The Silver Sphinx

 

“True strength does not mean wandering the planes,

but touching a heart and not losing it.”

from the Scrolls of Aphrodite

 

 

First Lower Day of Decadrus, 126 HR

The forest lay silent under a thick layer of snow, as if holding its breath. Each of Faith's footsteps left a fleeting trail in the white between the roots. The trees towered high, their branches covered as if with glass, and between them the sun was shining, making the ice and snow sparkle, without its rays being able to harm the forest’s winter garb. The soft snow muffled all sounds, and Faith's breath left small clouds of mist in the air. With each step, there was a soft crunch under her boots, a steady rhythm that blended almost imperceptibly with the quiet beating of her heart. Faith took a deep breath as she walked slowly along. The air was clear and cool, carrying the scent of resin and frozen earth. The trees seemed old, older than the seasons, their trunks crisscrossed with cracks and marks that, upon closer inspection, could be recognized as runes. Some were half covered in ice, others glowed faintly, as if they carried a slumbering spell. Here and there, a slight shimmer hung between the branches, a soft, silvery glow that seemed to come from the forest itself.

Faith walked along, lost in thought, listening to the crunch of snow under her boots and letting her thoughts drift, while the forest around her seemed to watch her without judging her. Once, she stopped when a soft rustling sound was to be heard. There was no wind, and yet the branches moved as if whispering to each other. The sounds seemed to form words without becoming intelligible, a many-voiced murmur, as if the trees were telling each other stories from distant, long-gone days. Then the whispering faded as gently as it had come, leaving behind a deep, inexplicable calm. A little further on, the path led past a small stream that flowed freely despite the cold. Fine steam rose above the surface, and for a moment Faith saw colors in the water - a hint of blue, a fleeting violet - before they disappeared again into the gray winter light. She walked on, calm and unhurried, and the forest let her be, as if it knew she demanded nothing of it but this quiet moment of solitude, of being alone. Finally, the trees thinned out, revealing a small clearing. The snow here was untouched and smooth, with only a single stone in the middle, covered in ice crystals, as if winter had deliberately highlighted it. The signs of the elements were carved into its surface, little more than hints that shimmered in the pale sunlight. Faith stopped and took a deep breath. She felt as if she had reached a place that was not a destination in the true sense, but a point of pause. An opportunity to enjoy the magic and comfort that could come from a moment of peaceful solitude. She leaned forward and gently touched the cold stone ...

 

The winter forest around her faded and melted away, and Faith found herself back in the Sensorium of the Festhall. Slowly, she withdrew her hands from the sensory stone that had taken her on a peaceful walk through ice and snow. According to the plaque at the base, it was the experience of a halfling druid in a part of Tir na Og. Unlike her husband, Faith enjoyed visiting the Sensorium, and the winter walk in the Outlands was one of her favorite experiences for relaxing and unwinding. Normally, she always felt calm and balanced afterwards. But not today ... Too much had happened in the last few days, too much that still cast its shadow - and would likely continue to do so for quite some time. It was difficult to find peace in such a situation. As she left the Sensorium, Faith recalled everything that had happened for the hundredth time. She knew it didn't change anything, that she couldn't rewrite the past, and yet her thoughts kept returning to the naga palace, to the great hall, to the moment of the kiss. Feelings of helplessness, anger and fear overwhelmed her again and again. She took a deep breath and straightened herself as she walked back into the main foyer of the Festhall, her two bodyguards one step ahead and one step behind her. Erin had invited her to join her for the premiere of Gavaldo Sandaros' new opera. She had accepted, hoping it would take her mind off things. Perhaps the music of the great Arborean composer would achieve what the winter walk had failed to do this time.

 

It turned out that even the opera had only partially distracted Faith from her worries. But she had indeed enjoyed a few carefree moments - thanks in large part to Erin's company. The factol of the Sensates was a master of conversation, but also very empathetic when it came to recognizing the moods and feelings of others. She had found just the right balance of lightheartedness and noncommittal topics to take Faith's mind off things, at least for a while. After the performance, they had drunk a glass of honey wine in the Celestia Lounge and were now strolling slowly and aimlessly through the large garden of the Festhall. Under the magical dome that covered the hall, the temperature was as always mild and pleasant. They had instructed their bodyguards to stay back a little so they could talk about more private matters undisturbed.

Erin stopped at a fountain with a pegasus statue, surrounded by Arborean wisteria, and opened the conversation in an unusually direct manner. “How are Sarin and you doing? Is everything ... alright?”

Faith laughed briefly, but she knew it didn't sound cheerful. “You mean after the kiss? Yes, that's all anyone talks about anymore. I am watching my husband. Mallin, Hashkar, Terrance, Ambar, Rhys and you are watching my husband. Tonat, Killeen and Amariel are watching my husband. My husband is watching himself. How is he behaving? Has he changed? What exactly has changed? Since that unfortunate incident, it seems there is only life before the kiss and life after the kiss.”

