Sacred Spirits
"There's a small altar on the outskirts of the city." Lyn explained to them as they walked. "It's sacred to the people of Sacae, and it's well known for it's connection to the world of spirits, as the shrine houses two sacred objects: The Sword of Spirits, Mani Katti, and the Tome of Nature's Soul, Sylvanas. It's traditional for travelers to visit the shrine to pray for a safe passage."
"The teachings of Elimine have the most followers in Elibe." Kent said. "It's nice to see that ancient customs are still observed in some places."
"More than that." Lyn said. "It is these spirits that power the anima branch of magic, though I've never figured out how to invoke such things."
"Spirits are involved with magic?" Sain asked.
Lyn nodded. "Yes. The Lorca seers said that magic falls under holy, anima, or dark magics. Holy, or light, magic is supposed to be invoked by prayer to Elimine, typically guided by a verse of scripture or a hymn. Anima magic is cast by invoking the ancient spirits to assist you, typically by summoning a bolt of lightning, or a gust of wind, but also by tapping into the spirits of the world around you."
"And dark magic?" Kent asked, now intrigued.
Lyn shrugged. "They never went deeply into dark magic, so I'm not entirely sure. My best guess would be-"
She was stopped when a woman ran up to them.
"I beg your pardon, but are you heading to the altar?" She asked, eying their weapons.
"We are." Alysia said.
"Then you must hurry!" She said desperately. "The priest and the entire shrine are in danger!"
"What?" Lyn cried out.
"I saw a local group of ruffians head in there just now." She explained. "Normally, I wouldn't be worried about those miscreants, but when they walked into the altar, I heard screams and clashing metal." She breathed rapidly. "I... I think they are intent on stealing the altar's sacred relics!"
"They're going to steal the Mani Katti and the Sylvanas?" Lyn said, not daring to believe it.
"We won't let that happen." Alysia said calmly. The woman nodded, and quickly fled.
"Let's go!" Lyn said.
"Hold on, Lyn. We can't just go charging in." Kent said.
"Right. We need to prepare." Alysia agreed. "I noticed a small group of homes to the south. We know less about the lay of the land than our opponents. We should ask around."
A few minutes later, they reconvened at a nearby fortress that sat abandoned outside the village.
"Apparently the way to the main entrance is rather rough ground, and well-guarded by the ruffians besides." Sain said. "Taking the front door may not be the best idea, unless you want us to dismount to fight."
"I don't think we'll have to." Lyn said. "Apparently, the windward wall is falling into disrepair, especially in one spot that was badly constructed to begin with. If we hit it enough, we should be able to pass through without difficulty."
"Then that's what we shall do." Kent declared. They all nodded in agreement.
"We've been spotted! To arms!" Alysia said. Lyn, Sain, and Kent drew their swords in preparation for the battle.
Sain charged a bandit who had appeared from near the wall of the shrine, forcing his foe into a roll to avoid being trampled. Sain turned in time to fend off his swing, and cut his chest with a well-placed swing of his sword. At the same time, Lyn and Kent fought off two bandits who had appeared from the south. Lyn made short work of her foe, slaying him with a startlingly quick decapitation, while Kent's horse gave him the height and speed to easily dodge his foe's slow strikes, while peppering him with sword strokes.
Their foes defeated, they turned their attention to the broken-down wall of the shrine. A few strong swings from the cavaliers' swords brought down the wall rather quickly, and they moved into the shrine, surprising the bandits who had been inside. Kent and Sain quickly dispatched the bandits, while Lyn moved to fight their leader.
Alysia took in the scene in an instant, and drew her knives. One bandit picked her out and started towards her. She took one of her knives, and threw it. The knife flew straight, cutting into the bandit's exposed stomach. As he moved to pull it out, Alysia fell on him like lightning. She maneuvered around her foe, and delivered a fatal blow between his ribs, the blade of her knife tearing through his heart. She tore the thrown knife from his body as he fell, freeing her other knife as well.
The whole episode had taken less than ten seconds. She'd killed him quickly. Easily, and without the slightest hesitation. Just what was she?
Alysia looked back at Lyn, who stood before her foe.
"Who do you think you are? What chance do you have against me?" He boasted, hefting his broadsword.
Lyn smirked. "Come find out!" She held her sword ready. The man attacked, sending his sword into a broad swing. Lyn barely managed to parry the blow, throwing up her sword to block, and they both returned to their fighting positions.
"Careful, Lyn!" Alysia called. "He's not just some bandit!" Lyn nodded, and cautiously began circling her foe, who did the same.
This time, Lyn struck first, cutting at the man's sword-arm. The man blocked, and quickly retaliated with an overhead swing. Rather than block the attack, Lyn sidestepped the strike, and rushed her now-exposed foe, driving her sword into him. He grunted as she pushed her sword up to the hilt in his side, the weapon poking through his back, a nasty wound, but not fatal. He swung at her, forcing her away without her weapon, which he painfully drew out of his body.
"What are you going to do now, bitch?" He spat, lifting his sword to strike.
Alysia's first knife drove into his lower back, just to the side of his spine. As he arched his back in pain, his chin lifted, exposing his neck to her second knife, which slit his throat. The weapons in his hands clattered to the ground, and his body followed. Alysia looked to Lyn, who sat on the ground with an unsettling mixture of gratitude and horror on her face. Alysia sheathed her knives, and helped Lyn to her feet. "Are you alright?"
