The sun is shining and the trees' leaves are whistling from the wind, lush greenery and clear skies, hills and mountains decorating the background. The Temple, a small building with two grand arches at the front made out of marble with designs depicting the morning sun and a great stained window portraying a stern man holding the sun in his hands wearing white garbs and a halo on his head, the Temple is quiet during this period of the day, except the servant of the Temple who is tasked to prepare for the morning ceremonies. Aciel has the menial task of setting up the altar and preparing the robes of the Bishop, he works with a smile, he hides bruises and scars from his back with his torn outfit as much as he can, but it can clearly be seen that his main concern is hiding his eyes. He is treading with a smile carrying a book with a symbol of a rising sun embroidered in gold, he places it on the altar and lets out a small sigh.
"All done, now time to inform his holiness"
Aciel goes to the Bishop's office and knocks twice. Moans can be heard on the other side and a loud noise.
"Wait!" Aciel stands in front of the door waiting with a smile....silence... After 10 minutes the door opens and an old man with a short beard and white garments embroidered in gold steps out.
"Is everything prepared?"
Aciel looks up to him and nods, "Yes your holiness everything is prep-" the Bishop slaps Aciel and yells "What have I told you, do NOT stare at me with those eyes!"
Aciel with a smile looks down and squeezes his rugged clothes,
"I apologise, your holiness"
The Bishop pushes him aside and moves towards the altar. The morning ceremonial proceedings are in place, everyone is gathered, everyone, except one.
Aciel is sitting outside looking at the birds flying across the sky, a squirrel teasing another and the wind whistling through the roses decorating the front side of the Temple.
"Such a lovely day this is, isn't it ?" Asks the voice in Aciel's head. But no response,
"Why don't you go for a walk in the garden?" The voice proceeds but again no response.
The voice asks with a deeper voice,
"Why do you still tolerate this abuse? Why!?"
Aciel keeps looking towards the horizon and takes a step but a shout from inside the temple calls him.
"Aciel, it's time to clean up".
He heads in, blows out the candles, brushes the benches and clear up the altar, lastly he takes the Book of Light, an artifact of the church of Amaunator, and walks back to the treasury. He hands the book to an old man wearing some old ragged robes.
"Here you go sir", he bows then as he was about to leave, the old man grabs his hand.
"Go to the garden and help the Saintes and don't dilly dally".
Aciel nods and heads through the grand halls of the small temple towards the garden.
"Aciel...why do you stay here?" Asks the voice.
A majestic garden filled with bright red tulips and roses in the middle of it, a lady wearing a garment depicting the morning sun on the back, she stands up and cheerfully greets him.
"Aciel, you came to help!" She says with a bright smile.
He goes next to her while looking down
"Yes your holiness, I came to assist you in tending the garden." He says with a smile.
She hugs him tightly grabbing his face as if leaning for a kiss on the cheek and looks at him in the eyes,
"Aren't you the sweetest now, also what have I told you before when it's just us, just call me Sophia",
the voice in Aciel's head laughs
"Don't tell me, She is the reason why you keep staying here!"
Aciel steps away from Sophia and looks down,
"I apologise for your holiness, but I can't do what you ask of me."
Sophia pouts and frowns
"I have told you time and time again stop it when it's just us"
"Well, it's not just the two of you here now is it" the voice butts in again and lets out a snicker.
Sophia grabs Aciel by the hand and drags him to the back of the garden, to a patch of roses, beautiful bright red, thornless and full of passion.
"Look, the roses we planted together have grown beautifully, look at this one"
she brings it close to Aciel and the smell of it is serene, like the morning sun bringing forth another great day.
"It smells amazing doesn't it." She smiles. Aciel says nothing,
"Ah, you should say something back, look at her all cheerful and happy don't disappoint her", the voice suggested, Aciel looks up to her
"It looks and smells amazing" he says with a bright smile.
Sophia blushes and covers her face,
"You should speak more often, your voice is angelic".
A shout calls for Aciel again,
"Hey! We have visitors, and Aciel prepares some tea... Now!"
Aciel rushes back.
