Wreath of Lilies, Cauldron of Poison

Chapter 76

The Decision of the Maiden

At the top of the steps of the Church, foreign dignitaries from the Alliance, the Royal Family, and those of the Towers had been sitting in wait, chatting amongst themselves. The Hero of Al-Khemia could be seen sitting at the side of Prince Abbas’s wife, trying futilely to shrink herself.

An elderly Priest with wrinkled hands and bark-like skin was standing motionlessly in front of them, seemingly unflustered by the statuses of the people behind him. He had no name aside from his job. The Crownkeeper. For his sole purpose was the keeping of the Crown of Serenity. A tiara that had been passed down from Maiden to Maiden beginning from the First Maiden of Water.

As representatives of the Towers, Eleanora and her master were sitting under a canopy at the top of the Church’s step, right next to the King and his wife. Old and slightly senile, the man had been nodding off so often that Eleanora had to check every few minutes if he was asleep or dead. It was quite windy and the air was brisk. However, due to the Enchanted Items he donned, the old man was quite comfortable.

“Master, wake up,” Eleanora whispered, using her staff to poke at the man’s wide brimmed hat.

“W-what? Hum. Is it lunchtime yet?”

“No Master, we are still…in the middle of the event.”

“Eh. Whatever, I’m just here because I lost the bet during the card game last night. Why do we even need to be here anyway?”

“Because the Towers need to send representatives, Master. We are still subjects of the King after all.”

“Hah!” The man scoffed, not even caring that he was sitting so near to the actual King. The King himself understood the peculiarities of this certain Mage and had put his words out of his mind.

He sneaked a sip from a flask he kept under his hat and let the burn in his throat awaken him. “Brrgh! Hrmm! Brr! Aah…that’s a good one. Want a sip?”

Eleanora shook her head tiredly. “Last time you gave Chancellor a sip, he had to lay down for a full day to recover.”

“It’s the botanicals that did him in. Not my fault the man couldn’t handle a real man’s drink.”

“Not when said botanicals could cause the drinker to hallucinate about fairies and underwears, Master.”

“Ha! You’ve gotten a bit of mouth now, aren’t you? You used to ignore me when I offered you my drink.”

The girl slightly blushed and pulled her hat down.

“Aha, is that a blush I see? Hohoh, was it the Hero? Nope, someone else, I think. Aah, a meeting with someone that inspires you, eh? That is good. Sometimes that one chance meeting could become a spur that will move you forward.”

“Master. C-concentrate on the event please.”

While Eleanora was being teased by her master, the King of Calendia was having a polite conversation with the King of Vorzenny. A hawk-like man with protruding jaw, a small pupil and a thinning hairline hidden by a luxurious feathered hat. The highly ornate and detailed green robe with golden and crimson threads he donned went so far past the line of garishness that it returned to being fashionable.

The two laughed at a polite joke before King Gerard inquired about their Hero.

“Ah, yes. Our Hero had unexpectedly been gone for a few days now. For a Hunter’s Quest, I believe. He is very adamant about being a Hunter, strangely enough,” the man laughed politely. “He is a very free-spirited young man. Please forgive him.”

“Haha. Of course, we have all been young once.”

“But don’t you worry, King Gerard. He should be back in time for the Ball. He wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“That is very good. We will show you the extent of a Calendian hospitality.”

Before they uttered another word, they saw the Palanquin arriving and they all rose in greeting.

The Church Knights carrying the Palanquin gently put it down and saluted. As they did so, Allenca rose from her throne and slowly stepped down, her severe make up and the flared costume seemed to make her bigger than she was.

Sakagami Akira walked over and offered his hand as a symbol of support for the Maiden.

“Thank you, O Hero of Calendia.”

The Hero took a peek of the expressionless face of the Maiden and saw that she could not fathom what she was thinking inside. He just hoped that she would heed his warning.

He and the Prince then walked to the side and joined King Gerard.

The blue-haired maiden then walked slowly up the steps, the hems of her robe trailing behind her like marching clouds over water. Every movement resembling a flowing river. Gentle and serene, hiding the turmoil underneath.

Once the Maiden of Water made it to the top, many eyes belonging to the representatives of the Alliances fell onto her. Kim Sooyoung let out a small gasp and clasped her mouth in a hurry.

The Maiden of Water. Such a presence! And such beauty!

Without a word, Allenca walked to his front, placed her staff beside her and knelt in prayer. Hands clasped together and eyes closed.

The Crownkeeper raised a thin arm mottled by age. With that simple movement, a wave of silence came over the crowd, and soon the whole city fell into a state of solemnity.

After he was satisfied by the ensuing silence, he began to speak with a voice like that of gravel. “By the Grace of Junnaveil, on this blessed day we are gathered here to anoint Allenca Viandros as the new Maiden of Water…”

The dry and booming voice of the Crownkeeper did not reach her, whose mind was preoccupied with something more pressing. Her head that was once a clear lake of conviction was disturbed by the ripples of doubt caused by the Hero’s words.

Her heart throbbed. Her mind spun. And her eyes discreetly darted around to see her surroundings.

Two Kings and a Crown Prince. Right there in front of her. If I let this chance passed me by, it would never come again.

She felt the Blessed Stone on her finger. The cold surface felt like fire.

If the Hero blessed by Grunford said that what I would do would become a disaster, should I continue on this path? If not, then what of the sufferings caused by this endless cycle of schemes and hate? Where allies and friends held their daggers about them, ready to take the first stab once another took a tumble on their path?

“And now, witnessed by those who had been blessed by Junnaveil. Here I shall once again affirm your oath to the Goddess.”

