Upon hearing the old inn's proprietress's warning, Lucy stroke her chin in contemplation.
-The Sacred Winds...Like I've said at dinner, I've heard rumors about those people, but I don't know too much, since they always vanish into thin air. But I thought the Sacred Winds had men and women warriors in their folds. What makes outsider women so special to them..? You'd think they'd look to keep their folds as closely knit to the tribe as possible...
Agatha nodded.
-Mind you, this is all from the rumors and testimonies that the people of this region have compiled. They do love to deliver great speeches to their helpless victims, whenever they raid their towns, so one can gleam bits of info here and there. They have a very religious cult-ish vibe to them, after all...- she clarified.
"But yes, the Sacred Winds seem to have both men and women as warriors in their ranks. Their women can also be caretakers of the tribe and the men gatherers of resources. But when the warriors make their rounds, they keep an eye for foreign women, because they're looking for priestesses. Or rather, women they can force to be priestesses.
Again, the Sacred Winds seem to have a very strong religious way of life. They seem to believe that their actions are all in the name of the gods. Through rituals, they sort of...let the voice of the gods go through them and tell them what they should be doing next. Be it peace or violence, they seem to only do what the voices tell them to do.
And that's what makes them so horrible, a brand of evil different than the Clear Souls group. While the Clear Souls attack everything that they brand as 'filthy', leaving no survivors, if the voices decide to tell the Sacred Winds to commit every other atrocity besides murder, they'll gladly do it.
Whether it translates to pillaging, maiming, sexual assault or displaying of corpses, by following the rituals, they believe that they're closer to the times of the Genesis War, when the gods walked hand in hand with humankind.
Be it peace or violence, they see it as their calling. Their duty.
As such, they perpetuate this bloodshed towards anyone that's not a Sacred Wind. They do not leave any of their deceased behind in battle, since giving the body a proper burial is paramount to them. Hence why they always seem to vanish without a trace after an assault.
But because they're so soaked in blood, their men and women cannot take a role of the cloth. Hence why they look for people to fulfill those positions elsewhere. And foreign priestesses are high on their shopping list, since women were always the ones tasked with the religious duties back in the days of legends.
So, if you're a priestess caught by them, they take you back to whatever hole they live in, and force you to do their bidding, to participate in their rites of violence. And if you're just a regular woman, tough luck, they'll make you become their priestess."
-That's...awful..!- Lucy covered her mouth, eyes wide at this information. She also couldn't help but be amazed at how thorough Agatha reported this "hearsay". It seemed that her knight-aspiring qualities hadn't dulled a bit, even in her old age. Information-gathering was always a prized quality in a BladeMaster, after all.
-Yes. When they attacked us the other way...we could see it in their eyes. The way they looked at our lasses. Like they were simple livestock, to dress up in their robes and dance to their tune. Thankfully, Zanten repelled them, but now that they've been foiled twice, I fear that their anger may ravage the continent...
-"Twice"..? What do you mean by that?- Lucy asked.
-The Sacred Winds, thanks to their mysterious hit and run tactics, have managed to successfully kidnap many, many innocent women to turn into priestesses. Nobody has ever been able to find their bases, as they seemingly love to hole up in caverns, the underground, deep ravines...
"But one day, a few years ago, one of their encampments was discovered by the Order. A pretty big one, at that, from what the populace was allowed to know. While they are nomads, the various sub-tribes seem to intersect at times. These temporary hubs are quite big, enough to house hundreds of people.
And the one that the Order discovered...was found in a completely bloody and scorched mess.
Save for one young woman.
I've never seen this lady myself, but apparently, not long after they took her, their encampment was annihilated. It seems that she was a rather vicious BladeMaster, as nobody remained, not even the non-warriors, their elders or children. It was a complete massacre, even beyond what they usually did.
Since then, the survivors that hailed from the sub-tribes not present at the time of that incident have nicknamed that woman as 'The Beast' and rallied together to continue their fallen brethren's task."
-Seems like they bit off more than they could chew...-Lucy mumbled- But a young woman against all those warriors...if she really is a BladeMaster, I sure never heard of her in the Sharenian courts...
Agatha shrugged. It seemed that, in regards to this "Beast"'s identity, the rumors went cold.
-Well, since then, their efforts have been renovated, believing they're under some sort of wicked trial by the gods. At least that's what they've told us when they attacked us. They keep seeking their priestess, but now they have their eyes on "purer" ones that they can indoctrinate more easily into their culture. - Agatha continued.
