Mira impatiently paced along the inky black waters at her feet. Darkness enveloped her in calmness like a thin blanket. She waited for the voice to reach out to her. When he didn’t speak, she trudged around on her own. Snow soon sprinkled down from the ether above her, only it wasn’t cold. She rubbed flakes between her fingers and felt the familiar sensation of ash. A haunting smell soon wafted towards her.
“Not again,” She whispered before she sprinted towards a bubbling light in the distance.
Her footsteps rippled the murkiness beneath her as she reached the burning village. The screams echoed into the void as Mira ran between the collapsing shacks of houses and towards the well in the middle of the village. A young man leaned heavily against the side of the crumbling walls with his hand around the hilt of a rusted sword that impaled his chest.
“Pallik!” Mira slid to his side and grabbed the sword’s hilt, “Stay with me, please.”
She tapped over the various wounds on his torn and burnt tunic, ripped the shredded chainmail shirt off of him to get a better look. Blood trickled from the gaping wound as Mira reached to move his black hair from his face. The once lively blue eyes were glazed over with the silkiness of death. His mouth twitched upwards in a malignant smile as he turned to her.
“You did this, Mira,” He accused, “This is all your fault.”
She froze as he stood, “I didn’t know –”
“You did this,” Pallik grabbed the hilt of the sword and pulled it from his chest.
Mira placed a hand over the wound to try and stop it from bleeding, “Please –”
“This is your fault. You did this.”
“Pallik, I didn’t know,” She watched as he raised the sword against her, “If I could take it back, I –”
Mira was violently ripped from the dream as a pair of small hands shook her. The same icy blue eyes that echoed from the young man in her nightmare stared into her. The young girl grabbed Mira’s face and the effects of Tella’s soothing spell washed over her. She wrapped her arms around the girl as she shook from the nightmare.
“Thank you, Tella,” Mira whispered and let go of her, “I’m sorry for waking you.”
“It’s okay,” She patted her head, “I have nightmares too.”
Mira rolled out of their shared bed and lit the candle on the bedside table. The small room didn’t have much in it, but it was still more than she had before. Even though her enthrallment brand was gone, she hesitated to act on her newfound freedom. Instead, she stayed at the temple where she sought solace during the last few years.
“Can you go back to sleep?” Mira whispered.
“Mhm,” Tella grumbled as she pulled blankets over herself.
Mira tucked the blankets in at her side. She moved the fluffy pillows around the girl to prevent her from rolling off the bed. She walked over to the small dresser that held a few of her books and her hairbrush that she had from Isaan’s old cottage. Some of Tella’s things were in the dresser as well. Mostly clothes and a ratty old bear toy. Mira held up the bear and hugged it tightly. It once belonged to the fallen boy in her dreams, Pallik.
Mira set the bear down and walked to the ladder that led to the trap door above their room. She knocked lightly on the door. When nobody answered, she lifted the flap and crawled into Nara’s room. The bronze elf snored loudly and rolled over in her bed. Mira silently studied her as she closed the door below her. She stepped quietly with each snore.
Once she exited the room, she strolled down the hall and lit the candles on the walls. The silence of the night calmed her frazzled nerves. She walked into the main perish and sat at an empty pew. The stars that sparkled behind the stained-glass window caught her attention. The goddess depicted in the window impressively stood in contrast to the white marble floors and dark wooden walls.
The ceiling above depicted the glorious tales of the goddess slaying the mythical beasts of every continent’s namesake. The last panel was a dark dragon that swirled around the bright womanly figure. Mira chuckled and habitually rubbed the stone on the necklace that rested against her chest.
“They always make me look so… unappealing,” Encante’s voice growled in her head.
“Where were you when I was asleep?”
“I have to rest too. Especially after your outburst last week,” He paused, “I’m sorry I could not have stopped you.”
“We are both weak,” She snorted.
“We will grow stronger together,” He encouraged, “And we begin today.”
She nodded silently before she stood and walked outside of the temple. The dark skies of Zrud twinkled above her as she walked towards the gardens. She passed through a small classroom area and touched the flowering bushes against the lattice walls.
Mira plucked a white flower and thought of the strange knight that had joined her the last few months of her life. Jonen made her smile more than she thought she could. She thought about their dance at the Harvest Festival. Then the coldness came over her again. She felt it crawl across her chest towards her heart.
“Breathe, Mira,” Encante warned.
She remembered Pallik’s smile as they danced together. Mira had practiced with him multiple times before the festival. She remembered how he stumbled over the waltz as much as he did his words around her. The coldness spread through her chest as she realized his odd compliments would never come again. It turned to pain, and she gripped her chest. This feeling wasn’t new to her mind, but to her body. An intense knocking inside her chest caused her to wheeze.
