It was a boring day, and its getting worse because of the letter that I just received. I was in my room and thinking about the content of the letter. It was sealed with a silver plate with a wisteria design, and the envelope color was white as snow.
"Ughhhh...."
'So lazy as always. My God'
"What is it now?"
"This is so bothersome."
"Ha?"
"What? How did you get in here?"
"I was knocking, and I presume that you didn't listen, so I let myself in."
"Wow! Your as devilish as hell, yeah."
"Watch it. Anyway, what's the problem?"
"Here. Read it."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
'Dear Priestess Avegil Nera, Jerusalem,
How are you? It's been 5 years since we met in the Holy Temple. You know what? The children miss you and also Sister Demina. But anyway, let me go to the point, okay? I heard that you did a great job in Astarnian. Even though we are far apart, we have always had an eye on you. So, High Priest Jomerdy wants to talk to you in person. You know that he is an impatient one, so you should prepare and go in here. Okay?
Your Acquaintance,
Priest Tavernt.
P.S
Please bring Demina with you. I wanted to talk to her.'
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"So?"
"SOOO!?"
"Don't shout, Priestess Nera. You just have to go to the Holy Temple and talk to the High Priest. Then if you two are done, we will go home."
"Easy for you to say."
Honestly, I don't want to go back to the Holy Temple. The Holy Temple was located in the middle part of the four elemental lands, and that was in the Whilterv region. The super-duper, glimmering light in that place is blinding my eyes. Also, the people there are always staring at me. The High Priest, Jomerdy Syterdan was the leader or the Father of the Holy Temple. He is the one who teaches me about the talent that I hold. Also, Demina because sheis his disciple.
"If we don't go, he will pray to God and curse us."
"Are you serious!?"
"Sigh. Nera, we need to go. The High Priest requested you to meet him."
"But I don't feel so good about it."
Avegil Nera Jerusalem. She was a stubborn girl, blonde with red eyes, when I first met her. She was an idiot, but I saw her potential to hold power. We both learned everything, but I must say that she is unique. She knew everything without reading any books in the library. All she always did was sit in the garden and pray. I have a hunch that God protected and guided her all the time. Whether she faced difficulties having friends with others or not, this didn't bother her. She was just walking straight forward. That's why I decided to follow her because I want to know more about her.
"I think it is important."
"..."
"Be ready tomorrow. When the sun rises, we will leave Astarnian."
".....fine."
Before she left me in my room, she patted my head. It seems like she wanted to comfort me. It's not that I don't want to go back, but what about the church? It was only me and Demina who took care of this place. We were just minors when we were assigned here. We cleaned every single area and arranged everything. We did our best to encourage the people of Astarnian to go to the church, pray, and not lose hope. Until then, Astarnians became livelier than before.
Before we left, we closed the windows and doors and hid our valuables in our secret place. Then we prayed for our safety while we were away. I gonna miss my castle huhuu.
"We're leaving."
"Yesss huhu….."
To go to the Holy Temple, we need to pass the center forest of Thybewfil and Pertoque: The Dragon's Tail Forest. Its name was inspired by the looks of the pathway, like a dragon's tail image. Then rent a Blertygin to cross over to the Sea of Vernesa. Blertygin is a mythical creature that looks like a small dragon, yet half of its body only has scales. But their tails have their own magic. It can identify its type by the color it shows. After crossing the sea, we need to deal with the guards of the Whilterv and do some "tasks" to make an entry.
"Oh, where are you two going?"
"Old lady Hantysel!"
"Ms. Hantysel, good morning."
"Hmm. It seems you're on a journey, ey."
"Yes, Old Lady Hantysel, but I don't want to go. Could you replace me?"
"I apologize for Mother Nera's action, Ms. Hantysel."
'Demina, your so cruel, huhuuuu~'
"Hoho~ don't worry. I don't mind. Anyway, be safe on your trip now."
"We will, ma'am."
"Old lady Hantysel, save me some flowers when I get back."
"Sure, sure, my dear. Let God guide you!"
And so we began our journey. Travelers usually walk on their own two feet while going to their destination. As you all know, I was blessed by God, and I can do what I want, but that's not just how it works. Everything has conditions, and so do I. Instead of using powers and creating miracles, pertaining to being one of the human beings is the best option to blend in. While walking a few miles, we felt exhaustion and thrust,, but it was natural to take a journey.
"And now we're here."
"Please be at ease, Mother Nera."
We have already arrived in Dragon's Tail Forest. As I looked at the area, it was quite big and full of big trees and wild plants. Some say that this forest has poisonous plants. They only appear at night and die during the day. The life cycle of the plants is repeatable when they wither. Rare plants and creatures lived here. That's why we need to be careful and fight if something happens.
It was nearly evening. While we were walking, we heard the howls of the wolves. The breeze was so cold, and it made me shiver. The trees are dancing and waving for us, and the birds are flying in any direction.
"Let's stay here for the night."
"Eh? In here?"
"Do you know a place where we can stay in the middle of the forest where we already know that no one can live here?"
"Okay, I'm sorry, Master, huhuuuu."
We decided to camp at our stop. Everything seemed to be calm, and neither me nor Demina—no, we didn't sense any presence of danger. But as I slightly look around, some eyes are watching us. They are not humans, animals, or creatures, but phantoms. Phantoms are the guards of the night. They are the ones who observe the living beings who enter the forest. Also, they love poisonous plants. That's why, when night comes, the plants grow.
"Scared?"
"Ha!? Are you joking with me?"
"I'm just asking a question."
"...."
"When the morning comes, we need to move fast and arrive in the renting dome."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Goodnight!"
I didn't listen to Demina at that moment. I fell asleep because I was bored on our journey.
While sleeping, I saw a vision. Usually, my dreams are the vision of something that might happen to me or the other people who surround me. I was in a flower field. The fragrance of sweet, colorful flowers scattered by the wind's action. The sky is as blue as the sea. It was so peaceful that I thought nothing bad could happen. Then, I saw a black rose in front of me. I was about to pick it up, but suddenly the rose turned into a corpse. And the corpse was a girl with golden hair. And the next thing that happened was that I woke up earlier than Demina.
'A girl with golden hair.'
"Then I might see her any moment from now on."
And so, Demina woke up, packed our things, and continued our journey to the Holy Temple.