Lyn recovered, and nodded. "Thank you, Alysia." She said. "Where is the priest?"
"I am right here." A voice said. The group whirled to face the elderly man. He was unharmed.
"You wear the robes of a Lorca tribeswoman." The priest said to Lyn. "What is your name?"
"I am Lyn, the chieftain's daughter." She said. "Are you hurt?"
"I am unscathed, thanks to your timely rescue." The priest said, smiling. "You have my gratitude."
"What of the sword and tome?" She asked, concerned. "Are they safe as well?"
"Yes, the sword has been safely sealed away, and I have the tome on my person." The priest said reassuringly. "Until I remove my spell from it, no one will be able to draw the Mani Katti from its scabbard." He moved to the altar, where the elegant sword sat in its scabbard, and set a beautifully-bound book, green as a forest, underneath it. "Now, as a token of my gratitude, I shall allow you to lay your hands on the Mani Katti."
"Thank you!" Lyn said. She reverently approached the sacred sword, and placed her hands on it, closing her eyes in prayer to the spirits. Suddenly, the sword flashed brightly. Lyn recoiled.
"What... Did I..." Lyn stammered.
"The sword's glowing!" Alysia exclaimed, gazing in awe at the soft glow.
"It is the power of the spirits." The priest declared. "Lyn, they have looked into your soul and judged you worthy. They call out to you, the proper wielder of the Mani Katti."
"No... I can't... I couldn't..." Lyn stammered.
"It is the wish of the blade." The priest asserted. "If you require proof, then draw the Mani Katti from its sheath."
She took the sheathed weapon reverently, and placed one hand on it's hilt, the other holding the scabbard. She separated the two pieces. The blade sang as it left its scabbard.
"It came out... effortlessly." She gasped.
"Never in my life did I dream to meet the rightful wielder of this sword." The priest whispered reverently. "I am indeed fortunate to see the sword safely in its owner's hands."
Lyn fixed the Mani Katti to her belt. "Thank you." She said. The priest nodded.
"Lyn, you face a great many ordeals." The priest said. "Use this sword and meet your destiny head-on!"
Bowing to the priest, Lyn left, Sain and Kent close behind. Before Alysia could leave, though, the priest called after her. "Milady, if I may?"
Alysia stopped, and turned to face the priest. "Yes?"
"You heard the blade's song, did you not?"
Alysia nodded. "I did, but surely that's nothing special, is it?"
The priest smiled. "Two in one day." He said reverently. "Truly this is a blessing from the Spirits themselves."
Alysia frowned. "I'm not sure I understand, sir."
"You are close to the spirits of this land, more so even than myself. They impart their knowledge onto you, and warn you of danger before it strikes. Such a bond is fostered only by a close connection to the world itself. You are meant for great things." He picked up the beautiful green tome, with an emerald set into the center. In that emerald, Alysia saw beautiful refractions of light, even though the room they were in was dimly lit.
"This is the Sylvanas." The priest said. "This tome is the embodiment of nature's ability to both create and destroy. I trust that you will wield it responsibly."
Alysia reached out with gloved hands, and reverently took the tome, then looked at the priest, and bowed. "Thank you, sir. I promise to cherish it always."
As they made camp, Lyn removed the Mani Katti from her belt.
"So this is the Mani Katti... A blade without equal." Sain said.
"This is all so unbelievable." Lyn said. "This is easily the most famous sword in all of Sacae, and I am its wielder."
"It's not so strange." Kent said. "Many legends tell similar tales of special blades all over Elibe calling out to their proper wielders. Yet, when I saw you draw that blade, Lyndis... I felt something extraordinary."
Sain nodded. "That sword was waiting for you, milady." He said. "It was like you were meant to draw it."
Lyn blushed. "Stop it. I'm nothing special!"
"Think of it this way:" Alysia said. "Some weapons feel more comfortable in your hand, right? Well, the Mani Katti feels that way about you. I doubt that any of us could use it."
"It does feel right in my hand. A sword I alone can use..." She turned to Alysia. "Look at this. This is the Mani Katti. This... This is my sword."
Alysia nodded, and looked down at the Sylvanas. "The Mani Katti and the Sylvanas." She said. "This is almost too much."
Alysia set the Sylvanas down in the middle of their group, and Lyn placed the Mani Katti over it. Then, she laid her hands on the sacred objects, and closed her eyes in prayer. Kent and Sain, out of respect, removed their gauntlets and did so as well. Alysia removed her own gloves, and placed her hands on the sword and tome...
Only to recoil as what felt like lightning ran up her arms. She yelped in surprise, and fell backwards. Lyn moved quickly, and helped her sit up.
"Are you alright, Alysia?" She asked.
Alysia groaned, and shook her head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit dizzy. When I touched them... It was like a fog lifted from my mind."
Alysia's eyes widened. "Some of my memories are back." She smiled widely at Lyn, but that smile quickly darkened as the memories played out in the recesses of her mind. She closed her yes tightly.
"Spirits forgive me." She whispered.
"Alysia, snap out of it!" Lyn cried, shaking Alysia's shoulders. Slowly, Alysia opened her eyes, and Lyn saw tears in them. "What did you see?" Lyn asked. "What happened?"
Alysia looked into Lyn's eyes, and Lyn saw nothing but pain, horror, and sadness. Alysia shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it right now."