A morning walk with master… that always helped her clear her mind. Passing the trees, brushing aside the foliage wet with the morning mist; smelling the fresh dew from the bushes and grass, or the funkiness from the mushrooms; seeing the early birds and fauna out enjoying the chilled air left over from the night…
H'aanit's thoughts are interrupted as a burst of icy air blows into her face, waking her back up to reality. She stands with Linde and Hägen by the bridge to the cathedral in the cold, sunless morning of Flamesgrace.
"Rrr…" Linde rubs against her lower body inquisitively.
"… We aren far from home…" H'aanit sighs, exhaling a dense cloud into the cold air, "I wanteth to see him again as well."
Hägen gives a low, sad growl.
The huntress draws her furs about herself, "But we haven stille a hunt to complete. And you knowen I doth not leaven such a thing undone…"
Nonetheless, her words are uneasy. She looks up towards the sky with a somewhat longing gaze, "But wheren art thou… master… That thou wouldst leaven Hägen…"
There is the tolling of the cathedral bells as people move about onto the commoner's morning. It soon would no longer be quiet. The huntress sees some people carting goods to the cathedral. Male and female Knights Ardante change shifts by the cathedral entrance. By the other side of the bridge, she espies the stockshouse where other knights seem to have arrested someone unfamiliar.
She walks up to one of the knights by the statues before the cathedral.
"Hail."
"Hail madam," The young man turns to face her, "Do you need something?"
"Knowest thou a woman among the Knights Ardante named Eliza?"
"Hm? Erm… Yes, I believe her to be one of the captains?"
"Be'en she here in this burg?"
"I'm afraid not, madam. She hasn't been here in over a year now," The knight scratches his head, "A mission or something? I'm not entirely sure."
"I see," H'aanit gives a small exhale of disappointment, "Thanken thee anyways…"
She returns to her place, standing along the side of the road leading into the cathedral. It was rather frustrating. The ghisarma had eluded her. They were stranded here, with nothing so much as a trace of the damn creature. And all she could think about was her missing master, Z'aanta. It was unbecoming of her to be so muddled in her thoughts. A hunter cannot afford to have these dull their instinct, lest they desire to invite death in the field.
With a slight inward scowl, she walks and makes her way back inside to the cathedral. Linde and Hägen follow. Just before the main hall, she hears a slight shout from the side hall down the cathedral wing:
"I CAN'T DO IT, FILI!"
The huntress recognized it to be the voice of the one named "Anna" who Ophilia spoke of as a sister. The volume had the beasts perk up. She turns her head to see a small commotion at the end of the hall, where there is a stairwell ascending up to the higher chambers. Anna and Ophilia are there, seemingly huddled together.
H'aanit looks on for a few moments. The sisters are talking in rather low voices following the outburst. Cautiously, the huntress walks over to them. Linde and Hägen share some looks before following close behind.
"… see him again…!"
"Don't say those things…" Ophilia says in a low, comforting voice, holding her sister close. She sees the huntress near and motions with her eyes towards her distraught sister. H'aanit remains silent.
"Uu… Father…" Lianna hiccups, "I don't know… what to do…"
"Mattias said he had an idea, right? He's traveled the continent manifold and I… I think he is onto something! A doctor outside the Frostlands might be the answer," Ophilia tried to sound as hopeful as she could.
Lianna sniffles, allowing herself to be coaxed a little by the kind words. The sandy-haired merchant pokes his head out from the stairwell and smiles to the two sisters as he walks over.
"Mattias!" Ophilia looks to the other.
"It'll be alright," He ruffles her head, "The archbishop can't leave this world just yet…! He's so stubborn to see that rite performed as it is!"
He then takes notice of the tall huntress in the furs and the two beasts. Linde and Hägen tilt their heads at him with light apprehension.
"Oh! This is H'aanit, a huntress from S'warkii. H'aanit, this is Mattias… he's a merchant from the Leo Consortium. He has been a longtime friend of mine and Lianna's as well as the church," Ophilia hastily introduces them, "H'aanit is the huntress me and Anna found out in the snows."
"Ah, so you're the stranger I've heard about!" Mattias gives a friendly smile and extends a gloved hand, "S'warkii, hm? I've been there a few times back in the day."
"Ah, haven thee," H'aanit does not seem to notice his hand.
"Er, yes…" Mattias awkwardly withdraws his hand after it is clear he is left hanging, "It's a very nice and tranquil little village. Quaint. A little bit tough to understand all the time, haha…"
"What doest thou mean?" H'aanit arcs an eyebrow at him, "The tongue we speaketh is from one of the land, older than this Common."
"Haha, right right…" Mattias turns back to the clerics, "Anyways, Ophilia, Lianna, don't you worry about a thing. I told the sisters and Mother Superior upstairs that I'll go and see if I can't find a good doctor for Josef!"
"Thank you Mattias…" Lianna sighs.
"Lianna."
They all turn to see the pontiff come upon their little gathering, along with a woman looking even sterner than Patricia in the clothes of a high cleric. Ophilia and Lianna instantly stand and lightly bow with the gesture of the flame.
"Your Excellency … Holy Mother Superior…"
Mattias lightly bows. H'aanit looks at the cordial exchanges, sticking out like a sore thumb. The beasts seem about as confused as she.
"You… wanted to speak with me…? I… apologize for running out earlier," Lianna steps forward.
"Nay, it is understandable with what just happened, child," Pontiff Julius says softly, "What a horrible thing to happen as well… Josef has been neglecting himself for a rather long time it seems…"
"But we need to talk about the rite," Mother Superior interjects, "Today is supposed to be the day the ember from the Cave of Origin is drawn forth. And the pilgrimage begins a prompt five days from thence once the preparations are complete."
"Are you still going to complete this pilgrimage, Lianna?" Julius looks to Lianna, "Your father wanted this for you…"
Lianna's hands ball into fists at her sides, "… Of course."
Ophilia felt nearly helpless watching her. The one who was crying and bawling that she couldn't do it… that Lianna was just barely holding it in now. She had not even time to hide the tear tracts on her face as she tried to appear brave. But she had to, for the church.
"Very well. The extrication of the ember from the cave is to begin in two hours. Do make your preparations before meeting us in the hall."
