After dismissing the girls, Alma made her way toward the exit of the crypt. The feeling of being watched never left the whole way back. Waiting for her return was Tiberius, still at his post, still silently standing vigil. As she walked past him, she couldn’t help but notice him staring back into the crypt behind her. An eerie dread ran down her spine.
“T-Thank you for letting me visit my sister. I felt honored to be among all the brave sisters who served Macha. And you, sir.” Alma gulped, wanting to get something that's been bothering her off her chest. “Okay, okay. Listen. It feels like we didn’t really connect? When I came through here earlier. I mean. What I’m trying to say is… I'm not worthy to stand before you. —But I want to be! You're what I strive to achieve. I'm embarrassed to say this in front of you but, my dream was to one day stand beside you as a member of the Sacred Seven.”
The Sacred knight remained silent as the grave, still watching the crypt, as if scanning for something.
“What am I saying? I’m a spaz. Forget it. Forget it! If I’m gonna stand as your equal someday it’s a bit cringe to be gushing over you like this. But you know. Honor where honor is due and all that, right? Look. I’m not usually this annoying. Goddess, I must sound so desperate…” Alma noticed his gaze remained trained away from her. “Hey, is everything alright?”
The sudden thrust of his trident made her flinch as it zoomed past her, piercing through the air at incredible speed. Alma’s head creaked around, eyes placing the spot where the prongs touched down. The entrance to the passageway behind her began to close, and she realized he was just hitting the mechanism for the door.
“W-Wow! Incredible thrust, sir! Thanks for sparing the time and I guess I’ll be on my way now." Alma gave him a sturdy salute. "Oh! My name’s Alma, by the way! Did I mention that? Hey, would you mind at all if I snapped a quick pic?” The young markswoman held up her wrist.
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Alma finally made her way out of the hallowed building, pushing open the large slab that served as the building’s entrance. The familiar chill air nipped at her cheeks while the distinct smell of graveyard dirt hit her nostrils. High above, a slightly distorted creature circled the area—its six sets of wings flapped in an irregular pattern, causing it to bobble up and down. It was definitely not something native to this world. A second identical creature veered into view and immediately collided into the first, merging them into one form. It flew off beyond the trees in an instant. Bleak skies drew endless shadows atop the snow-laden graves while the otherworldly cries of dozens of dark birds shrilling in unison cut through the silent atmosphere surrounding the cemetery. She realized it hadn’t snowed in a few days. Not completely odd, but noticeable enough to bear remarking. There was almost always a light snowfall in the city. The raucously rough voice of a boisterous elf welcomed the ex-soldier’s ascent back to the living world.
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“Y'all done, Alm?” Hwalín was standing right outside, arms crossed and leaning back against one of the support columns of the mausoleum. A descending row of open and shut eyes lined the column, blinking from top to bottom. “Thought you mighta gotten lost. That place was deceptively bloody huge. A lot bigger than what’s up top. Should I be concerned your Church has so many dead soldiers?”
“But so very splendid!” Qu’l-Nia chimed in. “Thank you for letting me peer inside your most vaunted catacombs, Alma. I find cemeteries to be quite cathartic. The desiccated and consecrated vessels of the dearly departed, that once held the mind and soul of living childlings, now composting back to the matter and stardust of the universe.”
“You know what? For once I agree with that creepy thing you just said. While I was down there, it came to me that every single priestess, deacon and bishop—arch or otherwise—were all splendid people who dedicated their lives to a just cause just like Zula. In the name of an all-powerful being, sure, but the values are there. Helping people, protecting them, even dying for them.” Alma slammed a fist into her palm with divine purpose. “And that’s why I can’t give up on my sister. I just know she’s still out there. I owe it to her and to Macha to keep searching for her.”
“You will not forgo your mission for such unlikely a possibility, will you?”
“I can do both. You know what they say—kill two birds with one stone? Besides, maybe this Derleth will have an answer about where I can find her. If he's as powerful as you keep saying.”
“Screw it. I'm with Alma. I know I've called her crazy for this one but this mission's been mostly manhuntin’ anyway.” Hwalin stood up straight. Her tall frame still paled in comparison to the aging pillar behind her.
“Then, Alma, if you believe we are ready to depart, we will be needing your support once again.”
“Right. You’re thinking I could make us a portal all the way over to those mountains Heli clued us in about and get us there in a snap.” Her fingers followed suit. “Is it a problem if I’ve never been out there…?”
“Did your witch friend not provide anything of substance aside from directions of where to go?”
“Wait, that’s right! The coffee! I had completely forgot.” Alma dug around in her pack and pulled out a small pouch. “She dosed the grounds with some kind of special spice blend that contain memories of her time there. She thought it might help if I needed some kind of landmark. I just need to brew me up a cup and trip out.”
“Oi! I’ll take a cuppa.”
“Sure, Zula’s got a coffee maker at her place. Maybe I could even portal us there.” Alma looked around worriedly. “Or we could just walk.”
“What is the matter, Alma?” asked Qu’l-Nia. “I had thought you would relish any chance at demonstrating your newfound ability. Yet you seem perturbed.”
"Making portals seems fun and all, but… things get a little creepy in my head whenever I’ve tried to concentrate on one. I swear I keep seeing and hearing things that aren’t there, I—” Flashes of a faceless being flicker in her mind, mixed with the cacophony of voiceless echoes rattling inside her brain. She pushed the eerie memories to the back of her mind. “I thought it was a one-off thing but it’s happened every time so far and it’s getting a little freaky.”