The sun started to set in the south as a cold breeze filled the air, signaling to the people of the town of Oxmooth to enter their homes and prepare dinner.
Except for one young man who remained in the town's cathedral, engaged in conversation with the priest.
He wore a kettle helmet connected to a chainmail veil that covered his face from his nose to the bottom of his neck. The man was dressed in a thick, long-sleeved protective jacket that reached just above the knee—a gambeson. The jacket was made of several layers of linen and wool, painted with deep and light blue checkers. Completing his attire were a pair of brown pants, tucked into worn leather boots, and a small knife in a scabbard attached to a leather belt.
In his early twenties, the man had tufts of blonde hair sprouting from underneath his helmet. His smile was bright, and his brown eyes sparkled with anticipation for the quest he was about to embark on.
"Archibald, I've already told you that your equipment isn't in any shape for fighting, and it's clear you haven't trained enough. Please, let someone else handle it," said the old priest while looking through the bag of supplies he had given to Archibald.
"I already told you, I'm fine. It's just a draoi. I'll slay it and come back soon. Besides, a nun is supposed to come with me, and the rangers have already checked it. Honestly, the most difficult part will be the walking," replied Archibald nonchalantly, leaning on the backrest of the chair he sat on and examining the short spear in his hands.
The priest sighed and said, "You should have been a priest. There are so many things I could have taught you, much more peaceful things..."
As Archibald and the priest continued to argue, the cathedral's door was opened by a young nun wearing a greyish white veil over her hair, a worn robe covered her body from her neck to her ankles, tied around her waist by a cincture.
Tied around her neck was a wooden pendant shaped like a wheel. On her side, laid a cloth bag, and in her hand, she held a wooden staff connected to a small lamp.
"Excuse me, are you Archibald?" the young nun asked, closing the door behind her.
"Yes, and who are you?" Archibald answered curiously as he turned to face her.
"My name is Colette. I'm a nun from the Monastery of Saint Marguerite," the young nun replied in a formal manner. As her blue eyes met Archibald's, she added, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Same here," Archibald retorted, getting up from his chair. He started walking towards Colette, stopping in front of her. With a small bit of excitement in his voice, he asked, "Do you have any experience with Fae?"
"Not yet, but I studied miracles at the School of the Rose, and I'm proud to say that I'm at least at the deacon tier," Colette declared confidently, arching her back. She walked closer to Archibald, pointed her staff towards him, and asked, "Are you ready for your first quest?"
"Absolutely!" he answered excitedly, with a large smile across his face.
After saying his goodbyes to the priest, Archibald and Colette set out on their journey. They left the town's gates behind as they walked along the worn road towards the draoi that would soon be slain.
As the sky gained a light crimson hue, the young nun asked, "So, what was it about you being a priest? I'm not trying to be nosy or anything. I just heard you talking about it before I entered the cathedral, and I got interested." She tilted her head curiously while thinking about her question.
"It's fine, really," Archibald replied. "Well, I moved to Oxmooth a few years ago, and Father Bertrand recruited me as guard for the church and a disciple. After a year or so, he saw that I was divinely guided and promoted me to a deacon, probably like you."
Colette took a step closer to Archibald and asked, "So why didn't you continue? Being a priest is really nice."
He thought to himself for a moment and said, "I know, but I always wanted to be a paladin. I remember meeting one when I was younger, and I just knew that this is what I wanted to be."
"Besides, paladins should know how to use miracles, so it's not really special to you or the priests." Archibald quickly added in a witty tone.
A small grin lit up on the young nun's face as she said, "I know, I know. But between you and me, the only one who is able to do anything with divine guidance is me, so I guess that does make me at least a bit special." She stood proudly to declare her statement.
Both Colette and Archibald looked at each other for a brief moment and burst out laughing, as they both understood that they had become friends at that moment.
As the evening came to a close, the sun had completely set in the south, giving rise to the moon and stars that illuminated all those beneath them. The moonlight signalled to many animals and fantastical creatures that it was time to roam and hunt.
The pair reached a small clearing in a large forest that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. Near the clearing ran a river that teemed with fish.
The clearing was adorned by the ruins of an old wooden house from a lost age; the roof had collapsed long ago, and the foundations were rotting and falling apart.
Nearby were a few large white stones, each measuring around one meter in height. They were placed in a circle that encompassed the clearing, with strange markings engraved on each stone, giving Colette an uneasy feeling.
"Is something wrong?" asked Archibald.
After staring for a few seconds at the markings on the stones, Colette turned to him and said with a hollow look in her eyes, "There's something living here."
