Eight Intertwined

179 - Loss

When the doors to the Goldshore cathedral opened, Ophilia saw Donovan and Daniel standing at the opposite end of the grand hall. They were staring up at the Sacred Flame in solemn silence, too caught up in their own thoughts to look back when the door opened. 

Lysa didn't wait for them to notice her. Instead, she let out a cry she had been holding in since she was first shoved aside during the battle against her kidnappers. "Father!" she wailed. Donovan turned around just in time to see Lysa launch herself at his legs, and he pulled her into the tightest embrace they could stand. 

Donovan barely seemed to realize what he was seeing at first, only coming back into his body when he began to comb his fingers through Lysa's hair. "Oh, Lysa! My precious girl!" he whispered. Donovan pulled Lysa in impossibly closer as the travelers approached him, and his gaze settled on Ophilia. There were tears in his eyes, but he didn't let them fall just yet. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sister Ophilia. I do not know how I can begin to repay you..."

Ophilia shook her head. "There is no need for that, Your Excellency," she assured him. "Seeing the smiles on your faces is more than enough for me. Nothing can take the place of family." Her fingers drifted to the lanthorn at her hip, and she realized blood was still smeared across the handle. Ophilia let out a small breath, not bothering to ask Tressa or Cyrus for help in cleaning the lanthorn for the ritual. Instead, Ophilia let the power of Balogar rush through her body. It came as naturally to her as breathing just as it had with every other blessing the gods had granted her. The blood flowed off the handle with the spell, and Ophilia heated the water until it had evaporated to a misty memory in the air. It gave her something to think about aside from how desperately she wanted to be with her family, so Ophilia was happy to cast as many spells as she needed to. 

Donovan had come to watch Ophilia with dark grief in his eyes. "Sister Ophilia..." 

She didn't give him the chance to voice his concerns about her resolve. Ophilia shook her head and glanced up to the brazier. "Shall we begin the Kindling?" she suggested, unsure as to if she should hope for his agreement or not. 

Donovan nodded quickly, pulling Lysa into one arm before stepping away from the Sacred Flame. "Yes. Everything is ready now. Please... Go right ahead."

Ophilia took in a careful breath and let it out just as slowly as she approached the brazier. The Sacred Flame glowed too brightly for her to bear, but Ophilia forced herself to look into its silver pyre anyway. "O great Aelfric, Bringer of the Flame... To you, I offer my soul and my blood. With your First Flame, I kindle this fire. May it forever shelter the people of this land." Ophilia raised the lanthorn high, and the Ember seemed to sing along with the greater flame. "Through the sacrament of the Kindling, grant us your mercy and your blessing." The fire intensified, and Ophilia could have sworn she heard a whistle in her ears that rose to a fever pitch before silencing itself. She was certain Aelfric knew of her strife, and the goddess was granting her all she could from afar. Ophilia didn't know if that was reassuring or not, but she chose to not think about it either. 

Instead, Ophilia started back down the path from the brazier, her legs wobbling but refusing to give in entirely. "This concludes the Kindling," she went on. The rest of the travelers were watching her, but Ophilia didn't let herself look at them directly. She was too afraid of what they would say if they saw the tears she couldn't seem to smother from her eyes. 

Donovan nodded and cast her a smile. He looked sickly in the light of the Sacred Flame, but he did not let it consume him as long as Lysa was in his arms. "We thank you, Sister Ophilia."

"I pray the Sacred Flame will always warm the hearts of the people of Goldshore," Ophilia whispered, not sure of who she was saying it to. The idea of those words being acknowledged for what they were made her too sick to try and come to any conclusion in particular.