Chapter Nine:

Regretful Love; The Responsibility of A Choice

 

          Marium walked through the front doors of the temple, and was shocked to find people scattered throughout the rooms. Men and women of various ages and appearances, praying, speaking, or even smiling, amongst themselves. It filled her heart with an inexpressible joy to see them all congregated in her sacred place.

          "Cadillac." she motioned for the small guru. He bounced over to her. "Who are these people?"

          "Them? Oh! Them!" he grinned, happily. "They're refugees coming to pray to the goddess! Isn't it great, Marium? Oh, I suppose it would be best to call you High Priestess Yin, or something to that effect, while around the masses."

          Jonah arrived from one of private rooms in the back section of the Temple. He nodded in acknowledgement when he saw Marium. Cadillac waved to him, then turned back to Marium. "Where's Altaire?"

          "Hm? Altaire..." she paused, hesitantly. "I think he went for a walk. I don't know."

          'I'm right here, Marium. These people need me with them, to heal their physical wounds.' Right when Altaire stepped through the door, the groups of people gasped and flooded toward him.

          "Are you for real?"

          "Yes."

          "The real High Priest! He's come to heal us!"

          Altaire inclined his head, quietly, then turned to the dirty, strangely dressed young woman with the huge sword. "Cadillac, take care of her."

          "Right," Cadillac nodded, and hurried Marium into the Residential Section of the temple. He shut the door gestured to a tub-like structure in the corner of the room. "Before we present you to your people, you'll want to get cleaned up. You didn't look like an unkempt little ruby when you arrived, and it's my job to scrub you until you shrine like the jewel you are."

          Marium stared at the mage, confused, as he raised his hands in the direction of the tub. "Doolf Setag."

          The bowl shaped pool filled itself with clear, clean water instantly. "Wow..."

          "You like that, hm? Well, this water is too cold. I'll have to warm it up." Cadillac pushed his hands out in front of himself and chanted. "Lanretni Eldnac."

          The water swirled, and a tiny flicker of light erupted under the serene surface. Cadillac turned around to face the wall. "Tsim." The room was filled with thick blankets of unevaporating mist that hung in the air. "Go ahead and get in, I couldn't see you, even if I was looking."

          Abruptly, Marium stripped herself down and almost dove into the water. "Oh, this feels nice. Thank you, Cadillac. I thought I'd forgotten what a bath felt like."

          Cadillac smiled to himself, as he retrieved her clothes from the floor. They were dirty, and smelt like river water and earth. He knew she would he happy to wear something else for a change. Then, as he reached down again, to pick up the last bit of clothing, he noticed that it wasn't clothing, but chest armor and high leg boots. She was still wearing the hand bracers that clung to her wrists and hands.

          "Marium, the bracers." he said, scoldingly. The Priestess removed the last of the armor and handed it to him. "I'll go get your outfit. Stay here."

          As Cadillac left, Marium wondered. "Where else would I go? I'm naked and he took my clothes."

          A few minutes later, the mist had turned back into air and Cadillac reentered the room. He had a neatly folded pile in his small hands, and resting on top were two wooden sandal-like shoes. He set the pile down on a chair next to the tub, and turned to see Marium sleeping in the water. "Wake up!"

          Marium snorted, and leapt out of the tub with a startled cry. "Ah!"

          Cadillac stared for a moment, too dazed to react as Marium dashed to the chair to wrap herself in a towel. "U-Uh... I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that.. you fell asleep.. and.."

          "Mage!" Marium shrieked, face scarlet. He muttered something, and decided it would be better for him to wait outside. "Thank you!"

          Marium dried off and looked at the odd clothing. It was a Priestess's kimono. The top was black and the long, silk skirt was crimson red. On the cloth waist band, a Yinyang symbol fastened it together. She slipped into her under garments, and then put the kimono on over them. Her feet felt relaxed in the smooth wooden sandals.

          As she ran a hand through her hair, Marium opened the door to find Cadillac leaning solemnly against the wall, practicing a spell to pass the time. When she smiled at him, he blinked in awe and blushed before he managed to return the gesture.

          "Am I shined enough?" she asked, beaming at him. He nodded, his squirrelish tail swishing in the air.

          "Yes, but there's one more thing. Kneel down so I can reach you." he said. She did as she was told, and he chanted some words. A tiara appeared in his hands. It's thin string of silver wound around her forehead, and set in the middle was a small yinyang symbol that hung from the string. He secured it on her forehead and stepped back. "Okay, let's go."

