A Date With Grace {Shrine Prompt}

Roe scurried down the stairs. I'm late, I'm late, I'm late! Her bag was wildly swinging round her neck, her books threatening to spill out all over the corridor floor as she hadn't zipped it up in her haste. Despite her rushed demeanour, she was well groomed. Her fur was smoothed neatly, her hooves with shiny with hoof oil, she'd even polished her little antlers in preparation for this very important day. She graduated from student to apprentice two years ago and had struggled to find someone to study under since (mostly because she hadn't been looking). Now, the academy had taken concern for the fact she had no professor to guide her and develop her further. Her constant disappointments in the magical arenas were one of the reasons as she should be much more advanced by now. She couldn't spend her entire life in a library, reading. Roe had had a meeting with the Dean last week for a very serious talk. They were stepping in now. They had arranged for her to study under one of their chosen professors and she was to suck it up and learn what he taught her. Either that or there were going to be serious repercussions for her.

As Roe raced across the courtyard to one of the lecture buildings, she wished upon every star that this would stop. The professor they had 'paired' her with was definitely not a pair she agreed on. Not only was his research sloppy and often wrong, his behaviour with his students was terrible. Previously, she had had one class with him in her very first year. It was safe to say she never returned to that lesson. He treated all of his apprentices as his personal slave, demanding this and that from them without including them in any of his work or engaging them into their own. It was an embarrassment to become his apprentice - the alternative of possible expulsion was an even worse dread though that made Roe feel a little ill.

She reached the door and paused outside for a second, gathering herself. The wind rustled the trees around her and then everything fell quiet for a moment. She wasn't paying attention to start, mind racing with too many thoughts.

"Come to me..." a faint whisper whistled past her like a breeze, barely audible. The tufts on her ears fluttered. What was that?

"Come to me..." the whisper blew past again; a little stronger this time.

The little doe turned her head left and right, looking all around for someone possibly playing a trick on her. What was that?

Early autumn leaves skittered across the floor, swirling around her feet, almost pushing her into a different direction. She felt strangely drawn to follow its suggestion. She heard the whisper again, but not as a voice, as a feeling. It was a strong want. But...but what about her future here? They were expecting her any second to walk through the doors and accept their offer of an arranged apprenticeship. What were the consequences going to be of her not following through with this? The wind picked up, pushing against her body harder and harder. The worries inside her head were dissipating into nothingness. She just had to follow her gut. Before she knew it, was was walking. Walking straight out of the gates of the academy, down the Namarast streets and out into the wild. Where she was going, she didn't know. She just knew she had to follow this overwhelming feeling.

The path started easy, one she had tread before. Towards Mead. They were still recovering from the hell they had faced during the King's birthday celebrations. As she closed upon the village, she felt eyes upon her. It was only right that the residents here were weary of strangers, especially mages. There was unrest among the non-magical folk and they were distrusting towards The Order and anyone who resided there. Roe didn't blame them. They had no protection without mages but mages were the reason they needed the protection. Whether that was suspicious wild mage looking to avoid the witchfinders, the order mages who were hungry for power and kept accumulating corruption, or the ones that The Order didn't even know about as they were hidden all over Ivras. Even Roe was scared sometimes. It was hard to find the honest souls here.

The air ushered her to continue, the feeling of want pulling her beyond the village boundaries. Before the monster, Roe had never left the confides of The Order, fearing what lay beyond Namarast. Mead was the furthest she had ever ventured and that was only because it was her duty as an Order Mage to go. Now, she was about to undertake an ever bigger adventure to somewhere new. She felt so eager to get there but had no idea where 'there' was. On she went, coming to a small bridge which looked old and rickety. It didn't look as if it were capable of holding her weight (and she didn't weigh much!) Tentatively, she tiptoed across, every creak of the rotting wood making her flinch. It was only a small stream she was crossing but she dare not touch the water, scared of flesh-eating parasites or whatever else lurked about in the murky waters. Finally across, she continued, following the distant treeline. To her left sat The Sunless Jungle. It was said it is so dark beneath the canopies of trees, you were destined to be lost forever. Best stay away from there for now as she was in no way prepared to be plunged into darkness.

Staying parallel with the thick wall of trees, she confidently walked across the plain. All thoughts she had were gone and they had been replaced with a mental map of her route, guiding her along. She had never been this far away from home in her life but, somehow, she just knew this was the way she had to go. She still had no idea of her destination or what was waiting for her when she reached it. She just knew that she needed to be there because the reward would be so much better what she had left behind.

Another bridge approached. This one looks more stable than the last. Not only did the wood look in better condition, this one actually had metal handrails either side for ultimate security. There was no hesitation this time and Roe skipped across effortlessly. The pull was growing stronger within her as the end of her travels drew nearer. She was excited to find out what was at the end of her metaphorical rainbow. The adventure had been fun and relatively easy so far. She had no idea of the challenge she was about to face.

Her intended destination was on the horizon now - a simple, stone pyramid. It sat on the coast, close to Mirror Bay, watching over the plains she had just crossed. The ground is flat throughout this area of Ivras so it was strange she hadn't seen this until after she had crossed the bridge like it was shrouded in a magical invisibility cloak. She approached the first step, looking up at the mighty feat she was about to try and conquer. It didn't look so big before but, now, she was sure it had shot up a few extra feet. The ball of overwhelming feeling was bouncing around inside of her. It was driven to the point of insanity being so close to its origin. No turning back now. She took the first step and drew a deep breath. Up we go!

Roe climbed the never-ending stairs that spiralled round and round the perimeter of the pyramid. The incline was steep; in some places, treacherous. There was seemingly no end to this torture. She clambered and scrambled and leapt over crumbling stone and missing steps. Her small frame was heaving heavily, sweat beading along her brow. Her wings were spread as open as she could, using them for balance and a potential parachute should she tumble and fall from this height. Her groomed appearance had become messy, tiny specks of stone dust coating her fur from when she had to cling to the side of the pyramid where the path narrowed. All aspects of dignity had been tossed out the window.

Finally, close to the point of collapse, the pain ended as the steps evened out to the flat top of the pyramid. A crystal clear pool of water shimmered in the dying light of the day. Gasping with thirst, Roe rushed over and dunked her snout straight in. She gulped and gulped, the water tasting sweet and refreshing. It wasn't until now when she began to notice the darkness creeping in. How long had she been out here? In her crazed state, time had warped around her and distorted her grip on reality. It all felt like a hazy dream. But it wasn't because she was here, stood on top of a pyramid. As she finished her drink, she lifted her head and noticed a bridge crossing the pool of water. It was as simple as the pyramid. She felt ushered across it, towards a cedar table adorned with bronze engravings depicting scenes from the local agriculture. On the table was a sickle and a chaff of wheat, offerings to some form of patron. Grace... She took a step back, gasping. How did she know that?

"Open me..."

The whispering voice was back, summoning her towards a box surrounded by candles. She opened it. Inside was a scroll and a feather quill. Roe unrolled the scroll, confused to find it blank on both sides.

"Your wish..."

Roe picked up the quill, closing her eyes momentarily. She was taken back to the moment earlier today where she had been stood outside the lecture hall door, wishing for anyone to answer her prayers. The prayers of a desperate weakling who felt cornered and defeated.

She knew what to write.

Opening her eyes, she confidently wrote her wish upon the scroll before rolling it back up and placing it back into the box. Taking a step back, she bowed low towards the Shrine of Grace, thanking her for bringing her here when she needed it the most.

But what was Roe's wish? What had she written on the paper?