Mira sprang upwards as she was ripped from her trance. She looked around her and saw the pool filled with pink water that moved towards her. She looked at her arms as the bites of the whip had already faded. She looked to everyone around her and grabbed her head. Encante’s voice whispered in her mind to relax as she examined everyone around her.
“High Priestess?” Mira looked around, “Has she survived yet?”
A healer that stepped into the water paused before shaking her head, “There is something collecting in her lungs we cannot get out. We fear she may take her last breath soon.”
“Is she in the infirmary?”
“Mira, you’re in no condition –”
She glared at Jonen with white eyes. He closed his mouth in shock. She looked into the water and closed her eyes.
“Can we save her?” Mira said aloud.
“I don’t know, she’s—”
As the healer explained the situation again, Mira focused on Encante’s voice in her mind. She tried to drown out the other noises in the room and moved from hands grabbing at her.
“It will be difficult and use all the energy you just gathered, but –” He sighed, “Technically, yes. We have to hurry.”
Mira jumped from the water and ran from the baths. Shouts echoed behind her as she sprinted through the temple. Her still healing bones crunched awkwardly at her pace. As she reached the infirmary, she swung the door open. Gimma stood over the unconscious bronze elf with a look of bewilderment.
“What in Zrud –”
“Move,” Mira pushed past other healers, “Guide me.”
She felt odd as her arms and legs were suddenly controlled by another. It felt similar to the wraith form, but the intoxicating feeling was gone. She climbed onto the cot Nara rested on and ripped her dress open at the chest.
“Goddess, Mira!” Gimma screamed, “What are you doing?”
“Save her,” Mira spoke under her breath, “Whatever it takes.”
“Even if that means aiding the Goddess?” Encante questioned.
“She risked her life for us,” She nodded, “We will save her.”
A thin blade summoned in her hand. She pressed the tip against Nara’s chest. As the healers yelled and tried to pull her away, she pressed downwards. As the blade disappeared, Mira placed a hand over the small hole and felt the black sludge surface.
“This woman was the first to ever show me kindness,” Mira growled like a feral animal as her eyes turned white and radiated a soft flame, “If another person tells me I am not allowed to do something, I will kill them where they stand. If you are going to help me heal this woman, then do so. If not, get out of my way!”
Gimma gasped in awe as the inky liquid surfaced from the hole in Nara’s lung. Mira moved her hand back to the elf’s chest and held it there. Nara coughed as one of her lungs emptied. Healers threw blankets over Mira’s bare back. The uncomfortable warmth caused her to shiver. She felt her vision blur as she got lightheaded.
“Blood!” Encante demanded in her mind, “I need more.”
Without explanation, she summoned another blade and cut the hand of the healer reaching for her. The healer screeched as Mira grabbed her hand and placed it against her bare skin.
“Keep your hand there,” She looked at the healer.
As the energy rushed back into her, she pressed the thin blade into Nara’s chest again. She held her hands above the wounds and urged the black liquid to pour out. Nara’s rattled wheezing slowly sounded more like full breaths.
“You will not be able to stay awake much longer,” Encante warned, “You need to stop.”
“Save her,” Mira growled under her breath, “We owe her that much.”
“We’ve been working on that!” Gimma huffed, “Tell me how you are doing this.”
“I can smell it,” Mira whispered as she placed her hands back on the Nara, “Must stay awake.”
The lightheadedness overcame her as the chaos set in. Her body felt clammy and cold. As black dots danced across her vision, Mira collapsed on top of the High Priestess. The door swung open again as a small group entered. With Jonen’s arm over Pallik’s shoulders, he limped into the room. Tella soon followed and stopped when she saw the two women.
Mira awoke in the darkness again. Figures of dancing women twirled in the distance to an odd song she didn’t recognize. Her footsteps rippled the inky water beneath her as she ran towards Nara. The elf grabbed at her chest as she hunched over the ground.
“Why is it so dark in here, Mira?” Nara’s watery emerald eyes showed her fear, “Returning to the cycle is supposed to show the best memories. Why can’t I see anything?”
“If you tried to take my place, then perhaps you see my best memories,” Mira wrapped her arms around the crying woman, “I’m sorry that death has scared you.”
“I never thought I would die this way,” The elf sniffled, “I prayed for years to be of use. I didn’t know I was Renda’s vessel. I did not know such a thing existed. After I discovered, I am now doomed to join the next cycle.”
