A long time ago in the Northwestern reaches of Ala Mhigo, there was a dragon named Ishdofnir who terrorized the area.
The Duke Ironfist offered the hand of his daughter in marriage in reward to whoever would slay Ishdofnir.
The thing is, the Duke’s daughter was still fairly young at 16, but more unfortunate, she was terminally ill.
Bitter and cynical tongues said that the paltry reward was offered solely so that the Duke could claim to be trying to solve the problem.
Obviously, that reward did not move hordes of dragon slaying adventurers and Ishdofnir was allowed to wreak havoc for a while.
And yet, some day, an adventurer showed up at the village closest to Ishdofnir lair with the decapitated head of the dragon in a cart.
That adventurer was a stern looking but mighty highlander woman named Hanna Longblade and she wanted the promised reward.
Mean spirited people would mention how Hanna Longblade was twice the age of Marta, the Duke Ironfist’s daughter, but certainly no one dared mention that in the presence of Hanna.
***
So it was that a few days later, Hanna first met Duke Bjorn Ironfist, younger brother of the king, at his castle, in private in a small but lavishly furnished parlor.
For the occasion, Hanna made sure her sword and armor were extra polished. Shiny.
Duke Ironfist was a healthy and tall highlander, with thick brown hair and beard with just a few graying hair.
Though he wore fancy court clothes, the sword hanging on his side was no decoration.
They exchanged formalities and then the Duke went straight to the point.
“I hear you would have my daughter’s hand in marriage.”
His expression turned a bit somber; “you know she has always been sickly, she had weak aether since birth, and she will not be long for this world?
I would be most grateful if someone could bring her some joy for her last few years. This would mean so much more to me than anything.”
Hanna knew full well that this delicate subject would be brought up, and not being particularly glib, she stuck with just answering DukeIronfist’s question in a tone she hoped was most empathic; “yes, I know.”
Her future father-in-law was likely to be around much longer, Hanna was eager to get on his good side.
The door of the parlor opened and a very young but very frail woman supported by an attendant, a middle-aged midlander man entered the room.
A smile returned to Duke Ironfist’s face. “And this is my daughter Marta. Marta, this is Hanna Longblade, the adventurer who slew Ishdofnir and who requested your hand in marriage.”
The young woman was frail, skinny and very small for a highlander. Her long brown hair was tied in a ponytail and she wore a well made but plain green dress.
Despite her frail stature, she was radiant with joy.
Still supported by her attendant, she walked slowly toward her father and Hanna. Once she made it a few yalms away from Hanna, she let go of her attendant and bowed to Hanna.
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I have long dreamed of meeting someone like you” said Marta softly.
Hanna had somewhat feared that the lady would turn out to be a spoiled brat who had been given everything she wanted on account of her lineage and her illness, but it looked like she actually was rather meek and polite.
Hanna bowed in return; “I’m very happy to finally meet you.” she said, not particularly sincerely.
***
Preparations for the marriage began, an auspicious date was picked, messengers were dispatched with invitations and venue and schedule were decided.
But all this would leave Hanna somewhat idle in the meantime and going out adventuring was out of question at that point. Or so thought Hanna, but Duke Ironfist, or rather, his daughter Marta had a different idea.
During an evening, the Duke asked everyone to leave him, Marta and Hanna alone in a parlor.
“Marta has a request for you. A very silly request if you ask me, but I would like you to hear her out nonetheless.” said the Duke.
Hanna and the Duke turned their attention to Marta who took a deep breath as if she was about to confess something really bad.
“I’ve spent a lot of time reading since it’s one of the few things I can do for a sustained amount of time and ever since I read it might be possible, I’ve had this dream… “.
Hanna feared this would be quite silly or dreadful. Or both, as it turned out.
“I’ve dreamt of becoming a primal.”
Hanna was speechless, trying to grasp the request that was probably equally as bad an idea as it was impossible.
There was a short silence.
Then the Duke explained; “there was a temple called the Temple of the Moon of Reverie northeast of the Peering Stone. Many years ago, it was ransacked, its people chased away or slaughtered, the place looted and abandoned.
A good chunk of the writings by the people living there ended up in my library. One diary documented an alleged way of becoming a primal.
Now, I don’t expect such a thing to be possible but I would have you two make a pilgrimage there, offer a prayer to Rhalgr and then come back.”
Hanna could certainly see the Duke’s perspective. She also found the idea kind of cute. Still, she remarked, “that’s within Ananta territory.”
“Which is why I would rest easy knowing my daughter was with someone like you.” the Duke explained
Marta protested, “despite my father’s skepticism, I have full faith in you, you will manage to make my dream come true.
I’m told a chocobo cart should be able to make the trip from the Peering Stone to the temple within a day. An astrologian said that the day after tomorrow would be an auspicious day for that.”
Hanna was keen on pleasing her future wife and father-in-law, but she had to ask, “why?”
Marta answered with some excitement, “so that I may live longer.
And ravage the world.”
Hanna looked at the Duke who rolled his eyes, smiled and shrugged.
