The Great Temple

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Appo, Jere, Adok, and Eevi passed from the Manor to the cordon with little difficulty. They traveled in silence, watching the hordes disperse and congregate around the gates of the flaming Manor. When the final explosion leveled the structure, they had long ago reached a safe distance.

The group prepared to spend a night along Main Street, but sure to Urash’s word, the Cordon was tall enough to be out of reach. Eevi and Adok helped Appo to the roof, Jere snooped around just enough to see that there were no screamers within. Over the last few weeks, all had escaped their confines. It would be safe for the night, at least.

They needed the rest. One by one, they all collapsed on top of the roof, exhausted by all they had been through. None had slept in at least a day.

As the others attempted to relax, Appo found himself unable to. How could he? He failed again. It was as if he had lost the city all over again. He lay against the roof, watching the burning skeleton of Ash Manor as a column of smoke rose overhead. The rubble would sizzle for days. He had only just recognized that he had lost his way into the Great Temple. There would be no way to get to Urash’s tunnel, and hundreds of screamers still lined the perimeter of the Temple. Getting back inside would be impossible now.

But gradually, as he watched the inferno, Appo forgave himself. He had given his all. No one would fault him, not even himself. He still thought of all who had he lost over the last few days, but he would not honor their memories by blaming himself.

Eventually, Appo dozed off. It wasn't for long, for Jere awakened him, scrounging in a small alcove behind their rooftop. The sun had set, but the light of the Manor fire pit shone brightly still.

“Aha!” Jere exclaimed as he returned to the group, rousing them all with playful shoves.

Eevi rubbed her eyes. “What?” she asked, annoyed.

“Vintage Thalassian Wine,” Jere announced proudly, holding the massive maroon bottle out for all to see. “Won’t taste anything finer.”

Adok raised an eyebrow at the sight. “Urash told us to come here for a drink?”

Jere uncorked the bottle, unable to hide his excitement. He sniffed it before sipping, smiling brightly. “Any objections to drinking our sorrows away?” There were none.

Appo was the first to take the bottle, allowing himself a generous chug. He couldn't remember the last time he drank wine, which was unfortunate, as he once considered it his favorite. The wine went down smoothly, its bitterness morphing into cherry and raspberry.

“This is the greatest thing I’ve ever drank,” Appo said, truthfully. Before he could have another, Jere swiped the bottle from Appo’s hand and passed it back to Adok. He cradled it nervously before taking a light slurp, grimacing.

“Ugh! This is what you people drink in your free time?”

Jere motioned him to continue. “Acquired taste. Don’t be such a kid.” Adok struggled with another sip before passing the bottle to Eevi, who stuck the bottle up to her nose.

“Red?” Eevi asked, recoiling as she sniffed the bottle. “No thanks. Kirashi ruined those for me. I’ll keep on lookout… Let me know if you find any spirit.” Jere shrugged, passing the bottle back to Appo.

The four of them sat on the roof as the sun set, drinking and talking in relative peace. Stories of debauchery and adventure became the mainstay. Their memories fell to the past, doing their best to ignore the present. Adok gradually loosened, reminiscing about his uncle and his various herbs. Jere talked of his mentor, Quartermaster Cahara, and his ability to drink over seventy jugs of ale. Appo discussed the intricacies of red wine, and the best methods he knew of to extract flavor. All the while, Eevi sat in silence, cradling her bow and watching for screamers. For a moment, they all had forgotten where they were.

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“‘Ay, Appo,” Jere slurred, the full effect of his wine hitting him. “Did… did ya' really talk with ‘ur God? The one of ‘pessilence’?

“What do you mean?” Appo asked, not handling the wine much better. “You said you believed me, right?”

Jere slapped Appo on the shoulder. “Frien… I woulda’ believed anathing down thar. Coulda told me I had three arms!”

Appo laughed loudly, before being shushed by Adok. He was quick to take to the wine. “You…” Adok slurred, pointing at Appo. “You… are the… GREATEST actor… I’ve ever seen!”

Jere chuckled. “Bullshit! Man barely pulled offa’ corpse!” Appo laughed with the three, putting his hand against his chest.

“And you!” Adok continued, pointing to Jere. “I have a confession… That night, when you snuck out… I didn’t go to Penzer… I just… walked around a bit… I didn’t want to cause no trouble.”

