The night air was crisp and refreshing. Celastri took a deep breath, the sound of the pining nobles now behind her like the distant shores of the ocean behind her in a memory of the temple at Nissea. "Forgive my family. They are not yet wise in the ways of subtlety." Spoke Cassius, dressed in his resplendent robes which caught the moonlight in the milky fabrics.
With a heavy sigh, Celastri look into the dimmed moonlight, watching as the clouds drift by like the caps of waves on the shore. Once again, Cassius spoke, "You know, it is said that the heaviest burdens can be lightened when all is placed before the Gods. Tell me what troubles you, Highmantle." Gazing into the moon, Celastri recalls the faintest memory of her mother, like a wispy dream overtaken by stories of legend and myth. She frowns, wondering if she can ever see past those legends at all, "With due deference, your Eminence, but you know my burdens." Cassius stares off into the sky, challenging himself to try and see what she was seeing in that moment, "This is true. Rumors abound, however. I take no stock in rumors."
Celastri looks into the past. She was just a child, then. Barely the fastest idea of what this great journey of life really was. Sitting on the temple floor, looking up at them as she did the moon. "... And what makes you think it's wise to assume they won't come to Ostia?" Estera asks, her voice cutting through the acoustics of the temple at Ostia as though a priest at mass. Dressed in her priestly robes, she points an accusatory finger at Senator Teucheron. "General Detrius will be returning here within the next day with his legion to resupply. He knew you would be worrisome and has posited if they were to come to Ostia, they would have done it by now." Estera frowns and shakes her head, turning away from the Senator and giving a look at her shieldsister, Imara. "Garus is a buffoon who should have been kept on a tight leash. The consuls knew it was an unwise decision to give three legions under his command, and now he's gone and lost one in the worst military defeat Ostia has ever seen for a thousand years. You and your entire senate are far too comfortable in these paltry walls. One of these days, Ostia will break. You'd best hope and pray to Eyleth that I'll be here to defend it." The senator moves to speak, and while unable to find any words to retort what she says simply chooses to remain silent.
"Eyleth have mercy if my daughter were to ever find herself within these walls when that day comes." Estera gestures towards little Celastri, who gazes up at them both with a curious look, her little features clouded by innocence and fascination. "Mommy, is there something happening?" In the bluster of Estera's speech, she can't help but smile at little Celastri, and picks up her only six summers old child in her arms. "Nothing right now my little starlight." Estera comforts the little girl, "Mommy is just dealing with a few bratty adults." The temple chamber is echoed with the laughter of the little one. Senator Teucheron nods curtly and sighs, knowing that the Vakyries will not let go of their frustration and worry- and they aught not to.
"I suppose this is a discussion for another time, Lady Highmantle. However, please reconsider the Senate's request." Estera, focused on the little girl in her arms, wipes a lock of hair from Celastri's face and looks back at the senator with a look of disapproval. "Not only do I think it would be safer to leave the city now more than ever, but I refuse to join any legion on the field, with the state of the Ostian Army what it is right now. I made a promise to my daughter, and come this weekend on the day of morning's glory, I will pass this temple onto another, and I will be making my way to Nissea."
A deafening silence fills the chamber as they stand between each other, Shieldmaiden Imara looking on in her armor with a disapproving look to the senator. "That is... an unfortunate turn of events. Best of luck to you, Lady Highmantle." Teucheron, not finding any way to end this conversation in a way the senate would like to hear, decides to take his leave. Celastri watches as the old man gracefully steps out of the temple in defeat, and sees the image of her mother smiling at her in the corner of her eye.
"Do you think daddy would like it here?" Estera tilts her head up towards her mother.
"I think so. He used to love big cities. But what do you think? Do you like it here?"
"I like it a lot! All the kids are really nice to me, even though I don't know what they are saying. And the Temple is really pretty... and clean!" Celastri beams up at Estera.
The Valkyrie manages to permit a little laugh and puts Celastri down, letting her stand on the polished frescoed floor. "Now, you'll be seeing so many new places! With more people who are nice, and talk real funny!" She always knew how to make her daughter smile. "Remember, you'll be going there so you can start your training right away. Mommy has to stay here for just a few more days to pass on the temple. Then I'll be there with you! Are you excited?"
