In The Temple

*Spring, Year 225, Luminous Calendar* Tap, tap, tap. There was a faint tapping of an insisting drip from somewhere in the kitchens. "Someone should really see to that horrible leak." Iris whispered to Rose who smiled slightly and nodded without looking at her. Iris gave a frustrated look over at the opened space next to them. She and Rose had chosen to sit in the farthest wooden bench from the Grand Alter during their weekly evening Holy Sermon. Unfortunately for them that bench was next to the open kitchens on the right side of the Grand Alter. "And may the light of our Five Goddesses shine bright upon each of you" the elderly High Priestess, Asterwood said as she rose her hands and smiled. "And may we be blessed with their wisdom and power" everyone in the room finished their Temple prayer in unison before silently sitting for a few minutes and then proceeding to get up from their seats in a polite manner. "Actually, please stay seated" A man's deep voice loudly resounded as everyone turned to the source. A man in an elegant white satin attire and shiny black leather boots walked through an old creaky door situated on the left wall next to the Grand Altar and towards the front where The High Priestess stood, before turning to look at the room full of women. He was very tall, with a broad build and an air of elegance and power. His black and gray peppered hair was long with a few small stands falling loose from a neat braid. He had a very attractive face with fine features,the most striking being his bright ice blue eyes. "King James!" A loud resounding whisper could be heard all around the room. 'King James?' Iris thought for a moment. She had heard that name all over the place for years and had even read it on many of the thin paper posters that were plastered all over the small town that surrounded the Temple but she had never actually seen him. She turned to look at Rose who stood with her mouth agape. "Who's that?" Iris whispered to her friend only to have Rose's head snap towards her in amazement. "Who? Are you serious? That's King James, The Sire of this kingdom!" When Iris looked at her with confusion Rose's eyes became even wider. "The sole Ruler of Sundome? Defeater of a Thousand Armies? Iris! Where have you been these last fourty years?" Rose whispered in a bewildered voice. "Well, seeing as I'm only eighteen springs old, I can't really account for the last twenty two years." Iris whispered back with a grin. "Even so, you should at least know who the ruling King of our Country is!" Rose whispered a bit annoyed before turning back to look at King James as everyone sat back again. "Good evening ladies, it is an immense honor to stand before all of you. I've recently been told by the High Priestess that all thirty of you are candidates for the future five High Priestesses positions. Is that correct?" Under the intense stare of the handsome King many of the women blushed and nodded while others giggled and answered with a timid ''yes." Iris stayed silent while she stared at Rose, who was one of the gigglers, with an arched eyebrow. "Well, that being said, my party and I are please to announce that we will be staying for the upcoming Priestess Ceremony. We were also told that this Ceremony will be held in a lapse of fifteen days." The King smiled as he waved his hand towards a group of thirteen men, all ranging in age and dressed in black and gold caped military suits as a murmur of excited whispers broke out while the King paused to take a breath. "Ladies! Hush now" High Priestess Asterwood chimed in disapproval and the ladies shushed each other to continue listening to the King. Iris rolled her eyes and sat quietly while looking straight ahead. She had spent the last thirteen springs of her life studying, learning and re-studying the manners in which a High Priestess should present herself and the correct way to act before anyone, be it royalty or not, to just suddenly throw all of it out the window as her classmates were childishly doing right now. "Please, delicate ladies, I know you are all excited but allow me to continue." The King said in a loud commanding voice as he eyed each and everyone of them. A cold shiver ran up Iris's spine when his eyes seemed to linger on her for a few seconds more then on the rest but then his eyes continued their trail among the rest of her classmates. "Now, as many of you know, there is worrisome troubled stewing up in the Capital and it's surrounding cities so...", King James' smiled faded as he said in a serious tone but was interrupted by High Priestess Asterwood, "Errrm...forgive my interruption your Majesty, but many of our Candidates don't know about the problems outside of these walls. To be quite sincere, I doubt that any of them know about any issue regarding the Capital or the surrounding cities, seeing as how we do not interfere with or teach about political issues in our temple" The High Priestess finished with a small bow to which the King looked at her in a stern silence. "That is something I was not informed about" he said before looking towards his men and then back at all of them. "Alright, well then. I reckon that what I'm about to tell all of you is going to be a shock but it is something that could have been avoided if there was a true teaching of political ideals and issues in this temple" the King said as he threw a dark glance at the High Priestess who continued to look at her pupils in a relaxed manner. "About ten days ago, our kingdom received a Declaration of War from our South neighboring kingdom, Lunriver. Then, six days ago the same came from our West neighboring kingdoms, Teraldiam and Isizelico. And, to top it all off, yesterday evening we received the last Declaration of War from our East neighboring kingdom Saftierion." A loud chorus of gasps sounded around the room as many of the present women looked at the King in horror and shock. Some even began to silently cry as they covered their pale faces with shaky hands. Iris still sat silent, taking in all of the Kings words and slowly processing them as her heart began to race. The King sighed and continued, "If I may be truly honest, the reason for our arrival to your temple today..." he paused as he looked at the High Priestess who only nodded sadly without looking at him and continued. "Is to look for the Divine Priestess." Another loud gasp ran collectively around the room. Iris stayed deathly still once again as she inevitably zoned out. Her thoughts running in a wild rampage while she soaked in all the terrible information the King had just spoken. Her head began to hurt and she closed her eyes as different ideas spiraled and clashed within the confines of her brain. Ideas ranging from fearful possibilities to horrible images of people caught in the path of war and destruction. "Miss Iris!" A stern voice broke her out of her soul consuming thoughts. Iris opened her eyes and looked up to see High Priestess Asterwood's face just inches from her own. "I will have to ask you to stop." She said in a cold whisper. Iris fearfully looked directly into The High Priestess cold stare for a moment before looking down at her hands. The High Priestess had a firm hold on them while tiny icy gusts seeped out of one hand while vivid blue flames sputtered out of the other. She turned to look around her but noticed that most of her classmates where either sitting on the floor far away from her, crying fearfully or pushed against the wall in a terrified way. The only one who stood next to the High Priestess was Rose, a sad look on her face while tears streamed down her pale face. Iris slowly turned to look at the King. All of his men stood before him in a defensive way, swords drawn and confusion hidden by cold glares they focused her way. "May I be excused your honor?" Iris asked in an emotionless monotone voice. "Yes, you are excused." High Priestess Asterwood responded in a much calmer voice. She stood up as the Priestess slowly let go of her hands, the gusts of icy wind and blue flames dying out, and started to head out of the Grand Alter, only after she stood in the isle that lead to the front of the Grand Alter and bowed in an emotionlessly polite way to the King and his men. The High Priestess gave a small nod to Rose who also bowed quickly towards the King and his man before she followed Iris out.

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