The sound of the bells forced Lavinia to open her eyes. She was lying down on a single bed, coiled in a silk sheet. She didn't need more: as it was the end of summer, the nights were still warm. The bedroom was not very spacious, but there were enough place for a big wooden wardrobe, and a human sized mirror, placed on the wall next to it. It could be considered as a luxurious bedroom.
Lavinia would have killed to sleep a little bit more, if she wasn't a priestess that is. But she had to attend to the morning prayer. She reluctantly left her bed and began to put her outfit. First came her underwears,: plain panties and bra. Then, she put on her short-sleeved skirt, her tights and her ankle boots. She finally put on her long black gloves. It contrasted with the rest of the outfit, which was white. Being a priestess, she had to heal a lot of people each day, and the blood would soil white gloves.
-Oh, I almost forgot, she exclaimed, as she was preparing to leave. She grabbed her veil and placed it on her head, thus covering her long blonde hair.
She joyfully exited her room and entered a corridor. The other sisters were also leaving for the prayer. But her best friend was nowhere to be seen. "She didn't wake up again" Lavinia complained.
She knocked a the door facing her bedroom, and waited a few seconds. But, as no one shew up, she decided to enter without permission.
-Wake up! She yelled to the girl still lying on her bed.
-Noooo, give me five more minutes please, moaned Sylvia, lifting a sheet over her head.
-No way, we are going to be late again, hurry up, Lavinia said while pulling the sheet away.
Although she knew Sylvia since childhood she couldn't help but be stuck by the incredible black-haired beauty reveled before her eyes. She glanced at her own chest and wondered, "we are both eighteen, so why does my chest lacks so much compared to hers ?"
-I'm waiting for you outside, she added, after making sure that the sleeper had awoken.
After a few moments, the door opened and Sylvia appeared, wearing the same outfit as Lavinia.
-Morniiing
-Yeah, morning. Come on the prayer will start soon.
The girls walked through the corridor, toward a spiral staircase. They went down the stairs and arrived in a courtyard surrounded by an awning. The floor was made of stone, and a statue of Ida was standing in the middle. They crossed the courtyard and opened double wooden doors, whose brass hangings were surrounded by a sun pattern.
They finally entered the prayer hall. It was extremely spacious. Two rows of long benches were placed in front of a line of different statues, representing various god. Behind them, on a pedestal, was erected another statue of Ida. She was wearing a long white dress, and a silver crown. Her right arm was raised and a white flame was dancing in the palm of her hand.
Where the roof was supposed to be there was a huge round stained glass. It was still dawn and as there were no other windows, the hall was still dark.
The archbishop was standing in front of an altar, between the statues and the benches. As the place where he was was raised compared to the rest of the hall, everyone could see his old eyes giving a stern look at the two newcomers.
-You are the last ones, hurry up. It is the second time that you are late this week, and I hope it is the last, he told them.
-I'm sorry, it's my fault, Sylvia said, I keep having strange dreams and...
-I don't want to hear excuses. Please take place.
They hastily sat at the first raw of benches where the other priests were. They were around twenty. Behind them were sitting the younger ones, who would become priests in the future. As the morning prayer was closed to the public, there was no one else.
The archbishop began to talk:
-Oh Ida, Goddess of Gods, mother of life, we thank thee for providing us with thy light once again. We swear to forever spread thy goodness, preserve life and drive out evil. We shall fight against those who defiled your name and bury theirs, never to hear them again...
As he was still in the middle of his speech, he suddenly stopped and look at the stained glass. A colorful and bright light was slowly descending toward them.
After having recovered from the shock of seeing such a strange phenomenon, the archbishop understood : "It must be a blessing from the gods, I have heard rumors about them, but it is my first time witnessing one."
The light continued to go down and finally touched Sylvia. Her skin began to shine, as if absorbing the light. After a few seconds, even her hair and her eyes had a golden glow.
A beautiful female voice suddenly resounded in the hall:
-Sylvia, thou who have reached the pinnacle of healing arts, you have been chosen to receive the blessing of us, gods. With it's help, you shall assist those who, like you, have been selected to fight against the Daemons.
We shall grant you with the gift of the phoenix, no one shall deprive you from your life.
We shall gift you with the will of gods, there is no trauma you won't be able to recover from.
You need someone to protect you when you are alone. To that end, we gift you with the blessing of angels, you may call an angel from the sky once every day.
And finally, as the chosen of the gods, you may accept the will of a god once every week. He will take possession of your body to overcome anything for you when you are in dire need.
You must depart tomorrow. Head South. You will find your new allies in the capital.
Now my child, I must go. I wish you good luck with your quest. Goodbye.
The voice vanished with the light emitted by Sylvia. She fell on the cold floor and passed out...