***
On the morning of that day, Marta went to the entrance of the castle and found Hanna, six guards and a cart pulled by two chocobos awaiting her.
“I see furs and pillows laying in the cart, am I supposed to lie down for the trip? I may not be able to walk fast or far, but I can at least sit. I would like to see the places we visit or go through,” Marta protested.
Hanna walked close enough to Marta that she could speak softly and be understood, “of course you can sit down. The bedding is there just in case. Let me help you aboard.”
Marta accepted Hanna’s help and sat down on a side bench in the cart.
“We’ll be teleporting to the Peering Stones. Lady Ironfist, a first time teleportation can be a bit disorienting and dizzying, you may want to close your eyes for the moment.”
Marta did not argue with that. Though her own aether was weak, she could very well feel the gathering and harnessing of aether around her right then.
A short moment later, Hanna announced, “We have arrived at the Peering Stones, Lady Ironfist, it should be safe for you to open your eyes.
Marta opened her eyes and looked in amazement at the rugged landscape around the Peering Stone; all chasms, cliffs and hills.
“The Temple of the Moon of Reverie is not very far from here, it will take about six or seven bells to get there depending how long we stop for breaks,” said Hanna.
Hanna was driving the cart, Marta and her attendant were sitting in the cart and the guards were walking along.
About 4 bells later they took a break for lunch and soon after resuming their trip, they saw a patrol of a dozen anantas slithering toward the group.
Hanna stopped the cart and jumped down. “Protect the Lady,” she instructed the guards, “I’ll handle the anantas.”
She walked briskly, alert but sword sheathed, toward the anantas so that she appeared ready to fight but not hostile and also that they would not be so close to the cart when they talked.
Marta could sense the tension and nervousness among the guards and that made her nervous as well. That and the fact that if it came to violence, Hanna was outnumbered twelve to one.
Hanna was too far, Marta could not hear what was said, but after a minute, the anantas withdrew and Hanna came back.
“What happened?” inquired Marta.
“They’re not too happy about a group of armed people traveling close to their homes, but they’re also not eager to trigger a diplomatic incident. I also have a bit of a reputation around here and they were not so eager to fight me either,” answered Hanna.
“You intimidated a dozen of them into letting us pass all by yourself?” asked Marta. Her tone was one of admiration. “My faith in you appears very well placed.”
Finally a few bells later they arrived at the abandoned Temple of the Moon of Reverie. The front half of the stone structure had crumbled from the Twelve know what and the interior appeared empty, probably because it had been looted.
“We are looking for a door in the cliff behind the temple,” said Marta, “there should be a secret and sacred chamber within the cliff.”
Hanna drove the cart behind the temple. There was about twenty-five yalms between the back of the temple and the cliff.
A big cut stone, about ten yalms high and six yalms wide, appeared to have been encased at the foot of the cliff.
“This is pretty conspicuous,” commented Marta, “not well hidden at all. Let’s take a look at it.”
Hanna stopped the cart right in front of the stone and helped Marta out of the cart. Curiosity had the better of her and she left Marta to the care of her attendant and went to inspect the stone.
Hanna felt the whole surface of the stone, looking for anything hidden, maybe a handle or some sort of mechanism but didn’t find anything like that.
“There’s some writing engraved at the top of the stone,” Hanna said. She read, “Behold as our burdens come set with the sun.”
Marta, walking very slowly and holding onto her attendant’s arm, finally caught up with her. “This must be the door alright,” she said.
She then added loudly, “Tonight step from the dark to the light tonight.”
“What does that mean?” asked Hanna.
“Those are the magic words that should open the door,” she said in a tone of disappointment. “But it’s not working, I don’t know why.”
“Magic? So we’re looking for a magical door then? Still, could it be that this isn’t the door? Let’s take a look around.” Hanna scanned their surroundings.
There really wasn’t much to see, a long and high cliff going West and East for a long while, very little vegetation, some stones, dirt and the half destroyed temple… and something weird on its roof.
“Why would there be a wrought iron fence on the roof of a temple?” Hanna pointed to the middle of the fence, “what do you see there, My Lady?”
Marta began, “straight vertical iron bars, evenly spaced save for… oh… those in the middle are curved, forming a shape that looks like a double-hinged arched door.”
“This stone here could be a red herring and that fence could be the real magical door. I’ll climb up there and take a look.”
The partially destroyed side walls of the temple provided an easy path to climb on the roof. Hanna went to inspect the fence and its “door” but apart from the shape, there was nothing special and nothing like a handle or hinges.
She yelled to Marta, “what are the magic words again?”
“Tonight step from the dark to the light tonight,” Marta replied.
Hanna repeated the words. Nothing happened. That would have been too easy.
From up there, Hanna took a good look at the space behind the temple. Marta was walking toward the back of the temple where there was some shade and respite from the harsh sun..
That gave her an idea. She climbed down and rejoined Marta. “Your astrologian said today was an auspicious day, right? Then we will see the door tonight,” said Hanna, putting an emphasis on the last word.
