Wager
"Am I... am I dead?"
No answer came.
With nothing else to do and no one else to speak to, I began to walk towards the woman, my legs moving on their own.
As I drew closer, the woman turned to face me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
Her features were regal and beautiful, with hair that looked like divine flames and eyes that sparkled like the stars themselves.
"Hello, Grace," she said, her voice soft and kind, washing over me like a gentle breeze. "I've been watching you for a long time."
I couldn't find the words to respond, my tongue tied in knots as I stared at the magnificent being before me.
"In this time of need," she continued, her gaze never leaving mine, "I want to make you a simple offer."
With a wave of her hand, three items materialized in the water at my feet: a shield, a rosary, and a sword.
They glimmered in the ethereal light. My eyes roamed each one before I heard:
"Choose one," the woman said, her voice gentle but firm.
I looked up at her, my brows furrowed in confusion.
"What do they do?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
The woman smiled with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"They are all ordinary items," she replied, her voice like a melody. "Just pick the thing you think you need right now."
I turned my gaze back to the objects, my mind racing as I tried to make a decision.
Honestly? Not much could be of use. Except...
I reached down and picked up the rosary.
"Why that item?" the woman asked, her head tilted slightly to the side.
I took a deep breath, the words spilling out of me before I could stop them.
"Uh... Well, even the world's best sword or shield wouldn't make a difference in the fight we're in right now," I said with a shrug. "Feels like the only thing that could save us is a miracle."
The woman's eyes sparkled with interest.
"Do you believe in miracles, Grace?"
I nodded, a fierce determination burning in my chest.
"I do," I said. "I think the Eternal Queen's produced a lot of miracles through me."
For some reason, the woman laughed, a sound like the tinkling of bells, and I could see the pleasure and pride shining in her eyes.
"She has indeed," the lady said, her voice so much warmer.
She stepped forward, the water rippling around her feet, and I felt my heart skip a beat as she drew near.
Finally, she declared:
"I am Yalia, the Eternal Queen. And, I want to make you an offer."
---
{Kumiko}
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
In the middle of the fight, a yargoth had gotten a hit in on our healer.
Grace was laid out, crumpled and motionless.
I swung my sword as fiercely as I could, to give Nora some space.
Nora went to check on Grace and...
"She's dead," Nora said, her voice flat and emotionless as she knelt beside Grace's still form. "There's nothing we can do for her now."
What?
It shouldn't have been surprising. I knew better than most just how quickly death could come for people. But, still, I was shocked.
As I looked at her lifeless body, her eyes staring blankly up at the red sky, I knew that Nora was right. Grace was gone, just like that.
I took a deep breath, pushing down the frustration that threatened to overwhelm me.
I turned to Liam and Nora, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a plan.
I looked back at our vehicle. Driving away wasn't an option, the yargoth were too quick. It was why we'd stopped. But, if someone was to create an opening...
"Head back to the truck," I said, my voice steady and commanding despite the turmoil raging inside me. "I'll hold them off, give you time to escape."
Liam's eyes widened in shock, and he opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off with a sharp look.
"Don't argue with me," I said, my voice brooking no argument. "It's my responsibility to make sure you get out of here alive. I'm the leader now, and this is what I've decided. Go!"
Nora hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between me and the advancing horde of yargoth. They were endless. I could see the conflict in her gaze, the desire to stay and fight warring with the knowledge that someone had to survive, to carry on the fight.
Finally, she nodded, her jaw clenched tight.
"Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... Good luck."
I looked back at her with a smirk.
"I'll be fine," I lied. "Now go, before it's too late."
Liam and Nora turned and ran. I watched them go before my next opponent quickly retook my focus.
Okay... Now, I thought, just do your best.
But, before I could even take my next swing, something happened.
Grace's body, off to the right, about to be devoured by some of the incoming yargoth, began to glow.
---
{Grace}
"An offer?"
Yalia nodded, her eyes shining with a fierce, unwavering light.
"Yes, Grace. An offer. In this world, in its current condition, faith is sorely lacking. People have lost hope, lost their way in the darkness that threatens to consume them all."
She stepped closer, her hand reaching out to cup my cheek. Her touch was warm and comforting, like a mother's embrace.
"I want to give you the power to change the world, to be a beacon of hope in these dark times."
I blinked, my mind reeling with the magnitude of her words.
"But... why me?" I asked, my voice trembling. "I... I'm nobody."
Yalia smiled.
"Because I know your faith, Grace. It was how I first noticed you, how I knew that you were the one I had been searching for. Your heart is pure, your belief unwavering. And I want to bet on that faith, to take a gamble on the strength of your conviction."
I looked away.
It just didn't make sense.
"I... I don't feel worthy," I whispered. "How can I possibly live up to such a task?"
Yalia's smile softened, her hand falling away from my face.
"Whether you are worthy or not will be up to you to decide, Grace. But I have faith in you, just as you have faith in me. And I know that you have the strength and the courage to face whatever lies ahead."
"But... how can someone like me make a difference?" I asked. "I mean, have you looked at me?" I laughed. "I'd probably break an arm trying to punch one of those things or whatever."
Yalia's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Tell me, Grace... Does faith depend on a person's stature or physical frame? Is belief measured by the size of one's muscles or the sharpness of their sword?"
"Uh...
I shook my head.
"No," she continued. "Faith comes from the heart, from the soul. It's not about how big or strong you are, but about how deeply you believe."
Yalia put a hand on my shoulder. I could feel my body burning just from that touch.
"And your faith, Grace, is a force to be reckoned with. If you let it grow, if you'll keep that faith in your heart, I will give you the strength to move mountains."
I still felt undeserving, unworthy of the power that Yalia was offering me.
But, as Yalia asked:
"Will you accept this gift?"
I found myself nodding.
"Yes," I said. "If it'll save those paladins right now, I'll accept."
Instantly, I felt a rush of energy surge through my body, a power that was both exhilarating and terrifying in its intensity.
"Good," Yalia nodded. "We will speak again later."
And then, with a gasp, my eyes flew open, and I found myself back on the battlefield, the sounds of combat ringing in my ears.
I rose to my feet.
Kumiko, who'd just finished cutting down another yargoth, stopped.
She looked stunned, her sword hanging limply at her side as she stared at me with wide, uncomprehending eyes.
But I barely registered her presence, my attention focused solely on the horde of yargoth that was bearing down on us, their eyes glowing with ravenous, unholy hunger.
Somehow, instinctively, I knew what to do.
I walked forward, my steps calm and measured, the rosary clutched tightly in my upraised hand.
I began to pray.
Radiance burst out from my hand.
The yargoth were caught in the blast, their twisted forms engulfed in a holy light that burned away their darkness and corruption. They shrieked and howled. I didn't falter, didn't waver. I continued to pray.
And, in a matter of moments, all of them were reduced to black dust on the road.
As the light faded, I could feel the power leaving me. I hit the ground.
But even as I slumped, my body drained and exhausted, I could hear Yalia's voice in my mind, a soft, gentle whisper that filled me with warmth and love.
"This was but a glimpse of the power you could wield, Grace," she said, her words echoing in the depths of my soul. "But if you want to do that again, you must earn it. You must prove yourself worthy of the gift I have given you."
And then, once again, I passed out.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder