purpleiozik

[purpleiozik]

Ye Prayers of Olde

written for Flash Fiction Friday 303, event hosted by @flashfictionfridayofficial, feat the sheer dumbassery of my players

WIP ✵ The Wretched (a Trick of Life campaign)

Trigger Warnings ✵ a Corpse

Rating ✵ Teen & Up

Wordcount ✵ 998

The cart is slowing down. The cart is not supposed to be slowing down. Outside, Scylla's voice sounds panicked. "Why are we stopping?"

Atlas looks up from his improvised rifle and pokes his head out, squinting his eyes into the sundown. "Yeah, why?"

"There's a restpoint just ahead," Gea says pointing somewhere ahead that he can't see between her bulky figure, Ophelia's armor and Scylla's tall frame.

Atlas blinks. "And? Did you forget we're being chased?"

He can't see Gea's face, but her feelings are cleared by the pothole they immediately hit. "Did you forget we've been on the road for fourteen hours? The horses need rest, I need rest, we're stopping. We're four days ahead of him anyways. Make me push the horses and I'll push you off the cart."

"I don't think we should stop by the creepy building though," Scylla says, voice tight.

Atlas hops out onto the back of the coach. His eyebrows rise. "You mean the marble cube thing?"

"It is no thing, Sir Atlas," Ophelia says. "That is an Oadi Temple."

"It's creepy, that's what it is," Scylla mutters. Atlas pats her shoulders.

"The camp's far from it, we'll be fine," Gea insists, pulling the horses to a stop next to a fenced cabin at the side of the road. "Look. We can set up a guard rotation. Don't disturb the creepy Oadi temple and we'll be fine and well-rested for tomorrow."

Atlas sends another glance at the blocky building and shrugs.

Dinner is a fast and frugal affair as night falls rapidly. Since Ophelia was the one to suggest they stop so close to the temple, they manage to brush off first watch to her. Scylla and Gea nod off, worn out by the travel, and Atlas tells Ophelia to call him for second watch.

Except when Ophelia does pull him from his meditation for second watch, she doesn't go to sleep. No. Instead, the banshee wails softly from empty eyes and floats off towards the temple. Atlas looks back at the two women laying down, fast asleep. In the distance, Ophelia goes into the temple. One hour passes. Then two. At nearly three, Atlas sends another glance at his sleeping friends and flies off after Ophelia.

The temple is small. Blocky and precise, as if it had been carefully cut out of a single marble piece. No decorations, no adornments. Just a white altar with perfectly flat and even faces stands on a platform, at which's foot kneels Ophelia.

Atlas flies in and soundlessly lands at the knight's side. "What are you doing?"

"This is a temple, Sir Atlas. I am praying," she half-wails.

"Right, right," Atlas says, furrowing his brows. "Mind if I join you?"

Ophelia nods her head to a spot at her side, staying quiet. Atlas kneels there and stares at the altar.

It's close to another half hour before Ophelia speaks again. "It's quite odd."

"What is?" he asks.

"I can feel a presence within it."

"Within it?" Atlas repeats, laying a hand on the smooth stone. Hesitantly, he knocks on it.

At his side, Ophelia's dress rustles. "Yes. Though that would be impossible. Stone cannot possess sapience."

Atlas turns to her. "What if it's hollow?"

Ophelia freezes and presses ghostly lips together. "Then something within it might. Would you help me out, Sir Atlas?" she asks, already pulling herself to her feet.

Atlas stays kneeling, at eye level with the top of the altar. "There's a chip in the stone here. It might just be a slab closing the thing," he says pulling a knife from his boot. When he pushes it into the chip, it reveals the thinnest slit.

Ophelia nods and walks over to the side of the altar. She plants her feet and starts to push the top.

As soon as a crack opens, a putrid wind blows in their faces. Atlas nearly gags. "I don't think your presence is alive anymore."

"It isn't here anymore."

Atlas whirls around to her. "Fuck you mean it isn't here anymore?"

Ophelia glares, cracking the altar — tomb, more likely — further open. "It is no longer concentrated here. More like dispersed in the forest. It may have been a spirit of the nature. See?" she says, pointing inside the tomb.

Atlas climbs to his feet and peeks inside. "I see a perfectly preserved corpse if that's what you mean."

"It wears the holy symbol of Ohinio. You should recognize it, you're fae."

Atlas doesn't pay her much attention though, focused on the runes carved inside the tomb and the corpse's bound hands. "I don't think we were meant to open that."

Ophelia shakes her head. "We shall return this man to the Earth, as his funerary rites require," she says, already picking up the corpse and carrying it off despite his protests. "Close the altar would you?"

"Close the altar? What the hell do you think I can do?" he yells after her. She's already gone though.

By the time they both get back to the cabin, the sun is rising. Both Scylla and Gea are up and packing.

"Oh good, where were you? I thought you were meant to keep watch," Scylla glares, arms crossed and eyes red.

"Keeping an eye on Ophelia," Atlas mutters. The banshee in question happily floats and hums at his side.

Gea pats them on the back as she gets on the cart's coach. "Well, since you decided to go gallivanting, you get to eat on the road. Hop on."

The day continues quietly, with their two friends not speaking a word to them. Until–

"Didn't we already pass by here?" Scylla says.

Atlas pokes his head out of the cart. The blocky mausoleum is there again in the sundown, the rest stop at the other side. "Oh no."

Gea roughly stops the cart and whirls around to them. Atlas fliches under the minotaur's glare. "What the fuck did you two do."

Atlas gulps. At his side, Ophelia chuckles awkwardly.

✵ Revolve Taglist ✵ @corinneglass @aalinaaaaaa @write-with-will @mymomsaysbobcipher @writeintrees

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Tomorrow will be a big day! First day at my new job! I've spent all day trying to keep calm but I'm so anxious! I'll be driving for the first time alone in traffic too!

