Day Six

Slowly the song in Wilran's heart started to fade, but the Goddess's presence did not. Had she disappeared completely, Wilran might have been left with a dry ache that would have spread across her chest, but instead her eyes continued to marvel at her first love. It might have been Gamma's face and body, but the radiance she now prostrated before blinded her to its incarnate form. As the Goddess smiled upon her once more, she wept and felt a strong desire to confess.

Grant me clemency my Goddess, for I am full of iniquity. I am not worthy to be before you.

The goddess paused and placed a tender hand on Wilran's shoulders. Her touch was warm, but the emotion that welled up deep inside her was uncontrollable. Her body violently shook under its pure holiness, while euphoria wrapped itself tight across every cell that made up her whole being. She heaved huge sobs unable to take it, but at the same time thought she might die if it went away. Slowly she felt her body rise, but she wasn't sure. It wasn't until her arms stretched out on their own accord and the Goddess moved her hand from Wilran's shoulder to her chest, that she realized the emotion she just felt was only the beginning. Her body was on fire.

Wilran screamed.

Pain like she had never felt in her life punctured every cell at the exact same time. It cried out as her throat burned through every part of the process. She closed her eyes in a vain attempt to control it, but any help it might have offered her utterly failed as every part of her begged for release.

I deserve this, Wilran thought. Not because I disobeyed a vengeful Goddess, but because I'm an iniquitous woman. Please Chandeidra, remove my sin.

While she screamed, the Goddess sang once more. "Grace. I like grace. The beauty of grace is Saintians don't deserve it. The beauty of grace is it makes life not fair. The beauty of grace is that it isn't put into satchels or vials. Instead, I get to slather it all over you. I get to fill every nook and cranny until you are no longer recognizable as the balls of moldy, rank, disease eaten flesh that iniquity has made you. The beauty of grace is it heals you, and one day, just like that, you are made new again.

The song started to slow down, and Wilran could feel the change inside her. The feeling no longer burned, but instead she felt love envelope her tighter than the tightest knot, harder than the hardest rock, and deeper than the deepest part of the ocean. Still unable to speak, she silently prayed to Chandeidra, hoping she could hear her.

Goddess, scrub me until I bleed. Just get this Saintian off of me. It suffocates me. The doubt burns my heart. Wash my feet and cleanse my pride. Take the selfishness and weakness of the world and replace it with a simple dependence on You. Here am I. All of me. Take my life. It's all for You. Take the good and the bad. Change this something ugly into something beautiful.

"My daughter. My dear sweet, beautiful daughter. I already have. Be well."

TheGoddess dropped her hand, and Wilran felt her body move back towards the tin roof. Once more she regained control of her arms and she chanced a look in Gamma's direction. The Goddess smiled upon her, but this time she was different. No longer did she feel the strong desire to bend to the ground, but now she felt worthy to stand in the creator's presence.

I'm clean. I'm new.

Yet still, a single question burned in her mind.

"I broke your highest law. How can I be worthy of clemency?"

Gamma turned her head to the side and widened her smile. "Actions have consequences, this is true, but forgiveness can still be obtained. I forgive you; my priestess forgives you, and I suspect..." She turned in Thepa's direction on the roof across the way. With all that was going on, Wilran honestly forgot she was there, but as she once more laid eyes on her new sister another wave of relief washed over her face. "... Esha's Chosen forgives you. Come here, little one."

With a wave of Gamma's finger, Thepa's body floated over to their roof and gently placed her on her own two hooves. From the distance, Wilran thought she looked fine, but as the Goddess now moved the two of them next to each other, she could see the satyr's face frozen in place. Short grunts and vowel sounds managed to escape her lips, but nothing legible escaped it.

"What's wrong with her?"

"The divine presence in the face of iniquity. The only reason she's able to stand is Esha's intervention."

"Esha's intervention?" Wilran asked.

"It's her story to tell, but don't worry. She can hear us."

