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Maya skipped her daily training like usual and loitered around the temple. She didn't understand why her father forced her to train every day.
Other girls looked so pretty in their new dresses. Yet, she had to be satisfied with her dirty, unfeminine training outfit. Every girl beside her looked stunning, with their soft hair neatly styled, and there would always be a pleasant smell when she went past them.
Meanwhile, Maya's hair was as rough as a broom, and she always reeked of smell because of her daily training.
Her father wanted us to be a guard serving the Priestess and Holy Shrine, but Maya didn't want that. Although she was friends with the Priestess, she never wanted to be a guard and underwent rigorous training. She wanted to be a beautiful and feminine woman who would gain admiration from her peers.
Even that day, Maya was scolded again by her father for neglecting her training. Feeling upset because he refused to understand her, she ran out of the training hall and wandered alone.
The Holy Shrine was huge and the most beautiful place on the land. It was built right at the feet of the mountain and they were surrounded by lust green forest.
There was a lotus lake in the quarters where the Priestess lived, and she often played with the lonely girl there.
Maya could never understand how she could endure the life of Priestess when all she did was pray every day. It must be terribly boring, but it was at least better than swinging swords around and gaining muscle, which was unladylike.
Thinking that she hadn't played with the Priestess after some time, Maya turned towards her quarters.
As usual, the place was so quiet, as though it was a ghost house. The Priestess movement was strictly monitored; not everyone could freely roam around the Holy Shrine.
Some people envied Maya for being able to enter and leave the sacred shrine as she pleased. She enjoyed the attention she got, which was why she never seriously complained about the training. At least until that day.
Although a lot of adults said how terrifying it was, being in the same place as the girl with ominous power, Maya had never thought the Priestess was scary at all. On the contrary, she was the most beautiful and gentlest girl she had ever met.
The Priestess was the figure Maya aspired to be. Maya wouldn't have any other life complaints if only she could be as beautiful and feminine as she was.
Walking through the bridge that connected the gate with the Priestess quarter in the middle of the lake, she could hear a loud thud sound, as if someone had just fallen on the ground.
Maya instinctively ran toward the source of the noises. Behind the building near the flower bank was the small Priestess who crouched on the ground in her prying attire. It consisted of a wide-sleeved top, a sash wrapped around the waist, and a long white skirt.
The outfit was plain and tacky, but Maya had never seen the Priestess in other clothes besides those. Meanwhile, because of her training, Maya had no choice but to wear a man's outfit, which was easier to move in. In a way, she felt a sense of camaraderie with the Priestess because of this.
The only difference between them was that Maya kept complaining about it, while the latter didn't mind with whatever clothes she had.
Easy for her to say that because she was naturally born beautiful. Even a rag would look lovely when you have a pretty face.
Unfortunately, Maya wasn't beautiful and looked like a small boy in her training outfit. Hence, she disliked it with her every being.
Soon, the Priestess noticed her standing behind her, and a friendly smile appeared on her face. "Maya, you are here!"
"Priestess, are you alright? What are you doing here all alone?" Maya waved awkwardly.
"Nothing much. I wanted to return this bird to its nest but couldn't climb the tree." The Priestess said gloomily before opening her cupped hand. Inside there was a tiny newborn baby bird.
Maya looked up at the tree beside her; indeed, there was a bird's nest. So the loud thumping sound she heard just now was the Priestess who fell from the tree?
"Priestess, are you sure you are alright?"
"Yes, I am. But Maya, can you help return this bird to its nest?"
Climbing a tree was actually one of her specialties. She refrained from doing that in front of people since it was a very unladylike habit, but it should be fine since no one was around. "Sure. Give it to me."
With the baby bird in one hand, Maya climbed up fast. She had reached the top in no time and returned the baby bird to its nest.
"Make sure you don't fall down again, little guy." Maya smiled before climbing down again.
The Priestess ran over to her as she clapped her hand excitedly. "That's amazing, Maya! You are so fast and agile!"
Maya was a bit embarrassed. Climbing a tree was really nothing to be proud of. "It's nothing. But why did you try to climb it yourself? You could've gotten hurt badly if you landed in the wrong spot."
The Priestess' smile stiffened. "I was too busy thinking how to return the bird to its family safely, so I didn't think that far ahead."
"But you should still be careful. You are the Priestess, and your existence is essential for us. My brother will nag you again if something happens to you."
"I understand. I will be more careful next time. Anyway, what are you doing here? Isn't it supposed to be your training time?"
Maya grimaced when she recalled how annoying her father was. "Please don't remind me. I swear I won't go back and train again. I have had enough of this kind of training."
"Did something happen, Maya? You looked distraught." Aisha asked worriedly.
Maya didn't hate the girl in front of her; she really didn't.
However, because her father wanted to assign a female guard for the Priestess, she had to endure such ridiculous training from morning until night. Just because she was the daughter of the Chief Advisor, her life would forever be bound to this place. It was unfair.
A murky feeling brewed inside her. Looking at the Priestess' innocent face made her irritated.
"Nothing. Priestess, I don't think you will understand. Because we live in a completely different world. You only need to sit and pray every day without doing anything else. Everyone listens to what you say without you needing to persuade them. You are naturally beautiful and live in a luxurious place. Someone as privileged as you, how would you understand how I felt?"
Maya didn't remember much of what happened after that. But she remembered one thing clearly, as the view was burned in her memory forever.
Aisha stood there, looking thin and fragile as the wind blew her hair to the side, revealing her pale face. Her eyes held a deep sadness, but she still forced herself to smile.
"I'm sorry. It seems my presence is also an inconvenience for you. As expected, it's better if I'm not here, isn't it?"
Those words didn't sound like a question but an affirmation instead. There was no anger or condemnation, only an unfathomable sadness.
"Maya, please don't worry. Everything will be just fine. If you don't want to train, you don't have to. I'll try to talk to the Chief Advisor about it."
"No." Maya rebutted before she could stop herself. She didn't know why then, but she felt extremely uncomfortable inside. But the stubborn part inside her refused to admit it.
She didn't say anything wrong, so why should she feel bad?
"If you tell my father, he'll know I'm the one who gives you the idea. Doing that will be a further inconvenience for me."
"I see," Aisha lowered her gaze before speaking softly, "Maya, you should live freely. I'll help you too, so please don't worry."
The immature Maya back then didn't think deeply about what a sheltered Priestess meant when she said that. She only felt more irritated hearing her words.
She knew nothing about the outside world, so what would she know about her?