42 2nd Lifetime: Jaquine

The head priestess stood before the young priestesses with a strange smile on her face. "Come in!" She yelled, her gaze still focused on them.

A young girl around Mai's body's age shuffled in. She had her head tucked into her shoulders and had not looked at anyone in the room.

The head priestess placed her hands on the girl's shoulder, not noticing- or perhaps ignoring- the girl's jerk of fear. "Her name is Jaquine." She looked out at the young priestesses. "She will be a new priestess starting from today."

Murmurs swept through the young priestesses.

"What? How can this be-"

"She wasn't formally chosen-"

"Which faction is she in?"

When the clamor became a bit too much, the head mistress' smile fell from her face, and she slammed her hands onto the dining table.

It was her shout and the shattering of dishes that scared all of the girls into submission. The quiet was deafening.

"Enough. She is a priestess." Glaring at the young girls, she continued, "Municia."

Mai quickly straightened up and looked at the head priestess.

"You will be the one to instruct Jaquine." Patting Jaquine's back, the head mistress left without even so much as a backwards glance.

The table was once again swept in whispers.

The girl was like a sickly puppy. She even flinched when so much as one of the whispers of the priestesses was louder in volume than the others. Mai had to stand and guide the new priestess to a spot at the table.

"Thank you," her voice was thin and reedy. Mai almost couldn't hear her.

"You're welcome."

The young priestesses quietened when Ophelia clapped her hands for a prayer. The quiet silence that was particular to worship filled the space, and the young ladies looked pious and beautiful with the morning sun falling upon their youthful faces.

After some time, the girls began to eat their fill, getting themselves ready for their next destination: taking care of the sick and elderly.

...................

Mai stood before an ill old woman, the only patient that was left. The woman's teeth had all fallen but two, and a large wound festered on her arm. They were in a large rectangular room with an even number of beds on either side. A small, wooden drawer would be placed in-between each bed.

Jaquine hid behind Mai, peeking occasionally from behind her.

Mai calmly smiled at the old woman, clutching at the lady's hands. "We'll clean your would first, ma'am."

The old lady trembled, and Mai didn't know if it was due to the lady's disease or if she was touched.

Mai turned around and opened the top drawer, reaching for a rag and a bottle of alcohol. She spritz the rag with the alcohol before returning to look at the woman.

Jaquine had moved away from Mai's back and had instead hid underneath the other bed. The old lady had not moved from her spot; Mai was sure that she was blind.

Moving forward, Mai placed the alcohol bottle on top of the drawer and very gently wiped away the white mass from the woman's wound. She then used a new rag and drenched it in the alcohol. "This will sting, okay?"

The old lady hissed as Mai pressed the rag onto her wound. After she was done and using softer fabric, Mai dressed the wound. After a few more words with the old lady, the two girls left.

They returned to the Vestigal castle while following the main road. People respectfully made way for the young girls once they noticed their white robes and specifically braided hair. Due to this, it didn't take long for them to reach their destination.

Jaquine had gotten more confident, walking side-by-side with Mai rather than a meter behind her.

However, Mai didn't enter the Vestigal castle right away, instead, she veered them towards the Gardens.

"W-w-where are we going?" Jaquine's voice was still thin and reedy, and she clipped her words shorter than others would.

"To the Gardens."

Jaquine tilted her head and slowed down. Mai looked back at her and smiled. "The Gardens are nice. You'll feel more relaxed there, I bet.

Although Jaquine's head still remained down, Mai could still see her slight smile. She led them to a bench and sat down.

"How were you chosen?" Mai was curious. She knew the whispers from the others at the table meant that Jaquine wasn't like a regular priestess. Therefore, she was curious.

"Head priestess saw me in a crowd. She choose me to become the next young priestess."

Light flashed through Mai's mind.

The head priestess was becoming more and more unrestrained lately. Mai could feel a slight warning bell ring from her mind.