-=The First Lightbringer: Hear Our Prayer=-

-A few hours after the battle in the city-

“Welcome back to Kerning News, Channel 8, as we continue with this breaking news coverage.

“In case you’re just joining us, early today was a scene of terrible tragedy, something no one in this city will likely forget for a long time to come. Five recent up and coming adventurers, ranging in ages from 16 to 19, were found brutally murdered in a devastating manner. It was all found by a rather large mass of people in a vacant lot just outside the city proper. The group of people, who had heard numerous sounds of fighting coming from the lot, gathered around to see a group of adventurers leaving the scene, apparently carrying a female who appeared to be wounded herself. They went farther in to find a pair of spellcasters performing a rare ritual funeral event that originated in Ellinia: the Dance of a Soul’s Final Freedom, more commonly called the sending. A male warrior single-handedly made sure order was kept and that the sending wasn’t interrupted.

“Official peacekeepers and medical examiners arrived on the scene not long after the sending was finished, to a situation they and many others described as ‘heartbreaking, tearful, and very emotional.’ Though it appeared many of the townsfolk knew the victims, peacekeepers have decided on withholding their identitys for the time being.

“After the bodies were taken away and the scene was cleared, the warrior and two spellcasters complied with orders to be brought in for questioning. Everyone on the scene, however, did keep in mind a very unusual finding: numerous piles of zombie dust. As common knowledge goes, zombies are typically found only in the outer forests leading to the long-abandoned mine system in El Nath, out on the continent of Ossyria. Officials are perplexed by this, but investigations are continuing on that matter, and we hope to have answers in the coming weeks.

*reporter is handed a piece of paper*

“This just in, the adventurers found on the scene at the time of the sending, the warrior and the spellcasters, have been deemed innocent in the matter of the murders. Recent autopsy reports state that all five victims were killed by a blade of some sort. Though officials aren’t sure of the actual weapon used, comparisons made between the blade wounds and the warrior’s weapon, a zard, yielded no matches, evident from the fact that the wounds were too small for a zard to make.

“With this update, the peacekeeping organization has no leads on these murders, but they do encourage that anyone with any sort of information on these attacks please go to the officials with what you have. Any tips that help lead to the arrest of the perpetrators will yield a meso reward.

“That’s all on the breaking news so far. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”

After the news break, Shadow immediately turned the tv off. He sat in an old, yet soft, reclining chair. Next to him, Moira and the Crow sat together on a couch. Huddled in the basement of an old yet functional medical facility, all they could do was wait, as an unconcious Amber lay in a bed, her bodily functions assisted by various medical equipment. As they waited, they all recalled what the doctor had told them.

“You got her here in the nick of time. I’ve looked over the poison in her you mentioned. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, something unheard of in the Maple World today. All I can tell you is this: had you arrived just five minutes later, she wouldn’t be alive.”

Five minutes. Those words continually echoed in Shadow’s mind, more than the others. He himself had a feeling that was what the doctor would say. The ebon orchid was an unquestionably deadly venom used by the ninja in his clan as a weapon for certain missions. Even just a scratch from a blade coated with the venom could produce fatal results within a half-hour. As he’d secretly feared, even the antidote provided barely helped. The one-armed bandit thought the serum may have given an hour, when all it really gave was ten minutes. The only true cure for an ebon orchid poisoning was from a poultice that was made in Shadow’s home world. In the Maple World, however, there was no poultice of that kind around, neither were there ingredients to make one from. The options were severely limited, and all tried so far barely worked. The only thing that was keeping Amber alive at the moment was a continuous flow of the Maple World’s antidote to her body.

As the trio waited, a door upstairs sounded. They looked over to find a young girl in a purple enigma and a red infinitum circlet, bearing long, green hair and hazel eyes. She was Layenna, the doctor’s niece and one of Ellinia’s most reliable priestesses.

Shadow walked up to Layenna quickly. “Anything?” he asked.

Layenna’s eyes quickly became sorrowful. “I’ve tried,” she said. “My healing, powerful as it is, barely seems to do anything. She’s still unconcious, her vital signs just barely holding up. I’m very sorry…I don’t know what else to do.”

