Ice Sculpture [https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AP1GczP98bByyQPr0303SE4a0mSdN8ZzaBHR9nt6DF8tlUZW3zRRiH531GyOE71qG8rpbpW5WqAyQ7osevfM4IiEr2Dh9mQ4nm8BM_jf5izljbIpVJG6MaGd1Wc79H2gJrcmVV8Z4CohHHEoh7Awm5DKmAd9=w1024-h1536-s-no-gm?authuser=0]
She only let herself daydream for a few moments before opening her eyes to read about her dad’s life. About a half hour later, she got up to put back the first journal and grabbed the next five of them before sitting back down to continue reading.
It wasn’t like reading a normal book but it captured her attention anyway, getting a glimpse into the life and thoughts of the man who was normally so silent and stoic around her, always carefully curating his words to be what she needed to hear.
She was astounded that Paul had managed to keep up the hobby for so long but found herself incredibly grateful for it. This was the salve on the wound that had been made when he was torn from her side and written out of her journey. This was a gift that she had never gotten when her mother passed, leaving only memories and an empty chair behind.
As she continued reading throughout the evening —having tried to schedule their sleep before their night shift— she learned more about the man than she might have ever known about another person. Phoenix discovered that he had been much more than just a silent protector and reliable mentor. Paul had been just as flawed and real as she was, dealing with his own struggles, worries, and challenges as he grew up into the man she knew.
“I think you’re a lot like him in some ways.”
Phoenix jumped in her seat, startled by Patricia’s voice filling the space between them. She hadn’t noticed the woman enter at all while engrossed in the story of a brash teenage Paul going through his trials to become an Adventurer.
The runeforged woman smiled at her and said apologetically, “Sorry for startling you. I just didn’t know how else to interrupt,” the noble priestess gestured to the walls, “I see you found my brother’s pet project.”
She nodded as she straightened herself to sit properly in the chair, “Yeah, I… I hope you don’t mind…”
Patricia chuckled, “Technically, they’re yours to do what you please with now. Along with everything else that belongs to Paul. Those books, his life’s story, it’s part of your inheritance.”
“He’s not dead,” Phoenix replied, upset by the last word implying he was.
“True, but as Regent, you inherit control over the lord’s belongings. This was made part of the law purely for the purpose of access. The lord’s keys and a lot of sensitive information are necessary for most Houses to continue to function.”
“I don’t remember any keys,” she murmured.
Pati gave a wry smile, “Paul gave them to me a while ago since I do most of the work for him. They are yours though, as is the rest of our House, really. Even if it’s temporary, you are Paul’s Heir and currently the Head of House Wayland.”
Phoenix’s shoulders slumped slightly as she looked down at the book in her hands, “When you say it like that, it seems like a lot of responsibility that I’m not sure I’m deserving of. You make it sound like some sort of… legacy I’m meant to uphold.”
“That’s exactly what it is,” the priestess replied bluntly, walking closer to sit in the seat she normally would, “He chose you to be his legacy, Phoenix. You inherited his belongings and responsibilities while we inherited you.”
They just stared at each other for a long moment while the ramifications of her words seemed to settle between them. However, Phoenix didn’t know what to say that she hadn’t already said before. She would complain that she didn’t feel like she could live up to Paul’s legacy and Patricia would say that she didn’t really have a choice in the matter if she wanted to still be a Wayland.
Phoenix had already asked about switching places in the hierarchy with Dazien, and both her aunt and brother shot the idea down. Dazien explained that he couldn’t if he wanted to branch off later, which she could accept. While Pati explained that she was more important and powerful than Daze, which she adamantly refused to believe.
“Paul wouldn’t say or show it, but I think he worried a lot about things the way you do,” Patricia said, picking up the initial topic she had greeted with, “I hope you’ll be able to see the similarities a bit more as you read through these,” the Ambassador said, gesturing again to the shelves of journals.
“You know what they say?”
