“Saint Rosendorf served the people of Carrador and Cyndralia in equal measures when he sacrificed his life to subdue a rogue Myndiri necromancer and their army of the dead that emerged from the Mistveil. We remember him in his service to the realm and to the safety of the continent. May he forever be graced by the stars.” - Engravings located on the plinth of the statue of Saint Rosendorf located in Eichafen.


    <hr><hr>


    Lightwarden Manric pinched his nose as his furrowed brows wiggled in distress. Clearly Sophie’s recounting of events had troubled him and despite his tired if somewhat abrasive demeanour she was secretly glad that at least he Lightwarden was taking her seriously. Perhaps we’re one step closer to a solution after all. Annalise had planted herself on the steps leading to the room and Sophie could tell that unfortunately she too, was extremely concerned as she mulled over Sophie’s words.


    Sophie watched with her own growing concern as the other two remained silent for an inordinately long time, her eyes trying their best not to stare and instead inspecting the different statuettes of the Goddesses and Gods. A small tinge of disappointment settled over her, it made sense that everyone mainly prayed to the high pantheon, but she often found herself turning to Stellesia, Goddess of wanderers, travellers, and the lost. Whose only real crime in humanity’s eyes was being a divine who very much was revered by the elvish clans in ages past, though nowadays even the elves have mostly turned to Astralis or Tesadus fully.


    “If what you say is indeed the truth then this is of grave concern indeed, I would recommend an exorcism and many prayers to begin with. Though I doubt it is a malevolent spirit or demonic possession per se, it is one measure we should take just in case.” Father Manric’s voice drew the girl’s attention as he spoke. “Thankfully it shows no signs of domination or controlling your actions fully aside from the emergence of phantom pain. And just to be clear, your slight limp and bandages on your arms have nothing to do with this…this entity?”


    “Yes sir, they were either field injuries or from scuffles.”


    “Ok, so at least we can rule out physical control completely. And mentally have you done or said things that you felt were the creature’s instead of yourself?”


    “I..” Sophie blanked as she tried to recall every instance she had met the creature, “I don’t think so? But I did try to converse with it somewhat.”


    “You what?” Father Manric baulked, the surprise clearly visible.


    “I..it wasn’t intentional. I discovered it seemingly responded to my questions and so I tried thinking at it, and speaking aloud. But only a little, and I don’t think it cared enough to respond either.” She quickly added, hoping she didn’t just earn herself a spot on the Astral Church’s hit-list for heretics.


    “That is concerning indeed. But you’re sure there’s been no direct mental influence? No forced words or strange conversations?” Father Manric asked. Yet even though he looked at Sophie and directed the question at her, she couldn’t help but feel that he was asking if Annalise had ever seen such behaviour instead.


    Proficient picking up the subtle cues, Annalise responded on Sophie’s behalf better than she ever could.


    “There was one time where we took a bath. I asked her about her past and she practically seized up as if under the effects of a spell or a major allergy. Aside from that I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary besides what she told you.” Annalise looked at Sophie as she replied, making the girl ever so slightly more self conscious, as if the ranger was accusing her of holding things back.


    “Oh? That’s an interesting thing to note,” Father Manric rubbed his stubble, “Don’t tell me the memories yet, but what time frame were they about? Perhaps someone or something implanted a complex series of spells to forcibly stop you from remembering something. Potentially a cult ritual even.” Father Manric suggested and Sophie felt herself shiver at the thought.


    “Umm, I’m not really sure. All I know is that I can’t really recall much beyond a decade ago. I remember being six and then growing up but everything about being just a kid is super fuzzy to me. Like just nothingness that causes a headache.”


    Annalise placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and looked on with concern in her eyes whilst the Father contemplated her words some more.


    “It seems likely to be something mind altering or at least a spell web linked to certain memories. Though I still recommend at least going through the exorcism and some holy rituals, I suspect a mage might do you more good than a priest. For that I apologise, I shall speak to some seniors however, perhaps they can better aid you.” Father Manric bowed.


