Erm...sorry it took me forever to update. A combination of writer's block and laziness hit me, but then I managed to type up the next chapter while I was here doing nothing in China (only so much to do after coming every year). I've got a flurry of writing activity, now that I'm taking requests on the Legend of the Emblem site (a great place). Expect a few more fics pretty soon!

...unless Gatrie sends me to the hospital again.

Disclaimer: Why do the laws have to keep rubbing it in that I don't own Fire Emblem? breaks down

WARNING: This chapter is pretty graphic, tantamount to an M rating. If you are offended by undescriptive nudity and minor sexual themes (without the actual lemon or lime in it), then DO NOT READ. I will just include a summary of all that happened in the next one. However, it would be a good idea to read, so you know the feelings and situation of this character to the fullest extent.

Little Extras: The Prologue was too important to be a Prologue. It's going to be Chapter One now.

The woman was ready to break into tears as she disrobed in front of the man she was supposed to allow into her. Taking a deep breath, she slipped out of the thin, white robe she was wearing, letting it fall to the ground. "Ah, yes, that's perfect, woman," the man sighed as he eagerly walked forward to touch her.

How did it get this way, the woman thought, a tear forming in her right eye. Completely uncaring of her feelings, the man started by twirling her purple hair and then going across her body.

"Yes, you'll be getting an extra when I pay you," the man gasped, filled with fantasies for that night. Skin so slim, so soft! The fear in her blue eyes only makes her more seductive…and the perfect sized… He let his perverted thoughts and ideas run across his mind, showing lust in face and eyes. The woman choked a sob, recalling when it started, three months ago.

I sacrificed everything, including what meant dearest to me, to save everything with meaning to me…how ironic, she thought as the man gripped her with his hands.

"I wonder where you live…" the man whispered in her ear, as he pulled her into a tight embrace.

The place you'd least expect it… The memory of the beginning of these three months of horror flashed once again before her eyes, the only thing she could use to take her mind off being abused.

A horror to escape from a torture, the woman thought as a tear dripped onto the ground and the man reached for his belt. Her mind fled to three months ago, when her mind wasjoyful and spirit flew with the clouds, reaching for the stars. She become the woman she was back then, replaying the scene. The start of the horror began again...

Flashback

The woman's heart and mind soared high, proud of what she had accomplished. Looking at her beautiful, long white robe, her spirits felt joy as she looked at the special symbol of a woman in the middle. Fingering the gold and silver lining of the robe, gleaming bright under the sun, she remembered the morning perfectly.

The sun was out, shining on a massive building, filled with libraries that scholars would dream of and courtyards, with blooming gardens as well as silver fountains. The rooftop was gold and the sun's light shined on it. In front of the building were marble stairs, starting behind a large, raised platform, gotten onto through ancient oak stairs.

There she had been waiting in line, filled with tension, terror, and eagerness as one by one the women were called to the stage. Men and women wearing the robes she had just received watched, applauding with faces with pride as each woman walked off. Sometimes, the men and women wore hats or hoods that showed their great status, a huge honor to be what they were…

And that day she would join them!

A man on the stage spoke her name, beckoning her to come forth. She had ran up so eager, she tripped and ripped the bottom of her robe. This little mistake drew a few chuckles as she ascended onto the stage, face red and mouth stammering apologies.

"That is quite fine," the man laughed. "You're getting a new robe today, anyways, as you join among us." The man touched her forehead, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear.

"From hereby on, you will be part of a great group, scattered across the land, bringing joy everywhere they go. You are now a priestess, an officially member of our church for Ashera, the goddess who brought life and joy to Tellius! The one who once disguised herself as a beautiful mermaid to lead sailors into finding other lands to trade and converse with!" the man's voice rang. Then came a tension, where she would be assigned to a certain group, each with their own tasks. Altina tried recalling the jobs.

Some would become Missionaries, given the burden of wandering everywhere, spreading their teachings to unite both the beorc and laguz under the worship of the divine, instead of merely acknowledging their existence. For the land had become dangerous.

Anyone who wandered even three trees into the forests of Gallia never returned. The hawk and raven laguz, long shot down for food for beorc, had flied away, to a location unknown, until they recently showed again to commit raids on random beorc targets. Goldoa's dragons guarded their borders, denying access to anyone but a fellow dragon. Herons had retreated deep into a massive desert, choosing a life of safety over a life of comfort. And the beorc lived in random empires ran by tyrannical warlords spread across the northern and eastern halevs of Tellius. The five strongest and largest empires, covering nearly all the beorc lands, were Everil, Nasterix, Miros, Athilia, and Revesra. Luckily, Everil and Athilia were the strongest, both run by the only sane beorc rulers, Everil providing sanctuary to the Church of Ashera.

Also, laguz had become a myth, preferring to stay in their own lands now. The beorc and laguz deeply hated each other. The laguz considered themselves superior as beorc, or humans, could use one of their forms but not the stronger one, and hated how the humans reminded them of their vulnerability in their weaker state. The beorc hated the laguz, because now, when the laguz did stray from their lands, they always took beorc back, to who knew what fate.

Altina shook her head, trying to take her thoughts off those things. She recalled other jobs that were available, each matching a specialty: Healers, Pilgrim Masters, Guiders, and many other jobs. Each priest and priestess had a preference that was often received (her preference being a Chanter), but it was never the most dearly desired job. For that job could lead to the greatest honors given and was given only to the best: Guardians.