A small noise had been heard from the ruin. As soon as Archibald heard it, he saw Colette rushing towards him. She quickly said, "Drop your bag." Before sticking her staff into the ground.
Archibald put his bag on the ground and quickly took an underarm stance as he looked towards the ruin.
Suddenly, a small, greyish shape silently emerged from the shadows of the ruined house. The rags it wore fluttered in the wind, revealing its presence as a small, child-sized humanoid figure.
The creature had frail legs that stood atop iron boots, and in its thin hands, it held a short iron halberd.
Long, talon-like nails extended from its fingers. Its teeth were sharp, and its eyes blazed with a fiery red. A red cap sat upon its head, dripping with the blood of travelers.
The creature mumbled in an incoherent language to itself before noticing Colette pulling out an iron pendant of a wheel from her bag. Suddenly, it cried loudly as if in pain, "Hae tae gang! Hae tae slay!"
The creature then lunged towards Colette, attempting to cut her down with its halberd, but before it could, Archibald pushed Colette to the ground, out of the halberd's path, taking her place.
The creature continued on its path, now trying to strike Archibald, but it only managed to scratch his gambeson.
Archibald stumbled back. For a second, his life flashed before his eyes. He gripped his spear tightly and pushed forward, stabbing the creature in the waist and causing it to scream out in pain. The creature flailed its halberd around, trying to hit Archibald with all its might.
The halberd struck Archibald's chainmail veil, pushing his head and body to the right, nearly knocking him over.
The creature then took a step back, freeing itself from the spear's tip.
A demonic rage consumed the creature as it clenched its halberd tightly and lunged forward, piercing through Archibald's jacket, making a small cut in its cuff then slitting the top of his left arm, causing him to cry from the pain.
Colette rushed over to him and held the iron pendant in front of the creature, causing its eyes to widen in terror and shock before attempting to flee from the pair.
No! Archibald thought before throwing his spear at the creature, piercing its back and going through its chest, pinning it to the ground.
He stumbled over to the creature and quickly pulled the spear from its back. With a swift motion, he stabbed it again, causing it to cry out in fear and thrash its halberd around. This knocked away Archibald's helmet, pushed him back, and revealed his gentle face.
Colette ran over to him and kicked away the creature's halberd , yelling, "Do it now! Stab the cap!"
Archibald quickly pierced the creature's cap and skull with his spear, killing it instantly. He then fell to the ground exhausted and asked Colette, "How are you still standing?"
Turning to face Colette, he saw that she was lying on the ground beside him and saying, "I'm not."
The pair started gasping for air and laughing as they looked at the shining stars in the night sky.
Colette got up, sat next to Archibald, and asked him, "can you take off your jacket? I think I can heal your arm now."
"Of course, thank you," he replied before taking off his jacket. He was left wearing a plain light green shirt and his pants.
His chest bulged slightly as he leaned back on his right arm and raised his left hand towards Colette.
Colette then opened her bag and pulled out a waterskin. She poured the water on Archibald's bleeding arm, causing him to curse and yell out in pain.
Colette covered Archibald's wound with her right hand and recited a prayer, "Mère divine, que tes soins aimants guérissent tes enfants blessés."
The edges of Archibald's wound began to twitch, then started to pull inward as if they were woven by unseen strings, causing him unbearable pain. Yet, he couldn't help but stare until the wound closed completely, leaving behind only a light scar.
Colette suddenly started gasping for air as she fell to her knees, desperately trying to take in even a bit of breath into her lungs. She felt as if her right palm had been cut, and her blood flowed into Archibald's wound, despite not a single drop of blood being shed from her hand.
Archibald immediately rushed to her side, his heart pounding with worry, and asked, "What happened?! Oh dear goddess... are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Colette replied, trying to force a reassuring smile onto her face. "I'm fine."
"What was that?" he asked, full of confusion.
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"A miracle," she replied quickly, still trying to catch her breath.
"A miracle? This is a miracle?" Archibald asked curiously while trying to help Colette to her feet.
Colette started breathing normally again as she stood up. She then replied to Archibald, "Yes, isn't it incredible?"
Archibald tried to process the miracle that had just unfolded before his very eyes. His excitement mixed with wonder and confusion.
"Archibald, go set up your supplies, I'll take care of our protection for the night," she said.
"Sure," he replied, still shaken from witnessing the miracle that had been cast upon him, before pulling a large linen sheet from his bag and tying it to a sturdy wooden pillar from the ruins, fashioning it into a makeshift tent. He then pulled out two cloaks and laid them on the ground before settling onto one for rest.
