When I wake up, I feel quite refreshed.
However, my mouth feels dry and disgusting. I open my eyes slowly, afraid of what I will see. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, I see the familiar ceiling of the bedroom I was allocated in the Guild of the Gracious Quill.
I sit up and look around.
On the small bedside table, there is a covered bowl and a bottle of water. I hesitate before opening the bottle of water and drinking. Yes, it was a foolish move, but it did not matter to me. After all, I was knocked out before I realised what was happening.
What were the chances I would be able to prevent another attack even if I died of thirst?
Next, I opened the bowl and found plain oatmeal. Without hesitation, I used the small spoon at the side to eat it. I hoped the oatmeal was not poisoned because it would suck to have plain oatmeal as my last meal.
But I suppose, even the Kingmaker would not be so cruel as to kill someone with such a subpar meal.
When I was almost done, the door opened to reveal Sister Agatha. She nodded politely. I nodded back since my mouth was full, and I was forbidden from making noises anyway. However, once I was done, I noticed that the young woman looked sad.
"Sister Agatha, are you well?" I asked as I placed the bowl on the bedside table.
Sister Agatha looked at me with wet eyes.
"It's the High Priest. The High Priest is gravely ill…" Sister Agatha choked out.
She did not say the High Priest, but that is what I have always called him.
The High Priest…
I knew of the High Priest…
The High Priest was not popular because he was compassionate, and it did not sit well with some people.
After all, if someone was going to be the leader of a religion that preached unconditional love, they needed to be cruel in ensuring that people understood what would cause that love to become conditional.
"I am so sorry about that," I said.
I meant it. I might not have had special feelings for the High Priest, but I could feel genuine distress from Agatha. I was once very devout and understood that a priest was more than a teacher to someone who truly believed.
They were as much a part of one's family as blood relatives.
"Thank you. I am sure all will be well," Sister Agatha said with a weak smile before continuing with a little discomfort on her face. "Mother Superior has instructed that you attend the vigil for the High Priest."
I pursed my lips a little before nodding. "Alright. I would like to take a shower before that."
Sister Agatha looked relieved that I did not argue. To be honest, I was just a little tired of being inside for so long. At least, I would have a chance to breathe in fresh air if I accepted to go to the temple.
"You can head straight to the bathroom. I already prepared a fresh towel and clothes for you when I helped you back to the bedroom earlier," Sister Agatha said. "You seemed quite dazed and out of it."
I frowned. "I do not remember much."
Sister Agatha smiled a little. "Mother Superior called me to help you from the sick room. She said that you needed further treatment after you collapsed from another case of heart irregularities."
I tried to remember if that was the case. I remember feeling extreme horror when the Kingmaker told me about his plans. However, I thought I was drugged because I did not feel the unpleasant heart palpitations.
Rather, my body just felt sluggish before I passed out.
Still, I might have had a case of extreme bradycardia.
I decided not to dwell on it. It was not because I did not have real concerns about my health and safety. I just knew there was nothing I could do about my current predicament as long as I was in an unknown place.
So, I left Sister Agatha in the room and took a shower in the minimalist bathroom. There was not even a mirror for me to assess my current condition. When I finished, I wore the long white dress that was placed in the small cabinet.
After I left the bathroom, I found Sister Agatha still in the room with some additional items of clothing on the now neat bed. It did not take a genius to figure out that the items were part of a religious habit.
"The temple upholds specific rules on the appearance of those associated with the guild," Sister Agatha explained apologetically. "This is the habit of a novice who has not yet taken vows. Please sit down."
I hesitate before sitting down on the bed. Wearing a veil was a small price to pay to understand exactly where I was. So, I remained calm as Sister Agatha placed the headdress on my head and tightened it neatly.
It was a little uncomfortable but not so much that I felt suffocated.
When it was done, Sister Agatha led me out of the room, and we headed out of the guild. As we walked, she instructed me in a low tone to keep my head down. I was not allowed to meet the eyes of other people, especially the clergy.
I rolled my eyes. However, when I felt the strong ocean breeze hit me as soon as we left the guild, I decided it was worthwhile to obey the arbitrary rules. I snuck a look around and saw how beautiful everything was.
From the buildings to the trees in the compound, coupled with the squawking of the birds and the distant crashing of waves, I could not deny that the place was beautiful. I wanted to run around and see everything.
But alas, I could not.
After a warning look from Sister Agatha, I kept my head down as we headed into the majestic temple. Unlike earlier, no one was singing the haunting music. Instead, there was a loud silence as we entered the temple.
Strangely, the space was full of numerous people kneeling at the pews.