The calm before the storm

Four years after Varsey, things have changed greatly. Shadow attacks were common occurrence, but that did not mean the people were defenceless.

A mineral without much practical use previously, lumiranite, became the most important resource in this fight, alongside Handlers. By charging it with any Handling type, it glowed, the time and intensity determined by its purity. For centuries, it was deemed mere novelty, much too impractical to use as a light source. However, it could be moulded into weapons while retaining its properties. It did not definitively kill Shadows, but it did bother them enough that they would eventually leave.

Handlers also joined the fight, encouraged and supported by the Church. Before this, forming a Pact with a Spirit was mostly seen as a religious act, or something done out of necessity if one needed Handling in their daily lives. However, now it was a way of fighting back, or even, making a living thanks to the Church and the kingdom paying bounties to deal with Shadows.

Little by little, it became common for Handlers and warriors to join forces, creating balanced groups and parties, where Handlers would charge lumiranite weapons and would usually attack from afar, while warriors went on the offensive more directly.

But the most important discovery was made much later. Thanks to extensive research, conducted by many brave Handlers, many of which didn’t make it, it was established that Shadows could be hurt, and even defeated, by secondary Handling types.

All Spirits belong to one of the main Handling elements: Fire, Water, Air, or Earth. But, in the case of Great Spirits, they may also possess the affinity for one of the secondary elements: Lightning, Life or Light. However, most people do not possess a Soul capable of forming a Pact with a Great Spirit, let alone the affinity to utilize both elements, so little was known about them beforehand. Only some exceptional Life Handlers capable of using their gifts to heal others had been recorded in history prior to this.

Any Shadow hit by any of these secondary elements would eventually wither and disappear, and with it, their corruption, most of the times. This was true for both direct Handling, as well as lumiranite weapons charged by them. Of course, this also included Helia’s Divine Handling, however, this fourth type had not been discovered publicly, yet.

To help differentiate them, and serving as an honorific title at the same time, Handlers who could wield secondary types started being called Master Handlers, or Masters, for short.

During the initial turmoil, Helia and Ceres fled Varsey and laid low for a while. Her name spread far and wide through the kingdom, the shining songstress with silver hair and a Great Spirit, who had saved an entire town by herself. She performed very sporadically, only when absolutely needed to buy new supplies, and always left before any soldiers or Church members could apprehend her. Many reports were also made of her defeating Shadows, protecting and saving many people, greatly contributing to her growing popularity.

Tired of being on the run, once secondary Handling types, and their use, became widespread knowledge, they walked into a Church themselves to finally talk about Varsey. Pretending to be a wielder of Light, they excused their fleeing by claiming they had not known how to explain what had happened, and they did not want to be blamed for it and imprisoned. The Church was very understanding, on the condition that Helia and Ceres join their ranks officially in the fight against Shadows. Not wanting to get into any more trouble, they reluctantly accepted.

At least, this meant they could now have a steady source of income. Churches across the kingdom had become a place where Handlers and warriors could be recruited to deal with the dangers lurking in the darkness, if one could pay the price. As a Master Handler, Helia’s services were in high demand, whether for charging lumiranite or fighting. On top of that, there was no more need for Helia to hide herself, so she could perform her music freely.

Helia and Ceres’ life fell into an almost pleasant routine within these circumstances. Until one day, during what should have been another regular job, fate caught up to Helia, once again.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in the capital city of Raurein. Helia and Ceres had arrived not long ago, having escorted a group of merchants for the past few weeks. After saying their goodbyes and collecting their five silver coins as payment, they set course for one of the many smaller churches within the city.

Their usual fare should be much, much higher, but they tried to avoid revealing Helia’s identity whenever possible, so as to not attract any unwanted attention. For that purpose, Ceres remained in his small form, and Helia hid her hair with scarves and hooded cloaks. To combat Shadows, she had taken up archery, and was usually able to defeat them by imbuing lumiranite arrows with Divine Handling.

Although this was not her first time in the big city of Raurein, Helia was still in awe of its massive scale every time. Having grown up in a tiny village, and then having spent many years traveling the roads without a single gold coin to her name, the two- and three-story stone houses that were common in the capital always felt much too big to her.

They walked along the main street from the southern gate, surrounded by various stalls and merchants fighting for their attention. Fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, and meat welcomed them back into the city with their fragrance. As most people were doing their daily shopping preparing for supper, they left for a side alley as soon as they were able to escape the crowd.

With the Sun threatening to leave for the night, the city got exceptionally busy. Handlers went around the main roads, charging up the lumiranite lamps that adorned many of them. The richest districts were, as expected, covered in them, making the night almost trivial, the darkness inexistent. Churches invested in illuminating the streets around themselves, and compensated Handlers who charged them with a meal and free boarding for the night. In more modest neighbourhoods, it was common for close clusters of houses to invest in some together, which usually the Church volunteers charged along their routes. And whoever couldn’t afford it had as many candles as possible lit throughout the night, and prayed that it would be enough.

As they made their way through the dim alleys at dusk, Helia charged with Wind all lumiranite that she came across, hoping to alleviate the load of its regular Handlers. She also left them with a silent prayer to the Moon, so that its light would protect them. Even if she knew her God was not one to do such things, usually.

