Wilran sat in a meditative position in a small clearing she had made earlier that day, her breaths rising in little puffs of mist. It was at this very spot she first appeared in the frozen land. Knowing she could have only arrived by ionic crystal, she sought out its fragments to see if there was anything she could do about a return trip back. Not that she had any clue how should could manage a return trip, but finding them allowed her to procrastinate from her meditative task.

Her goal was simple—establish a non-verbal link with the Goddess Chandeidra, as she had once done with Lilith. She hoped that through connection, Chandeidra would grant her the energy to rekindle her magic. Yet, in the hour she had sat, nothing happened.

As she sat in her futile attempt to meditate, her mind wandered to the bitter cold. Unlike the last time she had been here, suddenly jarried from the tropical island, she was now adorned with a fur coat made from the skin of a brown and white creature called a kitsune. The hood's lining formed a striped pattern that repeated every few inches, and though the coat was shorter than she preferred, it kept most of her body warm. .

It probably wouldn't have worked anyway, she mused, frustration seeping into her thoughts.

Similar attempts had produced the same disappointing results. During her training, she had been taught that clerics needed to adapt to all types of conditions. The Teacher had emphasized the need to meditate through distractions, from the susurrus of a busy inn to the howling winds of a mountain pass. Focus is key, he had said. And while Wilran had hoped that sheer determination and exposure to the elements might forge a connection, she knew deep down, as Gamma often reminded her, that brute force wouldn't bring her closer to the divine.

"Still no luck?" a cheerful voice interrupted.

"No," Wilran sighed, opening her eyes to find Gamma standing before her carrying two bokkens.

Her aura shimmered softly in a gentle blue light, a glow Wilran had grown accustomed to over the past few weeks. Since the mask had appeared more than a fortnight ago, Gamma's aura had shifted, with only faint traces of her old scars remaining. At first, Wilran assumed the mask had changed her human friend, but as their time together grew, she knew the truth was much more simple that divine intervention.

Gamma was in love with Bidant. But even more to the point, Bidant was in love with Gamma.The realization left Wilran in a peculiar position. While Gamma and Bidant were always respectful of her presence, she often felt like a third in a two-part harmony.

During their time in the small northern cabin, Gamma had moved the long chair from the main room to the one Wilran now occupied. Gamma had explained that it was better for her to stay close, as Wilran needed help with physical therapy to rebuild her strength. But when it was just the two of them, Gamma confessed that sleeping next to Bidant without marriage wouldn't be proper. At first, Wilran hadn't understood, having been raised alone by the Teacher without such concerns. But as she watched the pair exchange longing glances, she came to understand.

Iniquity could be alluring.

Despite the awkwardness their presence created, Wilran cherished her time with Gamma. The human wore kindness and gentleness as a cloak. It had only taken a few days for Wilran to get back on her feet and another few days to get her stable. During that time, she learned much about Gamma's past—her role as a cleric of Chandeidra and her time as an assistant to the high priestess. Though Wilran knew no Saintian was without flaws, Gamma was the closest thing to an angel she had ever met.

"I told you; you need to let her go. No one can serve two masters."

Lilith. Wilran thought, making her way to her feet. As much as I try...she keeps is holding me back.

"Easier said than done," Wilran muttered aloud. "When you've been beholden to something your entire life, it doesn't just let go. Even when it hurts you, the hold remains. Maybe I'd move on if I had the right motivation..." She shifted her gaze to Gamma. "Speaking of which, how are those theological discussions with Bidant?"

Gamma's face flushed crimson, and Wilran instantly regretted the barb.

That was a low blow. Why did I say that?

But Gamma didn't let the sting linger. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed a bokken at Wilran; a little too forcibly than she had before.

"Wise words from someone who has failed to win a match so far. Perhaps you like eating snow? I can have it served for supper if you like it that much."

Wilran smirked, letting the bokken land in her hand with a solid thud. She dropped her hood, twisting the sword to loosen the tension in her stiff arms. The hours of meditation had left her tight, but a few rotations eased any discomfort. When she was done, she stepped back, lowering the bokken into a defensive stance as Gamma prepared her next move.

"Surely better than another cup of that tea," Wilran quipped. "Its bitter seep is starting to haunt my dreams."

Without a word, Gamma charged, her steps light and swift across the snow. She raised her bokken for an overhead strike, aiming straight for Wilran's head.

This is a test of strength, Wilran realized, eyes narrowing. The attack was straightforward, meant to be blocked—if she had the power to hold off the blow.

Wilran braced herself, lifting her bokken to meet Gamma's descending strike. The force of the hit rattled her arm, nearly knocking the weapon from her grasp. She gritted her teeth, quickly bringing her other hand up to steady the bokken, allowing the blow to dissipate across the shaft.