The two elders take their leave with that. H'aanit was left with little to no real idea what they had just spoken about. Mattias has a slight frown on his face.
"Anna-" Ophilia goes to reach for her sister.
"It's okay, Fili," Lianna turns to her with a brittle, fake smile, "I… I should be going to make myself presentable now…!"
She makes her way to her room. Ophilia stands with a growing lump in her throat. Mattias sighs and goes to lightly pat her shoulder.
"… Don't sweat it, Ophilia. It'll be alright."
"…"
She runs out of the cathedral without another word. Mattias sighs and mutters something about readying himself before walking off, not giving H'aanit a second glance. The huntress stands there for a few more moments before going off after Ophilia. Upon coming out to the cold air, she does not spot the cleric immediately.
"Hägen, canst thou her scent tracketh?"
The dire wolf gives an affirmative grunt and runs on slightly ahead. The huntress follows with Linde. Rounding a bend over the bridge, the wolf's nose leads them to a depression in the earth by the frozen lake. By the bank, sitting on a wide rock, Ophilia nearly blends in with the snow in her cleric clothes, if not for her blond hair. The cleric does not notice the huntress approach immediately, seemingly lost in thought, staring out at the lake. H'aanit sees that she seems to have taken off her gloves, showing her white-scarred hands.
"... Aren thou alright, Ophilia?"
"Ah...!" Ophilia snaps out of her trance and turns to see the huntress, flustering and falling over onto the snow, "Oof!"
H'aanit rushes to her side and helps her out. Linde and Hägen come closer but mostly watch. Hägen rolls his eye a bit at the cleric's clumsiness.
"Thank you..." Ophilia sighs as she pats snow off her dress.
H'aanit peers a bit at the cleric's face, as Ophilia is shorter than her.
"...Hast thou been crying?"
"..." Ophilia silently wipes at her eyes. She seems to realize her hands are exposed and quickly goes to replace her gloves.
The huntress just watches her, gazing at the odd behavior.
"D… Do you need something…" Ophilia says shakily, "I'm a bit… occupied."
"Thou seemeth saddened. Be there anything I can helpen with?"
"Not… really…" Ophilia sighs, "You aren't exactly free are you… Don't you have something to hunt?"
H'aanit tilts her head a little, "Aye. But I haven yet to repayeth thee for thine kindness. If it be'en possible, I shoulde liketh to helpen if I may."
Ophilia shakes her head slightly before looking to the huntress with a forced smile, "It's fine. Thank you."
"… Very well," H'aanit nods slightly, "I wille be off then to finden the ghisarma."
"Yes, I wish you luck…"
The huntress turns and leaves. Hägen follows her but Linde lingers with her eyes on Ophilia. After a few moments, the large cat goes to rejoin her huntress. The cleric stands alone, nearly swallowed up in the white scenery. She sits until it is around an hour later almost before she hurries back to the cathedral, clutching her staff.
…
It's simply unfair sometimes. The ones we want to stay with us …
I am reminded of that inequity when I gaze upon my hands. The white scars on them… are unnatural. They do not fade nor wash off. Natalie first told me they were signs of a great healer… But that cannot be so. For I am not able to save anyone really… No matter how much I may wish. I can only hope and pray.
I could not save my parents from dying before my eyes in war. I cannot protect my current family either. I cannot… even help Lianna or Father Josef. I do not have the right to call him father out loud really. He is Lianna's blood relative, not mine.
But that night, as we were riding back, after I had found H'aanit, I did something. It was that old horror creeping back up my neck, rousing the fear in me once more, that I would witness death again. But I could not allow that. So, I had healed her wound.
When I used that sort of healing, my hands would always hurt, and the white scars would spread further up my fingers. Natalie told me it was a special, powerful sort of spell that was limited, since it was using my own life to save another. I don't know why I am given this power, but when I first found out, I was so naively happy.
But it was not an infinite power. And I promised Natalie I would not use it unless there were dire consequences. Normal healing with my focus usually sufficed as it was. It was dangerous to give away one's life force so liberally.
What did that mean though, that transfer of life? I had given some of it to H'aanit because I could not let her die…
When me and Lianna were little, I had done the same for the little bird which hurt its wing. We both loved it so, feeding it and coddling it until it had regained its strength. However, it was barely two days after we set it free that fresh snow came upon us. We found the poor thing frozen dead in the drifts. I felt … incredibly hollow seeing the little thing… I had virtually given it a piece of myself … only to be crushed.
H'aanit is the same… Free creatures… To love them, one must be willing to relinquish them… It was… a very sad thing.
I imagine this is nothing though, compared to the pain Lianna must be feeling… Father Josef will not be able to see her off on the Kindling even at this rate! I fear for the state of her heart. Just moments ago, she seemed like a glass statue that would break at any moment. The smile she gave… was one of repressed pain.
"You really are…" I mutter to myself. The statement is unfinished.
I had tried out of desperate hope long ago, believing this power was given to me for a reason… I wanted to cure Father Josef for as long as I could remember. But my hopes were that of a silly daydream. Our divine healing… despite all its wonders, cannot prevent death most of the time. Bodily wounds we may heal, but illness we cannot cure. Thus, death remains ever nearby…
But… But even if I can't heal Father Josef… I have no place to just be sitting around like this. Not when Lianna is going into such danger by herself… She must be as afraid as I … not of the trial, but of Father Josef… But she is not letting the fear stop her…
There aren things one must do, and let naught standen in their way.
I stand. I imagine my face isn't nearly as resolute as I try to appear. H'aanit could tell I had been crying after all… I sigh and pick up some snow to clean my face. The cold only worsens the reddening on my skin really, but it clears my head somewhat. Gripping my skirt, I start to march back to the cathedral as the hour bell strikes…
In our room, Lianna is sitting looking rather dejected. She barely noticed I had entered until I shut the door. She straightens with a start, the relaxes when she sees it is merely me. We both have the same reddened eyes.
"Oh, Fili…" She stands, wiping briskly at her face, "I-I think I'm done preparing. It's probably better to start a little early right…"
"Anna," I go to gently embrace her, "Let me come with you."
"W-what?" She does not push me away, but she is surprised, "To the Cave of Origin? Fili, that's…!"
