Here Shines the Sun (57 page)

— 25 —

A Land of Gods and Monsters

The narrow hall of the Holy Palace was dimly lit by gaslamps set upon the stone walls and it felt eerily cold to Eulalee as she was escorted by Saint Gabriel of the Watchtower. Her steel boots seemed to clomp more loudly than was comfortable to her and she walked with her hands balled together at her waist. It was supposed to be a great privilege to be invited to the Holy Palace, but Eulalee knew it wasn’t exactly privilege that had called her here. She took a deep breath and wanted to look around and admire the ornate tapestries that hung on the walls, but she was too nervous to take her eyes from the floor.

She felt Saint Gabriel’s armored hand rest upon her steel pauldron. It felt heavy and burdensome within the Star-Armor. “Relax.” he said. “They just want to know what happened.”

Eulalee swallowed hard. “Is… is Maximiel going to… Are they going to…” She couldn’t figure out how to word her question without terrifying herself even more.

“I doubt it.” said Gabriel as he strode beside her. “This is not the first time a Saint has killed another in Sanctuary. Aeoria forgives. Remember that.”

Eulalee nodded. Ahead, there was a plain, wooden door and she felt herself tremble as Gabriel came up to it. For some reason she had expected something more ornate, more fanciful—a door with a golden plaque bearing some sort of stellaglyph or strange writing she couldn’t read—but the simplicity of that door somehow made it more imposing.

“Just relax and be honest.” he said. He opened the door for her. Beyond was a windowless, circular chamber lit by gaslamps glowing with their yellow-green light. At the center of the room was a large, round table with decorative, high-backed chairs around it. Sitting upon the far end was the Oracle of the Holy Few. It wore its red, hooded robe and Eulalee found her crimson eyes staring back at herself through its mirror mask. Behind the Oracle stood its flock of Sin Eaters in their red robes and black, beaked masks. They hunched around the Oracle like ravens, their green goggles all appraising her. Eulalee swallowed hard.

“Ah, little Eulalee. It is a pleasure.” said the Oracle, standing up. He beckoned her to take a seat with a black, gloved hand.

Eulalee found it hard to make her legs work but she forced herself forward nonetheless. Her hands trembled as she pulled out a chair and sat down. She played with her fingers as she stared at her lap. The door clicked shut behind her and she flinched.

“Do not be frightened,” said the Oracle as it sat back down. “We just have a few questions for you.”

Eulalee nodded, still looking at her lap and playing with her fingers.

“I understand there was a scuffle in your dorm room.” it said. “Please, tell us about it. How did it all start?”

Eulalee swallowed and looked up. All she could see was her own reflection in the Oracle’s mirror mask and all the green eyes of the Sin Eaters staring at her. She licked her lips. “M-Maximiel stopped by and wanted to talk. I… I was working on some drawings and didn’t really want him to come in, but… But I told him it would be okay, for just a moment.”

“Go on.”

Eulalee played with her fingers, trying to steel herself as she stared at the edge of the table. She noticed it was carved with strange, serpentine figures.
Dragons?
She breathed deep and then looked back up at the Oracle. “And that’s when Preil, Theliel and Dumariel came in.”

“I see.” said the Oracle. “What were you and Maximiel talking about?”

Eulalee felt her mouth dry up. “We… He just wanted to see my drawings.” At that the Sin Eaters became more animated and she heard them hissing the word,
“Sinner! Sinner!”
She swallowed hard even though her mouth had no saliva at the moment.

“Yes.” said the Oracle. “I understand you are quite the artist. You know, Saint Karinael is also an artist. She used to paint pictures of landscapes when she was here at Sanctuary. What do you draw?”

“I… well, mostly dragons.”

“Dragons?”

Eulalee bit her upper lip and fidgeted in her seat. “Well, just one, really.”

“And which one is that?”

“A black dragon.” she said, playing with her fingers as she stared down at them. “A giant, black dragon.”

“Interesting.” said the Oracle. “And why a black dragon?”

Eulalee hiked her shoulders. The Sin Eaters began hissing their accusations of
“Sinner!”
again. She swallowed hard. “I… I see him in my dreams.”