Sooo anxious

Wish me luck

I feel so excited and terrified in a happy way!!

XD

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Sorry again, I forgot to post, rip

Yesterday was pretty nice, I've spent most of the day watching Dr Who with my bf; for lunch we ate some pasta and then some meat.

His mom even made a meringue cake, it was very nice! Although it was SO SWEET and I do love some sweet, I'm a sweet tooth myself, but damn, it was VERY sweet

For dinner we had pizza and, before going to bed me and my bf watched a couple of episodes of Dr House

A nice easy day

I felt happy and relaxed

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

These days have been so full I couldn't write! Yesterday I cleaned the house some more, then I played some Pokemon; I had dinner with my bf, we ate a burger made by his mother, it was SO GOOD, it reminded me of my childhood;

When I was a kid there was this place that made some nice rotisserie chicken and some time to time they had these giant burgers too! (They weren't actually that big, I was just small, lol) I loved them, but then that place closed...and I've never eaten some nice burgers like those....TILL YESTERDAY

Anyway, after dinner I went to a bar with my cousin and a friend, it was nice (they're so cute together, but I didn't say anything since they're only friends, just in case)

Today I got up at 7:30, and I went playing with my squad. I love them so much; I had so much fun! Although my blood pressure kept dropping here and there, but still, I won't let it ruin my day

After that we had lunch together (and a snack too). I got home at almost 4 pm; I got a shower and cleaned the kitchen a bit.

I just finished a GDR session, it was nice! I'm trying a new character, I hope my friends will like her!

I feel pretty happy and a bit more hopeful for the future

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Sorry, I forgot to post; now it's 00:25 and I'm a bit sleepy, but I'll still talk about my day

Today I got up at 8:15 because my dad called me to tell me that MAYBE that important call I've been waiting might come soon (it didn't come today tho, rip)

Then I went doing some groceries shopping with my mum. Once we came back home, I cleaned my room and the kitchen

After lunch I went to the mall with a friend of mine and we bought some stress balls (I got the sugar ball type, my fave)

We were tempted to buy a build a bear plush, but we resisted the urge, since we don't need more plushies and we're poor as hell

We then ate some pasta and went back home.

Once I got there I watched an episode of a series with another friend of mine and we yapped a bit

Now I'm playing Pokemon and I don't really know when I'll go to sleep tbh

I feel a bit sleepy but happy

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Today I got up at 10:59 with a message sent by a friend of mine asking me if I wanted to go to the mall together

Of course I said yes

After that, I saw a message from my doctor and I found out I have a little infection, but nothing to worry about, a little bit of cream and it'll pass (I hope, lol)

Today I think I'll eat some spinach from yesterday and a Little Rice ball, and for dinner I'll meet up with my bf and eat a burger.

I can't wait to see him!

I feel better, calm and happy

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Today I got up at 11:45, because a friend of mine called me creeped out for a thing, and called me to be consoled a bit (literally two seconds, lol)

I was even having a weird dream! It was so cool, a bit creepy in the beginning, but full of action in the end

Now I'll be eating a premade empanada that I accidentally cooked yesterday, so now I'll just warm it up in the oven and eat. If it's good it should last me for dinner too!

Today I want to listen to some podcasts while I play Pokemon black

Let's see what the day has to offer me today

I feel happy

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Forcing myself to dance helped me so much!

Thank you bbno$ for the songs to dance to!

I feel happy again!

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

In the end I've spent the day reading that webtoon, it's very nice, but I ended up reading some spoilers about it...and I'm quite happy I did it, since there was a character that to me was fishy but nobody in the comments seemed to have noticed it!

In the end I was right, I love being right, lol

I feel less sad than this morning, but I don't think I'm happy eather; I'd say I'm kinda neutral tbh, a bit melancholic I guess

Oh yes! I almost fainted for the first time in my home's corridor, it was quite an experience

Now I'll finish my little burger and watch a movie perhaps

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Today I got up at 9:45 am, due to a spam call

I felt a bit sad, since I've been waiting for an important call that...well... It's taking time to come

I had a weird dream, thinking about it now makes me giggle a bit

For lunch I ate the pizza leftovers I had from yesterday's dinner

Now I'm reading a new webcomic I've found, for now it's pretty interesting, the main character is pretty well written

I still feel a bit sad, due to the call not being the one I was hoping for, some tears are falling, but I'm not crying, so I'll take it as a win

It's too early to feel sad tho; maybe during the day my mood will get better; I bet it will

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Today I got some terrifying period cramps, so I spent the entire day on the bed watching Dr House

I feel a bit tired, but happy too tbh

I can't wait to eat my pizza!

:)

[purpleiozik]

I fell for the temptation

I ate another rice cake

It was good

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hey there!

Today I got up at 9:30 am

My bf told me he fell asleep at 3 am and that while I was sleeping, I moved in a weird way, that sent his phone from the covers right to his face

Poor boy, I feel so sorry

I ate one rice cake with milk chocolate and some coconut, I love them so much

After breakfast, we saw the new trailer for the newest season of Wakfu, and now we're watching some more Dr House

I don't know what I'll eat for lunch, but I know that I'll eat some pizza for dinner. There's a kebab place that makes wonderful pizzas, so full, so tasty

I feel happy

:)

[purpleiozik]

Hi

I've decided to write something so that I won't look like a fake account anymore

Today I had a nice day, I ate steak and some puree my mother in law made; she's a wonderful cook, I ate everything in the plate

I've tried some Japanese Gummy candies too. They tasted like a stress ball full of orbeez, like some sort of old silicone...despicable, but I still ate them all

Now I'll be watching Dr house with my bf

I feel happy

:)