Chapter 397: Eye of the Moon

The sigils flared to life and the locks turned, and the temple’s door swung wide open with a heavy creak.

Virella opened her arm wide and bowed in a welcome, “I present to you, the Eye of the Moon. The Sylvan’s most sacred site.”

The very top of the mountain peak was flat, a small plateau. There was no polished stone here, no marble statues or other works of art, only snow, ice, and a few rugged rocks. Wisps of frost-mist trailed on the ground.

The howling wind rushed into the temple’s open door, the biting cold gnawing through their bodies. Virella and Aurelia braced themselves for the cold and endured its touch with a grimace. Tauri and Plum shouted in surprise and flinched, the warmth of their bodies leaving them in an instant. They had never experienced such frigid conditions. This wasn’t just nature’s chill touch, this was something more, something that ran deep from the mountain’s heart.

The freezing winds filled Stryg’s lungs and he was suddenly reminded of the time he had fallen into the Dark Fringe. The darkness and searing cold were like nothing he had ever experienced. Yet while the Dark Fringe had sapped away at his consciousness, now the cold snapped him awake, as if he had been sleeping all along.

Stryg stepped past the doorway and into the plateau, his feet crunching the snow underneath. The howling winds suddenly felt calm. The world fell silent and the light of the moon shined down on the plateau with an almost ethereal glow. He slowly walked towards the edge with a trance-like gait and stared at the endless expanse beyond. The Rupture Mountains stretched out towards the western horizon and the scarlet forest of Vulture woods spanned across the northeast.

For the first time since he had first walked through the gates of Hollow Shade Stryg felt incredibly small, like a grain of sand in the desert. Before it bothered him, it made him feel insignificant. But now it was calming, to know that despite being an Ebon Aspirant, despite so many people expecting so much of him, in the end, the world would still go on, with or without him.

It was bittersweet, he supposed.

“It’s beautiful,” Tauri whispered from beside him.

Plum gasped happily and pointed out to the horizon. “Wow, we’re so high up! I wonder if I could see Hollow Shade from here? Agh, it’s too dark. Hm, maybe in the daylight?”

“You can’t,” Aurelia said. “Stop waving your hands around. This place isn’t for frolicking or making a fool of yourself.”

“Sorry.” Plum blushed and bowed her head.

“I share your enthusiasm, child, but I have to agree with Auri,” Virella smiled sympathetically. “The Eye of the Moon is where the Mother Moon watches us most closely. It would be wise to be on our best behavior.”

“Wait, so Lunae is watching us, like right now?” Plum glanced around with a paranoid expression.

Virella nodded. “The Mother Moon is always watching us, though it is said she pays close attention to this place, and sometimes even offers guidance. Many have traveled to this mountain in search of our goddess’ wisdom, but very few are allowed to step into this sacred place.”

“Count yourselves lucky,” Aurelia said.

Stryg turned around and looked at the two Mothers. “Have you ever met her?”

“The Mother Moon? Face-to-face? I can’t say I’ve had the honor,” Virella admitted. “Though I hope one day to prove myself worthy of such a divine moment.”

“...Yes,” Aurelia said quietly.

Stryg, Tauri, and Plum all turned to her in surprise.

“Really? What was she like?” Stryg asked, unable to hide his wonder.

Aurelia stretched her hand out towards the moon. “Terrifying. Indomitable. …And sad.”

“Sad?” Stryg asked. The idea of a god being sad seemed ludicrous to him. How could one be sad when they had all the power in the world?

Virella glanced at Aurelia curiously but she held her tongue and waited patiently.

Aurelia why Stryg’s words bothered her so much. She rarely ever spoke of her past. Yet ever since Stryg had returned, she found herself speaking more and more. She didn’t like it, but whenever he looked at her with those eyes, those eyes that reminded her so much of…

Aurelia sighed heavily, “I’m not sure how to explain it. It was something in the way she spoke, in the way she walked. Her steps were heavy. Her voice resigned somehow. Perhaps it was just me, perhaps I misinterpreted her divine nature. I do not know. But to me, I thought she seemed sad.”

