Blind Faith (Solo)

[Elem Bree]

Summer 4, AV 512

The light of the coming dawn illuminated the front porch of Elem's father's cobbler. He knew once the light broke through the front that his father would be up, preparing for the day. His mother was surely still sleeping. His eyes grew misty at the thought of her peaceful countenance. So many words he wanted to say or write, but he knew if he gave them the opportunity to fight his decision, they might very well win. The teary sensation only exacerbated his fatigue, having been up all night packing his belongings, which now awaited him in a caravan prepared to leave for Syliras in a few hours. he had given himself just enough time to finalize things and be gone. He would write them a letter once he got somewhere stable.

Stable. What a state. Six months ago he was nothing but, head in a book and eyes completely closed. What a great change that had occurred. His steps took him toward the University, which was all but restored since the dreadful events of the Spring storm. Anxiety fluttered through his chest like a summer storm as he quietly entered the place that had been more home to him than anywhere as of late. The Infirmary. He smiled at patients as best he could, a veil of clammy sweat beginning to rise on his brow. He suspected Claira would protest, and that was fine. He certainly didn't want to disappoint her, though.

She was at her desk in her office, going over some papers that lay before her. He knocked softly on the threshold. "Mistress? May I have a word?" In her usual boisterous fashion, without looking up she replied, "You already did. Come in, Bree." He swallowed hard and entered, taking a seat before her. She looked up at him and he forced himself to keep his gaze on her own, though he wanted only to look at the floor.

"I'd say you were coming down with something, but that could not be the case, correct?" She placed her hands folded on the desk, her features softening as much as he recalled them ever doing, which helped somewhat. " I assume you have come for your wages? You needn't worry so. I know you were hired on as an assistant, but considering the events that transpired at the Ball, well..." She reached down and the sound of a drawer sliding open roughly followed. She produced a large sack, its resounding thud echoing against the wood as she sat it before him. " I gave you healer wages. It's the least I could do for your efforts this Spring. I suspect you will need them, wherever it is you are going."

Elem's face rose like the Obelisks. He reached forth and took the sack, its weight surprising. Looking inside he came to find several hundred gold rimmed Mizas inside. The slight trace of a smarmy grin crossed Claira's face. "Surely you don't believe that I would be unaware that you are going somewhere? I keep tabs on my students, especially valuable ones. I am sure you are worth more than that sack, but that is all I am able to do for you."

This did not help with the staving of tears. His lips trembled as a lone tear slid down his cheek. "I'm sorry, Mistress. The toll of the storm was just so much to bear. I know some of the others are made of stronger stuff." He wiped his cheek and looked at her with fresh, wet eyes. " Before Rak'keli came into my life, I had no understanding of Her. I thought Her an obstacle to the science of medicine. I was a fool. I want to understand Her more and while I can certainly do that here, rumors tell of other places in the world that were hit as hard or harder by the storm. My heart tells me to go."

"And go you shall, with my blessing, Elem Bree. I trust you have spoken to your parents?" His face dropped a bit.

"No, I know my mother would want me to stay close. I would have a very hard time leaving if I spoke to her. Do you think you could...?" Claira nodded to him. "Of course, Elem. Do what you must. Just promise me that you will return someday to let us know how it all turned out?" He was already standing from his chair, his eyes open streams now. He knew she wished him well, but he felt guilt weighing on him for passing the responsibility off on his mentor.

"Of course, Mistress Claira." His voice was a whisper of its usual tone. Tying the sack, he reached into the pocket of his breeches, a carefully folded piece of paper revealed. He placed it on the desk before Claira. It simply said Nira'lia on its outer fold. "Could you wait a week or so and give this to her?" Claira's practiced hand slid the letter beneath her other papers.

"Consider it done, Elem. Good luck on your journeys."

[Elem Bree]

He wanted his heart to lighten. It had been a slow process, mostly in the confines of his dreary cottage. His prayers to Rak'keli were often and varied during his weeks at the Infirmary, but they were much more intimate when he found only the night winds listening at his doorstep. The event at the Ball had utterly and completely changed him in an instant. When he found himself marked by a Goddess, it was as if he was reborn, a man of purpose. A healer.

