The Festival Of Saint Verdana

CHAPTER ONE: The Festival Of Saint Verdana

—Imagine an Earth rippled apart by an event so great, that remnants of mankind took to the skies.

Where it's said that a fierce battle of Gods had taken place and left the Earth as barren as a dead world. Only one piece of land hovered over that scape and served as the only bastion to humanity's existence.

That land is called 'ARCADIA'.

At West of the aerial horizon was the region of 'GALISBORO', the largest and greenest in the Arcadian Republic. The judicial settlement of Chromestown was reaching its best time of the year.

The biennial Verdana Harvest Festival.

The crisp spring air was immersed in the aroma of warm hearty stews from the market stalls. The town square was bustling with spectral entertainment. Minstrels strumming away to lively tunes; followed by the laughters echoing while honoring a favored monument. The 'EMERALD LEGACY': a massive titan tree, said to withstand a decimal of the Earth's lifetime. Towering over several hundred feet, the world's largest tree has been alive as a paradigm - long before the Republic itself was founded. It was one of three landmarks to Arcadia's history - a lingering evidence of Earth in the past. Its enormous branches engulfed the town like a protective umbrella, which can be seen from even the furthest ends of the region.

However, its story was not carried alone.

A concrete statue poised at the forefront of its roots like a vigilant guardian, bestowed with the name; 'SAINT VERDANA'.

The statue was found on the earlier days of Arcadia's forging, held captive by the tree's unnatural growth. The bark and roots snaking over her torso and limbs, as if its consuming her. Despite her captivating beauty, Saint Verdana poised, forever extending a hand out as if yearning for a cherished presence closeby, abandoned at an unforgettable moment in time. Aged but scarcely eroded, the tree's embrace preserved her life.

Saint Verdana was also titled; 'The Saint of Souls', yet mystery continued to shroud her origins after 1,000 years.

Some speculated that she had came across the Gods that scorched the world to hell and was given ordinance.

Believers pray to her and touch her reaching hand - which is said to grant wishes or used to ask for blessings.

Meanwhile philosophers say she was sculpted by an ancient artisan and was left to stand beside the Emerald Legacy when it was but a sapling. And the statue is the reason for its unnatural growth in size. Ideas and rumours continued to persist for generations - whether she was based on a real-life person, or she was simply a relic that survived the armageddon that ushered the Earth's extinction centuries ago.

Nonetheless, the result of her state remained a starving enigma.

Over time, she evolved into a symbol of harvest, luck, and rebirth that the villagers praise over. A harmonious connection between human and mother nature. And as the Emerald Legacy's flowers bloom biannually, it promises a cherished fruit—known as the 'Verdana Apple'. In which a bite from it, grants one's tastebuds' with everlasting umami. Galisborians far and wide come to celebrate around her likeness, honoring her presence to this day.

—"Ready?"

—"Heh. I was considered born ready!" A young male with shaggy blonde hair gingerly grinned. His colleague shared the same glint as she fiercely cracked her knuckles.

"On three then. Okay..."

—"Mannite, Charta, Swords! 1, 2, 3!"—

The two paladins placed their palms before themselves. Dame Blanca held a tightly locked fist, but to the lad's dismay, his hand folded into a peace sign.

"Ha ha! And it's another win for me!"

"GAH! Lost again?! Come on!" The young man conceded defeat to yet another round. His colleague was a towering valkryie with sun-kissed skin that complemented her blanche-white braids. A giant heavy axe-spear latched behind her back.

She erupted in hearty laughter. "Don't sweat it, Son of Kerr! Remember, Mannite always triumphs over Swords! Also, you know I always win."

"Alright, best eleven out of sixteen! Let's go!" Quinn suggested, raising his fist for another rematch.

—"Focus, you two..." A lean-figured woman with sleek raven-black hair warned, smartly pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose with a book in hand. Her sheathed longsword visibly rested beside her hip. "Quinn, Dame Blanca. This mission is supposed to be priority. So now is not the time for usual tomfoolery..."

