The travel lasts for six days and seven nights, it would have been faster if they did not consider the children with them. They are growing and is not accustomed to traveling, they needed proper rest. Every inn and meal costs a lot for Chi to pay for all of them, including his guards. He cannot stand the conscience if it was only them four who would enjoy the warmth whenever the day ends.
"We will be arriving shortly," informed Matilda.
"How's Mia?" he asked.
"She's as well-behaved as she was on the first day, Master."
Chi nodded before turning to Lithea who's watching the scenery outside the window.
"Are you feeling alright, Lithea?"
She shifted in her seat and faced Chi, "yes, mister."
He chuckled at her response, "You can address me as 'uncle', Lithea. I am your father's friend after all."
Lithea hesitated for a bit but accepted, "okay."
"Since we will be arriving soon, do you mind if Matilda would tell you about the temple's rules briefly?" Chi wishes the kids could freely do what they want without the temple's restrictions, but since it is a place with the residents mostly meditating during dawn and late in the afternoon, it would be best to let them know when to avoid playing within those hours. But with how he's observed Lithea at the Marble's and during the travel, she listens well and is an obedient child. It will not be hard for her to live inside the temple. At least that's what he thought.
Lithea shyly looked down and shook her head softly while playing with her fingers. She's anxious, Chi noted.
He looked at Matilda who is gently cradling Mia, "please, Matilda."
Matilda carefully placed Mia on the basket and placed a soft blanket around her waist. She held the basket to protect it, she spoke, "very well."
Facing Lithea, she smiled. "Shall we start, Miss Clanwing?"
Lithea felt embarrassed at how she was called, it is the first time someone addressed her with such manner. The only thing she could do is nod and sit properly to listen. It is something she shouldn't handle lightly, what they are to tell her is the rules of the temple after all. And if she break any of the rules, she's afraid they will kick her out. She could be separated with Mia, she has to be by her sister's side no matter what. She's all she got.
"Please listen well," Matilda began, "the first thing you needed to know is that the priestesses would meditate for four hours at dawn, and we shan't make any noise that is unnecessary. Only speak when spoken to during these hours. The priestess in training, such as I, meditated by the late afternoon, for four hours as well. The same rules during the dawn applies here."
Lithea nodded, with such concentration in her eyes.
"Next, we are to walk quietly, we are not to make a sound, not even the slightest click from our heels. Like they say, walk like a ghost. But nowadays it turns to 'float like a priestess.'"
The child tilted her head, confuse at the joke thrown by the young lady before her.
"Anyway," Matilda cleared her throat, "everyone must be present during meal time. Those who are permitted to not attend are those who are sick. And the most important of all, the Master Priestess' words are absolute. We must not question their decisions."
Lithea was taught by her parents to always ask if you are unsure of what the others are saying. That you must demand clarification and elaborate explanation but since these are the rules, she thought she'd get punished if she was to ask questions. Especially when she's not asked if she has one.
"Did you understand everything she said, Lithea?" Chi asked. It wasn't in a demanding tone but it was in way where he wanted to know if she really understood. He wanted to make it clear. "If there is something unclear to you, you can always ask."
Lithea gave away herself when she looked at Chi with dilated eyes, "is there something you want to ask?"
"Ah," she hesitated, "well."
"Go on, don't hesitate."
"Well, is it alright if I ask why we should not question her words?"
Matilda was caught by a surprise, she didn't expect a three year old child would be so sharp to even ask her such a question. It was indeed a tricky rule, a temple with a mistress who puts herself above their own law is something they do not practice. But when told about this rule, people tend to obey and not question anything despite the inequality of it. She was astonished.
Catching on Matilda's reaction, Chi answered for her, "you did well, child."
Lithea was even more confuse.
"The rule does not exist," he explained.
"Why was I informed about it?"
"It is to see who has the courage to question someone who holds a rank."
"Are we supposed to follow everyone in rank?" she blinked.
Chi almost choked on his own saliva, Cren and Mayari did well in raising their daughter. A true Sol attitude.
"No, especially if they are in the wrong." He patted the kid's head, assuring her. Just then, he saw a complete resemblance of Lithea and her uncle, Tohan.
Tohan is someone who voices out his opinions and would never hold back in questioning everything he wants clarification in. The explanations must consist complete details on how they manage to come up such idea or solution. Tohan is always prepared with different perspective on each idea for every problem, those who he meets are aware of Tohan's difficulty as the protector and sole heir of the temple. Although a lot are not fond of his ways and attitude, he is the most effective Divine in the Sol temple after the founder, Sol Rohit. It is a shame he died without an heir.
Sol Rohit is one of the first ruby adventurers. He is a person who is impatient, someone who wants action and not flowery words of promises, a trait the elites all share. He is from an average household, with strength rivaled the best ten infantry from the royal training camp combined, he was chosen to be one of the people to battle Azazel.
