Obern Temple
Obern Temple
You follow after Shila quietly, not wanting to disturb her. She doesn't
even seem to notice your presense as the two of you enter the
library. The clerics already here, noting Shila's appearance, all very
subtly and very quickly exit the room. The instant they are all gone,
Shila whirls around, facing you. 'Well? Go ahead and say it!'
'Say what?' you ask, not understanding quite what is going on.
'Say that what I did was wrong! Yell at me for defending Darwin!
Tell me I shouldn't have spoken up to the Elders!' Shila yells, tears
streaming from her eyes. 'I don't know if you've approved of one
action that I've taken during this whole journey!'
'No!' you say, shocked at the sudden outburst. 'It's not that! Shila,
what you did back there was one of the most courageous actions
that I've ever seen anyone undertake!'
Shila looks up, bewilderment crossing her face. 'I thought you didn't
trust Darwin...'
'I don't, but you don't see me attacking him like the clerics did. I trust
you Shila- and it's because of actions like the one you just took to
protect Darwin. You'd do the same thing for me, or anyone, in an
instant. You're a wonderful woman, Shila...' you trail off.
Shila stays where she is, looking at you as though trying to decipher
your words. She opens her mouth to say something, but is
interrupted by a voice from behind you.
'Shila.' Looking back, you can see that the originator of the voice
is the other Elder cleric - the one that had, with Marie, almost
destroyed Darwin. He is walking toward Shila hurriedly. 'Shila,
allow me to apologize for our actions.'
Shila's gaze breaks from yours, her face quickly regaining its composure.
'Elder Cleric John, it is I who should apologize. I had overstepped
my bounds.'
John waves her objection aside. 'No, no. You did the right thing.
If we would have succeeded in destroying Darwin, the Onyx might
have weakened. By leaving him alive, we allow him to destroy
the Onyx himself. That is, I believe, what he intends to do. Are
you coming with him?' the priest looks at Shila hopefully.
Shila nods. 'Yes. If there is any hope that I can stop a conflict
before it begins, then I shall do so.'
John looks to you. Before he can ask the same question, you answer him.
'I am going. My quest was only to go as far as Lein. I have done
so, and I have seen an Evil which I cannot allow to continue. If
I succeed, then I will have averted the deaths of untold innocents.
If I fail, then I become one of the many who have crossed into the
shadow of the Onyx and not returned. My king will know- I would
never fail him- and he will prepare for the worst.'
John nods his understanding. 'Follow me. I have something that
may aid you in your quest.' With that, the Elder Cleric moves across
the room, trailing Shila behind him. Not wishing to be left behind,
you run to catch up. John walks to the far wall of the library, taking
a small glass-covered dome from its resting place on the wall. Pulling
the dome from the base, the priest reveals a small crystal, seemingly
floating an inch above the surface. 'I want you to take this' he says
to Shila.
Shila's eyes go wide. 'I can't! This crystal isn't for me! It's for-'
'It's for the hero who would defend us against the next coming
of the Onyx.' John finishes her sentence. 'Shila, the Onyx has come
again, and you have already told me you intend to confront it. You
are the hero!' he pauses to let the effect of this sink in. 'Take
the crystal Shila.'
Shila hesitates, and then clasps the crystal in her hand.
'What is this crystal?' you say, not at all understanding what you
are witnessing.
John turns to you to explain. 'This crystal is what enabled us to
defeat the Onyx in ages past. I do not know the source of its energy
or the origin of the artifact itself, but is in anathema to the Onyx. It
is likely that your companion will not even be able to travel near you
while you have this, but it should prove excellent protection against
any hostiles that you might encounter.' John turns away, replacing
the empty holder on the wall before exiting the room. 'Your friend
Darwin is probably done meeting with Marie' he says, his voice
receding. 'And I've already arranged lodging for you this evening.'
You start to move toward the exit of the library, when you notice Shila
following at your side. She squeezes your hand lightly. Looking
up, she says three words.
'Thank you Spencer....'
Into The Lobby
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