Do Not Speak Of Him! (Ch.24)

Weylyn's eyes fluttered open as the bells tolled signifying the break of dawn.

The night had passed and with that the first phase of the ritual was complete, somehow she had made it through the freezing night and the ravaging memories.

Weylyn could feel her warrior's mark pulsing in response to the magic from the cleansing pool which told of the Creator's approval of her.

A few knights had fallen to the test of the mind and those that made it through could not conceal their elation, but Weylyn could not bring herself to feel any particular way about it.

Weylyn glanced to her side, not surprised to see the spectral Ronan was nowhere to be seen.

Weylyn knew it had all just been a figment of her imagination, something her mind conjured up from a place where it knew she found comfort and dependence.

"Rise, you will be assigned priestesses to aid you wash and dress to be presented before His Imperial Majesty and the knightdom." The High Oracle's voice echoed through the quiet hall.

Weylyn rose to her feet, ignoring the numbness in her legs, she turned around, not paying attention to any of the other knights as she headed out of the pool and out of the hall.

"Knight Kalver, I am Acolyte Rekya, your assigned priestess." A beautiful, ebony skinned female stood by the entrance, awaiting Weylyn.

Weylyn hummed in response, lost in her own thoughts as the priestess led the way down the hallway, leading them through twists and turns till they arrived at a washroom.

"The other knights went down another hall, I was granted a personal washroom." Weylyn pointed out as she glanced over the luxurious washroom.

"Such are the privileges bestowed to the Gold Ranked Knights, Knights Mivore and Galvadore are also accorded the same respect, besides Sir Kalver is a female." Acolyte Rekya replied in a perfunctory tone.

From the acolyte priestess's tone, Weylyn had a feeling the priestess was not particularly fond of knights or perhaps it was just Weylyn she disliked...not that it mattered anyways.

"How bothersome." Weylyn murmured, knowing the other knights were taking notes of the preferential treatments she was receiving.

"Sir Kalver need not be modest, these are luxuries you must be accustomed to." Acolyte Rekya replied as she gestured for Weylyn to spread her arms so she could help her undress.

Weylyn passed the acolyte priestess a blank gaze, understanding the implied meaning of her words.

Truly Weylyn was accustomed to luxuries such as this and even greater luxuries, she was equally accustomed to the reaction she received whenever she revealed her unwillingness to receive preferential treatment.

Weylyn could not care less for what the acolyte priestess or anyone else thought of her and so she reverted her gaze to stare ahead.

"Rightly said." Weylyn agreed in a blank tone as she stretched her hands, allowing the acolyte priestess to undo her belt and sash, before she stepped back and pulled off her outer robes herself.

"I have prepared your bathwater and I will help you wash and dress in time for the ceremony." Rekya said,

"I think I can manage on my own." Weylyn declined politely, all she wanted now was some peace and quiet, she did not need to be bothered further.

"We are to lather you with the scented oils blessed by the oracle whilst making chants to bless your path, it is part of our duty." Acolyte Rekya explained.

"And would your blessings be dampened if you chant them from outside the door? As for the oils, I do not require help with them. Unlike what you may believe, I do not keep bath maidens" Weylyn replied in a blank tone.

"Sir Kalver..." Acolyte Rekya began to argue.

"It's fine, do as it pleases you." Weylyn said dismissively, she was hardly in the mood to entertain an argument, she would just have to ignore the priestess's presence.

Weylyn stepped in to see the bath water in the pool was already heated and she heaved a sigh of relief as she stripped out of her drenched inner clothing.

Weylyn stepped into the bath pool, without passing a glance to Acolyte Rekya who walked in after her.

The acolyte priestess held a basket of scented flowers, walking slowly around the pool, she cast the flower into the water whilst chanting blessings.

Weylyn would have much rather been left alone, truly this was the last thing she needed in her current state, yet Weylyn knew this was due process and not even she could go against it.

Weylyn submerged herself beneath the water, her head disappearing beneath the surface and she just sat there, enjoying the peace and quiet as the water dimmed the sounds of the priestess' chants.

After a while, her head broke the surface again and she moved to the edge of the pool, taking a seat on the step and letting her eyes flutter closed.

Weylyn's ears twitched as she heard the pitter patter of the acolyte priestess' footsteps approaching her, she flinched away when she felt a hand touch her hair and she lifted a chilling glare to the acolyte priestess.

"What do you think you are doing?" Weylyn asked in a cold tone as she realized the acolyte priestess had stepped halfway into the bath pool.

"I am required to lather the blessed oils on Knight Kalver in person." The acolyte priestess explained, unfazed by Weylyn's dark glare.

"And I did say I could do it myself, don't touch me." Weylyn warned coldly as she returned her gaze to staring out ahead.

Weylyn soon let her eyes flutter closed again, expecting the acolyte priestess to take her leave once she had concluded with her blessings,

However Weylyn frowned when the acolyte priestess spoke again, this time in an extremely strange tone unlike her usual voice.

"There was nothing you could have done, Knight Kalver." Acolyte Rekya said,

"What?" Weylyn asked in bafflement, her eyes fluttering open as she frowned slightly wondering why the acolyte felt she was in any position to even speak to her...they were not familiar.

"Why torture yourself so? Why push everyone away? There was nothing you could have done to save him, Knight Kalver." Acolyte Rekya continued,

Weylyn's gaze narrowed slightly as it immediately occured to her that the 'him' the acolyte priestess was making reference to was her brother, Ronan Kalver.

Rage flared within Weylyn's heart as her hands clenched into fists but she gritted her teeth to hold in her rage before she ended up hurting someone.

"Is it also a part of your duty to pry into the personal business of others? And if it is, I will have you know you are treading on thin ice." Weylyn warned in a deadly promise.

"Sir Ronan Kalver would..." Acolyte Rekya began, her insistence on bringing Ronan up infuriating Weylyn.

"Don't you dare speak of him!" Weylyn snarled, her hand shooting out to grasp a tight hold of the acolyte priestess' neck whilst her eyes blazed in fury.