Chapter Two
Nila was a little confused by the events of the day. She had never seen anything like that happening before; she hadn't even expected it. Even the mentally strong and usually gutsy servant of the Light was shaken by the incident when she saw the Mother behave as if she were possessed by some entity belonging to the Darkness.
The Mother's explanation calmed her down a bit, but it was, visibly, not enough. She had to go to the Temple of Light and meet her own mother there before she could begin to function normally again.
"Mother!" She called out as she reached the Temple. The white marble structure and its glass dome shone brilliantly in the sunlight as if it were made of a thousand sparkling diamonds. The steps of the Temple were white-hot from the blazing sun but it was no difficult task for Nila to climb them. She had often played there as a little girl when her mother, another servant of the Light, would perform her duties during the day. She had later taken up the orange robes herself when she grew up and realised their sanctity.
"I've heard about what happened, Nila. Don't worry. Things like this happen from time to time."
"Did you ever see such a thing happening to Arya the Elder when you served her?" Nila asked her. If her mother would confirm the fact, then her worries would all be set to rest. Her mother's face turned contemplative as she tried to remember. "I don't remember." She said, after a while.
Nila's face turned pale. "Mother, I fear that the Darkness might overcome the Light."
Her mother smiled. "If it is so, my child, I don't think we would be able to do much about it. Come, pray to the Light, it is all we can do for now. Or pray to the Darkness and beg it not to harm the Light." Nila nodded. Admittedly, the meeting did not help her get rid of her fears, but she did feel a lot more relieved that she had related her fears to her mother. Now, all of Nila's worries were her mother's. She paid her respects to the Light and left.
She then went to the gates of the Temple to inform the guards about the visitor who was to be expected. Dusting her robes, she went up to the formidable guards with their huge moustaches rolled up onto their cheeks, which themselves were barely visible.
"Sir? I have a message from the Mother." She coughed out to one of the guards in a voice that was barely audible.
"Speak up, girl, I can't hear you." The guard said. "Sir, I have a message... from... the Mother." She said, trying to be louder. The faces of these guards are enough to keep anyone from entering the Temple, she thought.
"Ah, a message from the Mother." He said, bowing. He removed his helmet and laid it on the ground beside him reverently. "What does Her Holiness command us to do?" He asked, his voice surprisingly softer.
"She believes there's a man to arrive at the Temple today. You are to permit him inside the Temple."
"Without asking the questions of the Spirit?"
"She did not say anything about that."
"I will send the man inside, then. The Mother's judgement is unquestionable. She is a gift of the Light and Darkness."
"Yes, sir. She is a gift of the Light and Darkness."
Nila looked out of the gates of the Temple to the city, bustling with activity. The scent of firosas filled her noses. It was a snack prepared by drying the fleshy flower of the same name with some salt, beautiful to look at, and extremely sweet in taste. Sweet, sour, salty and even somewhat bitter, it was a perfect explanation to every taste. When powdered and mixed with water, it made a refreshing drink to help beat the harsh summers of the Open Lands.
She rushed to the small shop outside and bought some firosas. She knew the Mother loved them. It was one of the things she took a pleasure in, one of the only things she would ever ask for. The Mother, much unlike the Elders, lived a simple lifestyle - one might mistake her for another normal human being if she ever came out of the Temple wearing something besides her standard olive robes.
A stray thought crossed Nila's mind. Did the scientists ever need firosas? She quickly pushed it away. Asking about the scientists might get her into trouble. The Mother was merciful, but her soldiers weren't.
As she returned to the Temple, she noticed a palanquin waiting outside. By the looks of it, it seemed like it was the royal family. Nila hurried inside. She would be required to make the arrangements for them.
"Girl!" The guard called out as she was entering the Temple. "Is this the man?" He asked, pointing to a tall, lanky man with long hair and yellow-grey eyes.
"No, sir, this is not the man." Nila confirmed. "The Mother specifically said that he would come alone." She then turned to the man and flashed a bright smile. "Welcome to the Temple, prince Izumi. Please come inside." She led the prince inside and the palanquin followed them. She then turned to another servant of the Light and asked him to lead the royals to the Meeting Chamber while she went and informed the Mother of their visit.
- - -
The princess sneered as they were told to wait for a little more while to meet the Mother as she was occupied with something. "I've always told you, Izumi. You never listen." She said. "I swear the Mother does this just to humiliate us. I can't seem to think of a single occasion when we visited the Temple and were immediately granted an audience with her."
"But, Enya, I'm sure the Mother isn't doing this on purpose. She must have some work! After all, having so much authority doesn't leave you with free time. You must know that."
Princess Enya rolled her eyes. "You and your mother, you're incorrigible. You wouldn't listen to sound advice, only your faith in the Mother. I can't seem to think of a single mountain a sixteen-year-old can move."
"It's not like that, Enya -"
"Welcome to the Temple, Prince and Princess." A sweet, gentle voice sounded from behind them. They turned to face the Mother. Prince Izumi bowed in respect when he faced her. "You look very lovely today, Princess Enya." the Mother commented. "I know." she replied, raising an eyebrow.
"I met your mother on the way here, my Prince. The Queen expresses her concern regarding your state of mind these days. I think we need to talk about that." the Mother said. "She left after that. She was not feeling well."
"I'd rather we talk in private, Your Holiness. There are matters I need to discuss with you which must not be made known to anyone else under all circumstances." He said, looking back for a split second to face his wife, but the Mother did not notice him doing so.
"Definitely." she smiled. "My Princess, I'll see to it that you are entertained. Nila will come with some food in a short while. You're also free to roam around the Temple and meet your old friends if you want to."
The Princess nodded nonchalantly and crossed her legs while the Mother and the Prince went to the Temple of the Darkness. A while later, a short blonde girl wearing orange robes entered carrying some food and drinks. Enya took a single look at them and dismissed them. "Really, girl? Firosa water? Do you take me for a peasant? Is that how you treat your princess?"
The blonde girl bowed to the Princess and then spoke. "My Princess, with all due respect, this is the kind of food we have at the Temple. Her Holiness does not really indulge in all the pleasures of life, I'm sure you know that from your past experience at the Temple. Moreover, the realm has the royals for that very purpose." She kept the tray there and left. Enya was a shocked, but a smile quickly replaced her expression as she heard footsteps.
"Enya!" squealed the three young women in servants' orange as they saw their beloved friend. "How have you been?" they asked her.
Enya plastered a fake smile on her face and nodded silently to everything the excited girls told her. All their gossip and tales from all corners of the Open Lands couldn't interest her even if she wanted to. Truth be told, she despised the Temple and everyone in it. She had herself been a servant of the Light before, but she had been lured out of that life when the royal family had once visited the Temple.
Izumi had instantly taken a liking to her looks - Enya was beautiful beyond measure, with her green eyes, hair red as fire and face as luminant as the Light itself. But what made her Princess of the Open Lands was the fact that Izumi's father took more interest in her than the Prince himself - he realised the potential his future daughter-in-law had that could prove its worth when time came, to restore the royal family to all its ancient power and glory.
And Enya, too, in due course of time, had come to realise her father-in-law's ambition and develop a passion for it herself.
- - -