"It'll be fine!" I loosen my hug to face her, "Remember that Father mentioned he was escorted by a Knights Ardante during his trial? It's fine!"
She looks at me and I see myself in her eyes… and my own self all those years ago. When I had first arrived… I had those same helpless eyes. I keep smiling.
"I've made up my mind, Anna. We'll definitely get through this," I go to take one of her hands in my own, "And then I'll go with Mattias to find a doctor for His Excellency! We'll be back in time for the beginning of the pilgrimage…"
Lianna is just staring at me now. I must sound like an enthused fool. But she cannot deny the hope those words elicited. She holds my hand as well, speaking quietly, tears glistening on the corners of her eyes.
"Fili … You're… so amazing…"
"What?" I laugh slightly, "No… You're the bravest person in this entire cathedral… I only plucked up the courage just now because you… were walking all on your own… I can't let that be. You helped me out of my dark times, and I won't let you be alone in yours."
She merely nods.
"Now, let us not tarry then…!" I say with eagerness, "Have you packed everything? The cave will no doubt be treacherous, so we ought to pack some provisions…"
For a moment, as we were gathering and preparing, recounting Father Josef's stories… I almost believed that confident tone in my voice.
…
Linde rolled about in the snow idly. They were now at the south border of Flamesgrace. Hägen sits by where H'aanit stands, looking out into the snows. People pass and stare a bit awkwardly at the stranger with beasts. She pays them no attention.
"Thou hath no scent founden hm…" She sighs, exhaling a white cloud, "Tis a cunning creature indeed. The snows aren fair cover for its tracks and odor…"
Hägen also was a wolf species that was not native to this area. His smell was hampered as such.
"Rr…"
The huntress assumes a pensive pose for a moment. Linde pauses in rolling to give a deep purr to H'aanit, who then shifts her eyes away quickly.
"Doen not maketh such japes at a time. We haven a hunt to pursuen…!"
Linde was adapted to this climate, but her nose was nowhere as sensitive as a direwolf's. Few creatures actually have a sense of smell as strong. Those that did were usually animals like …
"…Bears."
A sudden breakthrough strikes her thoughts. She whirls around back for the town square, where the bear's carcass was. It had since been moved to be cut up. But there was still blood and fur left on the ground. The huntress picks up a few strands of the hair, smeared with dried blood. She then walks out to the snows, away from anyone who would see her. The two beasts that follow silently keep watch as the huntress disappears behind a drift and some trees.
H'aanit crosses her legs as she sits on the snow. She grasps those hairs and closes her eyes.
O' ancestors of the Darkwood,
O' spirits of the wilds,
granten me the strength of the quarry,
that I maye pursuen them another day.
She no longer felt the cold. As the ritual took hold, she suddenly became keenly aware of the various scent trails of the place. She also knew what they were as well, so long as they were native here.
The scent of herself, Linde and Hägen were foreign. In the snows, by some trails, she could tell where the snow marmots had scurried away from a fox. There was also a den of high wolves nearby, and two hoary howlers up in the tree branches high above.
But that all belonged. What did not belong, other than them…
The smell of humans.
The scent of smoke from Flamesgrace's hearths.
The odor of some creature. Upon picking up the scent, H'aanit was struck with the animalistic fear from the bear. It was something that scared even the frost bear. Instinctively, she knew she was on the right track. The beastly odor led towards the east, past Flamesgrace. The huntress stands and begins to move with the speed of a beast as she plowed through the snows with sudden swiftness and ferocity. Her earlier apprehension seemed all but cleared, if only temporarily. On her face was the excited look of a predator hot on the trail.
"Letten us hunten! Linde! Hägen!"
The leopard and wolf bound after her. With a lead, the hunt was revitalizing. She felt truly revived now. A familiar confident smile was coming back.
She almost forgot all about the cleric Linde was teasing her about earlier.
…
"Are you sure, Lianna…" Mother Superior raised a quizzical brow seeing the two sisters in the main hall, "While it is not forbidden… Would you not prefer one of the knights to accompany you…"
"No, Fili and I will be fine," Lianna says with a more resolved look in her eye.
"… Very well," The older woman sighs.
"Why, I do hope you girls aren't taking this too in stride…" Julius chuckles as he takes out a small bottle from his robes, "Tis no trial to take lightly... But I suppose you have both considered that risk already?"
"Of course, Your Holiness," Ophilia nods resolutely, "We have heard about the cave from His Excellency."
"Well, I hope Josef exaggerated properly then for your sakes..."
The pontiff blesses the two girls with a sprinkle of water from the small bottle. Water of the holy light, a spring which, despite the cold in the Frostlands, remained flowing, embodied with the ever-burning warmth of Aelfric's flame.
"Goen thee forth, carrier of the Flame. Bringe upon the dawn which our realm doth waiteth for with bated breath."
"May the Flame's light ever guide your path," Mother Superior says with finality.
Two Knights Ardante arrive to show the girls to the cave. They are led out of the cathedral down the town road. The two of them were wearing their heavier cloaks with hoods drawn. Ophilia carries her staff and a slung satchel with provisions for them both. Lianna clutches her rod before her. Their two escorts hold the lanterns despite it still being somewhat bright for a cold day. People who glimpse the procession in the street clasp their hands before themselves and murmur some praise or solemn prayer.
A familiar sandy-haired merchant walks up to approach them. The procession pauses and the Knights glance at the one who comes, but they see it is a familiar person and allow him to get closer.
"Mattias...!" Ophilia and Lianna exclaim.
"So! You two are off…" Mattias gives a small, wearied smile to the girls, "Ophilia as well hm?"
"Yes. I will aid Lianna all I can."
"Very well. Here," Mattias hands Lianna a small stone, "I picked that up on my recent trip. It should give you luck."
"Eh, thank you, Mattias…" Lianna grips the small greenish stone in her hand.
"M'lady, we must be off," The Knights say.
"R-right. We'll be going then."
"Good luck," Mattias lightly pats Ophilia on the shoulder.
They resumed their trek towards the Cave of Origins. Ophilia took a long look back at Mattias in the middle of the road, waving to them. She returns it half-heartedly and they trudge on.
