Chapter 10

Age of Solstice, 16:71

Tulasquss, Drazul's Plane

Drazul spent the rest of the day in her room, pondering much since their visit to the cathedral in Calcette. She sat on her bed, staring at the ornate box as it lay before her, its contents making her wonder. She hadn't heard the name Mildred Trisca in many, many years. It made her mood somber and made her feelings and this whole ordeal complicated.

Two centuries ago, after Drazul had given up her journey for the truth, she spent her days traveling for her own enjoyment. She traveled everywhere and made an effort to collect various spells and tomes among other artifacts. She was considered a scholar of magi at the time, putting her time into her thirst for knowledge. This was when she met her. Mildred Trisca.

Mildred was an artist struggling to get noticed. She was 30 years old at the time, and barely making enough to get by. Twas the age passed the world's love for artists. Artists were underappreciated, and their employers were more entitled in their greed to profit off of one's talent. When Drazul first stumbled upon Mildred, it was a simple stand with her work displayed about on the streets of Calcette. Mildred really was ahead of her time, as her works were beautiful and intricate, appearing to be so delicate but powerful in their portrayal of various subjects. Drazul was first drawn to what appeared to be a Moon Goddess statue made of stone.

Drazul never seen any like it as it portrayed a tall, broad-shouldered woman holding up the moon under a waterfall of stars and light. It was such a fine, intricate piece that it left an impression on Drazul, so much so that she purchased the statue and began to converse with Mildred. When Mildred first appeared before Drazul to talk about her piece, Drazul was speechless. Mildred was a tired woman, but even that couldn't shadow her beauty. She had gorgeous braids and wonderful dark skin that glinted when the sun touched her face. Her eyes reminded Drazul of the small colors of dusk that glowed when caught in the light.

Over time, Drazul found herself drawn to Mildred more and more often, finding herself in love with her works. Eventually, Drazul decided to sponsor Mildred, which allowed her enough to display her works in galleries and even at balls. Soon, Mildred became renowned for her works, receiving requests left and right before taking time to put it all on pause for Drazul's commission. Drazul asked Mildred to remodel her cottage down to it's bones. This is how Drazul's cottage became as it appears today. During that period, Drazul began to have affections for her precious artist, and to her surprise, Mildred felt the same. Mildred was Drazul's true first love, and her cottage was built from it. Her home was a living masterpiece, one they both shared until Mildred's last days.

To find an ornate box and jewelry crafted by her personally felt like a remarkable coincidence. Drazul found herself trying to remember her days beside Mildred, wondering if Mildred made this jewelry, her ring specifically, with her in mind. The First Champion's ring truly suits her as if Mildred knew. Mildred knew of Drazul's circumstance, but Drazul found it hard to believe Mildred would know she was to be the First Champion. Or perhaps Mildred felt it was so after hearing the prophecy at some point in her travels.

Whatever be the case that led her, Drazul found that she cannot simply ignore the prophecy. She must let things run their course. If what it says carries some truth and that there are other Champions, they will find them soon enough. Drazul reached into the ornate box, pulling out the scroll that contained the prophecy which had Mildred's beautiful handwriting. Her calligraphy was quite incredible; Drazul nearly forgot Mildred used to write many invitations in her time. Then she remembered that they used to exchange letters in secret when Mildred would travel for her work. She took a lit candle nearby and brought it just under the parchment, waiting to see if there was anything hidden written within.

After a few moments, nothing appeared. Drazul sighed and put down her candle. She was about to roll the scroll again before seeing lettering slowly appear across the parchment.

My Love,

If you really are the First Champion, I hope my ring finds you in good spirits. I wasn't quite sure if you would be one of the Champions, but if this prophecy was to be true, I wanted to be the artist to craft these gifts if they were ever meant to be given to you and put into your care. Only you know the worth behind my works.

You must be feeling perplexed. I would feel the same if our positions were swapped. However, you should know that I only did this in hopes that your journey would be fruitful. I suppose that you have part of the puzzle in your possession now.

If I am gone before this letter finds you, I do hope you find what you have been looking for in my absence. I trust that everything will fall into place. It is what you deserve and more.

Know that I will always love you just as the stars love the moon. We will meet again.

Yours,

Mildred Trisca

Drazul felt hot tears stream down her cheeks as she watched them fall onto the parchment as she cried silently. That night, Drazul howled and screamed, feeling centuries worth of grief overcoming her. It brought her down to her knees, clinging onto her bedframe. She clutched a single finger of the frame, trying to control her emotions but to no avail. Perhaps she needed this. She let her soul cry out, and as it did, her spacial powers began to distort her room. It began to stretch and bend in odd waves and became worse the louder she cried.

Whisper felt the cottage tremble a bit. She assumed it'd been a passing earthquake, but nothing is normal here. She began making her way over to Drazul's room, wondering if Drazul was alright. She remembered Drazul's face shift as she accepted the ornate box and gifts. Whisper was no fool; she clearly heard Drazul's second name through the Bishop's lips. Perhaps Drazul had a family, one that she outlived. Whisper stood before Drazul's room and heard muffled noises as she knocked, then silence.

Whisper opened the door slowly and noticed her room was dimly lit. She stepped through and her eye lit up the room with its purple flame. This was Whisper's first time entering Drazul's room, taking in the masterpiece of it. The room was gorgeous, and it left Whisper in awe before her eyes fell on a slumped figure clinging to a clawed finger of Drazul's bed frame. Whisper briskly approached, and her flame's light revealed Drazul looking a wreck. Whisper pat Drazul on the shoulder,

"Drazul? I know you're strange, but this is worse even for a Jane like you. What happen, then?"

Whisper kneeled before her so that Drazul could read her signs and so that Whisper could see her more clearly. Drazul shook her head,

"Leave me be."

