“I want them gone, Vim.”

“And they will be. Tomorrow morning,” I said simply.

“Light plans on staying here for a week more, at least,” Plumb said.

“And she will? What does that have to do with anything?” I asked.

The old woman gestured at me, as if I was the one she wanted to exile instead. “They’re all in cahoots! Light thinks she can simply say a few words and wave a hand and grant them clemency. I shan’t have it!”

I kept a sigh inside as I nodded. “I too have my own grievances with Light’s personality, Plumb. You need not tell me of the saint’s faults, I deal with them too. That being said, this is my wife and her friends we’re talking about. I give you my word I will take them away from here on the morn,” I said.

“They’ve been staying in the home, as they promised…” Braid whispered behind me.

Plumb ignored the librarian as she stepped forward and winced, as if just walking hurt her. Likely did, she was old enough for such a thing. “Please Vim. I know she is your wife. I know… but we have these rules for a reason. It would be one thing to overlook her, a single individual, since I’m the only one who remembers her scent… but this is also Lilly we’re talking about. No mention to the fish who has drowned several of our sisters!” Plumb then shook a little, as if suddenly cold.

“I know, Plumb. I do,” I said gently.

Plumb nodded. “Thank you Vim. I… I will hold you to your word. I’m going to go pray. For forgiveness,” she said as she stepped past me.

“Forgiveness?” I asked. For them?

“For these lost souls. I do what I must, to keep the peace and protect my people… but that does not justify what I am doing. I go to beg my gods for mercy for my cruelty,” she said simply as she left.

Braid gave me a look, one of worry, but went to quickly follow Plumb. She was the only one here, and so had taken it on herself to tend to the old woman’s needs. She opened the door for the old crone, and then gave me a short bow before following her out of the building.

Sighing at them, I shook my head and looked down to the book I’d been reading.

I was only half way through it. Searching for any knowledge I didn’t possess myself. It was important, in my opinion, because Narli’s life might depend upon my finding answers for her. Yet now I was in no mood to read anything.

“I understand… I really do… but why do I have to?” I asked myself as I stepped over to the shelf I’d taken the book from. I put it back where I had found it, and wondered if I should just… go get Renn and the rest and leave now.

I probably should. Lilly and Merit were both healed well enough to travel, and Renn hadn’t gotten hurt much at all in the first place. A few bruises at best.

But it was not her physical body I worried over…

Lilly and Merit would not be bothered by having to leave. They both knew they were banished. They understood it, and in their case… the two actually found it to be a badge of honor. They were proud over such a thing.

Renn though…?

I sighed again as I wondered how I was going to properly handle this. Would she get angry? Or would she just… get all sad, and sniffle and cry, as we left?

I didn’t want her to do either. I wanted Renn to be happy. Pure joy, nothing less.

But what was I to do? Lilly and Merit were banished from here for good reason. Or well, good enough reasons. Renn’s banishment I felt was unjustified, but it wasn’t my place to actually say or do anything about that. And though I knew Light would happily stand up to defend Renn, and thus Lilly and Merit too by association, I didn’t want that either. Last thing I needed was for Renn to fall ever more into Light’s good favor. Even if Light was justified in going against Plumb.

Why was it she could do what I couldn’t…? It pissed me off.

The door opened, and I turned to watch Lilly enter the library. She shut the door behind her and pulled back the hood of her cloak as she walked over. “Let me guess, we’re being told to leave finally,” she said.

I nodded. “Likely wasn’t able to muster the courage to tell Light, but me? I’m fair game, it seems.”

Lilly smirked at that. “Even though she’s your wife?”

“Seems such a thing doesn’t matter. If anything I applaud her ability to stand by her decisions and beliefs.”

Lilly huffed at that as she stepped a little closer, but didn’t actually enter the main library area. The floor went from wooden to one layered with rugs, acting something like a carpet, and she was soaked. It was still storming like mad outside.

Even in a place she didn’t belong, or like, and was actively being told to leave… she still was kind enough to not ruin their floors. “You think we can leave tonight…? I asked for the night, as to leave in the morning, but now I feel annoyed,” I said.

“By the dead gods, yes. Let’s go, please,” Lilly said with a nod.

“I meant do you think Renn will allow it, Lilly. Not if you and I, or Merit, want to or can,” I said, clarifying.

“Oh… well I don’t know. Depends on the fuss Light throws up, I guess.”

Throws up. What a gross way to describe it.

Stepping towards her, I stopped right where the rugs ended. A few feet from her. Lilly tilted her head at me, and I wondered if she was tall enough to see down onto Renn’s head. She was a tad taller than her, and me, though not by much.

“What?” Lilly asked.

“You able to see the little tuft of hair between Renn’s ears? The swirl?” I asked as I reached up and lowered my head, to point where it was.

