Chapter 1

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

My hand tightens on Mother's as we approach the temple. Mother's hand tightens on mine. I look up to find her smiling at me reassuringly before looking ahead again. I continue to let her lead me along through the crowd also moving toward the temple. I recognize many faces from town.

They were all coming for the ceremony, to see Miyabi's Chosen receive her blessing. They didn't know it yet, but they were here for me. 

The priestess had come to our home yesterday night to give us the news. I hadn't expected to be chosen. I had been hoping for this, my whole family had been, but we hadn't expected it. I had expected the honor to go to someone from a family of power and influence, someone older than me, someone who was already an acolyte in the temples. Yet I had been chosen. Lady Miyabi had chosen me.

Just as the priestess had instructed, Mother doesn't head for the stairs leading to the main entrance of the temple. Instead, she guides us toward the side, away from the crowd. I'm sure we get a couple of curious glances, but no one questions us. 

We walk along the side of the temple all the way around to the back. There, just as the priestess had said, she waits by the iron door. I had seen priests and priestesses coming and going from the iron doors, but only those who served the gods were allowed to pass through the iron doors. I think it had something to do with the doors having been blessed by the gods or some kind of purification right. I really wasn't sure.

Mother stops us before the priestess who bows her head to my mother. "Vivera, thank you for bringing your son." The priestess's eyes land on me as she smiles warmly. "Are you ready Drahzan?" She asks holding out a hand.

Mother's hand tightens on mine. "I thought I'd be allowed to go with him."

The priestess looks to Mother again. "My apologies, Vivera, but only those who are pledged in service may pass through the iron doors or see the Temple Shadows. For Drahzan, there is an exception, as he is Chosen, but. . ." her voice trails off.

"I. . . I understand."

The priestess reaches out a hand. "Fear not. Your son will return to you. He is not to live in the temples. That is not Lady Miyabi's will, but we must prepare him for the ceremony."

Mother nods. "Of course." She releases my hand, dropping to her knees. I turn to look at her and she catches my face in her hands. "We are so very proud of you. Go now. Your father and I will be waiting for you."

I nod, turning to face the priestess. She holds out a hand for me. This time, I take it. As she turns, the door opens. Someone must be watching from the inside. Yet, when we pass inside, it shuts behind us and I see no one. The priestess doesn't seem to notice, calmly leading me along. 

The hall we walk down is made of stone with no carvings or inscriptions, but my eyes scan along every inch they can, eating up every detail. These weren't just temple halls; they were the halls of the Temple Shadows. No one knew what the Temple Shadows looks like, the secret passages and back rooms, homes to the priests, priestesses, and acolytes: where they lived and studied. And today, I got to see them, to walk through them.

The hall comes to an end at a spiral staircase. The priestess leads me up and up, past one, two, landings, finally stepping off at the third and final one. Here there is a bustle of life and activity. I'd never seen so many priests and priestesses scurrying about in ceremonial robes. None glance our way though, focused on what they're doing or where they're going. 

The priestess shoos me into a room, telling me to change into the ceremonial robe provided. I expect it to itch or not fit right, but it's a perfect fit and the softest thing I've ever worn. Once I step from the room the priestess takes my hand again continuing to lead me along. 

"Now, we've still some time before the ceremony begins, but there are things I must see to," she says passing through an archway into a sectioned-off chamber. It must be the last one up here as I can finally see four walls without any doors. "Stay here. Make yourself comfortable. When it is time, someone will come for you."

Giving me a pat on the head, she turns on her heel, leaving me in the chamber. I turn to look about it again. It's not as crowded as the halls or other rooms on this floor we had passed through. Those here don't bustle about. The priests, priestesses, and acolytes here are putting the final touches on their ceremonial markings while chatting. Like all the others I had passed on the way here, none seem too interested in me. 

I've nearly finished my sweep of the room when my eyes land on a girl who looks to be my age. She sits alone, perched in a windowsill. That's not the only peculiarity. Unlike every other person here, she's not wearing ceremonial robes. She's not even wearing temple robes. She's dressed in a plain white shirt, simple brown pants, and polished black boots. She's not even staring across the room. Her focus is out the window. 

Curious, I approach. If she can hear me coming, she doesn't turn her head, not that I think she can hear me over the background noise. I stop behind her, not quite sure what to do. I don't want to spook her, but if no one is yelling at her for sitting in the sill, maybe she's got really good balance and doesn't spook easily.

"Hello," I say. I can see her head turn ever so slightly. "I'm-"

"Drahzan," she cuts me off sharply. "I know."

"Oh. . . Um. . . What's your-"

"Go away," she all but growls.

I blink in surprise. Why was she being so hostile? "I-"

"Don't care." She turns her head. Her eyes are narrow and hard, expression as cold as her voice. "Go away. If I wanted to talk I'd be sitting at the tables."

