Cassandra had been walking for a minute, occasionally asking for directions. She walked the metal streets until she came upon a large, cream-colored building with a metal roof and colorful stained-glass windows.

The Sanctuary of Lumos.

Cassandra looked up at the bell tower attached to the roof. She wasn't sure why Malakyh would go here, but she knew it was where she would have gone. Incidentally, when she had been staying in Sylvanbrook, there were a few times she wanted to go inside, but she found herself hesitant—hesitant for many reasons.

One in particular: Lumos would never forgive her for surviving and her cohort not.

She knew it to be a foolish thought. Lumos loved all her children equally, no matter what. So why couldn't she get over that hurdle?

“Because it isn't Lumos who hates me… it's me. I'm in the way of feeling free.” no matter what she told herself at night to keep moving hard, it only half worked.

She didn't know about Malakyh, from his personal life to his background, but even regarding the disputes with him, Alivier told her that there was something attached to it all.

She took a deep breath and took her first steps of the stone edifice. She opened the double wooden doors, and lo’ and behold; there he was, sitting at a pew in front of the sanctuary.

“How'd you know where to find me?” Malakyh said without turning to her.

Cassandra tenderly walked down the aisle and stood next to the pew he was sitting on.

“...it's where I would like to go, if not to clear my head, but I've been hesitant. For a long time, I feared the Saint would disown me, but in reality, only I was keeping me away. The goddess doesn't judge nor shame you.”

“Even what we know now? The book, the Astral Contract, was considered to rid us of our free will because of what Deimos had done.”

Cassandra sighed. That had been weighing on her mind, and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been angry when she first found out.

“I'd like to think… that it was not for ill purposes, so we don't fall into the same pattern as Deimos. That made me think that perhaps Lumos is more human than most of us. She felt betrayed and did not want the same feeling to happen, but stopped herself from almost doing it.”

“Would you say that she didn't trust us enough? She thought that because things happened in the past, they are doomed to repeat.”

It occurred to her then that he spoke of the prejudice and dislike the Primal Weavers received. Many of them had fought in the war against Deimos but many of them either died or joined forces with Deimos. Some didn't partake in either side. Which led to people, like Alivier, to judge them based on the past.

“It isn't fair to cast sins on every person. Especially those who had not been a part of it.” she shook her head. “Even those who didn't want to be a part of it for obvious reasons: fear or not wanting to get involved. Our free will determines our personality, and I think that's what Lumos realized, even if it was too late.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He turned his head to look at her. Then, she hurried over so she could sit on the bench.

“Does she feel remorse that there are people who dislike some others? Or she had gone back and forth wondering if taking away our free will could be used as a benefit?”

“That, I don't know.” Cassandra shrugged. “At least not until we meet Lumos at the final threshing. I want to think if she didn't forgive herself for the past, she wouldn't have made us all meet, of all different backgrounds, to love each other and ourselves.”

At that moment, Cassandra noted that her situation was similar to the Saints'. She let out an airy laugh that echoed through the sanctuary's walls.

Malakyh raised his brow but wasn't concerned by the grin on his face. “Should I find a priest, or do you need a minute?”

She shook her head. Her smile is still attached. “No. I just realized that– like Lumos– I can be scared too and even feel negative emotions, but I have to learn to trust myself, forgive myself, and rely on the support of different people to see through my struggles. It took her– if not still– thousands of years to feel secure, but even the goddess herself is still trying. So, I think we as humans can give ourselves some leeway and grace to do the same. Then, once we learn to forgive ourselves, the doorway will open to others willing to accept us.”

Malakyh hummed. “You make a sound case. I'm unsure if any Primal Weavers will see it that way, but… I can be one of the few to learn to take that next stop, even if others don't.”

“One of the few?”

“My Master. She took me in and showed me a way when others didn't even think of showing grace. I think she saw my potential, not just in ability, but that I could grow emotionally and mentally. It opened the doorway, as you said to her. I was able not to be as angry with myself, and even if some of the things I started were illegal, it opened a way for me to meet others who were in an unfair situation.”

“It seems like we both learned a thing or two.”

“Make that three.”

Cassandra and Malakyh turned in their seats to see Alivier. Pale-faced and disheveled but otherwise sober as he treaded lightly along the walkway.

“Forgive me for prying and listening in, but hearing you both, well, I think I've certainly been– as Lyra would put it– “foul as a Veilspawn and nastier than a Magycte Beast’s odor.”

Cassandra hummed. “Mm. Spot on. Better hope she never hears that.”

“Too late!” Lyra’s voice traveled from the entrance of the sanctuary’s doors.

The three chuckled.

“I've been a judgmental hack, and I'm not worthy of being a Lichtkrieger. We are supposed to be warriors of light, yet many of us were raised under false teachings– or old bravado– that only a select few deserve Lumos’ Grace, but that shouldn't be so….”

He stood at the pew where the two sat. Both Strega and Lichtkrieger stared at each other.

“You have gone through a great deal; you both have and have suffered hate for doing absolutely nothing. We all were chosen to work together, not because it is some predestined journey, but so we do not repeat the past.”

They let the words sink in. Finding it true the more they thought about it. At any moment, either of them could drop this and turn their backs on this crusade, but it is because of the Free will– that same will that Lumos almost took away but decided against it – that made up who they were as individuals and what drove them to continue.

“I cannot erase centuries of fighting and hate, but I can start now. We can. And not repeat what our forefathers have done.”

As Alivier stood there, he held out his arm, palm out to the sitting Malakyh, who looked at the hand and then back at him.

Everyone waited with bated breath and sucked it in when he stood to his feet, walking toward the blonde-haired Lichtkrieger.

Cassandra tensed. Even Lyra, who waited in the sanctuary hall, gripped the door.

Malakyh extended his arm and shook Alivier’s hand to all their relief.

“I, too, would like that. It will be a tough road, but I am willing to traverse it if we all can work together for a brighter tomorrow and future.”