[Valerianne Yul]

“Valerianne Yul. Pure White aura, no affinity. Natural mana gathering - Not available.”

The evaluation orb announced, sealing my fate, shattering the dream of a farmgirl aiming to become an adventuring hero into a million tiny pieces. I stupidly stared at my own reflection in the orb. A girl with curly red hair and blue eyes stared back, dressed as an adventurer. It was then that I realised that it wasn’t the best plan to spend nearly half of my savings on fancy adventurer gear. I bit my lip in frustration. The thrice-damned salesperson at McGivers really got me good with his promises that “This matching light armor, leather outfit would totally make a great impression on the Guild.” He had told me absolutely nothing at all about this evaluation orb business.

“Afraid you don’t even meet our most basic standards, hon. Unfortunately, you have no affinity at all. It means you can’t draw magic from the environment or level up naturally by receiving rewards from Quests.”

The Adventure Guild Secretary spoke, drawing me out of my stupor. “But I’ll tell you what. Don’t despair. With those kinds of assets, I can recommend you apply to the Church of Virtue!”

I wasn’t sure what “assets” the Secretary spoke of. Surely she meant my White aura? My chest only got in the way–so inconvenient! Come to think of it, I don’t have much in the way of muscles beyond getting around the farm either. Definitely means my white aura.

The Archangel’s Pride Cathedral of the Triumvirate of Virtue was one of the biggest, most elaborate, imposing and stunning structures in the city of Amarillia. Only the White Tower looming over the city was taller than the ancient Cathedral. Sheer awe had paused my footsteps for a moment before I entered the front doors, the impressive bust of an angel carved in white limestone above me demanded admiration. It was definitely made and held together by Stone-singer and Builder magic, there was no way fine stonework like this could hang out at a nearly ninety degree angle without cracking. It was maddeningly detailed. Every feather within the angel’s wings was made from white marble. The female angel looked real, as if simply suspended in time, about to take off from the parapet.

The air inside smelled of incense. Purple and pink-tinted rays of light poured from the massive, stained glass windows that were portraying great works of various Legates of Virtue throughout six millennia. Hushed voices of song-prayers and vociferous confessions resounded across the vast, airy halls. A line of confessors and scriveners stretched down the white marble path, waiting for their turn with the third pillar of Virtue - the Searcher.

“Blessed sister, may the divine light of Virtue shine down upon thee! I saw my neighbour coveting an adventurer…” A scrivener declared with a trembling voice. I walked around the line, I wasn’t here to confess or to report sins. I was here for a job. I wasn’t sure exactly where the office of the second pillar of Virtue was, as the Guild Secretary simply told me to find the office of the local Enforcer Knight, but it was too enticing to explore the cathedral. As a child, I was always too afraid to break out of the confession line, terrified that the Knights would take me away from my family for being a Sinner.

An acolyte dressed in a white robe spotted me wandering the second floor as I gaped at the resplendent, kaleidoscopic Rose window.

“The confession line is…” She began.

“I’m here to see the Enforcer!” I declared my annoyance all at once that my excursion was interrupted so soon. There was just so much art here to be appreciated. Incredible, hidden craftsmanship forged by hands and magic of the most talented artists of Europa that you couldn't possibly see out of the Confessor’s hall!

The acolyte led me through the chapel, ignoring my irate glare every time she interrupted my gaze upon the wonderful works surrounding me.

Soon enough I sat in the opulently decorated office of the White Knight, deep within the inner sanctum of the Cathedral. The local Virtue Knight in attendance, Maximillion Rex, was fully covered in reflective white porcelain steel plate armor. The symbol of the church - the triskelion spiral, was everywhere. It was on the knight's chest, within the colorful stained glass windows, upon the cloth banners and even ornately carved into the walls over every doorway. They were so detailed...so sublime!

Maximillion circled me, steel boots clacking on the marble floor brought me back to reality. “Yes. You will do nicely.”

Was he talking about my aura? Could he see that I was pure of heart?

“Luckily, I have just the thing for you!" The Knight returned to his ornate, heavy, gothic desk. "You see, one of our priestesses recently… retired.

I glanced at the open book on the Knight’s office desk. There was a spell circle drawn upon the open page, labelled as the “Circle of Healing.” It was a fairly basic magical diagram, a cross within two circles. I looked back at the Knight. I didn’t know that the priests of Virtue could retire.

“Here we go. An acolyte's uniform and a Divine amulet of healing. This amulet draws power straight from the church well, so you don't need an affinity for magic or a talent to use it. It merely requires a very pure, white aura to activate.”

