Chapter 25 "Rite Night"
Lunch at the canteen proved to be a suitable respite for Noah and Mio who were only halfway through Kevesi territory. For the cat-eared Agnian, her disguise was crucial for her survival and thus far had everyone fooled. Back outside, they contemplated their next move since lockdown meant confinement to Fort O'Virbus for the day.
It was rather convenient, then, that the information center occupied an adjacent corner of Kismet Crossing. The two visitors stepped inside to find a room that was much smaller and quieter than the bustling canteen's. A tall, unassuming male Kevesi with crew cut hair stood on the other side of an open, rectangular window, the ledge of which curiously held an active Iris terminal.
"Did someone misplace this?" the pacifist wondered aloud.
"Nope, it's a courtesy terminal," the attendant got his attention. "Go ahead and scan your Iris for a directory, mates."
"Oh, alright then," Noah did as recommended, though Mio declined out of caution.
"You two must new here, huh?" their host guessed aptly, appearing delighted to have company. "I'm Hoope. Let me know if you have any questions about our fine fort."
"We appreciate that," the swordfighter acknowledged for both her and himself. "We're hoping to pass through, but lockdown limits our movement."
"Oh yeah," the tall attendant nodded once, "it's an inconvenience, alright."
"So, we're wondering what stops we should make while we're stuck here," the ponytailed soldier inquired with his hands folded on the ledge.
"Well, the most important one is probably a place to sleep, am I right?" Hoope continued to stay one step ahead of them. "The location of the travelers' barracks should be in your Iris now. They're free during lockdown."
"Ah, that's good to know," the younger visitor briefly glanced at the older one. "Is there anything else we should see?"
"Oh, there sure is," their host acted glad that he'd asked. "You two happen to be here on a rite night."
"A rite night?" the guest Kevesi repeated in question, leerily.
"It's short for ritual night," the attendant prepared to clarify. "The consuls put on a homecoming ceremony in front of the Propatheon Cathedral for a lucky group of tenth-termers. Happens every four or five nights, depending on the number of soldiers nearing the end."
"B-but… that's…" Mio found it impossible to keep herself completely muted after hearing about this.
"Grand, right?" Hoope presumed incorrectly this time, unable to see her face adequately. "Imagine, having your services recognized and then being allowed to enter the hallowed hall."
"Wait, so they don't actually…?" Noah stopped short of mentioning the violent procedure which was the norm for some colonies, like Mio's until recently. "Hmm… I'm afraid I don't quite follow, then."
"No worries, mate. It's a fort tradition." The tall host watched their reactions but misread them as nervous, anticipatory excitement. "Basically, the consuls praise you, which they almost never do. Then they let you go inside the cathedral to look at the stained glass while you offer your embers back to her majesty."
"The Queen of Keves is in there?" the pacifist blurted out, his mind in a temporary tizzy.
"Oh, no, that was a figure of speech," Hoope waved his hands laterally, palms out. "I'm sure she never leaves the castle, but we all know we return to her when our time's up."
"So they say…" his Kevesi guest muttered to himself.
"At any rate, you guys won't want to miss this if you're just passing through," the attendant resumed his advertisement of the fort's supposed main attraction. "It should start in about five hours, when the sun sets."
"We'll, um, consider it," the polite swordsman slowly backed away with his Agnian partner in tow. "Thanks for the information."
"No problem," Hoope managed to say before they were swiftly out the door.
In the plaza again, Noah and Mio gasped for air after learning about the fort's ritual. Staring past the canteen, they saw the aforementioned Propatheon Cathedral in all of its glory. Initially, it seemed out of place in a world that only knew war, though perhaps its concealed purpose made sense.
"Do we dare stick around to see what happens?" the ponytailed soldier broached the still fresh subject.
"I hate that I'm curious," his running mate groaned, dropping her head in shame. "Even if it doesn't involve beheading in public, I'm wary that it might trigger those images for me. I've done well to keep them from my mind since… you know."
"So, you suspect the same thing that I do, then?" he looked at her sympathetically like he'd done last night.
"That there's more to it than what'll be on display? Absolutely!" Mio crossed her Kevesi-sleeved arms and scanned the masses. "There's no way that we're the only ones here who've witnessed… the usual way."
"There are enough people here that you're probably right," his hands were on his hips. "The locals might be clueless though, if they're anything like Hoope."
