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I can only imagine that by this point, you're rolling your eyes, thinking I was about to succumb to a bout of live performance anxiety or some other ridiculous gaffe. But let me assure you, my struggles were not with proving myself through the manifestation of my aura. In fact, it had become almost too effortless for me, often appearing without conscious effort when I was expressing myself. Perhaps this was why I chose to hold back at times. It wasn't worth risking a blow-up or threatening others like a big bully over a difference of opinion, especially if it was with one of my companions.
It wasn't just about performing on command, like some oddity for others’ entertainment, either. It was the underlying message that by doing so now, I would set a precedent, and any validity regarding my words or actions would be dismissed until my identity was duly confirmed by those who really shouldn’t have a say about who I should be. The checks and challenges would get harder each time, too, because there’d always be someone who would want to disprove it. I wanted to stand on my own merits and not just some random assignment of such credentials from on high.
So even though doubt would remain with some of the nobles no matter what I did, and I absolutely hated the idea, I did it anyway.
“As you command, Your Majesty,” I declared, stepping out of the light, determined to make sure no one could say it was a trick of the setting sun. My jaw clenched as I focused on my swirling emotions, drawing upon their flowing energies. As my aura brightened and the congregation synchronized themselves into one collective gasp, I caught a glimpse of Relias with a dark shadow cast across his face.
“Well?!” King Saulus addressed the nobles. “Tell me, do you believe I am still delusional? A feeble old man, tormented by the specter of impending death? A retired knight who spins tales to soothe my addled brain?”
No one, of course, dared to respond to his suspiciously specific complaints. The king grunted and pointedly turned his back to them before shooting me a self-satisfied smirk. Relias seized the moment of silence to compose himself, taking a deep, wracking breath before setting his shoulders and raising his head.
“I ask you to sustain your light throughout my benediction,” Relias conveyed to me mentally in a peevish tone. “And brighten it considerably if he tries to speak again.”
Wow, he does not like it when things don’t go as planned.
“I ask of you all, with faith now restored, to bear witness to today’s events and share such joy with all you are to encounter. Let not those who sow chaos and despair bar you from spreading the Light,” Relias proclaimed. He tried to smile as benevolently as possible, even though one of his eyebrows seemed caught in an angry twitch. “And blessed thanks be to our King Saulus, who has assured us that our faith has formed a strong foundation that will anchor you steadfast through the strongest of storms.”
As he spread his arms outward, a soft golden light emanated from his palms, gradually enveloping the entire sanctuary in a warm, ethereal glow. The candles along the altar dimmed as if bowing reverently to the divine power Relias had unleashed. The pulsating light spread as the irises grew from the pots Nora and Relias had arranged throughout the sanctuary. They began as slender stems that elongated until a tiny bud formed at each tip of each one. As he dropped his arms, the blooms split apart in sync, unfurling velvety purple petals streaked with orange and white. A sweet, citrusy scent tinted with an earthy undertone filled the air.
The nobles’ heads turned this way and that, overwhelmed and unable to contain their awe. A few dropped to their knees within the pew to offer their own silent prayers. Relias, with rivulets of sweat running down his temples, bowed his head and walked down the central aisle, taking his place by the door in a gesture that silently screamed, ‘Now GTFO.’
“Go forth,” he announced. “And may the grace of Euphridia be with you and abide with you this day and forevermore.”
On cue, a single line of armed guards filed through the entrance, splitting into two rows as they made their way up either side of the sanctuary. They stopped after reforming a single line and stood at attention before the congregation, effectively cutting them off from approaching me or the royals waiting nearby. Aleph, Tetora, and Vernie rose from the back and exited first, nodding to Relias at the door. Nora was further behind, stuck behind two older women who were practically shoving each other over as they tried, unsuccessfully, to strike up a conversation with His Holiness. One young man, closer to the front, set his shoulders square and started to stride toward me despite the armed opposition. He thought better of it as three soldiers drew their swords and moved to intercept him.
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“I just wished for an exchange of peace with the Captain!” he protested, holding up his hands innocently.
“There will be time for pleasantries during the banquet, Count Mathis,” Prince Mito advised, eying him in contempt. “However, we must exercise caution to avoid any situation where such an exchange might be misconstrued as undue attention, wouldn't you agree?”
