Chapter 9) Pilgrimage

Corona; Celica

No one knows where Duma and Mila came from. The sibling gods who governed Valentia… they just appeared one day according to legend. The legends, of course, make it out to be 'appeared in the most desperate time of need', but everyone knows that's nothing but candy-sweet propaganda, and just as sickening. Perhaps they just wanted to be worshiped. That's all they want nowadays. Be worshiped until the earth rots out from beneath us all, sending us tumbling into the abyss. And, not the fun sort of 'tumbling' either.

Still, no one wants to accept that. Why would they? Fate is inevitable, a rigid path that brings you to whatever it chooses, no matter how much you try to fight. Mila and Duma are fated to destroy Valentia, and there's nothing anyone can do to change that. In fact, people delude themselves into believing that everything will be 'saved' if they can just 'reach the gods'. Ask them what can be done to 'atone' and bring back the blessings. The answer is, of course, nothing. You can't fight fate, and even if you change things in the short-term… the distant future was set in stone and no being living or dead had the strength to shatter that stone.

But since everything is doomed thanks to the gods, we might as well use the time to have some fun and enjoy the last of the show before it crashes and burns. And even gods deserve one last dance before the curtain falls.

So, what kind will it be?

Sharp, burning pain. The feeling that all my joints had been replaced with broken glass. For most, those feelings wouldn't be 'normal'. But for me, they were. At least, after a Vision. Waking up to those feelings was also normal, after a Vision. My teeth and jaw creaked as I fought to keep silent, not wanting even a stray whimper to escape. Celica and I shared a room, and she could be a deceptively light sleeper. I didn't want to wake her, especially since there wasn't anything to be done.

When the pain ebbed enough for coherent thoughts, I pushed myself up slowly, checking for any sign of blood. There never was, unless I happened to start my period in the middle of the night and boy, that was always fun. But no blood tonight. Just another Vision while I dreamed. Not a new one, though. It was one I'd had many times over the past… guess it was seven years now? Seven years since we left Ram, and it never changed. Alm and Celica killing each other… not even a smidge different.

Of course, that was to be expected. Visions from that far off? Just fate coming to hit you over the head. Pointless to fight. Pointless to even worry about it. I was more worried about how puffy my eyes might be in the morning. Puffy eyes were bad. They made the audience think of a lack of sleep or, worse, tears. Dancers couldn't remind people of that, especially in these sorts of times. And there were some refugees that I was supposed to perform for...

Celica bolted upright on the bed on the other side of the room. After breathing heavily for a moment, she rested her face in her hands, the moonlight streaming through the window to make her appear ghostly. It occured to me, distantly, that I had Seen something like this before. I couldn't remember where, exactly, but I had. Not that it mattered. Not really.

"Nightmare again, love?" I asked softly, careful to not startle her. I slipped out of my bed and crawled into hers to hug her and rub her back. She immediately curled into me, tucking her head under my chin. "Yikes, bad one, then?"

"No, it was worse," Celica mumbled. Her voice shook so much that it took me a moment to decipher the words. "I dreamed of Alm." I bit back the easy bit of teasing. Now wasn't the time for that. Yet. "He was fighting against someone. So angry and fighting, and reckless… and the other person was… he thrust his lance at Alm and…"

"I take it Alm wasn't the little cutie we left behind in Ram."

"No, older. Our age. Wearing armor, which I doubt I would ever dream normally…" She clutched my nightgown. "Is Foresight like that all the time?"

"Pretty much. Though with more pain and blood and creaky joints." I smiled, ignoring my own pain. I was used to it, and reassuring Celica was way more important. Even if I wondered why she'd have a vision of all things. "So, Alm is apparently still a dummy. Who'd have thought?"

"I'm so pleased to hear you remain calm."

"Well, did you actually see him get stabbed?" I ran my fingers through her hair, waiting for her to try and remember. After a bit, she shook her head. "Foresight is a useless thing because it only shows you part. You don't See the lead up, or what happens after. For all we know, the guy gets struck by lightning before his strike connects."

"Lightning?" She frowned at me, but it wasn't her 'scared' frown. It was her 'you have got to be kidding me' frown. Much better. "Why lightning?"

"What else conveys 'divine fury' like a good lightning smiting?" I grinned and she relented enough to chuckle. "Foresight is useless because of things like that. Sure, what you see is what you get, but how you got there and what happens after? Might as well ask Genny to stop being adorable. You're just as likely to guess correctly."

"Yes, I suppose so…" Still, Celica clung, so when she laid down again, I settled down next to her, still stroking her hair. "Sorry. I know I'm too old to be so clingy…"

"You think I'm going to pass up the chance to cuddle with a cute girl?"

