The Journey to Alessandria (2)

The carriage had just arrived in the church. It stopped right in front of the doors of the church. On top of the steps going to the entrance of the church, the priest that is in charge together with some of the churches people were waiting for my arrival.

'I am quite surprised that they are all in attendance to my arrival.' I thought.

A knight escorting my carriage opened my carriage door and held his hand out to help me get down. I got off the carriage and went up the stairs. The people waiting for me atop the stairs bowed their heads and greeted me.

"We greet the first princess of the Constantine Empire." The head priest greeted. "Welcome to the church of light."

The church have always been backing me and my brother not only because we were descendants of royalty, but also because we are my mother's children. My mother's title as saintess has stayed with her even after the day she died. She was not only loved by the people all over the continent, but also the people of the church themselves. Only the heads of the Church of Light used my mother's power, those normal working people in the church loved my mother for her pure kind heart.

"Thank you for having me here, head priest." I replied.

"It is our honor to have you here." The head priest said and held my hand softly. "Seeing you now, you are the spitting image of your mother." He smiled.

"Thank you very much, head priest." I smiled with his compliment.

Many had said that I am the exact replica of my mother now that I have come of age. My mother who has shiny black hair and blue eyes was seen as a beauty of the continent. I am proud to have the same features as her. It is good that me and my brother had taken more of our mother's features rather than the father that did not want to have anything to do with us.

"Please come inside." The head priest said. "We are still preparing the portal gate for your journey. We prepared a room for you to rest while we are preparing the portal gate."

"I understand." I smiled in reply. "Then please, show the way."

"Ah yes." The priest smiled. "Please, follow me."

The high priest had lead the way inside the church. The churches of the Church of Light have the same architectural structure wherever they are in the continent. I looked inside and saw the walls that were painted in light beige. The ceilings had paintings of clouds and the blue sky. I have always been amazed with the artistic structure of these churches since I was a child. My mother had always brought me and my brother to church once a week to hear mass. That all changed when I knew how the Church of Light made use of my mother. But I still have respect to those that had been genuine towards my mother.

We passed by the statue of the Goddess of Light, the one being worshiped by the religion, Goddess Judea. The statue was adorned with flowers and ornaments by the worshipers that visits the church.

We walk some more until we arrived in front of a door.

"This is a prayer room specifically for the use of imperial family members." The high priest said.

The high priest opened the door and I entered inside together with Jessie.

"You can wait here. We will send a church minister to fetch you once the portal gate is ready for use." The high priest said.

"Thank you." I replied.

The high priest closed the door to give is some privacy. The prayer room was big and the furniture were all fit for members of the imperial family to use. A small statue of the Goddess Judea was placed at the center of the far wall of the prayer room.

"Jessie, I would like to pray solemnly for a while." I said. "Please wait outside and give me some privacy."

"As you wish, your highness." Jessie went out and closed the door behind her.

When I knew I was alone, I took a pen and paper from my purse and started to write. I wrote the appearance and the facial features of the man I saw in my dream. I folded it and took a whistle from my purse. It is a whistle to call upon a messenger falcon from my information guild. I blew the whistle near the window.

'All I need is to wait for the messenger falcon arrival.' I thought.

I looked at the statue of the goddess and thought of praying while waiting for the messenger falcon to arrive.

I kneeled on a kneeling platform, closed my eyes, and prayed solemnly, something I have not done for a long while.

'Dear Goddess Judea, if you are the one sending me these prophetic dreams then I am thankful to you.' I prayed. 'I am not sure if you really are the one that gave me these powers but I will surely use it for my own good. I am sorry if I will not follow my mother's footsteps. I will not be user by other people for their own gain.'

Not long I heard flapping of feathers on the window. When I opened my eyes, I saw the messenger falcon perched in the window sill. I put the folded paper that contained my message and put it on the falcon's feet. I let the falcon fly off.

"I will know about that man's identity soon enough." I said.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Your highness…" A minster of the church came in. "The portal gate is ready."

"Thank you minister." I replied.

I exited the prayer room and saw Jessie waiting for me outside. We followed the minister.

We arrived at a circular room. At the center of a room was a door that was filled with light. The door was just the right size for a person to enter.

"Your highness." The high priest called. "Your luggage had been sent earlier at the other side. Word had come that the men of Emperor Romulus are waiting for you at the other side. They will be your escorts for your journey to the capital of Alessandria. Your means of transportation are already ready and waiting."

"Thank you high priest." I replied.

"I wish you well, princess." The hight priest said. "Let me bestow you the blessing of the goddess." He places his hand over my head and chanted a prayer.

After the prayer, he escorted me to the portal gate and I entered it.