Under The Moon (Finished)

[Wyatt]

Wyatt shook his head at the mention of ale. "No way. You've still got a little buzz from before and we don't want you drunk on the stage. What do you have to be worried about, anyway? These are your people, your family. If you can't embarrass yourself in front of family, who can you?"

It might not have been the most rousing speech, but Wyatt felt it was appropriate. Mana always hated crowds, but she'd need to get over that eventually. She was a symbol for her people, for all aspiring swordswomen the world over. She would have her fair share of pupils and star-eyed warriors seeking her attention.

The thought actually made him a little jealous, but he beat it off easily enough. This was Mana's time. She'd worked hard to get this far, and she was being recognized for her exploits. "Don't think about it as something formal, Mana. They are inspired by all you've done, and who wouldn't be? Just be honest with them and you'll do fine. Elias is right, they will like you for who you are, not what you represent to them."

Wyatt said all of that, but he wasn't sure if he'd be ding any better if he was in her place. Fighting in front of a crowd was one thing, but giving a speech to a bunch of people who would be hanging on to your every word? That was another thing all together.

"Good luck. Knock em dead!" was all he could think to say to encourage her.

[Mana]

Everyone stopped make noises when the tribe chiefs walked to the altar in the center, they made some hand gestures to their people, telling them to stop talking and focus to what would come next. The ceremony. It was an ancient ritual passed down by their ancestors and disrespect to such tradition wouldn't be tolerated. The death of Hawkeye tribe chief had made the ceremony missing one chief but technically it wouldn't disturb the process too much so they decided to continue without him.

A Sacaen shaman stood next to the altar accompanied by the tribe chiefs. The shaman, who was chosen to lead the sacred ceremony, glanced at the tribesmen before turning his attention to some items on the altar. His hands moved skillfully as he prepared some incenses, urns, and other ritual equipments. Next to him was three strange boxes which varied in size and color which seemed to be important. The old shaman cleared his throat before he started to read some prayer in ancient language, as if they were led by something all Sacaens closed their eyes and started to pray at the exactly same time. Mana wasn't an exception, the girl knelt and closed her eyes as she started to mutter the same prayer in ancient language. Elias and Wyatt might be confused and unable to follow but they weren't taught the prayer and custom so they were tolerated as long as they didn't disturb the ceremony.

"The children of the plains, blessed by the sun, moon, earth, and spirits, step forward." The shaman's voice changed, much louder and hoarse, as if he was possessed by something. The air began to feel colder and the wind seemed to be whispering as the shaman burned some incenses. Following the guidance, three youngsters rose up and walked toward the altar. Mana, Kai, and Terra. They were chosen to represent their tribes. Fortunately, they weren't expected to give long speech, Mana would probably embarrass herself if she had to make a speech in front of this many people. They had been briefed about what they had to do so the three individuals managed to get into the correct spot perfectly. Without hesitation those three put their hand above a pot on the altar and sliced their wrists, letting their blood coloring their arms and flowing into the pot. "Let us, the descendants of the our brave ancestors, swear to unite as one family with the blood that flowing in our veins," the shaman spoke again. He then threw some incenses, oil, and strange powders into the pot, letting them mixed with the blood of the three youngsters. He then enchanted a simple fire spell and burned every things inside the pot. While the shaman was once again offering prayer, the three representatives took a few steps back and started bandaging their wrist.

The chief of Arulad tribe approached Mana and the others and then stood in front of them, looking at their eyes gently. He signaled two maidens to bring in the three boxes and then said, "Children of the plains...who represents the future of out tribes. ..today, you stand here as the chosen witness of our renewed vow as allies...as a family under this vast sky." The man unlocked the boxes and revealed what had been kept inside. Each box had a unique weapon inside. They weren't just normal weapons, those sacred treasures were tempered by the best Sacaen blacksmiths and blessed and fused with spirits. Just looking at them was enough to make people overwhelmed with admiration. The chief handed each weapon personally to Kai and Terra...and then to Mana. When he handed a golden sword to the black-haired swordswoman the man whispered, "It belonged your mother. Now it has become yours. Use it well... Stay safe, Kayla's daughter."