“You will not pass if I have anything to say about it,” She pulled the elf up, “Come, we have to find a way out.”
Mira lifted Nara and carried her as she stepped through the darkness. She looked for another arch or any difference to know where to go. A scream echoed in the darkness as a spark of light in the distance erupted. Nara raised a hand to block the brightness from her eyes.
“What is that?” She asked, “It’s so warm.”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“You’ve survived death twice,” Encante stepped behind them and chuckled, “Consider yourself lucky, little one.”
The light from beyond the horizon grew blinding as a scream echoed into the darkness. Tella screeched in agony and dropped to the floor after the explosion of magical energy. Mira lifted herself and tried to decipher her blurry vision. She heaved again and struggled to breath properly. Jonen held her up as she placed her hands above Nara’s lungs and forced what was left of her energy into the elf. Nara gasped to life as Mira crumbled on top of her. The elf took gasping breaths and wildly looked around.
“By the Goddess, I’m alive?” Nara rested her hand on top of Mira’s head, “Tella? Is she alive?!”
“Yes,” Pallik checked her pulse and lifted her, “She’s weak, but alive.”
“I took the enthrallment,” Nara looked through the room, “How did I live?”
“Your brash friend,” Gimma pointed at the unconscious Mira then crossed her arms, “Threatened to kill us if we didn’t help her. Then the little one just passed out sending a surge to wake you both up.”
Irae groaned from a nearby bed and got to her feet, “Goddess, my head.”
Tella’s burst of healing energy completely closed wounds on half of Jonen’s body. He felt sore, but the bone throbbing exhaustion that stopped him before was eradicated.
“Heal her,” Nara hugged Mira about the arms, “She has to live. She’s a –”
“Blood mage, we know,” Gimma rubbed her head, “Please rest, High Priestess. Your soul almost rejoined the cycle. You need to rest.”
“Everyone,” Nara looked around at the younger healers, “Leave the room. Only Master Healers are allowed to hear what I need to say.”
“High Priestess –” Jonen began to protest.
“I appreciate all the help you’ve given to us, Sir Jonen, but this is strictly temple business,” Nara gave him a pleading look, “I know you are worried for your friend. I feel her heartbeat. Two of this area’s most talented healers are here. Please.”
Jonen felt his body tense. If it was about Mira, he deserved to know. He had to be next to her, to protect her. He almost lost her today. Even if all he could do was bleed for her, he had to be at her side. On the other side of the door, anything could happen while he wasn’t there to protect her.
Irae walked over and placed a calming hand on his shoulder. He felt the rush of anxiety leave his body as he exhaled again. His swirling mind relaxed and he nodded.
“Thank you,” Jonen bowed slightly before leaving, “I will be right outside the door.”
“Healers, tend to the other injured at once,” Gimma rubbed the bridge of her nose, “I hear they are in the baths.”
“Tella can stay,” Irae smiled softly to Pallik, “I will watch her.”
Jonen placed a hand on the teen’s back and both left the room. As the door closed behind him, he leaned against the opposite wall and looked at the door. Pallik cleared his throat to get his attention.
“Thank you,” Pallik nodded, “For saving her. I don’t know what you told them to bring them all to help, but it worked.”
Jonen sighed, “I told them the truth. Apparently, she has helped many people around these parts. They were all willing to help.”
“She’s going to make it, right?” His crystal blue eyes stared into the half-elf.
“Goddess, I hope,” He took a deep breath, “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”
“You look exhausted,” Pallik chuckled, “I can keep first watch. Delpho will kill me if Tella is hurt, anyway.”
Jonen burst into laughter, “I feel like he may make an exception for today.”
Both looked up as raised voices from the other side of the door broke the awkward small talk between them. They could only make out a few words and tried not to decipher what was said.
“By the Goddess, Nara,” Gimma shook her head and pushed her glasses up her nose, “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”
“She did not know,” Nara looked down to the woman sleeping against her chest, “Only in death could he reach her. She had no idea.”
“Can’t only isle dwellers be his Vessel?” Irae asked in a hushed tone, “How can a human wear him?”
“That I do not know,” Nara shook her head, “I’ve asked her before, but Mira remembers nothing of her parents. I do not know if Isaan took her at birth or not.”
