Dawn's first light sprinkled against the ocean. Already fishermen were heading out to the get the first catches of the day. It was this time, Eleanor and Aoife patiently waited outside the jail house. Doors creaked as two guards helped Alex out, unchaining her arm binds.
The Legate sighed, snagging her sword and equipment again before heading to the charge. Concern written all over the redhead's face.
"Are you ok? They didn't do anything to you, did they?"
"Nothing. Just slept in some hay."
Eleanor curled her hands into a fist. A small flash of anger quickly disappeared as fast as it came. Small darkened half-moons sat under her eyes. She nodded. "Come on; we've got a few tasks to do before we can get an escort up the mountain."
The blonde frowned. "Wait, we're doing tasks before heading up? What gives?"
"They won't take us up until we do a few things." She paused. "That, and the damages you've done."
Alex groaned. "Arguing isn't going to help, is it?"
"…"
Curses pattered out of her mouth. "Fine, let's get this over with."
To her credit, the Shepherd thought as she led the way, Aoife thought the same. The Firebrand voiced her opinion. Thankfully, the people of this village didn't seem resonant. For now, she'd be residing in her, observing around her while they continued their tasks.
Back to the town's daily board, Eleanor looked around. "The Innkeeper said that the three are… Ah, here we go." She tugged the parchment and pulled it from its nails. A red stamp at the bottom, the symbol of the village.
"So the tasks are: Water gathering from a spring long the eastern path, a specific type of flower grown in the forests and…"
The Shepherd grew silent, squinting her eyes at the last request. Alex pulled the paper her way.
"And twenty bottle extracts of plums?" Her eyes squinted as well. She continued reading down the lines. "Bottles are at the inn, please come and get them."
As her hand let go of the paper, the Legate rested her hand against the hilt of her blade. Side glances to the rest of the town-village as the people rush on their accord. "These all look like chores."
"Maybe it's a ritual to allow us passage to the volcano? Remember the villages near the desert had a similar thing."
There was no use of complaining. If they went alone, they might get lost or hunted by whatever might be dwelling in that forest. Holstering her blade with its belt at her hip, Alex nodded. "So how do you want to divide this up? Do the plum bottles last together?"
Eleanor nodded. "Alright, I'll get the water if you get the flower."
"Sounds fine to me." She immediately turned to head off to the forest entrance.
"W-wait! Do you even know what the flower looks like?"
The blonde turned around, eyes looking from side to side. "I think I've got an idea."
A frown spread across. How so? She gazed around to the village. People pulling up banners and pennants hanging from large poles. Woven sigils embroidered by a flower. Five pink petals that stretched long, almost like two fork teeth. Its center a simple white with thin stylized stamen.
"Ragged Robin…" Eleanor mouthed. A flower of love. Her heart fluttered for a moment. Eyes closed to calm herself and steel her thoughts. Back to reality. Back to getting that water.
She turned to the village center and returned to the inn, where the innkeeper was waiting. "You here for the water?"
"Yes. You have a bucket?"
The woman leaned down, dropping a large bucket on top of the reception desk. "Here we are. One clean bucket for water."
Snagging it, the Shepherd inspected for any type of tricks. A sturdy, if plain looking, bucket. "Just once?"
"We've very busy as you can see. One bucket of water should be more than enough, yes?"
Leaving the inn, Eleanor shielded her eyes. They never said which well to gather the water from. She looked around. Figured that there was nothing towards the port. Heading inland, Aoife's voice awoken.
{ While we are not lost, I suggest you keep a professional relationship with these people Shepherd. }
"And why is that, Aoife?" She mumbled to herself. "They are fairly nice people, if we weren't Abbey."
{ They already had a feeling before you talked with the inn-keeper. They pounced first. }
Maybe I should've told Alex not to wear her Legate uniform.
{ A bit late on that note Shepherd. } The Firebrand yawned. { But I feel today will be slow. I will continue to meditate. We are close to my elemental lord and I wonder what temperament she will be in. And what trials there may be. }
That too dwelled on her mind. Each trial themed after their elements and certain concepts the Empyreans believe the next generation of Shepherd's and Exorcists should have. And perhaps, a dark reflection of what could go wrong.
Eumacia's trial was trekking through the desert; worthy in and of itself.
But what would Musiphe's trial be?
To the edge of the village, Eleanor walked, brushing passed the people doing their daily routine. A simple dirt path leading further inland with a simple sign up reading 'clean water spring'. Like the Burnack geysers, the water here was pressurized and purified by the mountain's lava boiling beneath the surface. Why it needed to be this one was beyond her, but it couldn't hurt not to investigate it a little.
