Watching Lellip and Jelti round the corner and disappear from sight, I wondered if something sad had happened recently. The bunny on my last visit had been happy, recently married and whatnot. Yet now she seemed to be missing a little bit of that pip in her step that she usually had.

Maybe she was just tired, or something…

Sitting back, I sighed softly as I continued to wait my turn. I was sitting in front of the main office of the Chronicler, the public one she used. She was right now in a meeting with some of the other church members, and so I was waiting to see her. I had felt bad for making Lellip sit with me, since she wanted to walk around and enjoy the Cathedral, and so when Jelti walked by and offered to show her around I had happily ushered Lellip to agree and go off with her.

We'd just arrived this morning, but it was already mid-day. It had taken us a bit longer than needed to find a proper inn that had a secured barn to store our wagon and horses. Lilly and Merit had stayed with the wagon at the inn, Lilly for obvious reasons but Merit said she planned to show up eventually. She wanted to see Oplar, it seemed.

Though if Oplar was here or not I couldn't tell. Other than Jelti, and the Chronicler who was busy, I'd not seen any of our other members yet.

I had thought it proper to meet the Chronicler first, and to give her the letter I had from Light. It was one of the thickest letters I'd ever delivered, as thick as a sandwich, and honestly I was tired of carrying it around. Not because it was heavy or anything, but instead the importance of it.

There were prophecies in it. Written as warnings for the Chronicler and those she oversaw. In other words, its urgent deliver was important. Lives depended on it.

I'd not told anyone else, not even Lilly or Merit, and especially not Vim that I carried such a thing… but I hadn't done so because I'd been told not to or anything. I had simply not wanted anyone to worry over me getting involved in such a thing. Lilly and Merit had… very Vim-like views on prophecies and those who had them.

I couldn't fault them, of course… I mean, I had similar views myself now. After learning that people have been treating me differently, like Brandy and Gerald had and the vote they had called last time to banish me, I'd been a little… on edge when it came to such things.

It made me wonder if Witch had done something similar. She had told me that she had prophecies concerning me, but had never told me any of their details. How was I to know she had not manipulated my life, my future, because of things she foresaw…? I'd really not talked about it in depth with anyone yet, but I was a little worried that things were… mixed up.

Elaine had claimed she had seen Vim and I show up years before we actually had. Not as in she had a prophecy concerning us years before, she had actually foreseen us showing up together far before we actually did. Back when she had still been a young woman. Decades ago.

And Light hadn't outright said it, but I had a sinking suspicion she too had similar prophecies concerning me.

I was supposed to have met Vim, to have joined the Society, years ago. Maybe even hundreds of years ago.

Why? And what is the consequence my being so late to do so? I knew, as Vim has said, that their prophecies were constantly wrong in such ways and as such shouldn't look too deeply into it… but…

What if I had made a mistake? What if Witch had done me wrong…? What if…

"Rennalee."

I blinked and looked up, and found Mapple. She was standing at the open door to the Chronicler's office, and a group of four people were walking down the hallway and talking amongst themselves. Their meeting was over.

Standing up, I left the bench and walked over to Mapple and greeted the woman with a smile. "Long time no see," I said in greeting.

"You were here a few months ago," she said simply as she went to close the door behind her after I entered the room.

"That's a long time, Mapple," I said happily.

"No it isn't…"

"Welcome back, Renn. Sorry about that, I tried to kick them out but we were discussing an internal problem. One of our nuns killed herself last night, rest her soul, and we're trying to figure out the details," the Chronicler greeted me while she sat behind a desk and was busying herself clearing it off. She stacked small books and papers on one side and then went to gather up loose leaflets to stack next to the pile of books.

"It's okay… I'm sorry for your loss," I said gently as I stepped up to her desk. I wasn't sure yet if I wanted to sit down or not.

"The priests expect foul play, but the one in charge of her is firmly against it. Pushing back against investigations and what have you in a way that is concerning, for all involved," the Chronicler said.

I frowned at that. "Wouldn't there always be foul play…?" I asked.

The Chronicler tilted her head at me as she stopped fussing over her desk. Her faintly glowing eyes grew a tad bit brighter. "What do you mean…?"

"Even if someone kills themselves on their own volition, is there not always an underlining cause? Abuse, neglect, a lack of people around them doing their job to help them, and so forth?" I asked.

