Althalus wrote:A small, encloaked figure opens the door to the church, peeks in, and moves past the threshhold of the door closing it softly behind. The figure crosses the carpeted floor of the temple swiftly but surely, and removes from the folds of the cloak a scroll tube, which the figure uncorks and slips from it a vellum page.
Looking around furtively as if unsure of any protocol, the small one places the page face-up on the altar, takes a knee, and whispers a small prayer, and then departs as quietly and quicky at it came.
To Darius and Kenshin, when they find it, the letter read such:
Da,
I am writing you this letter because I needed to talk to you. I think about you all the time. Mamma is well and misses you too. Meshet Lingenbuckle is still her gardener, and he is doing a good job keeping up with the chores for Ma or at least thats what she said in her last letter. I try and send her a letter with money every month or so, but it's not always that easy.
I have some good news for you. I recently became a Knight! Well,it's more like a helper Knight, but Knight is still in the name. It was one of my best days. I had to take an Oath and I'm afraid my hand will cramp if I try to write you out the whole thing, but bascially it means that I perform my duties as the Prince (The Prince!) commands, and that I protect the weak, the innocent, and help those who cannot help themselves. It's a lot like what you used to tell me to do around our village, but now I do it everywhere. I miss you. I was proud of being chosen as a Knight, mostly cause I know you would have been proud of me, and because I have new friends that have dedicated their whole lives to helping others. The other Knights names are Phelan, who recently became my brother since I don't have any family here and I needed some but I'll talk about that later. I think Phelan is the nicest man next to you Da I've ever met. Amelia is his sister, and mine now too. She's pretty and she has a beautiful smile, but she doesn't show it all the time. She's a great warrior though, and she can teach me a lot I think. Same with Edana. Amy says she's not usually so smiley, but she smiled and laughed a lot the day I took my Oath to be a Knight. She is a great warrior too, and can help my sword-work I think. I like her a lot. Then there's a sneaky guy named Shard who doesn't much like hugs, a kinda grumpy elf named Hyel who isn't nearly as grumpy as he pretends to be, and me for now. My Oath means I can't come looking for that Ork who killed you right away, because I have to do some things first for the Prince, but I made a promise on the day you died, and I will keep it. I'm not a Lily Gristlegrinder. It just might take more time is all.
The next day after becoming a Knight was my worst day. I took a big sea boat (I know! it was huge!) to a city called Morell, and these theiving 'Lings has stolen stuff and they were hurting my friends and hurting me too. I tried to tell them to stop cause I didn't understand why they would do that? Why would they try and hurt others? Phelan says there is evil in the world and it doesn't always take the shape I would like it to, which I think means that some people are evil. I took an Oath to protect people, Da. So I took my sword. And I stuck them. And they died. They died because they wouldn't stop. And they died because I had to make them dead to protect my friends. My heart is still sore over it. I've cried and cried until my tears were gone and then cried some more, but it doesn't stop the hurt in my chest. "The weight of the sword" Phelan and Amy called it, which I think just means that it's hard to kill a person, which I can tell you it really is. I know I did what I had to do, and I know they were wrong, but that doesn't seem to help.
I'll be strong, cause Ma would tell me I need to be. I don't ever want to embarrass you, Da. I wish you were here cause you'd know what to do to make my heart better I think. I miss you. So much.
*The remainder of the letter,another paragraph or so, is tear-soaked and illegible*
Will wrote:At the sound of the temple doors opening and closing, a tall, stark white-skinned figure in unfashioned breastplate armor exits the barracks on one side of the temple that serves as a living quarters for members of the faith. Although his black eyes appear almost completely darkened in the dancing shadows cast by the torchlight in the bare-bones temple, he notices someone leaving just as the temple door closes behind them.
The youthful Requiem Guard of Peralia steps out between a column of pillars, his gaze glimmering through thick black strands of hair as aloof as its owner. Croven peers across the temple floor but the place has returned to being deathly quiet.
"I wonder who that was?" he thinks out loud to himself.
His scythe looms silently across his back as he approaches his goddess's altar with an air of reverence and respect. He poises when he spots a letter there. Curiously, he picks it up and reads it.
Once he finishes reading, he stares at the smudges on the bottom of the page with an unreadable expression.
He replaces the letter upon the alter. His head is slightly bowed as he addresses his goddess.
"Blessed Peralia, you grace me with the understanding to be able to serve you. Souls shall not be troubled under your guidance, nor fear death with your understanding.
This girl, who's path she has chosen as a Knight, does so with a heavy conscience and is in danger of becoming a lost soul. Her soul will be forsaken if her spirit continues to be shadowed in guilt and uncertainty.
Death simply for the sake of living without meaning destroys meaning in life, moment by moment. The beauty of life is within each soul. Let her actions reflect her heart's desires, to protect her kingdom and to honor her father.
Lady of the Underworld, I will be your messenger. Let us, your brave servants, be her guide."
He stands with a proudness in the quiet at the foot of the altar with the letter in hand. He takes the letter with him to find Darius and Kenshin.
Farwalker wrote:Brother Kenshin exits his chamber fully fixed in his black armor. Sword at his side and his shield slung under his cloak he enters the main temple hall.
"Good morning Sister Annah, Good Morning Croven. Did we just have a visitor?"
*Kenshin aproches the alter to offer Goddess Peralia worship*
Will wrote:"Yes, Brother Farwalker. You and Brother Darius should take a look at this." He offers the letter to Farwalker.
Farwalker wrote:Reviews the letter
"Ah, looks like this is for Brother Darius. I'll put it on my desk for him. I wonder. . .oh, must be from miss Shinwillow. She is such a sweet girl, and aparently now a Knight of the Argentum Vigilo."
Goes and puts the letter on his desk in his chamber for Brother Darius when he returns, and enters the main hall again.
"Sister, Brother, if either of you happen to see Brother Darius before I do, please let him know he has a letter on my desk."
Will wrote:"A Miss Shinwillow of the Argentum Vigilo..." Croven exchanges looks with Sister Annah and nods affirmatively in reply to Kenshin's task.