"Come on, Simmons. No need to be such a heckler all the time..." the proud valkryie, retorted. "At least let us have a bit of fun while we're here. Besides, this mission is boring."

"Ugh. I'm so hungryyy. Paige...I need food." The shaggy-blond male, sulked with boredom and hunched his back before the wondrous tree.

"You're always hungry, Quinn. When are you never?" The raven-haired woman folded her arms.

"I know, but this time it's really bad..." He pouted childishly, his stomach joined in with a rumbling quake. "I feel like it's been hours. I'm going to starve out here."

"Didn't you just eat a sandwich a while ago, mate?" the Dame rebuked.

"Hey, don't judge my stomach's needs, Blanca! I'm a growing young man. Besides, I could seriously go for something right about now~" he remarked with his trademark mischievous jitter, his eyes fixed on a sizzling food stall not far away. His lips drooling.

"How's about we could grab some grilled Ground-Boar meat-sticks or some Honey bread. Huh, leader?~"

"We're still on duty." Paige sternly declared. "We can't be sidetracked on anything..."

"Booo...You're no fun."

"And there's nothing exciting here." Blanca agreed with Quinn, despite the jovial event before her. "I'd rather challenge someone in a test of grit, as a knight from Argentine myself! I demand a worthy opponent to fight!"

"Believe me, I don't like doing this either," Paige formally retorted with a silvery tone. "But this is because the Verdana Harvest Festival is a long-awaited event for the Westerners. And according to the Guildmeister, the Church ordered us to keep on a watchful eye. We can't be careless."

"Ugh...stupid church..." Blanca huffed at the mention.

"I don't know though. The festival has these problems once every 2 years. Let alone every day," Quinn lazily folded his arms over his head. "Some idiot would try to snatch the statue. And we'd stop them every now and then."

"That's right, and it's up to us, the Paladins of Crestwood, to stop them from intentionally ruining this event." The swordstress pointed out. "We can't let any disruptions tarnish it, like that incident with the rogue Vendicrust bandits last time."

"Aye, I get it," Blanca agreed with the roll of her amber eyes. "I'd still rather not play nanny to a tree and a statue."

"But who knows, Blanca?" Quinn, always ready to inject, teased, "...maybe this year the 'statue snatcher' will bring a friend, spice things up a bit."

"Well, they'd better be."

~In this world, the word; 'PALADIN' is a mark of a valiant champion. They are sworn to protect the five regions of Arcadia from the dangers beneath the scape known commonly as the Forsaken Lands.

Dame Blanca held the esteemed position of 'Platinum-rank', a second-class paladin. Which also made her into a residential powerhouse within the prestigious Crestwood Paladin Guild.

Whereas, Quinn Lockewood and Paige Simmons were 'Bronze-ranks'; a rank that accounted for 20% of moderately stead paladins across Arcadia. Each of their skills are commendable in their own weaponry of choice, but they were still not near as strong as the upper Paladin ranks like Blanca.

As for remaining guildmembers, those of less skill and experience fell into the category of 'Iron-ranks', average adventurers if you will depict them. Despite Paige holding a lower rank to Blanca, she assumed a leadership role within the trio, while Blanca herself was the overall heavy hitter and the brawn. Quinn, on the other hand, had the archetype of a loose cannon.

"It's said, that the Emerald Legacy always binds with the statue all year around, but the roots begin to loosen up around her at the start of the harvest month." Paige explained as she read through her book, her voice carrying a mix of authority and knowledge. "The reason to it is that the tree's natural energy is solely producing the Verdana Apples at the end of the month. Interesting."

"Yeah yeah yeah...boring facts that no one cares." Quinn exclaimed before stretching his arms. "The festival doesn't start until sunset, so the streets will be flooded with hundreds of folks until then."

Blanca yawned, uncaring of it all. "Why aren't Iron-ranks be on this job again and not us?"

"Forgive me for speaking out of turn toward you, Dame Blanca..." Paige shot a cold glance at the valkryie. "Platinum-ranks of your position should understand, a direct order from the Church takes precedence. They don't tolerate those who go against orders. You know that...right? I would gladly discipline you."

