The temple had all but emptied, the faithful pouring out into the night, their heads bowed in silent reverence. Only a few priests remained, cleaning the altar and rearranging the offerings.
One of them, a young priest named Isaac, lingered near the temple's large wooden doors, his eyes scanning the remaining worshippers as they filed out into the village.
It was there, just as the last of the crowd slipped through the entrance, that he caught a glimpse of her—Elara. She moved quietly, her head lowered like the others, but something about her drew his attention.
She hadn't been to the temple in a week, and her return felt... off. Isaac wasn't sure what it was exactly, but the way she kept her distance from the congregation, the subtle tension in her movements, sent a chill down his spine.
Frowning, he quickly made his way through the empty halls of the temple, his footsteps echoing softly off the stone floors. He needed to report this to someone higher—someone who could decide if her absence meant something more.
It didn't take long for Isaac to reach the upper chambers of the temple, where the High Priestess resided. The door to her room was large and imposing, carved with intricate patterns that shimmered faintly in the flickering torchlight.
He paused outside for a moment, gathering his courage, before knocking lightly.
"Enter," a soft, melodic voice called from within.
Isaac pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside, his eyes immediately drawn to the figure seated near the center of the room.
Mother Aveline, the High Priestess of the Luminaries Temple, was draped in flowing white and gold robes, her delicate hands resting on the arms of an ornate chair carved from dark mahogany. Her face, pale and flawless, seemed almost too perfect under the dim light of the chamber.
She wore a serene smile, her eyes half-lidded as if in deep contemplation. Long, silvery hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, framing her face with an ethereal glow.
At first glance, Aveline appeared as she always did—gentle, calm, and filled with a benevolent grace that had earned the trust of the village. Her voice, when she spoke to the faithful, was always soothing, her presence a beacon of hope and warmth.
But there was something else beneath that innocent façade. Something darker, something more calculated. Her eyes, pale as moonlight, held a sharpness that no one noticed when she smiled.
And her lips, though often curved into a gentle expression, could twist into something far more sinister in the privacy of her chambers.
As Isaac knelt before her, he could feel the weight of her gaze upon him. The air in the room seemed heavier, colder, as if the temperature had dropped the moment he entered.
"Speak, child," Aveline said softly, her voice carrying the same gentle tone she used with the villagers, though it lacked the warmth she usually feigned.
"Mother Aveline," Isaac began, his voice trembling slightly. "I... I noticed something tonight. One of the faithful, a girl named Elara, returned to the temple after being absent for a week. She left just now, but there was something strange about her."
Aveline raised an eyebrow, her expression unchanged. "Elara, you say? She hasn't been attending the sermons?"
Isaac nodded quickly. "Yes, Mother. I thought it was unusual. She has always been so devoted, but... she's been missing for days. No one has seen her around the village. And tonight, when she came back, something felt... off. I'm not sure how to explain it."
Aveline's fingers drummed lightly on the arm of her chair, her smile never wavering. But Isaac could see the glint in her eyes—sharp and predatory.
"Interesting," she murmured. "Elara has always been a faithful follower. Her absence is indeed... concerning."
The High Priestess rose slowly from her seat, her movements graceful, almost serpentine. She glided across the room toward a tall mirror that stood against the far wall.
Her reflection stared back at her, and for a moment, she seemed lost in thought, her pale eyes narrowing as she considered the young priest's words.
"She's just a girl," Aveline said, her voice still soft, but there was a coldness to it now. "But even the smallest doubt in the hearts of the faithful can grow like a weed, spreading and corrupting others. We cannot allow such seeds to take root."
Isaac felt a shiver run down his spine. He had served under Aveline for years, but even he knew that beneath her angelic exterior lay something ruthless, something that would stop at nothing to maintain the Order's control.
"Have her investigated," Aveline ordered, turning back toward Isaac. "Find out where she has been and why she has not attended the sermons. But do it discreetly. We do not want to raise suspicion."
"Yes, Mother," Isaac replied, bowing his head in submission. He rose to leave, but before he could reach the door, Aveline's voice stopped him.
"And, Isaac..." she said, her tone darker now, though her smile remained. "If you find that she has turned away from us, or if she has become a danger to our cause... you know what must be done."
Isaac swallowed hard, nodding once before hastily exiting the chamber. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, leaving the High Priestess alone in the dim light of her room.
Aveline turned back to the mirror, her reflection staring back at her with cold, calculating eyes. She traced a finger along the surface of the glass, her smile twisting into something more menacing.
"Let's see what secrets you're hiding, child," she whispered to herself.
---
Later that Night
Several priests, including Isaac, moved quietly through the village, careful not to draw attention to themselves. They split up, each tasked with gathering information about Elara's whereabouts. By morning, they had returned with nothing but ordinary reports.
No one had seen Elara doing anything unusual. She had simply been away, perhaps on a personal matter, and now she had returned. It was strange, yes, but nothing that immediately indicated a loss of faith.
Isaac reported the findings to Aveline, kneeling once more in her chamber. "We couldn't find anything, Mother. She has not been seen doing anything suspicious. Perhaps she was just... ill?"
Aveline's smile returned, but there was no kindness in it. "Perhaps," she mused, though Isaac could sense the impatience beneath her words.
"But keep an eye on her, Isaac. People do not stray from The Order without reason. And if there is something more to this girl, I will find it."
With that, Isaac was dismissed, leaving Aveline alone once more. She stared out the small window of her chamber, her eyes narrowing as the moonlight bathed the village below.
Whatever was happening with Elara, Aveline would uncover it. And when she did, the girl would either be brought back into the fold... or she would be dealt with, just like all the others.