Heliopsis (Unfinished version)

Chapter 3 - Training Under the Sun

On her way to the temple, Flaria paid a visit back to the town square. Her heart sank, seeing the remnants of destruction that remained. Workers were already at the scene placing down new roofing and repairing broken walls. The crater where Isa died was half-filled. Flaria turned away.

"I'll make you proud, Isa," she thought to herself, "I just need to master this power."

Lestoria's Sun Temple sat on a small hill in the outskirts to the east. Splendid yellow columns rose up from all around the circumference of the temple to hold its structure neatly in place. The rest of the building was composed of brown and tan stone, engraved with imagery of celestial beings. The towering wooden doors that opened inside bore the images of Iestrel's twin phoenix sons, the left embodying the morning and the right embodying the afternoon.

Flaria stood at the doors and took a deep breath. She pushed through the right door, as it was custom to enter the door based on the time of day.

A large atrium greeted her as she walked in. Sunlight poured through the windows above, giving the large statue at the center a heavenly golden glow. The statue was sculpted in the image of none other than Iestrel himself, his radiant wings spread out to cast his light on the world.

Phineas Copernicus sat on the edge of the statue's pedestal. In his lap was an old tome he was intensely studying. He looked when he heard Flaria walk in.

"Ah, you have come!" he said.

"Were you... waiting around for me this whole time?" asked Flaria.

"Hmm hmm why yes of course!"

The mannerisms of Phineas were always a puzzle to Flaria. She wondered how Kane wasn't raised to be just as bizarre.

"Anyway, how am I gonna train?"

"An excellent question! I do not know!"

"WHAT?" exclaimed Flaria, "Then what was all that about extensive training??"

Phineas flipped through pages of the tome.

"You see, my dear, most people are reduced to ash when they touch a Champion's instrument without being chosen. So the knowledge on how to train a survivor is quite... shallow."

The old man closed the tome with a loud thud.

"However! One is able to connect to the gods through special practices and rituals. I surmise that investing yourself in the worship of Iestrel should therefore improve your powers as Champion."

Flaria's face contorted in uncertainty.

Phineas gave a chuckle. "Worry not, my dear. Today though we shall start with very basic practices."

"Alright then, so what should I do first?" asked Flaria.

Phineas stood up and gestured his hand towards the grand statue of Iestrel.

"Why don't we start with a prayer?" he said.

Reluctant, Flaria approached the base of the statue, clasped her hands together, and closed her eyes. Phineas stood at her side, repeating the same.

"Lord Iestrel, I thank you for sparing my niece and protecting our town from destruction," he said to the statue.

"Hey, thanks for not killing me," followed Flaria.

"I ask that you accept her as your new Champion and give her a chance to shine bright."

"Yeah, I promise I won't blow up anything!"

Phineas gave Flaria a dirty look. "Are you not taking this seriously, my dear?"

"Of course I am!" Flaria insisted.

Phineas gave a sigh. He walked off and signaled her to follow.

The two entered a door at the back of the atrium, which opened into the temple's courtyard. Every Iestrelic Temple is built with one and arranged in the same manner: a circular stone mosaic at the center encompassed by twenty-four rows of bushes extending outward from the circumference. Lestoria's was quite small and dull compared to those found in classier regions of Thera, but it served its spiritual purpose just like any other.

At the center of the stone mosaic, sat a pile of twigs and random assortments of food. There was raw beef here and there, alongside some fruits and vegetables. An oily liquid drenched the pile all over.

"Are we seriously doing Strellagas?" asked Flaria.

"Yes we are, my dear!" said Phineas, "a dance and an offering will surely get on Iestrel's good side!"

The old man pulled out a small wand from his robes. This was a fire wand to be exact. Why go to the length of striking a match when one could use a little explosive magic for an even quicker result?

Phineas chanted a small spell, and the end of the wand sparked. He threw it onto the pile of food and twigs, immediately erupting into a fire.

"Let us dance to our hearts' content and show our love for the great sun god!" he exclaimed.

The old man began to dance. He circled around the fire, whirling his body. Flaria hid the fact she was cringing on the inside. She looked around at the windows of the courtyard, hoping nobody was watching them.

"Come on now!" Phineas nearly bumped into Flaria as he twirled by her. She staggered backward, but caught her footing before she fell into a bush.

Do I really have to do this? She thought. Reluctant, she walked about the fire and awkwardly flailed her arms.

"Is that all the spirit you can show?" laughed Phineas, "you're going to bore Iestrel!"

"Uh...uhhhhh!" Flaria flailed harder and kicked her legs and spun. The ritual known as Strellagas requires no specific routine, but she couldn't help but feel like a fool.

"That's it! That's it!" exclaimed Phineas.

Flaria got into the rhythm, and the uncle and niece danced at opposite ends around the flame. She could feel a surge of energy rush through her veins.

"A little music wouldn't be bad," said Flaria.

"Then let us make the music!" replied Phineas, and his humming evolved into an old folk song every Theran knew.

Sure, you can get me to dance, but there's no way in the world you'll make me sing! Thought Flaria.

The two continued dancing. They like Iestrel and his lunar sister, Lumana, revolving around the world in eternal harmony. The excitement Flaria felt seemed childish, but for the moment she decided she'd enjoy it. No worries of rampaging golems or melting arms. All that mattered was the present moment.

At last, the flames of the offerings flickered its final light, and the dancing stopped.

"W...wow, that was a lot." Flaria's hands were on her knees as she panted.

"How do you feel?" asked Phineas.

"Tired as hell."

Flaria stood back up.

"But somehow refreshed!" she added.

Phineas clapped proudly. "That concludes our session for today!"

Flaria looked up to see the arrival of the orange evening sky. Once again, Iestrel would descend below the horizon and end yet another day. She always wondered if doing such a job ever got boring for him. Strellagas, after all, is a tribute to his determination to continue the cycle of day and night. Perhaps her dance brought the god a little joy today?

Phineas began taking care of removing the burnt detritus from the offerings. Flaria thanked him and made her way out of the courtyard. But before she could pass through the door, she suddenly stopped.

For she thought, for a moment, she heard the fluttering of wings behind her.