She leaned back in her chair as Mapple shifted behind me. I was about to ask why she was looking at me all funny, but before I could she smiled at me. "I see Vim has not corrupted you."

My frown deepened. "I think Vim would say he agreed with my words…"

"Words he obviously taught you. Volition?" the Chronicler asked.

I blinked, and then smiled softly and nodded. "It's a Vim word, yes." He hasn't ever told me its meaning but I've heard him say it a few times and knew its meaning thanks to it.

"Used correctly too. And yes, he might agree with you. He's wise enough to know such things, yes. But he's also a champion of free-will. To the point he fully abides suicide. Thus his idea of mercy for endlings. He might know that such causes bring forth suicide, but won't ever stop it from happening. I had figured you'd have a similar mindset," the Chronicler said.

Beneath my hat my ears shifted, and I wondered why this woman always pointed out the differences between Vim and I. "Was I wrong to assume so in this case?" I asked, hoping to get the conversation back on it and not my conflicting differences with my husband.

"No. I firmly suspect she took her own life thanks to abuse. The girl had been from the far southeast, one who had been sold into slavery and found her way here upon escaping it. No matter how much our faith tells us we are all children of gods, many don't see past their skin or traditions and forget such a rule," the Chronicler said.

"She was abused for having tattoos. The pagan ones," Mapple said.

Oh… I'd seen those while far south with Vim. "So will you investigate it?" I asked.

"Of course we will. But even when we do, and punish those who did it… she'll still be dead," the Chronicler said with a small sigh.

Yes, that was true. "Is suicide a common thing amongst humans?" I asked as I went to dig out Light's letter for her.

"More than most want to admit, yes. But I'd say our kind are more susceptible to it. Though I don't know which of us actually do it more often, percentage wise per population," the Chronicler said.

Hm… "Seems like something Vim would know. Here, from Light," I said as I pulled out her thick letter and stepped forward, placing it gently before the old woman.

She blinked at it and frowned. "Thick. The kind of thick that tells me it includes prophecies. If she entrusted this to you… I assume she still lives, and all is well?" she asked carefully as she reached out to grab it.

"She's fine. We were attacked by a monarch on the trip to the Bell Church but Lilly and Merit had been there to help us deal with it. And… well…" I shifted a little and then shrugged. "We've talked it out, I guess. Yes. For now all is fine, I think."

The Chronicler smiled in a way that almost made me want to undo all the effort I'd just put into becoming friends with Light. It was that knowing smile, that snide type, that people who were haughty got sometimes. I didn't like it. "As foreseen. I'm glad to hear it. See Mapple? You were panicking over nothing," she said with a huff as she went to opening the letter.

Mapple shifted but said nothing.

"Vim still wants, and plans to step down, though. Light may not have justified his wrath, but he's still upset. I've not been able to sway those feelings or thoughts," I said.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"And thus why he's not in here. I'll tease him about it when he shows ups finally," she said with a chuckle.

Oh. Woops. "He's not here, he was sent to the coast by Light. One of her prophecies," I said.

The Chronicler immediately stopped messing with the thick letter and looked up at me, her smirk disappearing as she squinted at me. "What…? What prophecy?"

"She foresaw one of the ships being attacked by a monarch. One from the other continent. Vim's gone to try to save them," I said.

She dropped the letter's packaging, her eyes going wide. "No!"

I nodded. "She had been… or was? Very worried about it. In fact she told me in private, after Vim had left, that she fully expects to hear it being sunk. That Vim won't be able to save it," I said. Not that he wouldn't be able to save it in time, but that he wouldn't be able to save it at all. In general.

The Chronicler leaned forward and placed her face in her hands, groaning in grief. "Gods…" she whispered through her emotions.

"When… when is this to happen, Renn?" Mapple asked behind me.

I turned to look at the woman who rarely spoke during such moments, and found her face wrought with concern. "Any moment. It may even already have happened. Vim had left in a hurry, ushered by Light. I um… don't really know much else. Light and I had grown close, and unlike Vim I don't mind hearing about prophecies, but it seems this one had been rather simple. A monarch shows up, then sinks the ship. Somewhere off the coastline near Vorli," I said.

Mapple's whole face trembled, and she looked down and nodded… as if accepting the truth she did not want to hear.