"I almost envy their ignorance," the zephyr focused on a couple of soldiers sharing a laugh down the street. "I learned early and spent my entire life in fear because of it."
"We both learned early," Noah reminded her as his own lazy gaze went in the opposite direction. They hadn't been in the fort for long, but he'd already gained the impression that life here was considerably more structured and sheltered than that of any given colony. Doubtlessly, its position as the hub of Keves had something to do with it.
For now, the two visitors were content to explore the grounds of Fort O'Virbus with the help of the courtesy Iris terminal's map data which was now shared between them. Most of their tour, however, was spent around the central plaza since they weren't keen on being near the two most eminent buildings on the north and south ends of the fort. Occasionally, Noah would observe the spire of Keves Castle again but could never make out why it appeared to attract the equally inexplicable black fog.
By late afternoon, the setting sun had painted the walls with an orange glow which seemed ominous on this so-called rite night. In preparation for the event, two black ropes connected by metal stanchions were extended from the buttresses of the cathedral. It didn't take long for interested Kevesis to secure their spots on either side of what was clearly the space reserved for the homecoming soldiers and the consuls. Neither Noah nor Mio could ignore their curiosities as they stole glances from their vantage point south of Kismet Crossing's southwest corner.
"Quite a few people gathered already," he commented with his back against the wall.
"And they seem rather excited to be there, too," she noted by their body language. "I think now would be a good time to hole ourselves up in the barracks."
"I hear you," the ninth-termer started to walk with her. "Shouldn't be too far."
"Good. We haven't been able to sit down since lunch." Mio's frame seemed to shrink while she and Noah scooted through the plaza, no longer wanting to spy the scene. They'd just passed the center when someone's audible lamentations intercepted their attention. Turning to face the southeast corner, the two visitors noticed the winged male Kevesi with reddish-brown hair whom they'd previously observed grieving in the canteen. His mood didn't appear to have improved as he paced back and forth with his hands behind his head.
Noah and Mio looked at each other in silent contemplation. As much as they wanted to keep walking and not draw unwanted attention onto themselves, it simply didn't seem right to ignore a person in apparent need. Sighing to the wind, she approached the winged Kevesi with her hands folded in front of herself.
"Ahem, is everything okay?" she asked gently, even though the answer was obvious.
"Huh?" the redhead froze momentarily. "Oh, s-sorry… didn't mean to bother ya…"
"You're not bothering me," the moonblades-wielder assured him. "Rather, we're… concerned about what may be bothering you."
"Me? Aha… n-nothing's bothering me!" A forced smile wiggled onto his face, failing pathetically to convince the two deserters. Awkward silence ensued until he decided to drop the act. "Tch… who am I kidding? I'm a right mess, folks."
"We can see that," the pacifist added his voice to the exchange, "but may we offer our assistance?"
"You can't help me," the winged Kevesi insisted, witlessly. "I'm just too much of a wimp!"
"Now why would you say that?" The disguised Agnian remained benevolent, but the distraught stranger appeared to cower again. "What is your name? Can you tell us that?"
"Eh?" the request bewildered him. "Well, I'm Saoru."
"Nice to meet you, Saoru," she smiled warmly at him. "I'm Amie."
"And I'm Noah," her travel partner introduced himself next. "What makes you call yourself a wimp?"
"I can't face the truth," their new acquaintance finally opened up. "My best mate's about to go away, and I can't bring myself to see him off."
"You mean he's being transferred?" the swordfighter sought clarification.
"Oh, if only it were just that. He's about to be honored in the homecoming ceremony." With Saoru's explanation now shared in full, both Noah and especially Mio felt the air seemingly sucked out of their lungs. "What? You don't know what that is?"
"We know," the zephyr straightened herself out, suddenly glad to be wearing her helmet. "We just weren't… expecting that to be a factor."
"Sorry to throw ya for a loop," the redhead's sad sights sank to the ground.
"No, we're the ones who are sorry," Noah spoke for both Mio and himself. "It's not easy letting go of a dear friend."
"Ain't that right?" Saoru's hands were balled into loose, trembling fists. "Spent a good six or seven terms together and now I can't even say goodbye."
"He'll be able to see you if you're in attendance, yes?" the ponytailed soldier opted for a more positive approach. "I think that alone would make him happier than the ceremony would itself."