The runeforged gave an impish grin, “Aside from living a lot of it with him, I’m a pretty nosy little sister. I couldn’t just not read about what Paul would refuse to tell me.” The priestess glanced at the small empty space of shelving closest to the desk where journals had yet to be placed and added, “I think you should pick up where he left off. Continue the story for him so he can feel like he didn’t miss as much when he reads about it. I think he will like that.”
Phoenix stared at her in silence before looking down again at the book in her hands and giving a subtle nod, “Okay. But you’re not allowed to read it…” Then she gave a small smile to herself and qualified, “Not until after he reads it, or I die for good.”
Patricia gave a wry smile as she said, “Hopefully, that won’t happen ever with that impossible talent of yours. Seriously, I’m going to tear Paul a new one when he wakes up for not telling me such vital information. I wasted so much time trying to solve the wrong problem.”
“Wait, which problem were you fixing, and which are you dealing with now?”
“Well, figuring out how to keep you from getting killed is different from making sure people don’t find out you can’t die,” the priestess explained, “I need to worry less about the protection part now and more about information access points. A completely different beast.”
“Paul seemed to think the best way to solve the latter was to do the first,” she grumbled, “I don’t need to be kept on a wall to not die. I’m not that death-prone.”
“How many times have you died?”
She hesitated, mentally counting and refusing to meet her aunt’s flat gaze, “Only, like, nine times?”
“So, like I said,” Pati continued, “We need to make sure that when you die, people don’t find out and spread it around.”
Phoenix gave a weary sigh, idly brushing her fingers over the pages of Paul’s journal and finally breaking the silence by saying, “Thank you for keeping this all the same. I think part of me thought I would be here when he awoke, but I realize now that probably won’t happen. I’ll be off in some faraway country, most likely, fighting tyrannical regents and killing my way to Ruby Caste…” She tried not to dwell on that sad thought of missing out on the moment Paul opened his eyes again and added, “I’m glad he won’t feel completely lost after however many years of changes he misses.”
“I know you and Dazien aren’t exactly happy with me still,” her aunt said quietly, “But he’s my brother, and if there’s one thing I care about most, it’s my family. Everything I do is for them, including you and your brother. I might not always make the correct choice, but know that my intention is always to keep everyone safe first, then happy and comfortable,” she gestured to the room they were in, “This will make Paul feel more comfortable, I hope.”
“I agree,” she replied, “I think he’ll appreciate being able to find everything right where he left it.”
“That reminds me. There might be a few things missing.” At her raised brow, the priestess added, “Open that top drawer on the left.”
She opened it, and inside was a small red box with a green and purple woven cord around it. Her heart stuttered when she was reminded of the presents that Paul had gotten the twins, and she whispered, “Is— is that for me?”
“Open it and see.”
Phoenix almost didn’t want to. Dazien had seemed a slight mess when she had helped with his absorption ritual for the Spirit Gem that Paul had gotten him. He had told her there was a note but none of them requested to read it. They all knew those words were meant for just the two of them.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Carefully, she picked up the small box, untied the silky cord, and put it into her collection for later use in her hair. Then she slid off the top of the box to find a folded piece of parchment sitting atop a sparkling perfectly-cut spherical Spirit Gem which seemed to be a clear diamond glowing with an inner light that refracted the rainbow.
She set the box and gem on top of the desk and, with the utmost trepidation, opened the note to read.
Phoenix,
You know I’m not good with talking much so I wanted to write this for you instead. You seem to prefer reading anyway so it works well for us. It also helps me not get caught up in whatever madness we’re dealing with and forget everything I wanted to say by doing so ahead of time.
Congratulations on reaching Sapphire Caste. I’m proud of everything you have and will accomplish. I know you’re thinking that isn’t much, but I assure you that I’m proud of you no matter the size of the task or the immensity of the quests you find yourself fulfilling. I’m proud of your success, and I’m proud of your failures because I know that no matter the outcome, you did your best for the sake of others.