The knight reached into the drawer of his desk and pulled a white choker with a brilliant blue gemstone, white leather boots, a white robe and a red cape putting them down in front of me onto his desk. Did he know that I was coming? Had the Guild Secretary already given him my measurements?

“Um. Where can I change?” I timidly inquired, looking for a change room of sorts.

“Here,” Was the reply.

“Excuse me?!” my cheeks turned red.

“You know as well as I do - there is no shame in the heart of our church, only purity of Virtue,” the Knight purred from beneath his reflective helmet. He was right. There was no shame in this Citadel of the Light. I could hear the scriveners all the way here as some of them literally shouted their neighbours' sins. After fretting for a few moments, I began to disrobe, turning redder with every item removed.

“Place the removed items together on the floor.” He commanded, observing that I was holding the clothes awkwardly and precariously draped over my arm.

"Be brave, Valerianne," I mentally told myself, putting the clothes down. I put the cloth bag with the remainder of my savings into the clothing pile.

In only a few minutes of an embarrassing show I was only in my white, spider-silk breast-supporting undershirt and panties. My second brother Alexei was an Arachnidmancer. He could weave all sorts of custom, intricate designs with his spiders, all his clients from Amarillia had to do was give him their measurements.

“Everything. You must leave it all behind to join the esteemed ranks of the Virtuous,” the Knight tapped a steel finger on the table. For a minute, I froze, not ready to surrender the underwear. It was the last bit that had reminded me of home. Not to mention how form fitting and comfortable it was. This underwear was something Alexei sold to the rich merchants or famous adventurers, I’d never find anything like it ever again! The spidersilk was literally enchanted to tighten and clean itself. And then I glared at the knight staring at me.

“Take your time if you must,” the Enforcer commented on my lack of disrobing progress, leaning back onto his ornate chair. “Patience is a virtue.”

My hands shaking, I pulled off the silky undershirt, exposing my chest. I dropped the shirt into the pile of clothing and gulped. I tried to cover my hefty breasts with my hand. It worked poorly.

“Everything,” he nodded.

Was this really the official protocol for becoming an acolyte of Virtue? I realized that it was too late to back away now. Too late to backtrack. Sure, I could say “no”, could try to return back to the farm, but then I’d have to face my parents and my brothers after I had screamed at them that I was leaving for good. I had told them that after twenty two years of my life I was absolutely done helping them, that I had enough of being alone, that I was going to find a job and friends in the city.

I took off my underwear, putting them onto the clothing pile on the floor. The Knight simply sat there, stained glass reflections glinting on his helmet. I saw my reflection in his armour - a naked, curvy redhead.

“Rotate for me,” the Knight ordered. What the hell? Why?! I started to sweat. I knew exactly how unwise it was to disobey an order of the Enforcer. Defiance was the tenth Sin detested by Virtue. I stared past the Knight’s eyes towards the Rose window above his head. Legates of Virtue and the gathered crowds of confessors judged me with their painted eyes. They had given up on their Sins to make Europa a better place for everyone. All I had to do was rotate. I started to turn.

“Astounding,” the Knight commented under his breath, his comment resonating across the otherwise empty stone room. What? I knew that he couldn't possibly be commenting upon my looks. Lust, the desire of voluptuous emotions was the first Sin detested by Virtue.

Shivering in extreme embarrassment I grabbed the choker amulet off his desk and snapped it on my neck, fumbling with the white robe. The robe felt unnecessarily tight as I put it atop me. It was definitely not made to accommodate my body. At least the white boots fit properly. I decided not to complain. Getting fully naked in front of the Knight was already pushing the limits of my shyness. Maybe the robe would stretch out? If anything I could get it tailored later, once I got paid as a healer.

I reached for the adventurer clothes, hoping to get a refund for them at the shop.

“You shall not need these. Cast your old life behind you! Immolate!” The Knight stood up and pointed at my clothes. A magic circle flashed over his hand and the pile of things ignited, burning and turning into the sparkling ashes of broken dreams, vanishing off the floor amidst blue flames.

“Eeek!”

I jumped back, wincing. Why did he have to burn my silk panties, of all the things? He didn’t even give me underwear to replace them! What the hell! I looked at the marble floor with slight hope that my gold was still intact. It wasn’t. Everything was gone.

"Thus you have been cleansed for your Sins. Go forth, my White Acolyte." The Knight announced, sitting back down with a creak of steel rubbing on steel.

“What of my coin that you just burned too?” honestly, what an ass.

"The Virtuous do not require savings.” He replied casually. “Need I remind you of the third Sin detested by the divinity of Virtue?”