"P-probably," the winged Kevesi faced him, misty-eyed, "but I… can't bring myself to do it."
"Would it… help you if we went with you?" the cat-eared Agnian suggested tentatively.
"Mi-" the younger deserter covered his mouth, having nearly said her real name aloud on accident. "Er, Amie? Are you sure about this?"
"Would you folks really do that for li'l ol' me?" Saoru perked up at the offer, his doldrums already dwindling.
"Um, well…" the pacifist could only look at her, speechlessly.
"I'd feel terrible for leaving him in the lurch now," Mio privately explained her reason not only to Noah but also to herself. "So, yes, Saoru, we would."
"Aw, you're the best!" The redhead clasped his hands together under his chin, grateful for the support from people whom he'd just met.
Steeling himself for the short journey, Saoru turned towards the cathedral and began moving before his two new friends could utter another word. Mio's head swam with uncertainty as she and Noah hurried to keep up, many thoughts of which were regrets. Within a minute and seemingly just in time, all three of them were incorporating themselves into the left of two decently sized crowds which had gathered on either side of the reserved space.
All eyes were on a transport Levnis coming from the direction of the castle as it landed nearby. With the chatter subsiding, the door opened and five Kevesi tenth-termers coolly marched out to stand proudly before their younger peers. Thus, the final piece of the elaborate set was the pair of consuls who materialized onto the plane nearly in unison.
"Ah! Look at how eager you all are!" The first caped hierarch to speak sounded about as presumptuous as the two deserters could've expected, his filtered voice barely weaseling its way to Mio's covered, unwilling ears.
"A little respect would go a long way, yes?" The second, slightly taller and more serious one clapped his hands once, prompting every soldier who wasn't already saluting to do so. Even the disguised Agnian had her right hand in an upturned fist, having previously practiced with her Kevesi counterpart. "That's more like it. Can't have our esteemed heroes and heroines of the hour departing under less than perfect receptions, can we?"
"Oh, perish forbid! For we have the best of Keves right here!" The shorter consul's claim incited a few brave cheers from the audience. "That's right, every one of you makes us proud, and someday we'll be celebrating your lives as you return to her majesty!"
"We mustn't get ahead of ourselves," his fellow red-armored director wagged his finger at him before focusing on the culled tenth-termers. "The honorees of tonight don't have much time left. Thus, let us begin the homecoming ceremony!" Applause broke out from the mostly envious onlookers, and this time the consuls permitted the unbridled noise. Neither Noah nor Mio partook in it, though Saoru gladly did with tears already streaking down his face.
"It is with great pleasure that I announce the five soldiers who will soon share a piece of the Propatheon Cathedral's even greater history! Only those who have dedicated their ten years to her majesty may enter!" The more eager of the two leaders activated his Iris for a list and cleared his throat. "Eastman! Corianne! Hexen! Reito! Izumi! Well done on accomplishing your mission!"
"Indeed!" the taller caped man joined in the praising. "My sincerest congratulations for reaching your homecoming!"
"Reito!" Saoru called to his mate amongst the revelry, receiving a simple smile from the fourth honoree in line. Noah and Mio, on the other hand, found it difficult to share in the permeating joy when they had a fairly good idea of what was actually in store for the so-called heroes and heroines.
"As I said, their time is short!" the second consul resumed orating once the crowd's reaction had run its course. "And so, we shall see to it that our exemplary soldiers spend their final moments in the cathedral!"
"Yes, oh yes! An undeniable privilege!" The shorter leader opened the doors in earnest. "May their embers flicker beautifully amongst the vestiges of Keves adorned within!"
The five honored Kevesis saluted their compatriots who graciously returned the gesture. With the ritual already coming to a close, the first consul led them inside while the second one brought up the rear.
"This concludes your involvement in tonight's ritual," the remaining consul ordered the crowd to vacate the premises, his hands faintly glowing on the door handles. "Please do your fellow soldiers well to respect their privacy as they leave this world." With nothing left to say, he slowly closed the doors and most of the onlookers shuffled away.
"Reito, my brave buddy," the winged Kevesi stifled his sobs before turning to his new acquaintances. "Noah, Amie, I'm so glad you talked me into attending. Thanks to you, I got to see him one last time."