The count’s green eyes flashed hatefully before he drew himself up to deliver a florid bow, his blonde bobbed hair flipping over along the way. “Of course not, Your Highness,” he replied with a nasal whine. His gaze shifted toward me, and a somewhat slimy smile spread across his face. “I never doubted you once, Captain. As soon as I saw you, I knew exactly who you were.”
My attire had been chosen deliberately for the occasion, so his epiphany was nothing special. “Noted,” I murmured in reply as three soldiers ushered him to the end of the parting line of nobles.
“Lecher,” Prince Mito warned. “Up to his ears in gambling debt. Don’t offer to do him any favors.”
“Wasn’t planning to…” I nodded gratefully.
As the stream of reluctant nobility filed through the sanctuary doors, Relias returned to the altar. The soldiers awaiting there turned, saluted once to their king, and also took their leave, effectively barring any re-entry.
“The finest service I've attended in quite some time!" the king boomed with laughter, though it was interrupted by a fit of coughing. After composing himself, he chuckled once again, carefully this time. "Did you see their faces? They likely believed they were arriving for a wake!”
Relias closed his eyes momentarily and breathed through his nose before responding, “Indeed, Your Majesty.”
King Saulus gestured for Prince Mito to push his chair. “We’ll be on our way, but take your time to join us. I want to watch them squabble over who gets to shake hands with the Captain first.” He cackled wickedly as he and his son exited the sanctuary.
Relias stared at their shrinking backs, his pale complexion twitching as sweat still poured down his face. I couldn't help but count each breath he exhaled, noticing that he was struggling to catch it.
“Um… tough crowd, huh? Great job, though!” I remarked, hoping to ease his tension.
“Why is he acting so childish now?!” He continued to glare balefully at the open sanctuary doors, his chest still heaving.
Am I… supposed to answer that?
Watching his face twitch angrily, I decided he was indeed at a loss. “Er, I’m no expert, but if the nobles have been saying such things about him… It’s obvious this was his way of getting revenge. It was a bit petty, I’ll admit, but…” I’d have probably done the same thing if I had the wherewithal to.
“He could have ruined everything,” Relias hissed in frustration. “I went over the service with him multiple times! If even one thing had failed… If you hadn’t been able to summon your aura, it would have all been for less than nothing!”
“I think you’re going to have to explain that a little more,” I remarked carefully, stifling a momentary pang of irritation that he implied I might be unreliable.
Relias flinched, but I held my gaze steady. “Self-confidence…” he started sluggishly. “Will only increase your skill so far. This service was to secure their Faith in you. Without their belief, you won’t be able to regain your skills—”
“You’re saying that the strength of my abilities… relies on how others perceive me?” As those words left my lips, ice seemed to fill my veins. My worst nightmare—a desperate need to shape the unsolicited judgments of others—had just become a sickening reality!
Captain Raelynn hadn’t worn a solemn mask in public; she wore a full-body disguise, allowing others to see her as whatever image they desired. Or maybe Captain Raelynn simply was the disguise itself because being a normal person here would just get me killed.
Relias slogged towards the doors, pausing to pick up the staff he had left in the pew where Duke Chadwick had sat. “We’re certain to face opposition in Chairo. That’s why Nora and I thought it best to take action now and—”
“You told her about this… before even telling me?” I stood my ground, making no effort to follow him.
He stopped and turned to face me. “I wished to spare you all possible anguish, Rae. To have told you outright would have…”
“Given me time to work through the situation before ending up in a more stressful one?” I snapped angrily. “Like the one looming over the horizon, where I have to sort out my feelings and learn how to pretend to be something important to everyone while possibly going up against an entire army? Spare me your sympathies!”
Relias leaned on his staff with a weary posture, his hand gripping his left shoulder tightly. “Might we revisit this discussion at a more opportune moment?” he implored in an exhausted voice. “I don’t believe our discussion will be productive for much longer…”
Why would I stop when I had the upper hand? “No, I’m not walking away this time! The banquet can wait until I’m ready to deal with—Relias?!”
Relias, his slender body shaking with fatigue, crumpled onto the soft carpeted ground. His once intense gaze had faded to a vacant, steel grey as his eyelids slowly drifted shut.
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