All in all, she felt ready for the journey to come. Hopefully, the priest would be too, or this could quickly turn into a months-long nightmare.

6. Faith and Fate – July 23, Year 216

The plaza had become less populated as morning passed into noon. Late morning hadn’t been a particularly busy time at the plaza, certainly nothing compared to the evening before, but when Sally stepped out of the Circuit Runner’s Guild at the start of noon, it was almost deserted.

When she thought about it, it shouldn’t be a surprise. It was noon in July, the height of summer. The heat was draining and the sun deadly.

There were no animals dragging carts about, no people running across the breadth of the plaza. Most caravans leaving today would’ve already left at dawn; they wouldn’t be running around to sell their wares, stock up on traditions, acquire new inventory or negotiate contracts at noon. The people present – including the guards – stuck close to the building, either seated on the patios of the many buildings surrounding the plaza, or they were standing in alleys, all seeking the shade. The few people not doing so were semi-hurriedly walking towards their destination.

What was surprising was how unaffected she was. It had not really occurred to her that it was summer, her mind still stuck in the winter she’d fought the Erlings. From what she recalled, she hadn’t really sweat either, and the journey to Cardinar was effortless, barring the strange, rapid fight with the bloodfiend. Only afterward had she felt tired and in need of rest.

She would be grateful of it if it didn’t lead to more questions. Questions she neither had the time, knowledge nor currently the desire to answer. She had things to do. She could wait until Lovesse.

She moved toward the street leading to the shores of Lake Prior. On the way, she spotted several manufactories of all kinds to her left and right, the scant sounds of metalwork echoing from them. There were also the wharfs to her left, a number of boats still docked but the majority of them out at the lake. The lake water might not be drinkable, but unlike the many other poisoned waters of the Grand Circuit, its fish were both edible, numerous and relatively safe acquire. Another one of the reasons Lake Prior plays host to the largest and most numerous population centers in the Grand Circuit.

Outside of those, there were a number of large buildings straddling the shoreline. Three of them were practically the same and one was distinctly different from all surrounding buildings.

The similar ones, located on the far right of the shores, were the water treatment facilities. Massive, monstrous buildings unlike any of the others in the city. They were also, by far, the oldest. In fact, they were the first buildings around Lake Prior, and the reasons the Anteer cities were where they were.

Depending on who you, there were two explanations for their existence. To some, especially those outside the Circuits, they were simply remnants of the Old World, one of the few saved from destruction by the Last of the Angels, the Protector of All-Children and the reason humanity survived its darkest days. What Sally knew as the Warden of the World.

Or they were made by the Ante, the prophet of the Dekantists, the Ten-Time Drinker, Granter of Visions and Miracle-Maker. They were the ancestor, patron and protector of the Anteer cities and the Anteeri themselves. The figure around which the religion formed.

The other building, to her direct left, was a cathedral by the aptly-named Church of the Evergraced. It was a large stone building with four towers: two in front, one at the center and one at the back. On top of the central spire was a cross, an older symbol repurposed by the Church of the Evergraced.

It was covered in painted mosaic and had numerous stained-glass windows, all of them depicting – either symbolically or directly – a scene of one of these Evergraced performing their holy deeds. Many of them were about Evergraced teaching their disciples about survival, engineering, manufacturing or a variety of other vital skills, with others depicting more straightforward acts like killing demons, healing children and so forth.

The Church was not native to the Circuits. It came from the West, from the Grand Central Union, brought by its traders much like the Arcanist’s Guild. Much like the Prophet Ante and the Dekantists were the communal heart of the Anteeri, the Evergraced and its church was that of the Grandies.

Despite Alain directing her to a ‘church’, this wasn’t her destination. No, hers was the ‘church’ – called a temple by everyone else – of the Dekantists at the end of the road.

The temple was located in the center of the city’s shores, its stone causeway jutting out from it much like the piers further to the left. The stone path was about four people wide and eventually split in two paths of equal width, meeting again after some distance to form a sizeable square.

Unlike the initial causeway, the square part of the temple complex was roofed with triangular, blue – painted, she presumed – tiles with wooden poles acting as support. On the right edge of the central square was a larger, two storied building serving as the main temple, attended to by the Dekantists’ priests. This temple was made entirely of wood, marking it as a comparatively newer addition to the complex.

On the furthest edge from the shore, at the end of another causeway going further into the lake, was a much smaller, likely older stone shrine with a flat stone roof. The left edge of the square was left, granting an overview of the lake.

The entirety of the temple complex was, barring a ceiling to ward off the sun, completely open. Even the main temple had no walls, only pillars on which its second floor and grand roof rested. The entire complex was built close to water-level, allowing the occasional wave to flow over it. Thankfully, the path was treated by the priests so it wouldn’t become slick.

There were very few people inside the complex. The only ones present were at the main temple, being attended to by a priest dressed in white robes with a blue sash and a red, V-shaped hat covering his head and ears. He held a staff of sorts in one hand, occasionally waving it over the small crowd or taping it on their head, and a pitcher in the other.