"Corona!" Celica laughed, though she tried to muffle it. "You're incorrigible sometimes."

"Only sometimes?" I grinned and she had to desperately muffle more laughter and giggles. "I better work harder then."

"If you flirt with Mae again, I might just die from laughter." Well, I'd only flirted because Mae was being stubborn about her feelings for Boey. Best way to tease that confession out of her. Celica had nearly fallen over from laughing so hard, though. "How do you do that?"

"Flirt with Mae?"

"No, just… make everything feel better so quickly." She smiled at me, still giggling. "You've been able to do that since we were little. Even back in Ram."

"Someone has to look on the bright side." When the world was hell, might as well enjoy the warmth of the flames. "Anyway, we'd better get to sleep. If we oversleep, you know Mae and Genny are going to jump on the beds to wake us up."

"True, true."

Despite my words, I stayed up long after Celica managed to nod off again. As the hours crawled by, I stroked her hair with one hand, held her hand with the other, and studied her face. Studied it, and compared it to the Vision I had seen for so long. The Celica there… looked to be the same age as the one sleeping next to me. With her own 'Vision' of a battle… a battle that Alm would be involved in… and those rumors of war the refugees brought with them… the time was fast approaching, then. The time when Alm and Celica would kill each other…

"I will stay with you until the end," I whispered, knowing that she wouldn't hear me. She was too far in dreamland to notice anything in the world of the waking. "All the way until the end, to make sure you have as many laughs and smiles as possible."

I first had this Vision many years ago. It hadn't changed one smidge in all the time since. There was no point in trying or hoping. All I could do… was help her enjoy what little life she had left...

I hated the bells of the priory. I think one of them cracked at some point, resulting in the sound changing. And making each 'clang' and 'clung' a harsh discordance that grated the ears. Like how a dulled vegetable peeler made a mockery of vegetables. In the main room where Mae, Genny, and I waited for Celica in silence, the sound was even louder. Not that Mae or Genny ever seemed to mind. Me? If I were waiting for anyone else, I would've escaped outside long ago. It was nice when Boey finished his morning chores in the kitchn and joined us. Misery loved company, and Boey hated the bells as much as I did.

"Ugh, why are they clanging that infernal bell?" Boey groaned, rubbing his temple. The bell's ringing always gave him headaches. "Genny, sorry, but my head is…" Genny ran over before Boey finished speaking and reached up to touch his cheek. A little bit of blood blossomed and dripped from her palm, almost hidden by the glow of her healing magic. "Thanks…"

"Genny, you're such a sweetheart," Mae praised, beaming at her. Genny giggled and blushed, embarrassed but pleased with praise like a baby lamb, and quickly ducked behind me to hide when her embarrassment won out. "Anyway, Boey, Nomah says they're ringing it because the king of Zofia died."

"The king?" Boey blinked a couple of times, residual headache no doubt making it hard for him to think clearly. "But isn't that… wasn't he Celica's…?"

"Yeah." Mae's smile faded for a grim look. "News came this morning. Along with the fact that supposedly, Desaix was the one who killed him."

"...Where's Celica?"

"She's talking with Nomah about leaving for Mila's temple," Genny answered, poking her head out from behind me. She looked towards the door in the back, where the Mila Statue Room was. And where Nomah was trying to convince Celica to not leave. "I hope she's doing okay…"

"So, she's serious about leaving, huh?" Boey asked, crossing his arms. Both he and Mae glanced at each other, no doubt well aware of what that meant. After all, the whole reason why those two trained in magic was to protect and aid Celica. "It'll be dangerous. Terrors, war with Rigel, and starvation all around…"

"Not to mention the obvious…" Which none of us would say aloud, even if everyone who worked in the priory knew already. With the king's death, Celica was the only known survivor of the Zofian royal family. Bit of a surprise when Grandpapa first told me that. Now? I just thought it was one more reason why Celica would die. "Poor Celica…" The doors in the back groaned open, signalling the end of the conversation. "Oh, Celica!" And Celica walked out, grim-faced and serious.

I felt my heart stop when I saw the clothes she wore, since I'd left before her this morning to perform for the refugees. But those clothes… they were crisper, newer, but there was no doubt in my mind that they were similar to what she wore in the Vision. Yes, we really were at that time, then. Damn it… I wanted more time with her. But, I knew all the wishes in the world meant nothing before fate. I'd have to be content with the time I did get with her. And hope, at least, that she didn't realize who had killed her, or who she had killed, in her final moments.

