Two Renewals

[thelisan]

25 Harvestmoon, 2E 222

There is a small, nameless lake at the edge of the forest, though you must pass through the deeper wood instead of returning to the road. One could walk around the forest entirely, I suppose, but it would greatly lengthen the journey. It is an important place for me, and as the trees thin out toward the end, Melina sees why.

"Is that an altar?" she asks. It is. A simple, humble thing, an assemblage of stone topped with a relatively smooth slab of sandstone, I know not from whence the topper came. Evenly spaced with one at each side, there is a set of four standing stones roughly two meters in height. Assembling this was a project, to be sure.

"It is indeed. My mother used to come out here," I explain, approaching so I may gauge the condition of the altar and its environment. "Seems no one has touched it in some time..."

"Your mother?" Lucinda repeats. "You've not told me much of her. Did she teach you? Was she a Black-Quill?"

"Mmm, no, she wasn't," I shake my head. "She practiced alone, and I found my way separate from her. Though she did not always understand, she was more supportive than I could ever have hoped - not just here, but..." I idly gesture at my own body. "In finding all of my path."

"Are we..." Lucinda lowers her voice, "Are we here to pay respects?"

I laugh a little, I can hardly help myself. "No, she yet lives, simply not in the area anymore. I come here to renew my protective wards periodically. This altar has always been a comfort to me, you see." I turn toward Maryse, who has been somewhat quiet on this journey. "Do you remember the song?"

"Fire be in my heart, I believe it goes?" Maryse replies, singing one line. She always did have a lovely voice.

"That is the one, yes," I nod. I see a glimmer of recognition in Lucinda's eye as well, which surprises me. Perhaps it was older than I realized. I place an offering of blue parasol upon the altar, encircling a tourmaline point that I polished myself in preparation. Blue parasol is a flower known for its wide, low-hanging petals, which the vermin and insects of the land are known to shelter under to rest; it has always been seen as a symbol of protection and comfort.

I take a position between the altar and the stone closest to the lake and turn to face the altar. I then direct Melina to my left, Lucinda to the opposite position, and Maryse to my right, and I politely ignore jokes made about me simply wanting to stare at Lucy.

I am always nervous about singing, even alone. With three others present... it comes surprisingly easily, though it takes a moment to find my vocal footing, an irony not lost on me considering the subject.

Wind, blow through the trees,
Speak to me of dreams
Of horizons fair and new
Of hope and joy at every dawning day
And of courage bold and true

Wind be the spirit that drives me onward
Water be the patience to see me through
Earth be my shelter and my respite
Fire be in my heart

For the next verse, Maryse joins in perfect harmony, as though we'd never been apart.

River, tell us a tale
Of torrents through the vale
And of paths carved as you run
That we may carry on, come whatever may
With resolve, our will is done

Wind be the spirit that drives me onward
Water be the patience to see me through
Earth be my shelter and my respite
Fire be in my heart

Lucinda steps forward and takes a deep breath toward the end of the refrain. When she joins the song, I almost forget the words, but I recover quickly. I can tell from her voice she has formal training; little surprise for a noble.

Lifebringer serene
Host to wonders wild and green
And to you we shall return
Grant us shelter still, until the reaper's due
And our debt we will not spurn.

Wind be the spirit that drives me onward
Water be the patience to see me through
Earth be my shelter and my respite
Fire be in my heart

Melina joins for the final verse, initially nervous but buoyed by our presence. Her voice is a little rough, but already a good start.

Fire, light up the sky
Bring warmth down from on high
To rekindle weary hearts
In the darkest nights, our spirit you imbue
'til from our flesh, our soul departs

Wind be the spirit that drives me onward
Water be the patience to see me through
Earth be my shelter and my respite
Fire be in my heart
Fire be in my heart

I feel energized as the final refrain closes, but not in the way of a child rushing through the streets. This is more of a clarity of purpose, certainty of action. I know who I am, what I believe, and what I will do; it is confidence. It is also affirmation of our place in the order of things, which is I confess somewhat complicated by a vampire's presence. But if the echoes object, they do not make it known.

I look to my companions to gauge their reactions. Maryse stands tall with the same poise I always remembered her having. Lucinda sways as though she still hears the song in her mind, with a serene smile upon her lips. Melina looks as though she is finally grounded for the first time; she has peace, comfort. She has finally been able to let go of her overthinking, and-

I hear a sound, a murmur from the lake behind. The water's surface ripples, as though disturbed by a beast I cannot see, and as I step closer I am certain I see a shape in the water. For a brief moment, I could swear I saw wings. The water then stills once more, until Lucinda idly sings the refrain again.

The creature that emerges- is it a creature at all? It is a great bird, but it is without flesh, without bone, without blood; it is a bird comprised entirely of pure water. It bears a crest evocative of a wave, and horn-like protrusions reminiscent of shoals. As the sun shines through its wings, they shimmer with all the rainbow's colors, and a long tail plume as if a ribbon flowed like a river trailed from its body to the lake.

"The kiralye?" I gasp. "I- I haven't seen that since... I- I don't even remember when."

"What exactly is a kiralye?" Melina asks. Thank you, dear apprentice, I needed something to anchor to.

"A spirit.. a spirit of the lakes, of the rivers, of all fresh waters of the world," I explain. "It symbolizes healing, life, for without water there can be no life. It's said... it's said to be able to cure any ailment, but all of those tales are... ancient."

"Is it fae?" Melina prods.

I blink for a moment, surprised that she seems to have already flipped back to analysis.  "I... no, no I don't believe so." But how even could someone know? "I will... I will need time to think," I mutter, stabilizing my breathing and looking directly to the kiralye, who is hovering in place above the lake, wings spread as if to glide. I should grant it due respect, in case it is as Melina suspects. "𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑖𝑡. 𝑊𝑒 𝑔𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒."

The kiralye makes a sound like a songbird's call blended with the bubbling of a spring, and slips back into the lake, melding with the surface with barely a ripple.

"An encounter like that could only be a blessing," Maryse says. ... was I anxious? Yes, I realize that now. It's surprising how easy it is now for Maryse and I to carry on as we were, before... well. Before.

"Indeed, I believe you're right," I nod, willing myself to focus on the mundane once more. "Where do you intend to go from here, Maryse?"

"Eventually, the western sedgelands. I have a contact out there I need to speak with about some supplies," she explains. "Before that, Kingfisher Port, for supplies to make sure I make it through the sedgelands."

"It sounds like a lovely place," Melina says sardonically.

"Nature is like that," I remind her. "Every place is a home for someone, but many of them are not for us."