The others hung their heads at the news. It had been all the progress they had ever gotten since getting Amber to safety. Despite the understanding that the medical area was actually a smaller offshoot of the city’s hospital, they still hoped for more. The small treatment facility had been created by the doctor many years ago as a generous offer to the city whenever the hospital itself became full. The center, despite its size, was still an excellent place for care, headed by a doctor who was always prepared for whatever anyone needed. The doctor’s niece was his aide and last living family member.

“Please…keep trying,” Shadow pleaded. “I know this seems like a lot of pressure to you, but she’s a very good friend of ours, and she didn’t deserve what was inflicted. Whatever you can do…” his words trailed off as his mind blanked.

“My uncle and I will do whatever we can,” Layenna promised, “but I’m not sure what the outcome will be. I’m just not sure what else will help, other than prayer.” The priestess bowed before leaving.

Shadow, Moira, and the Crow simply stood silent for a while, their hearts heavy with sorrow. With no answers and an uncertain fate, everything seemed hopeless. It felt that, despite their efforts, Amber’s life was in no way better than it was the moment she was wounded.

The upstairs door sounded again, followed by the presence of Damien and Emma. Both of them appeared to be in no better mood than the other three. “Genya went straight to where Amber is,” Emma said, trying to keep a level voice. “I haven’t seen that much heartbreak in her since the day she stopped talking.”

“We watched the news on tv,” Shadow said. “Why didn’t you tell them about the lizard and everything? They never mentioned anything about that.”

“I tried,” Damien explained. “All I got were a few baffled glances, followed by someone telling me they’d take the matter into consideration. If it wasn’t on tv, my claims probably fell on deaf ears, or more likely, they simply didn’t believe me.”

“Well, just great,” Moira complained softly. “I guess we’re on our own.”

“Looks like it,” Shadow continued, starting to head upstairs. “I’m gonna go outside. I need to clear my mind a bit.”

“I’ll go see how my sis is doing,” Emma said, following.

“I’m gonna talk with Layenna and the doctor. Maybe I can help somehow,” a selfless Moira said, adding to the leaving party. Soon, it was just Damien and the Crow. Wondering what to do, Damien saw the tv remote and felt like turning something on. He was about to, until the Crow tugged on his arm.

“Please…don’t,” she said pleadingly, tears starting to fall from her eyes. “I…the news was on, and…and…” the words died on her lips as she simply threw herself on the nearby couch, clutching a nearby pillow as she began to cry.

Damien walked up to her and sat by her, rubbing her back comfortingly. “Talk to me,” he offered.

“When I first met that Shadow,” she said through sobs, “I was annoyed at how he always talked about things like finding a new family. For the longest time, even after I abandoned the forces of evil that held me, I always believed that the only family for me was the family I was born with, the one family that always loved me and took care of me. Even though I did have many friends back when they were around, I simply felt that there was no one alive that could show me the love that my parents, siblings, cousins, my uncle, and my aunt did.” She sniffled a bit as she continued. “Now, after all I’ve seen, after all I’ve heard, after the way I watched those people give every last bit of concern they had to her safekeeping…I’m beginning to regret what I felt.”

Damien’s hand moved down to the Crow’s, and their fingers interlocked. “You showed her just as much concern as the rest of us did,” he reminded her. “You were as selfless as they were.”

The Crow’s eyes moved over to her bare arm, remembering the sleeve that was no longer there. “I simply did what I knew was right, as a good person and not an instrument of evil. Just because I felt my family was irreplaceable had no impact on my feelings for human life. Like I said, I hated the service I gave to evil. They trained me as an assassin, to kill whoever got in their way. Somehow, even when I told myself it was wrong, I managed to do it. I killed so many innocent people, young and old, male and female…every time I returned from a mission, I cried to myself when I got back to the shoddy bedding I was given. Over time, I began to question if my life was really worth what I was doing. I finally got my answer on my last assignment, when I was told to kill twin sibling warriors who had caught site of one of the evil organization’s spies, disguised and watching over many adventurers in a suspicious manner. They didn’t know who it was at the time, but they felt compelled to report it. They were overheard, and I was given the info needed to kill them.”

