The next day, mid-afternoon, on the way to the Sepulchre of God…
The stairs are cold beneath my feet as I climb them alone, dressed to the nines in the colours of St Elicia’s, Elizabeth snugly slung on my shoulder.
This past week with Anna has gone by in a blur. Our days are like clockwork – morning prayers, breakfast, exercise, combat training, and spell study in the library. When the sun sets… it’s a warm bath, dinner, and evening prayers. Every day is a beautiful dream.
Speaking of dreams… what the fuck was that… dream? Nightmare’s a better word for it. Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine. Fucking hell.
I haven’t told Anna about this. She wondered why I looked so pale during morning prayers… and I told her I was feeling a bit under the weather, nothing more. Anyway… she’s not here right now – she’s got the afternoon off and is spending it in Light’s Hope with Sister Luna, an old friend from before I was summoned to Nisha. They’re off to enjoy some coffee and cake and maybe hang out in town for a bit.
Good for them. It’s a much-needed break for Anna. Light’s Hope may be the only town on the Isle of Spirits, but it has its fair share of charming, relaxing spots. I oughta know!
Meanwhile, here I am… alone before the gilded doors of the Ecclesiarch’s office. The antechamber never fails to impress me – it’s really a sight to behold! But I’m not here to loiter, much fun as it is – just behind those doors, I’ll be having afternoon tea with Lady Iris.
Funny little thing, though. Afternoon tea wasn’t always my cup of tea, so to speak. I used to think it was just for posh types – y’know… girls with hair styled into fancy ringlets, who have sticks up their… well… y’know! But afternoon tea’s grown on me – just like exercise. It helps that the pastries and hot drinks at these little get-togethers are always so damn delicious!
Oh, but I doubt Lady Iris invited me merely to sip hot tea and gorge on cupcakes. Things are different in this timeline. We’re equals now… and we met as equals. It’s a strange feeling, honestly. Awkward, even. She was my mentor, after all… one timeline ago.
Either way, I think I know what she wants with me today. I did tell her that I wanna help her with the Akashic Record… and she did express interest in hearing me out. And uh… I think I have just the spell to share with her – Clairvoyance!
Oho! Don’t mind me! I’m just stalling for time. I’m a little nervous, is all. Just a little.
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Afternoon tea with the Ecclesiarch, in the Sepulchre of God…
Pastries, fresh fruit, and biscuits are neatly arranged on gleaming silver platters on tiered stands, their elegance complementing the delicate spread before us. Across the table, Lady Iris sits nice and comfy in white and gold robes, her serene demeanour as pretty as ever.
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“How have you been, Lady Ishii?” she asks, teacup poised gracefully in her hands. “You have been honouring our traditions. I have heard as much about your progress.”
“I’ve got Anna’s back, and she’s got mine,” I reply with a grin, reaching for a scone. “It’s a bit awkward sometimes… but we’re making it work!”
“Indeed. I spoke with Anna last night after evening prayers. I noticed her Mana has expanded significantly since she began working with you.”
“Yeah, I’ve felt it too, my Lady. I’m not sure why it’s happening… but hey, I’ll take it!”
“The two of you share a unique affinity. That is why. Before your summoning, she struggled with spellwork under my guidance. But now, her progress has been nothing short of extraordinary. You have done well, Lady Ishii.”
“Thanks! But it’s not just me. Anna’s working hard to become a Paladin that any Healer – even me – would be proud of!” I exclaim, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. “She just needs a bit more confidence.”
“Ah. Confidence, you say? You appear to have plenty of that.”
“Most days, my Lady. I do what I can, as best I can!”
“And yet…”
She trails off, her golden gaze piercing mine as she studies me. Her eyes… just like my own, glimmer with divine intensity. It’s… a little hypnotic. Just a little.
“Something seems to be troubling you deeply, Lady Ishii.” Lady Iris remarks with gentle frankness. “You did not sleep well last night.”
“You think so?” I ask sheepishly, scratching at the back of my head. “Shit. Is it that obvious?”
“Somewhat. Your eyes betray you. They appear… harrowed. Why is that?”
“I…”
I hesitate, biting my tongue. Part of me wants to brush it off and play it cool. But maybe, just maybe… she’d understand. After all, she took the whole ‘coming from another timeline’ thing well enough – didn’t even call me crazy to my face! And so, here goes nothing…
“I dreamt of the Demon Lord last night,” I finally admit, my voice low. “I was in Arcadia, inside the World Tree… and it looked like a shadow of me. I tried to kill it with Holy Fire… to no avail. And it said it’d be seeing me again soon. Bastard sounded sure of it, too.”
“That is ominous…” Lady Iris murmurs, her brow furrowing slightly as she sips her tea. “In our last meeting – you said you slew the Demon Lord in your timeline, did you not?”
“Yeah, I did! But… it said something about us becoming ‘as one.’ No clue what it meant. I woke up before the bastard could explain itself.”
“I see. Have you spoken to Anna about this?”
“Not yet,” I reply, shaking my head. “Do you think I should?”
“She is your Paladin, Lady Ishii.”
“I just don’t wanna scare her… y’know?” I say with a slight frown. “She’s already got enough on her plate without me piling this on.”
“You must trust her,” Lady Iris says, her voice firm and unwavering. “The bond between Healer and Paladin is built on trust. Remember this well, even in your darkest moments.”
“I will,” I say, though my tone betrays my uncertainty. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good. Now, there is another topic I wish to discuss… though the look in your eyes suggests you already know what I am about to ask of you.”
“The Akashic Record, right?” I say, eager to shift gears. “Yeah! I know how to cast Clairvoyance… and I’d like to share my knowledge.”
“Indeed,” Lady Iris replies, her expression resolute. “Let us begin.”
She extends her hand, and Apocalypse rises gracefully from the table to settle upon her palm, its pages glowing with a golden, divine light. From its sacred depths emerges a reflection of the Akashic Record – the timeless compendium of magical knowledge of the healers and paladins of the Order of Selene since the days of the First Saint. As that holy simulacrum settles into my hands, its luminous pages radiate with sacred power.
“Enshrine your knowledge, Lady Ishii,” Lady Iris instructs. “By your will and your hands, may Clairvoyance serve your fellow healers in their time of need.”
I take a deep, steadying breath, placing my hands on the shimmering surface of the Akashic Record’s pages. Okay... let’s do this!