Chapter 6
Ibeamed from ear to ear when my feet landed on plush ivory rugs in a pristinely designed foyer. It was long rather than wide. The foyer spanned endless wingspans, brilliantly lit even though twinight would start rising outside of the temple soon.
My excitement quickly evaporated when I noticed there wasn’t a single Ascendant here.
Where was everyone? Why was I alone?
I surveyed the vast hall, unsure of what to do. Every direction I turned was drenched in marble. The floors were carved from ivory slabs with golden patterns intricately woven into them. Overhead had an arched ceiling with different designs, all carved out of ivory stone slabs and gilded tiles.
Wide pillars lined the long foyer on both sides.
Each was a uniquely carved angel, sculpted with such detail they seemed to be alive.
Golden fire boxes upheld the angelic statues, with iridescent flame burning within.
At the top of the pillars were feathered designs that seemed to be welded into the molding above.
Grand floor-to-ceiling windows lined the walls between the pillars, overlooking the outdoors. I squinted, trying to see what lay beyond, but for some reason, nothing came to view. It was like looking through a glass dimly.
“Hello?” I called out.
“Hello, Ascendant Safah.”
I yelped, whipping around. Three females stood by the temple doors.
They were…smaller. Not like a youngling, but in stature.
I wasn’t extremely tall for a female, and yet I somehow found myself towering over these three.
Each had perfect posture, and kept their shoulders squared, but their eyes remained low. They wouldn’t look at me.
Noting the lack of wings, rank markings, and winged ears, it didn’t take much guesswork to see all three were goddesses.
It helped that I knew enough about the gods, even though in my family home, Manmi and Papi led a different life than most. We had Keepers, but never slaves.
I’d heard stories of the gods enslaved by the angels.
Bound to serve endlessly, never managing to gain their freedom.
“Good twinight,” I said. “Well, at least it will be soon. And you all are?”
The goddesses were unmoving. They didn’t budge an inch. They kept their heads bowed. But the goddess in the center responded.
“We’re the goddesses of Temple Efysis. We belong to the temple. To the Farasees of the Order. We’re here to guide you to your Sifting chamber, before you can continue your Ascension.”
I nodded. That made sense. Manmi had told me about this part ample time. If I made it, I would first be Sifted. I needed to clean up. Physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
The physical part always made sense. Now having survived Tharic Zamarien, the spiritual and emotional parts made sense, too. My spirit had to be cleansed from all I endured this dawn before I dove into any holy temple activities.
“What are your names? If I may ask.”
The goddesses looked at each other with their heads still bowed, contemplating how to answer. As they struggled with my request, I carried on.
“Also, would you keep your head up? I would like to look into your eyes when speaking with you.”
In tandem, the goddess lifted their heads. At first, they looked past me, unable to meet my gaze head on. The one to the left trembled, terrified. She probably thought this was some test. She probably thought I wanted to hurt her.
“Please,” I said gently, raising my hands in a truce. “I don’t want to cause you harm. I simply would like to know your name. And what I need to do to get a bath and some rest. I…I’m hurt. And exhausted.”
The goddesses blinked at me. Their shoulders relaxed when they realized I meant my words. The one in the middle seemed to be braver than the other two. She gave me a small smile. Her eyes brightened, and she took a step towards me.
“I am Serafina. This is Natalie,” she gestured to the goddess who was still shaking. “And this is Caliana.”
I smiled back, thankful she was willing to make the effort to talk to me.
“It’s good to meet you, Serafina. You too, Natalie and Caliana.” I tilted my head, holding my side. My body was beginning to ache badly. “I know you know this, but, I’m Safah. Safah Anathelle. It’s such an…incredible honor to finally be here.”
My words trailed off into a whisper as hot tears prickled my eyes. Holy stars. I’d made it to the temple. I made it. I was an Ascendant! All I had to do was survive the first trial, and I would officially be a Disciple of Temple Efysis.
Tears wet my cheeks as I sighed with infinite gratitude. I bounced on my feet. Serafina’s eyes sparkled, knowingly.
