Adam
49th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
I awoke under a layer of soft quilt with a lantern staring back at me from the ceiling.
"Awake, young one?" a frail voice said from my side and I turned to find an old lady in simple clothing, browsing a book.
She sat on a chair beside the bed I was on, with a candle burning on the nighttable.
I dragged myself up and scanned the room. It was a dimly lit room which made it hard to discern the details but I believed it might've been a simple room with nothing but a bed, a dresser and a study desk whose chair was brought to the side of the bed.
Alex wasn't present.
"Where is my sister?" I frantically got out of the bed. "What did you scum do to her?"
"Calm down, child." The old lady chuckled. "She's alright. No one did anything to you or her."
"What do you mean? That Taylor bastard sold us out--"
"That's some strong language for a young boy," she said, smiling. "I don't know the details but I know that Taylor didn't sell you out to anyone. You should go ask him yourself if you're full of energy already."
"Where is he?" I asked, fixing my clothes and heading for the door.
"In the chapel," the old lady answered. "Your sister is with them."
Stepping out of the room, I realized that I was inside a humongous cavern under the ground, the cave ceiling hundreds of meter overhead.
Various buildings populated the area, much like a city, and a single huge marble structure stood in the center of the cavern--probably the chapel.
I couldn't think of anything and ran towards it.
***
"It was a test?"
"Yes, and I apologize for our behaviour." The lady named Lisa bowed her head.
I scratched my head, trying to make head or tail of anything that had happened.
I thought Mr. Bodkins had betrayed us and he, together with the lady, wanted to harm me and Alex.
But now I stood before them, the old man grinning like a buffoon and Alex rubbing her forearm nervously.
"That punch was damn good though," Mr. Bodkins said with a thumbs up.
"What does it matter now?" Alex said, grabbing my arm. "Shouldn't we focus on more important stuff? Like what we're here for?"
"Ah, yes." Lisa turned to me. "Taylor told me you needed some work but... I apologise not being able to help you with it."
"What? Why?" Alex asked.
"I would have liked to offer you ny assistance if it were up to me but as per the rules of the True Faithful, we cannot help those who are not part of our organization." Lisa sighed. "Those above me are afraid that outsiders might leak our plans and location to the Church and sabotage our mission."
"Basically, the True Faithful can't help you unless you swear your loyalty and join them," Mr. Bodkins explained.
"It is your decision to make," Lisa said. "But I can promise you that the True Faithful never abandons one of our brethren in need."
"C-Can we have a few days to discuss this over?" Alex asked.
"Of course," Lisa answered. "Let me know your answer by the end of this week. You are free to stay here or go back to Taylor's place."
Alexandra
50th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
"I think we should join the True Faithful," I said. "Ma and Pa believed in them too."
"What if they're trying to take advantage of us?" he argued.
"Why would they? We have nothing to give them!"
"What do you mean we have nothing to give? I'm young and can do various sorts of labour while you are a woman now. You can sell your--"
My hand moved on its own and before I knew it, I had slapped Adam across the face. "H-How could you say t-that?"
My vision blurred, and my feet moved on its own.
I didn't want to see his face. I couldn't bear being here. I wanted to get away as fast as I could.
I heard him calling for me but didn't look back. I strode out the room, down the stairs and out the front door of the tailor shop.
I didn't see where I was going, or what was around me. I just needed to get away.
I kept striding through the streets of Belmire until I collided with something firm.
I almost tumbled backwards when a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
"Are you alright, miss?" someone asked, the voice smooth and warm.
"I'm fine," I said and pulled my arm out of the grip before trying to walk past whoever had saved me.
It was also probably what I had collided with.
A firm hand gripped my arm again, another one on my chin that lifted it t upward.
Standing before me was a young man with brown hair, a chiseled face and slightly green eyes.
He was dressed rather decently so I believed him to be a man of considerable standing.
"You say you're fine..." He traced a finger down my cheek, wiping away a stream of tears. "Yet your tears say otherwise."
"Let go of me!" I struggled to free myself from his hold but he was too strong.
"What's your name, precious?" he asked.
"It's none of your business." I growled.
"Fiesty, aren't you?" He smirked. "You are gorgeous too."
"What?" I instinctively reached for my face with the arm that was free, only to find that my glasses were not there.
My stomach dropped and I used up all my strength to free myself. I fell to the ground, searching for them.
They must've slipped when I collided with the man.
Fortunately, I found them lying on the ground--unharmed.
"Why does your face look a bit dull now?" The man asked after I had put my glasses back on. "Still beautiful though."
"H-How can you still recognize me?" I asked.
The effect of the curse should've vanished already and he wasn't affected long enough for it to have become permanent.
"And why wouldn't I be able to recognize you?"