“It is difficult to believe that our goddess would show such emotions.” Virella stared at her best friend thoughtfully, “Yet you are the Favored of the Moon, so maybe you saw right.”

There it was, Stryg thought. Favored of the Moon. Several people had called First Mother that title since they had arrived on the mountain, but he had never heard anyone call her like that before. He wondered what it meant.

“We cannot linger here for long,” Aurelia said.

“You’re First Mother is right, as usual. None are permitted to stand in the Eye of the Moon for very long. Best to make your prayers quick,” Virella said.

“Prayers?” Plum asked.

“How else do you expect the Mother Moon to hear you?” Virella smirked. “I’ll be waiting at the door.”

“Thank you for the honor of allowing us into this place,” Tauri bowed respectfully.

Plum glanced around uncertainly. She wasn’t a particular believer in the gods. Many drows weren’t. She didn’t wish to be disrespectful of the Sylvan’s traditions, nor was she certain what might happen if such an impious soul prayed atop this sacred place. Would Lunae smite her down from the sky for her impunity to even dare ask her for guidance? In any case, Plum copied Tauri’s movements, and knelt on the ground with closed eyes.

Aurelia walked to the far corner of the plateau and sat in solitude. She did not pray, she simply sat in silent contemplation. Virella worried for her friend, but she respected Aurelia’s decision and kept her distance.

Stryg sat at the edge of the plateau, his feet hanging from the edge. Yet the height didn’t particularly frighten him. In fact, some part of him yearned to jump off the ledge and soar into the skies. Of course, he’d actually just plummet like a rock, but he could still dream. Someday, he’d master Yellow’s wind magic, and learn a powerful enough flight spell that could sustain even his weight. Someday.

What am I even thinking about? Stryg sighed.

He was at the Eye of the Moon, a legendary mountain peak that every Sylvan dreamed of visiting, hoping to have the chance to be blessed by Lunae’s wisdom, and to have their questions answered.

He supposed that was the problem. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear the answers to his questions.

Stryg glanced up at the moon hanging in the night sky and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, “When we were traveling near the edge of Glimmer Grove and the ruby dragon attacked us… A silver pillar destroyed the dragon. It saved us… Was that you? Did you save us? Did you save me?”

Stryg clenched his hands tight, “If that’s true, then… why? Why save me? I thought you named me a bad omen? Why save me against the dragon? I could have used your help countless times! I needed you when Marek ambushed us… when I was on that cliff with Cly… I needed you. If you ever cared about me then why weren’t you there? If you’re listening, tell me… Why?”

Stryg waited, hoping for a sign. Anything, anything that at all, that might let him know Lunae was listening. The world moved on as it always had, the clouds floating gently in the sky, the wind blowing gently through the mountain peak, and the moon flying high in the sky, as unmoving and uncaring as ever.

He sighed to himself, “Of course, you’re not listening. I’m probably just talking to myself right now, aren’t I…? Lunae, if all I am is a bad omen to you, a shame on the Sylvan people, a forgotten goblin like the rest dwelling in Hollow Shade, then I’m glad I left this place. I’m glad I traveled far from the forest, because I got to meet so many people. Some were stupid, some were bad, but some were kind. And somehow through it all, I made friends, I found a family; people who actually care about me. I won’t abandon them, not for all the honors of the tribes, not for all the moonlight in the sky.”

He stood to his feet and looked up at the moon with a determined gaze. “If you are up there, if you can listen to me in this Eye of yours, then I have only a single thing to say to you. Watch me. I’ll show you what even a small bad omen can do. I’ll change this unmoving world. I’ll fight for the people you abandoned. I won’t let Hollow Shade fall. So you just stay up there and watch me.”

“Stryg…?” Tauri called out. “It’s time to go.”

He turned around and noticed Virella was quietly ushering everyone back inside. He took one last look at the unfading moon, then followed them back into the temple.

