Seona was starving, realizing that she hadn't eaten anything since very early in the morning. She had made amazingly good time to the city, and wondered if arriving early for the training was such a good idea. Still, she had friends in the Cathedral of the Light here, and no doubt they'd be able to accommodate her. She made for the canals, turning right and passing the large open area where several blacksmiths plied their trade. She made a note to return here later, as she had a few places in her chainmail that could use new rings and patches, but was too hungry to stop now.
She had her rations, of course, but she hated to use them when she was already in the City, especially when she might get a free meal at the church. Noting street signs as she walked, she found the bridge to take her over the canals towards Cathedral Square. She stopped halfway across, peering down into the water. As a child, she had heard rumors that strange things lurked in the dark corners of the canals and remembered peering down into the water just as she was doing now. Though she found such things silly now, she still wondered if anything could be down in the murky water. Smiling at the memories, she shook her head and continued on, passing into a much quieter area of the city. As she passed under a large archway, she caught a glimpse of spires reaching up to the heavens. Soon, though, the buildings blocked her view.
No merchants were shouting their wares here, and no blacksmiths or other artisans were working on their crafts. Instead, the buildings in all white stone stood silent and stoic, surrounding the greatest building in all of Stormwind, the Cathedral of the Light. Before it was a round, multi-tiered fountain, it's water quietly splashing, the air cool and calm. A few young priests in white robes sat nearby in prayer and quiet meditation. There were fewer dwarves and gnomes here, as she had entered the heart of the city now. Strangely, she felt more at home here than in Ironforge, though she was surrounded by humans instead of her own people.
The Cathedral itself was magnificent, it's white, stone towers and spires reaching up to the sky and it's windows full of clear, blue glass. A large set of steps rose up to the arching doorway, a blue and golden carpet covering them. Seona remembered the first time she had seen those steps as a child, just another refugee orphan of the war, and sighed.
"Seona?" Her memories were interrupted as one of the priests at the fountain called out her name, running to her side. "Seona! Seona, you're back!"
The priest knelt down and hugged her, laughing, and she returned the gesture, a huge smile on her face. Oh yes, she had friends in the Cathedral.
"Fandren, it's so very good to see you again!" she said, pulling back from her friend's embrace. His youthful face was framed by his two long braids of black hair. Grey eyes looked out from a square face some would no doubt call handsome, his nose just a little on the large size, but not enough to look foolish. Seona knew his easy laugh and quick mind and immediately asked about his studies and health.
"Oh, Seona, I'm doing alright. I suppose there are days when I wonder if I wouldn't have been better served following in your footsteps, though. Some days I think... maybe..." he trailed off, his smile fading.
"What's wrong, Fandren? Is Brother Benjamin being strict with you? You know he has his reasons, of course. You always were a handful." she smiled, hoping for another one of Fandren's lilting laughs, but they were interrupted.
"Speaking of, look who's here." Fandren pointed, and Seona turned to find her old mentor. Brother Benjamin was a tall human, with skin dark as night. His white robes were trimmed in gold, a sign that he was one of the teachers of the clerics, an educator of future priests. He had taught Seona earlier in her life, before she became a paladin.
"Sister Seona, welcome back child," he smiled, stooping a bit and taking her hand.
"Brother Benjamin, it's so good to see you," the paladin said, bowing. Benjamin laughed.
"So formal, my dear! It's been awhile. How are the Wetlands?"
"Wet, no doubt." Fandren quipped, earning him a stern look from the older priest. Seona suppressed a giggle, knowing that Brother Benjamin was a far more serious man than her young friend will ever be.
"They are better off than Darkshire, though it seems much of the Northern lands are troubled by Dark Iron dwarves, the Horde, and other, less pressing troubles. Still, I'm glad to be back, even if it is only for a short time."
Benjamin gestured toward the cathedral, "Come, let's get inside. I've my afternoon prayers to attend to, and you're no doubt hungry and tired from travel." He glanced back disapprovingly at Fandren, then added, "Young Brother Fandren will take you into the kitchens and find you a room." He then whispered to Seona, "Try to convince him to study more, my dear. I worry about him a bit."
Confused by that last, Seona frowned a little, but quickly forgot about his words as she entered the cathedral. The air was cool inside, and she felt finally at home. The vaulted ceilings arched high above her head, and light streamed into the huge, rectangular nave through stained-glass windows above the altar. Columns lined each side of the nave, separating it from the smaller aisles with lower ceilings. She paused for a moment to go to one knee, and thought a wordless prayer of thanks, for everything. Seona felt renewed and at peace here in the church, surrounded by friends and the Light. Brother Benjamin bowed silently, and turned away to make for the right entrance of transept, off to make his own prayers in one of the alcoves.