"Celica, you're leaving, right?" Mae asked, focused entirely on Celica. Both she and Boey had bolted for Celica's side, leaving Genny and me to hang back. "You have to wait for me to pack, because I'm going with you, and I won't hear any refusals!"

"But I want to leave by today, not in three weeks from now," Celica protested with a frown. But then she smiled, showing she was teasing, and the rest of us laughed at Mae's expense. Even Mae, once she finished pretending to be offended. "I do welcome the help and company, though. I know this will not be an easy journey."

"Nope, which is why I'm coming too," Boey declared, frowning. No doubt trying to calculate what all we'd need. "I'm not letting you two go off on your own. " 'Two', he says. As if there was a question I was leaving as well.

"Letting us?" Mae repeated, raising a brow. She soon scowled, and I rolled my eyes and shared a smile with Genny. We both knew what was about to happen. "You say that like you think you can keep us safe!" Mae and Boey's infamous 'like an old married couple' arguments.

"I do! And I can!" Boey scoffed. "I'll at least be more help than you!"

"Uh, rude? And wrong." She puffed out her chest proudly. "I can conjure lightning, Boey. Big. Hurty. Lightning." She leaned forward then, smirking. "What can you do? Fire? Maybe I'll call you if I want to roast some marshmallows."

"Oh, I don't know, I can think of one way he can be more helpful without even trying," I interjected, smiling sweetly. Celica tried to catch my eye, but I considered it a very important job as a friend to make sure no one's egos got too big. "And that's keeping us from dying of food poisoning." Mae sucked at cooking.

"Ouch, Corona…" Mae whined, deflating at once. She sulked when the rest laughed at her expense. Again. "At least poke fun at Boey too!"

"I'm sure I'll find an opening before long." I grinned when Boey sputtered a wordless protest. "I always do."

"Meanie."

"Of course, gorgeous~!"

"Um… I… I'm coming along too," Genny stammered, sharply turning the conversation back to serious matters. All of us immediately began protesting. After all, she was the baby lamb of the group. But she was also the most stubborn of us. "I won't hear protests! I'm a much better healer than all of us. Including you, Celica." ...Well, she had a point there. And I knew from experience that she'd just follow us. Not my preferred thing, but since Silque left on her own journey…

"Well, I guess you would be lonely all by yourself," I reluctantly agreed, pulling her into a hug. She beamed up at me, thankful that I agreed so quickly. I just didn't want to waste time and energy arguing. No point in fighting a fight you wouldn't win. "Celica, I'm already packed, so we just need to wait on these three. Unless you want to double-check things."

"Yay! You're coming too!"

"Well, of course I am. Was that in any doubt?"

"Not really, but I do have a question," Mae began, back to her chipper self. She then pointed at my bare feet, frowning. "Corona, where are your shoes?"

"Must I wear them?" I sighed, groaning. I rarely did. For one thing, they muffled the bells on my anklets when I danced, making them discordant. Particularly when paired with the bells on my bracelets. For another, they were always just itchy and sweaty. Always rubbed weird on my callosus and injuries to worsen them.

"Uh, yes?" Mae stared at me, dumbfounded. "What if you step in zombie poo!?"

"Mae, you act like that's the worst thing I could step in." Back at Fear Mountain, I remembered having to step in someone's guts while escaping. I still remembered how it had squished and rolled under my bare foot. "So-"

"Corona, do I have to force you into shoes again?" Celica asked with a little sigh. Still, she smiled because this was just an old thing with us. "You know that I will."

"Well, there is a bit of time, since we need to pack," Boey pointed out, probably to keep me from teasing further. Or going into detail about things I've stepped in over the years. "I'm sure someone can convince her before we leave. Maybe."

"I'd better make sure she packed shoes while checking my own things."

That was the 'signal' that told the others to rush back to their rooms and quickly pack (or check things). I decided that since Celica would check for me whether I wanted her to or not, I would go to the kitchens and make sure we had provisions. Then I would go to my room, to make sure I'd packed the money I'd been saving from my dancing.

"Corona?" However, before I could leap into my plan, Nomah stepped out of the back room, almost as if he was waiting for the rest to clear out. "You are leaving with Celica?" he 'asked'. It was phrased as a question, but we both knew the answer already. "Are you certain?"

"Of course," I answered, without hesitation. I debated smiling, but decided a serious look would better emphasize the statement. "And no, I won't change my mind."

"It is dangerous for you as well, however." Nomah winced a little, shame crossing his expression. "I do not know what those of the Temple think of Foresight, but it is best…" Best to assume they'd kill me if they learn. Nomah hated that those of his faith thought such things, but hating things didn't change them.

