Private Of Penance & Worship

[Kito]

//: Arabella Olivarius //:
//: Mirial //:
//: Sancta Concordia //:

Kito's feet carried her onto Mirial's soil for the first time. She had never set foot in this world, only studied it in passing on the way here. Yet everywhere she turned, one name lingered on the lips of the natives: Arabella Olivarius. Their voices carried reverence when they spoke of her greatness.

Her Master had mentioned the woman before — another who once served as an Ashlan Crusader. From his words, Arabella had been a paragon of their order, a symbol of faith and strength. The thought stirred pride in Kito's chest; to walk the same path her Master once had filled her with both resolve and nerves. Meeting Arabella would not be simple. The stories of the crusades, of the victories against the followers of Bogan — Kito longed to live them herself.

Her thoughts carried her through the gates of Sancta Concordia, the city she had only known as legend.

She stopped short, taking in its beauty. The presence of Ashla seemed to embrace her here, woven into every stone and beam. Yet beneath the awe came a hollow tug in her gut — the question of worthiness. For all her devotion to Ashla's light, she had strayed.

And she did not regret it.

Kito pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the honor of simply being here.

Her pace slowed as she admired the city's architecture, her eyes catching on halls, spires, and shrines she longed to visit. But her purpose was clear: Arabella awaited her at the temple. The young Shaper climbed the steep dias, step after step, toward the ornate doorway built to honor Ashla.

Each stride felt heavier than the last. Her sins weighed on her shoulders — most she believed penance could cleanse, but one she would never seek forgiveness for. She rolled her shoulders, steadying herself as she reached the top.

Crossing the threshold, the blade at her side seemed to hum the moment she passed through the temple doors. Worshipers filtered in and out, voices hushed in reverence, yet Kito stood alone at the heart of the grand entryway. Her ochre eyes swept across the space, taking in every ounce of Ashla's grace.

She shifted where she stood, nerves knotting in her stomach at the thought of finally meeting the woman she had grown to admire through stories alone.

 

[Arabella Olivarius]

//: Kito //:
//: Mirial //:
//: Sancta Concordia //:

Prayer. Feel Her Blessing. Know her warmth. Her radiance. Arabella always felt these things when she prayed to her goddess. A constant reminder to that what she was doing, was good. That she was on the right path. But Arabella believed she could do more. Her settlement had grown considerably over time as the galaxy changed. More converts. More refugees. More people to the Light of Ashla. But still there was still quite awhile before the Ashlan Crusade could be fully restored, and Arabella knew that.

Yet, Ashla has provided her a boon. A gift. An Ashlan had reached out wanting to meet with her. Arabella had immediately accepted her invitation to meet, offering for the Ashlan to come here to Sancta Concordia. Today was the day that she will meet her. One of the guards simply gently tapped the door to Arabella's prayer chamber.

"Juror. Your guest is here." she would say.

Arabella nodded, muttering to finish her prayer before then standing up. Then she would then enter the main hall of the temple, noticing Kito out of the crowd of gathered worshipers. Arabella offered a kind smile as she stood there in her white and gold armor, giving off a radiant aura.
"Fellow sister of Ashla. Welcome. I am happy to have you hear."

 

[Kito]

//: Arabella Olivarius //:

Kito paused. She had never been addressed as such. The few years she was at the enclave, her Master and the others labeled her an outsider. She was someone who had converted, and she had always felt there was something wrong with her. Still, she tried; Kito always obeyed and listened. She would do the same here.

Facing the woman, Kito's eyes squinted slightly. Arabella had always been known for her radiance, but to be in its presence was blinding.

Remembering her manners, Kito gripped the hilt of her odachi and bent at the waist, bowing deeply to her elder. She remained in the deep bow, counting silently to herself the length of time for respect, and soon lifted.

Her crooked little smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she nodded. To be called a sister was something she had always wanted, and to be called one by Arabella was something worth smiling about.

"Thank you for letting me meet with you." Kito shifted where she stood, her nerves getting the best of her. "My ma-" Kito stopped; he had banished her, and she was forbidden from calling his name. Her nose wrinkled at the thought and did her best to speak around it.

"I have grown up the past few years, learning about Ashla and how her blessings were visible through you." Her head tilted, almost with genuine curiosity.

"I want to become closer to Ashla, find guidance, and learn more — continue my training." Her eyes drifted; she wondered how things would have been different if she had followed his orders.

 

[Arabella Olivarius]

//: Kito //:
//: Mirial //:
//: Sancta Concordia //:

Arabella looked to Kito, her glowing eyes seemingly fixated on what Kito had stopped herself from saying. Clearly Kito was hiding something. Perhaps out of fear or out of duty. But here was a convert of Ashla, who had come far seeking guidance from Arabella specifically. She would look around the main hall of the temple, at the many other worshipers. Perhaps too many ears that could listen in on their conversation.

"Follow me sister, I wish to know more about your reasoning for your pilgrimage here." Arabella said as she gestured for Kito to follow her. The Juror led Kito to a more secluded portion of the main hall. There a wall of names written upon purity litanies, with candles burning at the bottom of it. Arabella took her time to begin to relight the ones that had gone out. Kito could see the names in detail, and there were thousands. A small statue of Ashla, was at the forefront.

