“…I worry, that’s why.” Maiden Sympha blew out a crimson candle. “Your obsession has gotten to a point I can't bear to watch,” Sympha said, her full black lips drooping.
"Stripping me of Kindler status is a waste of time. You should have seen Cherub’s corpse. Decapitated and stained by shadows.” Hasmed held his head as if to remedy a headache. “Who knows how long she’s been gone.”
Sympha ignited many more candles with golden fire. Sequentially, she brought them to her lips and spewed a quick gale.
"You're forbidden from pursuing Monarch any further." She blew out a blue candle. “And guardians will observe you to make certain you don’t.”
“Are you honestly fearful I’ll be chopped up like all the other Chimes? Your lack of faith depresses me," he sighed dismally.
“In the state you are, yes!” Sympha exclaimed. “You’re irrational and frankly stupid right now. Cherub was an Ascended, and many Chimes fell torturously to Monarch. But you won't let it go. There hasn’t been a Monarch incident in over a year, so cease this.”
Hasmed pointed harshly. “She killed my friends. You’re not hindering my search. You and that weird candle thing you're doing."
"Candles are very popular on the MP nowadays. I'm trying out the best ones," she explained in her typical slow, sweet speech.
Two female Chimes of Kindler status entered the church and approached the atrium the mother and son stood under. One was Rox, who assisted Hasmed years ago. The other was an overly hyper Chime in sportswear holding a staff, who was named Stav by the public.
"Sorry, Mr. Hasmed," Rox apologized, averting her gaze.
“We’re your babysitters,” Stav mocked. “Not getting out of my sight.” She pointed at her golden eyes with index fingers.
“These two will be with you night and day. You obey them, or I’ll start watching you,” Sympha threatened.
Hasmed glared at the two, then looked back at his mother. “She’ll come for you, too, someday. I’ll exchange mutual death with her to prevent that if I have to."
Hasmed vanished from sight and senses. The trio stood there, stupidly.
“I forget he can do that…” Sympha had an awkward smile. “Go and find him, now!”
***
Hasmed reentered the visible plane in a suburban area. Before his mother’s distraction, he discovered one of Gretgle’s victims. Monarch's identity lay with her.
I could make a house call. Hasmed considered, approaching the front door. A bit of healing and prayers is so dull, but it will help them and help me get info.
A surprised and gracious woman let him in. The family gathered in the living room to experience the Burning Bell's blessing.
Hasmed held a bell in the air that lightly rained embers. "O' Burning Bell. Bless these souls with your invigorating fire so one day they can join you unto heaven.”
"I thank the Bell for its light, warmth, and love,” everyone droned as embers kissed their skin.
Pleased with the results, the family played around and thanked the former Kindler. After that, the mother offered Hasmed food and drink, but he insisted he needed to speak alone with her daughter. The near-teen girl seemed more wary of his presence than her kin, but she accepted.
"I know you must be afraid of Chimes after what happened years ago.” After the girl held her tongue, he added, “It’s fine to tell me.” He leaned in. “I’m a bit different than those losers.”
At the sight of Hasmed revealing peach skin under his slid glove, the girl's air changed to more trusting.
"What do you want to know?” She asked.
Hasmed did his best to keep her calm, so he lightened his dreary voice. "Why did that Chime take you away? What did he say he was doing?”
She remained silent.
"Take your time."
"He was trying to mix us with his divinity."
"Mix you?" What were you doing, Gregtle? “How do you mean?”
"To make us like him. Like you. Ivory and fire and stuff. It's a nasty sin, isn't it?"
You were trying to make hybrids like me. You’ve been scheming this since you figured out I wasn’t entirely Chime. "No. It's not a sin, as it was not your fault. That Chime was unwell due to his own hand."
"I'm thankful," she smiled. "But then the witch saved us. She was so pretty and strong.”
"What did she look like?" The girl snapped up. “This witch is dangerous. She's dangerous to the Burning Bell and humans. Who is she?”
"I-I can't tell you. She saved my life, so I promised.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Hasmed slowly raised his hand. I need to know who she is. His gloved hand approached the girl's head. I can dig into this girl’s mind and rip it out. She’ll pass in the process. He touched the top of her head, and she recoiled. I need to find the Monarch... Hasmed softly caressed her hair. But not at any cost.
"That's good of you to keep your promises. It's a sin to betray those you owe.”
The girl, who feared death a moment ago, beamed toward the Chime. “Thank you, Kindler Hasmed.”
Hasmed was bummed but stood and announced cheerfully, "Bell bless you."
"And to you, child of God."
A circle of light appeared beneath his heels, and Hasmed traveled miles away in a bright blur.
***
The former Kinder appeared in the middle of a closed library. When his sigil vanished, a staff flew by his chest, stabbing into the stone wall between shelves.
“You were right. I’ll be.” Stav grinned stupidly. “I hate waiting, but it paid off. Nice little hideout here.”
Kindler Rox bowed and said, “I’m sorry, Kindler Hasmed.”
He replied drearily, “I’m not a Kindler anymore.”
“And you’re not going anywhere without us.” Stav waved with sparkling light, and her staff broke into segments and wrapped around Hasmed. “You be good, and I’ll let you free. The Maiden’s word is law.”
“For you, yes. I never had to obey.”
The stone beneath Stav's feet molded and bound her legs. Two more rocks wrapped around her wrists and forced them outward. Her weapon binding Hasmed fell to the floor. She turned her head to see Rox commanding the stones.
“You betray the Maiden?!”
