I ramble, that is true of my guilty heart.

But in shame I must digress,

-Note within the hidden journal.

Celeste had thought, perhaps naively, that a galvanizing speech would be enough to convince her friends to accompany her. Rather, it had taken first flattery and charm and then ultimately bribery with a sprinkling of guilt in order to get everyone out of the house and onto the streets heading to the Korek neighbourhood. At the mention of leaving, Arabella had apparently felt the urge to start lunch. Valleresa had wanted to embroider and practice reading and writing with Kriss and Arabella. Vallerian had just plain not wanted to go, with no other argument than “It’s Korek town.” At least Kriss had been agreeable, even if he hadn’t particularly helped her with convincing the others.

The walk there had been fraught with frustration as her two sisters had several times tried to lead her astray. Thankfully Celeste remembered the route through the twisting roads that they had taken to get out of there last time. It didn't help one bit that the two seemed dead set on returning home, both of their fears becoming increasingly evident as the patchwork homes turned into the leather tents of the Korek. The women seemed acutely uncomfortable around the tall ruddy people. Celeste admonished them for their reactions, asking what the Korek had done to either of them. Arabella just told her that “they are of the Chaos they are.” That had left a deep sense of disappointment in her friend. After her research Celeste found the Korek a welcome sight.

Those books may have been full of all sorts of nonsense, the validity much of which she was still unsure, but she could make out little kernels of truth spread out before her. Where the books had complained about a lack of respect for the tenets of nobility, Celeste saw something she found far more noble. The Korek sat around the bonfires, all leaning in and listening to the eldest of their ranks. The elders sharing their wisdom to a captive audience who seemed keen to take on the knowledge of their fore-bearers. Celeste was even able to make out a few of the words they said, gleaned from her research. They spoke of leadership, mercy, valour, and wisdom. The people listening intently, rapt in tales of the divine virtues. These truly were people who lived in the light of the Pantheon.

Around other fires, Celeste heard their music in a new light. The horns and rhythms that Fereni scholars had misunderstood as mindless, were now beautiful. The beats represented a forming of order from chaos. Each song would begin out of synch, chaotic rhythms breaking down and clashing against one another. Then one man would take charge, always a man, and he would play is horn louder, or bang his drum louder. He would always create a slow, steady beat. Loud, powerful, and clear. Then a women would come and play, or sing, a melody around it. Then, slowly, all the other instruments would fall in place. Each growing the central whole of the song until it became a beautiful piece. Each new sound joining in to strengthen the whole. Not chaos, not war, but a history in music without a single lyric. The story of the Korek, written in sound. She heard it played out again and again across a dozen different bonfires, and Celeste found it beautiful.

A harsh voice pulled Celeste from her enjoyment of the music. Down the twisting dirt paths that connected bonfire and tent alike, Celeste spotted a Korek man staring at her. He was an older man, with slicked back hair more grey than black.

“Stay back.” Vallerian growled at the man. With a soft touch, Celeste placed her hand on Vallerian's shoulder.

“Vallerian, look at them.” Celeste said. She could see in their body language that the men approaching meant no harm. They made an imposing sight, but that was more for their natural physique than any menace in their stance.

“You healer child?” The older Korek asked. He seemed to be comfortable with the words, even if the accent was still thick. Celeste nodded.

“I am, yes.” she responded. “And you?”

“Radiance.” Valleresa hissed from behind her. “Do you really think it's a good idea to go announcing yourself everywhere?” She whispered into Celeste's ear.

“Nobody else was announcing me.” Celeste responded with no small amount of snark. She was going to have to have a talk with her friends on their prejudices.

“Ga'Na want you. Many day we look.” The tall man stated, motioning for Celeste to follow. Celeste did so, much to the grumbles of her friends behind her. He turned and Celeste followed them through the tent lined pathways.

A hand grabbed Celeste's shoulders as the group wound through tents and bonfires, and Vallerian pulled himself up to her side.

“This feels like a trap, Radiance.” he whispered to her.

“Please cease with your groundless accusations, Lord Vallerian.” Celeste whispered harshly. “Have these people shown us any ill will?”

“Just trying to watch out for you.” Vallerian responded, then fell back. In short form, Kriss took his place.

“You know what you're doing here?” He asked, looking down at her with those big, concerned eyes of his.

“No.” She whispered back. “But I have to try.” She felt a sense of relief when Kriss nodded, then strode in front of her, leading their small group. That gentle, quiet strength that he radiated, she wondered if he would ever know how much it meant to her. She had so many people who wanted to help her, but so few who truly supported her decisions.