After Havengard gleefully forced him and the visiting priest of Teoh'ir'aen off the temple grounds and forced Heidynn to ‘assist’ him in ‘helping the pair see their way out’, the two had to only wait st moments before Traya and Ennalyssa joihem.To Peter’s relief, he saw that they were being apanied by Broseff and Anamea, so he at least khey had not been mistreated, bullied, hed up on their way out. It seemed that d’Zaier had kept his word and spoken to Vaunn about this ‘ge in pns’; it still made his heart his chest when he saw the tears in Ennalyssa’s eyes and the worry on Traya’s face, Brosef tried to keep a straight face but Peter was able to tell he was teeteriween anger and worry, and Anamea was flushed in embarrassment over this turn of events.
The priest of Teoh'ir'aen, who Peter learned was named Jhe’fuh, had spoken to them all in a soft, apologetie and ko speak to Ennalyssa, making the pirl burst into fresh tears when he A) Asked her name, B) Addressed her by it, and C) Promised that she would be taken care of — that they all would, and more that they would not be separated.Peter would have ughed at poor Jhe’fuh’s fusion but he quickly went to Ennalyssa’s side to calm her while promising to expin things to the priest of the Earth God ter.
A quick stop by Miss Sharra’s bakery for some fresh fry-cakes to cheer up the pre-teen, as well as Peter and Traya, was wele (It also allowed Peter to check up on Miss Sharra herself and if she had any more visitations from her two ‘favorite ers’ he had met that first day he arrived oyros) and, currently, Peter wished he erhaps a bit slower iing his fry-cake because he was dearly wishing for the extra sugar, or at least a distra from his current situation by fog on chewing the sweet treat.Peter’s ‘problem’, as it was, was when they had arrived at the Pilrs’ temple shortly after their side-trip he saw that the holy site for the Gods of Sky, Sea, ah was…
“A GYM?!”The words were whispered warily under his breath, disbelieving and truly incredulous at the sight before him. Yes, it had a thick, sturdy wall fag the street but it had detly sized, eter would call, bay windows.Of course, this alloresent, and walking by, to see ihout going in aer could see people of all races, genders, body types… a true melting pot of examples… doing all sorts of exerg.Along that front wall, through the windows, he could see a line of ining treadmills — actual treadmills — with people on a good number of them, walking ging. Through the door, he could hear the sounds of metal king and g — weights being lifted, dropped, and shifted no doubt — as well as surprisingly upbeat, eic musibsp; At least I ’t reize the tune… not sure how I’d feel if I heard some song or another from my old home world… Peter mused, rubbing his forehead.
“Is something the matter?” Jhe’fuh asked, looking doeter curiously.“No... No, it’s…” Peter, feeling his cheeks flush, stammered as he tried to formute useful words in a hopefully-not-insulting manner, “Well. I admit I’m a little surprised to see an actual gym here, because, well… I figured this world didn’t need dedicated buildings to being active ahy sihat seemed like still part of the daily life?” He winced as the awkward expnation spilled from his lips before he could formute the thoughts more coherently, “A-And I know… the temple guards trained for hours every day but that’s different, and I…” Jhe’fuh ughed warmly, putting a thick hand oer’s shoulder, “Ease, my new friend. You are not the first other… erm… traveler… to express fusion at such a sight.” He grinned, “Long story short, I believe is the appropriate saying here, is that one such traveler inspired the Pilrs te their temple with the cept of a gym out of a shared philosophy of Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Soul.” He expined, “And so, sihen, all Temples of the Pilrs have been a pce to shape oneself, better oneself, without worry of judgment.” “Oh.” Peter blinked, unsure of how to process this information.fused, just a little, Jhe’fuh looked at Peter, raising an eyebrow, “Is it not this way on your world?” “I… was always unfortable with gyms and other pces of fithat like…” Peter found, again, the words spilling out before he could stop them, “… Like… someone like me… visibly, and greatly, out of shape and ht… was unwele there. Why would I be there? Gyms were for people already in shape to maintain being in shape.” He looked down, embarrassed, whispering “I didn’t like being stared at…” He frowned, “Plus the yearly subscription fee was just too expensive.” “By Xtha…” Jhe’fuh frowned, “To judge orying to improve themselves, to bee healthier… that is ao the Pilrs and their followers. Like the world around us, everyone is in this together. Together we make up the whole… so does it not make sense we help and support each other as we try to improve ourselves and, through us, the world around us? To say nothing of charging for it!” “That… Are you tellihat is the creed of yod?” Peter asked, no small amount of surprise in his voibsp; “Not just mieoh’ir’aen, who is lord of Earth and Nature, but the Lord of the sky, Mah’rul’diir, and the lord of Sea, Storms, and… theater, Yral’ere’nos.” Jhe’fuh nodded, “The three Pilrs would never allow such judgment within their walls. Not even from oneself.” He chuckled, “We tend to be our own harshest critic, after all.” “That’s the damn truth.” Peter muttered to himself, he looked over at Ennalyssa who, thankfully, seemed more ied in the building before them and what y within than his versation with Jhe’fuh. “You worry about her either.” The priest smiled, “Teoh shared with me what he saw at your ‘trial’ the other day. Your memories, and hers.” He frowned, shaking his head, “That is why I made a point of assuring her she is safe within these walls.” “… Thank you…” Peter whispered.He nodded, “Of course. She is a child, and we will do all we to help prepare her for the road ahead.” He frowned, “No one of the Family was happy when we found out that she… that Ennalyssa was…” “Yeah.” Peter sighed, “So. How about a shiny ge of subject.” He whispered to Jhe’fuh, then raised his voice a little, “Let’s see about your temple?” He asked, “I’m curious, holy, about how all of this will work.” “Of course!” Jhe’fuh smiled, “I’ll show you around, and we get you settled into your new rooms. “I… well…” Peter blushed.The priest shook his head, “You were treated unfairly… but I do agree that staying close to where you’re training will make things easier.” He said gently, “And, remember… we help those around us and it makes the whole stronger.”
