-The Story So Far-
The sacred Kindling is carried out once every twenty years. The first destination on the pilgrimage: the town of Saintsbridge. And it was there that Ophilia, Ace, and the rest of Spirit Force met three young boys. Now they remember them, and others they met on their path...each time Ophilia bows her head in prayer to the Sacred Flame as Ace and his friends protect her.
"The ember borne during the rite reflects the heart of the Flamebearer."
"The fire you've brought us, Sister Ophilia, looks to be a warm and gentle flame."
"I have no doubt your kindness was a comfort to the children you met as well."
Bishop Bartolo's words remain etched in Ophilia's heart. And she carries them with her as she and Spirit Force arrive in Goldshore...the next stop on their Journey.
"You know, I'm really liking this whole Kindling thing." Marino said.
"I would have to agree. This pilgrimage is quite an exciting journey since we are travelling across Orsterra." Ace said.
"And another flame for the kindling lies here in Goldshore. After that, we can at last return to Flamesgrace and cast my ember into the Great Flame." Ophilia said as a man stepped out of the armory shop. "Hm? That man looks familiar…" She said as she remembered her previous encounter with the man in Flamesgrace before she and Ace walked up to him. "Master Mattias of the Leoniel Consortium! What brings you to this place, good sir?"
"Sister Ophilia, it's been too long. I'm just here to deliver supplies to the town. And pray tell, your journey must be difficult hasn't it?" Mattias said.
"It has at some points, but don't worry. Ace and the Spirit Force have helped me throughout my journey." Ophilia said. "Oh, you haven't met them personally, have you? Allow me to introduce Ace Neptune, leader of Spirit Force."
"It is an honor Sir Mattias, I and my comrades are currently traveling with Sister Ophilia as her guardians." Ace said.
"I see. Have you been safeguarding her well as to not worry Lianna?" Mattias asked.
"Of course. I made an oath to make sure no harm would come to her." Ace said.
"I see, then you have my thanks. But you best be careful, there are those who shun the Sacred Flame, but I mustn't hold you any longer. Be safe on your journey." Mattias said before leaving.
"There are people who shun the Sacred Flame? But why?" Ace thought as they went to the cathedral and saw the Bishop staring at the Sacred Flame.
"I am the Flamebearer, Sister Ophilia. Do I have the honor of speaking to His Excellency?" Ophilia asked as the Bishop turned to her and the group.
"Sister Ophilia! Oh, thank the gods… We have been waiting eagerly for your arrival." Bishop Donovan said with a pale expression.
"You look pale sir. Is something troubling you?" Minerva asked.
"Hmm? Ah, please forgive me. It is nothing you all need concern yourselves about." Bishop Donovan said. "Oh forgive me for not greeting you all properly. I am Donovan, the Bishop of Goldshore. We thank you for coming all this way. No doubt your journey has been a trying one."
"I have been aided by many along with my guardians. I could never have made it without their kindness or support." Ophilia said. "I have brought the ember. May the Flame ever shine upon the people of Goldshore." She said as Donovan was silent.
"Lord Donovan?" Ace asked.
"I-its nothing. I fear I have not yet finished the necessary preparations for the Kindling." Donovan said.
"I see…" Ophilia said.
"I'm so terribly sorry. It's just that…" Bishop Donovan tried to say.
"What is wrong? Is there any way we can help?" Ace asked.
"N-No! I mean, do not trouble yourselves everyone. I am sure you all already have much on your mind." Bishop Donovan said. "Why don't you all get some rest in the meantime? I will see to all that must be done." He said before walking away.
"He seemed...nervous." Al said.
"What do you think is troubling him, Sister Ophilia?" Ace asked before they saw a boy near the entrance as he saw them before running away as they chased after him.
The group managed to catch up as they walked up to the boy.
"There you are. We saw you in the church earlier." Ophilia said as the boy turned to them before turning away.
"What do you want?! I don't know nothing!" The boy said.
"Calm down. We never said you did anything." Philia said.
"Sorry. I'm a bit nervous right now." The boy said. "You see, I brought a letter to the bishop, and when he saw it he turned white as a ghost. I felt really bad, so I sort of ran from him."
"You didn't know what was in the letter, did you?" Zero asked.
