Hello everyone,

So we have finished the reviewed draft of the story. We're going to post it part by part to give everyone a chance to tell us what they think about it. This hasn't been Totally proofreaded yet as this isn't final. It's for your point of view on the story. This is the prologue.

NB: this is a bi-weekly (Monday, Friday) release!

Image: Courtesy of @Syarrf

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Story

Authors: @DjennyFloro, @Michaias

Chapter 6

Part I - Rested in a Temple (Aurora)

Despite his susceptibility to the castle’s miasma, Saint Inoio-sama had performed reasonably well. After all, no one died on his watch, so that was certainly a success. He would likely be promoted to a similar position in a different unit the next time there was an opening.

That said, I did find him kind of personally annoying. That probably wasn’t really his fault either, though. While I was trying to get to know Miwa-sama better, Saint Inoio-sama kept moving up to join our conversation. He was quite talkative and a bit extravagant. Maybe he was just exhilarated at having successfully completed the mission.

As someone temporarily in charge, he did seem somewhat surprised by the number of his duties and responsibilities. He also seemed a bit obsessed with enumerating all of them.

“Perhaps you should go check on your men, then,” Miwa-sama suggested. “Given your concerns, I fear that without your constant vigilance, they may lose their way.”

Saint Inoio-sama didn’t seem to pick up on Miwa-sama’s irritation or his sarcasm. He nodded in appreciation and rejoined the Holy Guard, where he immediately told one of their men to do something I’m fairly certain he was already doing.

By midday, I felt irritated whenever Saint Inoio-sama joined us and relieved every time he retreated to the back. I smiled at Miwa-sama for coming up with such a clever way to get rid of him.

Saint Inoio-sama’s novice leadership left me wondering what Saint Toshio-sama was like and regretting that he was away on a different mission when Master Kayuki had dispatched the Holy Guard to join us. Well, no matter. Our units would be splitting up again soon enough.

On the evening of the second day of our trek, I finally felt recovered enough to try summoning my temple near us. Everyone looked enervated and could use a safe place to get a purification and proper rest. Just the thought of camping another night on the uneven ground made me miserable.

I rushed to the front to tell Enka-sama about the temple. He nodded his head and graciously accepted the offer to stay at my God’s temple. He called for us to take a quick break so he could first confer with Saint Isander-sama and then inform everyone. After a few minutes, Enkha-sama addressed the group.

“Everyone, listen!” he shouted. “It’s almost nightfall and Aurora-san says there’s a Temple of Mysteries nearby. She proposes that we stay there.”

A murmur rumbled through the group. “Yes, but Miss Aurora-san,” one of the Holy Guard said, “are you sure it will be fine? We’re from different faiths...” The Holy Guard seemed to be very embarrassed to accept my offer, but it wasn’t the the first time I’d faced this kind of reaction. “Besides, but after such a fight… can you summon something the size of a temple?”

In the Lumens guild, nobody was daring enough to call me out on things I proposed. As the leader’s daughter, everything was only natural. That’s probably why I was at a loss as how to respond when they were so worried about me using magic. I had taken it for granted that people would just accept that I would use magic. I had mixed feelings of annoyance and gratefulness that they cared.

“Yes, I can do it. My abilities are no longer hampered by the miasma. And, it would be good if just like our heavenly lords and ladies, we could just all live in harmony,” I said, looking at the sky. “I am an exalted now, and I’m slowly awakening as The Mystic too. It is within my power and reach to make everyone of every faith welcome in our temples. We’re all the gods’ children, after all.”

Saint Isander-sama and Enkha-sama were completely behind the plan. Even Saint Inoio-sama managed to help convince everyone it was a good plan. After a few more minutes’ rest, I focused on summoning the temple as close as I could. Unfortunately, it would still take several hours to arrive. We set out.

As the dusky glow bathed the landscape, we arrived at the temple gates, and we were expected, of course. The temple’s inhabitants had felt the temple move at my command, and Grandiel, the High Priest, was waiting to greet us.

