[center][h1][i]The Holy Quintet in Keltra[/i][/h1][/center]
[hr]
With wings of light, Fear flew from the keep - away from the pain and suffering that ate away at her being, away from the grief and sorrow withering her mind, away from dreadful despair that whispered dark words into her ear. Her heart ached, and she could find no cure in the place she left behind, so she flew and alighted atop the outer wall of Keltra to where she could see the world beyond.

She was greeted with the sight of foul decay; the land westward had been touched by Doom and ravaged by the lingering death. The anxious champion could not fathom why such evil could exist, and exist so close to her home, but she knew she felt compelled to stand against it, despite the fate assigned to her by her name. She would fight against such cruelty and injustice, even if she must sacrifice herself to do so.

She sensed the presence of her sister approaching through the connection they shared, and couldn’t decide whether she should flee or face what was coming now. Though Wanderer remained verbally silent during the majority of conversations, Fear was well aware of her sister’s thoughts and opinions, able to directly feel them as though they were own because of their sacred bond. Fear was gladdened by the fact that she did not sense any hostile intent from her sister.

Wanderer leapt up to the walkway atop the wall, and walked towards where Fear was standing alone. The shimmering wings of the anxious champion had receded, and Wanderer observed the way her sister glanced at her frozen hand, she felt her sister’s self hatred, and wished she could excise it, but she knew not how. Without hesitation, she stepped towards Fear, and placed a hand upon her shoulder, hoping to provide some comfort. Neither of their flames were polluted, so neither of them were required to stay by the Eternal Fire, and Wanderer felt Fear’s desire to run away from the turmoil within the keep. She reached out with her mind to ease the worries of her sister, but Fear gently brushed her away.

“I don’t think I ever wanted this… there were thousands of them… and we couldn’t do anything at all to save them. I still hear them too. I’ll never forget.” Fear faintly muttered, feeling the tears gather around her eyes and renew themselves for another journey down her scarred cheeks. Despite the removal of the Midnight Shade, she still struggled to articulate words as though her sorrow manifested and reached out from within to choke her while she spoke. She could hear the terrible fate of her name resonating in her words, the effect it held over her, and so she chose to silence herself while Wanderer conveyed concern.

Through her body language and their shared thoughts, Wanderer expressed forgiveness - she forgave herself for what happened, she forgave the others for what happened, and with great emphasis; she forgave Fear for what happened. Then came a ripple of gratitude and joy which washed over Fear, as Wanderer splashed and gracefully swam in the river connecting their consciousnesses, beckoning her sister to free herself from distress and join her. She even allowed visions of a serene refuge for just the two of them, where the troubles of the world were nothing they needed to be concerned with, but the images quickly faded as both champions knew that such a thing would never be found upon their chosen paths.

Fear was surprised that Wanderer would be willing to invite her and share in such a fantasy though, as even through their connection, all of her sisters still kept their secrets and certain thoughts as individuals. The anxious champion did not think that her sister would even entertain the idea of leaving though… not for her sake, at least. Besides, even though they were blessed with great power and longevity, they would have to inevitably return to Keltra to restore their inner flames. There would never be a world where Fear and Wanderer could just find peace and quiet, living tranquil lives freed from burden and pain.

There was also the ultimate truth that neither could abandon their kin to the cruel and capricious nature of the world. Both were compelled by unshakable conviction that led them along their current paths; attempting to bring salvation to all before all fell to ruin. Fear found herself holding onto Wanderer’s hand, her icy fingers entwined with her sister’s warm ones. She hated that she couldn’t tell whether it was her sister, or a puppet that she touched now… “I’m just tired, but I know I can’t give in. I have to defy my destiny, and help others be brave, not afraid. Um… thank you, for standing beside me, Wanderer.”

Fear suppressed the haunting visions of a future where she succumbed to her cursed fate, and attempted to smile. She would have to rely on the usage of facial expressions since she could not risk revealing her nightmares to any of her sisters, even though they already knew too much. Wanderer smiled back, and pulled at her, indicating they should return to the others. Fear pondered her predicament for an ephemeral moment, considering her options and the consequences of her choices. She hid these thoughts as well, knowing that none of her sisters would accept what she knew she had to do. She simply had to wait for the right opportunity.

Her wings of light emerged, and she swiftly flew back to the keep, holding onto Wanderer. The two champions gently alighted before one of the many southern doors, and then stepped inside. Though Fear had been overwhelmed by grief at the time, she had still heard all that was spoken around her, and knew that Wanderer would be called upon by the Recusant soldiers to fly Skydancer to the Garden of Hevel very soon. There was a brief temptation to ask if she could accompany them, but that wouldn’t help her with her current goal, so she said nothing. She could only pray for her sister’s safe return as she joined her sisters by the Eternal Fire with Wanderer, seeking to enjoy the respite while it lasted.

There was simmering tension as silence lingered between the six champions of Homura, as they all said nothing while seated in their large collection of comfortable cushions and owl plushies. None among the Holy Quintet had quite recovered after their defeat, and a myriad of disquieting emotions shifted between them, but that came to an end when Courage suddenly stood up - exuding an aura of self-assurance and conviction. It was enough to garner all of their attention, and temporarily wash away the unease that had settled upon them.