Sophia falls back and excitedly screams,
"Yes!.. He called me amazing" then a voice in her head disrupts her,
"I think he meant the flower was amazing."
Sophia then yells
"Don't take it from me, he looked at me when he said that."
"Whatever you say."
Aciel heads to the kitchen, the cooks are preparing a big meal. Roast beef, lobster and turkey. "Who are our guests?" Aciel asks.
None of the cooks reply,
"I don't have a good feeling about this." The voice says.
Aciel prepares the tea and sets it on the tray, one of the cooks goes up to Aciel
"You can't go out there dressed like that, change into these."
The cook tosses him fresh clothes, a plain dark shirt, pants and shoes.
Aciel changes his clothes in the kitchen and the chef grabs his old clothes and throws them in the bin.
"Now you are ready, remember no eye contact with anyone and no talking, is that understood?!"
Aciel nods, grabs the tea set and goes to the hall where the guests have arrived.
A young muscular blond paladin, wearing plate armour with a symbol of a roaring lion as it's right pauldron, is speaking with Sophia.
"Sophia, I came to receive your blessing to slay a basilisk, would you grant it to me?" he smirks and notices Aciel,
"Hah, would you look at that, the cursed little kid is serving us tea, Sophia would you have some with me?", he then grabs Sophia by her hand, but Sophia pulls back,
"I would like if you weren't so loud Sir Gregory, a paladin shouldn't be acting this way."
Sir Gregory taken aback
"Alright your 'holiness' I apologise about my 'rude' behaviour," then he mockingly bows to Sophia and heads to Aciel.
Aciel grips the tray slightly as he approaches.
Sir Gregory pushes Aciel back and spills the tea on him,
"Sorry your 'holiness' but why is this cursed child here, I can't help but be slightly irritated!" Sophia gasps,
"How dare-" she gets interrupted as the Bishop enters,
he notices the mess and goes up to Aciel
"How dare you make a mess, clean this up and go back!"
The Bishop then kicks Aciel.
He then turns towards Sir Gregory,
"I am sorry, you had to see that Sir Gregory, come now, let's head to the dining room."
Through the halls they walk and reach the dining room, a large long table in the middle, with twelve chairs in total, the table is decorated with a pure white cloth, sets of silver cutlery and vases filled with yellow roses.
"Have a seat" says the Bishop.
Sir Gregory pulls a chair for Sophia and then sits next to her.
"What are we having?" Sir Gregory asks,
"We will see... very soon in fact" says the Bishop,
Aciel and three more servers enter the room with big platters of food, roasted pig, steaks, chicken, with little to no greens. Aciel sets a small plate of salad in front of Sophia, Sir Gregory looks at Aciel and gives him an intimidating look. Aciel looks away and goes back to the kitchen. Sir Gregory chuckles a bit and Sophia is visibly upset.
"Oh c'mon, don't be sad, he is just a cursed little monster," Sir Gregory explains.
Aciel cowers back and waits to the side. Sophia looks at Sir Gregory with disdain,
"You need to stop, he is only a kid."
The Bishop laughs at that comment,
"He already is 16 years old, not much of a kid anymore... which reminds me, what are you still doing here?" He looks at Aciel.
Aciel then bows and leaves back to the kitchen. In the kitchen the chefs are discussing the reasoning for the visit of The Solar Lions. They are talking about the expedition they will take and how the Saintes might have to assist them this time.
"Is it true?... They are going to take her away for this one?" Aciel asks concerned.
One of the chefs nods and looks at Aciel,
"I think your work for now is done, why don't you head to the garden and here, your lunch."
Aciel grabs the stale bread and mouldy cheese and heads to the garden.
"Really now... mouldy cheese with stale bread, you're living like royalty!" the voice says.
"Its fine, it's better than nothing-"
"That's not what I meant, I'm certain they have something better to give you, you can clearly see that they are hypocrites that are trying to make themselves feel better, with superiority in mind, but what can you do, most mortals think that way and before you say something,... yes... you are different from them, because I blessed you from birth, you are smarter than the average person, way smarter, but also you can see things others don't, those eyes of yours, I just added a little extra to them, since you know... eh it doesn't matter you will figure it out yourself, I already said too much."
