Recovery

Darx slept some more, and was feeling a good deal better when Estella came and knocked on his door. With her was a lady Darx had never met. It was apparent from first look that she was a battle nun. She wore the traditional black habit but with a white tabard with the black cross that signified her order. Her head was covered with a tight and crisp wimple and hood. The woman’s conservative outfit, old fashioned tabard and the way she held herself gave off an aura of authority that set her apart from the other two nuns Darx had met so far.

“Darx, she is here to take you to the church.” Estella stated cautiously as the woman stepped into his room and looked around.

“Dalia!” Neku seemed startled to see her.

Dalia ignored Neku and curtseyed low to Darx, her intense eyes never breaking contact with his. The way she looked at him, she seemed familiar but Darx couldn't remember if he'd met her before.

“Blessed one, our Priest has learned of your state, and offers all the services the Church of Imris has at her disposal to ensure your return to full strength.” Only when she finished her statement did she stand back up.

“I’m okay.” Darx replied. “It was just a bit of mana burnout. I pushed myself a bit too hard, I just need to rest.” Darx didn’t like how much fuss was being made over him.

“If it is mana burnout, then it is best we restore your mana balance right away, and the church can take care of that for you.” She replied with conviction. Darx was pretty sure this nun, just like the twins, had been sent to bring him back to the church. Unlike the twins he doubted this nun, Dalia, would give up on her mission easily.

“Darx, she’s right, there are potions that can help.” Neku said.

“We have potions here, Neku.” Darx replied. Maybe he was just being stubborn, but the more the women under orders from Priest Gabriel tried to get Darx to come to the church, the less Darx wanted to go.

“The church has a tonic mage Darx.” Estella added, “She’s very good.”

“Tonic Mage?” Darx asked. He’d never heard of such a thing.

“She’s actually a cleric.” Dalia corrected. “When Imris blesses one of her children with both Water and Healing magic, the combination of those magics, [Tonic], allows the Cleric to imbue potions with powerful healing effects beyond what normal healing magic or potion-making can do.” Darx felt like he was listening to a school lesson with the way Dalia said it. He had read a lot about different schools of magic growing up, but [Tonic] wasn’t one he remembered.

Darx looked to Estella, she nodded approval. He still didn't like it. It felt like he was a child being told to come in because it was dark. He really didn't like the way Neku acted like she was going to get in trouble. He wasn't going to allow that.

Neku must have picked up on his feelings. She stepped over to him, took his hand. "It's okay Darx, the most important thing is your health, and Sister Gemma is really good at what she does."

Darx still didn't want to go. He didn’t like feeling summoned to the church, but he didn’t have a real reason not to go back. He sighed. “Alright, I guess we’re heading back to the church.”

Dalia insisted on supporting Darx as he walked. Darx could feel her strength in her grip. Neku wasn’t about to let someone else support Darx alone and she took his other arm and Darx had to practically fight the two women to not be carried to the church. The trip was tense, but not entirely quiet.

“I heard you had a fight in the Northern district.” They were barely out of the guild when Dalia brought it up.

“Yes.” Darx admitted, he couldn’t hide that part. He hoped the reason they were in that district could be kept a secret though.

“Did you have a cleric with you?” Dalia asked.

“No, it was just Neku, Wendy and I.” Darx answered.

Dalia looked past Darx and glared at Neku. “You took the Blessed One into danger without a cleric?”

Neku just looked down at the ground.

“We weren’t looking to fight anyone.” Darx stated.

“Then what were you doing there?” Dalia asked. Darx wracked his brain for an answer that would get her off the topic. Fortunately Wendy bailed him out.

“We were just there to spread goodwill, see if we could help the people.”

Dalia’s face said she didn’t buy Wendy’s account. “In the red district?”

“We didn’t intend to end up there, it just happened.” Wendy took the lie further.

Dalia turned back to Neku, glaring at her. “It just happened?” Her voice was harsh and accusatory.