“Praise be to the King in Heaven! Praise be to our Maker! Praise be to the Sacred Path we walk upon… Nobody said it was going to be easy.” Courage said, addressing her sisters with both righteous anger and a subtle challenge that they all understood. Her voice reached into the Eternal Fire, and called upon its power - rousing the strength and energy to motivate all of them once more. The otherworldly music within the vast hall changed to match her tone and volume, transforming mere words into evocative sounds and images that manifested in each of their minds.

“Sisters, we must face these hardships, these trials, and overcome them! Not every battle will be a victory, but we must take responsibility for what happens, and we must always strive to make the world a better place for ourselves and for others, ya. I’ve realized something; that we must become stronger, that we must train ourselves. It’s time to focus our minds and our bodies, so that we fight against the coming darkness!”

As Courage spoke, Pride found herself observing how her sister easily weaved encouraging enchantments into her words which inspired those that heard them. The Keeper of Keltra wondered if that was the gift given to Courage upon her birth when she had received her name from Mother, and noted that there was a secondary source of power among her sisters that they all seemed to share. The brash champion continued her speech:

“Our weaknesses have been exposed, but we’ve an opportunity to improve our power through increasing our strength, intellect, discipline, and agility, as well as our understanding of the Gnosis. We’ve discovered our limitations, and now we must transcend them, ya. We’ve got time till our Maker comes back, so let’s show her what we’re capable of!” Courage declared, with the music around her pushing towards a crescendo.

“We’re fighting for our family, and I want to be able to protect all of them.” Curiosity remarked, offering her sister a hopeful smile. She still held Rowan in her arms, letting him rest peacefully, and was ready to do whatever she must in order to defend him. She knew that was her purpose. The music had matched her words with a gentle melody acting as a last prelude to the climax.

“The path is dark, but we stand together now. There is much evil in the world, and I agree that we must be prepared to oppose it. I suggest empowering our bond further, and including Pride in it, of course.” Kindness added, turning to look at the small champion.

“Of course! She’s burdened with the same responsibilities as us, after all! She’ll be an honorary member of the Holy Quintet, otherwise we’d have to change the name.” Courage commented, grinning at Pride now, joined by the tune which seemed to usher excitement and wonder as it began its dramatic ascent once more. Courage, Kindness, Fear, Curiosity, and Wanderer all understood what must come next.

“What’s this bond? Also, I propose the Sacred Sextet, if you’re willing to change the name to accommodate more members...” Her words were answered by all of her sisters standing up, and leading her to a close clearing where they circled her. Then they began dancing as the melody reached the precipice of emotion and meaning:

Though there was a taint among their inner fires, the remainder of their unpolluted spirit blazed around them. Otherworldly power manifested and coalesced in waves and shimmering splashes of scarlet light, as the shifting symbols of the Gnosis covered their bodies, and five voices sang in harmony. All five of them moved with grace, their motion seemed mesmerizing as though they moved in all directions and across dimensions and there was nowhere Pride could look where she could not see them at the edge of her vision.

[center][b][i]Will you still love me 𝄞

When I'm no longer young and beautiful?

Will you still love me ♪

When I got nothing but my aching soul?

I know you will, I know you will ♫

I know that you will

Will you still love me when I'm no longer beautiful?[/i][/b][/center]

Though they rarely radically changed their position, Pride could not differentiate her sisters at all; she could not pinpoint which one was which, or even tell which direction she was facing anymore. She knew that Wanderer held a staff and bow upon her back, and Courage had cut her hair short and wore that large golden gauntlet, Curiosity was even carrying Rowan, and yet for some reason, she could not find these distinguishing details, and it was as though five identical beings encircled her.

Pride did find that each of the five beings danced in their own unique manner. There was one that acted wild and fierce in a flurry of limbs, and another that slowly swirled like a lone leaf falling from a high branch. There was one that swiftly leapt and bound, and another that was reaching out with hands and beckoning to an unseen audience with slow and sensual gestures. Lastly, there was the fifth dance that incorporated tapping feet and snapping fingers with a hypnotic pacing that greatly amused the Keeper of Keltra.

With a sudden realization, Pride understood that her sisters had discovered the potential of rituals, and that she was not involved in more than just a playful performance, but an actual ceremony which would initiate her into another mystery of the world. She lifted herself with the Silk Song, and joined their dance with her spinning acrobatics while sailing through the air. There was a surprising heat around them, unlike the warmth of the Eternal Fire, that mingled with the small champion’s skin, spreading along the contour of her body and mind.

A sea of visions and feelings, a myriad of shapes and colors that overlapped with each other to create images that became sequences that were filled with associations and meaning that she herself had never prescribed to them. It was a vast wealth of knowledge that Pride’s mind could not process all at once, but she recognized what she was seeing. She was spiritually bonding to her sisters, forming another island in the sea of their connected consciousness.