…
Out in the eastern snowy wilds, the huntress crouched over some snow. She runs her hand into the drift and sniffs it. The bear's powerful sense of smell bought her this far. The east of Flamesgrace was where stone cliffs rose above the town, blanketed in snows. A spare tree here and there stuck out like a stray hair from the earth.
Linde and Hägen sniffed about the snows alongside her. There were no tracks, and no real signs of anything having been here, save some tracks of snow hares. But being a seasoned hunter, she could see even the wildlife was disrupted. The storm made it harder to detect disturbances, but these signs were becoming clear as she looked on.
A fallen tree, though covered in snow, was a recent incident. There were slight indents in some of the areas of snow, but it was on flat ground with no stones. The tracks of the hares largely avoided these depressions.
"Twas here that the beast cameth..." H'aanit looks around and slowly follows along the hare trails, "And it hath brought ill with it... other animals here allen have but fledeth from its stench..."
The scent trail faltered, then reappears. She was on the right track. But as for where it was going, that remained a variable. The fact that it eluded them this far even… The mere thought of it irritated the proud huntress, for this hunt would be a memory besmirching her name for a time to come, likely.
To begin with, the ghisarma was not entirely native to the Woodlands. When the herald of Lord Ciaran came with the Lord's nephew and the request, the thing had ventured into the Whisperwood. She could instantly tell its presence disturbed all the fauna and flora in the entire forest for leagues. The ghisarma was mentioned to her once or twice by Z'aanta in one or two of his tales. It was a monster of considerable depravity, and it usually hailed from isolated places with foreboding omens and inauspicious signs.
Such a creature created a ruckus in a place as tranquil as the Whisperwood. The huntress had hunted there often since she was young. It was an ideal place to hone one's skill close to S'warkii in a natural environment. A ghisarma's roar of capricious bloodlust was all too out of place.
When she agreed and led the nephew with his two retainers to the Whisperwood, the young man vomited at the initial sight of the slaughter. Lord Ciaran had sent a few other hunters before her, and they were all but slain a few paces from the forest entry. Some of their beast partners were still alive, though in mourning over their fallen. There were large tracks with the shape like that of a man's hand. Despite the clear danger, Ciaran's nephew was adamant on catching the beast.
H'aanit could not quite blame him either, for she shared that sentiment. Letting such a creature run about the land would spell ruin for the locals, beast and human alike. It did not respect the ways of nature, instead killing only for a thrill rather than keeping restraint. And so, they followed the trail to find the beast.
The ghisarma had made a nice hollow for itself among some mossy outcrop deep in the wood. There were some gnawed remains of poor wolves nearby. It had cornered another meal from beasts of the local fauna. H'aanit shot an arrow to stop its advance on the wolves, and it thus turned its attentions to them.
She could never forget a sight like the ghisarma. It looked like a horrid cross between some lagomorph and a rodent, with long, human hands and hands for feet. The skin showing under its black fur was purplish, and its eyes were a pale red, with deranged veins. From its mouth sloughed incessant drool, and its tail twitched like mad. She also saw those scars on its body where the skin was exposed.
As a hunter, she knew well what that meant. Coupled with the signs in the beast's eyes and behavior, her initial suspicions were confirmed. The ghisarma was driven here to foreign lands from its original home by some greater threat. Beasts without a home were usually nuisances to people since they were prone to wander into civilized lands. But this was particularly nasty, as the ghisarma's rage would never be quelled. A beast made destitute was to raze its surroundings in grievance of its lost home. They had to deal with it there.
The fight began without further ceremony. However, H'aanit found the Ciaran retainers rather annoying. The big one called Erik charged in at inopportune times, leaving many openings. The skinny one had a sword but was too cowardly to even get close enough to use it. And Ciaran's nephew was even worse than Erik, charging in like a blind madman with his own blade. H'aanit had to expend many shots just to cover for them and divert the beast's attention.
When it came down to the clincher, Ciaran's nephew had gone trying to stab the beast's neck. Usually that is a tactic reserved either for a sneak attack or a final blow, and the creature was not on its last legs. Far from it, it smashed the nephew into a nearby tree and made a break for it. As the tree fell and trapped the nephew, they had to divert their attention then and thus lost the ghisarma. But in its messy escape, they had been able to track it well as it made an escape eastward.
It pained H'aanit to have to leave the village on such a hunt. The headman had bidden her go to keep Lord Ciaran's good favors. But her master had left the village and its people in her care… and here she was in the snowy region pursuing a beast for the likes of some narcissistic fool.
Hägen had returned to the village recently, with no message from her master or Eliza of the Knights Ardante. He was intent on following her and Linde, and so they accompanied the Ciarans out into the field. But entering the snows, they soon realized they were out of their depth.
The new terrain was a host of creatures out for blood. The ice lizards besieged them as they followed the ghisarma trail, and then one thing led to another and a frost bear…
H'aanit sighs, lightly holding her healing wound. Now was no time to be reminiscing! She must be catching some of Z'aanta's tendency for nostalgia. The hunt remains open.
"It hath comen this way…"
The dire wolf and snow leopard follow her as they come across a collapse on a seeming tor of stone. Its sides are slicked with snow and ice, peering down into a cavern.
...
The snows luckily were not so deep that the sisters were tripping through the drifts. Eventually, after a short trek out of town, they could see fire ahead in two rows. Braziers were lit along a path winding up towards the mouth of a cavern, gaping on the rock face. Along with the braziers were two guards from Knights Ardante who watch over this sacred site. They salute upon the groups approach to the cavern maw.
"You are to be the bearer of the Flame for the Kindling? And this is your escort, sister?"
Lianna nods, "Yes. I will return with the hallowed lanthorn without fail."
"Very well. The guardian within shall be your test. Do take care, sister. May the flame ever illuminate your path."
The two sisters return the gesture and enter the cave. Almost immediately, they feel a whoosh of stillness instill into the air, as though they entered a different world. Within the cave, was a feeling of peace and warmth in contrast to the whispering cold winds outside. Soft glows from torches illuminated the worn path which wove through the cave ruins in intervals, relics from the ancestors who saw to Aelfric's descent unto humanity centuries ago. A cold mist rose up from the chasms along the pathways, not too obscuring, but certainly augmentative of the ambience.
