Chapter Text
“Are you sure this will work?” Valois said, eying the paladin. “This better not be one of your parachute ideas again.” She looked around, taking in the grassy plains. The two heroes were standing in a small clearing, surrounded by canvas tents. A campfire cracked nearby. “And why are we doing this now, again? Can’t it wait after s’mores?”
“This is a complicated ritual that is extremely time sensitive.” responded Belian. She was dressed in silver armor, covered in etchings of crescent moons, and wearing a black cape. In her wooden arm was Selune’s Light, glowing softly in the moonlight. She waved the sword above her head in a circle. “Don’t worry, guys. This is totally gonna work.” Above, the stars twinkled in disagreement. Valois swore she heard a small snicker in the wind.
Hynkle sat in front of a campfire, roasting some marshmallows. Next to them sat Ruz, who wrapped one arm around them for comfort. She held some chocolate and crackers in her other hand. The married couple looked at each other and smiled.
“See?” said Valois, pointing to the elf. “You’re even making Hynkle worried with your stupidity!” Valois reached down and patted them on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll get Hunkle back. I’m sorry we made you do this. You know how Belian is with her ideas. She does mean well, usually.” Valois sighed. “It’s a bit worrying, how she always avoids the common sense solution. I feel bad for her students.” Belian stuck her tongue out.
Hynkle laughed. “Oh I’m not particularly worried, it’s typical Belian,” they replied. “I’m more worried about my marshmallow catching on fire, to be honest.”
Belian scowled. “Hey! I do have some good ideas on occasion!”
“Hynkle’s right, dear,” snickered Valois.
A gasp. “How could you betray me like this, my heart? We’re married! ”
Valois merely smiled in response and sat down next to Hynkle. Picking up a marshmallow, she nodded at Belian. “Go ahead, love, do your thing. I’ll be making s’mores when you come back.”
“Fine,” grumbled Belian. “But I swear, this is gonna work.” She moved away from the campsite and disappeared into the grassy sea. After walking for a couple minutes, she came across a rocky, circular outcrop. A single oak tree stood to the side, reaching for the heavens.
Belian smiled. Alright, Belian. It’s Paladin Time. She walked to the middle of the outcrop and stood, spine straight and back to the oak tree. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and lifted her chin towards the crescent moon.
“SELUNE,” she yelled, voice shrill and booming. “WHERE’S THE KID?”
No response.
“I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, SELUNE.” Still no response.
“Come on, Selune, please respond,” she muttered. “Have I not done enough?” She thought of Hynkle and Ruz. “Haven’t they gone through enough?”
“WELL IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO RESPOND,” she yelled again, “AT LEAST SEND THIS MESSAGE.”
Belian closed her eyes. Images of Hunkle, of Hynkle and Ruz, of her beloved Valois, flashed through her mind. No, Belian, concentrate. Do it for Hunkle.
She cleared her mind, erasing any thoughts. Then, taking a deep, steady breath, she opened her mouth. Sacred chants, old and weighless like the light of the moon, flowed out into the night air, vibrant energy pulsing through her words. Please, please, the prayers seemed to say. We love you. We haven’t forgotten about you. We’ll find you. Come back home.
“Hunkle needs to come home,” she whispered, throat raw and heart heavy. Hunkle needs to come home. “SELUNE, HUNKLE NEEDS TO COME BACK HOME!” She yelled, eyes closed and jaw tense. Surely, Selune, you agree with this?
Standing in the moonlight, figure proud and defiant, Belian raised her sword, brilliantly gleaming, white and holy in the moonlight. Selune, please, hear my prayer. “I HOPE YOU SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT AS I DO!”
Moonlight flooded the paladin. Suddenly, without any warning, a vision thundered across Belian’s eyes.
Two figures, one cloaked, stood on a boat bathed in moonlight. Below, the waves crashed in terrifying cacophony. Above, a crescent moon watched in quiet brilliance.
“This is my home, Zoe, I will do anything in my power to protect it. I hope you share the same sentiment as I do.” the cloaked figure said, strong and unyielding.
“I will,” the other figure responded, voice cracking slightly. “This is my home, too.”
Belian opened her eyes in shock, breathing heavy and laborious, the feeling of nausea overwhelming. Her skin burned, her head throbbed, and her pulse crashed in her ears. Like the sound of the sea . Her sword slipped from her grip as her entire body shook.
What was that?
She strained her ears, but she could hear nothing, save for the rustling of the plains and the gentle breeze. Nothing that seemed to indicate anything out of the ordinary.
Belian got the distinct feeling that she saw something that she should not have.
But what did I see? What did I even see? She grasped at her memory in desperation, but remembered nothing, the vision fading as quickly as it had appeared.
Dazed, she picked up her sword and left the clearing. The moon seemed dimmer, somehow, as if it was sapped of its energy. The wind stopped blowing. A heavy silence filled the air, broken only by Belian’s ragged breathing.
As soon as she arrived back to camp, she trudged over to the campfire, eyes glazed and mind hazy. She plopped down next to Valois, who immediately handed her a s’more.
“And how did it go, my dear?” asked Valois, voice bright and teasing.
Belian sighed. “I don’t know,” replied the paladin, taking a small bite out of the s’more. “I don’t know.”
The campfire crackled, sparks flying in the air. Hynkle and Valois shared worried glances, but said nothing.
“Well,” Ruz said at length, voice calm and quiet. “There is always tomorrow.”