Wilran put a reassuring hand on Thepa's shoulder and moved on to a second question. "Why didn't that happen to her when Adreanna put on the mask?"

"My power is more solidified here on Sainta. Until then Lilith's mask should only affect Her followers."

Wilran once more looked back to Thepa's paralyzed form and studied it. She desperately wanted to know what she was thinking, but at the same time thought it rude to ask. Instead, she turned her attention to the other figure on the rooftop: the disfigured human. He might not have been the Goblin King anymore, but he was still alive, albeit unconscious.

"What happens to him?"

The Goddess's smile thinned to a line and Wilran could tell what had happened here was not what she wanted. Whatever her true thoughts were, she still answered the question.

"That's completely up to him. He's lost his power, so he will not be a threat to your world anymore. However, I hope—yes, even I have hope—he seeks Father's clemency."

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As she contemplated what to say next, the Goddess turned her body to face the two of them.

"I'm so proud of you both. It took a lot of strength and courage to get here and though there have been bumps, you have passed with flying colors."

Colors! Wilran remembered. I need to ask about the colors!

"However, be on your guard. The journey ahead is still long and my sister is in grief."

"Keep the faith," she said turning to Wilran.

"Love your sisters," she directed at Thepa.

"Hope in each other," she once more directed to both of them. "Only in these three things can the future find peace."

The Goddess started to reach for the mask, but Wilran had to know. She chanced one final question, desperate to know the truth about the colors that sometimes plastered people's souls.

"What about the colors I see? What do they mean?"

The Goddess smiled, and though Wilran didn't think it was possible, her light shifted in every possible color she had seen and even some she hadn't. She marveled at its presence while briefly wondering how it would be possible to describe the impossible.

"A special gift for my chosen prophet. May it always guide you to help when you most need it."

"You've already given me so much. How can I possibly thank you?"

"In this case, it is I that must demand from you. It is you, my priestess, and Esha's Chosen which deserve my thanks, however she is not mine. I cannot give your sister what I gave you. But..." The Goddess said with a knowing smile. "Maybe I can give her something."

Gamma turned to the right and used her finger to draw into the air. As she did, magic glowed while lines formed mid-air. At first Wilran wasn't sure what it was. Its etched form was square, roughly six feet high, and two dimensional. As she finished, a brilliant golden color surrounded its frame tipped with a diamond doorknob. Wilran waited, expecting something to happen, but the door remained shut.

"Remember my words," said the Goddess. "You have five minutes."

With a flick of Her hand, the mask disappeared and Thepa collapsed to the ground. Wilran bent down to her and attempted to cast a healing spell, but as soon as she started the somatic movements, Gamma placed another hand on her.

"Just give her a minute. She should be fine. Thepa? Sister? Can you hear us?"

Thepa blinked a few times, then slowly nodded. She licked her dry lips as she reached out towards her two friends. Wilran took one arm as Gamma took the other. As the two of them helped her sit up, they both sat down next to her and placed an arm around her shoulder.

"That... wasn't the most pleasant experience," Thepa said.

"Speak for yourself!" Gamma exclaimed. "It was exhilarating. What about you Wilran?"

"Pretty painful."

"I saw."

"Me too."

"Still," Wilran mused. "I think it was worth it. I now better know my place and what's expected of me. We still have a long way to go.

Thepa..." Gamma said as all the grief she had experienced in the last twelve hours came flooding back to her. "What happened to you? We thought you were dead."

"Well, it's kind of a long story, that starts with me almost dying a month back."

She could feel Gamma's arms tighten around both of them.

"What?"

"Like I said, a long story. The short answer is, this time I was prepared. I moved topside after looping some of the gunpowder and held the Galaks back until it exploded. I then used Rory's pendant to step out of sync to avoid the explosion. When I came back through, I had to hide under the dock while more Galaks flooded the arena. It wasn't until I saw a building on fire that I was able to track you two down."

