn't see. Lara's trembling, but she's also decided. "Lara…" Michelle says. "That is dangerous, you should…" Impatience makes Lara shoot at the pot, which tilts burning oil over her.
OH MY GOD!
Fire blazes Lara Croft. She's in a molten state, to put it lightly. Like if she put herself below the lava. And Michelle pukes, while Kurtis looks confused. He hasn't interpreted the ritual like Lara did, and if she's wrong, what may happen then? Only a miracle, of course. Unless you see it from the perspective of Sofia von Hahn.
SMART CHOICE, GIRL… I'M STARTING TO LIKE YOU.
Only the blood sign of Sofia von Hahn seems to have some insight of what is happening, while the burning oil pours, and Ms. Croft is still in one piece. Michelle cries and Kurtis prays, as they witness the miracle, for Lady Lara Croft is granted St. John's Cross of Light.