"Hence why they demanded that we delivered our little girls, so they can 'raise them up properly'...
But Zanten defeated them. And, as such, to be foiled again by a similar source of infernal power...I fear that they'll destroy everything in their path in search of their prized priestess.
I just know it. Anyone that doesn't fit the bill will be killed without question.
And if their fancied 'priestess' refuses to go with them...she'll die as well."
*
After the tenth loud sigh that escaped from her lips, Mercedes couldn't help herself and ended up pacing back and forth alongside the wall of the inn, always making sure she kept the hand that faced the wall constantly placed against it.
-Stupid Lucy...if it weren't for this Advent keeping us in place, I would...ughhh! Making us get all dolled up, making us play her silly charades..!
She'd bring her free hand to her blonde hair, scratching it furiously.
-And where does she get off, taking the main role for herself, without consulting us?! What, just because you're the leader of the Angel's Crow, you're now suddenly entitled to play as the cool madame?!- she'd mumble to herself- And now we have to sit there, listening her to her stupid "Foh foh foh"-ing, while we should be out there fighting!
Her steps would then screech to a halt and she'd let out a succinct huff.
-I-I mean, okay, I have to be honest. Mercedes Kroe is not a liar. I'd...like to play as the noble madame. So why couldn't we just make up someone totally new? Why would we need to steal Lady Ruby's identity just because she looks a bit---okay, fairly---ugh...okay, exactly like Lucy? We could just be a group of random nobles from some far-off region of Moxwell, who happened to be vacationing in Karash. That way, everyone would have the shot to be the heroine!
"Terri could be this big, tough military general woman, whose mighty size and strength belly a graceful and composed feminine side; Allie could be this affluent nouveau-riche lady who never forgets her humble origins...
And I could be...ah...maybe I could be the sole heiress of a vast feudal territory. I'd be educated in etiquette, horse riding, but be surprisingly good at fencing, which my family would fear would make me too tomboy-ish, teehee~"
Mercedes would place her hands on her hips, let out a little chuckle and then resume her pacing.
-I could have a big fancy silver dress...have my hair in those bourgeois curls...and a tiara would be nice. And I'm pretty confident in walking in heels...And everyone else could play as my extended family and servants! Heck, if Lucy wants to parade around in a big dress, maybe she could play as my eccentric widow mother!
"Eldus could be my grouchy granpappy who would love to spoil me; Ciny my distant cousin who is arranged to marry me, but has a secret relationship with a foreign general; Noelle could be the family's frumpy cat, with a little lacy collar around her neck, who acts like she owns the place; Zeke could be my lady-in-waiting who's been at my side since childhood, and with whom I'd share my deepest, darkest secrets; and Master Gee would obviously be the distant uncle, who suddenly returned from being presumed dead and would be then locked in a fierce battle with me over the heritage of our lands..!"
She would gasp, taking both hands to her chest, the dark void around her suddenly being painted with all sorts of pretty colors, as she'd twirl around, lost in her fantasies.
-Terri could be my strict fencing and horse riding instructor; Allie would be my graceful ballet teacher, always armed with the whip to correct my posture; Guy could be the estate's exotic chef; Axel my teacher in Classic Literature, who always breaks out in poetry at the drop of a hat; Master Rye could be the family's counselor, always clamoring about how strong we were during the BladeMaster War; Sobek the speed-junkie chauffeur for the family's airship; and, obviously Hanzo would be the head butler, always keeping the maids and other butlers in check; and Noah---
She'd stop in her tracks, eyes wide as the painting she had created began shattering around her, bringing back the unrelenting dark cold void she found herself within.
-Noah would be...
White Feather would grab and crunch the lace on the chest region of her dress, lips curled up as she felt her heart thumping up a stampede.
-The unassuming stable boy...he'd take care of the horses...would sometimes smell kinda weird, but always kind and hardworking, to pay for my mother's generosity in taking him into the estate all those years ago.
"My mother would also have him eat alongside everyone at the big dining table, something he'd be ever so happy to attend, even if his table manners wouldn't be the best. He also wouldn't be the best at reading or writing, but I would secretly teach him until he was a pro...And he'd watch my fencing classes from afar and train by himself, while copying said lessons. For his dream is to be a knight at the capital...the faraway capital...away from the estate...away from us...and me...