You are the stars and moon enlightening the night, the sun that banishes the monsters, and the renewed strength of hope the dawn brings. You will shine even brighter than this Radiant Spirit Gem.
Don’t worry, I didn’t buy it. It’s been sitting in the family vault waiting patiently for my potential firstborn which I believe you qualify as.
I know we can both be stubborn, reckless, and often silent when we should be otherwise. I know we both want to take on the burdens of the world alone. With you, I’ve realized we’ll never be truly alone again. You have given me hope for the future and opened my heart again.
I could not have wished for a better daughter than you.
Your father eternally,
Paul
Phoenix wept.
----------------------------------------
She wasn’t feeling her best after sobbing over Paul’s note and the renewed grief it brought and absorbing the Radiant Spirit Gem with her palm the way Paul had always seen her do. Phoenix now understood why Dazien had been struggling if his own letter was at all similar. Unfortunately, she still had a mission to do that night and begrudgingly opened her portal to take her party to the Wayland Estate.
Now that she was Sapphire, her [Transversing the Stars] ability could handle transporting four Sapphires at once. Despite not being unlocked with a Spirit Gem to begin cultivating its progress towards Emerald, its natural base power had increased with her own. Unfortunately, this still left her needing two portals to transport her whole party at once until it hit level 2.
When she followed after her party five minutes later, the sight of more “offerings” waiting on the doorstep made her face scrunch in displeasure.
“Do you want me to donate them to the temple of the Parent again?” Dazien offered.
“Yes, please,” she responded quietly, “Any in the future, too. Can we just put up a sign or something?”
“I don’t think that would deter them,” the Defender replied, conjuring the large golden doorway that served as the entrance to his [Armory]. While he could conjure weapons and clothing without the door, much like she did for everything in her collection, if it wasn’t equipment, then he had to carry it through the door into his personal dimensional space.
“You might need to move that sculpture though, Princess,” her party leader added as he moved to start picking up some of the gifts left as thanks to the Saint. “I don’t think it will fit through my doorway no matter which way we turn it, and I don’t think the orphans will have much need of it.”
She looked in the direction he gestured towards and was taken aback to see a beautiful statue carved from ice of Paul in his Paladin’s Regalia and feathered wings outstretched with his greatsword lifted in the air in triumph. Her twisted sense of curiosity had her moving closer to it and walking around to take in all the details that must have been made with magic with how perfect it seemed.
Phoenix froze when she saw the back however and realized there was a secondary figure carved so the two were standing back to back, the wings acting almost as a shield to the smaller person… which was her.
Wearing a dress that showed her Soul Mark and hair tied in a crown of braids, her hands were raised as though trying to catch the sky or praise the sun.
“Oh, my…” Saiya said softly, covering her mouth with a hand in surprise, “I’m surprised they put you in that position.”
“Of awkwardness? Why am I up there? What is that position even meant to accomplish?” she questioned, feeling a tangle of emotions rising in her that was difficult to even name. The others were looking at it a moment later in various degrees of awe and sympathy for her discomfort.
“That’s a classical depiction of a Temple Priestess’ sacrifice to their deity. It signifies ‘lifting up’ whatever they are offering in return for ‘catching’ the blessings the deity might return,” Saiya explained.
“Makes sense for a Saint, honestly,” Rayna pointed out, “You basically offered your life in exchange for Hero blessing Kara.”
“Or a piece of your soul to become Chosen in the first place,” Uriel added.
“Oh, there’s an inscription,” the bard pointed out and they all moved closer for a better angle to read the small gold plate embedded in the ice base.
The Saint and her Paladin
When despair descended upon the land,
their radiant sacrifice revived our hope.
“You should give it to Patricia,” Dazien surprised her by saying.
“What? Why?”
He shared a look with Uriel before admitting in a subdued tone, “Because this really is a work of art that deserves to be preserved. Aside from your discomfort with the implications, it’s obvious that a lot of time and emotion went into creating this. It would be a shame to not honor that or acknowledge the sacrifice that Paul gave even if you think your own unworthy of the recognition.”
