For such an important occasion, there was surprisingly little in matters of religious preparations. Morgan had expected long sermons and gatherings of hundredths participants. Instead, their following had been split in two; with the servants setting camp further down the mountain while the nobles (counting barely a dozen not including Morgan and her grandfather), four guards and high priest Libra continued to the peak. The young tactician would have thought it foolish to have so little security but suspected that they were quite safe given how the Voice was an ancient manakete.
Morgan was currently preparing herself for the rite. A tent had been raised at the peak to give her a bit of privacy. She was alone with Lady Nah.
Severa had preferred to stay back in the camp further down the mountain, Owain had similarly joined her, citing how it was his duty protect his fair maiden.
Not that said maiden really needed any help defending herself.
Morgan would have preferred that her sister had joined her but had decided to not force the issue. While the redhead's presence would have been soothing, she would have been of little help with the formal matters. Nah had in this regard proved to be a welcome companion, answering any question the bluenette might have had.
''It's simple really, aside from being clad in the proper raiment of the Exalts, you're only expected to utter one phrase following Libra's own short speech.''
The young manakete was in the process of helping Morgan wearing said raiment. It was a heavy set, aside from a white golden dress, the set also consisted of a white breastplate decorated with golden edges. Covering nearly all of it, the young tactician also had to wear a heavy sky-blue regal robe.
Morgan was grateful that this was only meant to be worn on formal occasions.
''You mean the phrase that says: Hear me, Voice of Naga. I bear proof of our sacred covenant. In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power. Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true daughter.''
Nah finished tightening the last few belts securing the breastplate.
''You remember it well Lady Morgan. Yes, those are the words. After that present the heirlooms to Tiki, she would then make a few gestures before saying something like: By the grace of Naga, I acknowledge you as a child of the divine dragons. Rise and bear the proof of our covenant with honour.''
The young mage cast a glance at Falchion that was placed in the corner of her tent. The sword was not the only ''proof of the sacred covenant''. In addition to the sword there was also a shield called the Fire Emblem. It was currently held by her grandfather and would be presented to her later.
''Say…Lady Nah, what do you know of the Fire Emblem?''
The manakete took a step back to inspect her work.
''Hmm? The Fire Emblem? It's not as prominent as the sword that's for sure, but it is nevertheless considered to be the more important heirloom of the Exalted line.''
Lady Nah made a gesture for Morgan to turn around. The manakete then proceeded to braid the younger woman's hair. Morgan was not satisfied with the answer.
''How so? Aren't they both made from one of Naga's fangs?''
Lady Nah paused for a moment as if considering how to answer the bluenette's question.
''Hmm…True. While both the sword and the shield have the same origin. They differ in their function.''
''…Yes, because one of them is a sword and another is a shield. I think I had figured that out.''
Nah was not amused at the mage's little snide comment, as Morgan could feel the manakete's grip tightening a bit around the emerging braids.
''No, it's a bit more different than that. Yes, the sword is famous for being able to cut nearly anything in the hands of Naga's chosen, but its original function was to slay dragons or more specifically the primordial dragons. ''
''Primordial?''
''Yes, the first dragons. Beings that have existed since time immemorial. It was they who bent the land and the sea so that they have the shape that we know. There has never been or will be any beings of that grandeur again. We manaketes are just the lesser descendant of our forefathers.''
Lady Nah continued her braiding.
''Tragically, as the years went a certain madness had begun to afflict the eldest. They began to lose their sanity; they grew feral and became a plague to the land. The madness would also diminish their power and they lost the ability to shape the land. Maybe it was just the natural order of things? No different than as humans age and grow infirm? I'm not sure, but I know that this only seemed to apply to the oldest. While their children could escape this affliction by assuming human forms, the primordial dragons could only delay it.''
The older woman finished her work, binding the two braids together to form a circlet around Morgan's head. It almost felt like a crown.
''In time most of the ancients choose to hibernate, becoming one with the land or the sea instead of risking destroying it. However, a few did not, arguing that they could retain their power and sanity by absorbing the life essence of other ''lesser'' beings.''
Morgan could feel a familiar cold down her neck. A feeling she had not felt for years.
Nah continued her tale.
''War amongst the ancients broke out. Naga, having pledged to protect all life and being one of the few primordial dragons that had retained her sanity, knew she could not remain forever lest she shared her fellow's fate. To remedy this, she forged swords that could penetrate the scales of the ancients so that mortals would have the means to defend themselves. And a shield that could bind the souls of the primordial dragons.''
Morgan gave Nah a confused look. The manakete quickly understood the young mage's confusion.
''Yes, when dealing with ancients that have lost their minds, it's not enough to merely destroy their bodies, but it also necessary to seal them. For unlike us lesser beings they cannot be truly killed and will always return in one form or another. The Fire Emblem does this by utilising five gems that can absorb the five magical elements. All dragonkin are beings of magic and anything that can deprive us of it would weaken us greatly.''
The tactician could now understand the purpose of the heirlooms.
''So, to summarise the sword is meant to bring the ancient dragons down and the shield is meant to keep them down?''
Lady Nah nodded approvingly.
''Yes, and that is why the shield is imperative. While difficult, regular weapons might still wound a primordial, but there is nearly nothing in this world that can reliably seal them away.''