Fandren turned to Seona and whispered quietly, "You're starving, aren't you? You never do eat when you're mind is on other things." Seona nodded emphatically, and he smirked. "Come on, then." He turned and passed through the columns to the left aisle, walking it's length with Seona right behind, to a small wooden door. He opened it and they both passed through to a much smaller, simpler, stone hallway. This lead to a very small courtyard and the living quarters of the clergy that stayed here in the Cathedral. Off in the distance, Seona heard a horse whinny, do doubt from the Church's stables, her ultimate destination, according to the letter.
Away from the omnipresent power and peace of Cathedral itself, Fandren looked a little happier and Seona was once again reminded of Brother Benjamin's plea.
"Fandren, what have you been up to lately? I feel like I've been gone a hundred years."
The dark-haired priest frowned, continuing down the hallway to the kitchens. "Oh, not much, just study, really, and lots of book reading." He gestured her inside where a long, low table with benches along it's length sat empty, taking up much of the room. At dinner, it would be filled with the inhabitants of the Cathedral, she knew. There was always food of some kind available, though, for visitors or the needy. Today it was a hot, hearty stew and she fell to immediately.
"C'mon, Fandren. I know when you're holding back, and, frankly, so does Benjamin. He worries about you." Seona said, trying to sound lighthearted.
"He's just upset that I don't view the Light the same as he does."
This only confused Seona further. "What do you mean?"
Fandren sighed. "Ah, my friend, you shouldn't concern yourself. It's nothing, really. It's possible I just don't have what it takes to become a truly great priest." He sat beside her, clasping his hands, a little sad.
"Don't be stupid, Fan. You've got talent. Brother Ben wouldn't have taken you as a student if he didn't think you had what it took to be a priest." Her bluntness surprised the young man.
"It's just... I look at the Light as a tool, and sometimes an imperfect one." He grimaced a bit.
Seona wanted to chide him for the remark, but stopped. "Explain, please."
Fandren looked thoughtful for a moment. "I just think that maybe it isn't always the best tool for the job, you know? You became a paladin because of that."
Seona shook her head. "No. I became a paladin because I wanted to do more, to fight, to protect others. Mostly to fight, though." She smirked, and Fandren smiled a little.
"Oh, well, I just think that, as a priest, I'm maybe more scholar and less cleric."
"Now, that I can understand, as I felt the same way for a time. What have you been doing that upsets Ben so much?"
"Um... enchanting." Fandren nearly whispered the word.
It was Seona's turn to grimace. It was fairly well known amongst the clergy that Brother Benjamin disliked the mix of Arcane with the Light's power, claiming that the Arcane energies "taint" the Light inherent in all things. He loves warning of the dangers of Arcane magics, their temptations, and he often cites the numerous warlocks amongst the great Alliance populace as proof of the danger. She shook her head, though, at his occasional backwards thinking and laid a comforting hand on Fandren's arm.
"Don't take him so seriously. Brother Benjamin is a purist, wanting all his students to become perfect healers." Fandren frowned again.
"Well, then, I'm doomed, Seona. I have a terrible time healing anything. Or, at least, a much harder time than others."
Seona shrugged. "Have you considered a different path? Or perhaps approached one of The Disciplined? They use holy Light in a different way."
Fandren nodded. "Yes, I have, and I just... I don't know. The Disciplined are very, well, disciplined-," Seona snorted, and Fandren continued, "-and I doubt I'll fit in well. You know me, Seona, always pushing boundaries and joking around."
She finished up her stew and bread and pushed the bowl back. "Seems to me you're just having a hard time finding your footing. Don't worry so much, Fan, you'll do fine. Look at your options and decide. You can always change your mind later if you feel you've chosen wrong, I mean, look what I ended up doing. You're so young yet." Fandren looked a little comforted, but still confused, and the paladin could sense his inner turmoil. Still, he smiled, punching her in the arm saying, "Not that young, Sister, I'm nearly 20 years old now." She laughed in response, but yawned, tired from travel.
"Well, your room is waiting, you're no doubt wanting to get settled in." Fandren stood.
Seona followed Fandren to the door, saying "Then by all means, my friend, lead the way."
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