Meanwhile, Colette pulled her staff out of the ground and tapped it twice, signalling the fireflies inside the lamp tied to it to wake up and illuminate her surroundings. She then retrieved a small glass flask filled with silver-hued water from her bag. Slowly, she walked along the stones, pouring the water on the ground to create a circle. After finishing connecting the circle, it glowed in a strange silver hue for a mere second before disappearing.
Colette walked over to the makeshift tent, taking off her habit and revealing her short, fiery red hair. She once again stuck her staff into the ground to provide light to the camp. Settling down on the second cloak next to Archibald, he asked her, "What was that?"
"Holy water. It should ward off any fae or other creatures near us," Colette replied before resting her head on the cloak.
"Got it," Archibald replied, yawning. He then said, "Goodnight, Colette."
"Merci, good night, Archibald," Colette replied, yawning as well.
The pair then both fell asleep in the makeshift tent, under the enchanting star-filled sky.
As the night passed, the sun rose from the south and bathed the forest in light that awakened all the animals and creatures residing in it. The nearby river, teeming with fish, shone with a myriad of bright glimmers that were scattered across its path.
The morning light woke Archibald from his deep sleep. After a glance at the still-sleeping Colette, he exited the makeshift tent and made his way to the river.
After reaching it, he took off his shirt and pants, hanging them on a nearby tree branch. He then unwrapped the bandages tied around his chest, revealing his breasts to the open air. Archibald let out a sigh, disappointment filling his mind as he quickly averted his gaze, asking himself, why are they still there?
He quickly finished washing himself, went over to his bag, and took out a small linen sheet to dry himself. After drying himself, he put on his pants, grabbed his bandages and shirt, and sat on the ground near the camp. He started to reapply his bandages across his chest, trying to keep it flat and not noticeable.
At the same time, Colette woke up from her deep sleep. After clearing her eyes, she noticed Archibald was missing from the tent and yelled out to him, "Archibald! Where are you?"
As Archibald finished applying his bandages, he yelled back to Colette, "I'm over here!"
Colette stretched her sore body and opened her tired eyes before emerging from the tent. As she stepped outside, she noticed Archibald waving at her and immediately saw the bandages wrapped around his chest.
Worriedly, she rushed over to him and started to recite her incantation before Archibald quickly cut her off, saying, "I'm not injured!" while lowering his head in embarrassment.
Again, Archibald thought, as a feeling of familiar dread washed over him. He then raised his head before declaring once more, "I'm not injured."
The shock on Colette's face was evident as she pointed at Archibald's chest and angrily yelled, "Are you mental?! You just covered your chest with bandages!"
A sense of despair washed over Archibald. He put his head in his hands, covering his eyes before replying, "I'm not injured. It's for my breasts…"
Colette tilted her head curiously and asked, "Your breasts? But you're a man."
"I am, but I have a woman's body," Archibald replied. His heart felt heavier with each passing second.
Colette noticed Archibald's tone and felt sorrow in her heart. She sat next to him and said in a merciful tone, "Sorry I said that. I promise I didn't mean to scare you."
After taking a few deep breaths, Archibald responded, "You're fine, really. I don't usually tell people because they freak out and think I'm insane or something. It's so dumb, honestly. I just can't deal with it anymore."
His sorrow slowly lifted from his heavy heart as he started breathing normally again. He lifted his head and wiped the few tears that rolled down his face.
Colette felt a sense of slight calmness returning to Archibald. She turned her head to him and asked in a friendly tone, "Does your family know about it?"
A sense of familiar regret washed over Archibald's heart before replying, "They do. They hate me. They said I'm disgusting and to never talk with them again. I had to move to Oxmooth because I didn't have anywhere to go, and that was the only place that would let me stay."
"Did you try talking to them? Maybe if you sent a letter and tried to explain yourself, you could talk again. I mean, they're your family. Don't you want to go back?" Colette asked in a slightly hopeful tone.
Archibald raised his voice and yelled at Colette, "Of course I want to go back! What kind of question is this?! I want them to love me, I want to go back but they hate me! I have nowhere else to go…"
He looked at Colette's worried face and quickly said in a remorseful tone, "I'm really sorry. It's not your fault or anything. I promise." He put his hands in front of him, trying to signal his regret for yelling.