I shook my head, sullenly. He was right. I wasn’t going to be greedy.

“The rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions, the search for treasure and power is a folly that plunges people so deep into the mire of this world, so that they make it to be their God,” the Enforcer chanted, reminding me of it anyway.

“What if I need to eat?” I muttered, expecting a comment about the fifth Sin - Gluttony.

“If you are hungry now, feel free to descend down to the cafeteria,” the Knight replied. “You are to make your way to the Convent of the Light in Kleinburg, wherein you shall work as a healer. Be there tonight. Do not dawdle, as the doors will be closed after nightfall. I shall send a message ahead to warn them of your coming."

I nervously bit my lip as the stone bridge on the road to Kleinburg greeted me with a "Closed for maintenance. Will finish repairs tomorrow." sign. From other annoyed travellers I learned that one of the supports collapsed and the Builder mage ran out of mana and would only get the repairs finished tomorrow morning. The map provided by the Knight specified no alternative routes. I looked at it in contemplation. If I were to take the road around, heading to the next bridge I wouldn't arrive at the convent tonight. I had no money to rent a room somewhere and definitely didn't want to disappoint the Order of Virtue on my first day by not showing up. I nervously looked up at the heavens.

The voidstar was slowly making its way across the firmament, a well of inky darkness taking up most of the sky. The gargantuan ring of light, a shimmering corona around its periphery cast colorful, brilliant rainbows across the clouds. I looked at the tall, deep forest on the right.

I saw Life-Citadels as they towered over the forest. The high level beasts gradually moved many miles above the forest below. There were entire groves of magical, sacred trees on their backs. Myriads of colorful, giant butterflies followed the beasts, sparkling in the ringlight. Thousands of legs of the Life-Citadels carefully stepped through the foliage below. I knew that they would not harm me, let me pass as long as I was nice. I knew how to be polite to the forest.

It was the only quick way around the river bend. I got off the road and walked towards the forest, white boots sinking ever so slightly into the mossy ground.

I inhaled deeply, basking in the freshness of nature as I walked the wending path that rose and fell with the terrain. As I was reminiscing about home, I stepped too close to a thorny rosebush. It unexpectedly bent sideways and caught into my cape, refusing to let go.

"Oh kind spirit of the forest, may I pass across your land?" I inquired politely. It paid to be nice to nature. The thorns let go. I walked a few more steps forward and another bush caught me.

“Come on! I really have to be there on time!” I whimpered as the thorns dug deep into my red cape. I pulled and struggled against the rosebush. The thorns held me tight. At least the forest elemental was nice, it merely held my clothing in place, not cutting into me.

“Please, forest spirit! Let me pass!” I beseeched the spirit.

A branch came from a tree and grabbed at the map that I was holding.

The map started to move across the tree away from me, passed from one branch to another. The elemental was playing with me. I sighed. I had no time for games. Having grown up on the farm I knew exactly how to deal with this. I resumed my progress in the direction of Kleinburg. Thankfully, there was a convenient forest trail leading me there, likely made by adventurers or Green mages. The map wasn’t that necessary at this point.

A leafy branch slapped into my thigh. I ignored it, moving forward. I knew it would eventually give me back my map, seeing that I ignored it.

“I’m ignoring you. I have places to...” I began as a thick branch slammed right into my butt.

“Eeeeeeeeeeaachhhhh!” I stumbled forward and collapsed onto my knees.

“Whyyyyy?” I whimpered, crawling forward, tears in my eyes. Why did the elemental hit me so hard? I was nice to it. It wasn’t even talking to me for some reason. Our forest spirit never hit me on the farm. That became the least of my worries, I was sliding forward on my knees right off the trampled path. I tried to arrest my descent and only managed to make it worse, fumbling forward at an accelerated rate down the unexpected slope.

Bushes and tree branches tried to grab onto me and failed spectacularly, whipping my back with fluttering leaves. Too late had I realised that I was sliding towards my doom. There was a deep, moss covered fissure in front of me. The forest wasn’t playing with me, it was trying to save me from disaster!

“Help!” I yelled, plummeting into the dark fissure face first. A vine shot out from a tree, grabbing me by the robe. I exhaled in relief as it lifted me up.

I hung right above the deep, dark hole.

“Thank you, kind…” I started to speak and then heard the sound of ripping fabric. The ill-fitting white robe was splitting at the seams. I realised that the robe was old. It wasn’t custom-made for me. It was repaired and cleaned by magic far too many times and a hard pull on it like that had splintered the invisible magic thread diagram holding it together. The essential thread of protection tore and the robe immediately disintegrated at the joints. With a yelp I fell again into the fissure, the remnants of the robe held by the vine.

