Chapter Six
"How is your progress so far?" The High Priestess came asking. Her presence was commanding.
"High Priestess, I still lack in many ways so I hope I'll have your guidance along the way." It was a lie. Lilyan was the fastest acolyte that has ever been to Valtoria Temple.
The other priestesses praised her so many times.
The High Priestess looked at her, "We were invited to the palace for the princess. You'll come with me."
Lilyan almost chocked on her saliva as she bowed lower, pleading, "High Priestess, I'm still lacking so I don't think it'll be wise for me to accompany you to the princess manor. I don't think I deserve that much grace."
"You'll come with me, get ready." Then she was gone.
The decision was already made and Lilyan had no choice but to comply.
"Seems like you'll undergoe a trial."Rose walked in, she was a friend Lilyan made the past months and she was a handmaid.
Lilyan groaned falling back on the bed, "I don't think I'm ready."
"Then you'll never be ready, that's why the High Priestess didn't argue with you. You should just go and get it done with." Rose gave her some comfort, a hand on her shoulder.
She got up from the bed and went to take a bath. She changed to a more suitable white dress then walked to the sacred hall.
"Are you done?" The High Priestess looked at Lilyan then nodded without saying anything, meaning she approved with Lilyan's choice of dress. "Get the carriage ready!"
Lilyan followed behind the High Priestess, they settled inside the carriage and it was driven off down the road.
The High Priestess sat with her eyes closed, seemly meditating. It was very quiet inside the carriage.
"High Priestess." Lilyan whispered and received no reply but she continued to talk. "What kind of a place is the palace?"
After all, she still remembered the events that took place months ago. How she was called the Queen of the Kingdom.
No, she was also called the protector of Ardentia.
It was something Lilyan couldn't forget. Apparently, she went back in time as soon as she arrived at the world she was in and everything was happening from the moment she disappeared from her own world four years ago.
She went back in time and the prison was her beginning to the grave, she understood that after going through training.
However she was still curious, what made her end up in a grave?
Buried alive? The answer was in the future but that made her even more curious and afraid. Nothing was more scarier than the unknown.
"The palace is not the place for people like us, we're the servants of the royal family. Nothing more." The High Priestess said.
"Do you know Ardentia?" Lilyan continued to ask.
Still with her eyes closed, the High Priestess replied to Lilyan. "Ardentia is an isolated kingdom. It has been, after The Fall."
"The Fall?" She was curious.
"The Fall happened years ago when the Phoenix Queen sacrificed for the people. The kingdom was at war and it still is."
Lilyan gasp. "War? Even after a century?" the High Priestess didn't reply.
After the long road to the palace, the carriage stopped before the palace gates were they opened as their presence then the carriage continued inside.
'Lilyan…' Lilyan heard a whisper calling her name. She looked around but there was nothing suspicious around her.
'Lilyan..' Another whisper was heard.
Lilyan gasped holding her head, the voice kept getting closer and urgent the more she stepped inside the palace. A painful cry pierced from Lilyan and mist danced in front of her.
The carriage was stopped and the High Priestess held her hand.
"Breath Lilyan… breath…" The High Priestess tried to calm Lilyan down. After having difficulties to breath, Lilyan finally found the energy to really breath.
Tears fell from her eyes and she looked at the High Priestess.
"I—I—" She didn't even know what to say.
"It's okay, it's okay. The palace has a lot of terrible energy, after all, the throne weigh a lot." She warmly pat her shoulder. "Let's go in, Her Highness might be waiting for us so we shouldn't make her wait."
Lilyan took a deep breath, smoothed her skirts, and stepped out onto the cobblestones. An imperial guard came to escort them inside the castle.
The kingdom of Eldrida rose majestically from the heart of the capital city, its grandeur and beauty awe-inspiring.
The exterior walls, crafted from gleaming white stone shone like a beacon with intricate carvings depicting the history of the realm.
Tallll spires and towers, topped with glittering crystal finials pierced the sky while grand archways and sweeping balconies added to the sense of majesty. The main entrance, a massive gatehouse with gleaming silver doors, was flanked by imposing stone statues of ancient dragons, their eyes glowing with a soft, ethereal light.
The Kingdom of Eldrida was surrounded by the Great Mountains to the north, the Dark Forest to the east, the Wysteria Plains to the west, and the Dragon's Spine mountains to the south.
There were four regions, the Crimson Plains, the Wytham Wastes, the Shadowlands and the Cathinal Peaks.
Once they stepped foot inside the castle, a maidservant came to usher them inside. They walked in, feeling the powerful atmosphere of the palace. They were led to a chamber where a beautiful lady was seated on the couch, a beautiful royal couch. By her side was a white puppy.
"Your Highness, it's an honor to make acquaintance with you." The High Priestess bowed.
"Your Highness, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Lilyan followed with a low curtsey.
The girl stood up, she seemed to be around fifteen years of age. She wore a royal gown and smiled so beautiful.
"Rise,"she said. "I'm sick."
The High Priestess smiled, "Lilyan, go and assist Her Highness."
The princess's smile turnt into an ugly frown, "What? I don't deserve to be helped by the High Priestess?"
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. Lilyan is one of my most trusted priestess and she'll make no mistakes."
The High Priestess bowed respectfully.
"Really?" Her Highness looked at Lilyan.
"Yes,Your Highness." The High Priestess replied.
"Okay." She nodded, looking at her with anticipation.
Lilyan stepped forward, with a gentle touch and a compassionate gaze, she placed her hands upon the princess's forehead. She closes her eyes and breathed in deeply, she challenged herself to the subtle energies of the body and spirit. Her fingers begin to glow with a soft, pulsing light as she channels the divine energy within her.
"There's a manifestation of imbalance and disharmony. A dark festering spot is within." Lilyan said as she took a step back after she opened her eyes.
"Have you drank your drink Your Highness?" The High Priestess asked.
"No! Blood is not nice." The princess sat down on the couch.
"You should take care of yourself, make sure you drink a glass in the morning and before bed. You don't want to find yourself going crazy right? Do you know what happens if your kind goes insane?" The High Priestess looked at her carefully.
"They're executed if they go insane, even if you're from the royal family." Her Highness knew that very well. She had lived for twenty years and half of her life consisted of such teachings from the imperial teacher.
"Good, heal her." She told Lilyan.
With a gentle intention, Lilyan directed the healing energy towards the affected area, visualizing a warm, golden light suffusing the darkness, dissolving the blockages, and restoring balance to the body and spirit.
Lilyan's hands moved in a graceful, flowing motion, as if conducting an unseen orchestra of healing forces. Her touch ignited a subtle, tingling sensation within Her Highness body, like the gentle stirring of a sleeping flame.
"I'm done." Lilyan stepped back.
The High Priestess stepped forward and felt Her Highness pulse. The energy was flowing really good and it was well balanced.
"Make sure you drink." The High Priestess reminded the Princess.
"I need to use the bathroom, can I go?" Her intentions were far from using the bathroom.
"I'll have someone escort you." The princess said with a small smile.