I’m convinced I’m about to die.

  Thye crowds around me and blisteringly hot, shoving me from all directions and making me feel like I’m about to scream. I’ve never been to a Temple event before, and I’ll be honest, didn’t think they’d be this popular.

  Apparently, they are, judging my the brouhaha of people clustering as close to the stage as they can.

  Trying to slip under people’s arms, I maneuver my way to the very fringes of the crowd, right as a High Priest makes their way onstage and the crowd makes a deafening roar. I flinch.

  Asher tried to convince me to let him come along, but I pushed back, telling him my mother would be more likely to accept if I was alone. In reality, it is quite likely the opposite, but I need this day to feel like everything is normal in that regard. Constantly having someone who knows exactly what you’re thinking and hiding… can be easily tiresome

  Sidling over to the side stage area, I try and peak over the barricades to inside. I can see my mother’s tall, slender frame from a crack in between the slats, delicately talking to another Priest and clapping along with the audience.

  She’s already gone: I watched her talk about virtue and truth and tied my best to not get sick. Now I just have to wait for this last speaker to finish, and then I can find a way to pull my mother away.

  Or at least, that’s the plan.

  The sun beats down on relentlessly, heating up the stones below my feet and the shirt I have on sticks uncomfortably to my back.

  “It’s the middle of fall,” I mutter, pulling it from where it’s clinging. “‘Shouldn’t be this hot.”

  I’m the only one not enraptured enough, it seems, to notice the strange weather. Whatever.

  With a final burst of applause and a “Thank you, thank you,” the outdoor event comes to a close and most people disperse, walking away in groups or on their own. A couple hopeful attenders linger in hopes of seeing their role models up close.

  I take my chance and finally call out to my mother, security eyeing me and starting to approach.

  “Mom, it’s Enna. Can we talk?” I feel like an idiot, and the stares I’m collecting cause my face to flush a deep scarlet. I hope in vain people mistake it for a sunburn.

  “Ma’am, I need to ask you to move along, that lady isn’t you-”

  “Enna?” She approaches slowly, warily, and waves off the bodyguards. “No need for all this fuss, this really is my daughter.” She eyes me up and down. “Even if she isn’t… presenting herself in the best night at the moment.”

  I seethe, and grit my teeth silently.

  “In any case,” she continues lightly, crossing the distance and hovers a hand over my back, “there’s no issue with her being here. Come with me, Enna, I have a room near here.” The hand on my back presses closer as she leads me down the street. I have to use every muscle of restraint in my body to keep from pulling away and lashing out at her.

  Once we’ve reached the back doors to a nice hotel, she sits under the awning instead of going in. When I don’t sit, she raises an eyebrow, and I lower into the deck chair.

  “Now, what do you want to talk about?” She asks, leaning forward. Her eyes are unreadable.

  “I want…” I have to take a deep breath so I don’t let nauseau overtake me, steadying myself.

  “I want to apologize. For the other day. It was entirely irrational of me, the things I said, my refusal to see reason. I was acting like a child.” I breathe out heavily.

  My mother nods, looking pleased. Smug. I fight down another swirl of annoyance and disgust.

  “I’m glad you can see and realise that, Enna. Now, I trust you’ve realised it’s childish as well to keep concealing the Deity you’ve gained aid from?”

  “Well… actually, about that…”

  She purses her lips, looking annoyed. “Now, Enna-”

  “I’m not going to hide it, mom. I just think it may be better if I could do it at one of the Temples of the High Priests. The Connection to the Deities is so much stronger there, and I want them to know how sincere I am. To apologize to fellow high priests from I know I have probably harmed as well.”

  I’m laying it on thick, overly thick, and I know it. But if my mother is one thing, it’s gullible. There’s not even a single flicker of distrust in her gaze and she clasps my hands in hers.

  “Oh, Enna, I’m so glad to see this newfound maturity shining through!” She squeezes my hand again and lets go, rising from her seat. “The Priests will be so pleased. And, of course, our deal still stands. I’ll make sure to have any… unwanted information hidden from your record,” she winks. I swallow, plaster a wide smile on my face, and stand as well.

  “Thank you for the forgiveness and generosity, mother,” I bow my head. She simply chuckles and pats my hair

  “Of course, of course. Now, come along, I’ve got to get you ready.”

  I still. “Now? surely we’re not leaving today, are we?”

  She laughs. “Why wait? You can stay for a few days after the High Priest lets you go. I’m sure you’d love a tour of such a holy place, and it’s not like you have anything to pressing here that you need to come back to!” She narrows her eyes at me. “Unless…?”

  I shake my head quickly, even as my head races to figure out how to deal with this. “No, I’m free. I’ll need to pack some of my things, though?”

  “Hm, yes, true. We can drop by on the way. I’m scheduled to head back today anyway, the train is picking us up – me and the other Priests – in a few hours. Your house is on the way, yes?”

  I nod.

  “Excellent! Now, follow me inside,” she opens the glass door and makes her way up the back stairs. “I really do dislike using these musty old stairs, but I can’t risk going out in too many public areas. Too noticeable, too many people wanting advice.”