“Interesting.” said the Oracle. “You know dragons are only myth, correct?”

Eulalee nodded but the Sin Eaters began bobbing and swaying.
“Sinner! Sinner! Sinner!”
She fidgeted in her seat again and brushed the crimson hair from her face, unable to look the Oracle in that silver mirror mask.

“Let’s go back to what you and Maximiel were talking about.” said the Oracle. “It was more than just about your drawings, I gather?”

Eulalee sniffled and nodded. She felt warm tears welling in her eyes.

“What were you talking about? Be honest. There is nothing to fear.”

“I… I had a bird.” she said. She felt tears falling from her cheeks. She sniffled and wiped at her nose. “I found it out in the yard and I healed it but it still couldn’t fly. So I kept him.”

“I see.” said the Oracle. “Although it is against the rules to keep pets, it sounds as though your intentions were good.”

Eulalee wiped at her eyes and nodded.

“What happened next?”

Eulalee sniffed. “That’s when the others showed up. P-Preil took the bird, and…”

“Go on.”

Eulalee wiped at her eyes and nose again. “He threw it out the window.”

“I see.” said the Oracle. “Sin begets sin. Helping the bird was a sin against our rules of Sanctuary, and sin is always repaid in kind. You must always obey the rules, Eulalee. You must always do as you’re told by those in charge.”

Eulalee nodded and buried her head in her hands. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

“You are forgiven.” said the Oracle. “Let us continue. Tell me what happened next.”

Eulalee sniffed and wiped her eyes. “That’s when the others left. I didn’t see them go, but Maximiel closed the door before Preil left. The next thing I knew he was choking Preil.” Eulalee wiped at her eyes some more.

“Take your time.” said the Oracle.

She breathed deep and sniffled. “He… he cut Preil’s arm off and then… And then he threw him out the window.”

“Why did Maximiel throw him from the window?” asked the Oracle.

Eulalee couldn’t stop the flow of tears. Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I… I don’t really know. He told Preil never to touch his stuff. And I think he meant me.” Eulalee was broken by her sobs. She buried her head in her hands and struggled to get her crying under control. She looked up at the Oracle, her face was red and streaming with tears. “He told me that since I wished I could fly, he was going to show me what it was like for a Saint to fly. I-I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I should never have let him come in my room!”

“It’s not your fault.” said the Oracle. “Try to remember your Templar training, and remove all blame from yourself. As a Saints Templar, you must have faith that your actions are guided by the Goddess.”

“I know.” cried Eulalee. “It’s just hard, sometimes.”

“I understand.” said the Oracle. “Tell me, Eulalee, how did that make you feel, to see Preil thrown from the window after he had just killed your bird? Were you glad? Were you happy to see him suffer for having caused you pain?”

Eulalee felt slightly revolted by the question. She wiped her eyes with her hand and shook her head.

“Sinner! Sinner! Sinner!”
hissed the Sin Eaters.

Past the tears Eulalee could see the Sin Eaters bobbing and staring at her. She looked at the Oracle. “M-Maybe just a little. But… but I didn’t want him to die!”

“Of course,” said the Oracle. “But if a person has caused you pain, it is perfectly normal to want them to suffer for it. Would you say that you would have liked to see him suffer just a little?”

“I… I don’t know,” cried Eulalee. “It… that doesn’t sound right.” She shook her head. “I… I don’t want anybody to have to suffer.”

“Interesting.” said the Oracle. “You do not feel that Preil deserved punishment?”

Eulalee sniffled and shook her head. “Maybe something, but not death.”

“I understand.” said the Oracle. “And what of Maximiel? Do you feel he should be punished?”

Eulalee nodded as she wiped at her eyes.

“Very interesting.” said the Oracle. “So, you wish punishment against the one who did you no wrong, but not against the one who caused you pain? Was Maximiel not trying to serve justice for you?”

Eulalee dug her face into her hands. “I don’t know!” she cried. “I… I don’t know!”

“Do you feel Maximiel should die?”

Eulalee choked on her tears and looked at the Oracle with wide eyes. “No!”