The secondary source of energy that her sisters shared became clear to her, and she understood that she was sensing their thoughts, and letting their memories seep into her. It was both a welcome and overwhelming experience, and Pride could not ascertain whether it was prolonged or ephemeral in the end. She could recall the music receding until it was only a quiet sound adding ambience, and she could recall her sisters with their familiar shapes standing around her with pleased smiles after they finished their performances.

It was akin to awaking from a dream, Pride mused to herself, and heard a few giggles from among her sisters. “I see you think this is funny.” She accused in an irked tone, but her sisters continued laughing, and she understood the truth of their mirth, much as they understood the truth of her mock frustration. The small champion even found herself laughing with them, and the Holy Quintet, or Sacred Sextet, name still pending, walked back to their seats beside the Eternal Fire.

Kindness kept her laughter limited and subtle with only slight smiles and the occasional shake of her head. The reticent champion looked to Pride, exuding an aura of mischievous intent that was only detected through their new bond. “I am inclined to inform you that despite your extensive knowledge of the Gnosis, it was I that performed the first ritual. When will our Maker offer such fine praise and a reward for my service, I wonder?” Though her verbal words lacked all emotion, Pride could now easily sense the teasing tone of her sister - and the effort to direct any conversation towards more benign topics.

“Mother is beyond my sight now, even with my gift and the Eternal Fire. I suspect she wanders in the Otherworld with our more reckless Uncle. You’ll not likely receive praise anytime soon, and don’t forget Mother will have to cleanse you too. You’re probably going to be scolded when she comes back.” Pride countered, realizing that she did want to discuss any dire matters either. Her sisters were now aware of Apostate’s deterioration, Homura’s wound, and of the myriad of woes across the world witnessed through the Incantation of Seeing, but there was little any of them could do right now.

“I don’t think Mother will be mad - not if we show her Rowan and how adorable he is.” Curiosity cheerfully pointed out, as she let the babe play with her fingers. The rest of her sisters held back their surprise that the inquisitive champion would even partake in their conversation, considering how enamored she was with the child, but they all quickly recalled how talkative their sister could be.

Behind the gossamer veil of their attempts at casual chatter, the morbid thoughts of what the Holy Quintet had encountered in the North continued to plague their minds. It was incredible how efficiently they could process and utilize information by tapping into each other's intelligence and wisdom, more akin to multiplying their abilities as opposed to just adding the sum total of all of them together. They were aware of what the other was going to say before words were spoken, and could understand the deeper intent and meaning behind said words.

“What will alleviate our Mother’s anger when she sees that you’ve cut your hair, Courage? You’re aware that it won’t regrow on its own, and you’ve left a piece of yourself with our far away kin.” Pride stated, feeling uncertain about the change herself. Courage seemed so different without the long trail of scarlet of hair that had followed after her for so long, as though she were lost. The Keeper of Keltra kept such musings to herself in the end though.

Courage cocked her head to the side, and grinned. “You think that our Maker has time to worry about such things? She’s rushing from one thing to the next now, ya. You don’t have to be afraid on my behalf, pipsqueak, but I appreciate it. By the way!” The brash champion reached underneath her shirt and pulled a small blue stone out before tossing it to Wanderer. “You’re going to want this when you go, ya.”

Wanderer gratefully nodded in acceptance, tucking the Gem of Guidance upon her flesh where the navel should be. Afterwards, all of the members of the Holy Quintet unloaded Skydancer of their belongings: the large black-furred blanket, and their small pot filled with shiny shells and stones. Though half their number was weakened by the foolish consumption of that which they were not meant to consume, there was still a fond recollection of the brief time they had spent with their brothers in the north, and these gifts reminded them of that fondness again.

Fear could hear Wanderer silently urging her to be patient and cautious, as though she had somehow seen through the mental barriers the anxious champion had erected to conceal her plan. Fear deliberated for a moment, and ascertained that Wanderer wouldn’t be leaving if she was actually aware of what was to come. It would be less than a day and night until Wanderer and more Recusant returned because of Skydancer’s speed, so aside from prayers for her safety, there was little else aside from promises of more peaceful conversations in the future between the sisters.

Words escaped her unbidden then, and she paradoxically felt both regret and relief upon saying them aloud. “I’m sorry, sister. Regardless of what happens, I’ll always love you.” Her sisters turned to her then, and offered bittersweet smiles, so Fear simply averted her gaze to avoid letting them see the turmoil in her eyes.

[hider=Summary]-Fear flies away and stands atop the outer wall of Keltra, feeling bitter and sad.

-Wanderer comes to comfort her, but Fear has lingering doubts.

-The two champions return to the Keep, Fear and Wanderer rejoining sisters by the bonfire.

-After conversing, The Holy Quintet performs a ritual to initiate Pride into their order.

-There is some banter, and then they prepare Skydancer for the Recusant.[/hider]
[hider=Spirit]Courage, Kindness, Fear, Curiosity, Wanderer, and Pride gain 3 Spirit. (+1 minimum, +1 medium, +1 long)

The Holy Quintet gains 1 Prestige.

-1 Prestige to initiate Pride into the order.

-5 Prestige to empower their bond and introduce Fusion where the champions can combine themselves into new and more powerful forms.[/hider]