 

          Outside, Altaire was becoming weak from overexerting his powers to heal people. If he was in his temple he could use his powers as much as he liked, without ever becoming tired, but this was HER temple, and as much as he loved her, he could never truly belong in Marium's temple.

          Then, the attention was diverted from him, when a beautiful girl stepped into the room from the private residence, lead by the short Guru Cadillac. Everyone watched in reverence as she sat down next to Altaire. She smiled at his expression from the corner of her eye.

          Cadillac introduced her. "The High Priestess, warrioress, and mage of the goddess Yin. Our savior from another world."

          All eyes swung from the master mage to the serene young woman with the short, bright orange hair and sharp, red eyes sitting next to the Priest. She moved her hand to rest on Altaire's, making sure no one could see. But he moved his own hand away, making her turn to the people in front of her. "Um.. hi."

          Everyone gasped, and Cadillac fell down in exasperation. She was hopeless! "So, she's actually here to save us??"

          Marium blinked. "Save you? Oh yeah! Of course. Can't let anyone be unhappy, now can I?"

          All the people glanced at Cadillac, uncertainly. He shrugged. "Guru Cadillac, you aren't lying to us, are you?"

          This made Marium's face turned red, as well as Cadillac's. She sprang to her feet. "Why does everyone doubt me?! And he isn't a liar!"

          Cadillac and Altaire were sweat dropping, as well as everyone else. "She's possessed!"

          "Wha-?! I am not!" she snapped, hands on her hips. The young man that was causing all the problems glared at her. "What's your problem??!”

          Altaire got to his feet to stop the fight before it could start. 'Stop this childish behavior, Marium. This is a sacred place, your sacred place…'

          "That's why I'm not gonna let some snot-nosed brat like him taunt me here! Let me at him!" she struggled in Altaire's grasp. The boy came up to her and tapped her on her cheek. "Oooo! Cheap shot! Let me..

          "At him!" everyone gasped as she broke free of the Priest's grip and raced after the man. They reached outside, and the two started to go all out. It turned out that they were perfectly matched for one another. "Earth and water combine.. Tsunami crash down!"

          The tidal wave crashed down on the teenage boy. "Reirrab!" The huge wave of water bounced off an invisible wall surrounding him and splashed to the ground. "Retnuoc Kcatta, Wind!"

          A hurricane sped toward Marium, who dodged it at the last second, causing the wind attack to swish past her harmlessly. After a few more minutes of this kind of action, the two were panting for breath, and bracing on their knees and hands. "Ur.. I'll get you.."

          "Not.. before.. I get, you!" he retorted, face glistening with sweat. They gritted their teeth, glaring determinedly into each other's eyes, and regained their stances.

          "One more time!" she said, almost grinning at him. Then, Altaire and Cadillac stepped out of the temple doors.

          "ENOUGH!" he commanded, gaining the two hoolagians attentions. The guy put his hands on his hips, eyeing the Priest with a judging look, then nodded decisively.

          "Yes, enough for now." he commented, but sent Marium a look that she didn't understand. It was a mix between friendship, rivalry, and the look Altaire sometimes gave her that she couldn't interpret quite right. "Well. I don't know about you being a priestess... but you sure are a great warrioress."

          He bowed, honoringly, then turned to leave. Marium was confused at his actions. He smiled at her from the corner of his eye as he departed. "Til we meet again, Warrioress of Yin. And I'm sure it'll be soon. Very soon…"

          "What..?" she stood, dumbfounded, staring after him. Half of her wanted to run after him and question him. The other half was petrified of the verbal thrashing she'd receive from Cadillac and Altaire for doing so. "Who was he..?"

          Cadillac gazed at the girl in incomprehension. "That was some magic you cast, Marium. I've never seen you put that much effort into your battles."

          "That's because..." she started, vaguely aware that she was speaking out loud. "I've never meant it before."

          Altaire was still outraged at her frivolous actions in front of all her people. She knew she would have to speak with him later, if he'd let her.

 

          At dinner, Altaire didn't come out of his room. He'd gone in there when the Temple closed its doors, and he hadn't come out. So she sat in mild conversation with Jonah and Cadillac as she tried to force food down her throat. She didn't want to worry either of them by not eating.