Blanca tilted her head, a sly grin playing around her lips. "Alright, alright. You don't need to give me that serious look with the empty-handed lectures every time we do missions."

"Good." While Paige was talking, Quinn's droopy brown eyes lay fixed on the statue behind him.

Beautifully crafted as folks said, the details and expressions on her face were perfectly captured. However at the same time, Quinn couldn't help but feel the unease take hold of him. A shivering sensation stemmed from her expression, as if she were crying out to him, right now.

"Creepy..." Despite that, Quinn couldn't lie that the mystery around the statue had him intrigued for years, weaving a slight attachment to her.

Although he was born and raised in another region like his fellow comrades, his mother hailed from the Galisboro Region. He was told that this very town was where she grew up in. When he was little, his mother used to whisper him fables of Saint Verdana, a kind and merciless woman touched by divinity that is said to watch over the dead. The one thing Quinn solely remembers from his mother, was if the statue itself ever was sentient, she would someday come back to life.

And it would be a sign of great danger.

Even though those tales were said to be weaved lies, her stories had their claws hooked onto him eversince.

Quinn turned his lazy gaze back at the happy-go-lucky townsfolk. Every man, woman and child enjoying themselves to the fullest. Couples holding hands while the young explored the festival games with stunts served the streets. Lively smiles were all around, while his was nowhere as genuine as it used to be.

Even at 27 years old, the statue still hasn't changed a bit from when Quinn first met it as a child.

If Saint Verdana does grant wishes as foretold, his one wish that his mother could see all these smiles with him. But maybe she was while Saint Verdana was watching over her, just as she said. 'I hope you're seeing this wherever you are. You would've loved this, huh Mom...'

"Quinn? Hey Quinn, didn't you hear me? Quinn!"

The shaggy-haired male snapped out of his daze and turned to Paige. "Huh? Yeah, what was that?"

"I said, be ready on sniper watch, it's getting dark soon," she ordered before smacking him on the back. "And quit spacing out."

"Ugh. Yes, ma'am..." he lazily saluted and turned a heel away, refocused on the duty at hand as the festival shifted into its evening phase.

___________________________________________________

—The colours of dusk painted the evening skies as decorative lanterns of the festival brightened the town in a telestic ambiance.

The three paladins began their patrol, Paige scouted the marketplace while Blanca was the only one visibly standing guard by the statue and the Emerald Legacy - with the apple blossoms beautifully dancing with the nightly breeze.

Quinn served as the sniper, bunkering above a chapel bell tower from afar and gaining a bird's eye view. He held back a bored yawn before revving his enchanted musket ready. He scouted the crowded streets; from the subtle corners and alleys - with a holographic spyscope hovering over his eye.

"Huh. Nothing shady out here, it seems..." Quinn pouted, speaking through the paladin contactor with the others. "Nope. No bandito. This blows."

<<"Well, keep looking...we can't be too sure.">> Paige's voice echoed back from a shimmering grey crystal wrapped on his wrist.

"Copy that, leader."

The night persisted on, and the trio remained on high alert, ever watchful for any signs of trouble during the festival.

"Ugh. This is so boring..." Blanca let out a dull groan.

She detested jobs like these, yearning for more exhilarating activities. Like fighting monsters or sparring against other strong paladins. Her fellow Platinum-ranks were probably having fun facing dangerous Mannibeasts and she wasn't there to enjoy it. This was frustrating to her. Anything worth of her interest as a woman of the battlefield, than stand still and do nothing.

–"Excuse me, big lady?"

"Hm?" Blanca then felt something poking on her bare thigh. She peered down to a little girl, she looked no older than 7 years old.

The little girl had cherubic features; gleaming yellow eyes, rosy cheeks and trailing blonde pigtails wrapped in red ribbons. Wearing a poofy red dress and a glazed candied-apple in her hand, it brought out her little-darling charm.

"Yeah, what do you want, lass?" Blanca bluntly stammered.

"Uhm, I wanted to ask something and I hope you don't mind..." Her voice was sweet and guileless like a baby bird. Shyly knocking her knees together before the towering valkryie. "It's just that...are you a Paladin?"

