Chapel of Mara

The Maran religion was the most widespread across the entire world, because Mara was the Sun itself. Regardless of nation, values, culture or creed the Sun was a constant. Mara was the namesake of an entire continent that saw her light the most, for better or for worse, and she was the namesake for many children that carried those four letters in some way in an attempt to curry favour from the goddess. In Teor, however, amidst the chimes of bells from new churches and chapels the Maran chapel stood as something of an antique between the newer stonework that surrounded it. The quaint church, made of wood with a high sloped roof and simple tower was still said to be a sanctuary for anyone that needed shelter.

The facade was an inviting, friendly white with black beams crossing it as a frame. A flower pot with vines growing off the side held a thorny bush overgrown to hide the circular stained glass that would no longer let in light excite at Mara’s most sacred hour due to development in Teor. The heavy black double doors with a sun raised from the surface greeted you all with its roundness and pointed rays. It was said that to depict the sun with an engraving rather than an embossing would be a grave offence. As you ascended the steps and lifted your hand to grab the knocker you felt the door move back so you let go.

It opened inward to reveal a very slight male figure. Smooth, short silver hair grew around his small face. Over his left eye he had a black patch that was nearly hidden by the wisps of silver. His singular red iris peered through the cracked doorway at you. Trailing your gaze down you saw thick white robes dressing his slender figure. He looked down, inspecting each person on his steps before opening the door a little wider.

“May I help you?”

The word ‘may’ stood out to you and made you relax. He wasn’t asking ‘if’, he seemed to be asking what he could do. True to the Maran tradition, he wanted to help. At least that was the feeling you got from such a simple phrase.

“We just need a place to stay for the night. I’m from the guild, I don’t have a place to stay due to poor planning.” You motioned back with your thumb.

“These girls as well.”

He smiled warmly and stepped aside. “Please come un.”

You nodded. “Thank you…”

He placed a pale hand over his chest and bowed shallowly. “Lad. Before you give me more airs than I deserve, I’m not a Chaplain.”

You nodded, looking around the old chapel. The layout was simple. There was a main hall which the double doors took up and this hall spanned the entire length of the facade of the chapel. It had stained glass windows, circular, lining the length on each side with steeples laid out symmetrically. The place was cleaned exceptionally well with the stonework polished smooth to seem like it was marble.

“That’s sad…” You observed.

He seemed taken aback. “I’m sorry?”

You realised what you said and pinched the bridge of your nose. “No, I’m sorry. Those windows. They’re meant to bring in light but it’s like they built walls around this whole place. It’s just a bit sad, I thought.”

Lad nodded slowly, following you and the girls in after closing the door and turning a heavy lever over to lock it.

“Originally, before I was born, this place would have coloured lights painting the walls and the floors. From what I’m told, people thought that since the stained glass made Mara’s light show the colours and shapes a little different each time that it was like she was speaking to them during each service. But… even if things have changed, nothing has really changed. Mara rises and sets and this chapel still stands.”

“Amazing. Does this place have a Chaplain that we can thank?” You asked politely.

Lad smiled and shook his head. “Just me. I’m the only one left.”

You continued walking to the head of the hall where the shining bronze idol to Mara stood prominently with candles lit in rows behind it. Your eyes trailed up it, then wandered to the double doors on either side of the back wall. The chapel would continue on for the length of the hall again, holding rooms that were meant to hold more people. For such a thin face, the inside actually seemed quite big and lonely. Lad walked past you all and entered through the leftmost door. As he was out of the room Kara whispered to you.

“He’s lying.”

“What?” You returned in a quiet tone.

“There’s someone else. He’s not alone.”

You thought for a moment, then just shrugged. “That’s his business, not ours.”

“Isn’t it weird that there’s one guy, but he’s not even calling himself the Chaplain?”

“Maybe a little? Jeane, what do you think?” You finally looked at the elf and saw her practically wilding. A bread of sweat was running down her pale face.

“I think I am at risk of catching on fire just by being here… Ugh…” You lifted a brow and as you saw her swaying a bit you got close.