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The ceremony had ended and the atmosphere had become lively again. Men and women who hadn't enough fun chose to delay bedtime, they continued partying. Not as loud as before but there was laughter and cheers again.

Mana hadn't stop crying since she had received the sword. The sword maiden held it close in her arms and continued sobbing. Those tears came from happiness, mixed with a little sadness and regret. The sword was a memento to her deceased mother, the only thing she had that could remind Mana about the gentle woman who had raised her.

[Elias]

Wyatt spoke his piece to Mana, even agreeing with Elias a bit. Score. Elias wasn't good at this sort of thing, but if Wyatt agreed that means he totally nailed it. He even gave a pump of the fist with a grin. "Go get 'em Mana!" He cheered with new found cheerfulness. This might be the last time he sees these two, he wanted it to be a good memory. One he could carry with him for the rest of his life, his friends. The words felt strange, unfamiliar, but pleasant. It felt comfortable, like a warm blanket on a cold day, it seems so odd to the normal person used to such a thing but for Elias this was a first. Garnet could have been his friend but he left him, he left Elias, likely out of annoyance at the mage's antics. He wouldn't be the first, would be far from the last.

However this wasn't about him, it was about her, about Mana. He wore the sacaen garb given to him, it was surprisingly roomy, like a pair of pajamas. Mana wore these all the time? He couldn't say they were very fashionable but at least they were comfortable. He looked up at Mana, in her ceremonial duds, he knew what she was getting. He had helped retrieve it himself, so he felt a small bit of apprehension mixed with anticipation. The ceremony was very sacaeny, one of their magic dudes appeared to be a part of it, what kind he didn't know but he got serious 'magic' vibes from that dude over there. He read something in foreignese and it seemed everyone got the note but him and Wyatt. They stood there while everyone else knelled and prayed and it made him feel like he was accidentally blaspheming something. He looked around confused, but didn't say anything because he didn't want to make some Sacaen something or another made at him and turn him into a newt. Sacaen gods did that right?

There was magic in the air. Elias could feel it. A chill ran straight through him, piercing him, causing his hairs to stand on end. The wind whispered with words unheard, gently rolling and filling his ears with hushed secrets he could not understand. The earth smelled sweet, like honeyed wine, he could scarcely smell the incense. As wisps of smoke slowly drifted from them, he could almost see them swaying and flickering like a flame. The spirits, nature, it came together into a song. Silent but so very loud, the magics in the sky and the magics of the earth and the spirits between, they all came out to play. He had never felt anything like it, how the spirits were so natural, so free, and oh how they danced.

Mana stepped forward as the man spoke. She cut herself and the sight made him cringe, the sight of blood made him uncomfortable and a bit faint. Even after all these years, it still bothered him. Blood. He took a deep breath, breathing in the magic around them. He calmed his mind, but looked away, his eyes closed until he heard voices once more. He didn't understand much about Sacaens or their culture or whatever, but did it really need to involve bloodletting? He put it away from his mind and instead focused on the box that he held. Inside that box was a gift, Elias knew it. He held it. A thin blade, filled with the very essence of the storm. Terra told him they were artifacts back when he was dealing with them. Artifacts? Enchanted weapons with spirits bound to them. It surprised him, he never thought Sacaens to be a very 'magical' people. Preferring to hit things with swords, but it seemed they had some sort of... natural connection to the forces of anima. Fire, water, earth and wind.

Mana took the blade in her hands, as he could see tears in her eyes. Awwww, Mana.

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The ritual was over. Or, well, Elias thought it was over. People kinda wandered off and did stuff or went to bed and there was no more crazy magic stuff happening. All in all good show, could use a bit less blood and a bit more magic. Maybe fire too. Fire made everything cooler. He could hear laughter and cheers, people playing games and things like that. He could still see Mana, and she was still crying. As everyone dispersed and parted, Elias went over to her. His face sort of concerned looking, sort of confused looking, also sort of awesome but that part goes unsaid. "Mana." He said letting out a small half hearted chuckle. "That was cool." He started by complimenting the show. "You did a good job." He closed one eye and gave her a thumbs up.

