Chapter Text
Levinsday, Brand 27, 1618
Ophilia waited until after she was certain that she would go through the Kindling in Lianna’s stead before collapsing to the ground in sobs. Up on the hill, it was unlikely that anybody would hear her.
Ever since Archbishop Josef had taken her in, he had treated her with nothing but kindness. Ophilia had believed that nobody could fill the void that her parent’s death had left, but the man had become almost a father. She was part of a family again, and that family could be gone so soon.
She was too distracted by the racing of her thoughts to hear the approaching footsteps. The cleric looked up when she saw a pair of dark leather boots covering bandaged legs to see a man standing above her, his head tilted as he looked down at her. A dark purple scarf and a lighter colored bandana covered his chest and neck, and dirty white hair fell around his tanned face.
Ophilia quickly got to her feet, wiping the snow off of the bottom of her dress. “O-Oh, hello, sir.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her gloved hand. “I-I apologize for my, um, behavior, and for being away from the cathedral. Is there anything I might help you with?”
The man’s eyebrows shot up. “Anything you can help me with?” He asked.
Ophilia clasped the jewel that held her cloak in place. “Y-yes. It is my job to provide assistance to people, after all. I can only assume that you came here because you have need of something.”
He tilted his head again, his eyes crinkling slightly. “What in the hells are you talking about?”
Ophilia was taken aback. “I am a member of the clergy at the Great Cathedral. My name is Sister Ophilia. Again, sir, how may I help you? You look to be from out of town.”
The man let out a surprised bark of laughter before sticking out his arm. “The name’s Therion, Ophilia. I don’t need any assistance, and I don’t know why you think I would. But considering that I just found you crying on the ground, I think you might.” He sat down on the edge of the hill and patted the ground beside him, his hand making an imprint in the snow. “Come and sit. You can’t expect me to ignore a pretty lady in distress."
Ophilia hesitantly sat down beside him, blushing at his words. She felt that maybe she shouldn’t be sitting with a strange man, but despite how it felt, the hill was quite close to town. If need be, she could call for help. “I really am alright, sir. If you do not need any assistance, I really ought to be leaving. I have to prepare for…” She faltered as she remembered that she was not supposed to be going on the Kindling. Therion, however kind he seemed, wasn’t someone she could trust. Telling him about her plans would likely only get her in trouble and ruin them.
Therion noticed her hesitance to speak. He turned away from the view of the cathedral towards her. “Prepare for what?” He leaned in closer, propping an arm on his leg. “What could a pretty girl like you be hiding?”
Ophilia’s face flushed at the compliment. Most men knew she was to be wed to another man of the clergy whenever she was ready, and thus stayed away from directly pursuing her. She had heard whispered praise of her beauty on some occasions, but never had a compliment been so direct. “I-I’m afraid I cannot tell you, sir.”
Therion leaned back, setting his hands behind him. He appeared completely at ease, unlike Ophilia herself. She wasn’t used to men being so forward with her. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone your secret. My friends and I are in town only until we…find what we’re looking for.”
Ophilia turned at his pause. “Sir, you cannot berate me for my secret-keeping and then hide something of your own!” Her eyes widened at her rashness. What would the archbishop think? But Therion just laughed.
“Well, you’ve got me there.” He chuckled as he gazed down at the town, in the direction of the tavern. “I suppose that I can be sparse with the details and tell you.” He looked back up at her. “But you’ll have to keep it a secret, alright? Can you do that for me, priestess?” Ophilia nodded.
“Well, my friends and I heard about a prophecy, and we’re fairly sure it’s about us. I don’t know what the prophecy means for the world, but I do know where I fit in and what I need to do to hold up my end of the bargain, so to speak. We need to find a couple other people to complete part of it, and then we’ll head on our own adventures. I’m here in town because we’re looking for somebody else that will help fulfill it.” Therion looked back at Ophilia. “And yourself, priestess?”
Ophilia looked down at her lap. Surely, Aelfric would disapprove of her being so trusting of a stranger, and of one that said such seductive words, too. But he had just told her his intentions, and she couldn’t very well back out of their agreement.
Ophilia took a deep breath. “The archbishop Josef is my adoptive father, and he has taken ill. My sister, Lianna, is supposed to begin the rite of the Kindling tomorrow, but she is greatly impacted by his sickness. I plan to go to the Cave of Origin in her stead, so that she may stay with His Excellency.”
Therion let out a breathy laugh. “Holy shit, Ophilia. That’s…it’s not what I was expecting. Isn’t the Kindling dangerous?”
Ophilia winced slightly at the curse. She was unused to people saying such words. The archbishop would say that speaking them strengthened Galdera and weakened the Flame. But she tried to shrug it off. “Thank you, Therion. I know it is a dangerous journey, but I believe that the trials Aelfric will set before me is His way to show me the light He and the Flame bring upon this world.” Just then, the church’s bells began to ring, signaling that it was three o’clock. Ophilia startled as she realized how soon she would have to set out if she wished to return before nightfall. “Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I have to leave to go prepare. It was lovely talking to you, Therion.”
Ophilia stood and began to walk towards town. She heard Therion clamor to his feet behind her as she descended the hill. “Priestess, wait!” He ran after her and wrapped a hand around her arm. A large, clanking bangle rested on his wrist. She hadn’t noticed it before, but she recalled that he had kept his right wrist hidden for much of the time they spent talking. He quickly pulled his arm back once he noticed her stare.
“Ophilia, I think you should come to the tavern to meet my friends. Just for a moment.” His eyes were slightly wide, and he had a victorious smile on his face.
“Therion, I must prepare to make my way to the Cave of Origin.” Ophilia resumed walking down the hill.
He stood in front of her, preventing any further descent down the hill. Despite the fact that he was only slightly taller than her, he managed to effectively block her progress. “Ophilia, please. It’ll take just a moment. And we might be able to help you with your Kindling.”
That made her falter. Having allies on her pilgrimage would certainly help. Ophilia was not a strong woman, and Orsterra could be a dangerous place. “...Very well.”
Therion grinned. “Excellent choice, beautiful.”