Ex Viscus Ut Vitam

As Nym stood in front of the crowd awkwardly and Darvin held his head in his hands, four wizards of the school walked onto the stage from the back, followed by four floating beds with small offerings of bows, incense, and earth, one diamond and one finger each. After the beds followed four clerics of Mielikki. The group fanned out, with one wizard with their backs to the assembled group at the foot of each bed, one cleric facing the assembled group at the head of each bed, and the beds splayed out like fingers. Headmistress Tainaste walked onto the stage last of all, walked through the middle of the four, and stood at the front of the stage, addressing the audience.

"Thank you for coming to this ceremony, and helping us to welcome back four of ours who we thought were lost to us." Her voice was magically amplified, and could be clearly heard, though she was not speaking much above a whisper, and with this very simple message, she nodded slightly to Nym and Wayrn in turn at the foot of the stage, then turned to the assembled healers behind her. Nym and Wayrn stepped slowly up the steps to the stage, and stood one on either side of Headmistress Tainaste.

"Healers of Mielikki, may the early autumn these four young ones experienced make way for renewed spring in their lives, and may this renewal nurture them and help them to grow in your bounty." Her voice was still amplified, and though she was not facing them, the entire crowd heard every word she said very plainly.

The priestess to the audience's left raised her left hand. "When I was young, I wanted to be older."

The teacher across from her raised his left hand. "When I was ignorant, I wanted all knowledge."

Nym, taking her part, walked to the left side of the table. "When I was lonely, I wanted companions."

And Wayrn, walking to the right side of the table, spoke his part. "When I was dead, I wanted life."

The priestess continued. "The cycle of life continues, though it was interrupted for a time for this one. May the cycle continue, and may the Forest Queen watch us all through the autumns of our lives."

Once she had finished speaking, she bowed her head to the table. The wizard cast an illusory spell over the table that gave it a glowing halo, obscuring the sight of the items on the table. The priestess spoke three long sentences in draconic, and her hands performed an intricate dance that represented the passage of time through life. As she spoke, the form on the figure, bathed in light though it was, began to take form, and the small offerings on the table grew, like a vine growing up a trellis, the dirt and twigs grew into human shape, though instead of leaves, hair grew, and instead of vines, bones and muscle grew. Shortly after she had finished speaking, the wizard adjusted his illusion to become a glowing brown robe that covered the unclothed body of a 13 year old girl. Nym recognized her as Morna.

As soon as the robe began forming, the girl sat up, looking around startled. She saw Nym, which confused her even more, as she looked like the Nym she remembered, but older, and more mature, and she wasn't sure what to think, but then she saw Wayrn, and started crying and hugging him immediately. Wayrn calmed her down, and assured her everything was going to be alright, and the ceremony continued.

At each of the tables, the same words were spoken, though Nym and Wayrn were the only two involved in all four of the rituals. Moran was next, and took his return calmly, though his poise was obviously a bit forced. Avarn was third, and came to herself screaming and frantic. It took Nym, Wayrn, and Headmistress Tainaste all to stop her screaming, and as soon as she stopped screaming, she began sobbing loudly and uncontrollably. The priest and wizard accompanying her bed accompanied her away so she would not be too embarrassed by her reaction. Finally, Rahm was resurrected, and he simply laid back, not sure what reaction to take. He finally looked at Nym. "Nym, is that you? How long has it been?"


With the four all raised from the dead, Headmistress Tainaste turned once again to the assembly gathered. "We are happy to have all four of our lost students returned to us. Please, show them your encouragement and support."

The crowd began clapping their open right hands against their chests, creating a gentle thunder sound, as if a rainstorm was on the horizon, and the rains of life would be coming shortly to nourish the plants and animals that so depended on them.