====================
“As you saw through the windows—” Jhe’fuh spoke to the three as they entered, “— We have a dozen or so stationary pathwalkers.” “Mh” Peter tried to get a good look at the mae, w if it owered, and how. “Most of them are user-powered.” Jhe’fuh expined further, notig Peter’s iion, “We do have some, for a more challenging exercise, that are athyrikly-powered with variable, geable speeds… but we find that walking at a speed of one’s own choosing makes the endeavor more appealing and approachable.” “That’s for sure.” Peter agreed. “On the opposite wall, in front of the mirrors, we have the weight stations with a wide variety of has to use.” Jhe’fuh moved not towards that, but to the right of the entrance — both to free up the entryway and take the trio to the part of the ‘tour’ — “Over here you see some padded mats on the floor.” “A sparring area?” Peter asked.Jhe’fuh nodded, “Exactly. This is just a small one, generally used for hand-to-hand sparring. Sometimes practice ons. We have er, practice areas where we usually do the ons practice, as well as those being warded fic practice.” “Oooh~” Ennalyssa cooed, eyes wide with excitement which was almost immediately dashed, “… we were supposed to get magic tutors…” She mumbled in a small voibsp; “Ah, apologies dear ss.” Jhe’fuh smiled, “I did not have the ce yet to tell you that Lady Di’si’thy has sent a tutor for you ar.”Her young eyes went wide again, shining with hope, “For real?” “For real.” He nodded, seriously, “We all want you to be trained as well as you be. We want to help… and we are all sorry it took as long as it did for us to be made aware of your situation.”Ennalyssa nodded silently, taking in the words but, if she were ho with herself, unsure of how to process them, or what to say. She brought a hand up to her chest, f a fist over her heart as she made a strained sound ihroat — an attempt to say something out of fear of not wanting to be rude.Peter, who was holding her hand — well, she had again ed her two fingers around his st two fingers — gave her a little squeeze to calm and ence her. “… I… …” Ennalyssa frowned, chewing on her lip, “… I ask…”Jhe’fuh nodded ‘yes’. “Why now?” She whispered, her fingers gripping at Peter’s harder, actually hard, against Peter’s fingers, “W-Why now? Why not… earlier…”Kneeling, givier a look, with Peter nodding this time, Jhe’fuh looked to Ennalyssa, “Now? Earlier? Do you mean…” “Why—” She nodded, “Why didn’t you all help me earlier?” She whispered angrily, “Why did you let me stay there for five years… being hurt, and healed, and hurt again for ‘training’?” Ennalyssa hiccuped, “Why was I chosen to fight the DaiMaou? I-I’m just a kid…” “Here…” Jhe’fuh pulled a small cloth from his robe and offered it to Ennalyssa, “Dry your tears, Ennalyssa, and I will answer your questions the best I .” He frowhoughtfully. “Okay…” She sniffled, wipiear-stained cheeks, standing there, feeling embarrassed and just waiting.The priest sighed, and Ennalyssa winced, afraid he would start yelling and though he had no idea this was the case it made him win return, “The truth,” He said gently and softly, trying to keep the young girl calm, “…painful as it is, is that we… the rest of the Family… had no idea you had been chosen for this.” He whispered, “We had no idea you were chosen, and taken to the temple ahere.” “You… didn’t?” “I swear, on Di’si’thy herself. Had any of us knoould have spoken up, stepped in sooner.” Jhe’fuh whispered, fully kneeling and hanging his head in apology, fists resting on his knees. “Do… I still have to be the Chosen One?” She sniffled. “That is not for me to answer. I am a Priest of Teoh’ir’aen, you would have to pray to Ilin'mam'kana for an ao that.” “I have…” She whispered, “Sometimes she’s apologized for my life… sometimes she’s been… angry… I question her.” She whispered, “Then she apologizes for being angry at me…”
Peter squeezed Ennalyssa’s haly, letting her know he was there for her. His other hand he squeezed into a tight fist, tight enough he felt his nail press painfully against his skin. So what.How could he care? How could anyone care after hearing that?How could a be angry with the Church Luminous, the Goddess of Light herself, for having this child gh that? Peter tried… tried… to expin it to himself.Something like this ime to train up properly, literally years. He recalled, speaking with Na’at before waking up in the chamber iemple, that the DaiMaou was on a two-hundred-year cycle of vergence or fluence, or whatever fancy term one wao use.So ‘of course’ one o start training young… but no. No, this was nht. This was too young. Even in his world, the most militaristiations still waited until sixteeeen… not twelve… not barely a teenager.Peter had no ination to remind himself of the differen ting systems at the moment.
