Enigmas

Hilia glanced at Yoan, frowning in concern and she noticed Yoan's hand slowly travelling down to the scabbard of his sword. She clutched at his hand, shaking her head firmly and he hesitated, before dropping his hand. Hilia took a few steps forward and May rushed ahead, since she wasn't holding the tray, unsheathing her hidden dagger as it made a shrill ringing sound.

The sharp tip of the dagger was close to Hilia's neck, and May's eyes glinted murderously, "not another step, or you are dead."

"Hilia!"

Yoan made a move to withdraw his sword and Hilia was alarmed, moving her head, causing the dagger to cut at her neck slightly.

"Yoan, don't! It's okay!"

"Tch." Yoan clicked his tongue, halting himself and he glared at May.

"Your Highness, I am a priestess and it's a known fact that priestess aren't allowed to harbour ill thoughts as the longer we dwell on it, the more the negative energy would feed on us," Hilia explained, inhaling deeply before she continued her words. "We would end up becoming a Vistrath; a fallen priestess. A priestess that consumes the negative energy from everyone, and uses that energy to twist the hearts of people, even the most sturdy man would succumb to a Vistrath."

Unfortunately, a priestess was truly a powerful being however, it wasn't easy to exist as a priestess either. The consequences of failing their intense training, as well as giving in to their inner demons, it was worse than death.

There wasn't a flicker of emotion present in Siraye's eyes and she remained unconvinced, scoffing. "Priestess? Preposterous! Encountering a priestess is almost considered a godsend to every living soul in Aeriola! Priestesses are simply out of everyone's reach since they are mostly groomed and raised in a holy area, that even royalties need permission to access to!"

That was the complete truth about priestesses in Aeriola. They were groomed to become a vessel of pure heart, a vessel that wipes out evil and a vessel that solely existed for goddesses and their powers linked to all goddesses.

Hilia retreated back a few steps, breathing out heavily, "your Highness, what do you know about priestesses?"

"Summoning any of the goddess, healing prowess, conjuring barriers and if they are extremely powerful, they are capable of anything."

Yoan relaxed his stance, knowing what Hilia was planning to do and he watched as she healed her wounds by placing her hand over her neck. A warm light covered her neck and Siraye, along with May and June observed in amazement as she removed her hand, the cut on her neck completely gone. Her singing chant is only needed when healing the wounds of others, no one knew why it worked in this manner.

Hilia then conjured her staff with a wave of her hand, grabbing at it. They could clearly see that her irises had changed, both in shape and colour.

By Ceana, goddess of Tranquility and Hope.

Grant me the body to bestow blessings upon our children.

Grant me the body to soothe their troubled souls.

I call upon thee.

Yoan smiled, knowing this was the only chant he was extremely familiar with, it was Hilia's favourite chant and it was a goddess that Hilia favoured too. She had used it in countless situations to ease the grief or sorrow in others, especially in villages that had been hit by the aftermath of a disaster, or a disease.

He closed his eyes, a comforting warmth embracing him and he basked in that feeling, his eyes fluttering open a moment after. He was back in his younger self, a nine years old Yoan sat on the wooden floor, his legs dangling off the edge.