The Vassal of Light

[Tiger Dragon]

The church of Aura, the goddess of light, travel and luck. Aura has been known to bestow a person once every 100 years as a vassal to carry her light and banish the darkness when it arrived to plague the world. Along with the light of purification, Aura also gives them tree guardians who give their power to this vassal to fight and purify the darkness inside of people.

The city of Ewriding is the capital of the church of Aura. The darkness had been spreading again, so it was only a matter of time before the new Vassal would be chosen. Many train all their lives within the church to learn how to be a successful vassal.

Today, however, the church was holding a festival and parade for the goddess. The head of the church predicting that at vassal would be chosen on this day.

 

[Izambane]

It wasn't often that the Church threw a festival in honor of Aura, the Goddess of Light. Oh wait, that was a lie. It seemed every week ended in some sort of celebration of their Goddess; feasts, fasts, anything with food and light really. Whether it was Sunday or a much less religious Tuesday morning, it seemed that Aura was being celebrated in every facet of life here in Ewriding. Whether this was actually the case or not doesn't matter, because that is how Auriel felt and how Auriel felt was going to be how she perceived the world. She was the victim of her parents utmost servitude to the Church of Aura, and she resented every second of it. Did she believe in Aura? Of course. Did she over exaggerate when it came to describing how much her parents cared for Aura? Of course...

Anyway, with all the dramatics out of the way, Auriel knew it was time to get ready and prepare for the festival. Her parents, Rhuion and Inziladun, were one of the major sponsors of the festival; providing food from their shop while Auriel and her brother Rhufen pitched in to help set up tables, tents, banners, and much more. Had she been the most enthusiastic of the helpers? No. Though she was certainly better than her brother, who was far more interested in his girlfiriend's mouth than anything else.

A vassal for the Goddess of Light was to be chosen, and everyone was sure it was going to be someone like Auriel's brother Rhufen; a strong, tall, charismatic young man who could lead the world out of the darkness and into the light. He was the perfect candidate; he was attractive and uh ...nope, that's about it. He wasn't too particularly kind, but his skills in whoo-ing women and excelling in sports made him quite the popular kid. I know, stereotypical jock who had everything handed to him - but just because it was cliche, didn't make it false. She was just as sociable, though far less successful on account of her brother's own friendships. Perhaps if he became the vassal of light, Auriel could finally find herself smack-dab in the middle of where she was always meant to be; in his shadow.

 

[Tiger Dragon]

The head priest of the church preached for hours. It was a special day. The darkness it coming but Aura would save all. Eretria, eretria. Afterword, it ended with a ceremony that blessed the candidates to be looked down on by Aura herself. It was an overdramatized good luck ceremony. Each candidate kneeled before the head priest as he walked by them an sprinkled small reflected sparkles across them so that the sun would catch on them, essentially making them bright and shiny.

After the ceremony wrapped up, the church was dismissed and everyone soon gathered onto the streets for the parade, also being held. There was a lot more cheering and glitter, bubbles and the smell of traditional treats "Sun Cakes" which were small round lemon and orange cakes.

Auriel got bumped into while navigating the crowds by someone who looked a little odd to her. He had a seeping blackness coming out of him. It touched the ground but didn't seem to stay long. He sounded upset, mumbling about the absurdity of this 'holiday'. "Nothing, it does nothing to save us. Just smoke and mirrors. Waste of time. A distraction. We're doomed." He muttered as he walked, not even talking to Auriel even as he bumped into her.