The forest rustled overhead, leaves slapping against leaves, as if it was applauding my stupidity.

Screaming for my life, I slid on mossy rocks deeper and deeper, old forest scraps, pinecones, broken branches and crushed leaves digging into my defenceless body. I really regretted not having leather armor now. Cursing the Knight, I slid further and faster. The mossy slide ended and I fell through the air, twirling and yelling, my fantastic fall ending with a splash of icy water. The water had only slightly slowed down my fall, my ass slammed into a hard stone. Something cracked beneath me. I hoped that this wasn’t my bones.

I crawled out of the water, panting. I was alive. My butt hurt. The amulet of healing shone on my neck with brilliant light, casting deep shadows across the murky, spooky cavern. It was slowly healing up the scratches all over my body. I looked up at the distant hole above me letting some sunlight down from the ceiling. Just frigging great. As if this day couldn't get any worse.

The water behind me bubbled. I turned around. Was there something in the water that I had disturbed with my fall? A fish, hopefully? The water surface curled upwards.

“What the...” I whispered.

Pure darkness blossomed across the water. It radiated… inexplicable, impossible twilight that devoured and blocked the little sunlight that fell from above. The artificial night enveloped me, terrified me in ways I wasn’t aware were possible. The twilight cast by the dark, indeterminate shape in the water was also seemingly unaffected by the light of my amulet. Colors drained from the world.

Strands of liquid darkness struck out from the water grabbing at my legs. I screamed. An entire wave of black, liquid that was neither shiny or matte exploded out of the water, splashing, rolling over me. Never in my life had I seen or heard of such a creature. This thing, whatever it was, was neither liquid, nor solid, neither flesh nor bone. It was unlike any material I knew of! One second it felt like oily, wet silk, then like steel, then like frigid ice. It was alive, shapeless, indeterminate, an impossible nightmare made of flowing, pulsating darkness.

As it drew closer to my face I saw that myriads of purple stars, no… entire constellations shined, sparkled within the black liquid as it flowed over me in strange patterns, softening and hardening, grabbing and pinching me. I tried to get away from it, but the more I struggled the harder it held me down. Loops of shiny, black strands wound around my body, encircling my wrists, digging into my thighs, circling my breasts, wrapping over my neck.

It was looking, prodding, feeling for something, shamelessly grabbing onto my body all over.

I squeaked indignantly and gasped. A blob of darkness held up by black strands rose up to my face, evaluating me. Wisps of darkness flowed away from it, curling up and away like strange smoke. Was it an avatar of this cave? An elemental of the deep dark? Why were there stars in the face of darkness? Why did it look like the night sky?

“Please, cave spirit! I beseech you! Don’t hurt me! I mean you no harm!” I whimpered. The thing made of night looked at me with countless eyes made of shimmering stars. The eyes somehow bore intelligence, hatred, hunger, burned into me with a maddening, focused gaze. It drew even closer to my face.

“No! Please! I’ve done you no wrong!” I cried, whimpering in fright.

“It was an accident! I fell into your cave by accident! Please! Why are you doing this?!”

Two strands grabbed at my mouth, forcing it open.

“No! Anything but that!” I cried helplessly, unable to stop it, my body bound tightly with loops of solidified night.

The stars within the faceless thing were dancing in front of my eyes, lulling me with pulsating flashes. They looked impossibly distant, as if the darkness that held them had immeasurable depth to it that my eyes couldn't quite comprehend. It leaned even closer to my face, reaching for my open mouth. I tried to flail my limbs, to shut my mouth, offering a pitiful resistance, afraid of what it would do next, not letting it in. It was not deterred.

It played with, hugged my tongue, as if trying to understand it, as if trying to connect with it on a personal level. More of the thing entered into me.

It hugged my tongue tighter and I could suddenly taste the stars. They had tasted impossibly wonderful, a palette of a thousand flavours intertwined, rapidly interchanging. It was forming a connection to me, a maddening resonance of feelings, of information and power that was overwhelming, consuming me whole. I saw, felt that I was no longer bound by the dark strands, all of them flowing into me, filling me up, entering me through my tongue.

I shuddered and cried, experiencing indescribable, confusing sensations. All of my nerves ignited. The creature made of night was no longer atop me. No, it was inside me. Thrashing on cold, hard rocks I felt only the sensation of foreign, alien power, an ocean of it that I was drowning, losing myself in.