Soon the dirt path crossed with the jungle. Large foliage littered the sides with foreign vines and roots bumping along. The Shepherd kept her spear at the ready, just in case some wild animal decided to ambush her. Moist plopped at her feet and filtered her eyes. The jungle's internal heat was beating down at her.
A bit of her cursed the inactivity she had dealing with the Empire's nobles, but that was in the past now. Dark blessings, Eleanor chuckled as she pressed forward.
Littered about were marble colored pillars and stones, covered with foliage. Heat, moisture, and vegetation warped the pearly white marble into a crackled chalky stone. Further in, opening to a crumbling monastery. The redhead walked up, fingers tracing the once-proud building. Something sparked her notice, stepping back and looking at the entire structure by itself.
The ruins were like the ones by Aball.
Tightness curled in her chest. Pushing those feelings away, Eleanor creaked the door open. Shimmering light sharked through. Symbols of an ancient civilization laid upon the marble walls, eroded by time. Words and status of people chipped and snared off.
What could have been lavish tapestry, carpets, and rugs, laid bare to the cobblestone like floor. Greenery snuck between the cracks and covered bits and pieces, making a mosaic of nature and human engineering.
Even so, Eleanor continued further in. A light smell lingered in the room. A mix of water and salts. The Shepherd followed through, finding herself astonished.
A massive bath laid before her, preserved by a light new marble stone. Emerald tinted volcanic water rose from the center with water vapors rising from its surface. A red and blue gem glowed from the far end of the pool, embedded into the rim.
Eleanor smiled, pulled herself up the pool and dunking her bucket in. Light shot out from her as Aoife looked around.
"Ah, these bathing waters." She dipped her hand in. "Not too hot either. This place used to be a massive public bath." An eye back to the redhead. "And now they have it as a watering hole?"
"Whatever water that came before is lost now." She shrugged, looking at her bucket. All filled and ready to go. "Either way, we got what we came for. Let's head back."
This time, Aoife remained outside, walking just behind Eleanor.
"How does it feel? It is anything like being near Maotelus?" She asked.
"It's different. The Sixth is an Empyrean, but a new Empyrean. Mastering such a power is difficult." She sniffled, gazing at the passing foliage.
"I remember you talking about the worship of the Empyreans and how they effect their power. Before Artorius introduced Innominat, most people worshiped one Elemental Empyrean or another."
"And being from Islegand, you must have known about Amenoch."
"It was taught to me when I was young, yes."
And yet for all of that, the Abbey pushed her faith into Innominat. The daemon crisis that started with Celicia Crowe and her unborn child's deaths served as a sacrifice to build the legend of Shepherd Artorius Colbrande.
It nearly worked.
Such thoughts disappeared as the Shepherd returned to the village, bucket in tow. Back to the inn and she found Alex with a large branch of flowers, handing it over to the inn keeper.
"Oh, our Shepherd has returned."
"Alex." Eleanor bowed her head and passed the bucket over as well.
"Aah, yes. That's it. The water from the springs. Thank you two. I'll go and get the bottles." The inn-keeper headed back in as the two conversed.
"How was getting the flower?"
"A-about that…" The blonde tapped her fingers
-.-.-
On the other side of the village, on the other side of the jungle, the Legate stood on her tip-toes, gazing further in. There it was. The flower that was basically everywhere in the village.
Unfortunately for Alex, it was across a small ravine. All the easier picks were taken.
Going back to the village, nobody had a sturdy or large enough plank to reach it. She thought of jumping for it. Then considered the distance. There was a simpler solution to this.
Sighing, she pulled her sword out. Not this. Alex looked for another thing. A lumberjack's axe. Inspecting its head, she then looked to the trees. Finding one just right, she shot a single Azure Edge at the tree's base. The wood creaked and snapped, falling across to the flower's patch.
-.-.-
Eleanor cupped her head. "I mean, did they make a fuss about it?"
"A few came running after a while." The blonde shrugged back. "I chopped the wood for them to use."
Before she could retort her words, the innkeeper returned. "And here we are." Two crates of large wooden boxes were provided to them. And a crate to help roll them over.
"Are you sure we need to create the extract?" Alex asked.
"Oh! Is that what it read? You two just need to fill these crates of the plums. I'll be handling the fruit preservation." She paused. "We have a specific tradition here handled by the women of the village. So, you two don't need to do it."