    Both Sophie and Annalise looked at each other and sighed in collective disappointment. Not an ideal outcome, but I’m not too surprised I suppose.


    “Please, remain here for a moment or two while I fetch my colleagues.” He gestured to the shrines as he left, “Ask for blessings as you see fit, the process ahead might be arduous indeed.”


    Sophie planted herself on the carpet and laid down with her eyes closed as she felt the other girl looked down at her.


    “Mmm eh?” She grumbled.


    “You okay?” Annalise’s quiet voice bounced off the prayer room walls.


    “Yeah.”


    “You sure?”


    “Yeah?”


    “Sorry for being nosy, I’m just worried. Demons? Possession? Magic spells? Fuck, Sophie what the hell happened to you when you were younger?”


    “Hmm, I wish I knew.” She whispered and opened her eyes. She found herself staring at the intricately detailed mural decorating the room ceiling.


    High Goddess Astralis bestowing her blessing on Saint Theobald the Just as he knelt revelrantly inside the Heavenly Court itself. Golden halos and radiant colours dotted the mural as a host of angels stood stoically, Saints Aratheal and Lord Krux Stouthoof flanking Theobald, as the six other High Gods watched with varying degrees of interest. Rise of the First Heroes, she recalled her lessons, at our darkest hour during the First Dark Tide Astralis reached out and appointed three champions, a human, an elf and a beastkin.


    “Hah…do you see this?” She asked absently, only to jump up when there was no response, “Annalise?”


    She could feel her heart begin to race as a sense of dread washed over her. A low droning noise reverberated throughout the room as her head began to ache. The walls of the prayer room slowly morphed into a slurry of stone dust as it flowed down the walls into a puddle below. The mural on the roof moulted into a horrific mess of limbs and darkness as the entity pushed its viscous body through the now melted faces of the saints.


    The cursed winds reveal the temple of ages, find the stolen dawn


    Sophie froze and gaped at it in shock. This is a temple to Astralis, how can this be?


    It comes, it comes to reap, time is short


    The creature maniacally cackled before a powerful shockwave knocked the wind out of Sophie’s chest. Visions of a malformed misty monster, caked in the robes of death and decay trudged through the muddy forest floor, leaving behind a trail of corpses. Around it countless ritual pentagrams and sigils dotted the floor, all staffed by the recent dead and skin-walkers, whilst numerous captives whimpered helplessly.


    Beware, thou art to be of the traitor king and seek the refuge of the ancients


    With a bone chilling screech it pulled itself back into the slurry on the ceiling and vanished in a flash of light that obliterated the darkness as suddenly as it had appeared. Sophie winced from the noise, her eardrums ringing as she fought to reorientate herself.


    Before Sophie had a chance to comprehend the situation the door to the room swung open and Father Manric returned with a small bag of supplies alongside the red clad priest from earlier who introduced himself as Bishop Mehner. Without barely a word the two began placing a series of candles around the room and ordered Sophie to remain inside a circle of salt, holy water and what looked to be a blessed runestone imbued with holy magic. They ordered Annalise to stand at a distance and before long had begun chanting in holy script, a small burst of divine magic illuminating the rune in a brilliant yellow.


    Sophie could feel a rapid pounding in her head and almost puked when the ritual was quickly concluded. Annalise had hurried over to offer her support and Sophie leaned against her friend as the two clergymen walked over to deliver their diagnosis.


    “Bishop Mehner and I can confidently conclude you aren''t possessed by a demon or another entity. At least nothing that is outwardly standing in opposition to divine magic, something which would’ve been very concerning indeed.” Father Manric narrated as the Bishop nodded along.


    “But?” Annalise asked before Sophie could.


    “But my hypothesis was correct in that there has been some firm magicks within your physical body that is preventing us from dispelling or investigating the matter any further. Thank you for the help Bishop Mehner.” Father Manric nodded before turning back to the duo.


    “So what are we supposed to do?”


