محاكمة الإيمان
Trial of faith
ذهبية كثير مجيد
Glorious Golden Ketheer, the largest seaport in the Qadira satrap. Akiros stepped off the boat and onto the docks of the desert trade city. It was strange to him, to be surrounded by so many voices speaking his native tongue.
وكان المدينة كما انه يغيب عن البال
The city was as he remembered it; bustling merchants calling their wears and camel traders positioned at every street intersection. Everywhere, dust and sand.
لا يمكن أن نعتقد أنه كان هنا
Akiros couldn’t believe he was here. My family, he thought. This was the life he had turned away, after his family was butchered in a Taldoran raid. At the time, he was across the Inner Sea in Katapesh, serving Sarenrae. He rejected his faith after the goddess he worshiped failed to protect his family. I should have been there for them.
ذهبية كثير مجيد
For Akiros, this was no longer home. His home was in the Greenbelt, with his friends. He was only here to atone for his sins, and to perform the ceremonial service as befit a Paladin of Sarenrae.
أمضى ليلة في أحد فنادق وجرف حصى من السفر الطويل
Akiros spent the night at an inn and washed away the grit from the long travel. The next day he went to the Temple of Sarenrae. He was welcomed by an old priest who appeared to recognize him on sight.. “The Lady told me you would come, and she requests of you one more task before your redemption is complete.”
أدى القس السابق بالادين إلى غرفة للصلاة خاصة في الجزء الخلفي من الهيكل
The priest led the ex-paladin to a private prayer room in the back of the temple. “Pray here and all will be clear,“ the priest said as he closed the door to the private garden.
ساجد في الصلاة لمدة يوم كامل ليلا ونهارا
Akiros knelt in prayer for a full day and night before an image of his wife and children appeared before him. “We miss you, da,” his children shouted. Their faces brought tears to his eyes.
وهرب الأطفال له في الماضي واختفت في الجدار.
The children ran past him and vanished into the wall. “You could not have known. Will you not forgive yourself, Husband?” his wife asked. She reached down and held his face with incorporeal hands. This was the last step. He had forgiven Sarenrae. He had proved his worth in service. Now, he must forgive himself.
استوعب الرمز المقدس إلى صدره.
Kneeling on the rug, Akiros closed his eyes and grasped the holy symbol to his chest. “It was not your fault,” his wife said again. It was not my fault, he thought. “You’re not to blame,” she whispered. It was not my fault. Flames without heat burst from the symbol, engulfing Akiros. It was not my fault! The flames writhed around his mortal body, burning his soul.
أنا يعفي لكم من ذنوبكم الماضي
“No, it was not your fault, Akiros,” the voice of the Dawnflower spoke to him. “I absolve you of your past sins, so rise, my paladin, and use my power to protect the faithful in the north.”
مد الذراعين الذراع إلى الأمام على البساط، في العبودية
Akiros fell forward on the rug, arms extended in servitude. He could feel the divine power within him, purging his body of impurities. He willed the power into his hands, infusing them with the light of Sarenrae. He rose to his feet, drawing his blade.
ومحاولة لكم ، سيدتي
“As you bid, my lady.”