Perhaps things would have been different if he had given himself the time to socialize, he thought to himself as he traveled to the administrative offices of the University. Elem had become so serious and the numbers of grievous injuries, of pus filled boils and septic infections, it had been too much for a sensitive young man. Closing himself off in his cottage was what he needed to do to process the casualties. Often they followed him into slumber. It was then that his prayers became more fervent, as he prayed for a healing of the mind and spirit in order to cleanse himself of horrific visions. His Divine Mother never failed him, be it his faith in Her or Her actual intervention. It was all the same to Elem.

As he arrived at Mistress Farah's office, he found a different clerk than the one he had spoken to the first time. A young woman, fair in complexion and appearance. Dark hair, cropped short and neat. An early riser. She looked up at him and carried an estranged look, probably due to the fact that a man stood before her who had obviously just been crying. "Can I help you? Mistress Farah has not arrived yet. Did you have an appointment?" The clerk's hand seemed to automatically hover at the quill. Elem shook his head, placing the sack of Mizas down and retrieving two pieces of paper from the pocket opposite the one that had carried his letter to Nira'lia. He placed the first before her. It was the deed to his cottage. The clerk was already assessing it as he handed her the second piece of paper, recently written.


Mistress Farah,

After much thought, I have only one plan I would like to put into fruition considering the discussion we had some months ago. I shall be leaving Zeltiva on this fourth day of Summer on the five hundred and twelfth year after the Valterrian. I hereby bequeath my cottage to the University and all objects therein in the hopes of it being used as a place of worship to Rak'keli. This should free up the space and funds that should be used elsewhere for the betterment of the education of Zeltiva and her citizenry. I trust in your judgment and discretion. I thank you for attending to this matter.


In Rak'keli's Name,

Elem Bree

The clerk read the letter and looked up at Elem. "Are you sure about this, Mister Bree?" Elem nodded, the lightness he had yearned for finally glimmering inside of him. His smile widened. "I am. Please see that she gets that when she comes in. Rak'keli bless you." He bowed to the clerk and turned, picking the sack up and leaving the University, his steps lighter as he made his way to the Mirahil pass and the caravan.

[Elem Bree]

A brief stop at the general store was all that remained for the young healer. He knew that every once in a while, Clarke had outdoorsy equipment for traveling. It was uncommon to be sure, as most traveling was done from the ports and the majority of his goods were for everyday needs. Elem could see it only as another boon from Rak'keli that one used rucksack was retrieved by a clerk for him. he had hoped for a backpack but was quite happy with the smaller container. Once he paid the single gold miza for it, he said his goodbyes and left.

Once outside, he looked in every direction before stepping into an alley. Fortunately it was a decent part of town and early enough that it remained peaceful and private. After positioning the rucksack, he turned it so that it hung beneath his slight belly. Opening it and looking at least three more times in both directions, he poured the mizas into it, counting out enough for the caravan's passage and leaving it in the sack.

He felt a great relief not carrying a giant twelve pound jingling sack in his hand, as the rucksack at least seemed a bit more likely to be bulky and disheveled. His pace quickened to the point that he had a slight stitch in his side once he arrived at the gathering point for the caravan. It had already begun to pull out, his wagon being one of the last. The driver was moving his things off the wagon! Elem could only cringe in hopes that the jars and flasks would not be broken.

"I'm here! I'm here!", he exclaimed to the clearly disgruntled driver, who nearly ignored Elem, save for the sack of mizas handed to him. Elem gingerly began to place the items back where they had been, quickly scanning the contents and happily finding no shards inside. He loaded himself thereafter, his entire life taking up only a third of the wagon. Pulling his blanket from a hastily packed sack, he made himself a small nook inside his sacks of containers. The driver lashed the team in order to catch up to the rest of the caravan.

It was quicker than Elem expected before they were already topping the pass, the great port city sprawled out before him. He made a circle with his hands, remembering the image inside the space between. Sea mists caught his eyes one more time before the wagon began to descend the pass, leaving the scenery and the people behind.

Ledger :

1 gm for a rucksack

[Arcane]

Rewards and Treasure! Experience Points n/a Lores Promise to Mistress Claira to Return Leaving Zeltiva Miscellaneous Receipt approved. Donation accepted. Comments Sad to see you go May Elem be happier and grow stronger wherever he decides to end up next!