"No but I know what the person who gave me the letter looked like. I know I haven't seen him in town before but he wore a black cloak." The boy said.
"A black cloak? I see, thank you." Ace said. "Let's go talk to the Bishop, he may know something." He said as they took Daniel and headed back to the cathedral and went to see Bishop Donovan. "Lord Donovan."
"Ah! That boy with you!" Bishop Donovan said as he pointed to Daniel.
"Please your Excellency, I'm sorry about earlier." Daniel said. "Is it my fault because of the letter I gave you?"
"O-Of course not. It's nothing…" Bishop Donovan said.
"But you've been acting strange ever since I gave it to you." Daniel said.
"N-No it is not your fault child. If anyone is to blame, it should be me." Bishop Donovan said.
"Why's that?" Kagura asked. "You did nothing wrong."
"Please, if there is something you wish to share with us. We would help anyway we can despite us being strangers. You don't have to bear the burden alone." Ace said. "Could you tell us what was in that letter?"
"I suppose there is no point in hiding the truth any longer. Here." Bishop Donovan said as he walked up to them and handed Ace the letter as he read it aloud.
"Your Excellency. We have your daughter. If you wish to see her again...seize the ember from the Flamebearer and her guardians and bring it to the cavern by the sea. Speak to anyone of this matter, and you may consider your daughter's life forfeit." Ace read. "Kidnapping a child?! Have they no moral?!"
"We have to get her back!" X said.
"These guys must be the people who hate the Sacred Flame Mattias told us about." Marino said.
"And probably the same ones who gave the letter to Daniel. Don't worry Lord Donovan, we will bring back your daughter safe and sound." Ace said.
"Please...bring my dear Lysa back to me." Bishop Donovan said.
"Let us hurry to the cave Sister Ophilia." Ace said.
"Yes!" Ophilia said as she and the group hurried to the cavern by the sea.
As they traversed through the cavern, they saw two cloaked figures talking with each other and a little girl looking at the ground.
"This'll be a good lesson to me. Shall we finish off the girl now?" The Mystery Man said as he grabbed Lysa as she cried out.
"Though it'd be more fun to finish off father and daughter together. Guess you can't have it all." The other Mystery Man said as he pulled out a dagger before a bullet shot his arm. "Gaaaagh! What the hell?!"
"Let her go!" Ophilia called out as she and Spirit Force ran in as they readied their weapons.
"This wench...she's the Flamebearer!" Mystery Man B said.
"They sent us the Flame with a cherry on top!" Mystery Man A added.
"Threatening a child for your own gain...I'm gonna send both of you straight to hell!" Ace said as he entered Carnage Form: Leomurg.
"Guess we gotta do this the hard way!" Mystery Man A said. "Get em!"
(Cue- Desperate Struggle- Final Fantasy XIII)
"I've scanned their weaknesses! The Mystery Man is weak to Light and Darkness while the Shady Figure is weak to Fire, Ice, and Lightning." Anna said. "Ophilia, you and Ace focus on the Mystery Man while Vargas, Selena, and Eze focus on the Shady Figure."
"Understood. Vile Rush!" Ace called out as he unleashed a deadly barrage of Sword Strikes onto the Mystery Man. "Sister Ophilia!"
"Yes! Holy Light!" Ophilia called as a pillar of light struck down on the Mystery Man but to no avail. "Huh?"
"Our attacks aren't working!" Ace said.
"Hahahaha! Let's see how you like this. Fireball!" The Mystery Man yelled as he unleashed a wave of fire onto the group as the Shady Figure casted Luminescence onto them.
"Damn...this isn't good." Ace muttered as he used Excalibur to help him kneel.
"What do we do?" Al asked.
"Light! Fall like rain!" A voice called out as energy in the form of raindrops rained down onto the figures.
"What in the?!" Mystery Man A said.
(Cue- An Empty Tomb- Castlevania Judgement)
"This has gone far enough." The voice said as a figure stepped out of the shadows, she wore a nun like outfit that was made for battle as red tattoos were visible on her shoulders and back as she stared at the figures with her bright blue eyes.
"Who are you?!" Mystery Man B said.
"I am the Morning Sun come to vanquish this horrible night!" The woman said. "Burn!" She called out as she jumped into the air and fired a wave of fire onto the Shady Figure.
