Salvage Union: Floodplain Part Seven

"Did she ever call her goddess again?" Sister Zlata hugged her knees close as she sat on the stool.

The rest of the novice sisters had left the lecture and gone to do chores. Zlata had remained behind to ask questions. Sister Charity didn't much mind; it was a sign of a healthy mind and good faith.

"Nope. From what the texts tell us, she survived the war and settled down to rebuild the Temple with a new congregation. She lived late into her elder years and was survived by a couple dozen brothers and sisters."

Zlata's face fell. "Oh."

"You have to understand: we have been told these truths from the Goddess herself. They happened long ago and far from here. But she remembers those who call her and tells their story so we understand."

"...yeah, but. They both killed all of those people. It sounds like they made the war *worse.*"

Sister Charity nodded.

"...and she dies in her bed in a new Temple?"

"Mmhmm."

"...I don't think I get it, Sister."

Sister Charity exhaled. "Well. What is there to get? It's a recounting of a history. I never said it was a metaphor, or a parable. It's a fact of our faith. Some sisters...they take faith in knowing that it was one of us who got the "happy ending", mm? That it's not an exec or some corpo or warlord dying peacefully." She sighed. "I worry about those ones. I'm glad it makes you uncomfortable, little sister."

She frowned, wrinkled her nose. "What am I supposed to do with any of this?"

The older sister shrugged. "Whatever you want. The past is what it is. Our goddess kept going, and so did Nia. One of those stories...these *histories* had an end, and the other didn't. Interpret these truths as you see fit." She closed her copy of the Book of the Earth and Moon with a smile. "And you're not going to get out of all of your chores by asking me questions."

The younger sister rolled her eyes as she rose. "...would you have called her?"

The older sister paused. "I will only know if I am ever in her shoes.

I hope I never am."

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