His name mean Sol meant 'sun', it was given to him to complement his father's name which is Rohit, meaning 'the first rays of the sun'. He was the most famous ruby for penetrating his sword into the demon's chest. And in result, they have sealed it within a ruby stone, distributed in eight pieces, each one of the adventurers turned it into a ring. He also gave his children the name Sol as surnames, a reminder that they are directly connected to him. And only those who would inherit the temple shall wear the name of Sol. Others must wear the name Sol as their middle name. It is to distinguish who are the next master. But if refused, the wearer will automatically pass it on to the next male born. As the Sol temple are for priests, it is customary for it to be inherited by males.
After the legendary fight, when everything settled, the rubies would get commissioned by the neighbouring kingdom for dangerous quests. They paved the way for the newer generation and so in each land of the meadow kingdom, from north to south, a statue of each adventurers are planted to celebrate their victory. And to remember what they have done for the kingdom.
It has become a tale on which the statues are acting as the foundation of the barrier of the kingdom as they are the pillar of the meadow. If one cracks or breaks completely, it is said to be a bad luck for the kingdom and the protection would weaken.
The carriage soon arrived at the foot of the mountain, before the day breaks, they should reach the Sun Temple.
"We are almost there, Lithea." Chi informed.
The information from Chi suddenly got Lithea's heart beat fast. She will be living alone with complete strangers with her sister. She will be living with rules tailing her. She will be observed by many, judge her behavior, and most importantly, let her survive on her own.
She once learned from her mother what people do when they join the temple and she told herself she could never attain the perfect image they have for those who joins them after a series of strict training.
Mayari taught her to be independent and to always identify the correct choices and to be never hasty. She's taught to be her own person and not how other people want her to be and now she's going to be living in a temple. A place she knew she can never fit in. And even though she heard Chi said she can always choose to follow her own path when she's at age, an age still considered as a child. At the age of ten. She knew it will be very difficult for her to adjust and relearn everything if she leaves the temple. She is utterly conflicted.
While she was deep in her thoughts, the carriage stopped.
She looked around and she could see beautiful healthy tall trees, birds are happily flying everywhere. Everything is green and luscious. Chi was right, it is indeed a place where one can relax but, where could she see the kingdom?
"Lithea, come on dear." Chi was already out of the carriage, he held his hand for her to take. Her legs are still tiny to let her climb down on her own. Before she took his hand, she peeked and saw three people, different from what Matilda wears. They all wore a robe, the two has the same blue details at the hem of their fabrics while the one who stood at the center has gold ones.
She looked at Chi once more and when she saw him nodded at her, she took his hand and climbed down the carriage.
The three priestesses were waiting for them, Matilda was bowing her head a little, Mia on her arms.
The three of them entered the temple's domain just before the giant two doors. A polished marble floors in white and faint blue awed the young Lithea's eyes. This is the first time she's stepped into a beautiful structure.
Her eyes traveled towards the double doors of the temple, it has a light color and it seems heavy, a bleached mahogany. Its door frame filled with carved mouldings, its design so eccentric it will lead the person's amazement. Above the doors, a unique design in gold caught her attention the most.
"Uncle Chi," she called him in a soft voice, almost in a whisper.
"Yes, dear?"
"Is that a word?" pointing at the golden design.
Chi looked at what she's pointing at and was surprised at how she knew that it was a word, the priestesses and Matilda were as equally stunned as him. The design she spoke of is in ancient writing that was not practiced for more or less 80 years now. How was it possible for a child understood such an old characters?
"How did you know?"
"I think I saw it at one of mama's books." She admitted, "She reads it every night before she goes to bed."
"Your mother must be very intelligent," Chi kneeled to match her height, "now, why don't you show me your own intelligence and greet our priestesses over there?"
Lithea gave it a thought for a few seconds before nodding, "okay."
She stood before them and placed her right palm over her left chest, she bowed a little, "good day my esteemed priestesses. I am called Lithea Sol Clanwing of the Land of Griffin. Daughter of Cren and Mayari Sol Clanwing."
The head priestess, Nuri blinked.
'How proper!'
The three of them returned her greeting by bowing a little.
"Please stand properly, child." Nuri instructed, "I am Nuri, the head priestess of the temple. And these two are both Halo's, also the best candidates for my position. They will be in charge with you two. Their names are Kana and Trega."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Lithea curtsied.
"The pleasure is ours."
Lithea looked at Matilda before going back to face the priestesses again, "is Matilda not going to take care of us?"
Nuri smiled, Lithea's attitude is strong. She thought it will be very hard for her to mold the child into being a priestess-like. She's a spitting image of her mother. "I'm afraid Miss Matilda will be preoccupied with her training, my dear."
"Oh," she frowned.
Chi stood beside Lithea and spoke, "I will now leave the children in your care, Nuri."
He matched the young girl's height and smiled bitterly, "I will now have to leave, Lily. I will come back and visit next week, okay? Can you wait for me?"
She wanted to protest but she already knew Chi will leave and she cannot be selfish and act like a child with how busy he is. In the end, she just nodded.
"We shall see you off before we proceed, Master Chi." Said Nuri.
"Very well," he bowed a little and went on his way.
He turned to them again, a very serious and firm expression worn on his face, "Please keep the children safe no matter what."
"You can trust us, Master."