          After the meal, she decided to take a walk outside the temple. Jonah had her take her sword with her, just incase there were monsters lurking around the sacred building. Marium put her black robe on overtop of her silk sleeping clothes, and assembled her weapon in its sheath.

          Humming a quiet song, Marium strolled along in the silent darkness that surrounded the temple. She felt, rather than saw, the hidden figure that appeared suddenly among the trees and bushes that littered the front gate. Her sword was in her hands before she knew it. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

          The hushed person stepped into the light of the outside lantern that stood close by. Marium smirked at the figure. "You. What do you want?"

          The boy from earlier leaned against the sturdy oak tree recessively. His grin was close to being demonic in the shadowy light. "I still haven't asked your name, Warrioress of Yin."

          She stared at him uncertainly. "Who are you? What is your purpose in pursuing me at this time of night?"

          "You didn't answer my question yet." he noted, observantly. Then he added for flare, "And while we are getting to know each other, why would a Priestess be wandering outside at this time of night, for that matter?"

          Marium gritted her teeth into a forced smile, and nodded. "My name's Marium Tomo. You can call me Priestess of Yin, only my friends are allowed to refer to me as otherwise. And..."

          He cut her off short. "Well, I'm Mage Faede, sorcerer apprentice."

          "S-sorcer-"

          "That's right." he nodded once, a deadly glimmer in his eye. "Don't worry, my interests lie elsewhere. I won't harm you."

          Marium stared at the young man in the moonlight. He was her height, more or less, and lean, with a peculiar fashion taste. His pupils were slits, like a cat's, and his irises were a strangely natural shade of purple. The top of his head was covered by a sagging mage's apprentice hat, similar to a palu's in style, but most of his black hair was visible from its position. It looked akin to black coals before they're put in the fire and it hung down like a fine tail from the nape of his neck to the ground in a single, perfect stream.

          Faede's lip curled in a seemingly baleful smirk. "Speechless, I see. I am telling the truth, though. I don't wish to harm you. Infact…"

          His movements were slippery, like a snake's, as he advanced to end up right next to her. She stared, eyes brimming with indignity, straight into his violet eyes. He gazed back at her, eyes equally full of another emotion. Hunger. Hunger for acceptance, friendship, even love. She didn't understand it.. this was the look she never could comprehend whenever Altaire gave it to her.

          He sloped toward her, trapping her against a tree, uncomfortably. His eyes were barely open, and his lips were hovering above hers. Her mind raced, it told her to throw herself back, but she was pinned between two unmovable forces. Faede and the sturdy tree in back of her. She opened her mouth to yell for Cadillac, but as she drew in her breath, his lips stopped hers.

          A strange, translucent affection passed over her. It was directed at the young apprentice. Her vision grew hazy, and her knees buckled, but Faede was stronger than he looked. He held her up with one arm, and steadied her with the other. She couldn't help but hold on to him, or she would collapse.

          Finally, she pulled together enough strength to push away from him. Her heart tore as she managed to glare at him and speak the words she'd meant to say before he had violated her. "I am the High Priestess of Yin, as much as you try to prove otherwise. And I will not be toyed with in such a way as to assay my comrades' trust. That will not happen again, Faede. On my word, I will not allow it."

          He knew she didn't want to say it, but it was spoken anyways. "You can't fight without someone to stand behind you."

          "I have three faithful friends to stand behind me, Faede." she stated, thankfully. Images of Cadillac filled her mind. The devoted, gentle, squirrelish Guru that she cared for. Images of Altaire, the tall, bright light in the darkness that pulled her from the depths of her innermost evil. And Jonah, the kindhearted, talented Master weaponsmith from Pallas, who always had a smile ready to assure her. She did not want to have images of this young man that seemed so guileful and shifty, accompanying the pure and true pictures of her other companions.

          With a halfhearted shrug as if he could read her mind, Faede approached the temple. Marium watched him, curiously. "Mage Faede, the temple's closed."

          "I'm sure that my old teacher, Guru Cadillac will find it in his heart to let me stay for the night." he flashed a wicked grin at Marium, who turned away in spite. He was a loathsome creature, not worth her time.

          "So, you were the Guru's student as well. That would explain our equal techniques." she spoke, trying not to sound disgusted. He eyed her, shrewdly, sizing her up, before starting into the doorway.

          "My magic would not be any match for the true Priestess of Yin, Warrioress." was all he said as he disappeared into the private residential rooms.