Was… was she just that good of a person to feel such emotions over hearing such a thing…? Or was someone important to her on the ship, I wonder? She looked like she was about to…

Ah, she was. She started crying. Tiny glistening tears could be seen falling from her chin, not hidden by her loose hair.

"May Vim once again perform a miracle. Why are they arriving so early? The next ship is not meant to arrive for years…" the Chronicler was faring a little better. She was now digging through the bundles of papers and small letters that had been in the thick one, likely looking for the very letter and prophecy concerning the ship.

"She doesn't know either." Or at least, hadn't told me if she had.

"Maybe the volcano is already erupting…?" she then asked softly.

Volcano…? "What's that?" I asked.

"The reason they're returning. Though it's not to erupt until…" the Chronicler then glanced up at me and frowned. "You're glowing rather spectacularly, Renn. I'm glad to see it."

Great. She had just done what I had done a few moments ago, and what Vim did all the time. It was a tad annoying, but I couldn't really blame her for it when I'd just done it. Though it was interesting how I've begun to notice easily when someone forcefully changed topics, having so much experience with Vim in doing so.

"Yet still a flat belly," I said happily as I patted my stomach.

"Likely just your thick blood. I'm not sure of a jaguar's gestation period, but you predators typically have longer one's than humans. I knew a thick-blooded cat who had a long pregnancy before, from my youth. It had taken her over a year to give birth," she said.

Oh…? I nodded, glad to be told about what might possibly be important for me one day. "It's kind of weird us being thick of blood makes that happen, when our animal ancestors have such short pregnancies," I said. I knew most animals could give birth in only a few months.

"We're thick in divinity, Renn. More perfect than those without it. Perfection takes time," she reasoned.

I wasn't really sure if that was the case or not, but I was willing to entertain it as a reason for now. "Well… that all being said, while Vim is gone I plan to escort Randle and Angie up north. If they still plan on doing so, and or haven't left already," I said.

"They're still here. Technically his banishment begins next week, but… it is fine. Take your time. I've already offered my assistance, Randle and I have already dealt with most of what needed to be handled. You… mentioned Lilly and Merit earlier, I'm to assume Lilly will be joining you up north…?" the Chronicler asked, and I noticed the way she frowned as she did so.

She was asking for a different reason. Was she asking to see if Lilly was here, in Telmik, or for another reason though? I wasn't sure if I wanted to know. "Yes. Merit is actually with me too. If you're worried over my protection, I think I can confidently say you don't need to with them joining me," I said.

The Chronicler seemed to relax a little. "That old grouch left Lumen…?"

I shrugged lightly and nodded. "Some of Light's group plan on moving, or already have, into the guild. Those capable of acting as guards and stuff, so Merit took it as an opportunity to travel with us for a while," I said.

"I see…"

"Did you ever figure out anything concerning the monarch's death?" I asked, to get the topic off Merit and because I'd also been worried over it.

"No. In fact it's very concerning that we never did figure it out," she said.

"So weird…" I mumbled. Vim had found it very strange too, but had seemed to give up on it a little quickly even for him. But he had been so focused on Light and her schemes that I think he had not neglected it more than he should have.

"Very. But sometimes such oddities happen, Renn. They're rare, but do occur."

I nodded, I understood that. I really did. I mean… I was married to one of those weird oddities.

For a few moments no one said anything, and I realized that the Chronicler was likely waiting for me to leave so she could read Light's letters. Even if I was the one to deliver them, that didn't mean I had a right to know what was within them. Also, she was the type who found it rude to ignore someone without dire cause. I'd not mind if she read while talking to me, but she herself found it wrong.

"Um… can I ask a favor, Chronicler? Light gave her permission but I'd like to have yours too, if I can," I asked, deciding to finish my concerns and our conversation.

"Hm?"

I gestured lightly at myself. "I'd like to see the archive? Or rather, more precisely the prophecies that Celine left behind. I've decided to try and be the… interpreter? For Vim, concerning them. And I'm told there's still quite a few to be concerned over, so…" I started to explain, unsure of how else to phrase it.

The Chronicler sat up straighter, and a large smile planted itself on her face as she quickly nodded. "Of course…! Absolutely!" she said, a little loudly, and then gestured at Mapple. "You actually already know where some of them are, Renn. The small monarch had made its nest in that library, remember? Many such things are stored there. But there's another, one under the Cathedral, that is more secure. I'll have Mapple escort you there when you'd like to see them," she offered without any hesitation.

