Of Melancholy and Hysteria

Nick was walking up the steps to the Temple. He briefly looked up to see the lesser Goddesses of the Faith gazing down at him with their marble eyes. He wondered if anyone ever really saw any of them.

He stepped through the gate of the Temple. Today, there was no service and no song being sung in the center of the Faith, as trouble brewed behind the temple's inner doors. However, the temple's door was still open for pilgrims and believers.

He walked past young Clerics, whispering among themselves, and entered a random prayer hall. There was only one other person there. An old pilgrim who smiled

He put a bronze coin into a wooden box and took a yellowish candle from a box next to it, used another candle's small flame to lit it, and placed it amongst a row of half-melted candles.

Nick stood there silently before seating himself at the very back of the hall. Then he found that he was at a loss of what he was supposed to do. To pray? After hearing the forbidden truth about the Gods of Grea, he felt that it would not be right to do so. And even if he wanted to, he did not know any prayers. For even though he was technically a Paladin, he was far from being religious.

The last time he placed his feet at the steps of a Temple was when he paid a Deacon to become one.

Thus, he opted for something else. Not a prayer, but to wish for the soul of Marie Gillenspie to find peace.

As he sat there silently, a gentle voice spoke to her.

"Excuse me. Is this seat taken?"

"There are so many empty seats here. Why are you – " Nick began to say with mild annoyance. But he stopped mid-sentence. "Your Eminence - !" Nick abruptly stood up and was about to kneel, but she was stopped midway.

The former Maiden of Water wore a simple tunic with a simple blue sash around her waist. The very image of a regular old pilgrim. She raised a finger to her lips. "Please. Call me Lady Rachel. You are…one of Duchess Steelheart's companions. Sir Nick, isn't it?"

"I – I am, Lady Rachel. It is an honor for you to know my name," Nick said.

"It is very rare for people to recognize me, especially after being out of public's eyes these recent years."

"You are…hard to forget, Lady Rachel," he replied. "But I heard from the grapevine that you are…under the weather."

"Oh, just a bit of mischief." the old woman gave s short chuckle. "There are interesting things one could do with a bit of face powder, some pepper, and dare I say, very good acting."

Nick's brows furrowed in confusion, "…why?"

"Sometimes, one must let children figure things out by themselves. Otherwise, they won't grow," she smiled the smile of a person satisfied of their inner joke. "And what of you, Sir Nick? What are you doing in this little corner?"

"I am…praying," Nick lied.

"For whom?" she asked. Rachel had seen many people praying in her life, and she knew that this person before her was not used to praying. Not with how awkward his gestures were. As such, she was curious with whom he was praying for.

"…my Mistress," the man answered, a painful smile upon his lips. "Oh, not the current Duchess. But her mother. I used to serve her when she was young. I escorted her here once before her Coming of Age Ceremony. But that was a long time ago."

"Ah, the late Duchess…" Rachel started. "Yes. I remember her, the dainty little thing," she paused for a brief moment, before a look of remembrance came upon her. "Oh, wait, were you…the guard who almost fell from the balcony trying to catch her scarf stolen by the wind?"

The man blushed. "To my shame. I was young and inexperienced then. I did not expect you to remember that."

"It is a very hard to forget someone who almost fell to his death due to a flying scarf," she gave short laugh. "It is a shame what befell her. If only we knew, we would have done more to care for her melancholy."

"…Pardon me?"

"You didn't know? Then…I think I should keep it to myself."

"Please, Lady Rachel. What do you mean by melancholy?"

"It's an unpleasant thing. Are you sure you wish to know?"

"Please," the scraggly man was suddenly attentive, with eyes that spoke of his sorrow.

"Very well…," the old woman gazed at the statue of Junnaveil with pursed lips. "A decade or so ago, the Duke sent the Duchess her. He said that she was suffering from an intense bout of melancholy and depression. The Duke did so as he heard that some of our Clerics here were well versed in illness of the mind."

"While the late Duchess was here, she would pray day and night, ignoring food and water from her attendants. She would jump at every little thing and refused to sleep to the point that she fainted from exhaustion. Hearing that, I came and talked to her," Rachel closed her eyes, digging old memories. "Once she woke, we talked. Though it was more that I was listening and she was talking. I could make little sense of her words. But she repeated something about a scraggly bearded guard, and that she was missing her daughter."