That made my world turn upside-down.
Is he not affected by my curse? I thought. Like Adam? But it doesn't matter right now...
"Sorry but I need to go," I said and turned away.
"Wait--" he called from behind but I didn't stop.
I still had a ton of stuff to think over. And I needed some place quiet to do it.
Connin
50th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
It had been two days since I first saw her yet no matter how hard I tried, I was unable to remove her appearance from my mind.
That ink-like hair, pale face and crimson tears was engraved inside my head.
Most of all, I could not forget what the Law said at the end of the dream.
Find... her...
I could still hear it whispering in my ears.
That was not the end of it.
I had the same dream for the past two days and finally decided to inform the Archbishop about it when the dream roused me from my sleep the third time.
It could have been some prophecy sent by the Lord.
Still in my nightclothes, I took the stairs at the back of the dormitory hallway and descended into the archway that opened up to the courtyard.
I ran through the courtyard barefooted, the damp grass tickling my feet. The moon shone while the stars twinkled above, and it took me a moment to cross the garden before I entered the cathedral on the other side.
I walked through the almost silent halls, the marble chilling my feet while candlelight on the wall highlighted the fresco depicting the Lightbringer's Descent.
I did stop to bow and offer a prayer to the Lord like I usually did.
The guards on duty outside the Archbishop's chambers blinked as they saw me approaching.
"Your grace." The one on the right bowed. "What brings you here at such an hour?"
The other one blinked in confusion again when I said, "I have received a revelation."
The guard on the left must have been a new recruit because he clearly did not know what it meant to have received a revelation.
The one who spoke with me obviously was acquainted and so he bowed once again before disappearing behind the carved oak doors.
I traced the lines of the gopden sunburst emblem engraved above the lintel of the door with my eyes while I waited.
The door opened after a few moments and the guard said, "He will see you."
I took one more glance at the holy emblem and rushed into the Archbishop's chambers.
Adam
50th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
I waited for her to come back.
Hours passed and the sun had sunk, replaced by the moon.
When my patience run out, I banged my head on the wall a couple of times. I punched myself in the face too.
I needed to punish myself somehow. I had said something cruel and disgusting to my own sister.
Perhaps... I grabbed the pocket knife sitting on the desk. I should cut off ny tongue.
But a hand swatted away the scissors when I brought them to my mouth. "What in the world are you doing?"
I turned immediately to find Alex standing in front of me, her eyes a bit swollen--from crying probably.
I embraced her, my eyes stinging. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I... I said something awful to you. Please... don't abandon me."
"I'm not abandoning you," she said, stroking my back. "It's alright. People argue when there is disagreement on stuff."
"B-But you ran away f-from me," I managed to stammer out.
"I just needed some time to cool my head. We can't just keep arguing, can we?"
I nodded.
"I'm willing to join the True Faithful if that's what you want," I said.
"Okay," she replied.
"I'll work hard for the both of--"
"I'll work too," she interjected.
"You m-mustn't." I sniffled.
"Don't be childish, Adam." She hit me on the head. "I think we both should work to make a living. It'll be better than one of us shouldering all the burden."
"Fine..." I said, pouting. "I'm sorry for what I said to you."
"It's okay. You said it in the heat of the moment."
"I'll never do it again." I nuzzled against her shoulders.
"Okay," she said, still stroking my back.
I would do anything to protect her. I would do anything for her. And this would be our new beginning.
Connin
50th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
"You should head out on search for this young lady who appeared in your dreams then," the Archbishop suggested, stroking his chin.
He was a man in his sixties with short white hair and a clean face. He was still a bit muscular for someone his age--result of his daily training probably that I sometimes I encountered him in the middle of while roaming the courtyard early in the morning.
"But how will I find her?" I asked.
"You must let rhe Law guide you, child." He clasped his hands together. "The Lord must have a special reason for blessing you with revelations."
I nodded.
"Take a group of Inquisitors with you," he said. "They shall accompany you and protect you. They shall also aid you in vanquishing the lady, should she be deemed a threat to our faith."
I nodded again.
It was time to begin my journey.
Elijah
50th Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
Sitting at the study desk of my room, I stared at the reflection im the mirror.
Sweat beats formed on my head and I struggled to breathe, her face still fresh in my head.
The void within me begged me to find her and take her for myself. The void didn't want another prey. It wanted her.
I wanted her.
I needed her.
I rubbed my face and took a few deep breaths.
When I first came across her in the Artisan Quarters, I almost lost myself and tried to take her right then and there.
But there was no thrill in that.
No.
If she were to be my biggest catch, I needed to prepare her first.
If she could make me whole, I could just rush into it.
After all, my mother always told me--good things take time.
And she would be the beginning to my salvation.