Lianna shivers slightly and grips her rod. She could cast without a focus. The rod was more of a physical weapon just in case. Ophilia clutches her staff likewise and swallows.
"L-light..."
She lights the head of her staff once more, a more reliable torch. They begin their cautious walk into the innards, only to be surprised by a flock of white bats that buffeted their vision momentarily.
"YEEEK!" The two squeal and swat the pests away. When it passes, they look at each other with unease before continuing.
"T-there sure are a few... beasts here, hm, Fili...?"
"Y-Yes, but ...nothing we can't handle, surely! F-Father Josef mentioned... there were animals here but... we've seen plenty of that right?"
They walk cautiously along the frozen stone ways. The two had so far only heard of this place from the archbishop's tales. It frightened them as children. But seeing it in person was an entirely different matter. There was a strange majesty to the place and ambience. The stalagmites, the icicles, the stone, the lighting, and the way the path was carved, gave the definitive feel of a hallowed and sacred place. As the girls walked, they did so largely in silence and their fear melted into quiet awe.
Time seemed insubstantial here. Ophilia did not know for how long they had traversed the cave before they seemed to enter a deep inner cavern. Here, a large amount of snow was piling up from a break in the cave ceiling, blocking the way. There were some deep gouges in the nearby stone walls, and some broken stalactites and stalagmites. It all seemed quite fresh. But none of that was quite so alarming as the carnage.
Red stained the snows and stone, there were mangled, half eaten bodies of bats and wolves. Horrifyingly large prints like that of a man's hands were imprinted here in the snow. Lianna sucks in a breath. Ophilia's eyes trail upward and she sees, at the broken ceiling, the familiar huntress staring back at her.
"H-H'aanit?!"
The huntress jumps down from the ledge of the collapsed ceiling, followed by the dire wolf and snow leopard. She lands gracefully after sliding down the pile of debris before the two clerics.
"Eep," Lianna stares at the huntress.
"Ophilia. Anna," H'aanit gives them both a nod of acknowledgement, "What aren thou doen here?"
"We should be asking you that…! This is the sacred Cave of Origin, where the pilgrimage begins with the retrieval of the lanthorn!"
"Hmm… Tis of ill fortune then," H'aanit says without batting an eye, "The ghisarma hath likenly abscondeth into these depths."
"What? In such a sacred place..." Ophilia bites her lip slightly, "But we must still..."
"We'll press on...!" Lianna unexpectedly pipes up, with a small tremor in her voice, "I-I said I would retrieve the lanthorn without fail...!"
"Tis admirable," H'aanit nods, "I shalle accompanyen, for I still haven this hunt to enden."
"Uh, oh, but uh," Lianna looks a bit flustered at the notion, her eyes fluttering with nervousness to the beasts with the huntress, "This is sort of a … an affair of the church..."
"Well, given the new circumstances, I'm sure they'll understand," Ophilia says with half-hearted confidence, "After all, this is a beast in the expertise of the hunters..."
"...Alright, then," Lianna sighs, "Uhm, it's nice to work with you, H'aanit."
"Likewise," H'aanit nods and now looks to the pile of snow, "Canst thou climben this?"
"Uhm, yeah, I think so."
The two clerics fumble and stumble after the huntress a bit as they maneuvered about the snow, stone, and corpses. Their robes were not so restrictive, but the uneven mound with stone and snow mixed made for unsafe footing.
"I... shiver to think of this beast you speak of..." Lianna says quietly.
"Tis a fearsome creature, aye..."
Deeper in the cavern now, they see the torches have been all but extinguished, leaving the further innards dark. The light from the rods of the clerics illuminates blood trails on the floor. The sisters swallow nervously and continue behind the huntress inwards, with the two alert beasts at the forefront.
"Uhm... so, H'aanit, do you have any plan to take this creature down..."
"It hath been wounded. But I cannot maken any promises," H'aanit says grimly, "On my pride as a huntress of the Darkwood, I willen not fail again."
Lianna decides to change the subject, "I... don't think I've ever seen beasts so well trained as yours, H'aanit..."
"Hägen ist not mine partner. He be'en my masters, Z'aanta."
"Ah... Is he away at the moment?"
"... Aye," H'aanit says with a slight sigh.
Slowly, despite the dimness around them, a light came to be visible further ahead. It was a flickering luminescence, like that of a pale blue flame. It is enshrined in a small structure of old, with iconic pillars, tiles and steps. The blood trails here came to a stop.
H'aanit keeps her bow drawn and her eyes wary. She nods slightly for Ophilia to go ahead with Lianna.
"Wait, you don't have a light-"
"Linde hath sight in the dark. Twill be fine."
The two sisters walk on towards the flame. The lost grandeur of the ruin is apparent as they draw close. The great flame from Aelfric's altar blazed in a large stone basin carved with reliefs of fire and light. Stones with glyphs lined the natural cave walls around it. Its flickering seemed almost hypnotic. Ophilia stands back to let Lianna approach. The moment her foot touched the top step, a loud voice boomed.
OF THEE WHO DOST TREADEN IN THESE HALLS, I ASKE. ART THOU FIT TO LIGHTEN THE FLAMES AND SHOWEN THE PATH TO ALL HUMANITY?
Lianna shook at the sound. There was a not-so-distant rumbling that ensued after the voice. Ophilia looks around worriedly. A large shimmering form began to gather before the paralyzed Lianna, and the voice's source becomes clear.
I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE FIRST FLAME.
IF THOU WOULDST CALLEN THYSELF THE FLAMEBEARER...
THOU MUST PROVEN THYSELF WORTHY!
The form of light becomes solid as runic stones from the nearby infrastructure fly and attach to create powerful limbs and a towering golem. The runes light up with the same hue as the flame and the animated creature brandishes a shield arm and a stone sword. It towers over Lianna with soundless menace.
"Ee-Eep…." Lianna shrinks back, rod gripped to her chest. Her breath quickens as fear strikes her deeply.
"L-Lianna!" Ophilia cries out.
Just then, behind her, there is a snarl.
H'aanit's head whirls to see the shadow of the beast lunge for the cleric.
"OPHILIA!"