Whisper scowled,

"Why must I? Ya look unwell. I'll go fetch ya something, sit tight."

Whisper left for several minutes before returning with tea that had a bit too many leaves in it and a plate of poorly chopped fruits. She presented it to Drazul before laying them on a nearby low table beside two armchairs,

"Come on, let's get ya in your swanky chair, then."

Whisper gently lifted Drazul's arm that hung off the frame and swung it around her neck and shoulders. She slowly began lifting up Drazul enough for Drazul to support herself. Drazul still put most of her weight on Whisper though as she helped her to a chair. Drazul fell limp in the chair as she sat while Whisper sat opposite of her and put the tea in her hands, which Drazul took weakly. Drazul took the tea and before she could sip, she noticed the leaves,

"Why is there so much tea leaves in my cup?"

Whisper signed her piece before crossing her arms,

"It's good for ya, that's why. Come on now, drink up."

Drazul begrudgingly sipped her tea as Whisper handed her a plate of fruits. Drazul simply stared at the chair Whisper sat in. Whisper shifted in her seat,

"Did ya not want any fruits?"

Drazul shook her head,

"This is...lovely, Whisper. I am just feeling drained is all."

Whisper leaned into her chair, watching Drazul's expression. Her face was sullen and her eyes puffy. Whisper frowned,

"Ain't you supposed to be happy that we gots a lead?"

Drazul put down her tea and looked to Whisper, her face still sullen,

"I am and am not. I did not expect to hear my lover's name escape the lips of a Bishop, nor did I ever think a prophecy would turn up. I am just processing today's events. We still have to seek an audience with the Green Circle. We will leave come dawn."

Whisper stopped listening after she heard the word,

"Lover?!"

Drazul didn't have the energy for Whisper's enthusiasm and merely nodded. Whisper stood up,

"You always quit chinnin' when somethin's happenin'! Your lover was a famous artist? The artist that made your ring and my pendant? Where is she now, how come I neva got to meet 'er?" Whisper brought out her necklace from under her scarf. Drazul nodded,

"Yes. It has been two hundred centuries since her passing."

Whisper drooped, understanding why Drazul seemed a wreck. She knelt down and grasped Drazul's hands to comfort her. Drazul patted hers in turn before pulling away,

"Tis the past. For now, we have much more important matters to concern ourselves with."

Whisper nodded,

"Ya mean the prophecy? I'm still reelin' from it. It still don't feel real."

Drazul shook her head,

"I'm more concerned with how much of it is real. So far only you are described by your appearance within it. The Champions are not. I am having a difficult time believing I am one of them, let alone the First. It doesn't make sense to me. Why must this be my true purpose after all these centuries since my Ascension? If I am to be a Champion, are the others like me? Will they appear before me like you did? Call or signal for me?" Drazul motioned to Whisper before leaning back into her chair, "There are much too many questions and not enough answers. Even so, all we can do now is wait. Why must Fate be so fickle?"

Whisper leaned back, feeling excitement well up within her,

"I'm excited to meet the rest of our family."

Drazul blinked and slowly turned to her, her expression questioning Whisper's words. Whisper shrugged,

"We're family now. Don't that mean that whoeva are the other Champions will end up stayin' with us?"

Drazul began eating a few pieces of fruit and groaned,

"Absolutely not. I will not take on anymore inhabitants."

Whisper shrugged again, chuckling. Her huffing breaths of laughter made Drazul's mood soften, lighten. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly,

"I will not rely too much on our so-called prophecy. I will merely keep it in mind as we take care of matters."

Drazul sat quietly going over today's events while Whisper was eating some of the fruit left on the plate. Drazul remembered hearing Whisper's voice and decided to inquire,

"Whisper, I heard you speak today. From your mind."

Whisper stopped mid-chew to stare at Drazul a moment before swallowing,

"Did ya? Is that how ya found me?"

Drazul nodded,

"Your voice may have been panicked, but...it suits you. I can now hear the words you sign to me." Drazul smiled softly as Whisper blushed feeling bashful,

"I knew ya could read minds and all, but I didn't know ya could hear 'em like that. Can ya see 'em, too?"

Drazul nodded,

"I can see and hear others' thoughts. Thankfully, it is something I can manipulate; otherwise, I do believe I would have gone mad from all the noise. However, when it comes to you, I cannot control whether I can read you."

Whispes's eyes widened,

"No kiddin'? Is this why ya hadn't tried speakin' to me in me head?"

Drazul nodded again, smiling,

"Yes, otherwise I would've known your name from the start."

Whisper leaned into her chair for a couple of moments before replying,

"I'm glad ya taught me this visual language. This lets me chin with others, or gives me a chance to. I'm startin' to think I'm one of the few who can, though."

Drazul nodded,

"Even then, there are quite a few scholars who enjoy learning languages. If we ever manage to come across them, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. I'm sure they'll find you amusing with your speech." Drazul finished her tea and helped Whisper finish the fruits before standing up, "Come. Let's rest. We have an early start tomorrow."

Whisper nodded and took the plates down, wishing Drazul goodnight. Drazul decided to wash away her sadness and emotional fatigue in her bath by soaking in the hot water. It's been a day, but she cannot be idle and will not allow her emotions to hinder her. Tomorrow, they will visit the Green Circle, and that in itself will be enough trouble. Drazul is wondering where they are residing now. She exited the bath and dried herself, putting on a shear robe that was revealing and lush. She sauntered over the wrist to her bed, finally allowing herself to be embraced in the comfort of her cushions and cool blankets. Her emotions aren't so easily washed away, unfortunately, but she feels much more refreshed, and now, relaxed that she feels sleep coming over her.