"Meh, if I burn, I burn. Life's too short to worry. There's a thousand things that can kill me without anyone knowing a thing about that curse." Besides, Celica was leaving. And I would not leave her. "So, if I do die, thanks for taking care of me, Nomah. Even with me cursing Mila every other sentence."

"Little sun, I do wish you wouldn't joke so much about your own death." Who was joking? I wasn't. If I was caught, I'd burn. A long, drawn out and painful death while people cheered. Or I'd be beaten to death. Or any other manner of torturous deaths, especially since everyone was convinced Mila could solve things. "Please, be careful."

"I'll do my best." There wasn't anything really 'careful' about all this. Still, I'd try for him. So, I smiled. Because what else could you do when rushing towards death? "We all will."

For once, it actually didn't take everyone long to pack. Took longer for me to stop playing around and let Celica put my shoes on for me, actually. That said, it was definitively after lunch before we actually managed to leave. We actually ate on the way out, to try and salvage some time. Last thing we wanted was travel at night, or have to camp anywhere near the graveyard. For multiple reasons.

"Milady…" Boey began slowly once we reached the outer edges of the graveyard. The trembling in his voice reminded me that he always had the best reactions to ghost stories. Very animated and all. "Why are we walking through the graveyard?"

"It's the only path nowadays," Celica reminded. She knelt down to tug some weeds from one of the graves nearby. None of us mentioned how it was 'through' the graveyard and not just 'by' the graveyard like it had been when Celica and I had first arrived. The drought and starvation also led to many illnesses… and many dead. "All the others are too unstable."

"But there's been talks of Terrors, milady." Boey grimaced, his complexion becoming distinctly grey. "I'll face down any thief or rogue any day, but Terrors are…"

"Oh, Boey, are you seriously still scared of spooks at your age?" Mae sighed, shaking her head. I frowned at her over that since… "Seriously?"

"Reminder, Mae, that you're afraid of any water that's more than ankle deep because you suck at swimming," I pointed out. Mae instantly deflated. "Much as I find your arguments amusing, lets keep away from teasing about things like that, shall we?"

"Fine, I get it. That was a little too low of a blow."

"Precisely. You'll get Genny to make frowny faces if you go for things like that." I grinned at Genny, who stuck near me since I'd been the first (and technically only) to agree to her coming along, and she grinned back. She was aware enough of her adorableness to utilize it as a weapon against the rest of us if she thought it needed. "So…" Of course, that was when I noticed that Celica was laughing. Softly, but definitely laughing.

"Milady, not you too!" Boey groaned, noticing Celica's reaction a split-second after me. Mae grinned, though, smug now. "Please, have mercy! A man can't help what gives him fright!"

"Hee… I'm sorry…" Celica murmured, muffling her laughter as best as she could. Despite the mirth, there was something distinctly sad to her eyes. "I was just remembering Conrad."

"He was one of your brothers, right? The one whose mother was Rigelian?" And, if I remembered right, he was the one sibling Celica was actually close to before everyone burned.

"Yes. He was scared of ghosts much like you. Perhaps he sensed he would become one far too soon…" Now, Celica was just sad. "If he'd lived, I wonder if he would've been like you…"

Of course, as soon as Celica was 'just sad', Mae jumped on Boey about it being 'his fault'. With Boey, of course, protesting. And, of course (again), the two dissolved into their bickering. While the rest of us tried to pretend we didn't notice the flirting. Despite how painfully obvious it was.

"Corona?" Genny tugged my sleeve to get my attention, and I bent down so that she could whisper in my ear. "You think we'll be able to do something to make them resolve that romantic tension of theirs?" she asked with a sly smile. I choked on a laugh, desperately keeping my snickers to a minimum. "I know it'll take a miracle and a half to force Mae into admitting anything, but we are on the way to the Temple."

"If nothing else, we can have fun pushing them into awkward situations," I pointed out with a smirk. She giggled, blushing at the thought. "Maybe we should see if locking them in a closest works as well in real life as it does in books?"

"Oh, that would be funny!"

"...You two are plotting something," Celica noted, joining us. She'd carefully walked around the arguing not-couple to frown at Genny and me. "What are you…?" Her eyes went wide suddenly and her hand shot out, a fire spell sparking and flying right over my shoulder. It took a couple of blinks to realize the reason why; a Terror had snuck up on us. "Mae! Boey!"

