Sepia

You’d been marching in line for hours now, there were thousands of mages and templars here. On their way to the Conclave too. Next to you, Opal shivers from the bitter cold air. You rummage through your pack and find an extra sweater and drape it over her small shoulders. She looks up at you, fresh snowflakes on her eyelashes and in her hair, “Thank you.” You smile and nod at her. You march for hours, and even you start to feel a little cold. Just as your about to mention it, Opal asks you a question. “Tell me something, Korra. Why are you coming with us to the Conclave? The templars were horrible to you. Why do you care if we make peace with them? I know why I care. But why do you?” She glances over at Bolin as you let out a puff of air.

“Do you know of Senior Enchanter Senna, Opal?”

“I’ve… heard of her. She’s from Kinloch Hold right? Why? What does she have to do with anything?”

“She’s my mother.”

Opal quickly turned towards you, “Really? How do you know? The Chantry takes the child from pregnant mages after they give birth.”

“I spent some time with her. Not in the Circle but before.”

“Before?”

“Before my magical talent surfaced, I lived in a local chantry as an orphan. For a long time I never understood why my parents didn’t want me, why they gave me up. But then she found me and even if she’d wanted me she couldn’t have me. And she did want me. And that made it worse.”

“Korra—“

“And then I came in to my magic and I thought that would make everything better. That I’d get to be with her in the Circle. Instead they sent me to Kirkwall. Away from her. She wrote me letters when we were still in Kirkwall. Before Meredith was Knight Commander, I received all of them. But after, I didn’t always get them. Anyway in my fifteenth year, I received a letter, she told me who my father was.”

“Who… who was he?”

“You tell me. You fell in love with one, just as she did.”

Opal opened her mouth to speak, just as a shout erupted from the templars. You both glance over to see Mako arguing with another templar in front of him. The man, taller and bigger than Mako yells, “You’re brother is just a knife-eared mage lover!” Mako face red screams back, “This Conclave is for peace! If you can’t put your differences aside – like I have, then you shouldn’t be here!”

The man huffs and turns away from Mako. Bolin places a hand on Mako’s shoulder, “Just let it go. I don’t need you to defend me all the time.” Mako snorts at this, shaking Bolin’s hand off, he steps out of the procession and runs off in the opposite direction. “Mako! Come on! Come back, that’s not what I meant!” Bolin sighs and runs off after him.

“Bolin!” Opal yells. You look back, Opal looked worried. “Don’t worry I’ll go get them. I’ll bring them right back, Ope. Stay here. Keep our places in line.”

“Are you sure I shouldn’t go get them?” She says a worried look still on her face.

“I’ve always been faster than you.”

--

You’ve finally caught up with Mako and Bolin. Who look as though they’ve been sorting out their sissy fit. “Guys, can we argue later? We really need to get to the Conclave. It’s starting like, now probably.” They look over at you, hug each other, which involves clapping each other on the back. Men. You turn, ready to head back, when the sky lights up and a cracking sound fills the air. A force of wind throws you back into Mako and Bolin, leaving the three of you in a pile on the snow.

You cough. Wincing as you open your eyes, Bolin moans under you. “I think I dislocated a shoulder…” You come to a stand, helping Bolin and Mako to their feet. “What the hell was that?” You ask as you begin to help Bolin with his shoulder. Mako lets out a gasp and falls to his knees next to you. Turning around fully, you see that the Temple of Sacred Ashes lays in a pile of rubble. There… There was a gaping green hole in the sky. But most importantly, the procession of templars and mages on their way to the temple – to the Conclave was gone. Dead. “No. No. No. No! Opal. Opal!” Bolin screams, you’re horrified as he comes to this realization before you. The two of you grasp hands as you fall to your knees together. Together you scream her name clutching to each other. Together your throats grow raw from screaming Opal’s name like a prayer. And it’s together that Bolin loses his faith in the Maker as you simultaneously find it.