Sally was planning to go to the priest, until she saw a figure half-obscured by the roof-bearing poles, sitting at the upper-left corner of the square with their legs in the lake.

From what she could tell at a distance, the figure was dressed in a blue robe and carried a large bag, one undoubtedly meant for travel. Sally figured that was the person she sought.

Sally approached her, but right before she could address the figure, they spoke.

“When you look into the water, what do you see?” The figure – a woman – asked without turning her head.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

She’s bald, was the first thought that entered Sally’s mind. Perhaps a bit unkind, but women of the Circuits – and men, if they could help it – were rarely bald. That was more of a Southern thing, women sorcerers in particular, from what she understood. The sun wasn’t kind on the bald and the woman in front of her didn’t even wear a hat to ward off the sun, thus risking a heatstroke.

Sally knew what she was really asking, but decided to indulge her. Stepping beside the woman, she looked into the water.

For a moment she saw her own face. Dull brown eyes, short brown hair and scarred brown skin, before that vision faded and was replaced with another one. A vision she’d seen before.

“A city in lake’s black depth. Lustrous, if not for the rust. Breathless, if not for its death.” The reply was a bit poetic for her taste, but Sally didn’t choose it. No one did. Whatever vision you saw comes with words and these were always wholly unique to a person, and always somewhat dramatic.

Not that the vision didn’t earn its drama. The first time she’d seen it, she, much like anyone else, had been struck by it. Buildings reaching towards the sky – or the surface – the streets and alleys between them filled with moving lights and people beyond counting, carried in its own tide like sands in a river. All drowned in a blue, watery veil, stuck in endless night. A necropolis.

It was a vision of the Old World, where all the people in the Circuits would hardly make up more than a small township. Where a single man could hoard the wealth of nations. Where one could drink water on demand and get food on command. Where people shot more lead for sport than the new world did for survival.

A vision to hope for, aspire to and, most of all, to be wary of. While striking, it had always given her the creeps, and now especially. It was a city of the dead, and probably dead for a reason. The lake was a lure for the foolish to fall into, a lure which many had fallen for.

After the First Sip, this vision would fade, either into something else – which indicated that you could risk the Second – or into simple reflection, which meant your next would be your last. Not that it would be safe if a different vision revealed itself; any one beyond the First was always a risk.

“You have yet to take the First Sip, then?” The woman turned her head, surprise clear in both her voice and eyes.

They were wide, green and inquisitive, but without edge. A genuine curiosity seemed to be fixed within them, permanently. To be fair, the woman did just ask a question, but Sally felt nonetheless the impression was a right one.

“Yes. Is that shocking?”

Sally watched the women pinch her chin for a second, before again turning to look out over the lake.

“Maybe, kinda. I figured a vision and task given by the Ante would be about another of the faithful. But why should it? Makes more sense that it wouldn’t be another believer, now that I think about it.” A moment of silence, before the woman turned to Sally once more. “Will you take the Sip?”

She’d been tempted to before, but Niall always said it wasn’t the time and she’d never been at the lake without him. And now she certainly wasn’t in the mood. Some had seen visions of the future, others had gained skills or knowledge they otherwise would never have gotten, while others still would see something about themselves, their future or their past.

She didn’t want any of it.

“Is that your task, then? To convince me to take the plunge? Here I thought I was to guide you to the great lakes of the Circuits.” Sally asked, arms - well, arm - crossed.

The woman shrugged in response. “It was just a question. And maybe it was part of my task, who knows? Couldn’t hurt to ask.”

“I suppose that fits a priest,” Sally replied.

The woman gave a rueful grin. “Alain sees religion as a pyramid, with each step upward more holy than the other, and with a more sacred – and specific – title. A common thing for men from the East, even when they’ve lived half their lives within this city. A priest is what he assumed someone of my stature to be, so a priest is what I am, to him.”

“Who are you, then?”

The woman stood up, water dripping from her robes.

She’s taller than me.

“Luciana Orta,” she thrust out her hand. “But call me Lucy.”

Sally looked at the hand for a second, before grabbing and shaking it.

“Sarah Olivia Palters, call me Sally,” they shook. “But I suppose you already knew that.”

Lucy gave her a bright smile. “I did not, in fact, know that. Well, beyond the last name. Visions are rarely that specific, but you’re an exception apparently. It showed a one-armed woman, last of a Villa, with one large tooth. I assumed the last one to be metaphorical.” She tilted her head for a second and leaned in toward Sally, jokingly inspecting her before giving a self-satisfied nod with a slight smirk. “Seems I was right.”

Sally gave a small smile in response. “Not so metaphorical, actually. I had the fang of a bloodfiend with me when I went to your uncle, had to show it to convince him. Got right annoyed afterward.”

“Ha! I remember when I told him about my vision. Had to go all loopy and dreamily. Should’ve seen his face, like he was sucking down fish-guts! Always fun to mess with him.”

“So, you didn’t get the vision – or prophecy or whatever – then and there?”