The little girl's lips purse as she thinks about it. "But it'll take a long time until I see you again. Longer than a couple days..." Estera slowly bends down onto her knee,
"Celastri- your mother is a brave warrior. Your father was, too. Courage runs in your veins." She traces a finger along her arm, towards her heart. "What do you think that makes you? Hm?"
With a little pout, Celastri shakes her head, "I don't know. I'm just worried and scared. I don't feel brave."
"That's the thing about being brave, starlight. It doesn't mean we aren't afraid. You know, I feel afraid all the time! For you, for this land. Your father was afraid of losing you and me both so much that he faced it head on, and now lives in the angel's house."
Little Celastri didn't feel upset remembering the glimpses of her father. She knew where he was, looking down on her from the house of the angels.
"But you know what bravery is? Bravery is looking at fear. Like this!" Estera scrunches her face at Celastri, making her giggle. Seeing Imara standing there still, she and picks the little girl up in her arms. "Look! It's fear! What do we say to it?" As Imara sees this, she grins and hunches over like a hag, as if to reach out and snatch Celastri, who, with a smile belts out, "I'm not afraid of you!"
"Oh? Not afraid of me, little girl? I'll get you, you know!" Imara threatens with a witchy voice.
Estera puts Celastri on her shoulders and orders, "Quick! Give me your bravery so I can fight this evil hag away!" Celastri can't help but laugh and once again belts out, "I'm not afraid of you!"
With that, Estera grapples Imara who pretends to try and grab at Celastri saying, "I'll chew on your little bones, girlie! Gaaaahhh!!" Estera hold onto Imara's hands as she says, "Quick! Cellie! Strike the final blow!" Celastri balls up her tiny fist and strikes Imara in her armored shoulder,
"Raaahh!" she challenges, causing Imara to reel back and dramatically fall onto the floor. "We did it! Look! The fell witch has been slain!"
In that troubled bout of silence, Celastri takes another deep breath, closes her eyes and says. "I'm not afraid of you..." Cassius smiles. "She must have loved you more than anything in the world." Celastri, with a heavy heart simply shakes her head in an understanding gesture.
"She always said to me I'd be braver than she was. Yet... all I can feel is... apprehension. With everything I do. Why is it that everyone always looks at me like... like I'm her? They didn't even know her! Not like I did... if I ever even did."
Tears begin to fall from her cheeks and Cassius looks to the ground as he takes a few steps closer to her.
"They are big boots to fill. Sadly, I cannot say I know what it's like." He places a hand on her shoulder and when Celastri feels the slightest bit of invitation, she turns heel away from him and hides her crying face.
"However, I think I can say this," he continues, "that you seem to suffer far more in the mind than you do in reality. It will be a process, but you are strong enough to learn that you can become content with your contested past and learn to let go of the things that hurt; but first you must face them."
As Celastri begins to step away from him, she emboldens herself, wiping her face and calming her breathing. She remembers her time at Nissea.
Cassius' voice calls out through the quiet again, "Nobody truly thinks you must be like Estera. I challenge you to ask anyone here, and among your party, if any of them truly thinks this of you. They will deny you ever needing to live in her shadow, and deep down you know that of yourself, Celastri."
She remains silent as he speaks, then carefully chooses her words. "I feel like I need to prove myself. Like if I don't become as successful as she was, then my destiny will be wasted."
"That is a valid fear to have. Your mother was great. What makes you think that you, a talented Valkyrie, at such a young age going to a warfront that will see the end of a war that's lasted a generation, will not achieve something great? You see yourself falling, when... Celastri... you haven't had the moment to jump. You see? And when you do jump, you will find that everything you've worried about won't matter. Because it isn't about trying to reach your mother's heights... the fact that you jumped at all would make any parent more proud than ever."
With that, they both return to the party. Celastri thanks Cassius for his time, and as the nobles of House Papsinas see the daughter of Estera Highmantle return once again, some begin to bashfully look her way. Celastri looks for the only man she knows can provide some feeling of groundedness right now, and shakes her head, "Ugh, Fargas, why are you never here when I need you?"