“Look, we are all okay, it’s not a big deal.” Darx said, trying to defuse the situation.

“Taking the Blessed one into danger with no cleric, accidentally stumbling into a fight where he could have been hurt, or worse?” Dalia was angry, but her voice stayed level. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

Darx pulled away from Dalia. “Hey! Leave Neku alone. I wanted to go. I made the choice, Neku came with me to keep me safe.”

Dalia bowed to him. “You may do as you like, you are the Blessed One. It is the job of the church to protect you and make sure you succeed.”

“So I can order Neku into danger with me and if I get hurt it is her fault?” Darx was getting angry.

Dalia looked confused. “You are the Blessed One, the chosen of Imris, if you choose to send Neku to her death that is your right.”

Darx couldn’t believe what he was hearing. But Dalia wasn’t finished.

“But if you are harmed the will of Imris falters, and the world with it.”

Dalia stated it as if it was obviously true and not insane.

“How can you say that?” Darx demanded, his anger evident.

Dalia looked surprised. “If I have angered you, Blessed One, I beg forgiveness.” She bowed low, dropping to her knees and prostrating, her forehead pressed to the ground. “I will accept any punishment you deem fit.”

“The hell?” Darx didn’t know how to respond to that, he hated every bit of it.

“Darx.” Neku said softly, “She’s only trying to help.”

“I don’t care what she is trying to do.” Darx said, doing his best to keep his voice down. “What she said, Neku, it’s insane.”

“But it’s true, Darx.” Neku touched his face gently. He turned to look at her, he couldn’t believe she would agree with what Dalia said.

“Dalia may say it harshly, but Darx, she isn’t wrong.” Neku’s eyes were earnest, her voice soft. “You are the Blessed One. You are the most important person in the kingdom. The most important person in the world. Don’t judge her harshly, Darx, she just cares.”

Darx looked around, realized they had started to draw a crowd of observers, gathering to see him and his red eyes, looking at him as he stood over Dalia, who was still on the ground. “Come on, Dalia, get up. I’m not going to punish anyone for something they say, no matter how much I don’t like it.”

Dalia stood tentatively, but kept her head lowered. “I beg your forgiveness, Blessed One.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” Darx stated.

Neku looked at him, nodded toward Dalia, standing with her head still bowed.

“Alright, I forgive you, Dalia. Please, let us continue.”

The rest of the trip went quietly, and while Dalia reasserted her position at his side, her grip on his arm was softer. When they reached his room in the church Dalia stated she would let the clerics know he had returned, then with a bow she departed.

Neku immediately started moving about the room, quietly tidying any mess she could find. Darx looked to Wendy who just shrugged.

“I don’t get any of this church stuff Darx.” Wendy stated as she leaned back against the table and took a piece of fruit. “But then, I only went to church for the free meals.”

Darx nearly laughed at that. He could picture Wendy as a cute little girl, freckles and a mess of red hair, eating as much stew as the church was willing to feed her. It helped settle him down a little. He was still fuming, though. Ever since he woke up Neku had been miserable. She was blaming herself for him pushing his new mana too far. And it wasn’t just her. Maggie might have been afraid and lashing out, but she blamed Neku. Dalia blamed Neku for not having a cleric when they went looking for Amelia. Neku seemed to be afraid Priest Gabriel would view it as failing at her mission. Darx's choices, Darx's decisions, Neku taking the blame. Neku acting like she had failed him when she came with him, protected him. Damn it, Neku had been incredible in that fight while he had struggled to do anything. He wasn't going to let this continue.

“Neku, none of this is your fault.” Darx stated as he walked over to her.

“You are my responsibility.” She said dejectedly.

Darx grabbed her arm, much harder than he intended, spun her around. “No! I am not a child, Neku. I am responsible for my own choices. No one is going to be responsible for me.”

“But. . .” Neku started.

“You say I am the chosen one.” Darx cut her off.

“You are, Darx.”

