Lithea woke up a little earlier than she usually does, she stood to take a peek at the window. It is still dark outside. The stars twinkling, beautifying the plain void above. She sighed thinking this would be the last time she would stand there and watch the surroundings.
Mia groaned as she moved around in her sleep.
Lithea looked at her sister sleeping peacefully, "this is also for you."
She walked towards her and pressed the back of her hand on her cheek, she smiled.
Lithea crouched down under her bed to take an old box where she had kept the locket similar to hers. It is time for her to give Mia the parting gift the Marbles gave them. She kneed after reaching for it, dusted it before opening the royal blue leather box. It has scratches and the skin of the box is kind of loose from years of storing.
Unlike Lithea's gold necklace, Mia's was rose gold. Fitting as she is the younger sibling. It is customary in the kingdom to give gold gifts to the first born, rose gold to the second born, and silver to the other siblings. The only time the other children were to receive gold is when the older ones were to leave the nest to marry.
Lithea proceeded to bathe herself one last time in the temple as part of the Orbit Ceremony.
This is a ceremony where when they are of age, they need to decide on the same day as their sixteenth birthday whether they continue the priestess path, or take on another job while bringing the name of a priestess, or strip off their priestess privilege and start anew.
First to do is for the priestesses to bathe in hot water filled with scent they choose and cleanse their body until the water becomes warm. Then they are to get dressed with a thin white cloth, signifying their purity. The Mistress will present to her a special crushed paper that's placed inside a jade bowl on top of a velvet white cushion with gold embroidery.
The sixteen year old priestess would walk from the doors to the altar barefooted with fresh white roses scattered on the ground. When she's in front of the altar, she's to kneel down and place the cushion on the offering table made of white granite and burn the paper inside the jade bowl.
If the smoke comes out as white, this would mean they chose to continue the priestess path.
If the smoke comes out as yellow, this would mean they chose to take on another job, still bringing the name of a priestess. Most of those who chose this are the ones who work in the Center as a medical priestess. There are also those who join orphanages or any charitable cause.
If the smoke comes out as red, the person chooses to strip off their priestess name and wants to start a new life.
The feathers lit up a candle and passed it on to the Mistress to coat with divine power before handing it to Lithea who's still kneeling. When a person who is performing the Orbit Ceremony is to hold the divine candle, their thoughts would be purified, this is to really get through their hearts and learn what really their decision is. This is to not corrupt the ceremony by forcing themselves on choosing something they don't desire. And so many feather priestesses actually cannot proceed to the halo rank despite passing the test as their smoke shows the color red.
Lithea held the candle firmly on her hand and closed her eyes before slowly kowtowing, careful not to get herself burned from it.
When she sat back up, she gently placed the candle on top of the crushed papers. When the special paper and the divine candle met, the fire started spreading and burned everything inside the jade bowl. The candle's wax melted and covered the ashes of the paper. Not moments later, everything is slowly disappearing, releasing the smoke they all have been waiting for.
It is yellow.
Lithea stood and bowed gently before turning left to face the Mistress who had a white cushion similar to what was used to place the jade bowl, but what's on top of the cushion the divine priestess has with her is a chain head dress made of gold. It is filled with white crystals.
Lithea lowered herself, bending her knees to let the Mistress put the piece on her.
"You will do great and make us proud, Lithea. I am sure of it."
The crystals on the head piece glowed brightly. It is white.
"I hereby present, Priestess Lithea of Light rank," everyone whispers and murmurs with the Mistress' announcement, "as her head piece glowed white, indicating a power and skills equal to divine ranks, it is only fitting for her to receive the Light rank. It is also her who had cleared all five levels of the rank test after our current head priestess, Nuri."
The Mistress smiled, "Lithea will now announce her chosen path."
Lithea faced the crowd, her eyes met her sister's who's been watching the whole ceremony nervously.
"I will be an adventurer at the capital's guild."
The room fell silent. Everyone was frozen, did they hear it right? Every single one in the room is confused. How can she choose to become an adventurer with all the ridicule their kinds receive during their time there, ending up dead at the hands of their teammates, why would she choose something different?
"Now, this is awkward," A familiar voice echoed from the entrance, Chi arrived and witnessed the atmosphere of the room after she spoke. "Are you all doubting my student's capabilities?"
"Master Chi," everyone bowed their heads when it hit them that it was the Sol temple's divine priest.
Chi chuckled, "so it has come to this, eh?"
Lithea bowed a little, "master."
"I may be your master but I too, am your uncle." He walked over to Lithea and hugged her, "I'm proud of you child."
He scanned the room to look for Mia and when he spotted her in the corner, he gestured for her to come and congratulate her sister.
"Mia," Lithea smiled, "come here."
She slowly walked towards them and bowed, she's now in the presence of three divine beings. Although Lithea is unofficially divine, her powers say otherwise.
"Thank you for being understanding," she smiled gently at her. This is the first time she met Mia's eyes, the first time she smiled at her gently.