The Crow took a deep breath as she continued. “They were two of my cousins. I never expected anyone to survive the attack so long ago, but they did somehow. Right when I found out they were targets, I couldn’t do it. I left the organization in a manner that suggested I would do as I asked…only I vowed never to go back. I managed to get a hold of them on a pay phone, telling them I needed to talk to them somewhere secluded. I remember hearing their voices…I was so overjoyed, despite the situation. Apparently, they managed to escape to another continent in the world…Ossyria, I believe…and hid out there. After some time, they returned to Victoria Island, intent on becoming warriors. They succeded one week after their arrival. I had gotten a hold of them a week later. I never told them of the danger they were in; I didn’t want to frighten them. I simply told them to meet me at the L Forest the next day. They agreed.”

Emotion began to pour out of her once more. “When I got there…they were dead…no doubt by those fiends’ hands!” She was overcome by tears once more, crying into the pillow she held. “Ever since that day, I never wanted to involve myself with humanity again…with my family gone, with all I had done in the name of evil…I really believed…I was alone.

Damien continued comforting her, staying at her side as though a brother would. Eventually, he brought her face to look at his, wiping her tears. “Crow,” he said softly, “no matter what happens in this world, for you, against you…you’re never alone. Undeniable as it is that you did horrible things in the past, you are nonetheless no longer that person. You changed…you showed a good heart to me when we first met…a heart that was willing to look for forgiveness, no matter what the obstacles. It was clearly evident today, and I know deep down, you truly are who you wish to be.”

The Crow’s eyes simply stared into Daimen’s. Her heart began to rise from what he said. “You…you really mean that?”

“Of course I do,” Damien said. “To be honest, I’m really glad I met you that day. It was good to gain a new friend, after losing the girl I loved. If I hadn’t met you…I probably wouldn’t have the faith in humanity I did. She was the last reminder of my old family. With you…as much as I also was skeptical…I felt, maybe a new family was possible.”

“A new family…” the Crow whispered. “Shadow always told me it was possible…I wish I had believed him back then…Damien, I’m glad I met you, too.” She rose up and and gave the swordsman a heartfelt hug.

All of a sudden, a voice cried out upstairs, wailing continuously. Footsteps followed. “Great, and I was starting to feel better, too,” Damien grunted as he stood. He dashed upstairs, the Crow at his side.

Upstairs, they followed the cries, which had become muffled, to the romm in which Amber lay. Inside, they found an emotionally broken Genya being held by Emma. Nearby, Moira, Layenna, and the doctor looked on, grief on their faces. The group was soon joined by Shadow. “I heard the cries from outside,” he said. “What is it?”

“It’s…it’s Amber,” Emma said, fighting tears of her own. “Her vital signs are growing fainter.” She pointed to the heart moniter, the line just about a perfect straight line. “The doctor and Layenna…they did the last of what they could…now, it seems all hope is lost.”

Everyone except the Raines looked down at the floor. Disbelief and heartache filled the air; after all their efforts, it seemed that Amber’s fate was sealed. No matter what aid was given, it seemed that the end was near.

Finally, Damien looked up. “I know we’ve seen a lot of people die in the past,” he said, sudden determination starting to rise. “Nevertheless, this girl doesn’t deserve death, no matter how close it is. At this rate, I can only think of one last thing…everyone, join hands around the bed.”

All in the room did as he said. Hands were clasped together as everyone looked on at the serene form of Amber, who seemed at peace. Almost wavering at the site, Damien pushed the sadness aside as he spoke out to the sky, through the window above Amber’s bed.

“Great angel, Minerva, goddess of all in our world,” Damien said in prayer, “this soul before you is one who is a dear friend to those who know her well, a young girl who accompanies her companions on a quest, despite the danger it brings. Earlier today, she willingly put herself in the line of attack, and is now about to pay a price we feel she doesn’t owe. Her call doubtlessly saved someone else’s life. Because of that, she has clearly given her life in place of another, and in all good reason, deserves life herself. This girl…Amber…she is someone who, though I know her not, must be a selfless person, always willing to give to others. Today, she gave herself up for another’s safety…goddess Minerva…I pray…we pray to you…let her live…even as dire as things look…let her awaken to this world once more, so that she can give her friends the joy and happiness that she has given before…goddess Minerva…hear our prayer…”

At that moment, Shadow spoke up. “Hear our prayer, let her live.”