He said that we were welcome to enter, and then told me I would need to deliver a Deciphering, a spiritually edifying speech for the faithful that would explain our God’s intentions and how I carried out His will. I didn’t like giving speeches, but at least this time they asked for a speech instead of welcoming me with a bunch of paperwork…

As we entered the temple, the gates closed behind us. The High Priest informed us that they readied the chambers so we could get cleaned up before a purification, a late prayer, and then a very late dinner for our group.

A collective sigh of relief reverberated throughout our group, who was thankful for all those much-needed things. Their mood improved even more when the High Priest told us we wouldn’t have to walk any further because the temple would teleport just outside the City-town in three days’ time. Some of us couldn’t ride a horse, and we would have needed four weeks to make that journey on foot.

“Oh, thank the God of Mysteries,” a member of the Holy Guard said aloud, then clapped his hand over his mouth. “Sorry, was that disrespectful? I didn’t intend any offense.”

I laughed and let him know it would be okay. We would do a proper ritual later, and it was fine to express gratitude to more than a single god. After all, I told him, I prayed to and thanked the God of War quite often. Saint Isander-sama perked up at that remark.

“You do?” he said, surprised.

“Of course,” I said. “My god taught me a few things about the God of War to pray to him properly. They’re both the Divine Gate guardians, so they work extremely well together. When they were both very young, your god taught mine weaponry, and mine taught yours better foresight strategy.”

“That’s true…” Saint Isander-sama said.

“Well, if you are welcoming us in your temple, then we will gladly pray to your god to thank him. He has watched over us as well,” Chiki-sama said as if to order everyone that they would do so.

“Our faith’s prayer might be a little... strange to you, though,” I confessed. “The God of Death has an extremely intricate prayer ritual. Ours will seem very simple. We sit on our legs before the altar, empty our minds, and then focus on all the good times that we can remember, and then tell our god what we want to say.”

“I definitely want to do it,” Chiki-sama said, smiling.

As some of my guildmates peeled off from the group to get washed up, the High Priest tried to push me in the Speech Room.

“I just killed an abyssal. Are you making me give a speech before I’m purified of its miasma?” I asked.

“An abyssal?” he asked, gasping.

“Yes, and the Saint Guard and Holy Guard were there, too. Make sure that they are perfectly cleansed.”

“I will make sure to do so,” he answered with a small bow.

“When I’m purified, I’ll make a speech,” I announced.

In any other temple, the High Priest could have given me orders. But this was the Temple of the Mystery of Truth, and nobody was going to give me shit there.

Everyone was quick to get cleaned up and prepared for the night’s rituals. When we arrived back in the main hall, the High Priest was impatiently pacing. He was thrilled to see me emerge from my quarters and rushed to once again force me into the speech room.

Before he could reach me, however, a swarm of priestesses arrived. They almost filled the entire space as they jostled around one another to reach members of my guild. I watched as the priestesses clearly picked favorites. Miwa-sama, Yoten-sama, and Ijil-sama were drawn into the throng.

Chiki-sama was soon assailed with questions: about the God of Death, about mercenaries, and even about his favorite bath oils. He seemed flustered as he spun left and right, providing only half-answers before the next question was thrown at him.

“You will stop immediately!” I said loudly.

“Miss Aurora-sama...” said one of the priestesses. They all backed off, turned to me, and repeatedly bowed. At least they responded to orders quickly.

“How do you expect any of them to answer your questions when all of you are asking at once?”

The priestesses looked embarrassed, but my guild members looked relieved.

I continued: “The eldest of each group is to take responsibility for the questions, and make sure that you are not asking either personal or work-related questions. Restrict yourselves to half an hour tomorrow morning and half an hour in the afternoon. No more. Do your duties first and make sure they have a full purification. And mind that you do your duties properly. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” they said, bowing again. I spotted Miwa-sama in the crowd. As a number of priestesses fawned over him, he ignored them and watched me instead. I smiled.

“Goodness…” I sighed before addressing my guildmates. “Curiosity will be the death of our believers.”

“It’s nothing,” said Chiki-sama. “We’ll go ahead then...” He had his eyes on one priestess in particular, and she coyly giggled and averted her gaze.