Phoenix looked back up at the life-sized figures atop the round pedestal base in contemplation. Dazien’s words made her feel even more conflicted because he obviously understood her discomfort, yet thought it was misplaced and knew she would agree Paul deserved the honor.
With a sigh, she finally relented, “Fine, I’ll let Pati figure out what to do with it,” then she noticed the Soul Mark once more and suddenly pointed out, “Wait, how do they know exactly what that looks like? It’s not like I walk around town with it on display. I’ve only shown it when Pati makes me for noble events really.”
Dazien raised a brow and said slowly, “I’m fairly certain that this was made by Noble Icarius Teras. He’s a Glacial Sculptor, remember? And he’s seen your mark up close at both of our Noble Reveals in addition to the memorial.”
She reevaluated the statue with a new perspective, “Po’s father made this? But he knows I’m not… divine or sacred or whatever like this.”
Her brother chuckled, “As I said, it’s art. It’s not meant to be an accurate portrayal. It’s an expression of the feelings you and Paul inspired in him. Honestly, given the fact that he’s still mourning Simmon’s death, it’s actually a relief for me to see this done in such a positive light. It hopefully means he’s healing. Isn’t that right, Lady Saiya?”
The Healer nodded in agreement, reaching her hand out to gently touch the sculpture. The way Saiya closed her eyes for a moment reminded Phoenix about her [Empathic Life] perception that let her sense the emotions of an item’s creator at the time of creation. They had been very careful since then about the clothing and equipment she would buy.
Saiya smiled softly as she reopened her eyes, “I think so too. It really is a lovely piece. Perhaps it can go near the tree marking where Paul’s ritual happened?”
“We can worry about that later,” Rayna interjected, “We’re going to be late to the wall and you know how cranky the guards get when unauthorized portals get opened in public spaces.”
With another sigh, Phoenix made the statue vanish into her collection to deal with when she returned to the World Tree. After a few more minutes of helping move the other gifts into Dazien’s storage for when he would visit later, they all began making their way to the nearest Quicksteam station to get to the eastern district quicker.
It might have been faster for them to just sprint across town, even if Uriel had to be carried, but the guards also frowned upon unnecessary traffic disruptions that tended to cause. Even if they didn’t run into people at those speeds, it still caused plenty of Mundanes to panic and be rebuffed by the wind trail it caused.
They quickly realized their mistake of taking the busy transport that had been one of the first things repaired in the aftermath of destruction. It wasn’t just eyes on Phoenix as they waited in line for one of the glass ports that would take them along the walls to the Manufacturing District. People were stopping to bow or kneel in her direction, many with their hands clasped in prayer or reached out to try and touch the hem of her dress.
“I’m sorry. I should have thought about the crowds and seen if taking a carriage was an option,” Dazien mentally whispered to all of them as they carefully surrounded Phoenix in a protective circle of bodies, “I’ll also schedule a meeting with Director Trayvious or Duke Tul to see if we might be able to get special permission to portal within the city to avoid this kind of disruption.”
“And danger,” Uriel stated firmly, clearly on edge beside her, “There are too many people for us to see a potential attacker before it’s too late.”
A voice rose above the murmur of the crowd, calling out to her, “Saint Wayland! Please, let me through! Saint Wayland!”
Her gaze fell upon a middle-aged runeforged man who looked vaguely familiar with the bright magenta markings covering his dark skin and the dark green priest robes that clashed terribly.
“Doesn’t he look like Acolyte Barrett?” Phoenix asked her party to make sure she wasn’t imagining things.
“Yes,” Dazien confirmed with a frown, “I’m not sure why he’s approaching like this, though. It makes me nervous.”
However, they couldn’t move away with the crowd partially locking them in. A few moments later, the man had managed to convince the crowd to part slightly as he slid to his knees and raised his hands up in offering to her, “Please, Saint Wayland, I beseech thee to grant thy humble servant a miracle and give my son your kiss.”