This was most likely the darkest evening in the current Zeus' month. There is only a week left for the second month of Apollo to commence, and yet, the sky remains bright black. Winds gushed in from all corners and slid under homes, pushed away lamps and coiled around alabaster sculptures.
People gathered in the Clay Street around the mounted men, One of them was Marcus Nephnis who was reading out loud from a vellum scroll. The faces of the multitude were half-visible but from the murmurs and chuckles, it could be made out that they were excited.
Craig, Illiad along with Zerfaim follow St. Brianna outside the temple.
Craig saw Marcus – swathed in yellow himations and wearing a sombre olive wreath, surrounded by an entourage of armored horsemen, some held spears while others held firesticks.
A moment earlier, Craig's mind was turbulent with vengeance; yet, beset by the neighs of horses and the clangour of shields, he felt a little powerless and retreated a step back in the shadows of the temple pavillion.
From a scroll, Marcus read, "Thus, residents of Bakerheim, you are sincerely requested to come and pay the capital city of Tunicster a visit for the very auspicious commencement of the month of Apollo. Don't forget the key attraction – the holiest sacred relic of Apollo, The Flaming Claymore! May your days be filled with purity and your nights with light. Farewell!"
Gradually, the jubilant crowd made way for the mounted men to exit the area. Marcus saw Zerfaim from the corners of his eye and smiled. Slowly, he cantered towards the temple's stylobate.
"Good evening, St. Brianna!" Marcus said a taunting loud voice.
"Good evening, Lord Chamberlain. I hope you all are not reducing the Flaming Claymore to a revenue generating device." said St. Brianna by returning a smile.
Marcus dismounted and stood beside his horse, patting its neck, "Brianna, have you thought adequately about the offer I keep giving you?"
Illiad inorder to impress the chamberlain jumped into the conversation, "Yes, yes sir, I've advised her to accept it and become the royal priestess, but she won't listen!"
The saintess joined held her hands and brought them to her waist, "I have told you, Lord Chamberlain, I will not leave the temple of Hermes for Zeus. The current royal priest St. Anthus is doing a good job."
Marcus chuckled, "Your resolve is never shaken as always. Anyways, you are once again invited to Tunicster. You too, Illiad. But wait, I don't see Rhesus.."
Marcus walked a little further and looked deeper inside the temple, "There's my idiot son, Zerfaim. But who's that other person? In the attire of a priest? A priest so young?"
With part-fear and part-malice, Craig stepped outside and greeted Marcus with a polite smile, "Good evening, Mr. Chamberlain. I am Judas. A humble servant of my Lord Hermes."
Illiad said indifferently, "A proxy priest though very well-trained and witty. He was sent by the Holy Temple... you know the entire Grollice thing right?"
"Oh I see!" Marcus said with a sardonic smile, "I hope this one won't turn out to be one of those profane ones. I mean.. your temple has a pretty interesting history, I must say." He laughed out maniacally.
"Will popular people come to the festival too?" Illiad inquired
"From the eight stronghold governors to the noble families and actors, from the Six Courtiers to the four princes and two princesses, all will be there." Marcus said with a grin, "However, we are anticipating a chief guest.. Guess who?"
Zerfaim who was silent all this time replied, "The arsonist."
Marcus' face suddenly turned careless, the glee was lost, "Oh.. you're here too, you unnoticeable fly. I guess that's my cue to leave, folks."
Marcus climbed on his horse and pulled the reigns, "I will await all of your presence," he suddenly took out his intimidating scimitar and pointed it at Craig, "You too newcomer, I'll wait for you." He said while smiling
'No, why is this happening? Did he see through my disguise?'
Zerfaim interrupted, "Father," he said with vulnerable eyes, "Can I come along?"
Zerfaim lowered his sword and said with an apathetic smile, "Do whatever you will, Zeff. I don't care. Go get lost in the dark, feed yourself to dogs, you can rot beneath a tree with marsh and algae, you can even come home, I don't care. I won't spend another modicum of my energy for you." He said as he passed into the dark fog, leaving behind a lowered head Zerfaim.
Zerfaim descended from the stylobate and walked in a random direction, "I'm going, bye."
"No, stop!" Brianna shouted.
Zerfaim dashed silently towards the southern streets. "Wait!" Illiad yelled and chased him, "I'll get him," he told Brianna.
Brianna lowered her gaze as Illiad became invisible. Slowly she moved inside the temple.
"So the chamberlain is not just a liar, but also a terrible father." Craig said with a troubled eyes. Brianna nodded.
Brianna walked up to the altar and swept away the preparations made for the homily since all of it was ruined suddenly.
Craig without telling Brianna moved into the changing room which could be accessed from the luminous, immaterial door on the wall.
As Craig changed into his previous clothes – black overcloth and white robes and tried to exit the room, he heard a sonorous clang. A half-glowing, red ornament dangled out from his pockets. The ornament hung from a thread like a necklace.
'What's this?' Craig with frowned brows picked it up and gazed at its surface, it was like a red mirror, he exited the room and showed it to St. Brianna.
"I found this ornament in my pocket, is it yours?"
Brianna took the gem from his hands and observed it carefully, "Jewellery isn't something I adore," She said flatly, "I don't think it's mine." She gave it back to him.
"Hey, did you pick it up from the road?" Said Brianna. Craig as if he was accused of thivery shook his head, "I didn't. I suddenly stumbled upon it in the changing room."
Brianna sat on a wooden seat with her palms supporting her chin.
Craig idly turned the gem in his fingers and gently rubbed its surface thrice, thinking what can be a good price for it. But suddenly, an enormous swirling fire, perhaps equivalent of dozens of volcanoes sprung out of it, enveloping the entire Chapel with fire and smoke.
"What did you do?" Brianna shouted. Dumbstruck, Craig staggered back, unable to answer.
The fire climed at the windows, racing along the aisle and devoured the rafters. Waves of heat lashed back and forth like whips. The fire was about to devour them, but soon, with a quick hand gesture, Brianna drew a particular sigil on the air and the flames abnormally twisted and changed into red wildflowers. They calmed, grew smaller and ultimately stopped.
Craig who thought he almost died, opened his eyes to see the ironic scene of a charred Chapel with floral decoration.
Brianna fell back, unable to believe herself, she wasn't surprised at her capabilities but at her weakness. She sighed, almost breathless. Craig ran to the attached lavabo and fetched her a glass of water.
"How did I become so breathless?" She said with a pounding heart, "I've used this sermon many times before, but I was never this drained." She gazed at the red gem.
Craig's hands shook in fear, "What.. what should I do with it." He said. Then he looked at the St. Brianna with sorrowful eyes, "I-I am terribly sorry, I didn't know this would happen."
As it seemed, Brianna wasn't angry at him at all, "I know. Are you okay?" She asked.
'Wait, so you won't punish me in any way? Are you real?'
Brianna took it from Craig's hands, "As it is clear now. This is no ordinary gem, I must learn more about it."
She moved her fingers along the threads of the gem, cautiously keeping them away from the surface. Craig said with resolve, "I want to join you too. If something, I'll atleasy be able to light candles for you or fetch water for you, but please, let me learn about it too."
Brianna agreed. Soon, she went up to the altar and pressed an illusory button. The tall sculpture of Hermes which stood behind it alongside his platform slowly descended down into the ground, leaving behind a small door.
"Since you're already caught up in all this, there's no point in hiding anything from you, come along!" Brianna opened the door.
Craig carefully treaded behind her and entered into the door with Brianna as they walked down, farther and farther away from the Chapel.