In Zeta,
"when we get there you must perform a dance first then deliver the message before you jump into the canal and emerge on the other side of it. It is a cleansing ritual symbolizing that you have washed away the old message and ready to receive a new one from the deities.", Krea explained to Eleanor.
"So what do I say?"
Krae looked out of the carriage window. It was just both of them so no one would know what really happened. She had an idea.
"You are going to inform them that the deities have asked you to wait for a while. Until then we will try to get the priestess back home", Krea said.
At the canal, Eleanor looked at the deep darkness below her in terror. The canal was a semicircular underground canal filled with water.
"It was a gift to the priestess. From the deities themselves.", Krea whispered to her.
She looked down and turned to the people. Only the king, queen and tribal leaders were present for the cleansing ceremony.
"The deities have asked me to convey this message to you at a later time and so this ceremony cannot hold. I will not be able to enter this canal."
"…but why?", the king asked.
"The message I carry is great and cannot be discussed without preparation of minds"
"every single message from the deities is great"
"do you question the deities? You majesty."
"no, how long will it take?"
"I am not sure yet. My message is not complete and the deities must reveal the rest to me for me to convey it. I do not control them"
†††
In the priestess' room,
"you are quite the actor. Everyone believed, except me of course."
"Really?", Eleanor giggled.
"I was terrified at the thought of diving into that canal. I had to think fast"
"Should I call in your dinner?"
"I don't really have an appetite"
"Then you should at least try the appetizers. They are already here."
"Wow", Eleanor exclaimed with wide eyes as the tray was carried in by four handmaids.
"This is the appetizers?"
By the time she was done with the appetizers she had a rethink. At first she was reluctant about eating cause she feared she might not like the food but she changed her mind.
"I'm ready for dinner"
"Yes priestess", the four handmaids said in unison as they scurried out the room to get it.
"Does your priestess always eat like this?"
"She is somewhat of a picky eater so the variety is to induce some appetite. She is, after all, the priestess and princess of our world"
"Wow, I do not wanna leave this place"
"We must find a way to contact Zela"
"Just when I started to like this place! How are we gonna do that?"
"Tomorrow we shall head into the king's storage and pick items so we can determine the next blood moon on your planet."
"What about on this planet?"
"There is always a blood moon"
†††
On earth,
"The brightness! Speak for your humble servant is listening"
"What is even happening? Eleanor that's the sun.", Kim took a deep breath as she sat at the edge of the bed.
"... Are you okay?", she asked as she gently placed her hand on Eleanor's (now Zela's) leg.
"Your actions are becoming a cause for concern"
"I thought the deities were sending me a message. Were is my breakfast?"
Kim laughed, she laughed so hard that she was gasping for air.
"Breakfast? Now, I know this is a funny prank for you. Your hearing from deities. Your asking me for your breakfast.", she laughed some more.
"I'm gonna need you to snap out of it. You got me. Ok. Congratulations, you played the greatest prank on me. You win"
"If you check your laptop, you're going to have a lot of people who want you to work for them. If you don't respond you won't have anymore work. If you don't work you will not have any food to eat. So get up and snap out of it."
"A princess and priestess never works"
"I give up. There's stuff in the kitchen, you can make something when you're hungry. I have work and taxes to pay "
When she was alone she laid there and stared at the sun. She had heard stories about the sun as a child and there were ancient drawings of it but she had never seen it with her own eyes. All they had on Zeta were different moons. She didn't know how to work, she wasn't groomed for that.
Her stomach rumbled and so she finally got up to go look for the food. She finally found the kitchen 30 minutes later. Every thing was so strange to her. Even on her planet she had never entered a kitchen.
She eventually gave up cause she didn't think she could eat any of those stuff she saw there. She explored the house but didn't dare to touch anything that looked exquisite. She went back to bed and rested. When she woke up she was so weak so she eventually gave in. She ate everything in the kitchen. She did not really care for their names, she just ate.
When Kim got back she went straight to Elle's room.
"You're sleeping beauty all of a sudden.", she said as she sauntered to her laptop.
No work was done.
"This girl be playing with her life"
She tapped her lightly.
"What did you do today?"
"I ate. The sun is so beautiful, it's more beautiful than I imagined it to be"
"We see the sun every single day and it's not that beautiful when you have to walk in it. Let me get this straight, you slept and ate all day. You did nothing else"
"I had nothing else to do"
"You had work to do"
"I did not have work to do. Your friend, Elle, had work to do. I am not Elle"
"You're serious. So who do you think you are?"
"I am Zela, the crowned princess and priestess of Zeta"
Kim just starred at her wide-eyed