"We tried our best and managed to lessen her manic episodes. And it did lessen them. Unfortunately, the war was at its peak and most of our more experienced Clerics had to go to the Frontline, even I. We were unable to continue with her treatment and she had to be sent home."

This unexpected knowledge made Nick's heart hurt, knowing what he did from her diary. They thought she was suffering from melancholy, while she was actually wracked with fear. How alone she must have felt back then. And the despair of having felt a momentary reprieve and had it wrested away due to war.

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"I…I see. Thank you for helping her at her time of need," he meant every word, while also being frustrated by what could have been.

"People in desperate needs often come and prayed to the Goddess for solution. But there are limits to what we earthly hands of the Goddess could do," she said. "I really am sorry."

"…have you told the Duchess this?"

"I haven't. I don't think telling her such a painful thing would do any good."

"Then…why did you decide to tell me?"

"I think, if there is someone who should know about Marie Gillenspie's late years, it should be the one she treasured so much that she still remembered him even during her episodes," the former Maiden of Water gazed at him with a warm smile. "And someone who treasured her enough, to still pray for her soul even after decades. Unused to prayers as he was."

Rachel then excused herself, leaving Nick alone. He clasped his hand together so tight that his knuckled went white and his fist trembled.

"Kkgh…"

Night had fallen on the grassy plains east of Grottenstadt. The sea of green rippled as a chilly breeze swept towards the sea, passing the encampment of Church Knights who were guarding the entrance to Seasong Grotto. A Church Knight who was on watch duty shivered as it blew past his neck.

"Brr…"

"Bit nippy, isn't it?" a fellow Church Knight handed over a tin mug filled with steaming hot tea. "'ere, have a cup of that."

"My thanks," the man took a sip and felt the hot liquid warming his stomach. "Looks like another cold, boring night."

"I can do wit' more boring nights," his friend commented. "It's better to be dyin' o' boredom rather than actually dyin', that's wha' my wife always said," his heavy accent, brought from the countryside of Eastern Clendia made him sound harsh.

"Not five years ago, you were the one who always said that you'd climb up the ranks and eat like kings every day, Brett."

"Tha's before I saw wha' Lieutenant Millicent and her men could do. Only gifted men could rise up. People like us? We shoulda be content wit' sittin' here, starin' at a cave, day and night," the man vaguely gestured at the large cave entrance that looked like a gaping mouth.

"It's not just a cave. It's a Dungeon. And it's growing. I've been looking at it for days. They said that many of our men have died because of it."

"Look. all I'm sayin' is, as long as we don't get inside, nothin's goin' to go wrong," Brett replied, cracking his shoulder with a sigh. "Let the higher ups worry about it."

"You're an idiot, Brett."

"That's how I stay alive and stay paid, Brad," he guffawed.

The two exchanged inane banter to stave off the boredom when Brad's nose twitched slightly.

"Hey, do you smell that?" He sniffed the air. "Smells like seaweed and brine."

"We're by the sea, Brad. The air smells like that all the fuckin' time."

"Not this strong," the man named Brad frowned when he felt his weight shifting. "Hm?"

When he looked down, the ground that he was standing on suddenly became wet and soft. "Wh-whoa?!"

The grass around them began to wilt in an extremely fast pace. In their place, colorful coral started to grow. Brad and his fellow Church Knight threw their gaze at the entrance of the Dungeon. Dozens of eyes glowing crimson were visible in the gloom.

"Monsters!!" Brad shouted as a lizard-like monster the size of a darted from the dungeon entra lunged at him. He cut it down successfully. Only to see dozens more started coming out of the Dungeon's entrance.

"Sound the alarm!!"

"WAKE UP!! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!"

The encampment was suddenly filled with life as men burst out of their tents. Some still desperately trying to put on their armor, swords at ready.

"It's a Dungeon Break!!"

It was past midnight and Connie was having a peaceful sleep, her mouth slightly open and legs spread ajar. Beside her, Illumca was nestling her head at the crook of her neck, dozing softly. Suddenly their peaceful sleep was disturbed by the sound of someone hammering at the door. "Mistress," A youthful voice called out loudly.

