Twilight Torch - The Kindling

Prologue: A World Half-Empty

Welcome, dear readers, to the world of Tali. This is a world most unlike yours or mine, hence the "Fantasy" genre label. Please, stay tuned, and let me tell you all about it.

In this world, magic can be harnessed by all those with proper training, and there are many different ways one can grasp its power - through faith in the gods, through intensive study, being born with it, attuning to nature, or even by taking on the traits of the creatures surrounding them.

There are five gods governing this world, after all. It is through their works that some semblance of peace manages to exist in this world. As such, they are revered, or at least respected.

.........

She was kneeling by herself, eyes closed and hands together, as if in prayer. With fair skin, she was clad in gold, priestly robes with a white phoenix symbol on the chest, and her long, caramel-coloured hair fell down her back. The room was mostly barren, free of earthly pleasures, and was covered head to toe in white-and-silver marble, clearly immaculate. The walls had lit torches hung on it, flickering with crimson flames, providing light and warmth.

She wasn't anywhere near them, however - instead, she knelt before the altar at the end of the room. It was made of cedar wood, and on it was a small golden medallion with five segments each depicting a creature. To the north, a stalwart tortoise. To the south, a great bird. To the east, a fierce tiger. To the west, a majestic dragon. And in the center, a qilin, almost kingly in its appearance. With this medallion as her witness, she prayed;

"Oh erudite Genbu, I implore you, grant me your wisdom and knowledge. From you, Suzaku, I ask for poise and propriety. Mighty Byakko, allow me to hold a shining justice in my heart. Gentle Seiryu, I wish to be kind beyond measure. And Koryu, god of balance, may I retain these traits in my being - never excessive, and never lacking, so that I may achieve perfection."

At that, her own eyes, golden in colour, fluttered open, and her expression remained totally stoic as she looked at the altar in front of her. Slowly and methodically, she peformed a series of hand signs - one by her head, one by her waist, and two by each of her shoulders before her hands returned to one another, clasped in front of her chest. As she took a deep breath, she slowly rose to her feet, on which she wore a pair of golden sandals.

Having finished her prayer for now, she took a deep bow before turning around, eyeing the rows of torches before her with a look that could only be described as longing.

Before she could start to leave, however, she heard a gentle knocking on the wooden door at the other end of the room. Sighing, she turned her gaze away from the torches and said "It's open.", watching as the door opened, revealing another female figure.

This woman was visibly older than the priestess. While the caramel-blonde couldn't have been older than twenty, this woman was in her early forties, though for her age she was quite stunning, pale skin notwithstanding. Her hair, which reached her shoulders, was very tidy, not a lock out of place, and its colour was a distinct aubergine. Her ivy-green eyes, meanwhile, were framed in a thin pair of spectacles. Her presence in this white-and-silver room was very striking, as her clothing was very much the opposite, wearing an elegant black dress with purple accents.

This noble-looking woman looked down at the priestess with a warm smile, which was met with a neutral face that belied scrutinising eyes. Naturally, the priestess was the first to talk.