Blood And Stone

Chapter 41: Epiphany in Fathe

Just as Peace has many followers in the mortal realm, so do the other goddesses. Their influence spread far and wide after the Brother War, leaving many cities with their own rules based on the beliefs and teachings of the Winged Council. Each group of people took their devotion rather seriously but none took it as seriously as the city of Fathe. Nestled gently at the top of The Norns' Mountain, hidden among the crags was a city carved of marble. Each building stood elongated, pointing toward the sky like needles, giving the entirety of the mountain the nickname, Fate's Point.

Tall white walls surrounded the city, encasing it in a nearly impenetrable shell of smooth stone. The stark white of the natural material helped to camouflage the city as the sun rose high in the sky. Clouds fell around the base of the wall, reflecting the sun and leaving the entire city invisible. The largest point sat atop Fate's Chapel, the building was said to have been built on the very spot where Fate herself was born. The needle extended so far into the sky above that at midday, the sun seemed to rest at the very edge of the point. This sent light spiraling down the needle, following the twists in the material, and shrouded the chapel in what looked to be a thin veil of light.

As the veil began its descent, those who had chosen to reside in the Chapel and accept their duty to protect the remnants of Fate would emerge from its thick walls. Their purple robes sparkled in the sun as the golden accents caught the rays of the veil. In a single file line, they slowly descended the steps of the chapel and made their way to the pool that rested deep within the untouched ground. They took their places around the pool and let their eyes fall to watch the swirling black liquid held within. The soft hum of their prayers was heard throughout the city, growing with intensity as the citizens joined in, sending the sound flowing from the mountainside like a waterfall.

Each Chapel member bent, dipping their fingers into the swirling black liquid, and drew their fingers across their face. They connected their eyes with a black line from left to right, then pulled the liquid down along their noses, cutting their lips in half before ending the line at their chin. With the sacred markings in place, they fell to their knees, clasping hands with those beside them, and closed their eyes. The ritual was performed every day as the veil descended, signifying and honoring the deaths of their ancestors who lost their lives in the Brother War. As the veil of the light fell around them, their arms rose above their heads. The black liquid rose from the pool, swirling in great waves to form a cyclone that never once caused anything around them to shift. As the darkness of the liquid met the light of the veil, the members dropped their hands, opened their eyes, and stared directly into the sun.

"We forsake our eyes so that we may see. We forsake our tongues so that we may hear. To free oneself from the bonds of mortality is to accept the hand of Fate. As one, we give our lives to thee. Forgive us our mortality and set us free." The mantra was simple but powerful to those who spoke it, the meaning shaking something deep within their souls that could only bolster their inner peace and strength.

Torvir rolled his eyes and spat on the marble beneath his feet in disgust. Watching this display had become something that spurred his hatred and pushed him to the brink of madness if it were possible that he hadn't already become mad. He did have to admire the power it took to raise the black souls of those buried beneath their feet but it was a foolish thing to do daily for the love of one Goddess. Especially one that controlled every bad ending they would experience. It was foolish and disgusting but, he had to watch now, to study their every move.

He had been hidden among the highest towers for a few days, his eyes taking in every route of escape. He believed that he had the city pretty well learned at this point which meant all he had to do now, was wait. Torvir knew that if he could control this city, he would gain the upper hand in controlling the skies. Fathe was the highest point in the realm, allowing one to see across the entire expanse of the world if they had eyes strong enough to see. Being the highest point in the realm also meant it was the closest to the immortal realm, giving the entire area a magical buzz that drew people in like flies to shit. If he controlled the skies and the sea, the area between would have no choice but to fall to his power.