Elara wandered through the grand hallways of the temple, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions she could barely control. The confrontation with Amara and the other priestesses weighed heavily on her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
Why did they hate her so much? What was it about her that always seemed to invite scorn and cruelty?
Her footsteps echoed through the long corridors as she absentmindedly wandered deeper into the temple. Her thoughts consumed her, each worry building upon the next until the world around her seemed to fade away.
She barely noticed the shift in the atmosphere as she walked, her feet carrying her farther than she intended.
It wasn't until the air around her grew colder, more foreboding, that Elara finally snapped out of her reverie.
She stopped in her tracks, blinking in confusion as she looked around. The walls here were different—darker, more ominous. The usual warmth and light that filled the temple seemed to have been sucked out of this area, replaced by an eerie silence.
Panic gripped her chest as she realized where she was.
The Forbidden Hallway.
Elara's heart began to race. She had heard rumors of this place, though never in any detail. It was said to be a passage that only the Council of the Blessed members were allowed to enter. A place where the most devout—and most powerful—priests and priestesses gathered for private meetings and rituals.
No one outside of the council members had ever been allowed to set foot in this part of the temple. And Elara had wandered straight into it, unaware.
She took a shaky step back, her pulse quickening as fear took hold. She had to get out. If anyone saw her here, there would be severe consequences. The Council didn't tolerate trespassers, especially not in a place as sacred as this.
Just as she turned to leave, something stopped her.
Voices.
They were faint at first, barely audible through the thick stone walls. But they grew clearer as Elara stood frozen in place, her curiosity getting the better of her. The voices seemed to be coming from beyond a large set of ornate doors at the end of the hallway.
Elara hesitated. She knew she should leave. She knew this was dangerous. But something inside her urged her to listen. Maybe it was the frustration she had been feeling, or maybe it was the nagging doubt that had been building in her heart for weeks. Whatever it was, she couldn't walk away.
Carefully, she crept closer to the doors, her soft steps barely making a sound. She pressed herself against the cold stone wall, her heart hammering in her chest as she strained to hear the voices on the other side.
"…the ritual must remain hidden," one voice said, deep and commanding. It sounded like one of the high-ranking priests, though Elara couldn't be sure.
"The believers can never know the truth," another voice responded. This one was female, sharp and filled with urgency. "If they find out what we've been doing, it will be the end of everything we've built."
Elara's breath caught in her throat. What were they talking about? What truth?
"The Holy Lord has given us power beyond their comprehension," the male voice continued. "We've kept it hidden for centuries, and we will continue to do so. The scrolls we took from the Dark Covenant are still in our possession, and their secrets must remain with us."
The Dark Covenant? Elara had never heard of such a thing. And scrolls? What did they mean by scrolls?
"The dark arts contained within those scrolls are not meant for the weak," the woman said, her voice lowering as if she were speaking some forbidden truth. "If anyone outside of our circle ever learned how we obtained this power…"
Elara's blood ran cold. Dark arts? Secrets? Her mind raced, trying to piece together what she was hearing. The Divine Order—the very place she had devoted her life to—were hiding something. Something terrible.
There was a long pause, and Elara held her breath, terrified that they would somehow sense her presence.
"We must continue the charade," the man said after a moment. "Let the people believe in their righteous faith. As long as they remain ignorant, we can continue to use their devotion to fuel our power."
Elara's heart pounded in her ears. Use their devotion? What did that mean? Were they using the faith of the believers for something darker? Something… wrong?
"I'll arrange for the next gathering," the woman said. "The rituals must continue as planned. And the girl…"
Elara's stomach twisted. She pressed herself tighter against the wall, her breath shallow. Were they talking about her?
"What of the girl?" the man asked, his voice laced with interest.
The woman hesitated. "She's… still devoted, despite everything. But we must keep an eye on her. If she starts asking questions, we may need to take action."
Elara's blood froze in her veins. They were watching her. They knew about her. And worse, they saw her as a threat.
Her heart raced, and her mind screamed at her to run, to get as far away from this place as possible. But her legs felt rooted to the ground, her body unwilling to move as the weight of the revelation pressed down on her.
For years, Elara had believed in the purity and righteousness of the Divine Order. She had trusted them, prayed to them, and offered her loyalty without question. But now, she had stumbled upon a dark secret—one that shattered everything she thought she knew.
The Order wasn't what it seemed. And she was in more danger than she ever realized.
Without another thought, Elara turned and fled, her soft footsteps barely making a sound as she sprinted back down the hallway. She didn't stop until she was far away from the Forbidden Hallway, her chest heaving with fear and disbelief.
When she finally reached the familiar warmth of the main temple hall, she slowed to a walk, forcing herself to calm down. The worshippers were still there, lost in their prayers and rituals, completely unaware of the dark truth that lay just beyond the walls.
Elara's hands trembled as she made her way back to the front of the temple, her mind reeling from what she had overheard. She had to act as if nothing was wrong, but the truth gnawed at her.
She had to find out more. She had to uncover the full truth about the so-called Divine Order, no matter the cost.
But for now, she had to be careful. She couldn't let them know she was onto them. If they found out… she didn't want to think about what might happen.
As she left the temple, her heart still pounding in her chest, Elara knew one thing for certain: her life had just changed forever. And she could never look at the Order the same way again.