    “On the other side from town, past the Grand Heldplatz, there’s a building locals call the Oaksworn Fortress. Ugly squat little square building, but it''s home to one of the freelance mages living here, the other being the Lord Mayor’s assistant so probably your only option. Sorry we couldn’t offer more assistance.”


    Annalise looked incensed and Sophie quickly jumped in before she could escalate the situation.


    “Thank you very much, we’ll be on our way then.” Sophie hurriedly tried bringing Annalise along as the other girl barely tried to conceal her disapproval.


    “May you be graced by the stars.”


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    “Ah uhh thank you Lightwarden, graced by the stars.” Sophie replied as the two quickly left the premises, barely acknowledging a small goodbye to the Lightward who first attended to them.


    Back outside, a rush of air buffeted their faces and Sophie breathed a small sigh of contentment as her headache slowly vanished as the dry musty smell of the cathedral was replaced by far more festive scents. Well dressed and wealthy townspeople began filling up the square and the preacher had long since packed up his pulpit, clearing the way in front of the cathedral as they descended the steps.


    “I saw it again.” Sophie quietly muttered.


    “What?” Annalise immediately snapped her head towards Sophie.


    “The thing, the creature.”


    “In the church?” Annalise asked with wide eyes.


    “Yeah…”


    “And you didn’t tell me or the priest? How could something happen inside the cathedral? Isn’t it consecrated ground? Did their exorcism push it away at least? What did it do this time?”


    “Ahh…” Sophie floundered for a moment, the older girl’s barrage of questions catching her off guard, “Why-why don’t I just tell you this over lunch?” She suggested.


    With a scowl Annalise rolled her eyes in dissatisfaction but nodded begrudgingly and Sophie couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.


    “Yeah, yeah. You’re probably right.”


    “Sorry.”


    “Don’t be, I’m just pissed the church basically waved us away.” She growled.


    “I mean…they did look pretty exhausted whatever the case, they probably just got annoyed at some crazy girl bothering them. He did say to check in with the mage at the Oaksworn? Fortress.”


    Annalise glared at Sophie before the older girl sighed and snorted. “By the saints I forget you haven’t been here before. The mage he’s sending you, us, to meet is Herman Veers, he’s less a ‘mage’ than some crazy hobo who occupied the town’s abandoned library.”


    “What?” It was Sophie’s turn to be surprised as she tried to process the new information, “What do you mean?”


    “Mmhmm, some hobo basically found the town’s abandoned first library and stayed there ever since. That’s who he was telling you to meet. Everyone knows his name because he shouts it from the window at night. Probably thought he could get rid of you with a fancy story and promise when he realised you''ve never been here before.”


    “Wait…but that means he…he lied to us?”


    “Well to you really, why do you think I’m so fucking mad at him. Saints above I cannot fathom how you survived in this world this long sometimes.” Annalise added with a strained grin.


    “But then, does that mean everything we just did meant nothing? That we learned nothing?”


    The ranger pulled Sophie in for a gentle embrace, “Maybe, maybe not.” She sighed with a sad look in her eyes, and Sophie could feel Annalise’s mood swing from anger to pity once again, before landing on what Sophie could only describe as mischievous. “At least we did learn one thing.”


    “Eh?”


    “That I’m still hungry and the day’s not over yet. So let’s eat and you tell me everything properly this time alright?”


    Sophie felt a hand pat her head softly and couldn’t help but be a little more reassured. Riza liked to nuzzle when stressed and Annalise liked to pet her head, it was a comforting realisation and routine that she had grown to appreciate. She quickly threw on a small smile and a nod to reassure the older girl, feeling a momentary burst of relief when she saw Annalise grin back in return.


    As they stared at each other for a moment, Annalise suddenly gave Sophie a light but startling jab to the side.


    “Well the restaurant sure as hells ain’t here and the afternoon grows late. So we should get moving, unless you’re the snack.” Annalise winked and strode off into the crowd, a renewed pep in her step.


    Surprised, Sophie recovered slowly and frowned trying to interpret the other girl’s words before realising she had a good chance of getting lost on her own and that Annalise was in fact, actually disappearing into the crowd without her.