The Guardians were many things, all combined together to guard tons of things. They would guard knowledge by teaching initiates, guard the flesh through magic or blade, guard the spirit with hope, guard the conscience through spreading morals, and guard the soul with healings, spiritual or physical.

"Altina, you were the best in every class that was taken, a master of basic healing, a great speaker, a blessed singer, and have proven potential in learning divine magic, both staves and tomes," the man, a bishop, spoke. "You, Altina, are…you are a Guardian." This last sentence was greeted by a roar of joy from the crowd, followed by thunderous clapping and stampeding. It lasted for ten minutes before calming down and the noise spread to the opposite side of the city, where the government was.

Joy erupted from Altina as she accepted the robe, proudly gazing into the symbol of the goddess in the center. That mark was only given to the Guardians…

Now Altina was skipping happily across the center of the church, a large courtyard with a fountain depicting Ashera in the middle. The fountain was symmetrical as it portrayed Ashera forgiving a man as he confessed every sin known. At least, that was what Altina felt it was, feeling that the goddess would be kind and merciful to those who admitted their wrong. Some people, however, proposed that she was condemning the man to eternal damnation, but their support was small. Here, to honor the more popular theory, the clergy would always forgive sinners that came to pray for forgiveness.

As Altina sat down in the courtyard, leaning against the fountain, she let the cool breeze blow into her face. The only thing that calmed her more was the rain, which felt as if it contained untold wisdom and sorrow. Her purple hair blew up slightly, and as she shifted her position, the breeze fell, letting her hair sink into the cool fountain water. Altina gave a sigh. The calm atmosphere was broken by a large yell.

"Altina! I'm glad to have found you! I need to find all the Guardians and Treasurers I can find!" the voice shouted. Altina turned to see the great Archbishop Proveris running towards her. It was the same man who had given her rank that day.

"Archbishop!" Altina remarked, surprised. Quickly, remembering the proper etiquette, Altina knelt down. "Your gr-"

"Cut the formalities right now," the Archbishop suggested. "I have important business to speak of."

"What is it, sir?" Altina asked.

"You see, Everil has long been in struggle with the empire of Miros, which is steadily growing stronger and stronger, beginning to rival Athilia in power and size. Everil is struggling to keep Miros under control, as its ruler is cruel and oppressive. But it is draining all their funds, so that they can no longer support us as well. Our budget is tight…"

"I promise I'll find a way," Altina vowed. "I will think of something to keep this church alive…"

That night, Altina wondered what she could do to save the church, in her newly given room. Normally, Altina would have fallen fast asleep in the silk sheets within minutes of entering, but that night, she was wide awake. Dressed in a nightgown, Altina wandered into the central courtyard, thinking of all the sins the man in the fountain commited.

Cruelty, refusal to give alms, betrayal, lust… An inspiration struck Altina. Immediately, she surveyed her body, checking the look of her face in the fountain water's reflection and seeing what her skin felt. Deciding to carry on with her plan, Altina knelt in front of the goddess and behind the man, praying to receive forgiveness for what she had to do.

"Let me sin, goddess, to save your religion," Altina prayed. Immediately, she headed out to town after going back to her room to get a dress on. She had chosen a loose, black one to wear, to get her the job she would need.

In the slums of the capital of Everil, Altina walked with fear. The buildings seemed as if they would collapse on her any moment and the road was all gravel instead of being paved. Everywhere, there were drunken men brawling and people digging through trash to find food. She headed into the only fine building there, which was probably the only reason anyone would be in the slums besides misfortune and poverty.

"So, ya want a job 'ere?" the building's owner, a man in his 30s, asked. Altina gulped and nodded. "Well, yer attractive enough to be sold to the sex-craved men that come here but the only reason anyone comes 'ere for work is to come 'ere for money, aye?"

"Yes, I need money," Altina replied, thinking of a way to convince him. Remembering a time when a priest took her class outside to see the city and met a prostitute, she tugged at her dress a little to make it slip down slightly. "See, I'll do fine here, handsome."

"Well, ye certainly know 'ow to play the part, don'tcha? But that's not enough…see, I keep prices a bit low to keep business 'igh, and the only way the poor folk here for a job can make money is to be good in bed, to get a bonus. Otherwise, I'll 'elp find another job for you."

"…so how do I prove my worth?" Altina questioned.

"Sorry, but the only way is...see, I 'ave many friends, and most ramble on and on about how good or bad women are. So…only way is for me to see personally," the man muttered, a bit regretfully. Altina could see he started this business for those who worked here, not for himself or those who would pay.

Praying forgiveness for preparing to break her vow of celibacy, Altina nodded. An hour later, she received the job.

Three months from then, countless men had abused her. Thankfully, she had never gotten pregnant, but every time she broke her vow of celibacy, her soul diminished. The joy of life was fading away, even though now the church was flourishing quite well. Even when she was promoted for giving out so much money, Altina felt no happiness. There was no sanctuary from the terror she felt every day.

Her magic, both tomes and staves, had faded away a month ago. Altina had not shared this secret with anyone.

"Get on the bed now," the man requested as Altina realized her eyes were closed. Opening them, Altina saw that the man was fully nude now. Tightening her fists, Altina walked towards the bed, backwards so that the man would still see her front and give her more money. Laying on the bed, she spread her arms and legs out.

I sinned and have been abandoned. I made the wrong choice…forgive me, Ashera…

So, worse than before? Better? Too descriptive? Too much for a T rating now? Well, tell me it all in a review, please!

Oh, and remember, I take requests, mostly FE7-related ones. But I will do FE9 and also can do most FE6 stuff now.