“I trust our astrologian,” said Marta, “but in you I have faith, it seems like Rhalgr guides you.”
Marta let out a sigh of relief. “If we are to wait until tonight, would you please make us a fire so that I may make us tea?” she asked ever so meekly.
***
Hanna and Marta had tea. Not that Hanna cared much for it, but this was Marta’s trip and she would certainly indulge her future wife.
They spent a moment inspecting what was left of the temple. They also made a makeshift altar behind the temple with materials brought in the cart.
Marta offered a prayer to Rhalgr, in the hope that he may provide inspiration. Hanna thought there was much irony in someone fragile like Marta would pray to Rhalgr.
After that, Hanna told Marta, “time to take a nap, my Lady.” This was not a suggestion and it annoyed Marta. Still, she was sure Hanna had a good reason for that so she asked, “may I know why?”
“So that you are well rested when it’s time.”
Of course Hanna had thought this through. Satisfied with that answer, Marta did as Hanna demanded.
Eventually, the sun set and day ceded the sky to the night, the stars and the moon. The moon shone brightly in a completely clear sky.
Hanna woke Marta and they sat close to the stone slab behind the temple. Hanna kept her eyes on the stone.
When finally, as she had hoped, the moonlight, lining up through the fence on the roof of the temple, cast a door-shaped shadow on the stone, she said, “there’s your door, time to open it.”
“I can’t believe this,” replied Marta in amazement, “how could you know?”
“I didn’t. But I had some faith,” Hanna replied. “I think you should be the one to open the door.”
Marta spoke the magic words again, “Tonight step from the dark to the light tonight.”
A shiny, almost blinding door-shaped portal appeared on the stone.
Hanna spoke to Marta’s attendant, “Harold, this will be for our Lady and me only. You and the guards wait for us here, I will take care of her.”
***
They stepped through the portal and into a large and long room lavishly decorated,with columns, banners. Crystals inlaid into the walls shone and provided a dim light throughout.
A complete lack of windows made it impossible to tell where exactly they were.
The rows of mats on both sides of the room suggested this might have been used for big ceremonies or mass prayers.
At the end of the room was a large but low altar in front of a pretty big statue of someone, but the dim light made it impossible to discern details.
Marta motioned toward it and said, “this must be the place.”
Supporting herself on Hanna’s right arm, they began walking. But the room was really long, a hundred yalms, maybe more and Marta could only walk ever so slowly.
They had walked about ten yalms in what felt like an eternity to Hanna and Marta’s breath was becoming heavy and her steps were getting shakier than normal.
Hanna didn’t want to offend Marta but still, at this pace, they would still be there by the next sun.
Hanna thought about how offended, outraged, even, she would be if someone suggested what she was about to suggest, but she figured Marta might have a different perspective.
In the most respectful tone she could muster, Hanna asked, “would you mind if I carried you?”
Marta, out of breath, said, “this is a very good idea, please do.”
Hanna picked Marta in a bridal carry and started walking toward the altar at what she considered a cautious pace, still way faster than Marta could walk.
When they reached the altar, Hanna delicately laid Marta down just before the altar.
“I’ll stand watch a few yalms away, take all the time you need,” said Hanna who took a few steps back.
Marta prostrated herself in front of the altar and statue and stayed so for a moment. Then a weird phenomenon happened, the whole place lit up with a soft and sparkly blue light.
The light came from everywhere, the walls, the floor, the ceiling and even the very air surrounding them.
Marta stood up and started floating in the air. She rose a good six fulms in the air and all the light started moving toward her, as if she was absorbing it.
She proclaimed loudly, “I AM SRI LAKSHMI AND I WILL FREE THE WORLD FROM ALL HATE.”
Hanna chided herself for forgetting, in all the thrill of the exploration, the horrendous goal of this trip. Now, she had to clean up this mess she had contributed to.
She instinctively drew her sword, even though she really had no idea what she would do with it.
When Marta had finally absorbed all the ambient light, she emitted a brief blue flash and then turned toward Hanna.
She spoke to Hanna, “Ô, my knight in shining armor, how wise it was to put my faith in you. There are no words to express the depth of my gratitude.
There will always be a place for you by my side and forever a place for you in my heart.”
Hanna could now see how Marta had changed. The face and hair was the same, but now she was as tall as a roegadyn and she no longer was skinny.
Marta, her arms outstretched, slowly floated down toward Hanna.
Striking down Marta was out of question for Hanna. “Run away, flee, escape,” thought Hanna, but her feet wouldn’t move and she lost her grip on her sword.
When Marta was within arm’s reach of Hanna and back on the ground, she said, “my love, you protected me and guided me. You even carried me here. It is time for me to repeat your generosity.”
Marta reached for Hanna and lifted her all the same as Hanna had done for her moments before and started walking back toward the still open portal through which they had entered the place.
Hanna had no idea what to do now. She leaned her head against Marta and closed her eyes.
Really, being swept off her feet and carried away by her one true love, that was the sweetest dream of all.
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