“No…” Celeste shook her head. “No, no, no…” She hadn’t meant for anything to happen. She hadn’t meant for Vallerian and Arabella to get hurt. She just wanted to help… just wanted to…

She had failed, she hadn’t helped anyone. Now Arabella and Vallerian had paid the price. If she could just get to them. Just heal them, Celeste was sure she could fix everything.

“I’m so sorry…” Celeste sobbed. “Please… let me…” She begged them.

“They’re going to be alright Celeste. That’s what I was told at least.” Kriss soothed, stepping up and dwarfing her delicate shoulder with his calloused hand. “We were able to get them to the temple in time to save their lives. Vallerian is recovering, albeit slowly, but Arabella isn’t doing great. She hasn’t woken up in four days, and that spear severed her spine. They’re not confident she’ll ever walk again.”

“Take me to her.” Celeste demanded, trying to rise. Doing so caused her to collapse back to the bed. She was too weak. Too helpless. Why Ethinia? She asked, pleading to the First Mother. Why am I so weak?

“We can’t.” Gardinal spoke up.

“Why not?” Celeste cried. “I can heal her. I know I can. You know I can.”

“You’re too weak Your Radiance. Perhaps when you’re stronger we can…”

“Please Gardinal.” She reached out and grabbed Gardinal’s hand, and she let a bit of her light flow into him. Enough to help with the lingering pain of his remaining wounds. Even then it left her head spinning nearly enough to fall back into her pillows. Whatever she had done, it had truly exhausted her. At her touch, Gardinal softened, the tension in his jaw lessening.

“Celeste, you can’t go back to the temple yet.” Kriss answered. “It’s not safe.”

“How is the temple not safe?” She asked. “What happened, why are we not at Gardinal’s home? What are you all still keeping from me?”

The three all looked to each other, sharing something unspoken. Celeste clenched her jaw at their secrets.

“His Grace the Bishop believes he is close to finding the last of… those seeking you harm.” Gardinal filled in with slow, deliberate words. “But after this most recent attack… He is worried there are yet more skulking about.”

Celeste’s skin crawled. People dedicated to the Chaos, pretending to serve the Mother. How badly must they have been failed?

“Your Radiance.” Gardinal continued. “We believe it is best if you stay hidden for the time being. Stay safe here.”

“What of Rekiak? And Thelyra? Did they… did they make it out?” She asked reluctantly. She had thought she had heard Thelyra’s voice, but that might have been a dream.

“They’re both fine Celeste.” Kriss answered. “Thelyra actually stops by everyday to help care for you.” Relief swept over her at Kriss’s words. They were safe. She hadn’t failed. Everyone had made it out alive. Once she regained her strength, she’d be able to heal Arabella as well. Then everything would be back to normal.

“Somehow, despite all the odds, everybody managed to live, Celeste. This time.” Valleresa sniffed, returning to the conversation with some sense of composure. “But that doesn’t mean what I said was wrong. What about next time?”

Celeste quieted after that. She continued her questions as the evening stretched on. She had been asleep for four days apparently, longer than she had ever been unconscious for before. Rekiak and Thelyra had apparently moved into Korek town, the Ga’Na supposedly taking Thelyra under her tutelage in the ways of the Korek. Vallerian was supposed to be well, and her father was supposed to be furious. That was all she had been able to get out of Gardinal though, and the others were no more forthcoming. Even Kriss seemed reluctant to speak.

As the light behind those red curtains dimmed, Gardinal and Kriss retired to their own chambers, and Valleresa sat slumbering on a nearby chair. A cushioned one, but even then, Celeste thought it hardly looked comfortable. Looking at her sister though, the woman’s words echoed through Celeste’s mind. She knew there was risk, knew there was danger. But she had never intended for them to get hurt. For anyone to get hurt. That was the opposite of what she wanted. Yet, as she kept pushing for change in the city, it seemed the more the city pushed back.

“There has to be a way.” Celeste whispered to herself. There just had to be. She couldn’t believe in a world without hope for everyone. The Mother would never make a life like that. So what am I doing wrong? She thought.

Celeste looked back at the resting Valleresa, she was so pretty when she slept. The tension she always wore when awake, bled away under the Mother’s light. She looked so… fragile at that moment. With her hands wrapped up as they were. Kriss had mentioned in passing that she had been cut across the face. It must have been healed at the temple, as not a scar remained. The Mother's gift, such an important blessing for the people of Terminia.

At the thought, something nibbled at the back of Celeste's mind. A glowing light from within. Something she had grasped. A voice. What had that been? The last thing she could remember clearly was Arabella getting stabbed. That image was enough to keep Celeste awake all night. That and whatever that had been she had seen while sleeping. Celeste shivered, remembering the sight of the Great Tree engulfed in flame.

“What am I supposed to do Ethinia?” Celeste whispered under her breath. “How can I help these people?” She had thought she was doing good. Had thought that by pushing Tabitha to be better, by assisting the Korek leaders, she was bringing people together. All she had done was thrust her closest friends into harm’s way. Nearly killing Arabella and Vallerian in the process.

No. She was making a difference, she had to be. Tabitha had come to her aid. She would deny it, but that was an act of goodness. The Korek had even worked together with the Silver Skulls to save them. Celeste clenched her sheets in her hand. She had done good, no matter what anyone said. She couldn't falter now. Celeste prayed to the Mother until the first beams of sunlight pierced through those red curtains. She prayed desperately that she was right.