There is a sudden whoosh. Ophilia squeezed her eyes shut for an instant when she felt something jump at her. She felt herself hitting the floor, and the warmth of someone else's body pressed on her own. She opens her eyes to see the huntress on top of her. But H'aanit was looking back. Ophilia's eyes follow her gaze.
She sees the beast. It has floppy ears like that of a hare, and frightening, bulging eyes like that of a drunk man. With a wide mouth of sharp teeth and drool, it looks stark raving mad. Linde and Hägen are nipping at its claws, keeping it occupied for the moment. Oh, but how big it was compared to even those two beasts! She recognized the horrible image from H'aanit's nightmare now.
"Ungh…" H'aanit winces, a hand on her side. She stands from Ophilia nonetheless, "Go! Helpen thee thine sister, Ophilia!"
"Uh- But you're still hurt!" Ophilia scrambles to stand.
"I haven Linde and Hägen… Twill be fine…!" H'aanit bares her teeth, gritting through the pain as she draws her bow and fires at the beast.
"AAIIIIIIEE!"
Ophilia's head turns to see Lianna shoot a shot of light at the golem. It did not seem too fazed by the attack. In her hurried steps to retreat, Lianna's footing slips backwards down the stairs.
"OH-"
Ophilia darts forward, jumping off her own feet for the distance, just enough to cushion Lianna's fall on her own body.
"OOF!"
"Ow…" Ophilia groans, slowly untangling from her sister, "C-come now, Lianna…"
The two sisters face the stone goliath, with the sounds of the battle of beasts behind them. Lianna gives a slight look of worry to Ophilia. Ophilia hoped her façade of confidence would grant her sister some resolve. It works well enough.
"F-father spoke of this, didn't he…"
"Quite… But it seems this is something his Excellency may have underexaggerated for once…!"
The golem swings its blade at them from above, and its arms seem very flexible, able to reach thanks to the many stones that work as multiple joints. The two split up to avoid being smashed into jam.
"A-All ready, Fili?"
"Mm!" Ophilia swallows down her fear as best she can. The head of her glowing staff emanates a stronger radiance as she concentrates.
"Holy light!" Lianna points her rod at the golem. A column of light erupts and smashes through its chest. The hole leaves a glowing crater, but the golem otherwise seems to be moving fine still. Then the ghisarma is suddenly thrown right into from over the sister's heads, sending the construct and the beast into a disoriented pile. Ophilia hears the loud grunt of beasts behind her, and she glances back, expecting to see the huntress.
Instead, she saw a shape like a medium sized frost bear on its hind legs, flanked by Linde and Hägen. Her breath caught for a moment until she saw that the ears of the bear seemed pierced with feather earrings...
"H-H'aanit?!"
The bear walks closer and its form dissipates to show that of the huntress.
"W-what the...?!" Lianna gawks at the transformation.
"Never minden that... We still haven the hunt to finisheth!" H'aanit says with a slight smile as she notches another arrow. Through the blood, dirt and sweat, she looked like a gambler confident in their chances of winning after a long night of mixed luck.
Ophilia takes her eyes from the huntress to face the ghisarma and golem, who were getting themselves untangled from the jarring throw, "R-right!"
"GRAAAGHHH!"
"Doest not be afraid," H'aanit says with a cool and collected demanor as the tip of her arrow flickers in the light, "We musten not falter."
"Of course not..." Ophilia replies with a slightly cheeky smile, "This is something we must do."
"Alright... here we go!" Lianna points her rod again.
The shot of light this time came from her direction, aimed at the ghisarma. When the beast dodged, the light shot into the golem instead, pulverizing its shield arm. But the beast then found itself outmaneuvered, as the dire wolf and snow leopard converged on its escape route. They dig their fangs into the larger beast's limbs and it gives a yowl of pain.
"Now!" H'aanit loosens her arrow at the beast. The light from Ophilia's staff, and the trace of frenetic energy from the huntress' fingertips seemed to travel with it, leaving a sparking tail. Like a bolt, it strikes the beast by the neck, and pulverizes it through. The cervical matter splatters on the wall behind it as the head and body fall separately to the cave floor, with the occasional twitch of a finger.
"Yes!"
Ophilia's cheer is interrupted by a thunderous rumble as the golem, with its sword arm still intact, charges for Lianna. While the cleric shoots another holy light at the construct, it merely slowed it down slightly.
"LIANNA!" Ophilia felt time slow as she darted for her dear sister, tossing aside her staff.
"Ugh- kh!" H'aanit's body moved to attempt the same, but a deep color spread along her wounded side and her step falters.
Curseth this wound...! The completend summon of the bear hath...!
"NO!"
As Ophilia threw herself over Lianna, she saw the other bring up a hand to defend herself. In her hand was the greenish stone from Mattias. It glints in the light of the golem's body.
There is a sudden gust of wind that erupts about the cavern, directed in a funnel of wind blades at the golem. The construct is decimated by the gales, which toss its body parts about. After the wind dies and the last stone falls, it is quiet again, save for the panting of the travelers from the excitement just now.
"Uh... huh?" Ophilia looks about incredulously, "What … was that?"
"I-I dunno..." Lianna looks to her hand for the stone, "This just- Ehh?! It's gone!"
Ophilia sees H'aanit down on her knees and scrambles to her side as Lianna searches in vain for the now-missing stone, "H'aanit!"
Her hand instantly goes for the huntress' side, brushing the bloodied hands of the other, clutching the wound. The huntress takes a shaky breath to still herself as Hägen and Linde trot back over, blood staining their mouths and claws.
"I … am fine..."
"That's a fat lie!" Ophilia says exasperatedly as she fetches her staff, "Hold still! It's reopened..."
While Ophilia healed H'aanit, Lianna had given up looking for the stone, coming to an epiphany.
"Was that wind... from the stone mayhap?"
"Hm?" Ophilia perks up slightly, "I mean, mayhap... I did see it glow just before that fortuitous wind came bellowing..."
"Ahh, then Mattias has helped us a great deal here then..." Lianna sighs with relief.
The loud tremulous from before echoes now once more. No longer was it emanating from the golem, but it came from the altar now. In the flames that shone and flickered like stars, the shape of a lanthorn came into view, burnished by the flames wreathing it.
