Chronicles of Espiria Season 3

Episode 15 – Belinda's Slow Recovery

Written by the Dude

It had been a week since the Twins had performed their miraculous healing of Belinda, and both she and Lucius were still recovering. Still, a thought nagged at the back of Lucius' mind ever since Oscar had shared his account of Rosaline's rescue; who was Zaphrael? How could Lucius not know about a living Celestial? Where could he have been all this time? This day, he sought answers to these questions in the temple library. Around noonday, he paused in his research when he noticed Belinda walking his way, using her staff as a crutch.

"Belinda, you should be resting."

"So should you. My miraculous healing took as much out of you as it took from me."

"Something about Oscar's account of Rosaline's rescue confused me. He mentioned a Celestial that I have never heard of."

"Yes, Zaphrael." Belinda mused as she took a seat next to Lucius. "The name sounds familiar, but I cannot place it either."

"Wait, I have yet to tell you Oscar's account. How did you learn that name?"

Belinda paused as she considered Lucius' question. "Now that you mention it, I do not know. It is as if I just already knew."

"When did you first hear it?"

"Not long after I was healed. The name seemed to nag at the back of my mind. I sent word to Cecilia asking her to look into it. The library at the convent has volumes that do not exist here; maybe she can find out who Zaphrael is."

"Your faith in Mother Cecilia is well placed."

Both turned to find Susana walking toward them, a bag slung over her shoulder.

"She found results sooner than I expected." Belinda said, pleasantly surprised.

"It is the only reason she has not yet visited you, and her research has not come to an end."

Susana carefully laid the bag on the table and took out three books, one a book of exorcism like the one Cecilia kept near herself at all times, the other two thicker volumes that looked like histories. Belinda read the title of one, "The Hypogean War: A History by Abel Hawke".

"Small references to Zaphrael are scattered throughout the books, and I believe we've only scratched the surface of what they have to say about him." Susana said as she opened the book to a picture of a man wreathed in lightning and stormclouds. "From what we've found so far, he was one of the first mortal warriors to really stand up to the Hoard, becoming a respected leader among the Lightbearers nearly overnight. Such was his zeal on the battlefield that Dura herself chose him to take up the mantle of Ligono, the Lord of Thunder, after his death. As a Celestial, he continued to hunt the Hypogeans with the tenacity of Athalia, until the final battle of the war, when Dura sealed the Barred Gate. There, he fought alongside King Ancelot and even sacrificed his own life to save the king's."

"Why have we never heard of him before?" Lucius asked with amazement.

"I am not yet certain, but Mother Cecilia seems to suspect that this woman is somehow connected."

Susana indicated an image of a woman standing near the image of Zaphrael with her hands clasped.

"We believe her name is Lucretia. From what we can gather, she was Zaphrael's wife when he was still mortal. She was very helpful to him and his soldiers as a nurse, but after his ascension, she seems to just disappear from all record. At the same time, this Hypogean," Susana indicated another image on another page of a demonic warrior surrounded by two skulls, "rose up as one of the greatest threats to Espiria the Hoard had ever produced."

"Do you believe that the two are connected?" Belinda asked. "That they kidnapped and sacrificed Lucretia to bring this Hypogean into the world?"

"Perhaps, but it does not answer why Zaphrael was forgotten. More research will be required to reveal the truth, but the truth will be revealed."

Susana slammed the thick book shut for dramatic emphasis, not noticing that Belinda's fingers were still inside. Both Belinda and Lucius cried out in pain.

"What happened?!" Susana asked as she leaped to her feet and drew her knives.

"Nothing serious," Belinda answered as she cradled her wounded hand, "you just accidentally closed the book on my hand."

"My apologies, sister." Susana said as she calmed down. "And you, Lucius? What happened to you?"

"I cannot explain, but my hand hurts as well." Lucius answered as he tried to rub out the pain in his hand.

Susana was confused, but noted that Lucius' injury seemed the same as Belinda's. Susana thought back to one of her older lessons on the nature of the Celestials, and developed a mad theory as she took Belinda's uninjured hand.

"You said that you were purged of your curse by the fires of Athalia, and that the Twins were there to comfort you?" Susana asked.

"Yes."

"And you were present too, Lucius?"

"I was, and I am glad of it. I felt only a sample of Athalia's fire and found it torturous enough; I can only imagine what Belinda endured from the direct flame."

"Perhaps you do not have to imagine, Lucius."

Susana gently pricked Belinda's finger, drawing out a single drop of blood. Lucius and Belinda were surprised to find that Lucius' finger bled as well. Susana was less surprised.

"Have you two shared thoughts or memories since the miracle?"

"Zaphrael!" Belinda exclaimed. "I knew the name even though Lucius had never spoken it in my presence! But what does it mean?"

"Unless I am mistaken, the Twins had a larger role in your miracle than you thought. It seems that they deemed it necessary to join your souls together as Elijah and Lailah themselves are joined. Perhaps they determined that only by combining your wills would you be able to resist the curse. If I am right, you will feel whatever the other feels, know what the other knows; you will be one spirit as the Twins are each half of a whole."

"But this will have a cost." Lucius observed. "Any injury I sustain, including mortal injuries, will be visited on her as well. Why would they join her soul to someone as prone to danger as I am?"

"Because we were already meant to be together." Belinda answered gently.

With little warning, Belinda took Lucius in a warm embrace and kissed him on the cheek. The blush that appeared on Lucius' face was mirrored on Belinda's. Susana decided it was best to take her leave, leaving the history books she had brought for them to investigate at their leisure.