"Yeah? What do you wanna know?"

The little girl's eyes immediately twinkled. "Wow! I've always wanted to see one up close! You're so big and cool-looking!"

The 6-foot woman couldn't help but crack a small smile at the girl's enthusiasm. "Well, I suppose being strong has its perks. What's your name, kiddo?"

The little girl sweetly beamed, "I'm Serenity! Are you guarding the big tree?"

Blanca's stern demeanor softened further. "That's right. Making sure everyone stays safe during the festival. So I'm guessing you like the tree, huh?"

"I like the pretty flowers from it! I was told that it's magical too! Is it true that the statue is like a guardian?"

"From what I've been told. Yeah..." Blanca shrugged absent-mindedly, she wasn't particularly knowledgeable on Galisborian folklore herself, nor cared to know. Curious, Serenity tilted her head toward at Blanca. "Are you going to fight bad guys tonight, Miss Paladin?"

Blanca chuckled at her innocence and crouched down to her height. "Well, lass, I'd be lying if I said I hope not. But if there's trouble, we'll be ready to step in - and I'll bash them back into the Forsaken Lands with my own two hands. You can trust me on that."

Serenity's eyes widened in awe. "Woooaah! You're amazing!"

Blanca ruffled Serenity's hair with a proud smile. "Well, I can't say that I'm just amazing. Maybe even better. You see this?" She pointed at a mark tatted on her bare left shoulder, an inverse pentagon-shaped crest with a bird wing on it along with a predominantly silvery-grey colour.

"Ooo~what is that?" Serenity asked.

"My Paladin Badge."

"A badge? But isn't it a tattoo?" She pondered.

"Heh...well, this is not just any ordinary tattoo. Every paladin has this once they enter a guild, this one is the Crestwood mark. A Paladin Badge changes colour once you elevate into the next rank. And as you can see by the colour, I am an esteemed Platinum-rank! Ha!" She flexed her bicep, revealing the badge in its glamorous shine.

"Woah..." Serenity looked heavenward with amazement, her eyes sparkling like glinting gold. "Ooo...that means you're really strong!"

"Right you are, lass! And they call me the Strongest of Crestwood. No one comes close to my strength!" Blanca proudly gave in and grinned. "But someday, I aim to become a Golden Paladin!"

"Ooo...A Golden Paladin. Are they that strong?" Serenity peered, confused.

"You're kidding me? They're Arcadia's elite. And my goal is to fight one of them and prove that I'm strong enough to be on their level!" A gleam sparkled within Blanca's eyes while she passionately ranted on. Realizing she was daydreaming out loud, she looked back down at the adorable Serenity.

"But hey, one day is one day. And maybe you'll do good yourself too. Become the strongest, like me. How's about that, little lass?" She boasted a hearty laugh, whilst patting the girl's head. Her ego couldn't be any more inflated. It's a sentiment shared by many Arcadian children who aspire to follow in the footsteps of their heroic idols. Blanca was one of those idols.

"The strongest, huh..." The corners of the Serenity's deep-set eyes crinkled as she stared at the laughing blanche-haired paladin. Until, they didn't look as innocent. "On second thought~I think becoming a paladin...

...is just sad. So, no thanks."

"...eh?—" It wasn't even a second, and the Dame suddenly tasted...iron.

The pupils in Blanca's amber hues dilated as her body jolted from a cold surge of pain. It didn't take long until the overall sense of danger had now just clicked, but it was late to react on time. Blanca shivered, locking eyes with the little girl and her unsettling smile, before glancing down to her own torso.

A black blade had been jabbed into her, wielded by the child's hand alone.

"Oopsie..." the child stammered innocently. "Did that hurt, Miss Paladin?"

Blanca gritted her teeth against the pain, feeling a strange effect that rendered her unable to move. As the realization dawned on her, the once lively festival around her muffled into distant echoes. Serenity continued to smile innocently as the candied-apple she once had in her hand was now replaced by a deathly weapon. "Don't worry, I aim to make it even better..."

