The Ceremony

We followed Arlo inside. The cathedral was decorated with candles, the only source of light at the moment, various burning incenses, and silk banners depicting various religious things I knew nothing about. I guess that’s the stuff Flora brought.

“Please wait back here for the ceremony to end. Only participants may go up to the altar,” said Arlo. He gestured for us to sit down on one of the pews near the entrance of the church, while most other attendees sat a bit further towards the front. I sat between Sofia and Lucille, with Flora sitting next to Lucille. Arlo headed down the center aisle up to the altar. He stood behind an unlit brazier, holding a book in his hand, probably their equivalent to the Bible. The doors on either side of the cathedral opened, several priests came out of the right side, standing up on the right side of the altar. Nuns did the same on the left side. Each held a candle and a small effigy resembling a doll.

Arlo began to speak, “I thank you all for being here with us tonight. As you all know, tonight marks the beginning of the first pilgrimage undertaken by a cleric of the eastern church in four years. Ever since that tragedy, the faithful’s hearts have been heavy. Let us offer our first prayers for the luck of this new pilgrimage.”

I looked around. Most of the attendees were praying silently to themselves, Arlo and the others at the altar included. Even Lucille and Flora were praying. I looked to Sofia who merely shrugged back at me. From what I knew of her upbringing, I could assume she wasn’t particularly involved in religion.

“Amen,” said Arlo, raising his head once more. He opened his book to a page about halfway through. “Now for the recitation of the first pilgrim. ‘And such, with the burning of her homeland of Karth, did the Prophet Yulia rise from its ashes. She was born anew, as the only survivor of the tragedy that befell her people.’ ”

Arlo continued, “ ‘With no home to speak of, Yulia walked. She traveled to the land of Berwinde, where she was rejected solace. Despite the Berwindites’ inhospitality, Yulia still healed their sick and wounded after Berwinde was put to the torch. From there, the prophet traveled to the land of Gratia, which had heard the news of the maiden and welcomed her with open arms. And so, when the time came, the Prophet ensured Gratia would not be put to the torch as well.’ ”

“ ‘Finally, when the prophet was hailed as a hero, did Yulia travel to the land of Regin. There, the Prophet did the work of the Goddess, and freed the slaves from the grasp of the Reginites. However, King Regin did not take kindly to the Prophet’s work. And such, the Prophet was imprisoned and slated to be executed.’ ” said Arlo.

“ ‘In the dungeons of King Regin, Yulia met Prince Regnus. He reviled the Prophet as a heretic as his father did. However, the night before Yulia was to be killed, Regnus received a vision from the Goddess as he slept. Lady Esther told Regnus of Yulia’s good deeds, and implored him to halt her execution. Regnus awoke, determined to belay the unjust execution.’ ” Arlo read.

“ ‘King Regin, however, was unconvinced. He threatened to have his own child executed as well for siding with the supposed heretic. At this time, Regnus saw his father’s madness and put an end to him. Regnus freed Yulia, and formally apologized to her. Yulia merely said that all had happened in accordance to the goddess’s will.’” Said Arlo.

“As you know, Yulia would go on to create the central church, aided by the now King Regnus in his new capital, which would be named after him. The land of Regin would become known as Regnica.” Arlo said.

“This ceremony has been followed for almost five hundred years. Each year, a faithful from each church branch is meant to go on a pilgrimage in honor of the Prophet Yulia, the first pilgrim. The eastern branch has been unable to provide pilgrims for four years. But now, my own daughter is undertaking her pilgrimage.” Arlo said, gesturing to the main doors of the Cathedral. As he did, they swung open, and in stepped an girl dressed in a white, purple, and gold dress, presumably Alice.

She had long white hair that reached down to her waist, and a purple headband. She had amber eyes like her father. Her dress showed off her legs which were covered in white thigh high socks, accentuating her thick thighs. Her dress also showed off her breasts, which were a bit smaller than Lucille’s, but larger than Flora’s. She slowly proceeded down the aisle to the altar.

As she did, one by one, alternating between nun and priest, they placed their effigies into the brazier and lit them ablaze with their candles. By the time Alice reached the altar, the brazier was a roaring fire, all the effigies inside.

“Now, as the first pilgrim did before you, rise from the fire, and be born anew,” said Arlo. Alice nodded, placing her arm into the brazier. She grimaced as her flesh began to burn. Then, just as I wanted to stop this crazy ceremony, Arlo reached in and pulled her arm out of the fire. He waved a hand over their burned arms, cast a healing spell, and both of them were good as new, like it had never happened.

The audience stood and clapped. Flora and Lucille did the same, so Sofia and I followed suit. Alice turned to the crown, wiped a tear from her eye, and bowed in thanks.

“And thus, the ceremony is concluded,” said Arlo. “Be safe returning to your homes, everyone. Thank you all for attending.” The Bishop went to speak to his daughter as two other priests went about putting out the fire on the brazier.

“They do this every year?” I asked Lucille, astounded.

“Indeed. Or at least, they try to. Sometimes, the church branches are unable to provide a pilgrim. Everyone can only go once, after all,” she said.

“Man that was crazy!” Said Sofia. “I’m a pyromancer and even I wouldn’t willingly stick my whole arm into a fire.”

“Most people wouldn’t,” said Flora. “However, the church contains many practitioners of healing magic, so it isn’t as dangerous as one would think.”

“Good to know. Oh, hey, she’s coming over this way.” I said, seeing Alice heading down the aisle towards us.