    “W-wait for me!” She yelped as she raced after the girl, her footsteps and the market barely covering the sounds of distant thunder.


    <hr><hr>


    ‘Lunch’ or rather ‘tea time’ was a splendid affair. When Annalise had promised to treat her Sophie didn’t know what to think, maybe a meat pie or some stew would’ve been more than enough. Yet when they finally reached the shop with a gilded green boar’s head serving as a mantlepiece, she knew she was going to be in for a shocker.


    Inside was a beautifully decorated dining room, adorned with all manner of different excesses. Trophies, art pieces, and even small indoor lanterns hung on the walls. A deep earthy red coat of paint evoked a sense of mystique and classiness that paired perfectly with the richer brown coloured floorboards. Definitely darker than oak or pine, maybe imported wood? But here? On the frontier?! She thought with a brief sense of bewilderment. The bannisters that partitioned the different booths and serving areas, the tables and even the bar counter showed similar signs to the floor and for a moment she wondered if she had stepped into a different Eichafen completely.


    The few staff too as they turned their heads to the doorway were fancy. Silken uniforms studded with little crests of the gilded boar''s head and fine leather boots polished to a shine proved an imposing figure to the ill dressed maid. Though they had certainly missed the actual noontime rush, what few patrons also reflected the look of nobles and aristocrats, their extravagant curls, puffs and cuffs a little too similar to the dignitaries sometimes hosted back at the estate.


    The feeling that coursed through here was much the same as when they first reached Saint Rosendorf Square, a sense of deep unease at how out of place they looked in such finery. But as she moved to tug on the ranger’s sleeves Annalise had instead raised her hands to wave at someone on the far side of the building.


    To Sophie’s surprise the owner was a former adventurer and one who knew Annalise well enough that despite their ill manners of dress the man had led the two of them to a private room upstairs where they were served all manner of dishes for free.


    Finely roasted raptor haunch served with a seasoned celeriac and boar fat jus, thinly sliced pieces of lamb served with a dash of mint alongside a compote made from local fruits, apricot tarts with a crisp but fluffy crust. All dishes Sophie was sure even the Duchess would be happy at eating. She furiously tried to note down the ingredients and preparation styles that she could gleam from just tasting and seeing the dish alone, when she met with Eva at Arteria she would make the perfect meal to surprise her.


    On the contrary the atmosphere between herself and Annalise was more tense than ever. Perhaps she was still mad at the church, or even at Sophie for withholding more information until now, regardless what would’ve been a completely overwhelming but jovial meal remained ever so slightly worrying for Sophie. Thankfully the meal ended without issue and though Annalise still remained somewhat sullen, the two eventually hurried to an armourer to get her fitted before the day ended and he closed up shop.


    It was nightfall by the time the two had accomplished their errands for the day, and even if Annalise still cursed the priest every now and then, Sophie was at least certain the other girl was no longer genuinely upset and more just mildly annoyed. After what seemed like an hour of navigating through even busier crowds, they finally reached the guildhall.


    “By the saints,” Annalise huffed, “It’s like a damned festival had sprung up out of nowhere.”


    Banners, flyers and flags of all kinds hung around Heldplatz, kids ran around holding little lanterns and other strange toys. Carpenters, labourers, lumberjacks and many faces she briefly recalled from the morning now were the ones sitting and relaxing in front of the cafes and stalls. Humans and beastfolk with the occasional dwarf or gnome traipsing around with jolly spirit though she was a little disappointed she could find no other traces of the elves that dwelled here.


    “Yeah...is it always this lively here? I’ve always thought of the frontier as a gloomier and more dour place.”


    “Not really, but two coppers says it had something to do with the caravan we saw the other day.”


    “So like a religious festival?”


    “Something like that.” The older girl scowled once more at the thought of the church.


    Panicked, Sophie quickly looked around for a way to assuage the ranger when her unlikely saviours arrived almost uncannily at the same time.


    “Look! Everyone’s back!” Sophie exclaimed.


