>>6055986>were those a Bragialacraforgot to reply to this. no, these are simple flowers. The burning bloom is extremely rare and it can only be found in the darkness. the fact you received its boon is already something that borders on the incredible.
>>6055951You really want to see Soralisa again. But everyone is assuring you she is fine, and Master’s presence is so unexpected, so you’d rather hear from him. It would also leave your mind clearer for when you actually see your friend.
“What do you need to share, Master?”
Before answering he tosses a look at the inside of the Temple, which is as dark as the bowels of the earth.
“It seems we can go in now. Please come and I will explain.” He waits for you to take off your clogs, carrying them in your left hand. You toss a look to see if Salicera is doing the same but luckily she’s already reaching for her shoes as well, taking them off with a shrug.
You walk on the cold marble, Salicera right besides you. The moment you step inside the circular first layer of the Temple of Flame, a welcoming darkness envelopes you.
It’s so different from the one that met you back then inside the well. That other felt… inquisitive, beckoning you forward and inward. This one is soothing and invites you to take a break, lay down and pray.
You meet a few more others Priests of Flame coming back and forth, carrying burning chalices in their hands, which spread a pleasant and resin-like scent as they murmur the hymns to Ansàrra. While they pass by, they ignore you two, but bow their heads as the meet Master. With the corner of your eye you notice Salicera seems intrigued by the respect he’s getting. Which is curious. He’s <span class="mu-i">Master</span>, how could it be otherwise?
“You are missing your cameo,” he says as his voice echoes through the circular hallway, “because the Blessed Blind who was with you has requested to examine it.”
“Why now?” You ask. “I inquired her before about my growing connection with it,” you mention. “Did she tell you about it, Master?”
“She did. It was part of our conversation, though far from the most unpleasant,” he adds with a rueful smile, barely visible in the dim light. You have to carefully check on every one of your steps as Master leads you further inside the Temple, past the winding curves of the windowless corridors. As always, Salicera seems to be dealing better than you.
“So I can have it back when she finishes examining it, right?” You ask, already eager to feel its weight against your chest once more.
“That—” Master sighs, “remains to be seen. As I told you before she has requested your presence as well.”
“Astoria?” You instinctively search for Master’s eyes, but the most you can see in the almost complete penumbra is a hint of his stern profile. It’s a dumb question, but it just slipped off your mouth. “Why?”
[cont.]