“You look very much like your Manmi, Amaryss. But something about you is…different than her. We look forward to your Ascension, Ashi—” She bit her lip, cutting herself off. “Ascendant Safah,” she quickly amended.
I was too tired to try and puzzle through what she meant. My mind was in shambles. I desperately needed sleep. I yawned, nodding at Serafina.
“Please, follow us.”
Serafina, followed by Natalie and Caliana, began walking down the long foyer. I tried as best as I could to take in all the immaculate details.
But stars.
I was exhausted. By the time we made it to the other end of the foyer, my wings were dragging on the marble floors. We crossed through an open door. I found myself looking out at an elaborate courtyard, dripping in opulence. Even in my fatigue, I couldn’t help but gawk.
“What in the stars?”
I didn’t know where to look first. The tall, ivory trees. The golden blades of grass. The iridescent birds flying in the air. The endless, billowing clouds that twisted between each of the buildings.
Tall glass towers—interconnected by glass covered walkways—littered the grounds in each direction.
“What am I even looking at?”
Serafina slid her hazel gaze to me, a curious look in her eyes. “This is where you will spend the next twenty-one dawns.”
“I’m…sorry. The next…twenty-one?”
I whipped my head to the goddess, unsure if I’d heard her right.
She smiled. “Yes, Ascendant. It is the Creed of Sifting. If you don’t complete them, you will be considered Unclean. If you’re Unclean, you’re unworthy of the temple and will be forced to forfeit your Ascension.”
I raised a high brow, folding my arms as I balanced on the ivory step outside of the foyer entry.
“So I’m supposed to sit on my backside and sing kumbaya for twenty-one dawns?”
Caliana snorted, quickly smothering her laughter with a hand. Natalie’s nostrils flared. The goddess bit her lip, holding back her reaction. Serafina’s lips twitched, as she met my gaze.
“Yes, Ascendant.”
I blinked at Serafina, before looking at the towers.
“What a burning, colossal waste of my time,” I grumbled. “I swear dodging Tharic was better than this.”
I looked back at Serafina, whose brown cheeks were coloring red as she struggled to stifle her laughter. “You really are…different, Ascendant,” she managed after a while.
I snorted.
“Please. If you three ran into Ellabeth, you’d realize I’m not that different.”
“Ellabeth Riventhelle?” Natalie blurted out, her light blue eyes going wide. Her sandy cheeks flushed as she gaped. “You know her?”
“Know her?” I laughed. “Ellie is my best friend in all the realms. We’ve known each other since before we could talk.”
“So much makes sense now,” Natalie whispered. “You two have the same…mannerisms.”
I grinned wide, showing my teeth.
Serafina chuckled. “Come, Ascendant.”
I followed the goddesses as they walked down the steps and made their way to the glass tower. It was only when we’d started crossing the walkway that I noticed all three were barefoot. And they were adorned in pitiful excuses for a gown.
The dress was nothing more than endless chain links looped together to cover most of their bodies. Not that it did anything. Nothing of their curvy frames was left to the imagination. In a temple full of Farasees who were mostly male.
Hot anger ignited my blood.
After going through a series of halls—that looked more like portals into the stars, then walls in a temple—Serafina, Natalie, and Caliana finally brought me to an empty chamber.
The door opened on instinct, letting me inside.
The first thing I saw was the peek of a washbasin in a small, adjoined chamber.
The next thing my eyes found was the bedcloud.
I nearly fainted with relief. I stretched, yawning again. My limbs were on fire. I need to wash, to rest, then I could focus on letting my body self-heal.
“Come Ascendant,” Serafina said. Her kind eyes made this new environment feel less awkward. Overwhelming. “We will help you cleanse yourself. Then you can rest.”
I let the goddesses lead me into the washbasin. I said nothing as I was stripped bare and led into the tub. Serafina said something to me, but I didn’t hear a word.
The moment I slid into the warm water, wings and all, I laid my head on the edge of the tub and fell into a dreamless sleep.