The concern in Erin's green eyes was unmistakable. “Forgive me, I had the feeling you wanted to talk. But I didn't want to be indiscreet.”

Faith sank down on the edge of the fountain and ran her fingers through the cool water as if it could bring her peace. “No, it's alright. I'm sorry for my impatience. It's just that everything is so ... intangible. And yet something is looming over us. It's driving me crazy. I can see that the kiss has probably cost him a few years of his life ... his hair is a little grayer at the temples.“

Erin sat down next to her and nodded slowly. ”Yes, I noticed that too, recently in the Hall of Speakers.”

 

 

“But maybe it's not that dramatic,” Faith said calmly. “Like clerics, paladins live a few years longer than humans usually do. After all, a lot of positive energy flows through us. And it's probably only four or five years. I'm less concerned about that. It's more ...“ Faith brushed back a strand of her dark hair that had fallen across her forehead. She took a deep breath before continuing. ”Right after we returned from the realm of Shekinester, he asked me to examine his soul, but ... somehow I couldn't. Maybe I was too afraid. I asked him to go to Lady Juliana, and she was able to determine that his soul bears no mark, no seal of the kind that a possessed person would have, a person who could therefore be controlled. He has already informed you of this.”

Erin nodded. “Right. That means that Red Shroud can't see through Sarin's eyes or hear through his ears, nor can she control his actions. That was good news.”

Faith nodded. “That's true. It's something, at least, isn't it? But ... the archbishop still sensed something. A kind of ... echo, as she called it.”

“An echo of the kiss?”

“Yes, like a kind of shadow ... or stain. A demonic taint remains on his soul. He is ... defiled, and that cannot and must not be for a paladin.”

Faith could no longer hide her despair, and Erin gently took her hand. “Couldn't Lady Juliana remove it?”

She regained her composure a little, her shoulders straightening. “She said it was not for her to try. It is a matter my husband has to settle with his goddess and his church - a church to which she does not belong. And as his wife, I am too emotionally connected to him to be able to make an unbiased judgment.”

Erin nodded seriously. “So he's going to Arcadia?”

“Yes, and as soon as possible, because he ...” She was about to stop talking, but then continued. She just had to confide in someone. “In the first few days, there was nothing. We had returned to Sigil and he had been completely unchanged. I thought nothing had happened. That Juliana might even have been wrong. Or that the shadow had already faded. But then ... At first I thought he wanted to show me that he still loved me. That he loved only me. That he still found me attractive ...”

Erin's gaze was calm and attentive, but she waited quietly for Faith to continue.

“I mean, I don't know how it is with you and Da'nanin. But Sarin and I have been married for twenty years, have nine biological children and an adopted daughter, and we both have a lot to do. Some weeks, unfortunately, we don't find any time for ourselves as a couple, either platonically or ... physically. But I've never worried about it. But now ...“ She fell silent, unsure whether she should really talk to Erin about such private matters. But despite their different philosophies, the factol of the Sensates had long been a friend who had never betrayed her trust.

”So something has changed?” Erin continued, as casually and informally as if they were chatting over a cup of tea.

Faith felt that exactly this allowed her to relax. “As I said, at first I thought it was a sign of affection. I told him that he didn't have to prove anything to me, that we could take all the time we needed if he wanted to. But actually, he didn't want ... I mean, seriously, Erin, every day ... it wasn't like that even in our first year, when we were newly in love. That's her who's driving him. And I don't want that. But I don't want to push him away either. If I do that ... I'm afraid I might lose him ...” Faith fell silent and buried her face in her hands.

Erin gently put her arm around her shoulders. “First of all, there's nothing to be ashamed of. And secondly, I agree with you: this is indeed unusual, and I understand your reaction and your concerns. When is he going to Arcadia?”

“In four days,” Faith replied resignedly.

Erin nodded decisively. “Good. Until then, you'll retreat to Iomedae's temple here in Sigil. After such an incident, you deserve to cleanse your spiritual aura just as much as he does, and no one can argue with that. Outwardly, you'll disguise it as your annual days of prayer. By the time Sarin returns from Arcadia, the problem should be solved and you will feel better too. And sooner than you think, you'll be a happy couple again. You two, my dear friend, have always been the epitome of a happy marriage to me. No one can take that away from you, not even a demoness with a kiss, no matter how powerful she may be.” As always, Erin knew how to put all the conviction, hope and optimism from the depths of her heart into her words.

This cheered Faith up and she even managed a smile. “You're right, that's a good idea. I will go to the temple for a few days and after he returns from Iomedae's realm, everything will be as it was before.”

“Like before the kiss,” Erin replied with a wink.

Faith smiled and gratefully squeezed Erin's hand. Yes, like before the kiss ... then there would be no before and after anymore.

 

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The idea for the sensory stone experience came to me during one of my own recent winter walks.