“Then Imris chose me to bear this. Imris herself chose me to be responsible for this ridiculous destiny.” He looked to Neku, but she didn’t respond. “Am I wrong, Neku?” Darx demanded.

“No, she chose you Darx.”

“Then, Neku, seriously, who the hell are you, or Dalia, or even Priest Gabriel to take the responsibility the Goddess gave me for themselves.” Darx didn’t like how harsh his words were, and he didn’t like the dogma he was leveraging against Neku, but he was done with Neku getting blamed for his choices. He would not let that stand. It seemed like his words got through, too. Neku looked up at him, he could see the sadness still in her eyes, but she at least was looking at him.

“Darx, I almost lost you, I can’t lose you again.” Tears started to streak down her face, and her feelings came out. “Back in the caves, I couldn’t protect you in the fight, then you fell in the pit, and then the portal. I was powerless to protect you, you were just gone.” She took a moment to catch her breath then continued. “Then the Goddess sent you back to us, and. . . and. . .” She started crying harder. Darx held her to his chest and she sobbed.

“I’m right here, Neku. I’m sorry I scared you.” Darx said. “But none of it was your fault. You came with me, you helped me. I can’t have you scared I’ll get hurt. I can’t help anyone if I’m just trying to stay safe.”

Neku nodded and wiped her eyes. “I know Darx, it just scared me when you collapsed like that."

Darx looked at Neku, thought about what she had told him about prophecy. That it could go multiple directions, that they didn’t want him to know the prophecies because it would frighten him.

“What does it look like if I die, Neku?” He asked.

“I don’t understand the question.” Neku answered, wiping the tears from her eyes.

“The prophecies, are there ones where I die?”

Her expression grew cold.

“Neku, I need to know.”

“Your death leads to. . .” She paused. “Darx, I can’t speak much of it in Imris’ house. But the barrier falls, the world dies.”

“What barrier?”

“The great barrier, Darx.” Came the voice from behind him. Darx spun around to see Priest Gabriel himself walking into the room, holding the hand of an older woman in nuns clothes. Darx hadn’t heard them come in. "But this is neither the time nor place to speak of that." Gabriel said, then presented the old lady. she was a bit hunched over, walking slowly with the Priest helping support her.

“This is Sister Gemma, Darx. She will be assisting you.” The Priest said as he led her to the table. If you would sit down, please.” The Priest gestured to the chairs next to the small table in the room. Wendy turned a chair to face the old lady and walked over to the bed. Darx nodded thanks to Wendy and sat down. The old woman made her way to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

No sooner than she had touched him she pulled back and gasped.

“It can’t be.” She exclaimed.

The woman touched his face, as she did she raised her face that had been half-hidden by her hood. Her eyes were solid white, she was blind. Her other hand touched his face as well, and he saw tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Darx held still and let her hands explore his face. He looked over to Neku who was standing with her hand on her chest, crying as she watched.

“It's really you. The Blessed One.” The woman said. “I can feel it, the powers inside you. To think I should see the day.” The woman smiled, “Will you tell me your name, Blessed One?”

“It’s Darx, sister.” He answered.

Sister Gemma laughed. “What a strange name. But then Imris doesn’t ask for suggestions, now does she?”

Darx smiled. The sister’s voice was kind and her laugh gentle, he couldn't help but like the old lady.

“Your problem is simple enough to solve. Don’t go mixing your medicine young man." She said, poking his chest. "You stick to what the Goddess gives you.”

Darx didn’t really understand what she was trying to tell him.

“Yes, we can balance this out, but the energy must settle on its own. I’ll need my bag.”

A young nun stepped forward. “Right here, ma’am, we can use the table.”

“Oh yes, good.” Sister Gemma said. The young lady guided her hands to the bag and sister Gemma started pulling things out of the large black bag the young lady held. She felt the shape of each item before placing them down or handing them to her assistant.

Priest Gabriel gestured Darx to sit on the bed and Darx moved over.