THOU HAST BEEN JUDGED WORTHY TO BEAREN
SACRED FLAME.
The voice takes them all by slight surprise. Ophilia looks to Lianna, who slightly jumps with a start. She gives her sister an encouraging nod. Lianna looks towards the fire with a more resolute expression, and stands to go ascend the stairs once more. Once she came to the altar, the voice spoke one more time.
REACHEN THY HAND INTO THE FLAMES...
AND TAKETH THE LANTHORN.
Lianna extends her hand into the flames, reaching for the shimmering artifact. There is a bright flash, and she pulls it out. She gazes in awe at the rather simple looking black metal girding, with the most brilliant of starry flame contained within.
"I … we did it..."
Ophilia cannot help but smile, "We should hasten back."
…
When they emerged from the Cave of Origin with more than they went in with, it gave the guarding knights at the mouth of the cave a rather big scare. Even more surprising was the head of the ghisarma H'aanit hacked off and took with her. After the situation was cleared up, and the invasive ghisarma explained, the knights hastened to escort them all back to the cathedral.
Standing right outside was the pontiff, as well as Mother Superior, Natalie, Mattias, and even the archbishop. Josef nearly falls over as he ran through the snows to embrace his daughters. Luckily, they ran and caught him in turn. It was a very sweet reunion as the three had tears in their eyes.
"Oh, my girls..." Josef murmured, pressing the clerics to his chest. He suppressed a cough here and there.
"Y-your Excellency y-you... you should be in bed!" Ophilia chokes out a bit.
"I..." Josef coughs slightly, "Heard you were koff koff going to the caves and... koff!"
"It was my doing, I'm afraid," Natalie says with a knowing smile, "He was simply so adamant about seeing to your safety."
"We're f-fine, father...!" Lianna says, biting her lip, "Come now, come! Let us get you back to bed...!"
As Ophilia and Lianna wrestled to pull their stubborn father back inside, Natalie approaches the huntress. Though Ophilia healed the reopened wound, she was holding onto it rather tightly as it itched.
"Well! You look like you could well use a wash, my dear! Come now..."
H'aanit shakes her head, "There is... something I needen do first..."
Natalie lightly points with her cane at the severed head the huntress was towing around, "That thing, I suppose?"
"Ah...!" Ophilia turns to the huntress, "H'aanit? Aren't you coming? You're still injured, for Aelfric's sake!"
"Twill be'en only an errand..." H'aanit sighs and turns with the slightest wobble, walking back into town. The two beasts follow her.
"..."
Eventually, the sisters got Josef back in bed. The pontiff and Mother Superior followed and turn to Lianna as Natalie checks on Josef's cough.
"You are now the Flamebearer of the vicennial. Congratulations, young Lianna," Julius smiles, "We must begin the purification and training immediately. You have only a few days afore you must set out now."
Lianna nods, "I understand."
"Hey, Ophilia," Mattias whispers to Ophilia from outside the sick room. He gestures for her to come over, "Is Anna too busy?"
"Err, a bit, I think... What is it? Oh," Ophilia grabs one of the merchant's hands, "Thank you so much for the stone you gave us, Mattias...! Otherwise, I'm not sure how..."
"Hey, it's nothing. I'm just trying to help," Mattias chuckles softly, "Speaking of which... I spoke to one of my merchant contacts from the Consortium. I think they might have a lead on some medicine that could help Josef."
"R-really?!" Ophilia lets out a happy squeak, "That's wonderful news!"
Mattias nods, "Thing is, that greedy prick is going to be in Rippletide for a bit. Tells me to come see for myself while he fattens his pockets. So, I'm going to go meet him down there. And I want you to come with me."
"O-oh!" Ophilia stammers a bit at the sudden offer, "Well I... I'll have to discuss that with the others... And Lianna... She'll be undergoing the rites for the next few days and his Excellency is..."
"I understand," Mattias nods, "We should be back in time to see Lianna off, so do keep that in mind."
He gives the cleric a wily wink and she blushes lightly before joining Lianna back at their father's bedside, scolding the old stubborn man.
…
It had begun snowing again once H'aanit reached the center of Flamesgrace. It was no blizzard at least. Towards the inn, she sees a rather luxurious line of horses hooked to a very posh carriage. On the door of the carriage, she recognized the coat of arms for the Ciaran family. Standing by the carriage was none other than Lord Ciaran himself, with his nephew's entourage. The nephew spots the bloodied huntress almost immediately and shouts something, pointing an accusing finger at her. Then his eyes travel down to see the head of the beast, and he pales significantly.
"Ah, there you are, H'aanit," Lord Ciaran turns to face her. He was a middle-aged man bordering on elderly, with simple, yet fine clothes, "My nephew was just talking about the hunt's progress... Which I see has borne fruit."
"... Lord Ciaran," H'aanit winces slightly as she bows, "I bringen thee the head of the beast."
"Well, that's rather splendid. I was worried from what my nephew was saying that it was too much of a task after all. But I am glad you all are alive after this ordeal," The old man smiles.
"Y-yes, uncle..." The nephew mutters, quite deflated now.
"We shall be returning to the Woodlands now. Would you like to ride with us, H'aanit?"
H'aanit tiredly shakes her head.
"Very well then. Do take care on your way back. I will drop off the payment to the headman at S'warkii for your services," Lord Ciaran waves slightly before boarding the carriage, followed by his nephew and the other servants. Just before he motions for the carriage to move, the lord pops his head back out briefly.
"There's been no word on your master, has there?"
Numbly, the huntress shakes her head.
"Hmm, most worrisome... his services are sorely missed," Lord Ciaran sighs slightly, "Well, may the gods be with you then. And, feel free to keep the head of the beast as an additional trophy."
He knocks on the side of the carriage, a signal to leave. H'aanit watches the carriage clip-clop away as the snow fell gently. The hunt was over. Now what?
No more distractions. Just … fatigue. It washes over her in a cold wave, and, despite her heavy dress, she suddenly felt the chill. Linde looks up to her with a worried purr. She didn't know what face she was making then. She didn't realize she was still holding onto the bloody head of the beast. It took a few moments before she was aware of someone calling to her. It was the man who was the pub owner.