Lilly made an odd noise as she chuckled at me. “Yes. Why?”

“You think it’s fur or hair?” I asked.

The smirk that had formed on her face morphed into a frown. “Huh…? Hm…” she pondered it for a moment. “Both, maybe?”

I nodded. That was my conclusion too.

“Wait… you don’t know, Vim? Are you saying you’ve not ever touched her there?”

I hesitated. “I have. Just… not well enough or often enough.” I’ve patted her on the head a few times, but I never did so for long or allowed my fingers to really dig into her hair. Especially near her ears.

Lilly shook her head at me. “You’re such an odd man, Vim.”

“Hm…” I nodded at that.

She gave me a small smile, as if amused but also disappointed that I’d so readily agree. As she likely thought rude things about me, I glanced around at the library and all its shelves and books.

I’d gone through most of the ones that related to saints, or gods, already. As I’d told Renn, most were not real. Or well, not real in the sense of being correct. Most were simply things written with half-truths that were only half understood. And more than a few were also simply repeated rumors and stories that the authors had heard elsewhere. Not to mention all the ones that were purely theological in nature, written purely as dedication to faith or some form of it.

“Did you… find what you were looking for?” Lilly asked.

“No. I figure I’ll go ask Light, while Renn and you all prepare to leave. If she doesn’t have an answer I’ll search the archives at Telmik. Or… well…” I hesitated, as I realized that meant I’d have to likely also read Celine’s tomes and journals. Which meant I’d be exposed to prophecies.

“Yeah, not going to work is it? I’d offer to help, but I don’t think even Light will be able to get me into Telmik,” she said.

I nodded. “And Randle has to leave it. Shortly. So I’d not be able to ask him for aid…” I said as I wondered what to do. It’d likely take months of searching properly to find the answer, if there even was one, in those endless shelves.

“Why not let Renn and Merit search for you? I know it sickens you something fierce for her to know prophecies and stuff, but she seems to be doing a good job of keeping them secret and separated from what she needs to,” Lilly asked.

Wanting to groan, I nodded. “I may yet have to… let me consider other options first though, if I can.”

My friend chuckled at me. “Never change Vim.”

That’s just it. I was. I am. I will.

And it scared me.

Reaching up, I scratched at the back of my head. “Let’s go,” I decided.

Lilly nodded as she turned and headed for the door. We left the library and headed for the home that we’d all been staying at, Fly’s old one, and I was glad to find they were all just sitting around in it. Light, Renn, and Merit were just… relaxing in the kitchen, not doing anything. Not cooking, nor making any grand plans such as taking baths together or anything.

“Oh. That’s a look that spells trouble,” Light said as I entered the kitchen.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Renn glanced at me and frowned, and Merit nodded as if she knew it too.

“Renn, we’re going to have to leave. Would you please go pack your bags and get ready?” I asked gently.

Her ears fluttered, as Light nearly dropped the cup of tea she’d been drinking. “What?” Renn asked.

I nodded. “You’re all rested and healed now. They overlooked your banishments out of kindness, but it is time I enforced them,” I said.

“Vim!” Light shouted at me as she stood from her seat, rather briskly.

“You may hold great authority Light, but rules are rules for a reason. And whether any of you like it or not, all three of them are banished from this village. If not for the leniency given, I’d have been forced to remove them myself the minute I showed up,” I said.

“Just hold on a second!” Light said, her eye glowing brightly as if about to use one of her abilities.

I shifted a little, and wondered if she’d actually throw more of a fit than Renn. Renn had been shocked at first, but was already calm it seemed. She was now looking at Light with a look of surprise, as if shocked to see and hear her act so over this news.

“Don’t you dare try to force your authority on the village. You might win, but it will cost you more than you know,” I warned her, since I saw her thoughts in the way her eye was shivering.

“Vim…!” Light groaned at me as Merit chuckled and patted the table, heavily amused.

“Honestly I couldn’t ask for a better result. I’ll go pack right now,” Merit said as she hopped off her chair.

Light looked hurt as she watched the small woman leave the kitchen, and Lilly too turned around to join her. I wasn’t really sure how much they had to pack, if anything at all, to be honest.

“Light… Vim is right,” Renn then said.

“Not you too Renn!” Light shouted as she turned to look at her.

Renn though simply nodded, staying seated. “Vim’s right. If you force the issue… all it will do is cause more grief than needed. Plus he’s right. We’re all healed and able to travel now. It’s only proper.”

Light flinched as she reached up and covered her face with her hands. “This can’t be happening…!” she groaned.

I studied the saint for a moment, wondering if she was acting like this because of genuine emotion… or because of some prophecy she felt was now going to not come true. After a bit of listening to her groan, and not just outright say something or hurry out of the house to go lay down the law with Plumb and the rest… I decided it was the former.