“Why does this hurt so much?” She grumbled, “It feels like my chest is collapsing.”
“You are grieving.”
“Make it stop.”
His laugh echoed in her mind, “If I could do that, then I wouldn’t be here. Would I?”
She tapped the stone against her breasts and tried to focus on his voice, “Do you know where Pallik went? Will he rejoin the cycle?”
“I assume so, little one,” Encante sighed heavily, “But I do not know that woman’s ways. Should he be in the void, your mother will find him. I’m sure of it.”
The words calmed her very little. She walked to the catacombs entrance and opened the door. The damp scent of earth and humming of another person wafted down the staircase. Mira pulled the sacred white gown over her blousy sleeping shirt and tied it around her cautiously. When she grabbed one of the hanging lanterns on the wall nearby, she snapped her fingers to light the wick. She quietly walked down the stairs until she saw the light of another lantern.
Irae knelt beside a stone slab. Her hands covered her face as she sobbed over a wrapped body. Mira saw the burial bags stacked behind her. She watched as woman dipped her hands in a tarry substance and ran them over the bandages of the body in front of her.
“Pallik, may the goddess ease your transition,” She whispered between sobs, “Your parents would be so proud of you, I’m sure. We are proud of you. You are missed so much.”
Mira walked quietly into the room and knelt on the other side of Irae. The half elf-half orc healer threw her arms around Mira. Her tears fell out freely.
“Healer Irae,” She patted her back awkwardly, “You could have gotten me. I would have helped.”
“You still need your rest,” The woman sniffled, “You’ve barely been awake a few days, now. Your voice still sounds terrible.”
Mira rubbed her throat and thought of the last battle. Isaan had dueled her to both of their demise. Though they lived, Mira healed slowly as she re-acclimated to the living.
“I will be fine,” She nodded, “Thank you for preparing him for today. For preparing all of them.”
They looked over the bags that held the remains of the villagers. Mira’s skin crawled as she thought of all of their names, faces, and how she would never see them again. The coldness crawled along her chest and the throbbing pain returned.
“Will this feeling happen every time someone I know dies?” She looked to the healer, “Have I done this to people?”
Irae froze at the question, “Mira… that wasn’t your—”
Mira held her hand up to stop her, “I could have instead chosen to die.”
“Then Isaan would wield Encante,” Irae wiped her hands off in the cleaning tub at her side, “And the world would be doomed.”
Mira tapped the stone at her chest. She could understand that logic, but the knowledge she inflicted this pain physically hurt her.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“When is the funeral?” Mira looked at Irae, “Nobody has told me. I believe they are worried of another… outburst.”
“It is later today, after the midday meal,” She held Mira’s hand in hers, “Mira, if you do not think you can –”
“I will never let Tella see that side of me,” She said sternly, “I will be okay.”
The two sat in silence in the catacombs for some time. Mira stared at the cloth wrapped mummy in front of them. She wanted to see Pallik again, but it was too late.
“Do you think he will rejoin the cycle?” Mira whispered aloud.
“Goddess, Mira,” Irae squeezed her hand encouragingly, “There is no reason he wouldn’t.”
“I am unclear on your Goddess’s ways, Irae,” She lowered her head, “But... that eases my pain.”
“Let’s go get breakfast, okay?” She stood and held a hand to Mira, “You haven’t eaten much since you woke up.”
Mira lightly grabbed it and stood silently. She stared at those prepared for burial as the pair walked back towards the staircase. The coldness that came from Mira wasn’t new to anyone at the temple, but they walked further away from her still. As Mira stared at some of the workers puttering about in the early hours, Irae gripped her hand to steal her attention.
“They don’t know, okay?” Irae smiled softly, “Nobody knows. Not until you’re ready to share.”
“What happens when they know?” Mira sked softly.
“Then, I imagine they will be all too respectful,” Irae scoffed, “As if it changes how they treated you before.”
The pair walked into the kitchen as a one-armed orc beat dough on an island. He grunted once before smiling at the pair.
“Niece, Mira,” He nodded to them, “Come for early breakfast?”
“Shouldn’t you be lighting the walls?” Irae teased.
“You know that’s not my job when Mira’s around,” He winked.
“How is your arm, Sunodagh?” Mira looked at his bandaged shoulder.
He frowned, “It hasn’t grown back, yet.”
Irae snorted and grabbed a fresh roll from a table nearby. She dipped the tops in butter then patted them lightly in large chunks of sugar and fine cinnamon. Mira bit happily into one and let the taste wash over her mouth. The dryness from her sleep slowly faded into buttery sweetness.
“Have you been sleeping better?” Sunodagh asked her, “We haven’t heard you scream in a few nights now.”
She nodded, “Tella has taken well to Irae’s training. When I move around too much, she uses the calming spell.”