Standing at the door of the church, its priestess was giving instructions to a group of Handlers. Accompanied by her partner, a small, caramel-coloured dog with frizzy hair, matching her Handler with the exception of her hair being black, it seemed to Helia like she was directing the Handlers to charge lumiranite around the neighbouring streets. Listening to her were a young black-haired woman holding an orange cat who was purring loudly in her arms, a middle-aged man wearing a light suit of armour, with a dark snake at his feet, and lastly, a slender, darker-skinned woman, her golden hair neatly arranged in tiny braids, followed by a giant silver moth covered in dark motifs.

Helia waited until the priestess was done talking, and the three Handlers left, each in heading for a different street. She then turned towards Helia and waved at her.

“Oh, Hel- “, she stopped right as she was about to call her by her name, noticing Helia’s eyes widen in horror. “… Hello, you, it’s been a while!”, she recovered. “Come inside, let’s talk.”

As she gestured for Helia to follow her, the Handler partner to the moth Spirit turned around and observed her, eyes gleaming with curiosity, however she gave up closely after and continued on her way. Helia hurried into the church, tightening her hood around her face.

The priestess’ name was Kesmer, and her partner Spirit’s, Tommel. They had met by chance the first time Helia had visited the capital, when she had volunteered for lumiranite charging in exchange for a meal and a roof to sleep under. Despite not seeing each other often, mostly because of Helia’s inability to stay put in one spot, she considered Kesmer a friend.

On their way to Kesmer’s office, they passed through the main hall of the church. Handlers, warriors and worshippers filled it, some preparing expeditions, others praying, others simply resting inside a warm, safe building. Churches had become a place more fit for community, and fighting back against the darkness, than traditional worship.

Once they were inside the office, doors closed, Kesmer gave Helia a light embrace. There was a time when she would have been taken aback by this, but she had gotten used to her friend’s way of expressing her affection.

“I’ve missed you! It’s been too long!”, she protested.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry”, responded Helia, hugging her back. “Every time I think about coming back, something else happens, and suddenly, I’m needed elsewhere.”

Kesmer sighed, finally letting her go. “Too many Shadows, not enough Master Handlers to go around. And even less as willing as you to help, my dear friend.”

Helia sat down on the modest couch below the office’s window as Kesmer busied herself preparing tea and bringing some biscuits. During this time, Ceres had made himself a nest within Tommel’s locks, scratching him with his beak, which he seemed to love.

“And I fear I will have to be the reason you leave me once again, regretfully”, she told Helia, joining her on the couch. “You have actually arrived at the perfect time; I was just about to issue a bounty that calls for a Master Handler. Though I doubt many, or even any, other than you, would answer this one.”

“That doesn’t sound like good news”, answered Helia, frowning her brows. “What happened?”

“A few weeks ago, there were rumours of an especially nasty Shadow roaming around a tiny village near the Soux mountains, a place so small it barely has a name. It’s called Alfor, and it’s basically a giant inn surrounded by the houses of those who supply it and work on it. Merchants traveling to and from the East usually stop there right before entering the mountains. They are the ones who reported seeing what they thought was a massive, flying Shadow looming around. Apparently, all of them said they had never felt as unsettled as this, so we assumed it was a huge one.”

Kesmer made a pause to drink some tea and eat a biscuit before continuing her explanation, while Helia waited expectantly.

“We dispatched a big party, two Handler-warrior duos that were used to working together, to scout, and if possible, to defeat it. No Masters, but still very skilled, and with plenty of lumiranite charged with Lightning. And yet, we haven’t heard back from them, or anyone else. Merchants who pass through there don’t make it to their destinations, and other Handlers or warriors who volunteered to go take a look and come back haven’t done so, either.”

Helia drank her tea in silence while she waited for her friend to finish her explanation, lost in thought. Once it was apparent Kesmer was done, she spoke.

“What makes you think I can succeed, when so many have failed?”, she asked.

Her friend smiled; her expression slightly sad nonetheless. “You haven’t even considered the possibility of not doing it. I don’t know if you are the strongest Handler out there, but I do know that you are very strong, and most importantly, you will always use that strength to help others when you can. I’m sorry to be the one to ask such an unfair thing of you, but I know no other Master Handlers will answer. Not for the price we can currently afford, at least.”

With so little Master Handlers existing, it was usual for wealthy merchants or nobles to offer them exorbitant amounts of money in exchange for their services, at rates the Church, and sometimes even the kingdom, couldn’t match. Even amongst regular Handlers, Helia stood out as one who was always working and helping as much as possible, no matter the price. Of course, this contributed to her fame, too.

“Plus, you have Ceres”, she added. “You can easily survey the area from the sky, and then come back with information. With that, we can work on a plan together to defeat it.”

“You can count on me”, said the Spirit to everyone in the room, puffing his chest. “I will protect Helia.”

Kesmer nodded. “I am certain of that. What do you say, Helia? Will you do it?”

She took another biscuit, sighing. “You know I will. I’m not certain I can live up to your expectations, but we will go to Alfor and take a look.”

“Oh, thank you, so much”, answered Kesmer, hugging her once more. “Do be careful, please. Just survey the zone, and nothing more. Once we know what is going on, we can organize and send a bigger party to deal with it.”

“But that is a problem for tomorrow. Tonight, I will treat you to dinner, and you will tell me your latest adventures”, she added with a mischievous wink.