9th Ymiden, 718
No matter how many times she did this, Faith reckoned she would never, not ever get used to it. She was being given her Grey Cloak today. It was an important trial, she knew. It marked the moment where she stopped having a mentor and started mentoring people. Was she ready, Faith wondered. It might seem like an odd thing to think in some ways, but equally, it was an important thing to reflect on. Two arcs ago, on the twenties of this season, she'd met her first free person who was not an owner. Because she'd been allowed out for the first time. Two arcs. That same season, Tristan had bought her and there had begun the great adventure which was her life. Faith was so grateful to everyone who had helped her get here, everyone who had played their part, but it was Padraig who had made the difference to her.
"Of all the people, all of them, in my life before Scalvoris, he was the only one to never deny that I was a slave and yet never treat me like one," she said and the soul who stood next to her turned to look at her. He was an older man and he had died here, in the Order building, of a painful disease. It was hard getting sense out of him, but that was part of what her job was, her sacred duty to Famula. "I used to be a slave. Did you know that?" He frowned and shook his head. "I don't think so, girl, no." His voice was whispered like scratchy paper and Faith looked at him. "Now, I'm a doctor. Isn't that strange? What disease do you have?" He looked at her and his expression was confused as blood, although not real blood of course, poured down his face from his nose.
"The Rot, they call it." Faith smiled at him and turned back to look out of the window. "I found a cure for it." She said, softly. "I found a cure for the Rot. I'm sorry I didn't find it in time for you." He looked at her in some surprise and poked her in the shoulder. She felt it as though it was ice passing through her. "Show me," he said, and Faith moved over to the shelves, where she retrieved the tome in question which contained Nir'wei's case. "Here," she said and he looked. It was a few moments as he read, but it was just enough. He remained lucid long enough that he finished reading and looked at her. "No one else needs to die from it, girl?" Faith shook her head. "No one else, sir. You can rest now." She lowered her head in prayer, thanking Famula for the gifts given to her and using her own Lantern to lead him.
And when she raised her eyes again, he was no longer there. Faith turned back to the window and she looked out at it. Aeon's Hope had been open a few trials now and it was something which gave her an immense amount of pride and pleasure. But it was service, all of it was service. That was what she did, what she stood for, what she believed in. She served because it was Famula's will; because it was in her blood and her soul. Life, death and the inbetween.
Pulling on her gold cloak for the last time, Faith made her way downstairs to where Galena, her mentor and friend - and soon to be mentor no more, was waiting.
"Of all the people, all of them, in my life before Scalvoris, he was the only one to never deny that I was a slave and yet never treat me like one," she said and the soul who stood next to her turned to look at her. He was an older man and he had died here, in the Order building, of a painful disease. It was hard getting sense out of him, but that was part of what her job was, her sacred duty to Famula. "I used to be a slave. Did you know that?" He frowned and shook his head. "I don't think so, girl, no." His voice was whispered like scratchy paper and Faith looked at him. "Now, I'm a doctor. Isn't that strange? What disease do you have?" He looked at her and his expression was confused as blood, although not real blood of course, poured down his face from his nose.
"The Rot, they call it." Faith smiled at him and turned back to look out of the window. "I found a cure for it." She said, softly. "I found a cure for the Rot. I'm sorry I didn't find it in time for you." He looked at her in some surprise and poked her in the shoulder. She felt it as though it was ice passing through her. "Show me," he said, and Faith moved over to the shelves, where she retrieved the tome in question which contained Nir'wei's case. "Here," she said and he looked. It was a few moments as he read, but it was just enough. He remained lucid long enough that he finished reading and looked at her. "No one else needs to die from it, girl?" Faith shook her head. "No one else, sir. You can rest now." She lowered her head in prayer, thanking Famula for the gifts given to her and using her own Lantern to lead him.
And when she raised her eyes again, he was no longer there. Faith turned back to the window and she looked out at it. Aeon's Hope had been open a few trials now and it was something which gave her an immense amount of pride and pleasure. But it was service, all of it was service. That was what she did, what she stood for, what she believed in. She served because it was Famula's will; because it was in her blood and her soul. Life, death and the inbetween.
Pulling on her gold cloak for the last time, Faith made her way downstairs to where Galena, her mentor and friend - and soon to be mentor no more, was waiting.