But Gamma was relentless. Before she could recover, Gamma dropped low. She allowed her bokken to fall and caught it midair with her non-dominant hand which she used to sweep at Wilran's legs. Wilran had no choice but to jump, though she didn't like where she found herself. It left her vulnerable in the air and while her legs were getting stronger every day, if she didn't find the right footing, she would collapse quickly once she hit the ground. Fortunately for her, or perhaps due to the snow, she landed gracefully.

As Gamma rose to her full height, Wilran seized the moment to go on the offensive. She lashed out with a flurry of quick strikes, forcing Gamma back with each blow. Her muscles burned with effort, but the tactic was working. Gamma was retreating toward the snowbank, struggling to keep up with the rapid onslaught.

And then Wilran saw her opening.

She aimed high, swinging her bokken down with all the force she could muster. As Gamma moved to block, Wilran pivoted and sent a powerful kick toward her abdomen.

But Gamma was ready. She let the kick land, but in doing so, she abandoned her bokken entirely. With both hands, she caught Wilran's ankle in midair, twisting it with surprising strength. The sudden change in direction caused Wilran to gasp flying through the air. When she hit the ground, she tumbled through the snow and in the process lost the bokken and the advantage.

When she came to a stop, Gamma was already standing over her having recovered both bokkens.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Your supper, madam. Enjoy."

Wilran spit out a mouthful of snow. How ironic, she thought.

Gamma extended a hand to help her up, her expression unreadable. For a fleeting moment, Wilran considered grabbing a fistful of snow and stuffing it into Gamma's face. But she had already lost once, and the prospect of another lesson in humility was enough to stay her hand. Instead, she accepted Gamma's help, dusting herself off as she rose to her feet.

"I suppose I deserved that. Keep in mind, I know where you sleep. There's plenty of supper around here. Perhaps a mouthful of it might actually stop that snore of yours."

Gamma smiled and shook her head as she headed back towards the cabin. "You're so much like her. I think, in another life, the two of you could have been good friends."

Wilran felt the shift—those moments when Gamma mentioned Rory always brought a subtle change in her aura. The flicker of light dimmed, leaving scars behind, like fractures spidering across stone. Wilran kept pace beside her, casting sidelong glances, but she still hadn't found the right way to tell Gamma what she could see. It wasn't as though she could just casually bring up, Oh, by the way, I can see your aura and it's cracked.

When the cabin came into view, Gamma caught her staring. "What? Want to go again?"

Wilran forced a grin. "No, thanks. I've had enough snow for one day." She paused, thinking fast. "That leg trick you pulled—where did you learn that? It wasn't something I learned in my own military training."

Gamma's aura brightened. "Bidant taught me a few moves while we were tending to you. His Order is trained in hand-to-hand combat. It was..." She flushed slightly. "... something to pass the time."

Wilran smirked. "I bet." She elbowed Gamma playfully, and the light mood returned.

As they reached the door, Gamma swung it open and Wilran was greeted by the comforting aroma of stew—onions, carrots, and simmering meat. Her stomach growled as she spotted Bidant by the fire, stirring the pot.

"Hey, Bidant. Smells incredible."

"Evening, Wilran." He glanced at Gamma. "How did she do?"

"She's coming along," Gamma said, hanging up her coat. She fetched bowls from the cabinet, passing them around. "No magic yet, but she's strong. She even had me on the back foot for a bit. I think she's ready to move on."

They had been discussing the plan almost as long as they had been working on the therapy. The three of them decided the best course of action was to heed Delphi's advice: find Thepa, Elite Team One, and Chandeidra. All three of them had proven more difficult than they thought it would be. Without magic, there was nothing Wilran could do but focus on the third task of making a connection with Chandeidra, and even there she still hadn't made any progress.

Bidant and Gamma were equally as frustrated. Bidant had carried a magical pouch which made instant communication with its twin possible, but the messages never left after being secured. Gamma had tried casting magical messages which allowed responses from the sender, but no matter to whom she sent a message, no response came. Once, they had even tried teleporting to one of the ionic crystals, but as the magic arced around Gamma, it turned back on her knocking her unconscious for the better part of a day. They didn't dare try again after that.

In the end, they decided to split up. Gamma and Wilran would head southwest to Clayborn to catch a boat to the Beachwick, where they hoped to find Thepa. Bidant would head southeast toward Goldale, hoping to track down Elite Team One or at least contact the nation's leaders.

"When do we leave?" Bidant asked, ladling stew into the bowls.

"At first light," Gamma replied. "No point in delaying."

They sat together at the small table, a shared look of sadness passing between Gamma and Bidant. Wilran felt it—like she was intruding on something private. She faked a yawn and stood, picking up her bowl.

"I think I'll call it a night and eat in my room," she said, excusing herself before they could protest.