"It was, uh, an interesting thing to watch," the ponytailed soldier rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"I know, right?" Saoru remained oblivious but no less alleviated. "Can't wait for my turn! I hear they've got the prettiest stained glass in there that supposedly lights up when the soldiers start to offer their embers."
"Are soldiers really the ones who get to enjoy that?" the Kevesi-dressed Agnian muttered, mostly to herself. In that instant, both deserters noticed that the door handles were encased in the weird glow from the second consul's hands.
"Guess we'll all find out soon enough, eh?" the redhead stretched his arms upwards and lightly tugged on his wings.
"Actually, Amie and I are just passing through and therefore won't be, uh, future honorees," Noah informed him in a lighter tone which he hoped would distract himself from the lingering Moebius power. "Though, we still intend to experience life to the fullest."
"Never a bad goal," Saoru nodded with his hands now on his hips. "Anyway, since my mate's gone back to the queen, I must return to my own duty. Guess I've been slackin' off all day."
"We're just glad you're doing better," the swordfighter tried but failed to smile.
"Yup, see ya 'round, folks!" With that, the winged Kevesi sauntered away with a mildly peculiar gait. In his wake, the two visitors stole another glance at the doors. The geometric glow harkened back to the ether-powered screen that was previously used to keep Noah locked in Colony Phi's cage without supervision.
"Get me the spark away from here," Mio shuddered and grabbed him by his uniform. "I don't want to start imagining that I'm hearing their screams inside." Complying without a word, Noah stepped ahead to lead her to the travelers' barracks which required them to take a couple of backstreets around the canteen. Now more or less in the northeastern corner of Fort O'Virbus, they forewent dinner and found themselves an open bunkbed for the evening.
The dorm room was long and dim, with a couple of other occupants keeping to themselves at present. It was rather early yet, but Mio had already climbed to the top bunk of their chosen bed. As for Noah, the guilt over her suffering through Kevesi territory consumed him once more. Although they hadn't witnessed any violence during the ritual, the thought of it occurring behind closed doors sickened her, nonetheless.
"Amie?" Noah murmured his partner's undercover name, though in his mind he was still calling her Mio.
"I'm dealing with it…" her response was preemptive. "And you don't need to apologize."
"It was my idea for us to take this route," the pacifist rued from his bed below hers.
"Yeah, but I'm the one who decided to help Saoru," the moonblades-wielder argued back, sighing not quite heavily. "My conscience is clear in that regard, at least."
"That's good, I suppose," he rose and rotated to find her sitting cross-legged with her backpack in her lap. "Still… I-I want to help you feel better."
"You are… just by staying by my side," his running mate offered a small but genuine smile, her tone now softer.
Wanting to be closer, the caring Kevesi leaned against her mattress with his chin nestled in his bent left arm. As their conversation hit a lull, Noah reached outwards to cup his right palm on her knee. It was a gentle touch, one which did just enough to fill the rest of her with a fuzzy kind of warmth. From Mio's perspective above, the sight of his concerned face looking up to her was too endearing to ignore. Before they knew it, her fingers were running through his hair in an attempt to reciprocate his gesture.
"Wait, what're you doing?" His surprised reaction caused her to freeze momentarily. "I came up here to comfort you, not the other way around."
"I'm aware, but you could use some comforting yourself," she explained while they both kept their hands on each other. "You carry a lot on your shoulders, taking the blame for this and that…"
"I-I guess it's in my nature to do so…" the ponytailed soldier bemoaned his habit but stopped short of calling it a bad one.
"Ever thought about letting go, at least a little bit?" Mio's question seemed inevitable, though an answer wouldn't come from the solemn swordsman without a contemplative pause.
"I have, but…" his words became muffled in his sleeve, no longer maintaining eye contact, "it's not as easy as it sounds."
"Maybe you'll start to get over it once we're in Cadensia," the tenth-termer decided not to push him for now, still aware of her own mind's clutter.
"May we both feel better once we're in Cadensia, yeah?" her travel partner raised his tired gaze to her partially concealed face once more.
It'd been a long day for Noah and Mio despite making very little progress on foot, a frustrating fact for sure. Although tomorrow would be no different, they were thankful that it probably wouldn't include anything like what they'd seen earlier in the evening. Regardless, the two visitors had one more station through which to pass, Colony 21. After snacking on leftover provisions and waiting for their eyes to grow heavy, they settled into the bunkbed properly for a decent night's sleep.