The spring has come and its cool breeze accompanied by the sweet scent of the flowers would envelope the whole temple again. Mia loved watching the flowers, it has always been her favourite the moment she learned how to walk and she would take her sister everyday out in the garden to watch the overlooking view of the whole kingdom.
"Sister, sister," the three year old Mia jumped around to get Lithea's attention. The pale white blonde of Lithea has grown into a beautiful silk of locks, covering her back.
The older one didn't speak and continued tidying their room.
"Can we go to the garden today?" the little bangs on her face danced as she tries to catch her sister's gaze. But like always, she wouldn't bat an eye on her. And she would just talk when she asked her question, always keeping her replies short.
"No."
"Why not? Spring has come, and I heard Uncle Chi will be visiting tomorrow, we can't go to the garden then."
"Training."
"Oh, we always do it before it starts. Please, please?"
Lithea folded their blankets and placed it down on each of their beds. If one would see her now, they will be surprised at how much change one undergoes in just three years. Her face lost its roundness and she has grown ten centimeters since. At six years old, she looks like a ten year old kid. Refined and reserved, Nuri was proud at how Lithea has become. She has set a good example for her little sister. But what worries her is how she became silent when the Marble's had stopped visiting. Her face is cemented with the expression of no emotion. No one can read her thoughts, since then, she's never expressed herself.
Chi even went as far as sending someone to the Marble's residence but to their surprise, it's empty. The furniture are still there, but the further they check the entire house, it seems important things and their clothes are all zone.
"Mia, come here." The older sister is now facing the vanity section of the room
Mia slouched and frowned, "no, I don't like to tie my hair!" she whined.
Lithea didn't say anything and the younger one knew she should obey.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly and went to sit in front of her sister.
The two has become completely opposite. Mia is someone who is carefree. Although she try her best to follow the rules, all she ever do is just follow around her sister after her classes. She's always admired Lithea, she knew about how she took care of her when their parents died. But being a child is all she could ever do. Everyone around her is so mature, she doesn't know if what they do is fun. She is a simple person who wants to have some fun.
Although Lithea was once like Mia before the incident.
"Mia," Lithea spoke while brushing her hair, "do you know why we were sent here?"
"Yes. Mama and Papa died," she answered innocently.
"I want to teach you what mama and papa taught me when I was your age," Mia's eyes widened in surprise, "would you like that?"
"Yes, yes!" she exclaimed.
"Very well," her expression remained stoic, "now sit properly."
Mia took a peek at her sister through the mirror, "can we still visit the garden?"
"Just a short one."
Time is something the priestesses in the temple don't watch over. They let the things go with the flow and it has become natural to them. They can immediately identify if its dawn, late in the morning, late in the afternoon, and if it's almost midnight.
The priestesses has their own tasks around the temple as they do not get help from others knowing how many there are residing inside. They all changed what task they are assigned to after a month. From going to the market, to cooking for everyone, to cleaning, to laundry, to maintenance, to inventory, they all take their part in it. No complaining, they do their job with utmost respect. While everyone partakes, the head priestess and the temple's mistress busies themselves with paper works. The head priestess is the one who would assist the mistress and looks over the things around the temple especially when the mistress is off for work.
Everyone devotes everything within the temple. This is a lifetime commitment, and one must think carefully if this is what they ought to do for the rest of their lives.
The sisters are walking down the hallways, their hands kept in front of their belly on top of each other. They must walk with their head up, shoulders back and stomach in. It is the way of the temple. To move gracefully is a proper priestess. Even those who chose to work at the center, a medical establishment ran by priestesses, must not forget their training and must continue. As they are not only carrying the name of the temple but also the name of the one who founded it, the first generation's heroine, the priestess Aelia.
"Sister," Mia breathed in, "do you plan on becoming a priestess?"
Aelia blinked, "No."
"Why not? You are always praised by the priestesses."
"I may be praised but I am only following what was expected of us."
