But at the heart of it all,

at the core of all my greatest victories.

Lies my most grievous sin.

-Note within the hidden journal.

“It's you.” The Prophetess cried. Gardinal glowered at the man past her; it seemed Count Vallerian had returned to cause more trouble. Grinding his teeth, Gardinal pushed past the Prophetess. If that arrogant count thought he was just going to stomp his way back in here. Well, Gardinal certainly had some thoughts on that! What could possibly convince that man he could just come strolling back into their lives? The man had hurt her, at least her feelings he had. Gardinal had made an oath to protect Her Radiance, and that meant more than just her physical self.

Storming through the doorway, Gardinal noticed the other man. A handsome young Fereni, tall in a richly adorned leather doublet over a clean white tunic. He stared at Celeste in seeming disbelief. Just what Gardinal needed, another damned nobleman. What was Vallerian thinking? The Prophetess was supposed to be a secret, not some street performer for the count to bring his friends to see. Gardinal growled. The man had proven useful in a pinch before, but he was quickly becoming more trouble than he was worth. There was a growing feeling that Vallerian would need to be taken care of at some point. But first, he would find out what in the Chaos this man was thinking, returning here in the first place.

Only a few terse steps and Gardinal grasped the man by his arm.

“You're coming with me.” Gardinal hissed at Vallerian, shoving him to the edge of the room. “And you boy,” Gardinal shouted, pointing to the other man. “Don't you dare move an inch!” Gardinal didn't wait for a response before rounding on Vallerian.

“It's nice to see you as well, Brother Gardinal.” Vallerian remarked with that all too familiar tone of his and a casual shrug.

“Don't you be smart with me lad.” Gardinal growled. “What in Ethinia's name are you thinking? Coming back here like this?” The damned man just made a nonchalant flourish with his hands.

“I'm making amends my dear friend.” Vallerian nodded towards the other young man, though Gardinal didn't dare take his eyes off Vallerian. This man was more slippery than a Shaded-Lands eel, and he was not about to let him slip.

“What are you up to? And no more pretty words, just the truth.” Gardinal attempted to stare the Count down, but Vallerian just smirked.

“It's the boy, Brother Gardinal, consider him a peace offering of sorts.” Vallerian patted Gardinal on the shoulder and flashed some teeth. Gardinal wanted to knock those pearls out of his smug face.

“The boy?” Gardinal asked. “Who even is he? She's supposed to be hidden here Vallerian, not some prize pony to be shown off at a party.” Gardinal railed at Vallerian to no effect.

“Eth... Cele... Your Radiance.” the man behind Gardinal sputtered, and Gardinal turned to him. Had the boy been just about to address Her Radiance by name? Whoever this kid was, he had to go. As Gardinal moved to dispose of the newcomer, the man ran his hands nervously through his long golden hair.

Gardinal recognized him.

In that single nervous tick, Gardinal recognized the dirty street child he knew this man to be. A square jaw had replaced gaunt cheeks, strong arms where once he had been scrawny. The dirty rags the boy had worn visiting the temple were no more, replaced with fine linen and rich leather. He was a handsome youth, a bit tough looking for Gardinal's taste, but even a Jöln could admire master-forged steel. But it was indeed that boy from years ago.

He very nearly wouldn't have recognized him, save for his eyes. That intelligent, strong, and concerned gaze refused to leave Her Radiance. A gaze Gardinal had seen many years ago, locked on the same girl, but from a dirty street child who always managed to slip by the priests. That child who would always slink around the edge of the temple at the Prophetess’s adorations. The boy who had tried to climb in through her second floor window one evening. Gardinal had dragged him out of the temple by the ear that night. That and a thousand other ways he had tried to get close to her again and again. Then one day, he stopped. The boy disappeared. Gardinal remembered the sobs of the child Prophetess when she had realized he wasn't coming back.

“It's really you.” She stammered now. Gardinal looked to his charge, and saw a look he had never seen before on her face. Shock, happiness, awe, and disbelief all flowed over her in a moment. Her lips quivered, ever so slightly lifting up at the sides. The Prophetess's eyes were wider than he had ever seen, tears already beginning to form. “After all these years... It's you.” Her words were barely more than a whisper. Gardinal could not remember a single time that girl had ever been lost for words, but now he watched her struggle.

“I... I'm sorry it took me so long.” He responded, his face matching the Prophetess's. The boy was just as nervous as she.

Timidly, Her Radiance stepped forward. Her handmaidens, having funneled into the room as well, only stared. All eyes fell upon these two, barely more than children, who seemed lost in their own world. She approached him, her head only chest height on the towering lad. The whole room seemed to hold its breath as the two never broke eye contact. It was as though they feared blinking. That if one of them did, the other would vanish. Shaking, The Prophetess lifted up a hand and cupped the man’s cheek. “You aren't a dream this time?” She whispered, her voice shaking as much as her body. The man shook his head, a tear welling up in his own eye.

With enough force to unsteady the strong man, Her Radiance wrapped tiny arms around him. Gardinal could hear her sobs, muffled as they were by the man's chest. Pushing past Vallerian, Gardinal stopped, then turned back.

“You.” Gardinal shoved a large finger in Vallerian's face. “You wait here. I’m not done with you.”

Vallerian didn’t seem to care, only watching the two youths with a curious expression. Bloody man was likely contemplating how he could use this to his advantage. Gardinal cursed but left him, ready to pry the two children apart. They may not be at the temple, but Gardinal was not about to toss out all propriety.