“Darx.” The Priest started. “Tomorrow is a big day, the service of the sun is an important celebration of the Goddess and the gifts she gives her people. I hope you will attend, It is a perfect time to present you to the people.”

“Present me?” Darx questioned.

“Yes, the whole nation is talking about you Darx, and the people are curious to see you." The Priest answered. "It is time you are formally introduced to them.”

“I don’t know, I’m not really comfortable in front of crowds.”

“You don’t need to do anything. Your presence alone brings hope to the people struggling to see anything more than fear and hurt in the world.”

Darx looked to Neku, she smiled at him encouragingly.

“I guess, if you. . .”

“Good," The Priest cut him off as he stood. "You will be presented to the people tomorrow morning and then we will discuss the next step in your campaign.”

“Campaign?” Darx questioned.

“Yes.” Priest Gabriel gestured to Wendy and Neku. “Your idea to have the Royal Guard, the Church and Midnight Dawn work together to help the people.”

Darx nodded, but he didn’t know was where the priest was going with it.

“Your first outing was unconventional and not well planned." there was judgement in the Priest's voice. "But it drew attention, people are talking about your fight, curious what the Heir of Zrephia was doing in the slums. Your next mission will need to be a better target, and give the people a cause they will rally behind. And of course you’ll need a proper party.”

“Wendy and Neku are staying with me.” Darx stated. He hadn’t forgotten Neku’s concern that she’d be punished for his choices, and Darx needed Wendy and Neku with him, he didn't have anyone else he really trusted.

“Of course, Darx. You three are the face of the movement after all. So many have seen you together, we wouldn’t want to split that up now. However,” The Priest added, a nasty smile spreading across his lips, “If Neku cannot protect you from harm we can always assign you a different attendant, only if it becomes necessary, of course.” The Priest bowed slightly to Darx, his point made. “But you will need more to assist you in battle, and a Cleric of course, to ensure you aren’t harmed.”

“What do you have in mind for the mission?” Darx asked, wanting to change the subject.

“Slavers.” The Priest smiled as he said it.

“Slavers?”

“The city is overcrowded with refugees, Darx. The Royal Guard is overtaxed and the guilds are swamped with missions on the border with the demons. The vilest of offenses against the Goddess has found a foothold in our city. People of Riledo, especially children and young women are being taken and sold as property.”

“I thought slavery was allowed. . .” Darx stated.

“It may be called the same, but allowing someone to trade their freedom for an amount of time to clear their debts is quite different from kidnapping children and forcing them to live their entire lives as slaves, Darx.”

Darx looked to Wendy and Neku, their expressions were difficult to read, but he would bet they didn't trust the Priest’s intentions anymore than he did.

“So we go fight slavers.” Darx stated. No matter what the Priest wanted, Darx could get behind fighting slavers. Helping protect the people in a tangible way, and obviously it would be popular with the poor people living in the city, it was poor women and children being targeted the most after all.

“Not fight, Darx, no. You are the judgement of the Goddess. The will of Imris in physical form. You will strike them down without mercy. You are the right hand of the Goddess. Here to liberate her children and destroy her enemies.”

The Priest was intense as he said it, and it shook Darx a little. Stopping slavers was one thing, but capturing them would surely be better than killing them, right? Before he could say anything sister Gemma stepped back over then with a small stone cup in her hand.

“Here, Blessed One. Drink it all now.” Her hand shook slightly as it held the cup out to him. Darx took her hand and the cup.

“Thank you, sister.” He had only just met the sister, but she seemed like a good hearted and sweet person, such a contrast to the Priest.

“I never thought I’d live to be useful to the Blessed One.” She said. “It’s I that should thank you.”

Darx drank the entire potion and returned the cup. It tasted metallic and like underripe strawberries, and it made him a bit woozy.

“Now be careful, it will take a bit to balance your mana, it's best you rest while the potion works. And take care you don’t unbalance it again.” She said.

“And who is looking after the Blessed One?” Sister Gemma continued.

“It’s me, sister.” Neku said, stepping forward and taking her hand.