Her voice is firm, almost leading Mia into thinking it was a mistake for them to come here. But Mia knew her sister endured so much for their sake. That is what she can see. Whenever she gets into trouble, Lithea would always shield her. And she does it without throwing a hint of fear, always making herself clear. But also not forgetting to be respectful. She have always wondered how her sister does it.
"What do you want to become?"
"I will join the guild when the time comes."
"WHAT?!"
The younger one could not contain herself and looked around, covering her mouth. She bowed to those who she disturbed as an apology before grabbing her sister's hand and hid in the corner.
"Whatever do you mean?" she yelled in a whisper.
"Exactly what's in your thoughts."
"Sister, Uncle Chi would never allow it."
Lithea fell silent as she remembered their mother and studied Mia's face. She really got their mother's beauty. The worry expression she wore is exactly the same as Mayari's but somehow, the final memory of her mother crossed her mind. She can never and should never forget everything. It is the only thing that fuels her to do something out of ordinary as a priestess. She will go into battle, no matter what it takes.
She held Mia's hand.
"Sister?"
"I know you're worried. Don't be, I got it all covered."
Mia watched her sister's back as she walks away.
Going to the altar of the Sun Temple, Lithea's for the month is to help maintain it and see through the donation boxes while also attending to the garden with Mia. Her job doubled, worried Mia would do another mistake. She asked the Head Priestess to assign her the same assignment Mia has. Although she is not supposed to, they let her be.
Being a three year old, Mia is not supposed to have chores around the temple and must only focus on her classes and honing her etiquette. But because she adores the garden, they let her water it every day and see if there are weeds growing around that needs to get rid off.
She once accidentally pulled out a good herb thinking its weed, since then, Lithea would come with her to do her chores.
The day where Chi would visit has come. It has been almost four months since the last he checked on the girls. He has been very preoccupied with work but the good thing is, he is summoned at the council's hall which just right at the foot of the mountain where the temple is located, he can visit them anytime for a year.
Arriving at the temple, he smiled. He missed the girls so much, he even brought them a good coat to use when they visit downtown. But of course, he would need to ask Nuri permission to take the girls on a trip. They need a breather, they're too young to be in a temple. Most girls decided to join the temple at the age of ten, and they have the freedom to choose to leave or to continue at the age of sixteen.
"Master Chi," one of the trainees, Kaira greeted him.
"Good morning, are the children done with their breakfast?"
They continued their quiet conversation as they walk through the long hallway.
"Yes, Lithea is currently doing her assigned chore at the altar. Mia is currently in her class."
"Very well, may I have a private audience with the Head Priestess?"
Kaira hesitated for a moment, "the Head Priestess is currently taking over the Mistress' duties but I will be sure to relay your message, Master."
"That would be very much appreciated, Kaira."
Chi was brought to a room where they receive guests, although Chi can just roam around the temple to check as he is the master of its counterpart, Sol Temple, he chose to take a rest. His role as a master has been demanding ever since a follower of his has discovered something they have yet to prove during their investigation with the Clanwing case.
It took Chi to get the case to reopen and have it transfer to the Sol for investigation for over a year and since then, they can't meet anything else but dead end. But up until recently, one of their Halo had come up with a theory about the random attacks of the animals, mostly in the northern region. They need to dig a strong evidence to support this assumption. But even without one, he strongly believes so.
A small knock outside the receiving room was heard, Chi turned his head towards the double doors. It creaked open and a small hand struggled to push the door open for her to pass, it was Mia.
Chi immediately got up and helped the little girl.
"Uncle Chi!" Mia jumped and hugged his leg when she saw him, "I miss you! I miss you!"
Chi kneeled in front her to match her height, "our little Mia, how are you?"
"Where have you been? You did not come visit us for so long!" she waved her hands, wanting to let Chi know how long she waited for him to visit.
Chi laughed, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He picked her up and they went to the couch to sit properly. "How was your class?"
"Oh, teacher Jena is going to teach me archaic language next week!" she excited announce.
"Really? That's good. Then it must mean our Mia is a genius."
