From the Ashes

Chapter 28 ~ A Tale of Corruption

    "Just back here," Tarion said, beckoning Morana to follow. As he'd promised a few days ago, he was taking her down to the temple beneath the library. Currently, they were back in the library's kitchen. He headed towards a seemingly blank wall and Morana trailed behind.

    "Did visiting worshipers have to come all the way back here to enter the temple?" She asked.

    Tarion shook his head, skimming his fingers over the wooden wall panels. "The main entrance is beneath the floor in the library's main chamber. A portion of it will descend into stairs if the mechanism is triggered. One of the book pedestals is the lever for it."

    "Why are we here then?"

    "I thought you'd like this entrance more. The stairs aren't as steep." He flashed a smirk over his shoulder. "You've been complaining about your legs hurting a lot lately."

    "Because they have been," she huffed.

    "Just from exercise, not because of your injuries, right?" He found the panel he was looking for and laid his palm flat against it, magic sparking at his fingertips.

    "Yes, I'm just sore. My injuries haven't bothered me since I healed them. Oh, and I practiced some of those scar fading spells again. I think we've done as much as we can."

    Tarion backed away as the wall began to rumble. Morana's eyes widened with delight as the segment was pushed back, then pulled behind the rest of the wall, revealing a dark, musty passageway. He led the way inside, his magic illuminating their surroundings.

    Morana kept close to him and lit the ancient sconces they passed by. The staircase descended in a tight spiral until it reached the floor level. Then the expanse widened into a circular room. Statues of Drenusha lined the walls, serving as decorative and supportive columns.

    Crescent shaped pews filled the chamber, growing smaller and smaller as they approached the center of the room. In the middle of the circle of pews stood a large altar with another statue of Drenusha erected upon it. Carved onto the sides of the altar were effigies of Nepenthe, Oriana, Durga, and Hadeon.

    Tarion watched quietly while Morana approached the altar. She swept her fingers across the smooth top of it and dust swirled in her wake. "When was the last time you were here?" She asked.

    Her voice seemed too loud for the room as it bounced off the walls and back to his pointed ears. Before he could answer, Morana backed away from the altar and spread her arms wide.

    Magic swirled around her palms and leapt into the light fixtures situated around the chamber. A warm glow filled the room and reflected from the strands of crystal and sea-glass dangling from the ceiling. Morana looked up at it in awe.

    "I came with my parents just before Astaroth arrived," Tarion said, answering her question. "We attended the Aerstar celebration. The day Drenusha Ascended and a new constellation, the Fawn, was born to honor her."

    "Something else I've never heard about." She glanced at him with a smile. "Was it another boring service?"

    "Extremely. But afterwards, I always wished I had appreciated it more." He approached a pew and sat down. Morana joined him silently. She folded her hands in her lap and pursed her lips, obviously wishing to say something. "What is it?" Tarion prompted.

    "I...I wanted to ask about your Corruption," she admitted. "You haven't told me very much about it, and I think I need to understand what happened in order to understand you a little better."

    She twisted away from him. "If you don't want to explain, you don't have to, of course. I don't want you to say anything you don't wish to. I just..." She blew out a heavy sigh and shook her head. "I want to know what happened to you."