Aciel doesn't say anything and finishes his food and goes back to work, but Sophia intercepts him on his way back.
"Where are you going?" she asks.
"I need to go back to work" he responds and looks away.
"Aciel, listen... I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier, please don't be mad at me."
Aciel looks at her smiling
"Miss, I am incapable of feeling hatred towards you, you shouldn't feel sad in my stead, I will trust you and I know that you will be fine and come back safe" as he finishes his sentence, Sophia hugs him tightly.
Sir Gregory enters the garden and sees Sophia hugging Aciel, so he coughs loudly to get their attention, but they don't pay attention to him.
"Oh what do we have here, our Sophia likes the cursed one?"
Aciel pushes Sophia away, bows his head and tries to leave, but Sir Gregory blocks his way.
"Oh, nonono... I have to punish you for touching her holiness."
"Sophia steps in "I was the one who hugged him, I instigated it,... so back off."
"Oh my dear Sophia, you know no one is allowed to touch you, except the one who shall be your husband and guardian." says Sir Gregory.
"Mymy, what is going on here. I think everyone is a little agitated by the adventure that beholds them, worry not with the Blessing of the Sun, all should be good." Says the Bishop as he walks to the garden.
"Come now don't stay here, it's getting dark and cold, come inside and rest for tomorrow.""
Thank you, your holiness!" Says Sir gregory.
"Alright, come Aciel you-"Sophia gets interrupted.
"No, he is going to sleep here tonight, he has made too many mistakes today!" states the Bishop.
Sophia tries to say something but Aciel already leaves and sits below the tree at the back of the garden. Sir Gregory smiles and says to Sophia
"This is what he gets, come now we need plenty of rest for tomorrow... my dear."
The others leave and Aciel is laying down looking at the sky.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Says the voice.
"Yeah!" says Aciel happily.
"Good... Happy to hear that."
His eyes begin to close as the night beckons,
"Good night boy, don't let the snakes bite." He chuckles as he drifts to sleep.
Darkness, pure black all the way around... then a pair of pure white eyes staring right at Aciel. Following with a large bloody grin that would make anyone tremble in fear. Aciel is drifting closer and closer to it, as if beckoned by it, mesmerised and suddenly a kinder face right opposite of the bloody one trying to pull him away.
"Don't do it!" a voice similar to Sophia's, stops him.
He stares right at the bloody face.
"That's no fun now is it" says the voice. A thunderous snap can be heard as it all fades away.
As the morning comes Aciel is already awake and gathering some water from the well. One of the servants of the Temple, Dorothy, is helping him out.
"Careful now, you don't want to trip and spill all the water." she says.
"No worries!" Aciel replies.
As he grabs the bucket and makes his way to the kitchen. The kitchen smells of spices, vinegar and a hint of lemon. Aciel puts the water in a pot and one of the chefs chants and a fire lights boiling the water. Another cook grabs the peeled potatoes and throws them in. Aciel moves to the side,
"Hey, boy! Go grab me some oranges from the garden!" one of the chefs yelled.
Aciel runs to the garden and bumps into Stan, Vice-Commander of The Solar Lions.
Stan glares at him and sighs,
"You should watch where you are going, lad! Keep your head up."
Aciel raises his head and looks at Stan.
Stan takes a step back and reaches for his sword.
"You heathen!" he sighs again.
"Just go". Aciel then rushes to the garden and grabs a handful of the brightest oranges.
He returns to the kitchen and puts the oranges on the table, he grabs a couple of sticks of cinnamon and places them inside the pot filled with the other ingredients.
"Good" says one of the cooks,
"Now we can prepare the potpourri. Now go set the table!"
Aciel, Dorothy and one of the chefs, Marcus, go to the dining hall and prepare the table. A pure white cloth is set with a lot of plates floating down as the chef chants what seems to be Circadian magic. Dorothy sets the cutlery and then the guests arrive a group of 15 knights in the lead being Sir Gregory and Saintes Sophia. The servants all bow and go back to the kitchen with Aciel staying behind at the end of the table looking down, waiting.
