By the gods.

What am I going to do?

"Oh, hear my prayer, Goddess Alexandra, Lady of Redemption and Vindication. I am just a lowly priest and your faithful servant. I ask you- I beg for guidance," I knelt down. "A few days ago, a relic, your very own medallion, which you gave to humankind to serve as a call to you, was taken from the church vaults by a ruthless and stone-hearted man named Aebshem and his group of followers. They worshiped false deities and golden idols and besmirch not only your name but the name of all the gods which reside in the heavenly realm with you. I've sent first-class heroes to take it back from their nefarious hands, but I'm still concerned.

I have exerted all of my efforts, all the gold and silver I could muster. I wish I could do more, but with a weak body, all efforts I would make are in vain.

My own hand is cursed since it is incapable of even striking when the gods command me to.

Oh divine Mother, please give me a sign. What more can I do to help?"

I stood up and walked among the pews in silence.

I remember when I was a young boy and still had the vigor to run through them. I used to be so short that my head was barely even visible while doing so.

Every generation of the Diringer family had been part of the faith of Alexandra. My father and his father before him, and so forth, preached sermons in this very church to the masses in order to save their souls.

Each of them steeled in their beliefs and each of them would have given their life to protect the relic.

Have I been the first one to have failed to protect that which is most valuable to us?

The church doors opening broke the stillness.

Lenos, a reluctant youth who I had been attending the services more frequently lately, was there.

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"Father Zedro!" He exclaimed, "I am here to inform you I will not be needing your help anymore."

"Why? I was, and still am, more than eager to help with anything that both your mother and you are having troubles with after you came to me with concerns about her health," I said in a worried tone.

"She simply doesn't need help anymore. She completely recovered." He stated simply, with no exaggeration.

"A miracle?" I asked, "Why did you not start with that first? Even though I was worried at first, that is fantastic news. We must celebrate. How has it come that for so long you both endured suffering you've come to health? I'd especially like to know how your mother is doing."

"It was no miracle, Father," He asked me to settle down, "You were the last hope I had to save her, but when I learned that a wise woman had made her home just outside the city, I thought I'd give it a shot and went to see her. She was a very short, homely, old woman, around eighty I must imagine. She also must be demented but even with her age and state of mental health, she helped. I would have donated anything to her, all my money, all my earthly possession, if she had asked me to be her servant for life I would have undoubtedly said yes but not only did she heal any illness I had on the spot, like the little limp I was born with, and brought my mother back to full health, possibly but even beyond that, but she did it all for free.

And that wasn't all; after all that she had previously done for us, she even gave me a sack of gold before telling me, in a rather unkind manner, to leave her alone.

Naturally, I obliged. She healed me and my mother without asking for a dime. Now in return, I'd do anything for that old lady.

Olnen went to her as well, and she helped him grow back the limb he had lost in an accident as a boy. Of course, I wasn't the only one who sought her out in times of need.

God only knows why Dendas went and begged for counsel to find love.

It sounded like he was thrilled, but he wouldn't tell me what she said.

Alumu went and inquired for life guidance, and she advised her to pursue poetry.

She wrote a set of three short stories titled Whirpool, Brighten, and A Whole that are quickly gaining national acclaim. They are magical tales of abstract magics I could never have imagined."

I questioned, "Is this the sign?" as I gazed at the colorful mosaic of the Goddess directly above the main altar.