[Complete] the Mana-Wilds (A Golarionite Odyssey) #2: Dreams of Water

Chapter 4

(TW: Roll for Fortitude or Constitution if you're coming off of DND because shits gonna get... Shit... really! :P)

"Oh Navideh! You are here... and you brought a... a..." the High Priestess Kamala was quite stunned for herself when the blue-haired Bard came barged into her private quarters without so much as a knock. Let alone with the Outlander David.

"He's our friend. And... that's her!" Tutoria vouched for David. "That's the Desnan Bard we are looking for!"

"We remember you from the Monastery Spherewalker." Tomos smiled in relief

Navideh smiled, and with a youthful gip shook the hands of the Neophyte Twins. Before standing aside to give a light bow to the Sarenite High Priestess.

"Then it appears that you are indeed speaking the truth... thank the Dawnflower." Kamala pressed her palms into her eyes whilst she sagged across an empty pedestal. "And... I am sorry I was too quick with you earlier."

"No mention it... I would do the same too." David accepted the Priestesses' apology. "But what the hell is going on with you lately? I thought you were supposed to be in the Temple of the Dawn—whatever-whatever and not here."

"That unfortunately is where I was about to tell the young Neophytes here why so..." she wistfully sighed. "We exchanged pleasantries... though I wish I could mourn of the loss of the Monastery, alas, I am caught at an inconvenient time."

"What is going on Master? The Mujahidin aren't normally this so... indignant to strangers. Are we not supposed to share grace with every stranger that comes our way?" Tomos asked her.

"If what you did two showed me and Isaiah 'grace' then I would hate to see what you do to your friends." David bit his lip. But on second thought, he may have chosen his words wrongly...

"Burn your skin... just a little bit darker perhaps? Perhaps try doing that..." Tutoria glared at David as she crossed her arms.

"Show some respect here Outlander. The only reason why I am not telling Tutoria to cut you down as you stand is because of her words alone." Kamal frowned disapprovingly. "Now tell me, why are you so interested in finding our Spherewalker, Navideh."

"Desna... where do I begin? She plucked me and Isaiah to her place in Elysium from our world. Told me to go look for Navideh to 'mend' Nethys' wounds or that's how I remember it all." David blinked twice.

"That is Absurd! How could SHE choose you, Outlanders... Outworlders?" the High Priestess was taken aback by such a preposterous account.

She was just as ready to banish away the Outlander when Navideh thrust herself forward with her hands clasped together with pleadful beating through her breasts. Her star-lit eyes unwaveringly fluttered with a darting gaze towards the High Priestess. Even the little blue butterfly that now accompany flared its azure wings to join her silent plea. There was no word that was needed to show Kamala just how truthful her testament was to her.

Kamala froze, her hands shaken by Navideh's counsel. Brushing her dress off the dust aside and with a slow nod to the Bard she crumpled before the chair behind her.

"Perhaps I allowed my anger to blind me to what can still be saved..." Kamala sighed. "Desna continues to play by her own rules."

"What can still be saved? You haven't told us what is happening here!" Tomos pressed.

"I have grave news to share with you Neophytes." Kamala swallowed her throat. "But the Temple of Dawn's Grace has fallen, defiled, and enslaved to the selfish might of the Outworlders. Outworlders likened to your friend here..." she still shed her suspicions down upon the Desert Ranger.