Chapter 16: Rites For A Goddess

Day 2, 1:30

"To the goddess of death, these numbers I say," Lightning said.

"Welcome child, you may enter," said the voice on the other end of the line. The gate to the cemetery slowly rose.

Lightning ran through the gate and it closed behind her with a dull thud.

"We're in at last," Hope said.

"Right. It's time to put an end to the freak show," Lightning replied.

The graveyard had been deemed "Sinner's Corner". It was a common belief of The Order that those who died (through illness, accident or murder) were unworthy in the eyes of Bhunivelze and were not meant to survive through the end times. There were a few exceptions, but mostly the cemetery was viewed as an unholy place by their lot. It was perhaps why the Children of Etro were able to commit their atrocities here undetected.

The scattered gravestones were lined with dead, gnarled trees that had not blossomed in many years. Somehow the rites of eternal life had no effect on these ancient roots.

The souls here are just like these trees. Lost forever, even though their memory remains. Lightning hurried her pace through the winding road. She knew she had to hurry or else one more innocent would join their ranks.

Towards the end of the cemetery lied an enormous statue of the symbol of The Order. Here, the Children of Etro gathered, a young woman with rose-colored hair was tied to the symbol, seemingly unconscious.

One of the heretics spoke to the rabble. "The promised time is upon us!"

The rabble shouted back. "The promised time is upon us!"

"Behold the harbinger of destruction!"

And again, "Behold the harbinger of destruction!"

"Return to Chaos our mother!"

"Return to Chaos our mother!"

The leader of the Children lifted an enormous golden axe. "The time has come!" And this time no chorus followed him. He turned to the woman tied to the statue. "Wicked savior, go now to Etro's side!"

"Death to the savior!" The chorus shouted.

Lightning wasted no time, she leapt onto the platform where the woman sat bound and brought her sword down upon the axe. The axe fell out of the man's hand without coming near the hostage.

"I'd introduce myself," Lightning said. "But I'm guessing that you already know who I am."

She turned to face the rest of the rabble and they all began to slowly back away. It must be a very different experience for them to have a conscious, fighting Savior before them, she thought.

"She has come at last!" The head announced. "It's the god's savior!"

Another heretic raised her sword and cried out. "Kill her! She cannot live!"

The rabble began to rush the platform, but suddenly a gust of wind pushed them all back. As the dust began to settle, Noel walked slowly up from behind the statue.

"You're late, Hunter." Lightning said.

The head was apparently no longer finished making grand proclamations. "It's the Hunter! Just as the prophecy foretold!"

The girl who had spoken earlier continued. "Answer our prayers, and slay the savior! Make the oracle true!"

Noel raised his sword, but pointed it towards the rabble, not Lightning.

"You murder innocent people, and expect me to do your bidding?!" He shouted.

"But Hunter," said the head. "You know we did it for you! For the prophecy!"

Lightning glanced over at Noel. "Having a falling out?"

"Don't insult me, Lightning. You think I'm with these guys?" Noel scoffed. He then shouted so that the rabble could hear. "Fanatics with blood on their hands?"

The crowd turned against Noel as quickly as they had backed him. Voices now began to murmur. "He's working with the Savior" one said. "Kill him!" cried another. In a flash they rushed the platform yet again. Noel and Lightning took a defensive stance before the platform and began to cut each of the heretics down.

"These 'fanatics' have been waiting for you, Noel. They think the Shadow Hunter belongs to them." Lightning cut through one heretics back before beheading another. "But you were taking too long. So they panicked and started killing anyone who even looked like me!"

With another furious swipe she took down a third.

Noel cut down two others in a quick flurry before responding. "Yeah? Then I shouldn't have waited, should I?" He rushed towards a heretic who'd been hanging back and cut him down. "I could've found you and saved their lives!"

"And now what?" Lightning asked. "You're gonna fight me?"

The only heretics who remained alive had fled by now. Lightning slowly walked towards Noel, but he raised his swords towards her to stop her.

"Yeah, that's right. That prophecy... it has to be true."

"Has to be true? You mean, I have to die? And you're the one who's going to make it happen? Bring it on, Noel. I've been fighting destiny for a long time now. And I'm getting good at it."

The two stood with swords crossed for a moment before they heard shouting the direction where the heretics had fled. It did not belong to the heretics however.

"Do you see them?!" One shouted. "Don't let them escape!"

"Light, the Salvation soldiers are here!" Hope said.

Noel turned and leapt onto a nearby tree. "Lightning, follow me. We need to finish this- but it has to be the right place."

He ran back along the city wall towards the Warrens. Lightning heard to the distant cries of the soldiers.

"The girl! Get the girl! Make sure she's okay!" One of the soldiers shouted. They had not even noticed Noel or Lightning yet.

The heretics were dealt with, and the hostage would be safe. Lightning had stopped the ritual. There was only one last thing to take care of. It was Noel's turn.

"I'll repay what you've done for Serah, Noel." Lightning said. "I'll save your soul."