"'Ey, ye look like hell," He holds the door open, "Ye whopped those out-a-towners a good one. Why don't ye come in fer a bit."
H'aanit stares for a few moments before nodding and trudging into the warm and lit pub. At this time, there were only one or two other goers at the tables. Hägen and Linde nudge her to a table where she sits. The ghisarma head drops to the floor from her tired fingers. The pub owner brings over a schooner of spiced mead.
"I didn' thank ye fer steppin' in that time fer me big mouth," He gives her a friendly grin, "It's on the house."
"Ah... thanken thee..." H'aanit takes the container in hand, and realizes her hands were shaking. After she stills it, she downs the whole thing. Then a chorus of rumbles erupt from her and the beasts' bellies.
"Haha!" The pub owner chuckles, "Just a moment. I'll git'ye somethin' good..."
He walks around to the back and starts cooking something. H'aanit sits with a slightly dazed look, gazing down at the swirls of wood on the table. Linde and Hägen comfortably settle on the floor by her feet, ignoring the severed head, whose blood had begun to dry.
So, she had finished the hunt... Now, the worries began to creep in again. The bigger looming shadow...
Z'aanta...
It has been a year now, since he's left. The last letter was from three moons ago, and left little clue about his excursion. Hägen had only returned one moon ago, utterly distraught. He had run many leagues without a direction, and was a mere skeleton when he ambled into the village perimeter before collapsing. Now, he could not even tell them what befell her master.
To try and get over the mire of uncertainty, she had thrown herself into hunting, devoting all her mind and strength to training the other hunters and running about the woods. All to forget that lingering dread which grew daily as the time stretched from one day to the next, with no signs of master's return. There had to be... something else...
As her mind drifted, she unconsciously called upon the memories of the blood from the beast staining her hand.
There were big red eyes, larger than even mine. It had the shape, yet also not, of man. From its maw came forth the most ungodly screams, and its mouth was an abyss. That one drove me from my home among the cliffs and rocks and pines...
H'aanit could see the mountains of grey stone and forests of green pine, all rushing past as the ghisarma fled, bleeding, hurt, from something behind. Something very sinister... There is a distinct howl with uncanny tones that sends fear coursing through the ghisarma, and shivers down her own spine...
"H'annit?"
The huntress looks up with a start, snapping out of the connection. She sees Ophilia's slightly worried face gazing into her own. In her thoughts, she hadn't even noticed the cleric enter the pub.
"Are you alright? You're sweating..." Ophilia takes out a kerchief to gently dab the huntress' face dry.
"M... Mm... I am fine..." H'aanit says a little breathily.
"For the gods' sake, you come running to Orr's all bloody...!" Ophilia scolds, "Did you come looking for those dastardly men?"
"Aye..." H'aanit sighs, "I hath Lord Ciaran the head showen... the hunt endeth..."
"... Are you really alright?" Ophilia lightly holds one of the huntress' hands, leaning in and whispering now, "I sealed your wounds back but... Back there, in the cave... you transformed...! Into a bear...!"
H'aanit chuckles softly, "Tis an arte of the Darkwood... to channeln the pow'rs of a beast frome our hunt. We borrowen from their strength to addeth to our own. But it doth always must returne whence it came."
"That's... quite incredible really..." Ophilia breathes, "If it hadn't been for you, I fear what might have happened..."
"Thou art more capable than thou knowest, Ophilia..." H'aanit says without any nonsense.
"O-oh, you... well, coming from you, haha..." Ophilia blushes lightly, "So... are you going back to the Woodlands now?"
"... I doest not knowe... whatten my next step be..."
Ophilia lightly tilts her head, "Is something wrong?"
"She's famished, fer one!" Orr brings over a piping hot plate of stewed potatoes and some scrap meat on the bone for the beasts, who gnaw on it gratefully.
"Ah, thank you, Orr!" Ophilia smiles at the man's hospitality.
"Hahaha, twas the least I 'kin do," He says before going back to the bar of the pub.
"...So!" Ophilia looks back to the huntress, "Something seems to be on your mind this time."
H'aanit picks at the potatoes a little before eating one, "... Mine master, Z'aanta... I shoulde be'en looking for him..."
"Oh? Your master hm..."
"Aye. After mine parents passed, he hath raised me as his owne," H'aanit quietly eats as she talks, "But he hath gone missing of late... on a longe hunt with the Knights Ardante."
"The Knights Ardante!" Ophilia gasps lightly. She hadn't heard often of the church soliciting help from hunters like H'aanit.
H'aanit nods, "They weren to pursue a creature knowneth as Redeye... But it hath been many moons now... and I... I fearen for the worst."
It was that fear she did not like to admit. She always thought Z'aanta a bit of a wayward fool when it came to drink and gambling. But his skill in hunting was second to none. The thought that his skill was fallible... scared her more than she would ever say.
"Oh my... that is worrisome..." Ophilia lightly cups a thinking hand on her chin, "No ideas whatsoever on his whereabouts?"
H'aanit shakes her head. Hägen gives a soft, sad growl by her foot.
"Then... why don't you come with me to Rippletide?"
The huntress looks to the cleric with a slight start at the proposal, "Rippletide?"
"Um, yeah! It's a port city in the Coastlands... Uhh, Mattias and I were thinking of going down there to pick up medicine. But neither of us are exactly safe on the road and uhm, I could talk to the church about paying you like Lord Ciaran does, and you could maybe look for information on your master. Mattias tells me Rippletide has a lot of things, so maybe you could find something..." The cleric rambles a bit, speaking rapidly until she was pink in the face, "I mean, unless you have a different place in mind. In which case, forget I asked anything..."
The huntress looks at the flustered cleric for a few seconds before giving a loud, clear laugh at the query. This only reddens Ophilia more.
"I-is that a no..." Ophilia squeaks.
"Nay. I hath said it afore," H'aanit looks to her with a clearer expression, "I wanten to repay thine kindness."
"Well don't think of it like that..."
The huntress chortles, "When doth we setten off?"
"Uhm, about tomorrow, mid-morning most likely. I have to tell the pontiff about the excursion and I'm sure they'd prefer to make sure the snow died down first..."
"Tis a fine notion. I looken forward to traveling with thee, Ophilia," The huntress chuckles, her mood brightened significantly.