"Rohana!" Another girl is suddenly between us, her red hair and happy smile a sharp contrast to the other girl's dark hair and glower. She proudly holds up an arm, painted with ceremonial symbols. She points at a series of symbols. "Ervin showed me how to write my name in Script!" her hand points to another series of symbols. "I wrote yours too!"

The girl in the window, who I think is Rohana, glowers at the new girl. "I told you not to."

The redhead holds up her head defiantly. "Well, you weren't there to stop me." Her attention turns to me. "You must be Darhzan, congratulations on being Chosen." She sticks a hand out to me. "I'm Tallulah."

"And I want to be left alone," Rohana mutters.

I take her hand. Before I can say anything, Tallulah pulls me off, toward the tables, away from Rohana. I let her lead me along, studying the Script on her arm. Script was the written form of the High Language. It was only used in the temples by priests and priestesses. Acolytes were taught to read Script and speak the High Language, but they weren't allowed to write Script until they finished their training. Tallulah said she had written that.

"You're too young to be a priestess." The words tumble from my mouth before I can stop myself.

Tallulah doesn't seem to take any offense though. She just smiles as she releases my arm so she can sit on the floor, patting the ground beside her. "I'm not even an acolyte."

I blink. "But. . ." I gesture toward her arm.

She cocks her head, brow furrowing for a second before her eyes widen. "Oh!" She lifts up her arm. "This? You'll be allowed to learn too if you want. One of the perks of being Chosen. We get to study the fun stuff."

I stare at her. I had heard that there were two other Chosen, but no one knew anything about them. "You're. . ." 

Tallulah smiles broadly. "Yep. So's Rohana." Tallulah picks up the brush from the small jar of gold ink on the floor, carefully studying the paper next to it before starting to carefully mark her arm. "She was Chosen before me."

I slowly sit beside her. I had been under the impression I wouldn't be meeting the other Chosen yet. From my understanding, we were supposed to be kept separate for some reason. "I didn't think I'd meet the other Chosen yet."

Tallulah shrugs, not bothering to look up. "We weren't supposed to come, but Priestess Galinda was needed and Rohana has to stay with her."

I don't recognize the name, then again, I didn't even know the name of the priestess who had come with the news and led me up here. "Why?" I ask, a slight fear settling in my heart. Had the priestess lied? Was I not going to be allowed to go home with my family?

Tallulah pauses in her writing, growing solemn. Yet, there's something in her solemnness that calms my fear. It's not brought on by sadness, but sympathy. "She's the only one Rohana won't run from."

I blink, caught off guard by her explanation. I open my mouth to ask what she means but jump at the hand on my shoulder. I look up to find a priest smiling down at me.

"It's time Drahzan. Are you ready?" He asks.

I nod, rising from the floor. 

"Bye, Drahzan!" Tallulah calls.

I look back in surprise. "Aren't you coming?" The others are already moving to file out of the room.

"Nope," she replies not even looking up. "Not supposed to be here, remember? Have fun!"

I turn, following after the priest. He leads me along, down halls and stairs, finally stopping in the shadows of pillars in the main hall of the temple. From here, I can see the temple hearth as well as all the people who have come to witness my blessing. 

I stand, watching the flames as the priestess before the hearth speaks to the crowd. I'm pulled from my thoughts by a gentle nudge on my shoulder. I look up to find the priest behind me nodding me forward. I look to find the priestess now holding a hand out to me. Silently, I approach. 

I don't have the chance to look at the crowd. The priestess turns me to the hearth. 

"Step forward and seek your blessing, Chosen of Miyabi," the priestess says, gently, pushing me forward.

I step up to the hearth, unsure of what I'm supposed to do. I'm saved from having to figure it out by the fire jumping up. In a split second, I realize it's moving toward me, but I don't have the chance to react. I only have time to blink.

And then I blink again. A woman in an ash-gray dress now sat on the lip of the hearth. Her hair is black and streaked through with reds, oranges, and yellows. She smiles pleasantly at me.

"Hello, Drahzan," she says, voice as gentle as her smile. 

"Who are you?" I ask.

She laughs pleasantly. "Why, I'm Miyabi. Your patron. Do you accept the call to be my Chosen, to learn and live by my teachings, to serve as my light and voice?"

Unsure of what to say, I nod.

Lady Miyabi holds out a hand. "Then step forward and receive my blessing."

I step forward, taking her hand. Heat rushes over me, tingling into my skin, worming its way down to my core. As the heat fades, Lady Miyabi releases my hand. 

"Drahzan, you are my Chosen, and now bear my blessing as proof. Go now. Train, master your blessing, learn my teachings, and prepare to face what lies ahead."

The fire jumps again and she's gone. Before I can process what has happened, applause and cheering fill the air. 

"Hail Drahzan!" The priestess calls. "Chosen of Miyabi, bearer of her blessing!"


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net