“Lean on me.” She looked surprised, but did daintily grab your arm, though it seemed like a last resort. She sighed with relief as you supported some of her weight.

“Come on, take a seat.” You walked her to one of the pews and let her down. As you did she looked up, not at you but at your clothing. She was searching.

“Looking for white?”

“Or grey… You seem fine. Places like this are also fine, for the most part.” She breathed deeply.

“Do you know what it is?”

“Accumulated Soma.” She briefed.

“Ah, that makes sense. It’s what I use.” You informed her. She closed her eyes and nodded, taking that as a valid explanation.

“Do you paint your nails so that you’ll know when you’re at risk of taking the colour out of something?” She looked up and just nodded again, seeming **** to talk. You sat down beside her.

“It’s because you’ll affect whatever’s touching your skin first, right?” She gave another short nod while looking away.

“You have time.” You remarked.

“I… need to be sparing. The bottle, the clear glass is safe however when I open it and expose the polish to the air around me it will inevitably start to become black over time. That means it is more of an emergency measure.”

“Ah… What if I painted your nails, then? If I hold the bottle away from you it’ll never get close.” You offered. Jeane looked at you sceptically. You chuckled and asked.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Oh, I do not know…” She said sarcastically while searching her bag for the vial. You took the glass with the purple polish moving viscously inside. You unscrewed it. The cap was also the brush.

“Nifty.” You shrugged, getting a good amount.

“Hand.” Jeane blushed a dusty grey over her cheeks as she extended her slender hand. Meanwhile, across the room kara was inching closer to the right door, sniffing around it as if she’d found something. She looked at the two of you jealously as she stood near that door.

“Just try not to paint my skin… Do your-” She lifted a brow as you carefully painted one nail, going over it carefully and thoroughly edge to edge, then another and another. You furrowed your brow, eying your work as you held her hand to your mouth and blew. Jeane shuddered and pulled it away sharply.

“Hm? We’re not done. Also, make sure they dry…”

“Th-that is enough! You must be naturally quite dexterous.”

You smirked at her deviously. “I can also paint toes.” You felt mean as Jeane seemed to have a moment where her brain needed to restart. You laughed lightly.

“Sor-” You felt something and looked up.

“-ry? Shit!” You gritted your teeth, eying the right door that was wide open. You looked at the left and quickly followed after the fox. Eventually you came to a door at the end of the narrow hall. It was a room at the very back of the chapel, typically reserved as the Chaplain’s quarters. You saw Kara sniffing outside the door.

“What are you doing!” You yelled mutedly. Kara looked back at you with an indignant expression.

“Flowers. I smell flowers.” She sniffed.

“Smells familiar… Expensive flowers.”

“Expensive-” You stopped and approached the door curiously. You placed your hand on it, closed your eyes and leaned into the crack in the side to smell.

“You’re right. Expensive flowers.” It was a scent you remembered pretty clearly from the garden of the Manor at Cheshiridge. You wondered out loud in a very low tone. Looking back you guessed that Lad could return to the hall at any point and find you and Kara gone. You abruptly grabbed her wrist and dragged her back to the main hall, but it was already too late.

Lad was standing in the centre of the hall staring at you with his one eye searchingly. Before any of you could speak there was a loud knock at the doors. He paused, then began to slowly and purposefully walk towards the doors.

“Wait!” He stopped and turned his head slowly. Only his eyepatch was facing you but it felt as if he could still see you, somehow. You set aside that inexplicable sensation as you explained.

“We may be in trouble with some people. They may be trying to look for us.”

Lad paused, then continued after a moment. “You can trust me. No one can harm you here, no matter who it is…. Simply stay put and wait.” He asked calmly. You felt your senses pulling you towards a consensus that agreed with him. You felt like he wasn’t lying and that he was also correct. It just felt that way, but Jeane was already ducking down and scurrying towards you and Kara was pulling back on your grip, trying to get you to withdraw behind the door so that you were all out of sight when the doors opened for whoever it was.

***

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