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After delicately explaining to Tetora and Prince Mito that I wanted to lie low for the rest of the day, I left their company and sought out Mother Liora. Her room was near my own, and sure enough, she opened her door before I could knock for a third time.
“Oh! This is the first time you’ve come to me on your—” Her initial smile faded into a slight frown. “You’re hungry, I presume?”
“Well, I mean… yes,” I admitted with a nervous laugh. “But I was thinking maybe after a small snack, we could finish the tour of the temple?”
She had every right to eye me suspiciously. “I suppose…”
I started to back up awkwardly, trying to look as guiltless as possible. “Um… so I’ll just wait for you to drop by my room with some food…”
“I’ll bring it once it’s ready,” she replied in a rather stony voice.
I’ll be on my best behavior for the tour, which should earn me some brownie points.
I was quite certain, without any obvious evidence, that she reported on my operations at least twice a day to Relias. It would be in my best interest to keep her somewhat close, even if she would ultimately side with him on anything important. Assuming it would take a little time for my latest food request to be granted, I took a seat at the table in my room and started to update my journal. However, I couldn’t help but think about what had been inscribed on its final page.
What did Relias write?
I toyed with the back flap several times, peeking quickly and slamming it shut before I could read any individual words. He had written a few paragraphs, but at least it wasn’t a full-blown sermon.
What if it’s... personal?
Of course, it would be personal; it was meant for me specifically! I rubbed my suddenly warm cheeks a few times, inhaled deeply, and forced myself to read what he had written so I could finally stop thinking about it.
> Dearest One,
>
> As we journey toward our destiny together, remember that your inner light outshines any darkness we may encounter.
>
> The path of the hero will test you in unimaginable ways, taking a toll on your mind, body, and soul. Yet Euphridia has chosen you for a reason. Trust in her and the power she has bestowed upon you. Recognize that you are not alone on this path; her divine forces and my heartfelt support accompany you at every step.
>
> Your true strength lies not only in your abilities but also in the faith and trust of those who surround you. Let this knowledge be your armor against despair and a guiding beacon through the darkest nights. Should doubt or fear ever burden your heart, come to me. Together, we can conquer all obstacles.
>
> Perhaps, once our Purpose is fulfilled, we might consider what the future holds for us beyond the roles we currently play.
After spending several minutes unable to categorize my strong feelings appropriately, I could only conclude that it was the wrong time to read it. While meant to be inspirational, it wasn’t a good reflection of his current thoughts; it had been penned prior to my defiant actions and, therefore, lacked any insight. It would have been better to save it for a situation where my conflict was with another.
I started to shove the book away in frustration, but I noticed the last line’s script was looser, inked in a shakier hand.
What the future holds for us beyond the roles we currently play.
A metaphor for what had led up to getting the notebook on its surface… but what if it was also a confession?
Feeling trapped by one’s Purpose?
Relatable.
“And being back in the prison you just left, trying to talk your jailors into not being jerks is probably not doing anything for your mental health,” I said out loud with a sigh. “We gotta get you outta here and back to the real world, er, such as it is.”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Maybe we could both look for a different Purpose instead of trying to fulfill one that will never be completed.
Killing all Demons?
I could only liken them to cockroaches; they’d always come back. And one of them would always want to be in charge of the rest.
For a brief, irrational moment, I imagined Oliver in a cheap cockroach costume complete with an oversized crown, and I couldn’t help but laugh snarkily.
That's a good one for when I get too overwhelmed. Right out of a terrible, late-night pest control commercial.
“What’s so funny?” Mother Liora asked suspiciously from the doorway, pulling a small cart inside. Her face appeared quite troubled, and her hair, which was normally tightly kept in a bun, was a bit frazzled.
I jumped as if I had been caught committing a crime. “Ah... Nothing important… Why don’t we just eat?”
The kitchen was generous with its snack; fresh fruit had accompanied a large portion of cooked chicken and bread rolls. We ate in silence, however, and I could feel her wary gaze on me the entire time. Unable to take it much longer, I finally asked, “I guess you heard about what happened this morning.”
“Yes,” she replied tersely, buttering a roll for herself. “And you were too lenient with your retribution. You need to be careful around trollops like her!”
