Chapter 82 : whispers of the Heart: Harmony in Hentesa
In the blink of an eye, four days passed, heralding the arrival of the much-anticipated royal wedding ceremony. Finn's gloomy disposition didn't go unnoticed; his somber mood was palpable, apparent to everyone around him, including Elaine. Despite numerous attempts to engage him, Finn remained silent, distancing himself from others. Concerned, Timothy approached Lenard, seeking insight into Finn's emotional state. Lenard cryptically responded, "Matters of the heart, boy... just matters of the heart. Leave him be; he will be fine."
Choosing not to delve further into Finn's personal matters, Timothy redirected his focus. Engaging Lilith with a barrage of questions, he sought to quench his thirst for knowledge. From the strength of the enlightened to the elemental prowess of night walkers, Lilith patiently addressed each query. Amused by Timothy's curiosity, Lilith drew parallels with the Mesa enlightened, offering a cautionary note about the potential dangers of unbridled curiosity. She advised him to control his thirst for knowledge, emphasizing that not all knowledge is benign and warning that pursuing the unknown could lead to unforeseen consequences. With those words, Lilith rose, joining the others in training, leaving Timothy deep in contemplation.
Recalling his father's advice, Timothy pondered his current situation under a tree. He lacked a clear goal and hadn't been in touch with Concilia or heard from Sebrina for a while. The stark contrast between him and Stephen, the mysterious figure tied to both the destruction and preservation of Concilia, left Timothy grappling with questions about intentions, Cedric's fate, and his own role in the unfolding events.
Lost in thought, Timothy acknowledged Stephen's enigmatic nature, even Graham's memories failing to unravel the complexities. Stephen was like a distant star, shining brightly yet elusive. Determined, Timothy resolved to uncover the truth about Stephen, realizing the urgency to grow stronger swiftly in preparation for the looming war.
As he contemplated his lack of runic markings despite being a reincarnated being, Timothy delved into the uncertainties. The absence of memories contrasted with Lilith's swift recollection upon turning 13. Thoughts swirled about the potential impact of unlocking his memories—would it alter his personality, or worse, lead him to emulate Stephen? Balancing his individuality against the unknown, Timothy grappled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
"I guess we will never know," Timothy murmured, resigning to the mysteries that surrounded him. He stood up and joined the others.
"Okay, first off, Lilith is the one with the most battle experience amongst us, so I believe she should be the one spearheading our training sessions from now on. Does anyone have a problem with that?" Komoni asked after evaluating the group's strengths and weaknesses. No one objected. Lilith assumed command of their training, reassigning roles based on each member's element and fighting style. Given Timothy's proficiency in close-quarter combat and scouting, his role as the group's scout remained unchanged
Their training progressed well, and after some time, Lenard appeared on the training ground (his backyard) and ordered them to prepare for the royal wedding ceremony at the amphitheater. They all left the backyard, with Timothy departing alongside Lenard.
In Hentesa, a wedding was a sacred ritual involving numerous religious practices. For a wedding to occur, the bride and groom or their fathers needed to consent, and the ceremony would never take place on considered unlucky days. The groom would pretend to kidnap the bride, convincing household guardians, or lares, that she didn't go willingly. Subsequently, the bride and groom experienced their first intimate moments on a couch known as a lectus. Hentesean weddings required specific clothing for both genders – boys in toga virilis and brides in wreaths, veils, yellow hairnets, chaplets of roses, seni crines, and the hasta caelibaris. All guests adhered to the same dress code as the couple. The absence of evil omens was crucial for a successful marriage, emphasizing the importance of following traditional customs.
Before the wedding, the boy put away his bulla and toga praetexta, donning the toga virilis. Girls, upon reaching puberty, removed their toga and stowed away childhood toys. The bride wove the tunica recta herself, symbolizing her future role in weaving her family's clothes. On the wedding night, the tunica recta, tied with a wool belt (cingulum) in the nodus verillean or knot of Vera, represented fertility or chastity. The bride adorned the seni crines, a wreath, and a forest green veil (nerona). A turquoise hairnet dedicated to the god Hentesa, along with the serpentine trident in her hair, signified the husband's authority and protected against marital troubles. The bridal couple also wore chaplets of Liles, and the bride's attire resembled that of a priestess.
Hentesa's customs and traditions, though strange, demanded adherence, and since the prince marrying Hentesa's princess hailed from Nesa'i, he had to follow Hentesa's unique rituals.
The preparations for the wedding proceeded with grace, and after an hour, everyone was ready. Finn seemed lost in thought as they made their way to the amphitheater. Along the route, numerous citizens joined the procession. Even the bustling market, usually teeming with activity, stood closed today. All wore matching attire as they walked toward Hentesa's grandest event.
All wedding guests adopted the groom and bride's attire to prevent evil spirits from identifying the couple. An improperly dressed bride was deemed an affront to Hentesan morality, necessitating the view of many people to prove the wedding's good faith to their god.