    Sara and Arnold looked pleased whilst Riza happily chattered away. Thulgrim on the other hand already looked inebriated and just as surprised to see everyone here before he hid it with an angry frown.


    Sophie watched with joy when Annalise’s frown turned upside down and she shot Sophie a small nod of appreciation as they moved to meet their compatriots.


    “Anna! Sophie!” Riza beamed.


    “Nice to see everyone too!” Sophie replied excitedly.


    “You should’ve seen her when we wrapped up with the guild paperwork, she looked like she would’ve rather joined the de…ow!” Arnold yelped as Sara smacked him upside the head.


    “Riza I’m sorry he’s an idiot.”


    “It’s fine.”


    “You guys sorted everything then?” Annalise asked.


    “Pretty much, just a shame they didn’t have any seats for us at The Treehouse. Apparently the Lord Mayor and the church are doing a ceremony in two days and everyone’s taking time off when they can. Man, their drinks always pick my mood up.” Arnold moped.


    “That’s only because you’re an alcoholic.” Sara chided.


    “Yeah but not as much as short stock.” Arnold pointed at the Dwarf.


    “Arnie!”


    “You have to admit he drinks far more than I do.”


    “Oy, you looking for a fight?” The dwarf puffed up his chest as he approached.


    “Lads, lads, before you brawl you said there’s a ceremony in two days? Isn’t that when we head out?” Annalise interjected.


    “Uhh more or less yeah, you planning on going on a date before we go?”


    “I-what! No!”


    “Tsk, you’re pretty easy to read you know…ow!” Arnold joked as he got smacked by Sara again.


    “Now, now. She can handle herself.”


    “I was just-ow!” Sara smacked him again.


    “Beat him harder, over the head!” Thulgrim cheered.


    As that trio geared up for a brawl, Annalise plopped herself on the steps leading to the guildhall once more and the other two followed her example, scooting closer together to avoid blocking the path.


    “Any plans for tomorrow?” The ranger asked the cat.


    “Nah…we took care of most things today.” Riza replied.


    “The two take care of you though?”


    “Huh? Yeah! Sara and Arnold are super nice! Super smart too even if Arnold does lack a few brain cells here and there.” And the two shared a small chuckle.


    “What about you two? Got everything sorted? Have fun?” Riza asked.


    Annalise and Sophie shared a glance and gave a frustrated shake. “Nah, the church couldn’t do shit to help her.” Annalise gave a small poke, “We still have a mage to see tomorrow.”


    “A mage?”


    “Yeah, our little Sophie is cursed apparently.”


    “Cursed?!” Riza looked on in shock.


    “No, no! Just some nightmares, Annalise is exaggerating!” Sophie quickly reassured her, “And we did have fun! I even tried memorising some recipes.”


    Riza turned her concerned gaze to Annalise who replied with a roll of her eyes. “Fine, fine. I’m exaggerating, but only barely! Has she gone through her nightmare with you yet?”


    “Not really.”


    “Tch, just make sure she gets some sleep tonight and you know, not get injured out of nowhere.”


    Riza and Sophie shared a sheepish look and the cat quickly nodded her affirmation.


    “Well you two have a good night, I have to make sure these three don’t get in trouble or Gil is gonna be pissed.”


    “Good night!”


    “Umm good night! And thanks for showing me around today. It was really nice.”


    Annalise stopped in her tracks as if to consider something before she flashed Sophie a smile and gave her another head pat before she moved into the crowd to chase the three troublemakers.


    “Tired?” Riza turned to Sophie as the other left, the question itself eliciting a small yawn from the half elf.


    “Murr, I guess.” She bobbed her head, “But oh man have you been to the oh shoot what was the name, it’s the place with the gilded green boar sign.”


    “Gilded green boar? You mean The Gilded Gentlemen? Past Rosendorf Square? Isn’t that like a really fancy restaurant for rich people?”


    “Yeah!” Sophie began as they started walking home, “But apparently Annalise knew the guy and we got to try all these fancy things like…”