In the capital's Grand Temple, the soft echoes of footsteps filled the vast, marble halls. The delicate fragrance of incense lingered in the air, adding a sense of serenity to the sacred space. Maris, dressed in her pristine white robes adorned with gold embroidery, stood tall before the assembly of priests and sisters. Her radiant blue eyes, framed by soft strands of pink hair, glimmered with determination as she addressed them.
"I will be going on a trip during the winter break," she declared, her voice gentle but firm. "No need for a guard. Please take care of things while I'm away."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the gathered priests and sisters, their anxious glances exchanged with each other. The very idea of the Saintess, the new one found after decades, leaving the Grand Temple on a trip, unsupervised, was almost unthinkable.
"Eh… did she say… a trip?" one of the younger priests whispered to his neighbor, disbelief etched across his face.
