Preparation For The End IV

Snow settled lightly on the northern fortress, muffling the distant clamor of preparations. Inside the temple, candles flickered, and the scent of incense curled through the cold stone halls. Akari padded softly along the polished floors, tail curling around her paws as she made her way toward the inner sanctum. Her heart carried the tension of impending siege, yet she sought one last moment of peace here, among the priests and the quiet glow of devotion.

Father Tharen, a tall, kind-eyed priest known for his gentle presence, was speaking with a spirit hovering near the altar. The spirit shimmered faintly, restless and troubled. Akari paused to watch.

Tharen knelt, listening patiently, murmuring words of comfort. There was a quiet authority to him, and a reassurance that even in the face of death and chaos, there was guidance and calm.

When he noticed Akari, he smiled softly, voice low and warm. “I am honored to be in your presence, little one. What brings you to the temple before the coming storm?”

“You can talk to spirits?”

“Not particularly, but I can feel their emotions even if they cannot converse in human tongue.” The priest beckoned her to come closer.

Akari walked closer, ears flattening slightly in uncertainty. “I… I wanted to pray. To find some peace before everything starts,” she said quietly. “I… I need to make sure everyone I care about is safe. That Noel is safe, and… I want to be ready in my heart.”

The priest nodded, his eyes understanding. “You carry a heavy heart, and yet you come seeking hope. Many of the people and spirits here do. And many of them came here before the coming battle. That is a brave choice. Come, sit with me. Tell me what weighs on you.”

Akari settled beside the priest, her tail brushing against the stone floor. Slowly, she began speaking about the fortress, the soldiers, the sacrifices already made, and her fears for the coming siege. Tharen listened without interruption, letting her words flow. When she faltered, he offered gentle encouragement.

“You cannot carry the weight of the world alone,” he said. “Even the strongest warriors and wisest priests rely on others. Your thoughts, your care for your companions… that is your strength. Let it guide you without consuming you.”

Akari exhaled, feeling some tension ease from her shoulders. “I just… I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. But, that’s impossible. Someone is going to get hurt. To die. I don’t want to lose Noel, or anyone I care about. I want to help, but sometimes… it feels like it’s too much.”

Tharen rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You cannot control everything. You can only act with what you have, with the love and skill you bring. That is enough. And you are not alone. Let your bond with those around you be your shield, even when walls and swords fail.”

…

Meanwhile, Noel had quietly slipped into a private confessional, seeking the gods alone. He knelt, head bowed, voice hushed as he recounted his fears, regrets, and the weight of his past. Here, in silence, he could bare his soul, sharing grief for friends lost, the scars of exile, and the burden of surviving when others had fallen.

He whispered of the blinding ritual, of the eye he had lost, and of the guilt he carried for those who had perished under circumstances his family blamed him for. He admitted the anger toward his father who had been ready to cast him aside, the coldness of his mother, and the silence of his siblings - except his older sister, whose voice calling for fairness had been unheard. Noel confessed that, until he had met Akari, he had expected to perish before even reaching the north.

Now, he had someone to survive for, someone whose safety mattered more than his past regrets.

…

After a time, Akari approached the inner courtyard where Ansel was quietly preparing prayers and blessings. She and Noel joined him, exchanging glances that spoke more than words. Ansel, normally reserved, showed a softening of expression as he listened to Akari.

“I’m glad to see you doing okay now,” Akari said gently, tail flicking. “I’m so happy that you helped with Noel earlier.”

Ansel nodded, faintly smiling. “My cousin, she helped me see the light through my troubles. We all have our scars, our burdens. But right now, I’m going to focus on survival and protecting those who cannot defend themselves. That is enough.”

Together, they moved through the temple halls, sharing small moments of connection - Akari feeling comforted by the presence of those she trusted, Noel silently acknowledging that he was not alone, and Ansel allowing himself to feel part of something bigger than his worries.

Night approached, and Akari settled near a quiet alcove, the flickering candlelight reflecting in her eyes. She closed them for a brief moment, only to drift into a dream. The vision was strange - a shadowy landscape filled with flickering light, and a familiar warmth at its center. Vael-Arin, the flame god that she had seen in the temple today, appeared, ethereal and flickering. Akari felt an urge to speak, to hear the words clearly, but the voice was fragmented, elusive, almost just out of reach. She reached out, but the figure wavered like smoke, never settling in her grasp.

Before she could focus, a presence heavier and colder pressed against her consciousness. She turned, sensing Thaurach’s gaze upon her. The mournful wail that followed shook her through her chest, echoing across the dreamscape. It was sorrowful, vast and consuming, yet she could not move or respond. Shadows coiled across the frozen plains, black ichor spreading slowly as if tasting the light.

Akari felt a tug at her chest, the mourning of a god reaching for her, a silent plea crossing the boundary between realms.

She awoke with a start, sweat dampening her fur, ears flattened, heart hammering. The temple was silent, the candles burning. Outside, no attack had come, the fortress still standing, quiet in the night.

Slowly, she shifted to find Noel beside her, a hand gently resting over her back, steadying her. Relief washed through her, mixed with lingering unease from the dream. She allowed herself to sink into the warmth and comfort of his presence, feeling that even in the shadow of coming horrors, there were anchors - friendship, trust, and the unspoken promise to face the storm together.

Akari breathed out slowly, tail curled tightly around herself. Tonight, she could rest. Tomorrow, the fortress and all within would need her sharp mind, her courage, and her determination again. For who knows when the siege would begin. But for now, with Tharen’s counsel, the presence of friends, and Noel by her side, she could sleep.

The snow continued to fall lightly outside, blanketing the fortress in fragile calm, holding off the storm for one more night.