As the priestesses escorted my guildmates from the room, I leaned close to Enkha-sama and whispered, “Forgive them, please. It is extremely rare for these specific priestesses to ever see a believer of another god. They barely ever see a believer at all. So they are extremely agitated.”

Enkha-sama didn’t seem any more perturbed than Chiki-sama had. He gladly allowed one of them to lead him to a purification room. Unlike Chiki-sama, however, Enkha-sama didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives with the priestesses.

The purification rituals would differ depending on which god the person being purified worshipped. Mine was obviously easy, as I was a believer of the god of this temple. I knew the priestesses would take their tasks seriously, for their whole life as priestesses, they had been trained to do purifications of each faith.

After the ritual, I felt like a physical weight had been lifted off me. It was great to no longer be impacted by that terrible miasma. I found the High Priest waiting for me right outside of the room. He was fidgeting.

“I hope you’re not too upset with our order of operations,” I said to accommodate him.

“No, no, of course not. It’s necessary, you’re right. I apologize for my impatience. I’m just restless as you mentioned an abyssal. I didn’t know the problem was so serious when I received that vision about your need for your soul weapons. I can’t easily forget the last time you fought one…”

I assured him he would hear it all, and he whisked me into the speech room. The priestesses and my guild members, looking quite refreshed, filed into the room. Finally, everyone was assembled, and I began.

I decided to begin with the good news. I informed the faithful there that I had been elevated to the level of exalted. An excited gasp rushed through the room. Our faith didn’t have any Saints and only a dozen or so exalted. For me to join their ranks was a great boon for our faith.

I told them how much our God cares for us individually, indicating how personally involved he was in my mission. With that kind of care, our faith was unique, and we should all count ourselves blessed to be so special to our deity.

After that, I had to deliver the bad news. We had encountered a lot of crestfallen and lesser abyssals, and even an abyssal that was in the fourth stage of awakening. That so many people had delved so deep into heresy was not a comforting thought.

The High Priest seemed very worried that the final illusion of the Odille Massacre had been so effective on me. As a Shard Holder of the God of Mysteries, my specialty was supposed to be seeing through illusions, after all.

I told them that the miasma had been thicker than expected, and the enemies had been more numerous and stronger than I was anticipating beforehand. I didn’t want to sugarcoat the situation too much, though; I wasn’t really sure how I would deal with a stronger abyssal without being a Saint.

That last admission may have been where I was too honest. Another gasp scurried through the room, but this time it was one of anxiety, not excitement. The only consolation I had for the priestesses and High Priest was that now we were all more experienced. That had to count for something.

The priestesses and High Priest were glad to have me back, but I won’t pretend they were entirely confident after my report. In retrospect, maybe I should have made it all seem easier than it was. By being too honest, I think they saw that even exalted and Saints could struggle, even when a god directly intervened on their behalf.

That knowledge probably did nothing to help their anxiety. Still, I felt it was the best course of action for the situation. We were a small faith, so I needed the people of my faith to at least understand the stakes.

Following the speech, we were led to the prayer room. Once there, the High Priest moved to the altar, and I took my place on the throne behind him. The priestesses directed my guildmates to take seats in the back of the room, and then the priestesses sat in the middle. Everyone observed us in silence for a while.

As I prayed, golden particles of energy fluttered around me. I had witnessed an exalted performing such a prayer in our temples many times before. I always imagined it as millions of fireflies gently flying around the supplicant.

My prayer aura felt like a peaceful, warm cloud embracing me. Once that happened, I began leading everyone through the steps. I told them to first clear their minds, then to focus on memories that brought happiness. I let that part continue on for a while. I could feel the warmth of other peaceful auras filling the room behind me.

By praying to the God of Mystery, you would unravel the many things that caused you trouble—like things you couldn’t forgive yourself for. One of those, in my case, was how I had almost died so many times on our mission, and how that made me a burden to my guildmates.

I also had to contemplate how I had so readily invited Miwa-sama to touch my soul-weapon. I recalled everyone’s dismayed expressions, and Miwa-sama’s face shifting in seconds from shock to determination.

It wasn’t just about the soul-shock. It was also that if he had broken Ten Commands, the damage to my soul would have been severe. I was still recuperating from the last time my soul-weapons broke. But even in that intense moment, I knew he would not let me down.