And one rainy day, just before he'd be on his way, I would have a horse riding lesson (I would force Terri to give me one, despite the weather), near the river by the estate.
I'd ride fast and recklessly, trying to outrun my thoughts, causing me to be dangerously close to the river...until, suddenly, a bolt of lightning would spook the horse, causing it to jolt and toss me into the deep, restless waters.
And, without hesitation, he'd appear and jump in, dragging me out of the cold depths...
And once we'd be out, he'd look at me, with those dopey red eyes and go:
'Mistress, are you okay?!'
The rain masking my fearful tears...as well as the tears that would resurface upon seeing him again.
'I thought I cried all my tears last night', I'd say between hiccups.
I thought I was resolute.
That I had made my peace.
But slowly...selfishly...I'd reach out and---"
Mercedes would grab at her hair.
-AAAAGGHHH! WHAT AM I SAYING?!- she'd raspily scream out loud, face so red that not even the mightiest fever would get her looking so flushed. Clutching her hair tightly, her lips would be curled up and her teeth gritted as she cursed her wandering mind.
-What am I even on about?! What a crappy story! Why am I inserting myself as perfect and flawless little main character, who'd teach poor Noah to be a pro at reading, all the while also being so good at fencing that he'd copy me?! How vain of me!
"And why in gods' blazes would Terri even allow me to ride my horse on a rainy day?! And not even a light drizzle, but full-on storming!
Not only that, having Zeke as my lady-in-waiting?! He'd fall asleep while making my bed!
And Ciny as my cousin/arranged fiance?! Ew!
If I wrote this and told the story to the kids at Ophelia's, they'd tease me to no end--NO NO NO, WHY AM I EVEN CONSIDERING PUTTING THIS TO PAPER?!"
Pacing around desperately, she'd clutch her cheeks, pulling them tightly, as well as her bottom eyelids.
-Ugggh, this is so embarrassing! First, I make Noah a goofy knight that rides around on a horse-fied Lucy named "Lucius", and now I make him a goofy stable boy employed by my "mother" Lucy?! Gods, not even the stables stink this much!
"Why do I even default to him being the hero and me the maiden in need of saving, anyways?! I'm the mercenary here, while he's barely even an intern at Angel's Crow! That's not very empowering!
Agh, who am I even kidding with this?! I can write myself to be whoever I damn well please, there's no need to hide myself behind any societal veil! If I want to be a cutesy princess, I'll be that, gods darn it!
But why does he have to be the prince anyways? Why always him as the love interest? What qualities does he even have..?"
Stopping in her tracks, Mercedes would take a deep breath, massing her aching temples.
-Because he's nice to me? Because he's not afraid of me, despite me being a mercenary? I mean, he's not the only one, Jackson Gaiaheart over at the Academy isn't afraid of me either. And neither are Axel, Zeke and Guy...
"Well, with the former it's clearly a underclassman/upperclassman deal...besides, Jackson is nice to everyone, despite him being of noble birth...as for those three doofuses...well, obviously it's because Noah's nice to me, so they're nice by default...friend of a friend and all that...
Are my standards that low, then?! I shouldn't f-f-f-fall for someone, just because they're nice to me! There has to be something more!
W-what, is it all the evenings we've spent together sewing?
Tch, come on now, Mercedes, you can't even say we do it "together"! He's a total clutz! He's always screwing up and whenever I correct him, he'll stumble on something new!
And then, I'll have to teach him again! And then...and then..."
The poor girl clutched her chest.
-He looks at me...with those dopey red eyes of his. With no second intentions, he just...listens to me...and tries his best to apply what I say...
"He never misses sewing without a good reason...and when he does, he apologizes...Even now, with Ciny always dropping by to make sure we're not up to no good, he doesn't mind...
He doesn't make dirty jokes whenever he has to sew women's clothing...nor does he mock the other mercenaries whenever he fixes an uniform with a personalized touch or embroidery...
He sits every night on the crappy wooden chair I found at the dorms and carried over to my room, while I sit in my comfy pillowed chair...right next to me...diligently trying his best, even if he's a total butter fingers...always next to me..."
She'd then touch her right shoulder, almost like she could feel his own shoulder brushing against hers.
-I'm so selfish...-she would end up muttering- So far, I've only listed the things he does for me. He's not afraid to me, he's nice to me, he shares my workload...Shouldn't a healthy relationship be more...two-sided? What do I like about him besides what he does for me?