Once again, Gamma was confused. "Step out of sync?"

Thepa shrugged. "Like I said..."

"Long story," Wilran said completing the thought.

"At least we saved one city. We just have to hope Lightmount and Clayborn can get to Goldale in time."

Thepa popped her neck and rolled her head from side to side. "Well, I hope so, because after today a break is in order. I think I'm going to sleep for a month after this. What did she mean by five minutes anyway?"

"A second chance," said a feminine voice behind them.

Wilran turned around and found the Goddess's door open, revealing a figure wearing a beautiful full-length white gown. Large bits of cloth draped down from her arms as a beaded sequin of gold stars and blue moons lined its streaming. The dress itself was remarkable, but it paled in comparison to the tangled mass of auburn hair, pointed ears, and piercing green eyes that greeted the three of them with a toothy smile. Gamma and Thepa jumped to their feet and while Wilran clumsily made her way to hers, she held back. After all, this was a moment for them.

"Rory?" Thepa asked as her voice shook. "I-Is it you? Do you remember me?"

Rory closed the door and ran the short distance between herself and Thepa. She quickly brought the smaller of the two into a bone crushing hug and though Wilran half expected her to pass right through, it didn't stop the lump from rising to her throat.

"Thepa, you are the most important Saintian in the world to me. Even in death, I could not forget you."

Now it was Thepa's turn to sob. Wilran watched as she returned the hug so tightly, she was worried she might squeeze the life out of the corporal elf.

Did she even have life? She asked herself. She didn't know. It was another confusing moment since this whole week had started, and once more she found herself just going with the situation not bothering to question the logistics of it.

"Thepa, I owe you an—"

"No!" Thepa screamed while pulling away but not letting go. "Don't you dare."

"She's right," Gamma added. "You served your penitence."

"But I hurt you. Both of you."

Gamma grabbed the two of them and brought them both into a hug. "We don't care. We just miss our friend. We're not going to waste what little time we have with apologies."

"Our sister," Thepa corrected.

"But—"

"Rory, just because you're dead doesn't mean I won't kick your arse," Thepa blurted.

The sentiment brought a smile to Wilran's face as she watched the three of them laugh and hold each other. The few minutes felt like completions. When Wilran could tell the time was near, Rory looked Gamma in the eye and gave her a small nod. With that, Gamma pulled away leaving the satyr and the elf alone.

"It's time, Thepa."

"Must you go?"

"I can't stay. There's nothing tethering me to this world."

"I miss you so much."

"I as well. It's the only hard part about being up there. Every day, I can see you, hear you, but I can never touch you. I can never talk to you. I can never share with you. Still, I revel in the Goddess's presence, knowing the second greatest gift She has given me is my time with you. Even in death, She gives me this comfort. It has been a great joy to me when you call my name."

"Then I'll do it every day."

"I hope so, though I suspect pretty soon you're going to have your hands full."

Rory cracked a smile, kissed Thepa on the cheek, and whispered something into her ear. Thepa's ears blushed, but whatever was said, Wilran didn't hear. As Rory pulled away one final time, she moved to the door and turned its diamond shaped handle. With a final look back, she wiped a tear from her eye, clutched her hand to her chest, mouthed goodbye, and stepped through the door. The door shut automatically behind her and faded away like twinkling stars.

For a while, Thepa stared at the spot where the door had been. Minutes passed, but no one moved as neither Wilran or Gamma were sure of what they could do. It wasn't until a large noise echoed across the darkness and Wilran could see the vague outline of the Arcadia flying high in the sky did Thepa finally speak.

"A second chance."

"What?" Asked Gamma.

"Rory said she was here for a second chance. I never got a first chance to say goodbye."

Gamma nodded. "The Goddess is merciful."

"What else did Rory say?" Wilran asked.

It wasn't her place, but Wilran was dying to know.

Thepa turned to her and once again the tips of her ears turned red with embarrassment. "I think, at least for now, I'll keep that to myself."