Two and a half years ago...
Edith was well aware of the ins and outs of the Reckoning ritual. For the past six months, the High Professor had started the girl on a strict regiment of tomes covering the lore of the ceremony. She had diligently absorbed everything she could. Why the ritual was first instigated. How the spring that led to the fountain came from the purest of sources. How the Mystics were selected, each coming from one of the Estuaries. Most recently she had been reading on the goblets themselves. Though their creation was a guarded secret, the stories within each were amazing. Edith had even had the privilege of viewing one of the retired goblets. Through the glass case, she could hear it whispering the truths of the lives it had touched.
The High Professor was old friends with the old Mercenary that acted as a Mystic and was able to talk them into letting Edith shadow a few of the Reckoning rituals. After several of these visits, Edith was still unable to comprehend how the water could possibly look into someone's soul and know the true them. Though the percentage of people that chose a different Estuary from what was shown was very small, it was still more than a handful. But that was a tome as heavily guarded as the means for the creation of the goblets. Or maybe no one had the answer yet? All observing Reckonings had done was to inspire more curiosity in Edith's heart. She even found herself daydreaming of becoming a Mystic, a tall, slender figure starting the chapters of young lives while honoring the ending of well lived volumes.
None of Edith's studies had fully prepared her for her own Reckoning day. The High Professor had accompanied his pupil, not as her teacher, but as her doting guardian. The faces Edith greeted inside were warm and familiar. The Harbinger Mystic still had a scar across her nose. The Practitioner still smelled faintly of spearmint. Nothing about the temple had really changed. Only Edith was about to change, or so it felt. Steeling herself, she glanced across the familiar rows of goblets. A few she could recognize from studying them on her shadowing days. These goblets were all quiet. Edith walked slowly towards the back of the great hall, taking time to look at each goblet in turn. They too remained silent. Circling back, she again tried to hear the call, to spot the sign. Again, she headed towards the back. And then there it was, like a tickling feather at the back of her neck. Edith could hear it singing, but the voice was so quiet. At the very back of the hall, she found her goblet. It had been carved from marble. Inlay in the stem were three onyx stones. 'Don't listen to the water,' it whispered. 'It will lead you astray. You have to look deeper than it can.'
Edith could only respond with a small gasp. She quickly swallowed back her questions and turned to the fountain. As she plunged the cool stone cup into the water, a voice louder than before flashed red into her mind. 'Your books are nice and fancy, but what about your poor mother? How can you help her this way? Papercut the Cimmerians to death? Ha!' Edith quickly scowled in anger. 'See! You've got the fire, don't waste it. Remember all of those bullies? They were no match for you. You can still win the fight.' Edith continued to scowl down into the water as it turned red, hot tears welling into her eyes. "But I can't win the war like this..."
The Mystics could sense the tension from the fountain and approached Edith. "You don't have to make your decision now." "No, I do." Edith glanced from the red water to where the High Professor stood in the temple doors. "I choose Familiar. I choose to fight the war on different terms." The Mystics all glanced among themselves. It was unheard of for anyone to choose Familiar over another Estuary, and the girl in front of them was displaying some obvious Mercenary-esque traits. But they could not make the choice for her.
Edith slid the goblet into her bag and headed towards the High Professor. An angry cry was overdue.
Present
Edith was starving. She had been in the university vault since late the night before, and it was already noon. Sunspark squawked a reminder as the girl's stomach began to growl. "Fine, fine. You're right. How can I translate this last chapter if I can't see straight from hunger. You know me too well." Careful to mark her place without damaging the pages, Edith closed the tome and returned it to its case. She removed her leather gloves and placed them on the table. Up the stairs she ran, nearly knocking over a young lord who was acting as a page. "Sorry!"
As she finally neared the dining hall, she stopped at the sound of her name. "Edith, how goes your translation?" Edith turned and smiled to the High Professor. "I am so close! I should have information to send to the Estuary leaders ready by the end of the day tomorrow. I think this could be big... Or at least lead me towards something bigger. If you'd only let me into the catacombs, or perhaps even the tower..." The aged man looked down at the young girl he had watched grow into a young woman. "You're not ready just yet. Give it time. And stop doubting my abilities. I can read too, you know." Edith rolled her eyes, smiled again, and hugged the man. Then she quickly let go and ran the rest of the way to the dining hall. There, she found Sunspark already beak first into an apple tart.
