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April 7th, 1883

New Beginnings

by Maelie Arsenault

Maelie laughs brightly as they dance. Her feet taking her in circles around Cardinal, always close but never in the way. It's not until the initiates start handing out papers for the sky lanterns that she finally staggers to a halt.
 
Cardinal finishes the song, sputtering a bit to apologize to the other bards who wave off her concerns. She looks at the slip of paper. “What’s this for?”
 
"Oh, we write down a goal, wish, or just... somet'ing new we want to start." Maelie says, catching her breath. "Den, we put dem in de sky lanterns and send dem to Sephira for 'er blessing."
 
The bard nods. She considers a moment and writes something on the slip before folding it once.
 
Maelie blushes and pulls one already written out of her dress. "I wrote mine earlier. Come on!" She takes Cardinal's hand and leads her to where people are gathering at some tables. There are small paper lanterns with candles in them.
 

Goddess of music, journeys, and the night sky,
 
You blessed me with a new beginning when I was a child.
A new family, a journey across Europa, and
a freedom I thought was only a fairy tale.


 
" 'ere, you just put it in 'ere." She picks a lantern and puts her piece of paper in it, then carefully lights the candle. "Den... I t'ink we let dem go over 'ere."
 
You gave me people to hold my hand
and lead me when I was too afraid to take
those first steps on my own.

 
She goes to where an Initiate is instructing people where to launch the lanterns. Holding her own carefully, she lets the heat from the candle fill the sky lantern and gently lets it alight from her hands up into the air over the temple gardens.
 
And you did it all again when that
first journey came to an end.
You led me through the dark, grey world
and into a place filled with colour, music, and love.

 
Cardinal tucks her paper into a lantern and carries it over to the open space. She holds it gently between her palms, watching it as it warms, a fragile glowing thing. After a few moments she releases it upward, watching it rise into the sky with an expression of awe. “It’s beautiful,” she whispers.
 
I could ask Fodla for the comfort of home,
or Peitho for lasting love,
but all I really want is that you lead me back here
wherever I go on from now on.

 
Maelie takes her hand and leans over to gently kiss her cheek and whisper. "Oui, dey are... not as beautiful as you are though."
 
I’ll take care of the rest.

Continue reading...

  1. The Last Rule
    November 27th, 1882, - Novandria
  2. The Den
  3. Am I losing?
  4. A Close Call
  5. Plans
  6. New Toys
  7. Mistakes were made
  8. Too close to home
  9. Not like you.
  10. This City is Mine.
    February 6th, 1883
  11. Aimless?
    March 5, 1883 - Novandria
  12. The Game Begins
    February 13th, 1883
  13. Too much like You
    March 13, 1883
  14. Safer in Shadows
    April 3, 1883
  15. New Beginnings
    April 7th, 1883
  16. Ready to Run
    April 17th, 1883
  17. Home
    April 25, 1883
  18. Can you steal a heart?
    May 8th, 1883
  19. Trouble
    11th of May, 1883
  20. Heartbreak
    14th of May, 1883
  21. Hunter or Prey?
    16th of May, 1883
  22. Guilt
    19th of May, 1883
  23. Untrustworthy
    21st of May, 1883
  24. Why am I like this?
    25th of May, 1883
  25. Worthy
    8th of June, 1883
  26. The One She Left Behind
    13th June, 1883
  27. Annnd it's back...
    July 1st, 1883
  28. Learning to Fly
    July 4th, 1883
  29. Thrill of the Hunt
    July 29th, 1883
  30. From the Embers
    21st of August, 1883 // 1867
  31. Mother Knows Best
    16th of September, 1883
  32. A Snake, a Star, and a Fox
    25th of September, 1883, Novandria
  33. It wasn't him.
    28th of September, 1883, Novandria
  34. The New Blade
    13th of September, 1883
  35. Something Good
    October 31, 1883 - Novandria
  36. The wound that won't close
    18th of December, 1883 - Novandria
  37. Promise
    25th of December, 1883 - Novandria
  38. Fallen through the cracks
    6th of January, 1884 - Novandria
  39. Day to Night
    7th of January, 1884
  40. What's Left to the Shadows
    22nd of January, 1884, Novandria
  41. The World without Colour
    18th of February, 1884, Bellancourt, Montaigne,
  42. Seventeen Roofs
    26th of February, Novandria, Eisen
  43. Crossing the Board
    4th of March, 1884, Novandria, Eisen
  44. New Freedom
    May 4th, 1884
  45. Saved
    5th of May, 1884/16th of July, 1858

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 00:52, Nov 15 2024