"No, no, it's fine! I think I get it. I mean, not how you feel, but the general things, I guess? I don't really know what I'm saying... Basically, what I'm trying to say is that everything is fine," Colette replied in a nervous tone, slightly giggling with embarrassment.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it," Archibald said before adding, "Do you mind fixing my gambeson? I have no idea what to do, and after yesterday, I think I'll probably need it... Please," while pointing at his padded jacket.
Colette picked up Archibald's shirt from the ground and threw it at his face, saying in a cheeky tone, "Fine, but while I'm doing it, at least put your shirt on and organize the camp back. I want to leave quickly so we won't have to fight it at night."
"Got it," he replied, putting his shirt on and walking to the camp to organize it.
After Colette finished fixing Archibald's padded jacket, she approached him and laid it down next to him just as he was about to finish packing up their makeshift camp.
After finishing, Archibald put on his padded jacket before pulling out two pieces of pemmican from his bag and handing one over to Colette, who ate the thick mush of dried meat, berries, and fat with delight.
Once both of them had finished eating, the pair set off on their way.
Colette walked with her staff in hand, while Archibald held his spear and carried the supply bag on his back.
A single thought echoed in his mind, I can't go back.
The path the pair walked on was a worn-down dirt road that stretched through the middle of the forest. It was barely visible, with grass covering most of it, and only a few stones along its sides indicating its direction.
The path had been built in an age now long forgotten, its memory retained only by the spirits and ancient gods.
The trees surrounding it were tall and sturdy, their leaves so dense that barely any light shone on the path Archibald and Colette walked on. Only the lamp connected to Colette's staff illuminated their surroundings and revealed the path ahead.
A light breeze approached the pair from behind, as if pushing them forward to continue on their quest. It blew past them, through the forest and leaves, making them rustle and breaking the silence that dominated the air.
"So I wanted to ask you before but I kind of forgot", Archibald said in a slightly awkward tone.
"Yes? What is it?" Colette replied, tilting her head towards Archibald, waiting to hear his question.
"Why did you become a nun? You never really told me," Archibald asked curiously.
"Oh well you didn't really ask me," she replied, she quickly giggled before adding, "it's kind of dumb in hindsight but it was because after my priest told me that I have divine guidance I thought I could be like saints and do great miracles… admittedly I had more of an aptitude for healing so I went to my monastery and studied there."
"It's not dumb, we're kind of the same," Archibald said gently before proudly declaring, "but I'm obviously much better."
"You might be in combat, but without me, you'd still be bleeding, so…" she added quickly in a witty tone.
The pair continued their playful bickering while walking along the path, wondering when they would reach its end and face the draoi.
While the pair continued talking, they heard a faint sound of crying ahead of them, and a dim light shone from beyond the forest. Colette raised her hand to her mouth, signalling to Archibald to stop talking.
They continued walking silently as the sound of crying grew stronger, and the light grew brighter. Eventually, they reached a wall of twisted trees through which the light peeked.
The wall stretched out from the river to a small outcrop, with only a narrow opening piercing through the wall of trees.
The pair crouched and silently walked towards the opening. Archibald instinctively clenched his spear in his hands, preparing himself for the upcoming fight, while Colette gripped her pendant and prayed silently for her and Archibald's safety. They reached the opening, each approaching from a different side, uncertain of what lay beyond.
Through the opening, they saw a gate made of a large grey stone resting atop two large vertical grey stones, making the gate approximately two meters in height and a meter in width.
The gate led to a small temple made of four small trees with what looked like faces carved into them, surrounding a large vertical stone in front of a statue carved into the outcrop.
The statue depicted a fit woman wearing a tunic reaching below her knees. A hood covered her hair but left her face visible, and out of each eye protruded a branch, making them seem like horns. Her expression was calm and reassuring, as if she was trying to show compassion to those who stood before her.
Her arms, despite being sculpted out of stone, appeared to be made of wood, her fingers resembling twigs. Her right hand held a staff, while her left lay on her chest, creating the impression that, despite being made of stone, she was alive.
In the middle of the temple, kneeling in front of the stone, was a young girl in her early teens. She wore a long brown dress reaching her ankles, covered by a short-sleeved light green shirt and a long light blue shawl.
Colette and Archibald cautiously walked towards her, unsure of what to do.
The girl turned to face them, revealing her face and hands. Out of her left eye protruded a twisted branch that seemed to be covered in blood. Her right eye was deep blue, and the tears coming out of her eyes flowed slowly on her face, like a calm river.
Her right arm was greenish-brown with cracks all over her skin, resembling ash trees. Each of her fingers was long and slender making them seem like twigs.
Noticing the spear in Archibald's hand, the girl lowered her head while wrapping her hands around her chest, hugging herself, before screaming, "I was just trying to help!"