Mia pouted and is stared at somewhere intensely, "Uncle Chi, when is next week? Is it tomorrow?"
Chi ruffled her hair, "it is seven days from today, sweetheart."
"Oh~" her eyes dilated, "That's still far."
Chi chuckled, "you can wait, right? Because our Mia is a patient child."
"Of course, of course, of course!"
The two of them talked while Chi waited for Nuri to finish all of her paperwork. Being a head priestess is not easy, he can sympathize as he was the head priest for Sol under Tohan. He can entertain himself quite well and with Mia now accompanying him, he can tell her stories of the world outside the temple. It is a delight to see the curious mind of the child, and so he's determined to take them out and let them explore downtown today.
The doors opened and revealed Nuri, she's in their usual form of etiquette. Hands resting on their stomach, with head held high, "Master Chi, I must thank you for waiting and apologize for the delay of my arrival." She curtsied.
Chi stood and Mia copied, he returned her greetings, "There is no need to worry about small things, Head Priestess. I know how consuming it is to be of such rank."
"There is nothing I will not do for the Founding Priestess," she smiled gently as she reminded herself of why she devoted her all in the temple.
"That is a humble thing to do, Head Priestess," he found her loyalty admirable, "but I must be frank. I did not come here to check on the girls' progress."
Mia looked at Chi expectantly, what would he say? Will he be busy and just visit once in a while? Nuri was also expecting.
"I would like to take the girls for a visit downtown."
"Pardon?"
"Well, the spring has just arrived and it is still cold outside. Although I have it all covered, I brought thick coats for them to wear on our visit."
Nuri calmed herself, "I'm sorry Master Chi but it is not the weather that is the concern here," she tried to gulp discreetly, "it is Lithea."
"What of Lithea?"
Mia tugged on his robe, with a face filled with worry, "Sister has changed, and she won't smile. She never smiles."
Tears on the little girl's eyes formed.
"Very well," he smiled at them, "I guess our lady Lily needs a time off. She's been through a lot, it doesn't hurt to have a little break, right?"
Nuri nodded, "it seems that the sudden discontinuation of the Marble's visit had also caused her great distress."
"Was she informed of what my followers found?"
"Yes. Yes she was."
"I hope to at least make her feel at ease during this little trip," he looked at Mia who's still clenching on his robe.
'These kids, how could I better their lives?'
As the three were in deep thought of Lithea, there were three soft knocks that awoken them.
"Pardon my intrusion," Lithea entered the room and bowed to curtsy, "it has been a while, Uncle Chi."
Chi returned her greetings, "likewise, my dear."
She turned to Nuri and bowed as well, "I heard you called for me, Head Priestess."
"Yes," Nuri turned to Chi and smiled, "Master Chi has requested for the two of you to go on a little trip downtown with him."
"But my classes and my training, miss?"
Nuri gave her an assuring smile, "those can be push tomorrow. For now, you two enjoy downtown and be children."
"Thank you Miss Nuri!" Mia shouted in glee.
"Mia, tone down your voice." Lithea reprimanded.
"That is alright, Lithea. She was just excited."
Lithea lowered her head, "I shall go and prepare for our trip."
She extended her hand for Mia to hold and the little one did. But before they could exit the room, Chi called them again and gave them two boxes with an unfamiliar logo printed on the cover.
"It is still cold outside, you two can wear these to keep you warm."
Lithea accepted it with both hands and bowed, "thank you, Uncle Chi."
When the two left, Chi frowned. He was worried. That face Lithea wore is something he's familiar with, that is exactly what caused her uncle Tohan to succumb to sickness. The look of determination. A determination to destroy something.
"I am worried for that girl," Nuri admitted, "she looks so broken."
"Let's do our best to properly guide her, Nuri."
Lithea has a gaze to intense if she could use any magic, every one near hear would get hurt. If only she didn't really possess any power. But as a Sol, she's bound to have one.
Lithea Sol Clanwing, several emotions embedded deep inside her heart. With it fueling her desire to avenge her family, it could only endanger her.
He must find that thing to help her out.