  We reach a carpeted hallway lined on each side with dark wood doors, embellished with gold letters. She stops at room 1033, pulls a keycard from the hidden pocket in her skirt, and pushes it open. The room inside is immaculate, and I would doubt someone was even using it were it not for the suitcase on the desk and slippers next to the door. Mother turns once, looks me up and down, and turns back to her bag.

  “You’re not quite as tall as me, but this is on the shorter side for me, so you can borrow this when the time comes,” She holds up a green dress, plainly cut with long sleeves.

  “I’m a Disciple of Fertility, so those are the only clothes I have fitting the requirements, but we don’t exactly have clothes for Connectionless now do we?” She turns back and places it in her bag, laughing softly.

  Lifting up the travelling case, she looks at me expectantly. “You can get to the train station yourself after dropping in at your rooms, correct? I have a few last meetings I must attend, but I’m afraid they’re for Deital Priests only.”

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Nodding once again, she blushes past me and ushers me out.

  “Splendid. Be at the train station by 5, alright? You have a few hours to gather your things. I’ll see you then!” She calls, walking towards the back stairs once again. I make my way to the main staircase, feeling out of my depth in this large, fancy building. My anxiety begins to settle quickly, now that I’m finally away from that woman.

  I need to contact Asher.

  Pulling my phone of my pocket as I start walking down the street, Asher’s number is at the top of the list.

  He answers almost immediately, voice hurried. “Enna? What is it? How’d it go?” I have to laugh at his fast response. I doubt he’s stopped thinking about this since I left.

  “I’m okay, don’t worry. Sorry for phoning so much earlier than I said I would, but the plan has changed a bit. My mom wants us leaving at five. Apparently she was already planning on leaving today and has the train tickets. I’m heading home to pack real quick, then heading over.”

  I can hear him take a breath from across the line, then the silence as he thinks.

  “You sound surprisingly calm?”

  I laugh. “I mean, it’s not ideal, and the thought of being with her for days… ugh. But it needs to be done, and hopefully it means I can get back faster, so…” I shrug, then remember he can’t see me, and make a sound in the back of my throat instead. “She made it seem like I’d only be there for a few days, so even if I can’t have my phone on me, and they have no other way of contact, I don’t think we’ll need to worry about getting me out.” I pause. “Hopefully.”

  I unlock the front door of my building and start trekking up the stairs as Asher prepares a response. “Do you want me to come over? If I get going now, I could probably make it to your place and have and hour before you need to leave,” he suggests.

  “No, I’m okay. I promise. Take the time and fill Sasha in instead. I’ll update you as long as I can.”

  He exhales. “Okay. Stay safe, alright?”

  “I will. See you.”

  I end the call and hear the beep of a line disconnecting as I reach my apartment door, slipping a hand inside the empty frame to dislodge the chair placed there and shoulder it open.

  I’m not entirely sure what I need to collect, so I mostly just make myself busy, moving around in my small apartment and gathering the necessities, toiletries, a few changes of clothes I doubt I’m going to need. The High Templed, I hear, have always had pretty strict dress codes.

  In the end, all I have is a small backpack and an hour wasted. With nothing else to do, I fortify my door best I can, send a text to Asher (and Sasha, it seems they’ve made a group,) telling them I’m heading to the station. And with that, I head out of my building and onto the streets, catching a bus to the train station.

  I’m only waiting at the station for a few moment before I see my mother and a few other Priests, Temple Attendees, and helpers walking up. There’s only six of them in total, and she clearly outranks them all. Coming up to stand next to me, she wraps an arm around my shoulders and looks down on me.

  “I’m so grateful you’re coming with me, Enna.” She lowers her voice for the next part, ensuring no one is close enough to hear. “No amount of covering up can ensure you’ll ever be able to see a High Temple up close, so this is the perfect opportunity.” She eyes my bag again. “I’m glad to see you used to sense to not pack too much. All your clothes will be coming from the Temple itself, and no electronics, of course. There will be somewhere you can put your phone,” she adds disdainfully, noticing the device in my back pocket. Knew it.

  The train pulls up and one of the people she arrived with takes her bag, leaving her free to obnoxiously usher me inside and lead us to first class. Settling uncomfortably down, I sit tensely while she lets out a sigh and reclines.

  “Try to enjoy the trip, Enna. It’s quite a ways, all the way to Senallen.”

  My eyes widen nearly imperceptibly at that, and I turn to look out the window instead. I knew the High Temple was a travel, knew my mother went far away when she left, but I didn’t quite comprehend how far. Though, I suppose I should’ve guessed. Senallen is the biggest city in Hirslown, the bustling metropolis I’ve never known.

  I can’t help but feel excited for it. I’ve never experienced something of the size and grandeur of a big city.

  The stone streets and bus routes of Kannora soon fade away to the empty plains and marshland I got lost in a few days ago. The horizon rushes past my window, rails clicking faintly under the floor.

  I’ve been on a train a few times in my life; when my father was still alive, he loved taking us for day trips to other parts of the city. Lakes, mostly, to occasional patch of protected forest. Heading to downtown and looking at all the different shops and goods for sale, sparkling fabrics and roughly soldered metal. I don’t remember a lot of my father, but I remember enough to know he cared.