Morgan remembered her own stories from Plegia, and how the first Exalt had succeeded in sealing Grima away. And how the Plegian faith was centred around awakening their dormant God.
''But…according to the Plegian faith, the sealing can be undone.''
The manakete's expression grew dark.
''Indeed, and it's a dangerous thing they attempt. I know that they promise a rebirth of this broken realm, but don't be deceived. Grima would only consume this world. His paradise would be a wasteland ruled only by the dead.''
Morgan felt an urge to delve a bit deeper.
''Is it even possible? To undo the seal?''
Nah stared at her before answering.
''…normally no. If the five gemstones are inserted in the shield, the sealing would be impossible to break. However, some of the gemstones have been lost a few hundred years ago, which according to Tiki have weakened the seal. Still, it would require a tremendous number of sacrifices or a huge influx of magical energies to awaken a primordial being as ancient as Grima.''
Morgan went quiet. While she was never religious, she did grow up with the teachings of the Plegian faith and Nah's tale had flared up some conflicting feeling inside her that she had trouble to identify.
Was it some lingering sense of loyalty for her father's faith? If so, she quickly dismissed it. She had long ago agreed to forsake anything related to her father given how he so easily had dismissed her when she was taken to Ylisse.
Suddenly a familiar male voice was heard from the entrance of the tent.
''Morgan? Pardon the interruption, but are you finished in there?''
Without waiting for an answer, her grandfather entered the tent. Morgan was glad that Lady Nah had helped her getting dressed quickly. The alternative would have been embarrassing.
''Morgan, the voice will be ready to receive you shortly, so I found it prudent that I spoke with you beforehand.''
Quick to catch on, Lady Nah quietly excused herself, but not before Morgan and her grandfather had offered their gratitude for her service.
As soon as they were alone, her grandfather turned to her, his expression uncharacteristically grim.
''Morgan…As you're aware, this ceremony is meant to finally mark you as my heir and silence any objection among the nobles. As such, it's required that you bear the heirlooms of the Exalted bloodline. Of which I'm confident that you're familiar with.''
Her grandfather then presented a golden shield with five empty sockets.
''This is the Fire Emblem, also known as the binding shield. For generations it has remained empty. Its gemstones had been separated and scattered around the world. However…''
As the Exalt handed the shield over to his granddaughter, he took a small bag from his belt. Opening it revealed five marvellous shining gemstones. One black (which Morgan recognized as Sable), one white, one red, one blue and one green.
''These are the gemstones of the Fire Emblem. Finally recovered after much search and hardships.''
Despite being inside a poorly illuminated tent, the gems emitted their own light. Morgan had never seen one so close and now she stared at five. She was lost for words over their splendour.
''They…They are beautiful, but how?''
Her grandfather gave her a prideful smile.
''I have not been idle since making peace with Plegia. I have throughout the years corresponded with the various leaders around the world, and they have been happy to assist us in the search for the lost gemstones. Ylisse has generated a lot of goodwill from our participation in the Valm wars, and the gold that we secured from the peace with Plegia had helped us smooth over any difficulties.''
The Exalt expression grew serious again.
''Morgan…I would ask you to do two tasks for me. The first is that you present the gems to the Voice and ask her to place the gemstones into the shield and unlock its true power.''
''True power?''
''Aye, its not well known but the Fire Emblem is not just merely a seal for evil beings nor a simple shield. It absorbs any harmful magic, meaning that it protects its bearer from all evil sorcery.''
''And the second task?''
Her grandfather stance seemed to shrink at her question, as if he was ashamed of what he was about to ask of her.
''The second task is perhaps the most difficult of them all, and I would not have left you this burden if it was not for my age. We have both suffered greatly in the hands your father. And I think its about time that we end it once and for all. Plegia has been our enemy for far too long and it won't end if the royal family remains in power.''
As if foreseeing his granddaughter's question, he answered.
''I'm aware of the depleted state of our own forces, which is why I have in these last few years formed alliances with Ferox and the numerous nations of Valm by drawing on our past friendship and plegian gold. Unlike the previous war, we will not stand alone this time.''
Morgan was shocked. To think that her grandfather would go such lengths to reignite their war with Plegia. It was against everything she had read about the Halidom of Ylisse.
It was obvious what her grandfather would ask of her.
''I know this is much that I ask for, but will you join me? Will you join me as the tactician of the army and bring an end to this eternal conflict?''
Morgan though back of her time in Plegia. The lonely nights, the isolation by her fellows and the sleepless nights spent studying in the hopes that she could gain her fathers approval only to be rewarded with a single uncaring nod.
She then compared it with her time in Ylisse that had been filled with warmth, acknowledgement, and most of all her mother's love.
Some would say that she now stood at a crossroad, but the young Exalt to-be did not feel it.
For her there was but one obvious road.
''Yes, yes of course grandfather. I place myself at your service.''
Morgan remembered how her father had once promised her an army to wage war on Ylisse and found the current development ironic.
Silently she though for herself:
Did you foresee this father?
And another chapter done ^^ I know I drag the rite event a bit too long, but we are nearing the end of this story.
Not much to add this time. I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and that it didn't bore you too much with lore.