"I'd rather not get my hands dirty." The blonde shook her head.
"I think I'll just watch." Eleanor spoke out. "Maybe I'll join?"
"Alright then." The other woman giggled. "The plum trees are not too far from here. A few steps from the flower area."
Both women hauled the cart, sharing the load. The simple cobble roads disappearing to dirt as they marched passed the flower beds and deeper into the woods. With signs marked up ahead, they continued.
"I still can't believe nobody's noticed Aoife in the entire village." Alex coughed, taking a good look at her surroundings. "Not even a second glance."
"Resonance is getting really weird, according to Maotelus." Eleanor said. "With all Empyreans awake and people's faith shifting around, it's hard to tell when it goes up or down."
"And yet these people still worship Musiphe."
They arrived at the plum tree gardens. Carefully lined rows of plum trees evenly across another clearing, the two immediately got to picking the freshest ones. Aoife acted as an inspector.
And occasionally ate a few.
Their baskets and crates full, they started heading back. The Firebrand taking point to lay on the plums like a pompous royal.
"These plums are delicious." She commented. "All that volcanic soil does wonders."
"At least you don't weight anything." The blonde pushed harder. Arriving in the village in no time. The innkeeper waving them down towards another path, this time around the bend.
Before them were several women setting up tables with colored cloth in case of spills. Wooden beaters and fires were built all around for mixing. Dropping off their chart, the woman smiled.
"Excellent. That's all the tasks we've asked of you." Several other crates were used to prop their cart up to keep the baskets and fruit crates from rolling out.
"Mattias will show you two up the mountain trail. From there, you can do your thing. But he's caught up with fishing with the rest of the men, so you'll be going tomorrow, at sunrise. Please enjoy the rest of the day."
The lady curtsied before taking some plums herself. Women grabbed by the crates, bringing them over to their tables before starting. Already the smells of fresh fruits bloomed in the air.
Eleanor looked over, checking to see if Aoife was going to steal from them, but the malak was satisfied with their harvest. The small stains on her clothing was proof of that.
Rolling her eyes, she looked back at the women making the fruit preserves. Maybe… Maybe she'll buy some when they leave. Feeling her body slow down, she headed back into the inn for a quick nap. Aoife continued to observe, looking at the small flames that cooked their fruits.
-.-.-
Awakened to the sounds of instruments and people, Eleanor rose up. Crouching her way out of the bed and to the window, she gazed at the amber colors painting the docks, boats, houses and people. A large bonfire was in the center of the village.
Finally awake Shepherd?
Aoife manifested at her side, taking a good look as well.
"Where is Alex?"
"Probably in her room, sharping her blade." She casually looked over. "Are you hungry?"
"No, if anything, I'll just snack on a gel."
"As you wish." Pulling herself through the window, the Firebrand sat on the rooftop not too far. "Such a strange people they are."
"Nothing but worship to Musiphe, even if they can't see her. Almost like Haria."
Lumps cobbled up in her stomach. They didn't know. They couldn't have known. Even if Eizen told them it wasn't their fault, that humans naturally produce malevolence. That their frustrations, worries, doubts about themselves, the daemons, and the Abbey burst over into one cataclysmic moment.
Not everybody can have a strong heart. And even a strong heart can faulter here.
Too many thoughts, and so many of them contradicting in her head. But a leader could not show these weaknesses, even to her Legate. No, her close friend.
"Shepherd, look."
Her mind flung back as she looked. A small sparkle of flames flew up into the sky and exploded. An almost thunder-like shower rained down as she watched.
"It's beautiful."
"Fireworks. Not bad." Aoife yawned, flinging herself back into Eleanor's being.
{ If that is all, I think I will be heading off to bed. }
With a few words, Eleanor found herself alone again. Collecting her thoughts, she remembered the first meetings with her Legates and their wings. So much to clean up from the rest of the Abbey. Resonance between members had highs and lows. Some people just wanted to help, even questioning where their malakhim went.
If things had stayed like that, maybe the rumors and questions would've faded out.
But this journey was going to happen regardless. Taking a good look at the festival outside, she smiled. The cheering and laughs from the festival filled her heart. The Abbey may not be needed in the future, but she hoped that her acts would help mend their pains.
Maybe on the way back, she'll buy a few things.
-.-.-
The next morning, a lone cart rode up the mountain trail.
It is the duty and sworn oath of a Shepherd to uphold the banner. A paragon and Soldier above their peers.
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