“You don’t feel the death of Preil should be repaid in kind?” persisted the Oracle.

“I… but, well… I don’t know! Why are you asking me these things?”

“We’re just trying to gauge your emotions.” said the Oracle. “I don’t think we have to go any further on the subject.”

Eulalee sniffled and wiped at her eyes, feeling somewhat relieved. She looked at the Oracle. “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

“Maximiel?” said the Oracle. “No. We have great plans for him. We just need to understand his motives. Do you like Maximiel?”

Eulalee sniffled. “I don’t know. I… I just wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him is all. I don’t want bad things to happen to anybody.”

“I understand.” said the Oracle. “So, tell me, Eulalee, how is your training as a Saints Templar coming along?”

Eulalee hiked her shoulders and wiped the last of the tears from her eyes. “Okay, I guess.”

“Saint Galizur tells me you’re quite good at healing and that your Caliber is second to none. He tells me your Caliber outshines all others.”

Eulalee smiled faintly at that.

“You will make quite the Saints Caliber, I think.”

Eulalee felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at the Oracle. “Really?” she asked as she wiped her nose.

The Oracle nodded slightly. “Indeed.” it said. “As I understand it, there have been some complications in the field and some Star-Armor shall be returning home shortly. You’ll be receiving one of them.”

Eulalee started. “I… I will? But… did… did a Saint die…”

“Unfortunately, the Call to Guard for all Saints must come to an end one day.” said the Oracle. “You will carry on the honor and legacy of the Star-Armor given to you.”

“I… I don’t know what to say…”

The Oracle nodded slightly. “Tell me, Eulalee. Do you look forward to receiving your Call to Guard?”

“More than anything,” said Eulalee with some excitement. “I… but… I never want it to be because another Saint has fallen.”

“I understand.” said the Oracle. “Unfortunately, Star-Armor must cycle from Saint to Saint. That is why only the best Templars are chosen to receive their Call to Guard. Tell me, Eulalee, who is your favorite of the Saints Caliber?”

“That’s easy.” said Eulalee. “Saint Nuriel.”

“Nuriel?” asked the Oracle.

“Oh yes,” said Eulalee, sitting upright in her chair. “She killed two Infernals on her own and she’s gone up against countless Unbound. She was the youngest to ever make Saints Caliber and they say her Caliber is stronger than even those of Aeoria’s Guard.”

The Sin Eaters closed in about the Oracle and one of them seemed to whisper something into its ear. Eulalee suddenly felt nervous again.

“Do not worry.” said the Oracle. “They tell me they feel there is another reason you admire Saint Nuriel. What is it?”

Eulalee licked her lips. “Well, she’s also Holy Father’s personal Saint. And, well…” She felt herself blush.

“Go on. Don’t be shy.”

“Well, I
really
want to meet him.” she said. “I remember him holding me as a baby. I remember his warm hands and his smile. And well… I guess I… I’m a little jealous of Nuriel.” Eulalee chirped a little laugh and hid her face behind her hands for a moment. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Interesting.” said the Oracle. “You draw dragons from your dreams and remember Holy Father holding you as a baby?”

Eulalee felt her cheeks flush. She smiled as she looked away from the Oracle. “I… well, yes, I suppose.”

“Very interesting.” said the Oracle, as if to itself. It sat in silent contemplation for a moment. Then it said to her, “You know, Saint Nuriel was much like you at your age. She was very kind and caring and the other Saints often picked on her.”

Eulalee nodded. “I know.”

“Does that also have something to do with your admiration of her?”

Eulalee nodded. “Yes. I mean, they said she could never make Saints Caliber because she wasn’t tough enough, but now she is Holy Father’s personal Saint. So, I guess, I also want to show others that you don’t have to be so mean just to make Saints Caliber.”

“Nuriel also had a fondness for Holy Father.” said the Oracle. “Even from a young age she was always seen staring at pictures of him.”

Eulalee smiled. “Really?”

The Oracle nodded. “Did you know that we did not want to give Nuriel her Call to Guard?” said the Oracle. “We actually advised Holy Father against it.”