Connie blinked twice before softly pushing akula's head back. She opened the door to see the young wolf with a small candle on a silver candle holder. "Mistress, Matilda had come and requests your presence at Allenca's office. At once."

"This time at night?"

Martell replied with a small nod. "I gather its quite urgent. They are waiting with a coach outside."

"Alright, I will need to get dressed."

"I'll help you get dressed," Illumca said, wiping sleep off her eyes. "Do you need me to come with you?"

"No need. Just help me get dressed fast, and then you can go back to sleep."

After finishing getting dressed, she went outside. The Young Aspirant named Matilda had been waiting with two Church Knights on either side of her. With a simple greeting, Connie was invited into the coach. The horse-drawn coach cut through the silent streets. The eerie silence coming from the usually chatty Aspirant giving her an ill portent.

Once they arrived, she was quickly escorted to Allenca's office,

She came in just as a bearded man in Knight garb spoke loudly.

"How is this possible? Initial investigation said that it wouldn't break until at least another few weeks!"

"Perhaps something happened that screws up with our estimation. There are still many things about Dungeons that we still do not know," Babblebrook answered. "This is a crisis for all of us. Do not let your personal matters affect this meeting."

Most of the leaders of the Faith had gathered in the office. Some of them were unknown to her. Elfriede was there too, the bags under her eyes had visibly enlarged.

"Ah, Duchess Steelheart. Sorry for…disturbing your rest."

Connie gave a nod. "Sounds like this is not going to be a fun gathering. Care to inform me?"

"One of our men tasked with guarding Seasong Grotto had returned with grave news," Lieutenant Milicent said. "Seasong Grotto just went through a Dungeon Break. And monsters are pouring out of it."

"Oh, that's bad," Connie started. "So, this meeting is to discuss countermeasures?"

"As yooou've guessed..., yes," Allenca answered.

"I cannot help but notice that a certain man is missing."

"Archdeacon Lowen is currently unable to attend," Commander Hastings said gruffly. "Let's not waste any time and start the meeting."

Connie bounced a look between the man and Allenca, and was quite surprised. There is more to this man, I see.

"Please look at this map," Commander Hastings began, his expression showed little of his thoughts. He pointed at the drawing of a cave right next to the edge of the sea. "This is Seasong Grotto. East of Grottenstadt. It's about a full day's journey from here. Reports say that after the monsters took out the men guarding the Dungeon, they started to spread out. Most of them seems to be heading towards nearby villages. Already two villages had been devastated."

"How loathsome!" Millicent spoke. Regardless of what she thought about Hastings, she agreed that it was most reprehensible.

Babblebrook, who had been standing next to Milicent, wiped his face nervously. "Worse still, based on the survivor's report, the surrounding environment had started to become warped due to the effect of the Dungeon Break."

Elfriede nodded in agreement, her voice thick with worry. "If not contained, it might cause irreparable damage. Just like the Untouchable Marshes Dungeon."

"But we cannot just focus on the Dungeon. If we do not stop the monsters from attacking the villages, innocent lives will be lost!" Millicent added. "Your Eminence, I beg of you! Send me to cull these monsters!"

"I volunteer to lead the charge, Your Eminence," Hastings saluted stoutly.

Allenca raised her hand. "I…appreciate your…enthusiasm. Both of youu. But preparedness…is important. Even though I wish…wee can move…nooow. I…will not risk needless deaths…"

"Breaking the Dungeon Core too, is no easy task. That place is dangerous enough to kill even Unrestrained Candidates," Connie added her comment.

"I agree…but we also…cannot let Grottenstadt be…undefended."

She then turned to the plump Archmage. "Archmage Elfriede. I…haaate to ask this…of you, but may I…request…that…you guard Grottenstadt…while we save…the Faith's flock….and…stop the Dungeon Break?"

"It would be my honour."

"As for the others…Lieutenant Millicent, Commander Hastings, ready your most trusted men…we will go forth…save our people…and destroy the Dungeon Core."

"We? Are you coming too, Your Eminence? Please rescind that decision. It's very dangerous!" Millicent objected wholeheartedly.

"This is not…negotiable…!" Allenca looked at Connie and spoke. "May I ask…for your help…Duchess?"

Connie smiled. I've been waiting for this.

"You need but ask."

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