Once I was at peace and had a clearer mind, I began to guide the others. I told them to focus on themselves, on the best version of themselves. I instructed everyone to keep that self in mind and to remember that if they strayed from that self-image, they could always work their way back to it.

“If your mind strays from that image,” I said, “there’s no need to beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back to that self.”

I took several deep breaths and let everyone work on those instructions for a few quiet minutes.

After a long silence, I opened my eyes and rose to my feet. Still bathing in the firefly aura, I stood in front of the group and observed the others who were still in meditation or prayer. A few opened their eyes, and I acknowledged them with a silent nod of my head.

Miwa-sama opened his eyes, looked to me, and then gazed around the room. He realized not everyone was done yet. Enkha-sama was the last to open his eyes. As our commander, he surely had more to forgive himself than most here.

After Enkha-sama opened his eyes, he was breathing freely, and his energy exuded a great calm. I closed my eyes again and joined my hands, and the energy of my god filled me. Then radiating from me, the energy enveloped everyone else in the room.

I struggled a bit at first, but my god’s energy finally materialized in a bracelet around each person’s wrist. They were small bracelets with a number of pearls. The pearls served as counters for days of blessing. With each passing day, one pearl would crack, and until they had all cracked, we would be blessed by the God of Mysteries.

I opened my eyes and looked at my own bracelet. There were only ten pearls. I had hoped for more, but that was my first time performing such a group blessing that channeled and materialized my god’s energy. I supposed ten wasn’t so bad.

On our journey to the temple, I told Enkha-sama that I had yet to perform a group blessing. I think he caught my glimpse at the bracelets we had already received back at the entrance of the abyssal’s lair. He told me that on his very first attempt, he had manifested fifteen pearls. I don’t think he was trying to brag, just to reassure me that it wouldn’t be beyond my ability.

My guildmates seemed pleased with the result as they fondly inspected their bracelets. After that, the priestesses invited everyone to offer a small tribute to the God of Mysteries. They had even gone so far as to provide a selection of gifts for everyone to choose.

I noted that Chiki-sama chose a symbol of life, even as he suffused it with some of his energy: a gift from the God of Death representing the cycle of death and rebirth. Miwa-sama, meanwhile, selected a small symbol of peace and wove in a bit of his energy, too, before offering the symbol as a sacrifice. The priestesses acknowledged everyone’s gifts, and we then left the prayer room.

“Where is Saint Inoio-sama?” I asked once we exited the prayer room. He had been sitting in the back, and I had lost sight of him shortly after people began offering gifts to my god.

Miwa-sama looked around and also realized Saint Inoio-sama wasn’t amongst us. A nearby priestess told us that he had retired to his quarters with Naomi, another priestess. I let out a sigh. He wasted little time. Well, at least that meant he wouldn’t try to tag along with Miwa-sama and me for a while.

“Oh, well, they’re both adults,” I said.

“What now?” asked Saint Isander-sama. I couldn’t tell if he disapproved or if he was simply surprised Saint Inoio-sama had convinced a woman to join him in his room.

“Well, since those priestesses barely ever see a stranger, when they do, they often take the chance to have some intimacy with them,” I explained. Saint Isander-sama’s look turned into one of definite surprise. Most religions had their priests and priestesses take a vow of chastity or celibacy, which to my knowledge, was only a human imposition; I don’t know of any God ever making such a request.

“I see,” Saint Isander-sama said. “Well, if it’s not prohibited…”

“Not at all,” I said. “If the priestesses don’t leave the temple it’s for their security, not as a requirement,” I explained.

“They are extremely powerful purifiers, and more often than not, someone tries to abduct them. That’s also why the temples are always switching locations. We have a few specialties that a lot of people are after. Lilac is the strongest Death Purifier of this temple, and she was once abducted and dragged into a tomb to clean out spirits. She’s been too afraid to set foot out of the temple since.”

“Why do they learn the purifications of the other gods?” Saint Isander-sama asked.

“The Faith of Mysteries’ top-most duty is to be able to support and restore any other faith. So there is a priestess here for each and every god worshiped in heaven.”