Both Mae and Boey shot fireballs simultaneously, a good thing since more Terrors were creeping closer. The flames, however, scattered them enough for us to get a path and all five of us bolted down the main path as fast as we possible could. Not that it helped much when Terrors were literally digging themselves out of graves to reach for us. Noticing Genny flagging, I performed a little hop-skip dance to invoke my Gift and grant energy to the others, even though that meant they'd leave me behind. Not through any real fault of theirs, of course. Just when we were running for our lives, and they got a surge of energy, they'd automatically keep on going. Whereas I would lag behind because I had less energy (and dancing wasn't as fast as running).

When I was separated from the others, I noticed a key thing that meant more trouble than I probably wanted. The Terrors… they were focusing on me. Lonesome little me. Damn.

I leapfrogged over the first, and cast thunder on the second. The third, I had to dodge with a twirl because I'd otherwise risk spraining something with the residual momentum. Fourth one was when the others noticed I was in a spot of trouble, and Mae electrified that one. Fifth and sixth went down to Celica and Boey's flames. By the seventh, I escaped with another jump and rejoined the others. And, wisely, we chose to keep on running. Running, running, running… all the way to the other side of the graveyard. And we kept running until it was out of sight. Only then did we stop to catch our breath and for Genny to heal.

"Well, that was a bit more exercise than I was hoping for," I commented breathlessly, walking over to a nearby tree to use as a balance to stretch out my legs. Carefully, of course. I didn't want to hurt myself and make myself useless, but if I didn't stretch, I'd cramp up badly later tonight. "Everyone okay?"

"Looks like it," Boey groaned, rubbing his hands as he joined me off to the side. Though Genny had already healed up the cuts from his spells, the ache would linger a while longer. That was just how magic was. "They sure did like going after you, though. Wonder why. Sure, you were 'slower', but even some of the ones closer to us were..."

"Hmm… yes, I do wonder." I pointed to my eye and, after a moment, Boey winced, but nodded. Terrors were known to congregate around where a god's power pooled. Foresight was often cited as part of Mila's power. In retrospect, it made almost too much sense. "Did Celica notice?"

"I don't think she'll put it together. Just that you had danced us some energy and the Terrors grouped for the slower one. She prioritized watching the front, so I don't believe she saw what was happening on our flanks." Boey glanced over to where Celica and Mae were chatting with Genny, the three doing their best to keep each other's spirits up. Not like we planned on running for our lives so quickly into the trip, after all. "Keep it quiet?"

"For now, yes." Celica had enough on her mind, after all. "I can pull it out as a trump if Mae tries to tease you about being afraid of Terrors again."

"Ugh… what's wrong with hating Terrors? 'Fear' is literally their name!" He reached over and fixed my ponytail for me. "...Will you be okay? With the Foresight?"

"We'll see! Might have to run really fast again." But I couldn't worry about it. Whatever happened, happened. And if fate wanted me to burn, then I'd burn. There was no saving me from that. One way or another, Foresight would kill me. I had no doubts about that. "Let's see about moving down the road a little longer before setting up camp. We're still a little too close to the graveyard for my liking."

"Do you think they'll follow?"

"I hope not. But Mila's power does linger more here than it does in town. I think." That was the only protection the town really had, though. And with more and more refugees sailing into Novis, that protection would whittle away more and more. "Best not to test the limits of their range, though."

"Agreed."

What a wonderful start to our journey. Even better, it would be another day or so to the port, especially since we left late today. Well, might as well enjoy the camping while we can. By the end of this little pilgrimage, I had no doubts Celica would be dead. And there was an even-odd chance I would be too. I hoped Boey wouldn't be as afraid of corpses as he was of Terrors. He'd probably have to carry them.

Corona

Class: Dancer

Spell List: Dance, Thunder, Sagittae, Freeze, Excalibur, Rewarp

Age: 18

The daughter of a Seer, who was left in the care of Halcyon prior to her mother's death. Later, during a raid by the Duma Faithful, she was captured and thrown into the dungeons fo Duma tower (and later, Fear Mountain). She doesn't blame Halcyon or any of the other sages for not protecting her, as she had Seen the attack coming, and known there was nothing anyone could do.

Blessed with the Dancer's Gift, her primary focus in battle is mostly trying to not die and gifting energy to her fellows. Still, at Celica's insistence, she learned a few spells in order to keep herself safe if someone manages to dart in too close.

Has had Visions for as long as she can remember, and because of that, she's very skilled at hiding her true feelings behind a smile and a laugh. Even among those who know her, few would guess how cynical and pessimistic she is at heart, and how pointless she finds fighting to be when everything is inevitable.

Author's notes: And so, Act 2 begins! Corona was the POV char in the prologue, but here she is again. Valentia doesn't really have a 'dancer', save for Faye's ultimate spell (Again), so… uh… I made one?