The pair stood before her, each second making them more weary of the girl.
She then raised her head slowly, with tears still running down her face.
She quietly said, "Please… just kill it…" before suddenly grabbing the top of Archibald's spear and impaling herself in the chest.
Archibald and Colette immediately started screaming in fear and confusion. They ran to the wall of trees, terrified of what they had just witnessed. After reaching the wall, Colette asked, "Are you hurt?" while trying to catch her breath.
Still confused and scared, Archibald answered, "I… yes… W-what was that?"
The pair turned their heads towards the girl, expecting to see her corpse lying on the ground.
Instead, they saw her with arms spread out and face turned towards the sky. She screamed in an agonized and inhuman voice that could be heard from the edge of the forest.
Colette coldly answered in a scared tone, "Sidhe Draoi."
The girl was no longer there; in her place stood something wearing her corpse as its own body, something beyond human, something that neither Archibald nor Colette could fully understand - a Sidhe Draoi.
The Draoi slowly stood on its feet and ran towards Archibald, who stayed in his place, frozen in fear. Colette suddenly pushed him away and took his place.
The Draoi tackled Colette, knocking her down to the ground, and immediately started to strangle her while continuing to scream.
He fell to the ground, stricken with fear. He tightened his grip on his spear and ran forward, piercing the Draoi's waist and pushing it down.
The Draoi kicked and screamed until it freed itself before attempting to run towards Archibald. Colette then rushed towards the Draoi, hitting the back of its head with the end of her staff, knocking it down to the ground.
Archibald stood atop the Draoi, a wave of emotions washing over him. Paralyzed by confusion and fear, he hesitated before hearing Colette yell, "Kill it!" The Draoi screamed in an agonized voice, thrusting its hand and piercing Archibald's gambeson and abdomen.
For a single second, his life flashed before him; every moment of his life appeared before him, ending with a single thought, I want to move forward!
He then thrust his spear into the Draoi's chest, piercing its heart and killing it instantly.
He fell to the ground in agony, breaking the twig-like finger that pierced his abdomen.
Colette ran over to him and immediately took out a waterskin from the bag, before pouring water over the wound.
She then carefully pulled out the twig and pressed the wound, causing Archibald to scream in pain.
Finally, with tears running down her face, she quietly said, "Mère divine, laissez votre amour guérir les blessures de vos enfants", trying to hold herself back from breaking down.
The edges of Archibald's wound began to convulse before pulling inward, as if being stitched together by an invisible wire, making him cry out in pain.
Colette began to struggle to breathe as she fell to the ground, desperately trying to take in even a bit of air into her lungs. She felt as if her own hand had been cut and bled into Archibald's wound. The pair then faced each other and hugged, crying from both happiness and pain.
After resting, they buried the girl's corpse. Colette then recited a brief prayer, and the pair set on their way back to Oxmooth.
After a long trek, the pair reached the forest's edge from which they had entered and saw that the sun had started setting in the south, raising the curtain of the night across the sky.
As the moon began to rise, the stars started to dance across the sky, illuminating everything under their gaze.
The silence that dominated the air was broken as Colette turned her head towards Archibald and asked in a gentle tone, "So, how do you feel?"
Archibald took a deep and tired breath before answering, "Fine, I guess? We helped people, right?"
She lowered her head and said, "Yeah, I mean I want to continue, I want to help, it's just hard."
"If you want you can stay here and we can help each other", he replied in the same gentle tone Colette spoke in.
Colette then embraced him with a hug and quietly said, "Thank you." Archibald hugged her in kind and replied, "Of course, we're in this together."
The pair continued hugging for a minute before going back on their path.
After the pair passed the town's gate, they walked towards the cathedral. As Archibald opened its doors, he saw the priest kneeling and praying in front of a large wooden wheel situated atop a large coffin at the altar.
"I'm back," Archibald said aloud. The priest then turned around and ran towards him before embracing him in a warm hug.
Colette giggled, looking at the slightly embarrassed Archibald before formally saying, "Father Bertrand, I'll notify the Mother Superior of our success."
The priest looked at Colette and, with a relieved voice, told her, "Of course, thank you," as she bowed towards him.
He then turned towards Archibald again and asked in a slightly less worried tone, "Are you hurt? How are you feeling?"
Archibald looked at Colette, the sorrow in his heart slightly lifted, taking on a different, more calm shape.
He once again turned to the priest and, with a bright smile and eyes full of anticipation for the future ahead of him, he said, "I feel great!"