2nd Lifetime: The Graveyard

Mai decided to think about more pressing things as she followed Cornelia to the Graveyard.

More pressing things such as the shadow that followed the three Gods that were walking up the mountain in her dream.

More pressing things like her hairpin... and the reason why there were some things in her last lifetime that did not make sense.

Although Mai had had the sinking suspicion that her last life did not truly align correctly, that suspicion wasn't confirmed until she arrived here.

Why had Heith... and even the other nobles believed her?

She was just twelve-years old then. And even when Heith had said that he believed her, why would the nobles behind him- 'her' parents- believe her? And what about the King?

Mai felt that it was too coincidental. Even as she planned further into the future and helped assist the common people, and even rebuilding the Kingdom from the ground up, she noticed that her first plan was completely riddled with holes.

There was no way to ensure that the Revolution wouldn't have sent people to check the village after the first initial weeks.

Nor was there a way to know that the part of the Revolution that Mai and Nicholas went to was the part that was friendly and non-violent.

And how could just the right information that Mai needed to implement her plan be in the building that she oh-so-coincidentally found.

How could it had worked so smoothly then?

It just did not make sense.

Another thing that didn't make sense was this world.

Mai had the sinking suspicion that there was something wrong with this Empire as well. Just the internal fighting of one of the major governing bodies, the Vestigal court, was a sure sign that the entire government was rotting from the inside-out.

She also had another sinking suspicion- just like in her previous lifetime, Mai needed to save and improve the lives of the common people.

Why did she have to do this?

Well, Mai knew why. The voice had told her that humans were all equal. That God, or should she assume the voice, had created them all with the idea that all humans were created equal.

Therefore, she should help to level the playing field.

But how was she to do this?

Mai sighed and watched as Cornelia hid once more, concealing herself with the shadows of a pillar. Mai followed suit, sucking in her breath so that not even her breathing made a sound.

They both watched with focused eyes as another girl from the Cardon faction walked past them. After they were sure that no one else would come, they continued their journey to the graveyard.

It was hard.

Not only did Mai have to find out and follow the unspoken rules that each of the different factions have, but she also had to secretly re-learn the rules that she was already supposed to know! Furthermore, Mai had to 'fight' and scheme against the other girls.

Thankfully, for the past couple weeks, Cornelia had been the one under the faction's radar. But Mai knew that that wouldn't last for long. Soon, it would be Mai's turn after her five-month amnesty period was over, and then she would have to fight and scheme against the other priestesses without the 'meat shield' Cornelia.

They turned another corner and all of a sudden, Mai felt the breeze that could only come from the outside. She looked up and the darkening blue that was particular to dusk was what Mai saw.

She never knew how much she missed the outdoors when all she had seen for the past couple of days was stone.

She breathed in deeply. The smell of mildew and withering flowers filled her nostrils. However, she could also smell a tinge of the smell that the Earth made after it had gently rained.

It was going to be okay. She had promised herself that she would be smarter, stronger, and better.

Although, it wasn't going to be easy. She knew that. In fact, she needed to be careful to not let it be easy. She could tell that the voice was always there with her... and perhaps she had seen the voice as well. A certain long, black-haired guy flashed through her mind.

She was going to be smarter, so she wasn't going to automatically trust her gut instincts.

But she knew that she needed to tell him about the shadow.

The Gods on the mountains were most likely his companions. He needed to know about the danger that they were about to be in. If not... Mai shuddered as she remembered the swooping shadow and its large talons as it crushed its way towards the three Gods.

She wasn't sure they'd be able to escape from it.

......

Before they entered the Graveyard, Cornelia had Mai wear the same brown robes that they wore for certain prayers. Right after ensuring that Mai had her robe and her hood on, Cornelia wore it as well.

It was only after that that they slowly made their way past each of the slabs of stone before they stood in front of Jaquine.

She was balancing above a large, almost ten-feet (305cm) tall tombstone while fourteen other priestesses surrounded her.

Cornelia signaled to Mai for her to follow closely in which Mai did as Cornelia bobbed and weaved her way to the front of the crowd.

They could see the drop of sweat on Jaquine's brow.

"Come on, Jaquine," Orphelia's voice could be heard from behind the crowd. "You must show your sincerity to the rest of us here."

Mai was the only one to notice Jaquine's trembling- all of the other priestesses were excited and too preoccupied with what Jaquine was to do next that they failed to pay attention to her emotions.

Clenching her hand into a fist, Mai had to physically stop herself from helping Jaquine. What they were doing was too cruel for her. But Mai had had let others do crueler things. She shook her head. What mattered was that she cared for Jaquine. Although it wasn't right what she had done before, she had also cared for the people and had decided that the sacrifice of few was the better alternative compared to the sacrifice of many.

Here, however, the only life that was on the line was Jaquine's. If she fell from that tombstone in just the right way... Mai could only wince. She would probably die on the spot. So, Mai felt as if she should be allowed to stop the Cardon faction's induction ceremony. In fact, she should be able to prevent it from occurring ever again.

She wished she still had the voice with her.

At least then he'd be able to help her decide what was the right path.

Here, at least the right path was clear, but in her previous life, she had no idea if what she'd done- being the mastermind in her grand scheme of fueling the drastic changes that should occur for the equality and better living standards of the people- was right.

Ava's death was what changed her.

If her death caused Mai this much pain, then what about the other's? How could she say that her pain was more important than other people's pain?

War was a horrible thing.

Revolution was a horrible thing.

Conflict was a horrible thing.

Mai sighed as she focused back on the tombstone. There, Jaquine was about to dance while she wished for the heartfelt acceptance of the Goddess Vestia. Jacquine's balance was terrible and, she cowered every time her feet almost slip off.

Watching the body language of the other priestesses, Mai could tell that they were none too pleased. Mai's heart clenched. If Jaquine's performance wasn't acceptable to them, then what would they do?

She clenched her fist harder and was about to go up to stop their whole charade, however, Cornelia extended her hand and prevented Mai from going forward. Mai was startled and looked at her. Cornelia's body language was even more frustrated than Mai's- she could even hear the grinding of Cornelia's teeth.

Relaxing, Mai understood that even Cornelia did not feel as if the ceremony in front of them was okay.

Maybe the Weiss faction didn't have ceremonies, and that was the reason why Cornelia felt this way?

She took a deep breath and watched as Jaquine trembled once more as her feet left the tombstone.

All of the other priestesses laughed and clapped, but Mai's expression only darkened. Now this, this didn't sit well with her.

There was no benefit at all to this conflict. None. It was only the older-in-seniority priestesses ganging up on a new priestess.

Correction, there was a benefit, but it was only a benefit for the stronger side.

Mai could see no balance in that.

Finally, it had happened. Jaquine could no longer hold her balance, and she tilted, her body heading straight for the ground at a steep angle.

Mai immediately lunged forward, yet Cornelia still held her back.

She couldn't believe it. Turning her head, she looked at Cornelia with disbelieving eyes.