She’d be fighting harder, or maybe even not get emotional at all, if the current events were in her opinion going the wrong way. That meant all was well, and we could leave.

“Before we leave though, I’d like to speak to you,” I said to Light.

Light ignored me for a moment, and then she dropped her hands to her sides as she sighed at me. “What? Not only are you taking my sister away, you want to steal the last few moments I have with her too?” she asked.

Sister…? I tried to ignore that, and the way Renn’s ear had twitched happily at hearing it too. “Have you, or anyone you know, ever gotten stuck in a prophecy?” I asked.

Light’s entire demeanor changed. She frowned at me, and stood up a bit straighter… as she studied me with a serious look. “Excuse me?” she asked.

That earlier tone of emotion was gone. She had tossed all previous feelings aside, and I now had her whole attention.

“Has any saint ever gotten stuck in a prophecy. For days on end. As if stuck in a nightmare, unable to wake?” I asked again.

Light didn’t answer at first. I listened to Merit and Lilly bang around upstairs, and Renn’s breathing as she patiently waited for an answer alongside me. And then Light went ahead and sat back down.

I noted the way she sat, and how she grabbed her cup. She was deep in thought, and wasn’t even really paying attention to what she was doing. She lifted her cup of tea, but didn’t take a drink from it.

Then she turned to look at me again. “I haven’t ever heard of such a thing, no,” she answered finally.

Not good.

“Is it possible, you think?” I asked.

“I… didn’t think it was, Vim. Not until now. As you know our prophecies only last a few minutes at most. No matter how long or how much time passes while within them. They’re things of divinity. I… I don’t even know why such a thing would happen in the first place. That would be the same as saying the divine power, the ability itself, fails. Which…” Light slowly shook her head.

“Can’t happen in the true sense, correct,” I said, agreeing with her.

“True sense…?” Renn whispered.

Light turned to look at her, and blinked in a way that told me she had nearly forgotten Renn was even here. That relieved me, honestly, it meant she had actually delved deep into her memories and knowledge to help find an answer. “A divine ability, such as a prophecy or the spell we saints use to heal someone, can’t be deactivated once it is used. It cannot work, as in the ability to heal cannot heal an injury for a myriad of reasons, but the ability itself still activates. It still costs us energy, and makes us feel tired. Whether it does anything or not,” she explained.

I nodded as Renn glanced at me to confirm her words. “Basically if a prophecy activates, it is seen through. So for one to get stuck in it, is the same as the prophecy not operating properly or failing. Which in theory, isn’t possible,” I said.

“But…” Renn mumbled, and it was obvious she wanted to ask what that meant then, for Narli.

“I’m to assume this means you actually encountered a saint who had experienced this, or recently heard of such a thing…?” Light then asked me.

“Yes.”

“The one you just left to help,” she clarified.

“Yes. She had been stuck in the prophecy for two months,” I said.

“And… she’s still alive? That didn’t kill her? Or break her mind?” Light asked, frowning at me with worry.

“Miraculously yes. Alive and fine. For now. But as far as I can tell, as she can tell, there was nothing obvious to point at as for the reason. And… if she had not woken, she would have died. It utterly weakened her, physically. Even with her caretakers constantly keeping an eye on her as she slept, administering food and whatnot,” I said.

Renn’s eyes narrowed at me, and I knew it was because she was worried I was saying too much. But I had no choice. Light wasn’t stupid. She’d have made the connection whether I told her or not. Plus… the more I said, the more she might be able to help me find an answer. Or maybe even prevent it from happening again, to not just Narli but the others.

“This… is terrifying to hear, Vim. You’re basically saying saints, all of us, might be in danger,” she said softly.

I nodded. “I have more to speak of too, but I don’t want to yet distract you from your thought process. Tell me, how would you reason it? Getting stuck in a prophecy?” I asked.

Light sighed as she put her cup of tea down and crossed her arms. “I can’t. First off, the prophecies happen so quickly…! To get stuck in one for two months…? Either that means the prophecy lasted in real time or it lasted an eternity. Or… maybe the saint lived it over and over? As if repeating the same dream without end? Or maybe she saw every prophecy she’d ever known and would see all at once…?” Light rambled off some ideas.

Ones that were very close to my own. Which kind of made me feel stupid.

“I was told it was the same prophecy. She…” I hesitated, but knew I had to say it. “She was stuck in darkness. Standing near a pool of glowing water. With whispers all around her. She was stuck there, sitting next to the water, the whole time,” I said.

Light shifted as she frowned. “Why… that could be many places. The whirlpools in the south? The alcoves near the islands? Some underground place with algae or something…?” she said as she shrugged.

“That was my line of thinking too.”

“The whispers. What were they saying?” she asked.