The man held his aging hands over her, still as a rock as he read the Litany of Divine Love. A Litany that was spoken the first time a person come into service. This she answered mechanically with great precision and timing. As the meaning of each lines had been beaten into her for years by her mentor.

At the end of the 4 minutes long Litany, the man asked the final question.

“Do you swear to uphold your Faith, like rock upon the ceaseless sea?”

“I do.”

“Do you swear to serve and love Junnaveil for as long as you draw breath?”

“I do.”

“Then may you remember this oath forevermore,” the Priest received a small golden cup filled with sea water from a young deacon and poured the content two times over her head.

“And with this water, and in the name of Love and Kindness, I anoint you as the Maiden of Water.”

Once the nostalgic cold of the sea water ran over her hair, she woke from her deep thoughts.

“Love…and Kindness…” the young woman murmured. She felt as if she had taken the first breath of fresh air after almost drowning in her own indecision.

“And now accept this Crown of Serenity upon your head with gladness.”

A young Deacon hidden to the side brought forth a silver tray, upon which was a richly embroidered blue cushion, whereupon a marvelous two-tiered tiara made of gold, adorned with many precious gemstones related to Junnaveil and her servants. Two long blessed white cloth with prayers written upon them by the First Maiden of Water hung on either side of the Tiara.

“Let the weight of the Crown remind you of the lives of the people.”

The lives of the people.

There was only one thing she could do.

“Now stand, the Maiden of Water. Allenca Viandros.”

The Priest bowed towards her and stepped to the side. Allenca Viandros rose from her knees and turned to face the crowd. And they cheered.

The cheers of the people were as loud as thunder, their faces bright with hope and reverence. Yet she was deaf to their voices, her head filled with the gravity of her decision.

Her finger felt hot. The power welling within the gem had begun to amplify her magic.

“Hmm?” the elderly wizard that had been nodding off due to the long boring Litany opened his eyes slightly, his hand reaching for his staff.

“What is it, Master? Your eyes look scary.”

“Can’t you feel it, my little disciple? This magic swirling around the Maiden of Water?” the old wizard’s voice grew serious. “This is no normal magic. This thing is old, stale, but incredibly powerful.”

“It…it isn’t dangerous, right? What is she going to do?”

“I don’t know. But…” the man prepared his spells, chanting them under his breath. Ready to fire if anything untoward happened. First priority would be his disciple. Then the King. “Be on your guard.”

Sakagami Akira’s grip on his sword tightened. Whatever the Maiden was about to do, if she went on with it, then he would have to stop it. If only to prevent the future that he saw. Whatever it could be.

Allenca Viandros looked upon the crowd which had gradually became silent, awkwardly waiting for her address.

Allenca gulped and licked her drying lips.

“I pray…” she began, letting the old magic within the ring to dwell inside her. It felt unpleasant. Like she was being stuffed with goose feathers. “To thee, O Junnaveil, our Beloved Mother and Protector. Bless us with the Water of Life, so that the thirsty may be quenched. So that the unloved would be loved. Grant us Mercy, O Junnaveil. Grant us Mercy.”

A complicated magic circle, far beyond her capabilities expanded from where she stood, shining bright blue. The pressure it emitted caused to the wind to stir. Goblets and glasses fell, and those near her wrapped their coats tightly around them.

“W-what the hell? What is she doing?” Sakagami Akira wanted to stop her, but the magic was so strong that he felt nauseous and disoriented just standing there.

“By the Grace of Junnaveil! I pray to thee. Grant us the Water of Life!! Rain of Divine Blessing!!”

She pointed her staff towards the sky and a powerful pillar of light rose into sky.

Not long after, clouds began to gather and covered the city. Thunder growled impatiently, causing the people to look up in worry.

“W-what is happening?”

“Is this her doing?”

Then, rain began to fall. Each droplet was as fine as hair, softly falling over the city.

At first, everyone was confused. Then suddenly, they heard a shout.

“AAAH!! My back!!” an old man with a cane touched his back and suddenly threw his cane away. “It’s healed!”

“Quick, look at your status!” a warrior shouted to his friend.

“Impossible! My status rose by 5 points! Am I just seeing things?”

“He’s right! My status also rose!”

“Ooh! I feel stronger!”

“Is this the blessing of the Maiden of Water!”

“A miracle! Truly a miracle!!”

“Praise be to Junnaveil! Praise be to the Maiden of Water!!”

One man chanted, followed by someone else. And soon everyone, regardless of status or age danced while singing praises to Junnaveil and the new Maiden of Water.

Joy and jubilation filled the whole city. The earth shook under the stomps of their feet.

The Nobles and the Knights all took off their capes and armor and joined in bathing under the rain, regardless of their positions. And for that single moment, they forgot about their rivalry and hatred. And in one voice they extoled Junnaveil.

“PRAISE BE TOO JUNNAVEIL!! PRAISE BE TO THE MAIDEN OF WATER!!”

Allenca gazed upon the people dancing in joyful reverie. Her body was extremely weak after releasing the ancient magic far beyond her capacity and she was only standing by leaning onto her staff.

The stone on her ring had broken into smithereens after the magic was expended and cut into her finger. Her face was pale from the cold coming from inside her body, a side effect of trying to channel the magic. But that little pain was nothing.

For what she had done was something she understood was stupid.

They would soon forget this miracle she created. Just as they had forgotten their Faith.

But when she heard them praised Junnaveil, regardless of their status and power. She felt that there was still hope left.

Yes. How can I forget? I’ve been looking up for so long that I forgot to look down. I am the Maiden of Water, and at the same time, I am a servant of the people.

The Faith can exist without the Kingdom, but the Faith...cannot exist without the people.

To change the Kingdom, we must change the people.