I thought about expanding on that, but decided it still wasn’t time to reveal the full extent of my faith’s role with the entire Holy Guard present.

Saint Isander-sama seemed satisfied with my explanation. He nodded and excused himself to the dining hall. The rest of the Holy Guard followed.

Enkha-sama, however, did not seem satisfied with my abbreviated explanation, but he said nothing in the moment. We all proceeded to dinner and were thankful to have a proper meal.

After our late dinner, Enkha-sama pulled me aside and asked if we could go for a short walk. I agreed and led him out to the temple garden. Once we were away from the others, he wanted to know more about the ways my faith could support other faiths.

“Besides what you’ve seen tonight?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “Knowing the purification rituals of other faiths is helpful, but not strictly essential for the other faiths to operate. What are you holding back?” There was no hint of timidity in his inquiry; he fully expected an answer and not some mysterious mumbo jumbo.

“We can perform a number of functions,” I said. With his eyes locked on me, he seemed to be prodding me on. “For example, should a Saint become a fallen, or a High Priest be overcome by darkness, only our priestesses would be capable of purifying them fully.”

“So why keep this information a secret?” Enkha-sama asked. “Just a few months ago, I had to kill a saint who became a fallen. I would have brought him here had I known.”

“Our numbers are small, and we are still solving the security issues that causes. As if abduction of priestesses isn’t enough of a problem right now, it would become an exponentially larger problem if all our gifts were public knowledge. Once we have solved the security issues, we will be able to disclose this and more to the other faiths.”

Enkha-sama nodded his head slowly, as if considering my words carefully. “I wonder if my faith could…” he mumbled and then trailed off.

“I’m sorry? What?” I said, not catching the rest of his sentence.

“Nothing. Just thinking out loud,” he said. “Any other unique gifts or services?”

“Well, there is also the Book of Mysteries,” I replied. Again, his eyes seemed to tell me, Go on. “It’s a sacred writing capable of creating a copy of any missing holy book of any faith. Our top-priority is to guard it, so we have no guards to spare for the priests and priestesses.”

He seemed very intrigued by the Book of Mysteries. We continued around the garden for a while, passing by few others as we moved about.

“I’ve never considered what a blessing it is to have so many faithful to my god,” Enkha-sama said. “Security is certainly never an issue. If some rogue were stupid enough to touch one of our priestesses, you can count on the two adepts escorting her to set things straight. And we always have a saint around to perform prayers, too.”

“Oh, did you not like the prayer ceremony?” I asked. “I’m sorry I was only able to materialize ten pearls.”

“No, you did well. I’m thankful to have had the experience,” he said. “And ten pearls was impressive for your first blessing.” He grinned and chuckled to himself. “Don’t tell Miwa I told you this, but he only materialized five his first time.”

I smiled. “The secret’s safe,” I said. As we circled around the far edge of the garden, we came upon Chiki-sama and Miwa-sama having an intense discussion.

Clearly not wanting to eavesdrop, Enkha-sama turned to me suddenly, as if he had remembered something urgent. A frown stretched across his face, and he asked if I could get my soul-weapon out. I felt a fright deep down that he might want to test my skills, as I didn’t feel worthy yet.

“...that you can seduce, you know?” Miwa-sama said, his voice floating towards us through the darkness. “I don’t really know how to go on with her. Last time, she… Well, let’s not talk about last—”

“I think the same,” Chiki-sama said, cutting him off. “I’ve come to the conclusion that we can only be ourselves,” Chiki-sama continued, “and she’ll likely come to us if she is interested in us.”

“Indeed, she seems to avoid Inoio the most,” Miwa-sama said. “So I guess pretension and bravado aren't the traits she likes in men.”

Neither of them had yet noticed Enkha-sama or me, so he coughed to make his presence known. Miwa-sama and Chiki-sama jumped to attention as Enkha-sama stepped into their view.

“Approach, Aurora…” Enkha-sama said. I was hesitant, but did so nonetheless. “Good. May I touch your soul-weapon?” he asked. I felt stuck for a moment and looked at my soul-weapon. I tried to guess why he would ask something like that… then a flash of lucidity hit me as I recalled trusting Miwa-sama to aim my bow.