"Morning Aciel!" yells Sophia.
Aciel nods and Knight Seris glares at Aciel
"Where are your manners heathen!"Sir Gregory laughs,
"Oh relax now Seris, you know if he were to speak I would have to cut him down!"
The rest of the Knights laugh except Stan, he glares at Aciel and says nothing. The food starts to get served and after a while the Bishop enters.
"Hoho, your Holiness, Great Morning of the Sun to you!" Says Sir Gregory.
"Great Morning of the Sun to you as well, Sir Gregory!" he joyfully replies.
He then proceeds to go to his chair and Aciel pulls it back for him and prepares a cloth and places it on his lap. Then he heads back to his spot looking down. Meanwhile in the kitchen a little kerfuffle has occurred.
"Why do they always make him do that!" yells Dorothy at Marcus.
"Listen, I get why you are upset but, he is a heathen, a heretic, he shouldn't even be alive!" Marcus replies.
"Now now guys, don't yell too much you don't want to disturb the guests or worse... the Bishop" says the head chef.
"Stay out of this Phillip!" she yells.
"Ok... your funeral" he replies.
"Do we even do funerals?" asks Fred,
"I don't have the foggiest" replies Smidt.
"I mean it would be dumb, since we are the Temple of the Sun, you know. Worshippers of Amaunator, The Judge of Light and Life and all that stuff." retorts Fred.
"Well, a Temple isn't necessarily a church in my opinion, this is just a place of worship and blessings, if you want a funeral go to Myrkul's Temple." replies chef Gordon.
"Nononononono!" say both cooks.
"Why not? Too scared with all the death around those temples?" says Gordon.
"YES. Have you ever been there, I was there once, never again. Those Temples give me the hibbie jibbies!" exclaims Smidt.
All the servants laugh except Dorothy.
"How can you all laugh when Aciel is working? All of you back to work!" she yells
"Yes ma'am!" they all say in unison.
"Pssst, Aciel" he hears in his head.
"Psssst, Aciel! Can you hear me!" The voice gets louder.
"Yes." he replies quietly.
"Did you say something!" The Bishop says.
Aciel shook his head saying nothing.
"Oh screw him... also you don't have to speak out loud when you are talking to me, I'm not some Low Rank!" the voice says.
"Go outside!" The Bishop yells at Aciel.
Aciel then heads outside to the arches of the Temple.
"Hah! That's better..." says the voice.
"You will get me killed one day," says Aciel.
"As if! You won't die unless I say so boy! Now I want to show you something."
"Show me something?" Aciel asks, confused.
"Yes boy! Show you." the voice replies annoyed.
"Now you interrupt me one more time and I swear... never mind... now, close your eyes and don't open them till I tell you so!"
"Alright" Aciel closes his eyes and waits for his next order.
A couple of minutes pass then his eyes start burning a little, but Aciel doesn't flinch.
"Okie dokie, open em up!" says the voice.
Aciel opens his eyes and they feel heavy but he takes a look around and can see something he couldn't before. Something silky waving around with the wind.
"You see that! That's what you mortals call The Weave"
"The Weave?" Aciel seeps deeper to confusion.
A facepalm can be heard inside Aciel's head.
"Oh my goodness, you don't... no, no, I will not lecture you today, The Weave is the essence of magic, but take a closer look."
Aciel then squints and he sees something dark, thin like a string attached in between the Weave.
"And what's that?" Aciel asks.
"Hoho, I knew you would catch it fast, well that my boy is... hmmm... well you mortals don't have a proper name for it since Mystra keeps it hidden from y'all. But that is like my version of the Weave. I call it... ummm... well I call it the String for now, it's still a work in progress. BUT, I know you can't use the Weave. So here you go a little late for your birthday, or early depending on how you look at it."
"So what can I do with it?" Aciel asks reluctantly.
"Hmmmm... good question, why don't you try and imagine what you saw today in the morning preparations from that chef that uses magic?"
"Do you mean Chef Phillip?" Aciel asks.
