The gentle hum of prayers filled the small prayer room, with dozens of acolytes sitting, spreading out in a slightly circular pattern, almost like those of a petal. A young woman sat at the front of where the petals emerged, sitting closest to the simple statue of the Great Mother. 

Vonda had heard the bell four times, once when she began, and three times for every passing hour. As the fourth ring trailed, she slowly stopped rocking, before ending her prayer. She stood, placing her palms together in front of her, bowing lightly, before slowly backing out with the rest of the acolytes. 

The young Sister made her way to the baths, heading underground, where most of the priests and acolytes found their personal rooms. The walls had been expertly carved with all manner of religious symbols and images, each denoting different relationships between Life and the other domains.

The bath awaited for her, one which had been set out a short while ago, the rising steam having long dissipated. She stripped out of the simple garments she wore before stepping into the bath, feeling the warmth water against her foot before the rest of her leg and body was swallowed by the water. She reached for the unscented soap, feeling how hard it was within her grasp. She washed for a long while, her thoughts unfocused, allowing them to come and go. The doubts began to build into the back of her head.

Is this right?

Is this what she deserves?

She did earn this position herself?

What of the others?

What of the business?

What of Adam?

What of his children?

These thoughts entered her mind and swiftly left, even as she dried off. A long white cloth lay to one side, so white one might have called it a different colour, and those within East Port certainly would have. She began to wrap it around herself, layering the cloth around her entire form, revealing how long it truly was, until she was covered from her neck to the calves. 

Vonda inhaled deeply. 

‘I’m hungry.’

She allowed that thought to leave too.

Her foot pressed against the freshly lain carpet, feeling how soft it was, how every fibre tickled the bottom of it before they gently folded. She followed the carpet to one of the many underground prayer rooms, though this prayer room was unlike the others. It was only used once in a priest’s life, and only some priests would be able to use it. As she entered, she could smell the smell of an unused room, one which would be cleaned out the moment she was done here. 

The young Sister did her best to ignore the ancient scriptures, though only after cautiously walking around them, following along the carpet. She sat down before the scriptures, closing her eyes, though the scroll, which looked as though it could crumble from a glance, had engraved itself within her mind.

It was the scroll.

Written by the hands of a descendant of the Great Mother herself, a Demigod who once walked the land. Their body had been lost to time, save for a single piece of bone which lay behind her, locked within a simple box, defended by a myriad of magical protections.

Mother Priest led in a group of other priests, each who would be referred to as Mother, before they sat in front of her. Mother Priest sat to Vonda’s left, leaving the right for the Great Mother herself. 

The silence remained as the old woman began to mix the oils together as the Mother Priest had done for her when she went through the rites. As they pooled within the small bowl, she began to mix them with a brush, made of the hairs of a living vulfaire which had been shaved. Once they were mixed, the Mother Priest began to hum a prayer, sometimes mumbling the words, before she dipped a finger tip into the oil, before dabbing it against the young Sister’s forehead. 

Mother Priest continued to hum a prayer as she began to light various incense sticks, which was hard to burn, and would last almost four days once lit, before taking her seat to Vonda’s left once more. Slowly, the humming and mumbling quietened.

Vonda inhaled deeply, barely smelling the incense, before she exhaled.

“I hold Mother Soza within my heart, and I am her loyal devotee.”

She opened her eyes, accepting the Great Mother into her heart once more, but this time even deeper, in parts of her heart which had not yet been opened or explored. 

She stared at the scroll, which held words written by the hands of a Divine, a Demigod, about the matters of Life. They were the thoughts of the Demigod, a journal entry, advice for those who were reading, or perhaps advice for himself.

‘Remember how long you have been putting off these things, and how often you have received an opportunity from the Divine, and yet you do not use it.

You must now at last perceive of what body you are a part, and what Administrator of the body your existence is an efflux. 

The limit of time is fixed for you, which if you do not use for clearing away the clouds from your mind, it will go and you will go, and you will not see the sky.’

The words were roughly translated into her mind in such a way, though she spoke the works true as they were written on the page, in an old tongue, only used by the most learned time ago, and only used in such rites. The words filled her heart and body with an excitement she had only felt when she spoke the words to become a true Sister only a few years ago.