Mia's emotions cannot be suppressed any longer and she cried in the arms of her sister. All this time, Lithea endured everything for her sake. She too must make a decision and help her beloved sister as much as she can. She will become a medical priestess in the capital's center.
"Sister!" she sobbed.
"I know, I know."
When everything was over and cleaned up, Lithea was preparing for her departure. It may be her birthday, it may be her coming of age ceremony or known as the orbit ceremony, she shouldn't dilly-dally and act. There's no time.
She took the black coat Chi gave her. It is the same design as the first coat he's given them, to avoid complications on doing another design, when Chi asked her what she would like for the winter, she told him she just wanted the exact same one. In this, she can travel in the warmth provided by him, their foster father.
She picked up her back and exited their bedroom. Mia was right by the door, waiting for her, she had something in her hand. A pair of gloves in white leather to complement her new priestess uniform; plain white fitted long sleeves topped with a short cape with two golden ropes to lock the cape in place. With two diamond shaped brooch over the ropes. It is matched with a plain white skirt with a piece of fabric dangled in the center of the skirt and by the end of it is the archaic spelling of 'sun'. Each of them has golden patterns. Lithea's new footwear is a white thigh high boots with blue and golden design. Her boots were specially designed for her by Chi, he commissioned a friend of Lana's to make her comfortable even during long walks and long battles.
"Here, it's cold." Mia tilted her head to the side, "you should keep yourself warm, sister."
Lithea set her bag on the ground and took something from her pocket, it is the locket she's been keeping for years.
"It's time for me to give this to you," she took Mia's hand and covered it with hers, putting the necklace on her palm.
Mia wore a confused look, "what's this?"
She looked down the moment Lithea pulled her hand from her, a locket.
"Open it."
Mia breathed in before opening the locket, she could feel the time slowing down. Her insides are getting hot, she's nervous. Just opening a locket, she's very nervous. But when she saw what's inside the locket, she couldn't recognize the faces. Her mind became fuzzy, she didn't know them yet she melted. Everything in her melted. Whatever she's feeling, something unknown that's been in her heart melted. It all faded away.
She cried everything out.
"Mia, that's mama and papa."
With her sister's confirmation, Mia's knees weakened and she dropped on the ground. She hugged the locket tightly.
"Mama, Papa."
She misses them. She can't believe she missed those she hasn't met. But with her sister's teachings and stories about them, she felt like it was still them who raised her. She's thankful for them, and most especially, to her sister.
The time has come.
Lithea now has to go and travel on her own. Everyone's waiting for her by the main door; their smiles, and worried faces greeted her. Mia's clinging into her arm tightly, she's now also wearing the locket.
"I don't want you to go."
"Just keep doing what you are doing," Lithea smiled to reassure her, "you will do great on your own, sister."
The carriage is waiting for her. It is Chi's carriage, he wanted to give her a lift at least until down the mountain. He doesn't want her to get weary hiking down such a tall mountain.
"Let us go, Lily. The sun is going to set soon and it will get colder." Chi opened the door of the carriage.
Lithea turned before taking the last step on the stairs to give everyone one last bow.
"I thank you all for putting up with me this whole time," she gripped her bag along with the gloves Mia gave, tightly, "I will use the skills I learned the whole time responsibly."
The Mistress stepped forward and smiled warmly, "I know you will. Farewell, our new priestess."
The carriage took off and everyone in the temple watched it disappear into the woods. Lithea has officially left the temple which shielded her from all seasons and has given her a comfortable bed to sleep on, and warm meals to fill her belly.
Lithea placed her right hand on her left chest, with three fingers stretched and her thumb and pinky finger folded behind; she offered a salute towards the temple.
Chi noticed this and smiled to himself, despite such tough rules to follow for a once three-year old little girl, with fear of her rebelling to them, she grew up into a young woman they're proud of. She did not disappoint them.
"Thank you," Chi was dragged away from his thoughts, "father."
Chi's eyes widened. She called her father for the very first time.
"You—" is all he could utter. And as he soaked everything in his brain, he laughed heartily.
"You're welcome, my dear."
Chi took this time to remind Lithea of what the outside world is like. The kind of people she would meet and how to handle them, how to avoid a situation, and most especially when not and when to use force as self-defense.
Not moments after, they have arrived at the foot of the mountain.
A sigh escaped Chi's mouth, "this is it."
There's nothing much Lithea can do, a smile is the only thing she can offer to comfort him.
"I'll be fine. I'll keep writing letters."
"I will have to drag you back to the temple if you don't," he grinned.
Lithea shook her head and exited the carriage, "farewell, master."
The carriage took off and as it was moving, he remembered something.
"DON'T FORGET TO USE THE MAP TO GUIDE YOU!"
Rummaging in her pockets, Lithea pulled a piece of paper and opened it. Her head dropped as soon as she saw the content of the paper: a poorly drawn map of Chi.
She chuckled silently, 'seriously, how will this help me on my journey?'