Jere yanked the bottle out of Adok’s hand. “Pussy,” he grumbled, before leaning over to Appo. “He’s had too much!” Appo giggled at Adok as he struggled to keep himself upright. It was indeed excessive for someone his age, not that it mattered here.

Adok continued, pointing back to Appo. “But no… I mean it… you are an amazing healer. You are so good at what you do!”

“You don’t know any other healers, Adok,” Appo laughed. Adok threw his hands in the air. Appo continued, turning to Jere. “To answer your question, though… Yeah. I did. I learned some amazing things out there… If I ever make it back home, I’m gonna share it with the world.”

“Oh yeah?” Jere asked. “Like what?”

“Like…” Appo stumbled over his words, before pointing to his face. “Disease! They’re… organisms. Infinitesimally small, unable to be seen by our eyes… But they’re everywhere. Good and bad.”

Jere raised an eyebrow, leaning back. “So… tiny bugs? Alright, sure. Why not?”

The two laughed again, but Adok cut them off by immediately sobbing into his hands.

“Heikk,” Adok said between gasps of breath. “He’s… He’s… He’s-”

Jere cut him off, taking the bottle and placing it around Adok's hands. He suddenly looked very sober. He pushed the bottle up, leaving Adok holding it in the air. “It’s okay. I’m going to teach you how to toast. Do you know how to toast?”

Adok sniffed. “I’ve seen others do it.”

Jere stood back, sitting back in his place. “Say something. Anything you’d like.”

Adok held the bottle high, his lower lip quivering. “Heikk… none of you knew ‘em like I knew ‘em. But he was a good man… He only did what was right, right until the end… He was the brother I never had.”

Jere motioned him to sip. “Say, ‘to Heikk.’” Adok did so.

With the mood suddenly quiet, Jere took the bottle from Adok and looked around. “I… I'll also give a toast.” He lifted his bottle in the air. “To Penzer. Another good man. Hope he’s well, wherever he is.” He then leaned back, taking a healthy swig before handing the nearly empty bottle to Appo.

Appo twisted the bottle, watching what remained of the wine swirl. He thought of whom to give a toast to. He had so many to choose from, but none that anyone here would know. Tomi and Uten crossed his mind first, before remembering their family. Garabi and Erish were likely still out in Thornestone Wood, awaiting their return. He even thought of Gizzal.

Instead, Appo’s thoughts turned to one other.

“If you don’t mind,” Appo began. “I’d like to toast to the one who made me who I am today. It may take some time, though.” The three sat around, listening.

“When I was a young priest in Jyväsk, I was to become consecrated to Lord Atta. I apprenticed at the Holy Lacrum for a year, listening to the gossip and complaints of nobles… every day, I passed this beggar girl, who sat at the corner of the street. Even now, I see her: a skinny, ragged thing, her hair gone completely white. Didn’t need a healer to tell you she was dying. But every day, from dawn to dusk, she sat out collecting Jiks, earning a meager handful. After the day was done, she gave it all back to the church.”

Appo leaned back, swirling the bottle still. “I’d see her every day before I arrived and after I left. Never asked for anything. She prayed every day for Lord Atta to fix what was wrong with her. And the church took her coin without question.”

Appo looked up. To his surprise, they listened intently. Adok’s nose was still red from the tears, but the story entranced him.

“I watched her every day for a month. Then one day, she collapsed. She was seizing. No one knew what to do. I didn’t… To this day, I’m not sure what I would have done. No one did except for a lone woman: a healer named Martta. Just passing by. Rubbed some herb into her nose and she calmed. It was exactly what she needed. The girl came back to life. It was a spectacle.”

Appo paused. He could see her face so clearly now. He rarely went a day without thinking about it. “She died a week later. It was inevitable, I suppose. When she died, the church threw her a parade. They sang songs, praised her in sermons… all an example of what the devout could be. And… they didn’t even offer her a bed.”

Appo took a swig from the wine, finishing it. “I left the church a week later and joined the Healer’s Guild.” He raised his bottle in the air. “To her.”

The four were silent. After a moment, Eevi reached over and picked up the empty bottle, lazily gesturing to around her eye line.

“To world peace,” Eevi said before putting it down.