"Aaaaaah!" Mystery Man B said. "Get that bitch!"
"Eat this! Fireball!" Mystery Man A called out as he fired a fireball at her.
"Pneuma!" The woman called out as she launched a wave of wind onto the ground as it slashed through the attack before she dashed at him as she summoned large stone fists. "Dyaaaah!" She called out as she pounded her fists together as the stone fists crushed in between the Mystery Man.
"That chicks incredible!" Kagura said.
"Yeah, just who is she?" Ace asked.
"Here I go!" Shanoa said as she summoned a lance and launched it at the Mystery Man before charging at him. "It's time to die." She said as she launched the man into the air before summoning multiple orbs of light and darkness. "Light and Darkness, strike!" She called out as the orbs hit him before she ran under me as the tattoo on her back glowed. "Bequeathe to me...Rain!" She called out as a barrier of wind launched upward and sliced through the Mystery Man.
Both were laid out as the girl turned to the others. "Is everyone alright?"
"Yes, we are. But can I ask… who are you?" Ophilia asked.
"I am Shanoa, a witch. I've been stuck in these lands tracking down this cult to try and find a way back to my land." She said.
"Thanks to you. We may get some answers out of them." Ace said as they approached.
"Just wait till our Savior returns. You'll get what's coming to you!" Mystery Man B said.
"Who is this "Savior"?" Ophilia asked.
"Hehehehehe...You'll never know!" Mystery Man A said before they both coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground as Anna checked their pulses.
"They're dead." Anna said before picking up a vial in one of their pouches. "Poison…"
"We should worry about this later. Right now, let's get Lysa back to the church." Ace said, as he, Ophilia, the group, and newcomer Shanoa left the cave as they entered the church.
"Thank you all so much for returning my dear Lysa. Now, Sister Ophilia the preparations are ready." Bishop Donovan said.
"Thank you, your Excellency." Ophilia said as she walked up and held the kindling up to the flame. "O great Aelfric, Bringer of the Flame. To you I offer my soul and blood. With your First Flame, I kindle this fire. May it forever shelter the people of this land." She said as the flame glowed brighter as she turned to the others. "This concludes the Kindling."
"Now all that's left is to return to Flamesgrace and return the Flame to its starting point." X said.
"Thank you all. Your hearts have brought us succor today." Bishop Donovan. "Please be safe on your journey back to Flamesgrace."
"Thank you Father Donovan." Shanoa said as the group exited the church before a familiar priestess ran up to them.
"Lianna?" Ace asked.
"W-What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be staying by Father's side?" Ophilia asked as Lianna closed her eyes and looked down.
"Please, follow me to the inn and I'll explain everything there." Lianna said as Ophilia and the others followed her into a room at the inn as she poured drinks for them. "Here, have this."
"Thanks. Now tell us...what has happened?" Ophilia said.
"Promise me you all will stay calm." Lianna said. "Father...is no longer with us…"
"No…" Ophilia said as she thought back to the Archbishops last words to her before she began her journey.
"Is… is there anything we can do to help you, Lianna?" Spade asked.
"There is one thing…" Lianna said as suddenly, Ophilia and the others collapsed and blacked out.
Later…
"Ooooh…" Leviathan said as her primary systems restored themselves. "Systems back online. Everyone wake up!"
"What happened?" Simon asked.
"Lianna spiked the drinks she served us with sleepweed." Leviathan said. "And she took the Landthorn!"
"But where could she have taken it?" Ace asked.
"I think I may know." Shanoa said. "Through my investigations of this cult...they all seem to come from one place. A small town in the Flatlands called Wispermill."
"Then that is where we must go in order to retrieve the kindling. No doubt they plan to use it to revive this "Savior"." Minerva said.
"Then there's no time to lose. We have to stop them and find out why Lianna betrayed us." Ophilia said.
And so it was that Ophilia and Spirit Force gained the assistance of Shanoa, the Witch of another land and left Goldshore behind them.
They will take back what was stolen from them, the Sacred Flame, and Lianna's heart.
Wispermill is where they must go to reclaim them both.
The climax of the Tale of the Cleric Ophilia, is nearing….