Without waiting for any kind of confirmation, she quickly retired to the small room and sat on the long-chair Gamma normally occupied, starring at the sky.

The colors of the night sky shimmered above her, a canvas of swirling purples and deep blues, broken only by the scattered glimmer of stars. Wilran ate in silence, savoring each bite as the crisp air seeped through the cracks in the cabin walls. Every now and then, faint giggles and the scraping of chairs drifted from the other room, but she let the sounds wash over her, choosing to remain alone with her thoughts.

When her bowl was empty, she set it on the floor, only to notice Gamma's holy book lying nearby, half-hidden in shadow. Her own copy, a gift from Gamma, rested on the small table beside the bed. She glanced between the two, mentally comparing them—the one in her hand was more worn, its edges frayed and pages softened from years of devotion, while hers still had the stiff, untouched feel of something new.

As she leaned over to return it to the table, the smooth leather slipped from her grasp. She lunged to catch it, fingertips brushing the spine just before it thudded softly against the floor. As she brought it back up to her, a page slipped into her lap denoting a single word above a broken seal in long flowy letters.

Gamma

Wilran didn't recognize the handwriting, but the seal—it was unmistakable. The same intricate mark she had seen Delphi press into Gamma's hand the night she first woke. Her fingers traced the edges of the broken seal, her thoughts tugged in two directions.

She knew she had a moment before anyone would notice. Part of her whispered to respect Gamma's privacy, to leave the note untouched. But another, stronger part urged her forward. If this could shed light on Gamma's fractured aura—if this held answers to the secrets that swirled around her—how could she ignore it? A soft giggle floated in from the other room, breaking the silence and nudging her toward temptation.

Ms. Gamma

Many times, I have started and stopped this letter knowing sorry will never be enough. One does not commit the actions I did and expect that they can be fixed with a simple sorry. I realize we may never speak on this plane again and if Chandeidra decides to further punish me for the act I put you through, it will be well deserved. However, I will try anyway because out of everything I owe you, an apology is the absolute minimum. Therefore, I'm sorry my friend ... Am I allowed to call you friend? I fear I am not, but nevertheless, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I hurt you more than a Saintian could ever hurt another Saintian. I'm sorry I put a wedge between you and our Goddess; a crime that in any other circumstance would have had me removed from the temple and stripped of the priesthood. I'm sorry I took away your ability to choose: the greatest gift we have as younglings of Chandeidra. Most importantly, I'm sorry I destroyed your trust in me.

You are so much the embodiment of love and devotion that the moment you left, I felt the giver of life grieve over my actions. Her inner depths pierced my soul so deeply, as soon as I could, I teleported away to some far-off desert and screamed at the dunes in the distance begging her for relief and penitence, but her grief was not to be abated. 'Actions have consequences,' she told me. Therefore, it was my fate to suffer my own grief and Hers that only by completing my mission would I finally find solace from the pain of hurting one of her younglings so badly.

Dare I ask for forgiveness? I dare because I'm selfish, but not because I deserve it. If I spend all of eternity serving you at the pleasure of the Goddess, I will do it just for the hope of earning your clemency. I dare because I don't want you to suffer because of me. I dare because I don't want you to reject our Goddess because of my actions. Most of all, I dare because I don't want you to fall away from the loving and kind hearted person you are.

The Goddess needs your kind heart and loving disposition. A traveler is coming who needs a teacher, especially one who needs to understand the meaning of moving beyond the hurt and the pain. If you choose, after all we all have a right to choose, Chandeidra will grant you her power to aid you in this quest and on your own personal faith journey. I already know you are worthier of it than I am.

Forever your servant,

Rory

As Wilran finished reading the letter a second time, two thoughts occurred to her. Rory had known about her long before their paths ever crossed, quietly working to guide her toward Chandeidra even before Lilith had loosened her grip. It was Rory who had set Gamma on the path to save Wilran's soul, a realization that brought an unexpected comfort. Someone had been looking out for her all along.

The second revelation hit just as sharply. She had been too focused on moving away from Lilith, she hadn't realized it was her anger and grief holding her back.

In a moment of clarity, she wasted no time and moved into her meditative state. Once more she prayed, but this time she asked for the Goddess's help in abating her anger. As she felt the magical channels finally give way, a rush of ecstasy filled her body as if she had been baptized in divine grace. It was an incredible feeling, it was a feeling of love, hope, and peace.

Finally, she thought as the non-verbal link was established.

She gracefully thanked the Goddess and moved over to her own bed, careful to put the letter back in its place. She laid there a little too excited to sleep, thinking about the journey that laid ahead. As her mind started to drift off into dreamland, she heard Gamma come in, softly humming a familiar tune. With a smile on her face, Wilran drifted into the best night of sleep she had had in a long time.

Outside, the green and blue lights of the aurora continued their silent dance across the night sky.