“That’s good,” He grinned, “Do you want to help with breakfast or are you going to stand around and watch me?”
Mira grabbed a hunk of dough to work with him. She followed his movements. The pair worked while Irae whistled along as she stirred the boiling pot on the stove nearby.
After some time, a bronze elf opened the door and yawned largely. High Priestess Nara quickly threw her hair up into a bun and looked around the kitchen.
“It’s nearly sunrise,” Nara grinned, “And the whole temple smells delicious. When should we expect to be able to share?”
“The next round of bread is in the oven,” Mira clapped the flour from her hands after sticking balls of dough into the brick oven, “Should I help distribute breakfast?”
Nara paused, “If you think you will be okay. Your… acquaintances need to be taken care of, separately.”
“I will speak to them,” Mira furrowed her brow, “Is there anything in particular they’ve done?”
“Some of the other people are just scared of them,” Irae commented, “They are bandits, after all.”
“Not anymore,” She shook her head, “I will give them tasks outside of town.”
She walked past Nara and down the long temple hallway. Mira stepped into the High Priestess’s room and opened her wardrobe. With the Royal Guard patrolling around Vimgraunt in search of Isaan, the wraith, or the enthralled girl, those that knew of her suggested that Mira wear the simple robes of a priestess to blend in. Most could tell she wasn’t a priestess at a glance, but the outsiders shouldn’t know any better.
The white robes felt awkward against her skin. The silky sleeves covered her freshly healed, foreign arms. After years of being badly scarred, the smoothly unmarked skin felt wrong. She preferred to hide it underneath long sleeves and well-fitting pants, but that was her usual attire before the battle.
After Mira buttoned the dress to her chin, she pulled her hair into a bun. She looked into Nara’s mirror and tried to find anything she could recognize about who she was before. The amber eyes and auburn curls against her olive skin were the only thing familiar. This was not the enthralled warrior she knew.
“You are still the same person,” Encante whispered in her mind, “You are just free.”
She frowned at his words. The new voice that read her mind and commented freely annoyed her. He knew this and still continued to do so. She clapped her hands against her cheeks to bring some form of color to her icy, stoic gaze. She knew her looks terrified most of those around her. She heard their whispers of her dead eyes and doll-like face.
Once she reached the exit, she looked at the sea of makeshift shelters. Nearly three hundred people were displaced after the battle. It was a small number compared to any other place, but that was most of the town’s population.
Between her and her master, the better part of Vimgraunt was uninhabitable. Most citizens of the small town took refuge in the temple’s courtyard. The town was slow to rebuild once the last embers of the battle smoldered away. The tavern came first to serve as a more permanent shelter. In the past few months as she healed, the nearby towns helped restructure Vimgraunt.
Mira walked past the tents to the other side of the courtyard. A small carriage with aggressively dressed people sat far away from everyone else. Nothing about them gave any warnings other than their criminal intent. The guards stationed in Vimgraunt stood close by to the bandit gang. The Razorclaw guild swore to follow Mira’s command after she usurped their previous leader. A woman in dark leather stepped forward as she approached and smiled.
“Priestess Rose,” Val bowed lightly, “How may we help today?”
“Goddess blessings to you,” Mira smirked at the vague cover name given to her in the presence of the guard, “It has come to my attention that your indiscreet presence has upset some of the townsfolk.”
“Oh?” She looked around.
“Yes,” She looked to the guards nearby, “I suggest you remove any previously affiliated armor and take to normal clothes. I expect you to work the next few days to stay here. You may take orders from Sunodagh, or the construction leads. I believe the plan is to rebuild the barns.”
“As you wish,” The middle-aged woman bowed with her hand over her heart, “Anything else, Priestess Rose?”
“I will find something else when the time is right,” Mira looked to the nearby guards.
She clasped her hands and pretended to pray with the bandits as the guards approached. Their presence annoyed her, as she couldn’t openly operate without them interfering. She did not want to draw attention to herself and unnecessarily kill them –but they snooped and followed her just the same.
“Good morning, Priestess Rose,” One of the guards walked up.
The stout dwarf held his hand up to stop her. He combed his thinning grey hair back from his face and scratched his beard as he thought of what to say. He studied her intensely, but her cold demeanor didn’t persuade him against it as it did others.
“Good morning, Guard Thesson,” She bowed lightly, “Goddess’s blessings to you today.”
“Do you have any plans for this afternoon?” He raised an eyebrow, “I believe you are one of the last priestesses to be questioned about the incident from a few months prior.”
“The attack, yes,” She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, “Unfortunately, that was before my assignment here. I’m afraid I cannot help.”
“You could at least accompany us to lunch,” He winked.
Mira closed her eyes to stop the man from seeing them roll, “I am attending the funeral of the young man from the nearby village. I won’t be able to do anything recreational until tomorrow, I’m afraid.”