“Nope, only when taking the Sip. Every Anteeri knows that, but Alain doesn’t so it’s become a bit of an in-joke. My aunt finds it funny too, though she won’t admit it.” Lucy grinned.

A moment of silence, before Sally broke it. “So… What’ll we be doing, then?”

“You guessed correct earlier. We’ll journey to all the great lakes, do a circle of the Red and Green Circuits, and then we return here. Alain has already paid half, right?” Sally gave a nod. “Well, you’ll get the other half when we return, and that’ll be it.”

Sally was a bit baffled. “That’s it? No vague ‘things will reveal in time, or ‘knowing is its own reward’ or some such? Seems a bit straightforward for a spiritual journey.”

Lucy shrugged in response, and Sally gave a small huff. “Did the vision show so little? Not even why I am necessary for your journey?”

“It doesn’t really show anything, really. Just a feeling, some vague knowledge of how to get where you need to go, what you need. Always enough to get you to do something, but never enough to know why to do it. Maybe otherwise, it wouldn’t need to be done anymore? Or something like that,” Lucy replied.

“And no caravans? No runners or guards?”

“Nope, just us two. Did tell me that. Besides, it is our spirit journey. Wouldn’t be right with other people.” Again, Lucy gave a bright smile in response. It seemed to be a habit.

Sally groaned in response.

“Please tell me you’ve travelled the Circuits? Fired a gun, at least?” It was almost a plea.

Lucy, to her disappointment, waggled her hand. “Only the Red, and only around Lake Prior. Does that count? I think it counts. I travel it a lot, and I do it alone. I’ve shot a rifle a couple of times, even hit something with it once.” Again, a bright smile.

She hoped that last part was a joke.

“This is for you, then.” Sally gave her the rifle, though she did find it somewhat odd Lucy didn’t carry one. “I’ll give you the spare ammo for it later.”

Lucy gave the rifle a one-over and then slung it on her back.

“Do you have everything packed or do we have to go by your house or something?” Sally asked.

“Don’t have a house, so I got all I need right here.” Lucy replied, patting her bag. “Besides, this is the right time to leave.” Lucy nod to herself and motioned for her to go.

Sally didn’t question it, shrugged and began to move back toward the city, Lucy stepping beside her.

X

The roads were still clear, the heat having yet to dissipate. Passing the gate took a bit longer. Two caravans, one going in and the other going out, were trying to pass each other while their leaders were talking with the guard. Together, they were blocking the gate, but seeing as no one but them was going in or out, no one seemed ready to hurry them along.

All in all, the journey to get out of the city was a short one, albeit one filled with conversation.

Lucy had gone first, feeling it’d be her chance to get some info out of Sally. So, Sally told her some things about her past, never stepping on the too recent emotional landmines of the Erling incursion, her miraculous survival or the destruction of her Villa. She mostly told the woman about her skills and some of her experiences as a junior Warden, what the Villas were like and mostly kept things vague, before finding an opportunity to turn the questions back on Lucy.

“So, what do you do for a living? You said you weren’t a priest,” Sally asked.

“Well, not really, though I suppose I do perform clerical duties. I travel from city to city, all along Lake Prior from the Bite to Cardinar. I help out what needs helping, preach what needs preaching, advise who needs advising. That sort of thing,” Lucy answered.

“You travel from city to city without weapons?” If she did that regularly, she should begin to doubt her partner’s sanity. More than she already did.

“Oh, I do have weapons, but they’re all right here.” Lucy replied, tapping her temple, before reconsidering and laying a hand over her heart. “Or maybe here? It’s not quite clear to me.”

That surprised Sally, and she raised her eyebrows. “You do magic?” She didn’t know priests – or whatever she was – did that.

“Sort of? It is not arcane magic like the Guild practices. It was a blessing I received from my Fourth Sip. Proper term is miracles, I suppose, though I’m not quite clear on the difference.” Lucy gave her a side eye, before leaning toward her in mock conspiracy. “Don’t tell anyone I said that. It’s ‘bad for our image’” Lucy moved back. “Or something like that.”

Fourth Sip. The thought struck Sally, and she was almost hesitant to ask.

“How many times have you drank?”

“I’m on my sixth now. After our journey’s over, I plan to take my seventh.”

That… “‘S a lot, right?” Sally asked quietly.

Sally looked at her new companion again, taking in the new information. Every Sip after the First decreased the likelihood of surviving the next by a substantial margin, even with the information one could gain from looking into the lake.

She couldn’t even begin to comprehend the calculations necessary to determine the odds.

“Oh yes, left quite an impact Ancora.” Lucy gave her the by-now familiar bright smile. “Young girl like me, blessed more times than over half the Praesidia? At my age? Unheard of, really!” Loud laughter followed.

“Just wait until after I take the Seventh! I’ll be up there with the high-most of them! Probably give them all a heart attack! Ha, that’d be quite the coup!”

Sally realized she wasn’t just travelling with ‘some priest’, but, if Lucy was to be believed, a bona fide saint-in-the-making. A soon-to-be head of her religion.

And, if that was true, what did it mean for her to have a vision specifically about Sally?