I shook my head. “She hadn’t been able to make heads or tails of them.”

Light’s frown deepened. “At all…? Then what did she gain from it?”

I shrugged. “As far as I can tell, nothing much. She felt as if the pool of water had stuff within it, as if it was akin to a window and another world was beyond it, per her own words.”

“Hm. That too could just be one trying to find meaning in odd shapes and colors,” Light said with a shake of the head.

My thoughts as well. I believed Narli had been supposed to either get into the water, or head into the darkness towards the whispers… but she hadn’t done so. Though now we’d never know.

For a few moments there was silence, and then Light sighed as she reached out to grab her cup again. She took a small sip, and then turned to look me in the eye. “I know you’re keeping her details secret, Vim… probably out of request on her end. But I would suggest you bring her to me. As you know, many of us have the same prophecy many times until it comes to pass. If this prophecy is… some kind of failed one, or broken somehow, then her having it again could threaten her life. She should be near me, and other saints, who can possibly help her should that come to pass again,” Light said.

Renn grabbed the edge of the table in front of her as she wordlessly looked at me, eyes full of worry.

“I hear what you’re saying, Light. And… to a point I agree with you. But that is not my decision,” I said carefully.

She nodded gently at me. “I know. Just… please tell her. Let her know. She’ll be safe with me. I vow it.”

Nodding back, I heard footsteps coming back down the stairs. Lilly and Merit were done.

“Renn, go pack your bag please.”

“But!” Renn argued with me, likely because she wanted to be a part of the rest of the conversation.

Light giggled at us. “It’s okay Renn. I know you can hear us from upstairs anyway.”

Renn groaned as she glanced between us, suddenly looking as if she was a daughter being told to go to bed by her parents. She then sighed at me and stood up. Her tail squirmed in annoyance as she hurried out of the kitchen.

“Also I need a favor, Light,” I said as I ignored Lilly and Merit’s teasing of Renn. They had brought down her bags and clothes for her, it seemed, and had met her before the stairs.

“Hm? I don’t know if I’m in the mood to fulfill it, considering you just stole her from me.”

“Please,” I scoffed. I stepped over to the nearby table that was against the wall, near the door that led to the pantry. I picked up a kettle, one that wasn’t too warm anymore but not so cold it couldn’t be drank. I used it to fill her cup back up, to which she smirked at.

“If you have any other prophecies of monarchs… please inform me immediately. Also, I’d like for you to ask all your people, all of them, to start keeping track of any rumors they hear of such things too,” I said.

Light shifted a little. “I’d… always tell you of monarchs, Vim. When I can. You know that. But… why the rumor thing?”

“Because I’ve ran into three monarchs in less than three months,” I stated.

Light’s eye brightened up as her mouth gaped open a bit. “You’re kidding…!” she said.

I shook my head. “I wish I was. I’ve asked Brandy and Gerald to keep an ear out for me too. As too I’ll ask others. Plus… well…” I placed the kettle back down and sighed. “Landi had a monarch near her kingdom. And although the creatures that ransacked Lumen weren’t monarchs, I’m starting to question if I had somehow been mistaken,” I said. I didn’t want to admit it aloud, since then I’d have to admit why I thought so… but I now believed those monarchs had been some kind of failed summoning, monarchs but not. Though if they were created by Stance as well was another thing entirely. He had said he had made only four since waking up, but… well… he had also been partially insane. And maybe he’d not classify those plant-like things as monarchs, since they’d not had hearts? Just as I had?

But then I also had to wonder about a time-line issue in that case. Stance claimed he had only woken up a few months ago. Those creatures in Lumen had been down in those sewers for decades. At least. The time didn’t add up.

Light sighed as she took a drink of the tea I’d just poured for her. Once she finished she nodded. “I’ll do so, Vim. Though only in exchange for a favor in return.”

“Hm?”

“Please. Ask that saint to come to me. I beg you,” she said seriously.

Ah… I nodded. “I would have told her of your offer without such a request, Light. I’m not a fool. I may not like saints, but that does not mean I would willingly do something that would result in one’s death. And by not telling her such a thing, that’d be the same as withholding a cure, or at least a possible one, so I’d not do so.” Not to mention Narli was Renn’s dear friend. And I pitied the poor girl myself. I’d not discount a way to help her, even if it meant bringing her to this web of trouble.

She nodded gently at me. “Thank you. And… please take care of Rennalee for me. Though we’ll only be separated for a few weeks, I know when you’re involved how much can happen in such a short time,” she said with a sigh.

“A few weeks…? I’m sorry Light, but I plan to head back west. And you plan to head north. We’re going different directions,” I said with a small smirk, as if I’d just won a battle.

She smirked back at me, knowingly. “Keep telling yourself that.”

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