His words were followed by Moira’s. “Hear our prayer, let her live.”

Layenna and the doctor joined in at the same time. “Hear our prayer, let her live.”

The Crow was next. “Hear our prayer, let her live.”

Emma spoke afterwards, stronger than the others. “Hear our prayer, let her live!”

Gen looked up, with the others. “Hear….hear….our….” Her shyness held her back at first. Then her eyes looked at Amber’s face. Looking intently, she suddenly noticed Amber’s eyelids flicker a little. Hope skyrocketed inside the younger Raine as she suddenly looked up and shouted out, “Goddess Minerva, hear our prayer! Bring her back!”

All at once, the entire collective gave one final ounce of effort. “MINERVA, HEAR OUR PRAYER!” Upon everyone’s plea, the room was suddenly bathed in otherworldly light. Everyone watched in amazement as three coins floated out: the black coin from Shadow’s vestment pocket, the green coin from Moira’s pouch, and the blue coin from Genya’s robe pocket. As the coins floated in the air, not far from their owners, the fourth coin, red in color, floated from Shadow’s belongings, coming to rest before Damien.

The swordsman’s eyes widened. *What…what is this?* he thought. *These coins…these adventurers…for some reason…I can’t help but feel I suddenly have a new destiny in front of me!*

As the coins floated, as the adventurers looked on, the light seemed to brighten as a human form suddenly appeared to be floating in the room: an angelic being, dressed in a white gown, with golden hair and wings, each wing different from the other. The angel appeared to be smiling at everyone, a smile that offered them hope, that seemed to say that everything would be alright. Then, a voice was heard. “Great lightbringers, come together, with those who aid you…I have seen what came to pass. As you selflessly give thought and aid to this soul, let me give her that which she indeed deserves. Amber, be with your friends once more.” A pause. “Lightbringers of the prophecy, destined to save this world, I will always watch over you.”

All at once, the light vanished. For a moment, everyone seemed disoriented, as though they woke up from a dream. As she tried to shake off the odd feelings, Genya suddenly noticed her redhead friend in bed…no longer unconcious. Instead, she was smiling back at Genya. “I heard your voice,” she whispered. “I heard everyone…I heard your prayer.”

Tears of joy were streaming down the junior Raine’s face as she ran over to Amber’s side. Genya held her friend tightly, as though they had met for the first time in many years. Everyone else looked on, relief and joy washing over them. Then they looked over at Damien, the one man in the group who held onto his faith and offered a prayer for life, even in the darkest hour.

Shadow walked up to Damien, offering a handshake. “To be honest, I don’t really know who exactly Minerva is, thought I have a good idea now,” he said. “However, from what you did today, the strength you gave us, the way you still believed when others were doubtful…I tell you what, if that isn’t a lightbringer, I don’t know what it is.”

Damien, speechless for a moment, looked down at his coin, which was in his hand. Though his mask made it hard to tell, he seemed to be smiling. “Well,” he said, “I still have yet to figure out this whole ‘lightbringer’ stuff, but…I’m actually glad to be one all of a sudden. I don’t know, I feel like…like…”

“Like you’re part of a new family?” the Crow guessed with a giggle, walking towards him. Shadow looked over at the girl dressed in the maroon moon ensemble, caught off guard by what he heard. He tried to speak, but couldn’t come up with anything. Instead, the Crow gave the bandit a hug. “You were right all along,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

After hearing this, Shadow simply smiled and returned the hug. “It’s alright. Welcome to the family.”

—————————————————————————

Ideas for this one came much quicker than I ever expected. After a battle followed by possible doom and despair, I came up with this, centered around one word: hope. Believing that something good will always come, no matter what the odds…one of those feelgood thingies that everyone loves to read every once in a while.

As always, thanks for reading. Mountain Dew for you all, enjoyers of my story.^^

Previous installments:

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