  After those day trips stopped, I took the train alone one last time to and from Parslik, the neighbouring town my father’s family lived in. I was almost twelve at the time, clad in black with bloodshot eyes.

  My mother was across the country on her knees, wearing green the colour of his vase. I move consciously closer to the window, and away from my resting escort.

  The trip is spent in silence – me lost in my head and her with eyes closed. An attendant comes in at some point to break the quiet, informing us that dinner will be in half in hour, just down the train a few cars. It shakes my mother from her reverie enough that she starts talking on and on again about useless information I’ll never need to know.

  “The lady in the red and gold, she’s a Disciple of Love. A powerful one too, don’t let the soft face fool you. I’ve seen countless men fawn over her when they get too close,” she chatters as we approach the dining coach. “And the man in the yellow and white,” she continues, “he’s Light. On the way to become a Priest, just needs the final certification and he’s sold.” She laughs lightly, picking a piece of lint of my too-tight dress. My mother assured me that once we got to the Temple, she could get me a proper outfit, one that wasn’t rumpled by travel. No that this one is either, but it’s noticeably small on me – reaching down longer than it should and digging into my waist. My mother is nothing if not the most slender woman I have ever met. I took after my dad in that expanse.

  Sliding open the door, she waves politely at the people already waiting at a circular table. She slides onto the bench, and not knowing what to do, I sit down beside her. They chatter meaninglessly for a moment, until a woman my mother didn’t tell me about – Black dress, Dark – pipes up.

  “So, Enna, was it? It’s so nice to meet you. I must say, when Lana here said you were coming with us, I was surprised. I knew she used to be married, of course,” she places a hand on my mother’s arm, smiling sympathetically, “an unfortunate accident that fortunately led her straight to us, of course. But I wan’t aware she had a child! Much less one as old as you. 18, did you say?

  I nod, and smile at her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name?”

  She laughs gently, retracting the hand from my mother’s arm, attention focused solely on me. “I’m Medda. Pleasure to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  Her smile is genuine, nothing like the haughty air my mother carries around, or the manipulative smiles on strangers searching for victims. She seems kind.

  “Now, since I don’t know anything about you,” she shoots a glance at my mother, now chatting with a few of the other travellers, eyeing us warily every few phrases, “tell me about yourself. Hobbies, jobs, boyfriends,” she winks, “everything.”

  “Only if I get to know some about you and the Temple as well.”

  She laughs again. “Deal.”

  I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table. “Well, to answer your questions in order, I really like art. I’ll admit, I’m not very good at it, but it helps quiet my mind sometimes. I work at the Main Temple in Kannora-” used to “-and in the realm of romance, I don’t have much action there. The occasional crush in high school, but after that, my life has remained pretty empty in that area. How about you, any special someone? Interests? Dress code?”

  She raises a playful eyebrow at my questions, tilting a nod in my direction. I see what you’re doing. I’ll play along. “Well, based on your mother’s… experiences, you must know that we’re all single in the romantic aspects. I enjoy cooking, but I’ll admit, it can feel quite cumbersome to be working in a kitchen with many people, so I don’t get to do it often. As for your final question. we mostly just require you to wear the colour of your Deity when in the Temple, and either a respectable dress or suit. Myself, I prefer to customize my clothing at a tailor so it fits my personal style, but they provide many suitable options there.” She eyes my dress with a careful eye. “That dress does nothing for you.”

  I flush. “I know.”

  We spend much of the ride like this, only interrupted occasionally by my mother trying to pull me into her conversations, and when the food arrives. The warm soup seeps down my throat and warms me thoroughly. When we finally rise from the cushions and make leave to personal cars as night approaches, my mother frowns at me warily. “You two hit it off quite well, I see.”

  “Yeah, she’s pretty cool.” I judge her stance and cold tone. “I take it your not the biggest fan?”

  She scoffs. “There’s something wrong about her. I can’t put a finger on it, and everyone loves her, but there’s something not right,” she huffs. The lights dim to match the setting sun outside, a fact that shocks me. We’ve been travelling for hours. My mother fusses over herself and me, making sure the cushions are for her liking and other non-essential tasks. I take the time to change in the bathroom, and by the time I return, my mother is settles in with a skin cream all over her face.

  “Rest up, Enna dear. We’ll be arriving early morning, and then it will be go-go-go until tomorrow evening. Have a good sleep!”

  With that, she pulls a sleep mask over her face and shuts me out. Laughing amusedly, I settle back into my seat and continue staring out the window. The stars flicker outside, moon rising high. The plains continue to stretch out as far as the eye can see, although they’re slowly being replaced by patches of rock and cliff peeking through.

  Help me pull this off, I pray. I hope Vast is listening – the only Deity who seems to give any thought to us. Help me save them.

  I don’t know when I started having hope in a Deity, and I don’t trust the feeling. All I can hope if that the world won’t come crashing down around me because of it.

  I let my eyes slide shut, and abandon the waking world.