Glancing at Mapple, she quickly nodded in agreement at me. "Thank you. I um… I guess I'll go see Randle then, to let him know to prepare to leave. Unless you'd need anything from me? Or ask of me?" I asked, feeling suddenly like Vim all of a sudden.

She chuckled at me and shook her head. "Our worries and troubles are both simple and our own. In-house stuff. Just please let me know before you leave, so we can talk again," she said.

I nodded. That was fine. I wasn't sure if Randle would want to leave today or in a few days, but we all had assumed we'd be here in Telmik for a few days at least. "Then I'll go find him, then. Any idea where he is?" I asked.

"Randle is in his office. I just a bell ago took him a letter," Mapple told me. Okay. I assume she meant his upper-level one, and not the one down below… But just to be sure I gestured downward at the floor, and she nodded. "Yep."

So he was below. In the basement office. Got it.

"Okay then… um… also, I think I should also let you know that I spent a lot of time with Light," I said to the Chronicler. She tilted her head at me, so I went ahead and expanded on my meaning. "I think we became… friends. So… please don't worry anymore, I think." I wasn't going to outright say here and now that I planned on doing all I could to get Vim to put aside his desire to step down, since I wasn't sure if I had the right to do so just yet.

I wanted him to stay the protector. But I also wanted him to be happy. And if being the protector made him sad, then…

The Chronicler softly smiled and me and nodded. "I'm glad to hear that, Renn. But I had known such a thing already. Hopefully between everyone we can keep Vim in check, and hopefully more-so his trip to the sea ends well. I'm… still trying to comprehend what you've informed me of. I assume Light will have more information for me about it here, but…" she sighed as she shook her head and picked up some papers, obviously wanting to dig into htem.

I nodded. "please let me know if she says something important concerning it. We had left not long after Vim, so…"

"Of course. Welcome back Renn, just let me or Mapple know when you're ready to check out the archives," the Chronicler said as she went to unfold a letter and go to read it.

Taking that as my cue to leave I nodded and turned around. Mapple was already opening the door, and didn't leave the room as she did. She was going to let me leave and then close the door behind me, likely to have a conversation with the Chronicler after I left.

"Thanks Mapple. I'm glad to see you're here," I said.

"Hm… with Light and her people back I don't have to run around as much," she said with a nod.

I see. So she had been busy all the other times because of a lack of trusted people. Or maybe now they didn't trust her with important duties, since more trustworthy people were now available…

"We'll catch up later, okay?" I said as I left.

"Sure…!" Mapple nodded quickly, seemingly excited to hear me say so.

Leaving the office, I sighed softly after the door shut behind me.

That had gone well, I guess, but I now felt tired.

Stepping away before I could overhear anything that would hurt my heart, I did my best to focus on the sounds of my own footsteps as I heard soft whispers from the room. Luckily I didn't hear anything I didn't want to before I got out of earshot of their voices.

Why was my hearing so darn good now…? I almost didn't like it being so good. I wonder if I could hurt it somehow? Make it worse, on purpose…? But if I did that I might regret it one day, since I might need such hearing to save my life or others…

Heading for Randle's office, I rolled a shoulder and wondered how long we'd be here. I had left my bags with Lilly and Merit at the inn, but at the same time didn't know if I was going to go back and stay with them during the night yet. The room we had gotten had two huge beds, big enough for four of us, but at the same time…

I loved Lilly and Merit. I even loved Lellip, and had no problems with any of them. But at the same time I kind of wanted to sleep alone tonight. Merit moved around a lot while sleeping, and although didn't do so in such a wild way that it hurt or anything it did wake me up a lot. I wasn't used to a random hand or foot just… smacking me in the side or face or something. Vim didn't move at all in his sleep, except in the rarest of cases, so it was not something I was accustomed to at all.

Maybe after taking Lellip back to the inn tonight I'd grab my bag and come back, if the mansio wasn't occupied. That'd give me a chance to spend some time with those here too, as well.

I had people to see, things to take care of… and a few things I needed to do that were personal, too. I wanted to see Vim's mother's statue again. But I knew better than to not handle the important things first.

"Busy, busy…" I whispered.

Hopefully Vim wasn't.

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