Virella stood at the doorway. She smiled as Stryg walked inside. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Yes, I suppose I did,” he said in a bittersweet tone.

~~~

Virella led them back through the long winding halls of the Celestial Shrine, regaling them with ancient tales of the Sylvan all the way through. Stryg was happy for the distraction.

Jahn was waiting for them at the temple’s entrance, standing next to several other hunters of the tribe.

Virella spotted him and smiled wide. “Jaaaahhhnn!” she yelled giddily and rushed him with a tackling hug.

Jahn laughed, picked her up in his arms, and spun her around. “Vi, how have you been?”

“Better now that the old gang is together,” Virella glanced at Aurelia.

“Jahn, put the Silver Mother down. It’s disrespectful to pick her up like that. Everyone is staring,” Aurelia said in a curt tone.

The dozens of acolytes roaming the temple had indeed stopped whatever they were doing and stared at the startling scene.

Jahn quickly dropped Virella and coughed with a small bow, “My apologies, I meant no disrespect.”

“None taken,” Virella waved her hand as if waving the sudden breach of conduct away. “Have you all paid your respects to Lunae yet?”

“Yes, actually, we just finished. I was waiting for my sister and the others. I assumed you had whisked them away somewhere,” Jahn replied.

“Guilty,” Virella chuckled abashedly. “Where are you headed now?”

“To find some lodging and then some dinner, I imagine. Unless, you have a different idea?” Jahn said.

“Well, now that you mention it, I was thinking you all could stay here. We have plenty of rooms,” Virella said.

“Are you sure? We are not priests,” Jahn said.

“But I am. High priestess, in fact. So, yes. I’m quite certain you can all stay here,” Virella grinned.

“What do you think, sister?” Jahn asked.

“We’d be far from the prying eyes of the other tribes in the city below. It would make it easier to not draw attention, I suppose.” Aurelia sighed but nodded reluctantly, “Very well. Thank you for your hospitality, Vi.”

“Ah, you called me Vi!” Virella smiled wide.

“Don’t push it,” Aurelia said coldly.

“Aurelia of the Blood Fang Tribe!” a familiar voice shouted.

A Sylvan emissary strode into the temple, a retinue of heavily armed warriors behind him.

Aurelia narrowed his eyes in suspicion, “Otley?”

Even without his wolf companion, Stryg recognized the goblin instantly. He had visited the tribe a week earlier, informing them of the current gathering of the tribes.

Virella stepped forward without hesitation, “What does the Troll Slayer want with her?”

Otley bowed his head, “Forgive me for the rude interruption, Silver Mother. I’m certain you have better things to do than deal with this situat—”

“—Enough. Tell me why you are here,” Virella said.

Otley grimaced, “But—”

Suddenly, every priest in the temple dropped whatever they were doing and began walking behind Virella in a defensive position, as they began chanting in a quiet voice. Countless guards began rushing from outside and every hall until over a hundred armed warriors and dozens of wolves surrounded Otley and his small retinue of guards.

“I suggest you pick your next words carefully, Otley. You’d do best to remember who you are speaking to,” Virella said in a calm, yet threatening voice.

Stryg looked at her in surprise. Gone was the kind, eccentric woman who had just been guiding them through the temple halls. Here stood the matriarch of all Mothers, ready to burn down any who disrespected her or her temple.

Otley swallowed nervously, “A thousand apologies, Silver Mother. The Lunar Elect has ordered me to bring in Aurelia of the Blood Fang for questioning.”

Virella raised her eyebrow, “Which of the Elects?”

“All three of them, I’m afraid,” Otley winced.

“This sounds like Sabina’s doing,” Virella muttered angrily.

“I’ll go,” Aurelia spoke up.

Virella spun around in surprise, “Auri, wait, you don’t have to—”

“—Yes, I do.” Aurelia smiled sadly, “I’m sorry, old friend. It really was good to see you.”

Tears burned at the corners of Virella’s eyes. She bit her lip and shook her head, “You will not go alone.”

Stryg stepped forward, “No, she won’t.”