Vows in Silence part 2: Birth of a Relic
This time?
“When I send you into the past the next time, you will be a part of the world around you.”
Setsuna was unapologetic. Seraphine liked that about her.
The flow of people ran up a hill just behind them. Seraphine blinked against the glare, trying to see where they were going. Bodies were staring to pool at the top of the hill. They rose and fell against each other like a breaking tide.
“It’s just about time. Come on.” Setsuna motioned for Seraphine to follow her.
They trekked up the side of the hill until it plateaued. Out of the ground, wooden crosses rose up, imposing their cruel glory upon the assembled crowd.
Seraphine took in a sharp breath and crossed herself quickly. The family religion had never really meant as much as it did in that moment. Staring down at her was the face of a man she thought she’d seen before. A face that was painted, tiled and etched into every wall and window of every church she’d ever visited. He was real. He was flesh and blood. He was dead.
For a moment Seraphine was transfixed. Watching the loss of a great man. It wasn’t like she’d thought it would be. There was no moment of silence. No setting sun, as the Earth brought and end to an era. No. It was just another day. The air wasn’t still; it was filled with a mixture of wailing and jeering. The sun continued to beat down on everyone there. For some reason, the absence of lament stung more than the death it’s self.
“Watch carefully. You are about to witness the birth of three holy relics at one time. Two are before you already. The cross that Jesus died on and the crown of thorns on his head.” Setsuna pointed to a Roman soldier being coaxed toward the body.
Seraphine could understand him and his fellow soldiers. They spoke Latin, a language she’d learned very young.
“Make sure he’s dead, Longinus.” The man was pushed forward.
He straightened himself. After a quick breath he stood next to the drooping body on the cross and jabbed his side once with his spear. The spill of liquid barely missed him as it poured out, a mixture of blood and water. It dripped onto the spear.
I thought it would be more profound.
“Frequently history disappoints us that way.”
Seraphine watched Longinus, the Roman soldier, walk back to his peers. They wiped the point of the spear clean and then went on their way. A movement caught her eye. She turned to see a man climbing down. His feet didn’t disturb the dust as they touched the ground. He smiled at her and came to her.
“Be blessed little sister.” His lips sent shivers down her spine. Just a simple kiss on her forehead made her knees weak. The words sounded deep in her soul, sharing their meaning with every fiber of her being.
Seraphine trembled, and fell to her knees. He was gone, leaving behind so many emotions. So many different questions about herself, and her motives.
“Are you alright?” Setsuna reached down and helped Seraphine to her feet.
I don’t know. I think so.
“What happened?”
Didn’t you see him?
“See who?” Setsuna blinked once.
Je- Seraphine paused. This was ridiculous. He couldn’t have seen her, even if it was his soul. It was impossible, no one could see her. Never mind. I think it was just the sun.
She looked back up at the cross. He was still there. He seemed less whole now, his soul had ascended. She wondered which angel had escorted him, she didn’t see one. Maybe she couldn’t, since she was back in time.
The shadow of the cross fell across her.
What about the spear?
“That you’ll have to learn about yourself. There are so many stories of what happened to it. You will have to find out which is real. Then you can find it, but only after you truly understand.”
Seraphine refrained from rolling her eyes. She’d heard that one too many times now.
“We should get back now. I don’t want to keep you here too long.” With a quick tap, the time staff opened another portal back.
“When I send you into the past the next time, you will be a part of the world around you.”
Setsuna was unapologetic. Seraphine liked that about her.
The flow of people ran up a hill just behind them. Seraphine blinked against the glare, trying to see where they were going. Bodies were staring to pool at the top of the hill. They rose and fell against each other like a breaking tide.
“It’s just about time. Come on.” Setsuna motioned for Seraphine to follow her.
They trekked up the side of the hill until it plateaued. Out of the ground, wooden crosses rose up, imposing their cruel glory upon the assembled crowd.
Seraphine took in a sharp breath and crossed herself quickly. The family religion had never really meant as much as it did in that moment. Staring down at her was the face of a man she thought she’d seen before. A face that was painted, tiled and etched into every wall and window of every church she’d ever visited. He was real. He was flesh and blood. He was dead.
For a moment Seraphine was transfixed. Watching the loss of a great man. It wasn’t like she’d thought it would be. There was no moment of silence. No setting sun, as the Earth brought and end to an era. No. It was just another day. The air wasn’t still; it was filled with a mixture of wailing and jeering. The sun continued to beat down on everyone there. For some reason, the absence of lament stung more than the death it’s self.
“Watch carefully. You are about to witness the birth of three holy relics at one time. Two are before you already. The cross that Jesus died on and the crown of thorns on his head.” Setsuna pointed to a Roman soldier being coaxed toward the body.
Seraphine could understand him and his fellow soldiers. They spoke Latin, a language she’d learned very young.
“Make sure he’s dead, Longinus.” The man was pushed forward.
He straightened himself. After a quick breath he stood next to the drooping body on the cross and jabbed his side once with his spear. The spill of liquid barely missed him as it poured out, a mixture of blood and water. It dripped onto the spear.
I thought it would be more profound.
“Frequently history disappoints us that way.”
Seraphine watched Longinus, the Roman soldier, walk back to his peers. They wiped the point of the spear clean and then went on their way. A movement caught her eye. She turned to see a man climbing down. His feet didn’t disturb the dust as they touched the ground. He smiled at her and came to her.
“Be blessed little sister.” His lips sent shivers down her spine. Just a simple kiss on her forehead made her knees weak. The words sounded deep in her soul, sharing their meaning with every fiber of her being.
Seraphine trembled, and fell to her knees. He was gone, leaving behind so many emotions. So many different questions about herself, and her motives.
“Are you alright?” Setsuna reached down and helped Seraphine to her feet.
I don’t know. I think so.
“What happened?”
Didn’t you see him?
“See who?” Setsuna blinked once.
Je- Seraphine paused. This was ridiculous. He couldn’t have seen her, even if it was his soul. It was impossible, no one could see her. Never mind. I think it was just the sun.
She looked back up at the cross. He was still there. He seemed less whole now, his soul had ascended. She wondered which angel had escorted him, she didn’t see one. Maybe she couldn’t, since she was back in time.
The shadow of the cross fell across her.
What about the spear?
“That you’ll have to learn about yourself. There are so many stories of what happened to it. You will have to find out which is real. Then you can find it, but only after you truly understand.”
Seraphine refrained from rolling her eyes. She’d heard that one too many times now.
“We should get back now. I don’t want to keep you here too long.” With a quick tap, the time staff opened another portal back.