“Pity,” He narrowed his eyes, “I will see you there, then.”
“Do you know the deceased?” She tilted her head unnaturally at him.
“No, but he was connected to the enthralled woman of the man we are searching for,” Thesson smiled maliciously, “The redheaded woman of about your height, build, and beauty.”
“A pity you cannot seem to find her, then,” She watched as he drummed his hand on the hilt of his weapon, “May I remind you that our High Priestess does not allow any confrontation on temple grounds. The blood of enemies should not be shed on holy ground.”
“Should she make her appearance, I would have to act accordingly. Her majesty, Queen Azalea, wishes to question the woman directly about her involvement with some activities in Zrud,” He nodded, “It would be best if she came willingly.”
“I hope she does so when you find her,” Her annoyed tone came across as she narrowed her eyes, “Until then, perhaps your men would be better suited rebuilding the town or patrolling the nearby villages? Now, excuse me. I have other duties I must attend to.”
Thesson annoyed her like that daily. His sneaking suspicion about her was correct. As the timing of a new priestess that vaguely matched the description of a wanted woman, the bandits following her directions, and the townsfolk that looked to her in fear made it hard to not be apprehensive. Mira wasn’t surprised at all that he was interested in watching her. It was also the reason she hesitated to leave the temple in her normal attire. The moment she used her magic to protect or fight, she knew the guards would surround and attempt to arrest her.
As she reentered the temple, her young friend came up to her. Mira opened her arms to lift the girl. Tella yawned and took a bit of a cinnamon roll. Sunodagh walked not far behind her and chuckled when he saw the pair.
“She asked for you right away.”
“Mira doesn’t like me to get too far from her,” Tella stuck her tongue out, “She wasn’t in bed this morning.”
He rubbed the empty socket on his shoulder, “True. She got up to help with breakfast.”
“You have lessons this morning with Irae,” Mira sat the girl back on the floor, “Then –”
“Then we say goodbye to Pallik,” Her somber tone caused a pain to shoot through Mira’s chest, “Can I do your hair for the funeral?”
“Of course,” She nodded, “But first, we must get to the gardens.”
Tella grabbed Mira’s hand and led her down the hall. She normally couldn’t stand the idea of people touching her. She spent the better part of her life following the orders of an evil man. Anyone that touched her meant her harm –except for this young girl. Tella was safe. Mira didn’t need to worry about her. There was only one other person, alive, she felt that way about.
“Have you heard from Jonen?” Tella whispered as they got to the gardens, “Irae sent him a letter to see if he could come today.”
“I don’t think the letter would have made it to the capitol already,” Mira brushed a stray curl behind her ear, “Even if it had… I do not believe he had enough time to make it.”
“Pallik would want him here,” Tella frowned, “He liked Jonen.”
She laughed shallowly, “I don’t think he did at first.”
“Good morning, class!” Irae announced as the two entered the lattice walled off room, “Are we ready to begin?”
Mira knelt to Tella’s side and adjusted the girl’s frock for the class, “Remember, I’m Priestess Rose outside of our room, okay?”
“Yes,” She nodded, “I won’t break our secret.”
“Good,” She smiled, “I will be nearby. Please follow Healer Irae’s lessons.”
Mira stepped to the back of the classroom and watched Tella join the other young mages around Irae’s demonstration table. She folded her arms and watched as the healer took a bowl of water and different herbs from the garden.
“Today, we are going to learn how to make some simple salves and ointments,” Irae announced, “These can be made by anyone, but their properties can be enhanced by natural healers.”
Irae looked up to see the protective amber eyes at watch Tella closely. She knew that Mira wouldn’t let the young girl out of her sight, but that couldn’t last forever. The steely gaze soon shifted onto Irae after a moment spent too long staring. A chill ran down her spine and she remembered the mask as Mira’s other face. Behind those uncanny, unfeeling eyes was a darkness Irae only felt in her deepest nightmares.
The memories of Mira’s emotional outburst on finding Pallik’s body scarred her. Watching the woman’s body burst into ribbons of skin and darkness as a gnarly figure bent over the boy protectively was something she wouldn’t forget. The echoing voices and beastly cries from the form hurt as much as losing the young boy.
Irae knew that Mira had no memories of it. She also knew that most people felt Mira’s presence like a predator amount prey. She, however, tried to treat the woman the same as everyone else. After she saw the monster Mira could turn into, she realized that the woman held in more than her fair share of secrets.
“Priestess Rose,” She smiled lightly to the apathetic face that stared back at her, “Would you be willing to help with the demonstration?”
Mira looked around the back of the temple to see if any guards spied nearby. When she felt no prying eyes, she nodded.
“What would you like me to do, Healer Irae?”