@macawbre ; @ignatzlandscape

The next segment of the catacombs, to Mitama’s expectations, is darker and even less pleasant than the last.

How joyful.

Mitama sighs as she squints off in the distance. The glowing moss reveals no secrets before them, providing only the smallest amount of light down their passageway. As if the sight isn’t stressful enough, the echoing of voices dances through their ears, calling out to them.

It reminds Mitama of too many memories, both in Valla and in Fodlan, and she does not care to think on it beyond more than the moment. She shudders, lets out a quick sigh, then straightens herself up and pushes forward. As always.

Faolan seems just as displeased about the voices as any person with sense would, covering her ears and hobbling along next to Mitama. That does give the shrine maiden some pause as she thinks. The land they are exploring supposedly belongs to the church, did it not? One would assume then, that anything in it be planted there by the church...or at the very least they should be aware of it.

Mitama frowns to herself over her thoughts for a moment before waving to Faolan. “The sounds we are hearing, is it something implemented by the church? To deter thieves perhaps, or some other kind of security implementation?”

Faolán turns to Mitama, "WHAT?" Then, more sheepishly (but her voice still a little loud), "Ah, um... yes, the voices. After what happened with the Golem, I imagine that it's part of the defense system!"

Mitama winces, flinching back. She manages to bite down the initial response to Faolan, nodding through her explanation instead. She supposes...it certainly isn’t the most reassuring of answers to receive. “Hmm…does the church have any records of what it might be? If it’s magic of some kind, there should be documentation of the ritual.”

Faolán puts a hand to her head as she tries to think. "'Those who swear themselves to the Goddess swear to protect her for eternity, in life and death.' The Book of Seiros, Part VII. But... well, forgive me Lady Rhea, but that isn't possible... is it? Surely ghosts don't exist..."

Ah...Mitama has heard of some religions before where the devoted will surrender their bodies in death to become the very pillars of that institution...a morbid thought, but it would explain the voices... Mitama turns to look at Rhea as well, but midway through the action she freezes. Something in the distance...faint and flickering catches her eye. When she attempts to focus on it, it vanishes.

I just wanted to see the world.

Mitama swallows. “...Did anyone else see that?” She asks out loud.

He grabbed a sparkling water with strawberry syrup for himself and plain water for Bernadetta. He had heard that most people found sparkling water to be unpleasant, and he didn't want to scare her off.

Approaching Bernadetta, Ignatz held out the glass of water. "Hi Bernadetta. Are you thirsty?"

Bernie squeaks at the sound of her name, but doesn't shriek, and manages to turn to face the approaching person with only a fraction of terror on her face instead of full blown panic.

Ignatz...from the Deer, right? She hadn't spoken to the other student...not that she ever went out of her way to approach students in other houses. But...he seemed friendly enough right now, though that isn't hard when they're at a peaceful event and not on the battlefield.

Bernadetta glances at the offered glass of water. It could be poisoned...she bites her tongue from spitting out the accusation.

"Oh, um, thank you." She takes the glass from him and tries not to hesitate too long before taking a sip.

The silence that follows is awkward, a tad longer than it should be. She should say...something, right? Her eyes suddenly widen.

The catacombs are dark. It is an unsurprising thought. They are underground. But it had not occurred to Mitama exactly how dark they would be until the light was stricken away from them. The sudden plunge, along with Mitama’s mark growing more and more irate under her sock similarly plummeted her own mood.

The sight of a golem at the other end of the hall certainly does not help either.

Mitama sighs to herself, examining the walls as she grumbles and wonders why the religious heads of the institution did not think to deactivate their defenses before their arrival, when her eyes fall onto a mural that decorates the passage.

The shrine maiden hums curiously. It is religious in origin, clearly, but not anything the shrine maiden can recall hearing of in the preaching. Not that that was unusual either.

Her eyes drift to their newfound mystery guide. Mitama could easily use this as an opportunity to question Rhea and Seteth further, but it would not do well to leave any loose ends. "Might it be possible to receive an explanation of what we are seeing for those of us who are less informed in such matters?"

"Ah, of course!" Faolán steps in front of the group to get a better look at the wall.

Water and time have faded the mural's original colors, and there are parts where you see the bare rock rather than paint. However, you can still make out a large female figure daintly stepping onto a blue floor (tile? water?). Where her foot touches the blue erupts light, clouds and snow and magic, trees and flowers and the animals that leap after them.

"The Creation of Fódlan," Faolán whispers in wonder. "When the Goddess alighted on our world, when it was but a cloudless ocean... even when worn by time, its glory is arresting."

Mitama hums, thoughtful, turning her attention to the mural once more. She cannot deny that it is a gorgeous piece of work. “Why would such a piece be commissioned in a part of the monastery where none would see it?” She wonders out loud, crossing her arms before her. “Surely it would fair better to be displayed openly, for all to gawk at.”

@disinclinedknight {Flying Skill Point}

“Wh-whoa, easy now!” Bernadetta quickly placed the bottle down to the side as she reached out to try and support the young fawn. It’s legs trembled as it struggled to stand. It had been doing fine just a moment ago, but it had gotten so excited when it was its turn to get fed, it had started running and stumbling and practically fell into Bernadetta’s lap.

After a few awkward attempts, it managed to get its footing and started to complain that she wasn’t feeding it yet. It’s head nudged her hand and pushed at her, and Bernie quickly reached for the bottle again while laughing. “O-okay! I’m sorry! Here you go.”

The fawn took a few tries to latch on to the feeding bottle, but once it did, it was practically a struggle for Bernadetta to keep a hold on it herself. Her arm jerked with the pegasus’ determined gulps, and she had to grab her arm with her other hand to try and stay steady. “E-easy now!”