Sister Ermine returns to the church and spends time in prayer at the Vow Pall. She begs the Watcher’s forgiveness for her brawl.
Now that she has the map, she sets out for the forest as the stars and moon light her way.
The full moon paints a perfect backdrop for her mission.
At any other time in her life, Ermine would probably be very hesitant about wandering into the forest at night. But just like in other situations in life, need sometimes overrides fear.
Ermine marches into the forest guided by her strong need to find this fountain. She wants to know what it is like to fall asleep and stay asleep. Not just every once in a while, but all the time.
She stops for one quick moment to check her map, then she returns it to her pouch and enters the dark woods.
Ermine steps into the forest and begins her journey, stopping only as necessary to check the map. According to the map, the fountain is hidden at the foothills beyond the forest. Although she follows the map closely, Ermine loses her path once or twice, but somehow manages to get back on track each time.
Dawn is approaching before Ermine locates the fountain. The beauty of its shimmering flowing water makes her fall to her knees. She feels that this is a holy place. She closes her eyes and can hear the fountain speaking to her. “You have done well and have passed the test of devotion.”
Ermine returns to Archolia with further instructions. To her dismay she has more tests to pass in order to be healed. The voice of the fountain instructs her to infuse water from the fountain with water from the well at the town square.
She has come too far to turn back now, so she goes to the well as instructed.
She pours a flask of the fountain water into the well, as villagers look on. Her being the priest, they do not question her actions.
She continues to pour hoping that there would be some sort of reaction, but nothing happens.
She listens closely, turning her ear to the well to await further instruction. She can hear a faint voice. “Now for your test of sacrifice,” she hears and listens carefully to the details of her next test.
