The Protagonists All Love Me

Chapter 19: Painful Awakening

"Because the temple is a place where nobles cannot enter freely, the lady will be staying here for the purpose of safety." The Priest said softly wrapping his large white cloak over her wet body.

Covering the indecent lines of her body,the wet nightgown clinging to her body like a second layer of skin.

"After bathing and changing into dry clothes, I promise lady Eira to give a detailed explanation as to what has and may happen in the future."

"Thank you." She whispered a little drained.

Guiding her to the entrance of the females only bath house, she was handed a pair of dry robes. Being informed in order to maintain that sanctity of the temple, people irrelevant of the temple have denied access for outside help.

Changing into a white modest dress, she sat on the the tile floor and laced up a pair of white leather boots.

Metria her snake spirit entwining around her neck and arm, blended in with the colour of her clothes.
The long cloak, embroidered with silver thread partially covered her face and only revealed the petal like lips.

Harrington showed her many places before solemnly leading her to the main prayer hall, where a person in the pews softly murmured as if memorising the scripture. Used most definitely in hand with divine power.

Other lay men of the church who passed by salutes respectfully, curious of the person being treated carefully like an ignorant chick.

"This way my lady." Taking his arm he quietly introduced her to the founding of the temple, how it was built and how he came became a priest.

Children with a certain amount of divine power are commissioned by the royal family to go to the holy land, serving the empire in order to heal and seek blessings from the god of this world Aves.

Or should I say goddess?

Raising her head a large porcelain statue of a cloaked woman stood, dressed in clothes inspired by Greek goddesses. A bird similar to a peacock rests on its shoulders, the long feathers hanging down her back painted carefully in gold.

Looking at the bird draped on it shoulder, she suddenly imagined it as a Phoenix. A fire bird associated with rebirth.

Trying to get a closer look as she walked further in, the girl in the pews looked back startled.

"Dahlia, you should go to the mess hall before it closes."

"Yes, High Priest." She said obediently, blinking her clear amber eyes at the approaching figure.

The scorching eyes staring with complex emotions, her hands shaking a little lost in the nightmares of the sea of fire.

Seeming to hallucinate the familiar words of abuse.

"It was because of you that my sister died!"

"For a man that left her alone, why did she have you?!"

"Bastard child, go to hell."

"You are the one that should have died."

Losing her balance, she grabbed the edge of the pew touching a warm hand that seemed to electrocute Dahlia.

Overwhelmed by her feeling of anger, fear and self-loathing, unsure of what was going on she grabbed hold of the collar of her cloak and pulled her face forward.

"What are you trying do?!-You can't leave!" Dahlias soft voice, shouted desperately. Trying to awaken her from her stupor.

An image of a red bird circling the barren world flooded Eiras mind, the fiery flames erupting the world in a halo of golden light.

Bringing the fertile lands, the rain and the innocence of life. Birthing fae, and the dragons blessing human kind of the ability to use magic. Human kind bringing about evil has brought sin, significantly the demons.

'Why?'

A booming voice hammered into her mind: "Accept your fate."

'Am I not one person?'

A flash of light in the hallucination made her eyes squint, the feeling of something warm and sticky running down her face.

Touching her face, her eyes widened with the touch and smell of blood. Dahlia who didn't understand grabbed both of her wrists, revealing her face void of expression. The soft light reflecting the gold circle in the middle of her forehead.

"You..!" Tears streaming down her cheeks as she tugged harder.

Feeling that something was wrong he pulled Dahlia away from her, watching Eira from afar.

"Calm yourself Dahlia!" The high priest shouted in disapproval.

Scrawny children ran away in fear, as a red mist enveloped the morphed creatures. Sharp teeth biting into flesh of the peasant villagers a child frightened to a stand still, a sword by her feet.

Wanting to pick it up, she realised she couldn't move.

The orc biting the small head in to its vacuum like mouth the flapping tongue lapping up the red blood, unable to move the body twitching to a standstill.

'How can you do this?'

"How can you deny me like this?!" Eira said aloud unknowingly looking at the statue, her eyes wide and bloodshot the capillaries a dazzling red.

'Familial affection I had none, monetary pleasures I couldn't indulge... because I chose to buy a book-'

'It chose you...Accept your fate.'

Falling to her knees as she looked into the far distance, surrounded by feasting beasts. The ground littered with fallen limbs, she momentarily stared into the dull eyes of a girl closing her eyes and waiting to die.

'No.'

'Don't be arrogant.' The voice sounded again with a sneer. 'There are no human rights, no democracy and support relief for the impoverished. Only a crying child gets milk.'

Her eyes dull, the image created a indelible pain in her chest as warm hands cupped her cheeks.

Closing her eyes it rang for the final time.

"Accept your fate."

The hallucination gone she stared at Dahlia her eyes full of water, she gently touched the hand that held her face as she said choked.

"I'm sorry."