Mother Priest placed a hand on the shaking Vonda, before the scroll wound itself, floating up into the ceiling, where it disappeared. Mother Priest placed down a book, allowing Vonda to find the prayers which she wished to speak as her first prayers.

Vonda picked those she had thought about, speaking them in the old tongue, which she knew how to read and speak, though didn’t quite exactly know what the words meant, though she knew of the prayers in the Aldish tongue. 

The prayer which spoke of granting her the wisdom to train even a child in the path they should go so that even when they grow old they will not stray from it.

The prayer which spoke of granting her the wisdom to discern between good and evil.

The prayer which spoke of walking through the valley of the shadow of wickedness, which was often the first prayer, though she had spoken it third. 

There were other prayers she prayed aloud for the other Mothers to hear, each in a particular order, an order of Vonda’s choosing. Once the prayers were done, Mother Priest led Vonda to another room, following the freshly lain carpet to the table. 

Mother Priest watched as Vonda tore pieces of the freshly baked bread, preparing to eat. She sipped the water three times, drinking half the water, before dipping the pieces within the lentil soup. Vonda ate slowly, silently. She noted Mother Priest’s eyes seemed on the verge of tears, the wetness threatening to fall at any given moment, but they did not speak of it. The older priest cut pieces of fruit for the young priest, each roughly the same size, and Vonda prayed quietly before eating each one, repeating the first seven prayers she had made all those years ago to become a Sister.

Mother Priest then escorted the young woman to a small prayer room, lightning a small candle. Mother Priest glanced back towards Vonda with a particular look that told her not to self immolate herself as some priests had previously done to show their faith to Mother Soza. 

Vonda remained silent, beginning her mental prayers, though eventually became low whisperings. She remained within the room for the entire day, while her companions spent their time outside their rooms, confined in a very different manner.

“If you have any issues, you can all speak to any of the Managers or Executives here,” Adam informed. “You can speak to anyone here, really, and they will bring the message to we Managers and Executives, understand?”

“Yes, mister Adam,” the children replied.

“Good, good. Remember, you’re members of the business, so that means you should bring matters to the business, and not others. I promise that we’ll do our best for you if you have any issues.” 

“Yes, mister Adam.”

“Good, good.” Adam wondered what else they should talk about. It was only the first day of a few they would have to spend here, and he couldn’t coop them here like little chicks. ‘I’ll set up a way they can head out and spend some coin.’

Yesterday, Adam had sent Jaygak and Kitool to hand over the coin. He realised he couldn’t keep throwing out thousands of gold, otherwise they would really have no money left.

‘Who would have thought when you spend money you lose it?’ Adam frowned at the thought. ‘Still, I can’t go around buying swords with Dunes without at least letting the kids spend some coin.’

“Hey, I’ve noticed everyone was rushing about today,” Adam said. “When I bought the sword with Dunes, I noticed the entire town was different.”

“They’re preparing for the celebrations,” Dunes replied. 

“Celebrations for what?”

“Life.” Dunes smirked slightly. ‘Does he not know?’

“Oh.” Adam slowly nodded his head. “Makes sense.”

The group relaxed within the inn, but as evening approached, bells rung, calling for the populace to step out onto the roads. The members of United Kindom formed a barrier around the children, but allowed them to step out, especially upon Cobra’s insistence. 

‘What’s going on?’ Adam thought, before noting everyone was looking in the same direction. 

The Order of Life’s Rose.

‘I should have expected.’

The bells continued to ring for a short while, until they fell silent. 

Seconds turned to moments.

Yet the silence remained.

It was then a flash of light appeared atop the order, within one of the towers which was taller than any other. The light certainly held some shape, though from the distance Adam wasn’t able to make it out. As the light appeared, the cheers and shouts began, with people yelling all about. 

Adam watched as the populace filled with zeal, some even dropping to their knees in prayer, others sobbing with joy. He glanced to the side, wondering if he should ask, but found it too awkward to ask in that moment.

Meanwhile, Vonda sat at the top of the tower, feeling the cool breeze across her skin. The Guardian of Faith watched vigilantly behind her, its light able to be seen from across the entire town, and even further across.

Vonda could hear the chants from even where she sat.

Great Mother. Great Mother. Great Mother.

Life River. Life River. Life River.

Vonda shut her eyes tight, failing to keep her tears at bay as the euphoria filled her body. 

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Mother Soza! Life River!