“As if he wasn’t already despicable enough,” Gimma shook her head, “Now this?”
“There is a small prophecy,” She ran her fingers through Mira’s hair, “When Alcante falls from heaven, Encante will leave the Isle to search for him. When they meet, they will decide the next to join the goddess in heaven.”
“Do you think…” Irae looked down to the redhead, “It could be her?”
She shrugged, “I do not know. The longer one is a Vessel or holds the stone, the more powerful they become. If she’s had it since birth, she could be one of the most powerful mages to ever exist.”
“That or the wraith,” Gimma offered, “He seems near unlikable from the stories.”
Nara bit her lip before whispering as quietly as she could, “Young Mira… is the wraith.”
Gimma slapped a hand against her face, “How long have you known that?!”
Nara remembered the near decade earlier when she first met the wraith, Encante, and Mira. She looked down at Mira’s face and noticed it still held so much childlike youth in it as it had when she first saw the girl.
“Do you remember Prophetess Renda?” She asked without looking away.
“May her soul have rejoined the cycle,” The elderly healer nodded, “She passed away on the way to establish this temple.”
“Prophet Renda had a vision of a young girl that would need a temple here, in this location,” She twirled her hand to allude to the temple, “On our way here, half of our guards were killed one night. The wraith demanded Prophetess Renda and I.”
“She killed the prophetess?” Irae clasped her hands over her mouth.
Nara shook her head, “The wraith revealed himself to be Encante. He was protecting his Vessel with what strength was left over from his previous welder. He was drained. He asked for a sacrifice, and she accepted.”
“She just… let it happen?” Gimma snorted, “Sounds like that old kooky bat.”
“He… told us he would guide Mira to the temple when she was ready. I prayed for a sign that she would arrive. Then, she appeared. She stayed for a single service then requested a word with me. After that, she came with the children.”
“I remember that” Irae nodded, “The children were inconsolable. Didn’t the wraith…”
“Yes,” She nodded, “We’ve watched her grow and fight back against her master for these past few years. I knew Encante would awaken soon, but I never believed it would be so…”
“Chaotic? Bloody?” Gimma offered, “What happens now? We tell the girl she’s most likely going to become a goddess herself?”
“No,” Irae interjected, “She doesn’t need to know that. She’s not stable enough. You saw what happened when she got angry.”
The older woman nodded in agreement, “What do we do then?”
“I have heard rumors of an order of skilled mages…” Nara offered, “Mira would pass their training easily and it could guide her to a higher purpose.”
“Wouldn’t the order just follow her orders, anyway?”
“Well,” Gimma cleared her throat, “I have met and healed one – known to many as Amethyst. She was a nutty orc woman. Got a wife and decided to pursue training others in battle. I could reach out to her.”
“How long would it be until she’s here?” Nara asked.
“Last I heard, she’s in Saceida. It could be a bit over a month before she arrives,” Gimma nodded, “I’ll send a letter via mage at the capital immediately.”
“Yes,” She agreed, “Mira will need to heal. She can stay as long as she likes. For now, let’s get her a bed set up in my office.”
“I will make the arrangements on my way out,” Gimma waved a hand and walked to the door.
“Nara, do you think she’s still a threat?” Irae whispered, “If she’s able to control any beast from the Isle…”
Nara shook her head, “I don’t believe there will be a problem. Not with Isaan gone.”
“What about the knight?” Irae raised an eyebrow.
“I think he loves her,” Gimma nodded, “I mean, have you seen the way he looks at her?”
“Let’s not tell him what we talked about here,” Nara scratched Mira’s back absentmindedly, “I do not know how he would react to either discoveries.”
She moaned as the elf’s manicured nails pulled flakes of charred skin away. Nara lifted her hand in shock and sighed.
“I can talk to him,” Irae nodded, “I think you’re right. He is very anxious about being apart from her currently. When he goes back to Hangral, I expect there to be resistance.”
“He sent a letter a few days ago,” Nara looked between them, “I am sure one was to a commanding officer. We may need to find somewhere to hide Mira. As soon as the crowd is gone, prepare her a room in the hidden room under my office.”
“Yes, High Priestess,” Gimma nodded.
“Goddess,” Irae rubbed her hands over her face, “How should we address Mira now?”
“We can ask her that when she awakens,” The bronze elf yawned, “For now, we both need rest.”