"Ye, that one with the fire attribute, anyway stop wasting time, just try it!" the voice getting slightly more irritated.
Aciel closes his eyes and thinks back to the preparations, the chant that was used and how the fire looked, he pulls his hand out and a black flame appears on his hand.
"BRAVO!" yells the voice and claps.
"It bloody worked, wow, pat on my back, I must admit I didn't expect it to work so well, I mean I just released the thing, it could cause damage or maybe more blessings or, or... I'll spare you the details, but as of now boy, you can use 'magic'. It's not the same as the ordinary things you've been exposed to, so if I were you, I would practise it alone because no chanting is required. Ok bye now, gotta do some tweaks before Mystra comes and blows my ears out."
Aciel smiles and jumps up from excitement. But still confused with this turn of events.
"Aciel, we need you for cleaning, come back!" yells one of the servants.
Aciel with new found confidence heads back inside and grabs his basket and picks up the garbage in the kitchen, he cleans the floors with a wet towel and dusts off the portraits in the hallways, as he continues with his tasks, he bumps into Dorothy.
"Oh sorry dear, you okay?" Dorothy looks at him a tad confused.
"I am alright, Miss Dorothy!" He smiles at her and he continues on with his duties.
Dorothy goes back to the kitchen.
"Uhm, sorry but do you know why Aciel has been so energetic since the morning?"
"What do you mean?" Asks Fred,
"He is smiling and very bright I might add! Did something good happen?" she asks, concerned.
"Yeah maybe now that those pricks, the Solar Lions or whatever are finally leaving so he doesn't have to slave for them! hah!" says Inver,
"Or maybe now that Sophia is gone he won't be slapped around by the Bishop as punishment! hah!" says Smidt.
"Wait... wouldn't he be sad about that?" says another cook,
"What do you mean?" asks Dorothy,
"Aren't the Saintes and Aciel like, close, and I mean not in a platonic matter" says Fred,
Everyone bursts out laughing, everyone except Dorothy.
"Haha! That was a good one... hoo dear haven't had a laugh that good since my early days" says Inver.
Dorothy, then concerned for Aciel, goes looking for him.
She searches through the temple hallways, the dining room, the servant quarters, the main hall until she remembers that Aciel likes taking his time off in the garden at the back.
As she enters the garden she bumps into Saintes Sophia.
"Ah, I'm so sorry for your holiness, I wasn't looking where I was going and-" Dorothy says worriedly.
"Do not worry Dorothy, you must have your reason why you are running, and I'm guessing it's for that one over there" Sophia points at Aciel tending the roses of the garden.
Dorothy bows at the Saintes and walks towards Aciel.
"Hey there! What are you doing?" she asks playfully,
"Just tending her holiness' roses" he says with a bright smile,
He looks happy and filled with life, as if he is free.
"You should tell her you know" says the voice.
"Also I will be assisting her holiness and the Solar Lions in this quest" says Aciel.
"What!... So you are leaving the Temple?" Dorothy was filled with shock.
"Yeah, I will finally see what the outside looks like," he says filled with determination.
Sophia then walks close to them.
"He is tasked to be our porter, for some reason. Even though I pleaded him to stay back, he for once showed stubbornness."
"Wait this was your idea?" asks Dorothy
"Yup, I saw an opportunity and took it as he says" says Aciel.
"Hol' on there boy firstly, that was my idea so you can expand your horizons, secondly don't be using my phrases now also don't mention me or you will be in veeeery big trouble, and thirdly bye byee!" said the voice while fading into the distance.
"Who says that?" asks Dorothy
"Sorry? It's no one, but the only thing that matters is that I finally get the chance to experience a bit of the world" says Aciel firmly.
"It's alright Dorothy I will protect him, I am one of the strongest Saints out there after all" says Sophia happily.
"Promise me you won't let him veer off somewhere?" says Dorothy.
"I promise, but I am saddened by the fact that you can't come with us Dory"
"You haven't called me that since forever ago Soph"
"Well it's partially my fault for that but it's alright, we will finish this quest quickly and come back to celebrate together" says Sophia excitedly.