Chapter Text
Aurélie becomes aware of Uroboros when she is barely four years old.
For her, there’s no fanfare. One day nothing, and next Vie de Marli is abuzz with word of an entire city being built on the west end. The faces of the adults cloud as they discuss it and at first she is unsure why. It is the nature of the island to house those who come from afar.
The problem, she rationalizes, is that their new neighbors never came to greet the rest community. They did not introduce themselves, and so they could not be welcomed. The adults must surely be angry that the people of Uroboros are being rude, and Aurélie soon begins to wear a stormy face and complain of their rudeness among other children. (It wouldn’t have taken much of a press for her to admit maybe she was fascinated by what kinds of food outsiders might bring and considered it a personal slight that they didn’t even try.)
The first demons appear when she is nine. They possess small items and fizzle out on their own against wards woven strong as silk from the combined fabric of a dozen ancestral faiths. For a month or two, something burns or shatters itself in the street every other day. As time passes, stronger demons begin to take over animals or manifest physically. Vie de Marli is no stranger to evil or demons. They fight back with rituals that had been with them since their ancestors escaped across the sea.
When they alone are no longer enough, Lucia appears. Their vanguard. Their guardian angel.
Aurélie remembers this period more like a divine vision than a real series of events. Priestesses and wise women in colors and costumes she had heard of but never imagined to half the awe inspired by their reality chanted and prayed in languages she knew and some she did not. They called on gods greater than they were, but she doesn’t remember the gods half so well as she remembers the air shuddering around those women as though they were thunder itself. Powerful and unchallengeable in the hallowed grounds made centuries ago to keep and protect their people.
In the lulls, whispers are exchanged. Against an army of demons seemingly without end, even Lucia could not hold forever, but she holds their ground day after day after day. And then one day, Lucia is not alone. The son of Sparda fights beside her, as Sparda himself once fought beside Matier.
When the eclipse passes, the sky splits and the great western tower falls. Lucia and Matier return together with victory in their mouths. There are celebrations. New wards woven. Ceremonial passing down of ritual responsibilities from grann who felt the age in their bones and knew the time had come for their daughters to be the spiritual leaders of their families. Daughters of daughters are appointed as the ones who will be next to receive the responsibility. Aurélie’s own eldest sister is among those.
Aurélie is youngest of three. She is not chosen for anything. Instead, she looks on Lucia, the sole Guardian left to Vie de Marli, and chooses on her own.
I’m going to be a Guardian too...!