He didn't really have anything to say. What could he say? She was crying. What do you do to crying people? Dealing with people was hard. What would he want if he was sad? He thought for a moment, and he knew what he'd want. That's when he held his arms open a bit and asked "Want a hug?"

[Mana]

Mana immediately threw herself to Elias' embrace and leaned her face on his chest. Her tears would make his red robe wet but the mage probably wouldn't mind. There was so many emotion erupted from the swordsmaiden as she failed to stop the stream of tears, not that she cared to stop it though. Mana always tried to act strong but in the end she was still human who needed to let out something and let someone to see her weak side when felt sad. Her arms clung tightly around the golden weapon as if she was too scared it would disappear if she let it go. "This sword...H-he said it was my mother's..." The words almost lost between the sobbing. "I-I remember she showed it to me once."

Actually, Mana had almost given up hope that she would find something belonged to her family or her tribe, everything most likely had been salvaged by bandits. To have her mother's most precious sword returned to her was...something that she hadn't expected even for the slightest. Why was it here? It was a luck, or maybe fate, that Mana's mother had given the sword to a friend in Arulad tribe to be re-forged.

"Thank you Elias...for being here..." Mana spoke weakly, having a little difficulty muttering proper words in the middle of her sobbing. The girl extended one arm and put hem around Elias as she pulled closer toward him, still pressing her face to his chest. Hopefully Wyatt wouldn't feel jealous. "I have always missed her...always hoped to keep at least one memento. It seems Father Sky and Mother Earth hear my prayer somehow." Mana was quite faithful to her Sacaen gods and this time she truly thanked them from the bottom of her heart. Her prayer was heard and a blessing was bestowed upon the Sacaen maiden today.

"Please let me stay like this a little longer..." Mana whispered weakly. Having someone's arm around her had reminded her that she wasn't alone and it also helped her to blurt out her feeling without restraint because someone would be there to support her in her weakest moment.

[Elias]

It was weird, Elias didn't get hugs very often much less give them. He was afraid he was doing it wrong or something, which of course begged the question 'how do you hug someone wrong' like do you do it to tight? Too loose like you're a piece of overcooked pasta? Mana was a bit taller then him, a fact that was in Elias' mind more often then it probably should be, but she seemed small right now. He had his arms around her as she cried, her tears bleeding through the fabric, but he didn't much care at the moment. He didn't know too much about Mana's life, the problems she's faced or the hardships she's endured, but he did know it must be hard to be carrying so much. She was always quite cheerful, and didn't show her sadness often, stay happy stay smiling and never let anyone see you cry. She was in pain, she had been for a while, and of course Elias was far too concerned with his own issues to ever realize.

When he arrived at the festival, he left on his own, to be sad and mopey. To feel guilty and jaded and alone, to whine and moan and be a baby basically. He wanted to leave them, because he didn't feel like he belonged. That he was a third wheel, and that he didn't deserve 'friends' like them. He never really considered how they must have felt, why would he? He is the crimson mage, and everything revolved around him. When he was happy, nothing else mattered, when he was sad, nothing else mattered. He didn't think how it must have been for Mana, he didn't know the history but it was obvious to see that her family was gone. Dead, and that she was the only one of her tribe to be here. She must miss them terribly, and that blade belonged to her mother, a momento of someone she expected to never hear from again.

He didn't say much, there were little for him to say. He felt Mana squeeze him tighter, thanking him for being there and thanking the heavens and earth for answering her prayer. It made him feel a bit guilty, because he was still leaving after this was all done. This world... It wasn't that bad, not really. He wanted to make sure it was safe at least. People die, are hurt, are killed every day. Beasts, monsters, bandits, it mattered little what held the blade. If he could do something to help, be it heal the hurt, smite the cruel, and stop the abominations that plagues them, he would. He would find the source of these monsters, of this darkness and do everything he could to stem the tide. He would smite any bandits who preyed upon the innocent along the way, he would help those hurt and unable to help themselves. This world was good, and had good people in it, and that was worth fighting for, right?

Mana, a girl normally so strong, asked in tears for Elias to stay. Even though he knew he must go... "Alright Mana, I can stay for just a while longer." How could any person who claimed to have a heart leave right now? Surely the world could wait just a little bit longer. He could stay, for just a bit longer. With his friends.