She jabbed the blade even deeper. Her yellow eyes once gleaming with childlike wonder, now held a disturbing glint as she stared at the immobilized valkryie. "Why...you little—"

"You know...hearing you talk was almost inspiring, to be honest. But it was too pathetic for my ears to bare. So allow me to shut you up, you cantankerous ogre." Serenity coldly spat, shedding away her child-like tone completely. Blanca tried to talk back, but all her words got caught in her throat as blood soon flooded her lips. The child leaned in, whispering with a chilling sweetness, "You're not the strongest, Miss Paladin.

But I am."

In that dead silence, faces turned towards Blanca, whose normally towering figure now appeared vulnerable and trapped.

'Dammit...I...can't move my body! It's all stiff!' she internally groaned, not even a twitch of a finger. The pigtailed blonde continously shoved her blade even further in, forcing Blanca to cough out more of the red. The citizens froze and began to catch sight of the scene.

—"What's going on?!" —"What did that little girl do to that paladin?!" —"She stabbed her!"

Quinn quickly darted his spy scope over to the sudden sound of commotion at the square, his eyes widened at the first sight of blood. "What the!? Paige! Blanca's got!"

<<"What?! How?! What's going on there?!">>

"I don't know! But it's bad! Real bad!" Quinn alerted and prepared to go on pursuit.

The little evil girl harshly kicked Blanca's limp body into the ground and stomped over her stab wound like a stepping stone. Serenity had her lips curved upward, forming a seemingly harmless beam. However, it's her eyes that betrayed the facade.

"Pathetic...you can never be a Golden Paladin if you couldn't even beat a little girl like me. Besides..."

Serenity's whole form began to emit a deep crimson flare. Multiple barbed chains began to manifest into existence, circling her like hungry serpents. Compared to Blanca, Serenity too had a special marking of her own, glimmering a vile yellowish shine from the palm of her hand—her mark was of a butterfly. "...I'm far stronger than any paladin on this pathetic floating rock. And you can trust me on that."

Onlookers trembled with cold chills as the realization came to them.

—"That marking! That chaotic aura!" —"No way...it can't be..." —"She's...she's one of them, isn't she!"

—"IT'S A SIN WIELDER!?! RUN, SHE'S HERE TO KILL US ALL!"

Panic erupted right away, the crowd scattered in all directions. The frantic steps echoed throughout the raising chaos, and in their haste, many shoved against the panicked crowd.

"Hehe, this is what I like! The aroma of fear is wafting in the air..." The little girl watched with glee as her sole presence fueled the exodus. An unnatural brightness glinted in her gaze, as if a playful devil lurked within. Using her hands to control the clattering barbed chains, Serenity silently swept them toward the crowd. With one clean swoop, she chopped heads off like a lumberjack to wood, splattering the pavement with their blood.

Soon five, ten, fifteen, twenty heads had all fallen down.

A gorey nightmare to an innocent child's eyes, but a wonderous spectacle to this vile child. "More...I need more...give me your pain! Your agony!"

The petite Sin Wielder, absolutely elated, twisted her sugary smile into not only a sickening, but a sadistic crooked sight. Each of her swings was held a rhythm to a whistling melody against her bloodthristy lips, which gave memory to an old nursery rhyme: ~Ring-around-a-Rosie~.

As Serenity continued her gorey rampage, the crowd's screams grew louder and more desperate. She was relentless, her barbed chains swishing through the air with a deadly grace, decapitating heads with ease. The air was thick with the metallic stench of blood, and the pavement was slick with it, as heads and limbs lay scattered.

Her cheeks flustered in arousal and her lips drooling with excitement.

"Now this...THIS IS A REAL HARVEST FESTIVAL!"

***

Edited: 25/May/24

【Author's Note】

-Heyooo! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter and excited to see the rest. For those who have read the story and are back to reread, best to know that a little reediting has been done. A few scenes, words and or sentences have been changed. But as we speak, I'm updating as much as a I can! Hope you voted and commented what you think. And please leave a review while you're at it!

-lebzachannn