“Neku, is that you child?”

“Yes, sister.”

“To think that my little Neku would touch Imris’ heart so.” Sister Gemma said, making no sense to Darx. It seemed to make sense to Neku, she smiled as tears started to run down her face again.

“Oh sister.” Neku cried. The old woman pulled her and hugged her for a few seconds. Then she whispered something in Neku's ear before letting her go. Neku wiped her eyes and nodded as she stood back up.

“Now, if he gets dizzy or when he’s ready to sleep, give him this one.” The old nun handed Neku a glass vial with a clear liquid in it. “And you take good care of him.”

“I will, sister.” Neku stated like she was making a vow.

“I know you will. And you take care of our little Neku too, Darx.” She said, turning her head back towards him.

“I will, sister.” Darx smiled at Neku and Neku smiled back at him.

“I will take my leave of you Darx.” Priest Gabriel said, standing and taking Sister Gemma’s hand and leading her towards the door. “The twins shall fetch you in the morning, Darx. I expect you to return with them this time.” He said the last part looking at Neku. She bowed her head.

“Of course, Priest.” Darx said.

“Is he as handsome as the girls say?” Darx heard sister Gemma ask her attendant as they walked out of the room. The young nun looked back at Darx and blushed.

“Yes ma’am.” She answered.

Darx watched the priest and nun walk out of his room with their attendants and guards.

“That old lady was something.” Wendy said when the door closed.

Neku stepped to Darx and hugged him, crying into his shoulder. Darx held her as she sobbed.

“Do you know her?” Darx asked when Neku seemed calm enough to speak.

“Yes, her granddaughter and I were friends.” She answered.

“Were?” Wendy asked.

Neku didn’t answer further.

“What did she whisper to you?” Darx asked. “I mean, if you are okay sharing it.”

“She said ‘The flower that blooms for one-night is the most memorable.’”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wendy asked her.

Neku didn’t answer that either, and Darx didn’t want to press her, so he changed the subject.

“So, he wants us to fight slavers.” Darx stated.

“Not fight, Darx. He wants us to murder them.” Wendy responded, it was clear she didn't approve.

“They deserve it.” Neku said with a snarl.

“Neku, they should be tried in a court.” Wendy started, Neku cut her off.

“Come on, Wendy, you lived in the slums, you know more than I what those filth do.”

“I know, Neku. But we can’t stoop to their level, we have to be better than them.”

“I agree.” Neku answered. “I promise you I won’t sell any of their children into slavery when they are dead.”

Darx laughed. “I kind of agree with Neku on this one, Wendy.”

“Darx, you can’t, we need witnesses, people for the Guard to interrogate.” Wendy was passionate, and she had a point.

“I guess we can leave some of them alive if they are going to be tortured.” Neku answered snarkily.

“Alright you two.” Darx said, not wanting a fight. “We’ll try to keep some alive to interrogate.”

Neku smiled and Wendy just shook her head.

Darx laid down on his giant bed. He felt a bit nauseous from the potion, and he had a lot to think about.

“Hey Neku, what is this service going to be like?” He asked.

“You’ve never been to a sun service before?” Wendy asked in disbelief.

“I’ve haven’t been to a service in Riledo at all.” Darx said. “My town was too small, we only had a statue of the goddess. There was a church in Tristanis, but that was a big trip so we only went once a year for the counting.”

“So you’ve haven't been to a real service at all?” Neku asked.

“Nope.”

Wendy laughed. “Your first service is a sun service and you’re the star of it. Oh man.”

Neku looked to him, saw he was worried. “Don’t worry Darx, it will be fun.” She said. Wendy laughed again.

“Besides I’ll be there with you.” Neku took his hand and smiled at him.

“Oh, me too.” Wendy said. “I love the sun service, and I won’t have to fight the crowds if I’m with you.”

Darx looked at Wendy and then to Neku. He had no clue what to expect.

“It’s going to be crazy.” Wendy said, then laughed some more.