“Is it just Miwa?” Enkha-sama asked, looking like he guessed what I had just realized. “I want to know if it’s the same for him and me, or for any of us.” He stressed that last phrase with an air of bombast.

Chiki-sama and Miwa-sama, who had been so caught up in their conversation, looked as surprised as me as members of the Saint Guard slowly emerged from the darkness. They had been following Enkha-sama and me, and only Enkha-sama had noticed. Even though stealth wasn’t the Saint Guard’s specialty, they had still evaded my attention. I realized in that moment I still had much to learn.

What Enkha-sama was proposing, in front of all the Saint Guard, wasn’t a test of skill, after all, but a test of trust.

“Ten Commandments, Law of Judgement,” I ordered. Obeying me, my soul-weapon took its scythe form, and I approached Enkha-sama. He could test my word, my trust, all he wanted. I was unafraid.

I planted the end of the scythe’s snath into the ground between us and leaned the weapon forward. With the blade arcing toward me, I presented him with the lower grip. Enkha-sama reached out and, without hesitation, grasped the grip. I held fast to the handle beneath his hand.

Everyone looked on in awe, expecting to see their Enkha knocked backward. No such thing occurred, of course. Enkha-sama smiled and released the grip. “Your level of trust in us is envious,” he said.

“I hope you don’t think I’m just being naive in my trust,” I said.

Enkha-sama shook his head and replied, “Not at all. We’re going to need that kind of sincere trust to function effectively as a unit.”

I felt shocked to hear the word “unit,” as I wasn’t part of the Saint Guard. I thought this was a one-mission deal… Moreover, I wasn’t a Saint. I realized belatedly that my lips had moved and whispered that for everyone to hear, but Enkha-sama made a strange face.

“I think this is where I take my leave,” Enkha-sama announced. He walked ahead and right between Chiki-sama and Miwa-sama. They all acknowledged each other, and Enkha-sama turned to address the rest of the group. “It’s getting late, don’t you all think?”

He turned away and retired to his room. The rest of the Saint Guard seemed to take the hint, and they departed back into the interior of the temple, leaving me alone with Miwa-sama and Chiki-sama.

“Au... Aurora-san...” said Miwa-sama, embarrassed. “How long were you there before that… demonstration?”

“I just arrived with Enkha-sama and saw you in my garden, so I wondered what you were doing,” I said.

“Your garden?” asked Miwa-sama.

“As you know, each Shard has a titled temple, and this one is mine. I have authority over any other saint in this temple. Even the High Priest has no authority over my orders here. And this is my garden.”

“It’s a lovely garden,” Chiki-sama said. “I was just telling Miwa how much I like its simplicity and the feeling of tranquility it instills.”

“I see…” I said. “And you were talking about one of our priestesses?” I cut my eyes to Miwa-sama, and he looked away. It was simply too much fun to catch him off guard.

“Come on, Aurora,” Chiki-sama said cutting the joke short, as usual. “I was the one flirting with a priestess, and you know it.” I laughed, but Chiki-sama’s tone told me he was serious. That no-nonsense demeanor was so like him, but that was what made him so dependable, too.

“Back to what you were saying,” I said, addressing the fact that Chiki-sama wouldn’t let me jest on the subject. “I cannot afford to be foolish in these matters. First of all, as one of the few girls in the guild, too loose of a comportment would create problems and tensions quickly.”

“That’s true, I suppose,” Miwa-sama said. “I’ve certainly seen it turn into a fight before.”

“Then as a member of the Faith of Mysteries, I can read what others want very plainly, and that can gets gross, if not obscene, when you see no respect and a raw pure will to give you a go.”

“I didn’t think about that,” said Miwa-sama. “But indeed, with your abilities, most men must seem like swine on the loose.”

“Oh, some do,” I agreed. “Some are normal, though. And there’s the fact that I’m not interested in a man who’s weaker than me, so that has always limited me to a very small pool.”

Chiki-sama smiled and closed his eyes as he let out a soft sigh. “Perfectly understandable. And I, for one, wouldn’t be able to come to terms with you being with someone who can’t fully grasp your genius. But you do know we’re both capable of protecting you, right?”