"Our Remembrance Wall. Many pilgrims, refugees, and followers come here to place the names of fellow brothers and sisters here. Some family. Some friends. Some comrades." Arabella explained "All lost to Darkness. But they are all with Ashla now. Do you have a name you wish to add Sister?"
Arabella spoke softly and kindly, an angelic tone coming from them. But this was Arabella's way of trying to understand who Kito is.

 

[Kito]

//: Arabella Olivarius //:

Kito was relieved she wasn't sent away. To be turned aside again would only have pushed her deeper into the hunt for her penance. She gave a slight nod and fell into step beside Arabella. As they walked, she couldn't help but admire the Judge's grace. Would training and faith bring her to that same kind of light one day?

Her eyes drifted as they passed through the temple. People came to worship, to leave offerings. Did they know of the darkness Kito had seen, or did their faith protect them, keep them blind but content? Her chest tightened at the thought. So much good was born of Ashla—so why did so much darkness still flourish?

She caught herself, forcing the thought away. It was easier to leave those sins floating on the surface than to let them sink too deep.

When Arabella spoke again, Kito tilted her chin up to meet her gaze. Then her eyes followed to the wall. She understood what it was: remembrance. A way to bless the dead with Ashla's grace so they could rest in light. The idea was beautiful… but it was hard to believe her kin — or even herself — would ever be counted among them.

She stepped closer, eyes lingering on the carved names. Each one belonged to someone. Each one mattered to someone. Her shoulders tensed as she wondered if she was expected to add one. If she had no name, no one to put here, would the Judge turn her away?

"It's beautiful," Kito said softly, words meant for Arabella alone.

"Unfortunately, those I would remember never walked in Ashla's light, nor praised Bogan's shadow. They tried to stay in the middle of it all… and when they were murdered by Bogan's will…" Her hand curled tight at her side, anger slipping past her control.

"I knew I needed to do something."

She turned from the wall back to the woman bathed in gold, her voice carrying both reverence and unease.

"Do you have people here? What do you do when the ones you care for die… and even with Ashla's grace, you couldn't save them?"

 

[Arabella Olivarius]

//: Kito //:
//: Mirial //:
//: Sancta Concordia //:

"Unfortunately, those I would remember never walked in Ashla's light, nor praised Bogan's shadow. They tried to stay in the middle of it all… and when they were murdered by Bogan's will…"

Arabella remained quiet, but gave a reassuring smile as she listened to Kito continue on. As she finished, Arabella walked over to one of the names that on a purity litany. "You see this name right here? I remember the worshipper that placed this name here. I talked to her about it. She told me that this was her sister. Someone who didn't follow Ashla like her. She too was taken by the Bogan. But yet her name is here, even if she didn't follow Ashla. Many more people have put down names of people who never followed Ashla, or even on some occassion, they were followers of Bogan."

Arabella let that sink in for a moment before she continued to walk across the room of the temple, motioning for Kito to follow her. "You ask me if I have any one here. I do not. All the people I cared for died when the Ashlan Crusade fell. Their names, I have written on litanies back there. I couldn't save them. But we can not save everyone. That fact is not meant to discourage you, Sister. It is meant to help invigorate you to continue trying. After all, if I didn't continue to try, this settlement wouldn't exist."

"Ashla loves every being even if those that deny or curse her name." Arabella continued "Everyone can be shown her light. Though there are many who refuse her warmth, we can try to reach them."

 

[Kito]

//: Arabella Olivarius //:
//: Valaine Valentine //: (Mentioned)

Arabella made everything sound so easy. It was hard not to want to believe it. But something in Kito knew it wasn't simple. Sighing softly, she nodded — showing her understanding of the Judge's words. Kito wondered if it was said to make her feel better about her situation.

When Arabella finished speaking, Kito stepped forward and etched a name into the hanging papers. Not someone she had lost, not kin, but someone who mattered.

Valentine.

Kito moved away from the Remembrance Wall as the Crusader glided away. In a few short strides, Kito fell back in line with Arabella. She listened to the lesson the woman was imparting to her. She felt a semblance of relief knowing that while Ashla sought to end Bogan's hold, she still loved the galaxy and was willing to welcome the lost back. Still, Kito found herself wondering particularly about the penance.

It wouldn't come up, not yet anyway.

"I've been lucky enough to be welcomed by Ashla," Kito admitted quietly. "My clan never followed Ashla or Bogan. I don't really know why I was welcomed so easily."

Her gaze shifted as they walked, taking in the surroundings of the temple. Every stone, every detail spoke of Arabella's will. Kito suddenly felt small beside her, humbled and impressed all at once.

"You did this all on your own?" she asked, voice edged with astonishment. Places like Sancta Concordia always felt as though they had simply existed, but here was proof that one person's determination could build something greater.

Her lips curled into a crooked smile. "You're truly impressive, Sister."

Excitement bled into her tone — because here, finally, was where she felt she could find her light again.