Prayer - Alowyn

The three reoseans stood in front of an altar clearly dedicated to the god of chaos, Oris. Herja and Garmr smiled to themselves as they readied to pray to their god while Alowyn stood off to the side preparing to pray to Empyria. Alowyn didn’t bother expressing her intention to pray to Empyria, and she didn’t think she needed to go anywhere special for her thoughts to be heard, so she bowed her head and closed her eyes in front of the blood-red altar. 

Herja and Garmr were surprised that their empyrian companion didn’t complain about the altar. They were certain she would want to pray to her god, Empyria. The pair of vayrons stared at the small empyrian for a few moments longer as they wondered what was going through her head. Garmr thought that maybe all their arguing somehow convinced the peaceful Alowyn to pray to the god of chaos. However, Herja had another thought, and it made her glare at the empyrian quietly praying.

“Alowyn,” Herja hissed, “Who are you praying to?”

“Does it matter?” Alowyn asked gently as she opened her eyes. 

Alowyn knew the second she revealed who she was praying to, and her companions would be furious.

“It does,” Herja’s harsh tone grew darker, “We wouldn’t want to desecrate our god’s altar with the prayers meant for another.”

Alowyn chuckled, “Come on, that’s a bit extreme. I could see that from Garmr but not you.”

“So you are violating our god’s altar with prayers to Empyria,” Garmr hissed, feeling his fire magic roaring to life under his fur. 

Alowyn gave both vayrons a hard look and denied their claims. Through their journey together, Alowyn had taken to lying more than she wanted. However, it certainly came in handy to prevent unnecessary violence. 

Herja and Garmr returned Alowyn’s glare with their own hard look. The three companions remained in their standoff for several minutes before Herja relented. Herja warned that if they found out Alowyn was praying to Empyria, there would be hell to pay. Garmr made similar threats, but Alowyn remained steadfast in her lie. She insisted there was nothing to worry about. Herja and Garmr huffed but moved on to pray to Oris. Alowyn watched the pair close their eyes before she did the same. 

In Alowyn’s mind, she envisioned the cavern and all its crystals that held the Matriarch prisoner. She didn’t think Empyria’s help would be all at once. Instead, she envisioned roots and plants slowly moving their way through the earth until they reached this cavern. Her thoughts continued with a gentle hum that could only be heard in her mind. The roots, in her visual prayer, slowly pulled the earth away. The plants had a magical quality to them as they delicately freed the Matriarch. Alowyn smiled to herself as she watched her prayer, and wish, continue. 

In Herja’s mind, the world was on fire. It was absolute destruction and chaos. When she prayed to Oris, it wasn’t so much for his help as it was for the chaos that he could rain down on them. Herja envisioned the earth splitting, freeing the Matriarch in a painful and harsh gesture. The massive Haedian roared in pain, but also in celebration of her freedom. However, the chaos continued as the rocks from the ceiling poured down on the reoseans who had tried to free the Matriarch. Herja let a dark smile grace her face as she let her violent thoughts continue. 

Lastly, Garmr’s prayers were something very similar to Herja’s. Just like his partner, the way in which he envisioned Oris freeing the Matriarch was something straight out of nightmares only the most twisted reoseans could conjure. The violence and destruction brought joy to Garmr, and like the others, a sick smile spread across Garmr’s face as he prayed for destruction to free Matriarch.

The three reoseans opened their eyes at the same time. Alowyn watched her vayron companions to see if they noticed anything amiss. However, the pair of Oris followers still were unaware of Alowyn’s prayers to Empyria. Herja and Garmr smiled at each other before they turned to Alowyn. Garmr was so pleased with his destructive prayers that he was oblivious to the serene aura that surrounded Alowyn. However, it was Herja that took an extra moment to really analyze Alowyn.

Herja felt her anger rising as she took in Alowyn’s calmness and peaceful smile. It wasn’t the face of someone who had prayed for chaos. However, like Garmr, her rising anger was overshadowed by the excitement and joy of the destruction in her mind. Herja sighed as she thought that two prayers to Oris would override a singular prayer to Empyria. The longer Herja thought about it, the more satisfied she was that her god’s altar wasn’t as violated as she first thought. 

Alowyn watched Herja and saw the emotions flicker across the vayron’s face. Alowyn was tense as she eyed Garmr and Herja, but when Herja’s face settled into her usual blank expression, Alowyn relaxed. The three eventually moved away from the altar and onto other topics of conversation. The longer the trio was away from anything god-related, the more Alowyn eased her tense shoulders and limbs. 

[872]