Shutting her eyes tightly, she'd rummage her feverish brain for an answer.
-Nice...honest...diligent...Well, now that I think about it, he's all that, but not only towards me.
"Yeah, he and Ciny had a very rough start and ended up dueling...but Noah already apologized directly to me...and doesn't hate me for hitting him in anger...now he and Ciny are much better. Heck, even with the Elites...even after Lucy hid her past from him...he doesn't harbor any hatred in his heart.
He's always so thankful for what Lucy did for him, even if she annoys him daily. He always does his best to help her out whenever she needs help, or even an ear to listen to her diva diatribes...
And with Backlash...his amnesia...schoolwork...training. He's always so diligent. He passed his exams at the Academy and gave Lucy a pretty good duel. He may be clumsy, but he isn't lazy. Heck, even now he's throwing himself towards all manner of subjects, in hopes of finding his lost passions...
He does it all so...purely, without harboring any ill will towards other people, be it jealousy or hatred. What is the word I'm looking for..? It's not 'manly', or 'stoic', or 'cool'...he's actually a really big ditz..."
Her eyes would then widen and she'd snap her fingers.
-Ah! That's it! It's..."Innocence". He's a...big...silly...goofy...innocent boy. It's honestly...otherworldly...
Hands tightly clasped together, her frame would slump slightly.
-And what do I do in return? Just yell and berate him. Always with a critique at the tip of my tongue. Gods, I'm not a very good person, let alone a good senior mercenary...Gods, he must think I'm so annoying.
"So what, am I...one of those types of girls?!
'Psh, i-it's not like I like you or anything, so don't get any funny ideas, you big dunce!'
Ugghhh, I can feel myself shriveling, what a walking cliché I am!
I'm not a kid anymore, so why can't I be more honest with myself?! With him?!
Instead of just delegating myself into a prickly corner of briars, I should just go up to him and go:"
She'd then place her hands on her hips, and stood upright, looking straight forward towards an imaginary object.
-"Noah, I fancy you very much! I'd like to ask you out on a date!"- she'd say in a confident tone.
-And then he'd be like:
She then turned around, switching positions with said imaginary object, and took a slightly more slumped position, placing her index finger on her lips, with a goofy smile.
-"What's that? If you want the date, we're on the 67th of the Aqua Cycle!"-she'd say with a dopey voice.
-And then he'd look at me with those stupid little red eyes and dopey little smile---ughhhh!!!
"It's!
So!
Cute!"
Mercedes would then collapse to her knees, panting up a storm, the whirlwind of emotions and inner revelations being too much for the sickly girl, who'd find her face awash in cold sweat.
-I can't believe I'm resorting to this, but I should ask Master Gee for advice...maybe I'll ask Allie as well, to get both sides of the aisle.
"Gods, I'm dead tired. For now, I need some sleep. Back to the inn I go--"
She'd then reach out to the side.
But find nothing.
Waving her hand around, she'd find nothing but air, the wall she was using for support completely gone.
Getting up in a hurry, with her arms in front of her, waving desperately, she'd try her best to find the inn's building.
But she'd feel nothing. Not even the faintest soul power.
Eventually, she couldn't help but sniffle, eyes watering at her stupidity.
-AND NOW I GOT LOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ADVENT, GODS DAMN IIIIITTTTT!!!!
After a few seconds, she'd shakily get up and try her best to find her way back. She didn't have a candle and her Lightus powers didn't work. There were no other lights around her (save for the red shape of the Lunafaye moon, peering mercilessly upon her, but casting no light beyond its form) so she couldn't use the Lightus eyesight she had trained, to be able to peer through dark places by using the most minute source of light, to find her way back to the inn.
As such, all Mercedes could do was walk around with her arms extended, groping around at the air, trying to find anything she could lay her hands upon. If she found a building of Kolimbra, she could, from there, make her way back to the inn.
But, after a few minutes, she'd find nothing. A tinge of despair washed over her. This particular Advent could last for days and, without food or water, even if the rest of the Brigade came out to try and find her, it was very likely that they'd miss each other amidst the unrelenting void that surrounded all of Gaia, which would lead to her slow demise, all by herself.
She'd meekly call out to the void, hoping that someone could hear her, but her raspy throat produced little more than a whisper. All of her shouting certainly didn't help her either.
With each step, she'd curse her own childish idiocy and promised herself that, if she ever returned that she'd never do something so stupid ever again.
All the while, her clogged up nose would completely miss the lingering scent of blood...