Miwa-sama scowled and shook his head. “I assure you, I feel stupid for how I let all those things happens to you right under my nose,” Miwa-sama said. Chiki-sama stayed silent, but he gave a nod of approval, as if to say he was also unseasy with this.

“So Miwa-sama… you really… Since it’s come to that, allow me to clarify something,” I said. “Both of you are very fine men, and while I am attracted to the both of you, I feel closer to Miwa-sama than you, Chiki-sama. Not because of your faith, but I’ve always been all about animals and flowers... and that’s kind of his thing...”

I felt kind of embarrassed to even have to say that, but it felt like that was what the moment called for. I couldn’t read their faces at all. The silence dragged on for an uncomfortably long time before Chiki-sama’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

“I feel relieved to have been right about you: not giving me hope where there is none. I respect you as Miwa’s partner, and I’m glad he found someone as straight as you…” Chiki-sama said. I smiled awkwardly, and Miwa-sama drooped and shook his head, but I could tell he was smiling.

“Chiki…” he said.

“I’m sorry. I’m not that dense, you know?” Chiki-sama said to him. “I’m happy for you two.”

“Well, that certainly clears it all up,” I said smiling in relief.

“Yes, thanks for your candid help, Chiki,” Miwa-sama said through gritted teeth, clearly also a little embarrassed.

“Miwa, you’d better take proper care of her,” he said in a dark tone that surprised me. Miwa-sama seemed to understand, though, and he met his gaze with a solemn look.

“If I don’t, kill me, Chiki.”

I didn’t pretend to understand the obvious depths of their friendship in that moment. There are many kinds of bonds between people, and the one they shared was not the kind I could ever hope to fully comprehend.

The three of us chatted for a while, and Chiki-sama eventually announced it was time for him to retire for the night. He asked me where he was likely to find Lilac, one of the priestesses, and when I told him in bed at that hour, he hardly seemed deterred.

“Chiki!” Miwa shouted. “You can’t just barge into her room. She—”

But Chiki-sama waved off Miwa-sama’s admonition. “She’s expecting me. Don’t be a dunce, Miwa.”

Miwa-sama and I lingered in the garden for almost another hour. He wanted to know more about the temple and my relationship to it. I ended up telling him many of the things I had already told Enkha-sama.

Toward the end of our conversation, Miwa-sama was rather fidgety. He kept shifting his weight and periodically standing for a moment or two. I made a joke about him having far too much energy for that time of night. He smiled and when he saw someone else walk by us in the garden, he sat back down.

Although we hadn’t seen another person for at least ten or fifteen minutes after that, Miwa-sama kept looking left and right as if expecting someone to stroll by at any moment. This time, I stood up, marched straight toward him, leaned over, and crushed my lips into his.

He seemed taken aback at first, but the surprise didn’t last long. He stood up, wrapped an arm around the small of my back, and kissed me. Miwa-sama’s lips worked their way down the length of my neck and along my shoulder. My entire body shuddered suddenly. As if he had done something wrong, Miwa-sama pulled away and looked off into the distance before saying he should go.

I couldn’t muster words in the moment, so I just swallowed hard and nodded. He lingered for a moment before returning to his room, but not without giving me one last, longing glance over his shoulder.

I stood for a moment, looking out at the garden and then up at the stars. The night was growing colder, but my body felt as if were afire. Heat rose up all the way to the tips of my ears. I shook my head and started walking back to my own room.

On my walk, I felt consumed by regret almost immediately. I should have made a move. I should have made a move back at the inn. Why didn’t I? I mumbled quietly to myself.

“Back then, there was a missed opportunity. And now here’s another. Well, what he did at the inn, I can do as well, but I won’t stop at mere words!” I dared myself. I nodded emphatically. My heartbeat sped up.

“Don’t think, Aurora; just do!” I said aloud, and then spun on my heels.

I sped through the corridors, stopping periodically to bite my upper lip as I contemplated if I would go all the way through with it. I curled my fingers around my sleeve. Right, I would do it! I didn’t reject Chiki-sama just to chicken out when it’s time to make my point clear that I want to be his lifelong partner.