“Trollop?!” I choked, not expecting to hear such an antiquated yet nasty word.
“Poor Relias!” she lamented with a soft wail. “He’s going to have to talk to her in private tomorrow! I’m sure she’ll try to use her clever wiles to get out of trouble…”
Not only did she get the scoop about my request to Captain Corwin, but she knew when her talk with Relias had been scheduled? She must be the head spy!
I shook my head emphatically. “There’s no way she’ll… I mean…”
Wait a minute... Even better! They'll all be busy!
“A chaperone,” I blurted after a few desperate moments of thought. “You’d make a great one!”
“Wait… me?” she squeaked. “I…”
“You’re not going to leave him all alone with her, are you?” I asked, turning the tables. “I mean, I would do it myself, but…”
Tomorrow, I had other plans.
She wrung her hands nervously. “I’m not sure…”
I scratched my cheek. “She was really pretty… Even if we know Relias won’t do anything unseemly, others might gossip. I think—”
“I’ll do it!” she declared, standing up. “I’ll keep an eye on that hussy! Now, you keep your promise!”
“Eh?” I said around a mouthful of bread. Hussy?
“The tour! Let’s go!”
With my snack terminally truncated, I took a quick drink before she purposefully marched out of my room, pulling me after her by the wrist. I could have easily yanked her off her feet, but it was sort of amusing to see her so fired up over Emmy. I wasn’t sure how I was going to coordinate everything I needed to happen tomorrow, but I was sure between Vernie, Nora, and I, we could figure it out. After making sure I was able to keep her pace, she let go, making her way up a set of stairs.
“We’ll start with the Hall of Councilors,” she said with a grand, sweeping gesture. “Here, we pay tribute to those who have faithfully served since the first stones were set in Chairo.”
The round room contained rows upon rows of plaques dedicated to various councilmen—no, councilors.
“There were Councilwomen, too?” I asked, pointing at one plaque with a feminine-sounding name.
“Yes, of course,” she said quickly. “All throughout our history.”
“It’s just… I didn’t think that… I mean, even the General Assembly seemed devoid of any women.”
“The General Assembly is comprised of appointees picked by the Council,” she said with a shrug. “They are free to choose who they believe will best serve.”
“I see…” I said without trying to hide my sneer. Was the good old boy’s network a recent outcome? After walking around the room a few times but unable to find the thing I was most interested in, I asked, “Where’s Councilman Vetus’s plaque?”
“I don’t believe one has been commissioned.”
“It’s expected though, isn’t it? He was a Councilman… Er, Councilor, after all,” I replied, mentally willing myself to use more inclusive lingo.
“His tenure… was tenuous,” she murmured, her face hardening.
“Well, his appointees would probably want to honor—”
“They’re no longer part of the General Assembly,” she interjected loudly. “When he passed, they were all relieved of duty.”
Crap.
How was I going to learn more about his involvement if they got rid of everyone associated with him?
“What about his grave?” I asked finally. “Is he buried somewhere in the Inner Sanctum?” It might not be much, but maybe even an inscription could shed some light. Perhaps someone tending to his final resting place might know him better…
“No. His family requested that he be buried back in Lios, and after much deliberation, their request was granted.”
“Is there anything left of his legacy around here?” I huffed. “Or do we just wipe out a whole person’s history when they make a mistake?”
“Mistake?” Mother Liora inhaled sharply. “No one believes his involvement with your betrayal was a mistake. Relias is right; you are much too naive!”
“Take it back,” I ordered, shocked she would be so directly insulting with what appeared to be his own words.
“I… I won’t!” she balked, waving her arms frantically. “You… fraternize with criminals! Laugh with sinners! Young lady, your moral blindness to those around you is going to get you killed!”
Was she referring to Emmy? Or Vernie? She might have even been referencing Nora! But none of those labels she had spewed belonged to any of them!
“I think I’ve learned just enough from you today,” I said coldly, sweeping my cloak defiantly as I made my way out of the room as fast and noisily as possible.
Luckily, for her sake, she was smart enough not to follow.
“I guess I’m going to end up biting the hand that’s feeding me,” I muttered to myself once I was out of earshot. "At least I won't have to feel bad about that."
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