Until...
-Sniff, sniff...-through her clogged up nostrils, Mercedes would finally pick up on something amidst all of the snot.
-Gods, what is this..? Am I near some slaughterhouse or something..? What's this sme---
"NEEEIIIGHHHH!!!"
The sudden sound made her jump, a little "Eep!" leaving her lips as she'd tumble on the ground, falling right on her behind.
Before she could even let out an "ouch", however, the sound of trotting reached her ears. For a second, she thought that Lucius the Horse had come to her rescue, but such thoughts were quickly pushed aside as more sets of hooves approached her.
Following by little lights emerging from the darkness. Little red blobs that would conglomerate together, casting shadows upon various tall figures.
-Well, well, lookie what we've found....I thought that this Advent was the sign of the gods that this night was not going to be fruitful. But it's quite the opposite.- a voice would sound. A male voice, quite aged.
-I can't feel any soul power from her, though...-a raspy female voice would sound next- What a curious little bunny our snare has brought us...
Before long, as all the lights gathered together, a slowly rising Mercedes would see who approached her: a sizable group, of more than a dozen people, all riding on horses, slowly surrounding her.
All of the horses sported, glinting on their legs and foreheads, encrusted Mistral Stones, which glowed with a soft purple light. While all animals were born with Enchant Stones on them, the cuts of these Stones and their similar positioning on the horses informed Mercedes that they had been placed there by artificial means. And since they were all Mistral Stones, she surmised that it was to give the horses a wind-like boon to their speed, which was a common practice in the world of horse racing, which prized horses born under Mistral and their naturally-produced Stones.
All riders were grown men and women of various ages. They all wore shawls or hoods of various colors around their figures and carried in their hands torches and lamps. Each light was feeble on its own, thanks to the Advent, but together they shone the way just fine, since they were so many.
There was no distinguishable similarity that bound these riders' appearances, save for their eyes.
Which all peered with this...curiosity...towards the sickly maid.
Like they had found a rare animal.
"Who ARE these people..?! Wait...all horse riders...of horses custom-made to be fast...in a varied group of grown people. N-No...it can't be..!" Mercedes eyes widened and, as both her illness and the severity of the situation that soon dawned on her began mingling together, her complexion grew paler and her headache thumped even harder within her temples.
She couldn't help but clutch her forehead, her breaths coming out in labored wheezes. She tried to shift her body into gear, in order to deal with the situation, but all the adrenaline that tried to course through her body only made her feel sicker. Soon, her vision began getting blurry as well and her legs found themselves growing scarce of their own strength to keep their own standing upright.
-Hey, boss!- one of the men called out towards the darkness- What should we do with this one? I know the gods told us to not be picky, but this one looks like she's about to keel over! Would they really want us to bring in such damaged goods?
"Do not be an idiot."
A profound voice sounded from the darkness. One filled with such collected calmness and assurance that Mercedes couldn't help but shiver. Lucy's teachings always warned her of people who managed to remain calm and collected, not succumbing to both fear or cockiness, and whoever this person was acted like they were in the middle of a pleasant sunny day.
Another trotting sound reached Mercedes' ears as the group of riders backpedaled a few steps to open up a space in their file.
So that a much taller, stout and muscular horse would take the center stage. It was sporting an array of Mistral Stones lined up across its brown fur, from its face, neck, down to its stomach, back and legs. Even its eyes shone with a menacing purple light and looked anything but amicable.
Mercedes would gulp at the sight.
"Even the most heartless professional jockeys do not treat their horses as roughly as this! These are too many Enchant Stones! This poor horse is set to Overload if it starts running with these many Stones juicing its speed!"
Atop the horse sat a man around Master Rye's age, his grizzled hair peeking out of his straw-sewn hood. His calloused hands would carry no source of light and, instead, they'd tighten around the reins of the horse. He'd peer towards Mercedes with a sickening glint in his dark eyes.
-Doesn't the fact that she doesn't exude any soul power peek your interest? Even the most feeble Mistral or Pyre-borns would exude a tiny flicker of light amidst this Lunafaye Advent.- he'd say, his voice rough, but booming- Yes, this little lass's soul power is as quiet as this night. It's like this darkness rejects her. Loathes her. Which can only mean one thing...
His grin would inflate, as he'd show off his yellowed teeth.
-The gods have given us Sacred Winds our much deserved gift:
"A Lightus-born priestess."