"Ma… how much time has passed from the moment I was hit to now?"
"Oh, I didn't mark down the time, but we were able to clear out the den already. There's even a chest, like in the rat nest."
"Really? You've already cleared it?"
"Yeah… didn't you hear the prompt?"
"… no …"
"Helo. Please tell me everything."
Marina's probing eyes were glued to her face, but she didn't raise her own eyes to match hers. Instead, she kept looking at their feet, in silence.
Carlos understood that the two needed some time alone, and he was also curious about the chest they had just found, so he left them and went to meet the others.
Yet, the awkward silence continued even after he left. When Marina was about to insist once more, Heloisa finally spoke.
"I need some time to process it… can I be alone for a bit… please?"
Marina looked at her friend with understanding. She gave her a little hug and whispered in her ear before leaving.
"You can count on me, Helo. I'll be with you always, no matter what."
With that, she went to check on the treasure chest. Heloisa sat down with her back reclined on the wall of the cave. A couple of tears trailed down her face.
"I know, Ma. I know."
She whispered, though nobody could hear.
:::
Heloisa has always been the kindest person one could ever think about. And it wasn't a farce or a mask. She truly had never felt hatred or desire to hurt.
She always thought of herself as being unable to feel those emotions. She never imagined that the day would come when she would really desire to kill.
((Even if they aren't humans. Even if they are those filthy… no, even if they are kobolds. Where does this hatred come from? These curse words, this feeling?))
She was quietly weeping, sitting on the ground with her head on her knees. Some deep changes had happened inside her, which were scarier than any dungeon.
She always had the idea that her emotions were very stable. It was something she thought that she could rely on, the idea that no matter the situation, she would be able to keep her cool and think things through.
Losing that would be a shock on any day. But losing that when they are in the middle of an actual, real dungeon was too much.
((Maybe that deity could give me some answers? Should I pray to her? How would I even pray? The only prayers I know of are the Catholic ones… What was Their name again? Yakozen? Huh?))
The moment she clearly thought about Yakozen's name, her mind changed. It was like she had just found an oasis after days wandering aimlessly in the desert. Her heart was filled with a calm warmth, and her head cleared.
((Just thinking about Yakozen had this effect?))
[Indeed.]
((AAAH!!!))
She almost jumped when another voice appeared in her head unannounced.
[There, there… You don't need to be so scared of me. I'm your patron deity, and I've always been.]
((Did that hatred I felt earlier have some relation with you?))
[Yesn't.]
((What do you mean?))
[Hmm… I am not the direct cause of those emotions. But I allowed them to manifest by dropping my protection for a couple of minutes. That's all. I hope that now you understand how much you need me, my beloved Aenura.]
((You… what? You dropped the protection, and those emotions took root? So you have been protecting me all my life? And what do you mean? Who is Aenura?))
The voice of the goddess didn't answer. Instead, she felt that the warmth in her heart expanded all over her whole body. She didn't feel fearful or distraught anymore. Instead, she was filled with joy and confidence.
She stood up again, smiling, and a soft hum started taking form in her mind. She had planned to go to her friends but stopped. The hum in her mind was a melody with a very familiar feel to it. And yet, she couldn't quite place it in any of her memories.
She concentrated on the melody, trying to remember. There were syllables, warm and radiating, but formless. She couldn't grasp the content of what was being sung.
Slowly, she began to master the rhythm until she managed to hum the melody.
The moment the melody came to her lips, another change occurred. The words became clearer each time the melody repeated. Soon, she was able to sing the words.
"Aenura velithra ya-ko luraneth.
Sae yaren thalurae, nura aevelen.
Yakuzen nathira, veyen sul aurith.
Velai, velai - thalen en yaeth."
When she sang it, she understood its meaning.
It was a prayer. An awakening prayer.
A prayer bestowed upon priestesses of Yakuzen when they are baptized.
Aenura was her Soul Name, given by Yakuzen eons ago. The name meant 'She who breathes dawn.'
Each priestess had their own name and their own hymn. Those hymns were similar, sharing a structure, but the contents were unique for each one.
And her own hymn could be loosely translated as
'Aenura, my hidden radiance.
Child of shadow, breath of light.
By the fire of my name, awaken -
Rise, and let the night itself shine.'
She knew that that wasn't the full translation, just a poetic translation. She felt that the true meaning of those words had deeper layers she was yet to reach.
With her hope rekindled, she finally joined the rest of the party.
:::
A few moments ago, while Heloisa was brooding, Marina was about to open the treasure chest, but Henrique stopped her.
"Are you sure we shouldn't wait for Heloisa?"
"Yeah. She wouldn't mind. And I want to clear the other nest still today. The fact that Carlos didn't need to use his magic was a big boon. So, let's get this done and bring her some good news."
The others nodded, agreeing with Marina's reasoning, so Henrique backed down.
Marina opened the chest and then immediately opened a smile from ear to ear.
There was a bow and a quiver with arrows in the chest. Alongside it, there are ten copper coins, another piece of the circle of the door puzzle, and two potions - a red one and a blue one.
"The blue potion is a mana potion!"
"There's no way to know that, Ravi!"
"Helo… you're back! Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. My emotions are normalized again. Thank you, Ma. I don't fully understand, but it seems that Yakozen is helping me now."
"Did you learn a prayer from her?"
Heloisa chuckled seeing Ravi's enthusiasm, so she chanted the hymn she just learned and explained the meaning to them.
"So beautiful… that language sounds like a breeze. Do you know what language that is?"
"I have no idea, Ma. But I agree, it's beautiful."
"I have to say… I'm envious. I also chant when casting spells. Yet I have no idea about what that incantation means. And the language is so harsh and heavy, definitely not as beautiful as the one you just sang."
"Maybe you will learn over time, Carlos. I can't say I fully understand the words, either, just the superficial meaning. I feel that I will learn more as I familiarize myself with Yakuzen. Anyway, enough about that. What did you find?"