He heard a tiny voice, scared and quiet, but clearly: ‘No. Take me.’ ‘No, this isn’t a story, or a movie, or anime. We ’t be the hero.’ Another voi his core ‘shouted’, ‘We’d die if we tried to fight the DaiMaou.’ So… what? He asked himself, Do I just let a goddess, her faithful, use a child as their … pything? Their banner-waving sacrifice?He felt sick at the idea.
Peter, as he talked with the Goddess of Death, walked with Jhe’fuh, Ennalyssa, and Traya as they tihe tour. He was taking the three of them into the back of the gym/temple to some of the rooms they had there. Apparently, it was not unon for members, both followers and clergy, to stay over. As well as them shelter to travelers or those in need.Currently, this included the three of them.
Xtha’leri’gath chuckled softly,
Natural death is ohing, it’s part of the cycle of life. But death from siess that could be treated but is too expensive… painful, scary death from wounds received in a war because the rulers waheir neighbors' resources and didn’t want to broker a deal? <… I see you uand, at least somewhat. And don’t take that as an insult. You have the beginnings of uanding where I’m ing from, but you are mortal and I, as what I am, have seen… mt; I see, and I think I uand.
And, like that, Xtha’leri’gath was gone from his mind and being. Peter was surprised that he didn’t feel cold, or empty, because of her being the Goddess of Death.He blinked, rubbing his temple, sighing softly. “Peter?” Ennalyssa looked up to him, still holding his hand, “Are you okay?” “I am.” He whispered, kneeling to hug her tightly, “And you will be too. I promised you that, didn’t I?”She hugged him back, holding tightly, “I don’t… wanhe Chose scares me. I’m scared…” “Ah sense would be.” Peter agreed, holdiightly.She shivered, “… But I have to do it… Otherwise… even if it wasn’t good training… those five years were… wasted.” She whispered, “And, if I don’t… who would? Who could? I have to do it.” Just like Xtha said. Peter nodded, “And you won’t be alone. I’ll be right there. And we have friends who won’t leave us either.” “Do we?” She asked, unbelieving. “We do. It may not seem so at the moment, but we do.” He assured.
“Are you well?” Jhe’fuh asked, “You… sort of just stared into nothing, following us around.” “I’m sorry about that I…” Peter was about to say something, to e up with a story, but shook his head, “I eaking to a goddess. In truth, and sidering my old world — I find it hard to believe I’d have ah of versation with a deity, I eaking with Xtha’leri’gath.” “The Death Goddess…” Jhe’fuh blinked, blessing himself with a different sign than Heidynn had at the Light temple. Peter would have to remember to ask if that was the Earth-specifie or the general one. “I am fine.” He looked to Ennalyssa and Traya and, as expected, saw the fear clear and front in their eyes, “She was actually cheg up oer the other day. bill of health.”Ennalyssa hugged him harder. “That is good to hear my friend.” Jhe’fuh sighed, “Do we o redo the tour?” “No. We do that ter.” Peter smiled, standing up, “Right now… I think we get settled into our rooms.” “Very well. We do have some sheets and bs for you. They may not be as cozy as those in the visitor’s suite but they’re fortable enough.” He smiled. “Anything you give us is fine. I am sorry we have to take rooms away from you.” “As I expined… You are in-need. Never mind the fact it’s not unon for people to work out te and stay the night. Or nap mid-day in one of the rooms.” He smiled, “Think nothing of it. This is your home now and we are happy to wele you.” “Well. Don’t think I won’t want to repay that kindness by helping around…” “You just focus on your training, my friend.” Jhe’fuh smiled, putting a hand oer’s shoulder. “Alright.” He smiled, “Then… we start?” “Right now?” “Yes.” Peter said, “I always wao learn how to fight. I just never had the body or endurance for it. I… might have a cheat with this body, being much fitter than my old o… I still o work on my endurance. Plus, after dealing with d’Zaier and Havengard so soon after waking up…” He cracked his knuckles, “I have some energy I wouldn’t mind burning off.” “Well then!” Jhe’fuh ughed, “Let’s get you started!” He cpped the otherworlder on the back.
Peter could feel, in his core, that this was the beginning of a neter in his life. Something he would take more trol of, he would do things differently than his old, other life.He wasn’t going to mess this life up.
========================================