“Please. Indoor voice,” Hasmed requested. “We're in a library, and you give me a headache. She works for me—”
“And I’m a good worker,” Rox added, stone-faced but proud.
“Yes, yes. I’ve told you, it’s implied.” He approached Stav, the orb between the chains burning through her. "I would never betray Sympha. The Burning Bell, however… What do you think of your father? Honest thoughts. Push away the ones branded in your brassy brain. What has the Burning Bell done for you?”
“I love him. He’s my father,” Stav droned. “He is God.”
Hasmed placed a gloved hand on her forehead as if checking her temperature. “No, he's not, and you don't. The sole being who's ever cared for you has always been Sympha. I want Sympha to be Goddess.”
Stav turned to Rox. “This is heresy. You’ll both burn!”
Hasmed went behind Stav. "I'll remove your branding," he said casually. "Then we'll hear your untainted words.”
The chain-faced man placed his hand against the back of Stav’s head. His hand became ethereal: smoky and blue like a tiny nebula galaxy. As he entered Stav’s noggin, she froze and cried liquid brass.
***
"You're the new Kindler, huh?" Gretgle commented, approaching the seated Hasmed in the dining room of one of O'Landra's churches to the south. "Curious to 'ave a transfer the same day that Sympha returns as rightful Bearer. I kept getting pressured into taking the position, but I’d never dream of it,” he laughed crackily. At this time, Gretgle had his middle-aged body.
"Pleasure,” Hasmed greeted sarcastically. "You may leave now.”
Gretgle sat across from Sympha's child and scanned him up and down. "Mmmm. There’s something ‘bout you. I’ve seen Chimes wear odd things but never wrappin’ a chain around their face. No, I ‘ave. He was an odd one,” he reminisced.
"I'm a shy man."
"No," Gretgle dismissed. “You’re different. And so is Sympha since her return. Happier. Calmer. Motherlier,” he grinned.
Hasmed eyes widened. I'm found out so soon. It's only been a few days. I'll have to kill him. Hasmed vanished.
Gretgle surrendered his arms as Hasmed appeared behind him with a long edge against his throat. “Calm down. I ‘ave no malicious intent. On the contrary, I have numerous questions.”
“Trusting you is a chance; killing you is a guarantee.” Hasmed’s grip was solid on his sword.
"But it'll be exciting. ‘ave you considered that?”
“You have a twisted mentality.” Hasmed’s sword vanished into particles. "Humor me then…”
"I'm a scholar of both human science and Chime divinity, and you're between both. Your father was a simple human—”
“Not simple,” Hasmed growled.
“Right, right. You’re just my vision come true. All this Chime vs. human crap could be discarded. I believe in a world where the best of both beings come together and form heaven on earth. After changing so drastically, I believe your mother should be Goddess. Heresy? I know. Now you know my secret, so we’re even.”
“My grandfather uses her like a tool. It was one of the reasons she left and happened upon my father.” He looked at the Burning Bell through a crack in the ceiling. “It’s the only thing I’m thankful for from him.”
“Right, boy.” He threw his arm around a quickly uncomfortable Hasmed. "We'll create a world where you no longer have to hide your mopey face. A heaven on earth. It may take a thousand years. Not long at all.”
“I suppose not.”
"Leave it all to me," Gretgle grinned with complete teeth.
***
The glowing marks on Sympha’s flesh receded and vanished as she returned from speaking with her father. He was displeased with the accelerating number of nonbelievers.
Upset, Sympha gathered some candles and divine-stepped to her old cabin. She entered the cozy forest building and nabbed her husband’s urn.
She divine-stepped again onto the beach of a familiar lake. She sat in the sand and placed her husband's urn beside her, sighing after spanning the vast country in less than twenty-four seconds.
"Years fly by so quickly. Your swim trunks were always appalling. I think you went out of your way to get the foulest colors. You didn’t have to suffer,” she giggled.
Sympha lit a strawberry candle and placed it next to the urn. Then an orange. Then a blackberry. She did this until fruit candles surrounded Howzle.
"You'd be amazed by how far Ruth advanced since your time. They even have candles that smell like meat pies. Ridiculous. But delicious,” she praised slowly.
Sympha sat cross-legged, picked up the vessel to her husband’s ashes, and placed it in her leg triangle so the clay touched her ivory flesh. She’d shrunk her form to make it a snug fit.
"I don't know what to do, Howzle. Our son is pursuing an enemy I believe he can’t beat: A twisted, powerful witch. He wishes me to replace my father, and he’s not the only one.”
The sky burned orange as the sun and its copy on the lake kissed.
"I know he’s a grown man, but he’s still our baby. The religion is falling apart; No one has faith in heaven anymore. The Dowsers have nearly halved the country in so little time.” She lifted and embraced the urn like a stuffed bear. “I wish you could talk it through with me or prove me naïve. I’ve pondered many times to revive you. I could even give you sight. We could be together forever… But our story has passed, and I'll use it as a blueprint for teaching generations beyond.”
She dragged her ivory palm against the twilight, smiling stupidly. Then she sensed someone approaching. She was too distracted to notice earlier. A Chime wearing noble threads came down the beach behind Sympha.
"Hey. What are you doing chattering to yourself when this lake is off limits? You can't be… Maiden Sympha. I apologize. I didn’t—"
"What did you hear me say?" Sympha asked.
"Well, a whole bunch of stuff."
Starting from his feet, the Chime's body ignited in white and silver flames. He screamed as his body peeled into darkened brass-colored ash.
Sympha turned her infuriated, cute face to the fluttering ash. Her eyes were black, and her pupils a hot, glowing orange.