Elle paused at the threshold of the Temple of Aelindra. Behind her, the royal gardens sprawled, flowers, winding paths, and trickling fountains led her to this sacred space that served as a bridge between the palace and the city. A gentle breeze drifted through the back courtyard, stirring the scent of blossoming lilies and crisp water from the temple’s lower pools. Beside her, Aer stood, her violet eyes flicking from the arching spires above to the softly rippling water below.

“Every time I come here,” Elle murmured, her voice barely louder than the sighing wind, “I’m reminded of how small we truly are.”

She stepped onto the ornate bridge, its railings resembling delicate lace spun from stone. Below, the temple's lower levels spread out in smooth pools of crystal-blue water, their surfaces still enough to reflect the vaulted terraces and columns rising around them. Slowly, Elle and Aer continued across, their footfalls a gentle echo on the carved walkway.

Once inside, through a side entrance used by the royal family and noble houses, the pair passed into a narrow hallway. Niches were carved into the stone-lined walls, each housing a small relic or a statue – some older than living memory, others recently placed by devoted pilgrims. Incense smoke drifted in the air, woven with faint traces of salt and dew, and every so often, the hush was broken by a distant trickle of water from hidden fountains.

Elle ran her fingertips along one alcove’s ledge, pausing at the sight of a tiny stone figure left by an anonymous worshipper. It depicted the goddess in a stylized form, arms raised in a blessing posture. A withered flower wreath lay at the statue’s feet. She frowned slightly, wondering how many hopes and prayers had been offered here over the centuries, how many had been answered, and how many still hung in the air, drifting like incense.

“Your Highness,” Aer whispered from a few steps ahead. “The main chamber is this way.”

They emerged into a grand hall so immense it appeared like a self-contained sky. Towering columns reached upward like ancient trees, each carved with scenes of elven history: alliances, triumphs, devotions to Aelindra and the pantheon of Elven Gods. Stained glass windows depicting celestial figures and extraordinary events from eras past cast dancing mosaics of color upon the polished floor. Scarlets, golds, violets, and blues merged and separated in a constant, graceful flow.

A circular altar surrounded by shallow, luminescent pools lay at the center. The runes engraved around the altar glowed faintly, resonating with each inhalation of the worshippers who walked through the space. A colossal statue of Aelindra, mirroring the one towering outside, loomed above the altar. Radiant chandeliers hung high overhead, fashioned from crystal and metal in a star and leaf motifs lattice. Their refracted light created an ethereal haze that reminded Elle of dawn breaking over Herawulf’s waves.

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She stopped in front of the altar, heart thudding. Setting a hand gently on the rim of the nearest pool, she watched the shimmering water ripple outward. Aer stepped to her side, the hush between them a comfortable silence.

“You’ve seen so many wonders within these walls,” Elle said softly, a wistful note creeping into her voice. “But does it ever…feel too small?”

Aer gave a quiet laugh, low enough not to disturb the tranquil atmosphere. “I know what you mean. Elytheris is vast, yet sometimes it feels very…enclosed.” She tilted her head, her silver braid shifting across her shoulder. “But it is our home. And it is beautiful.”

Elle dipped her fingers into the water, feeling the cool tingle of magical energy that calmed her pulse. “I can love home…and still want more,” she whispered, thinking of the ocean, the human merchant, the mysteries lying beyond these shores.

They were not alone in the chamber. Other elves crept between the columns, some kneeling in prayer, others lighting small candles or offering blossoms at various shrines. A few cast curious glances at the princess, but most kept their attention respectfully on their devotions.

“His Radiance asked you to pray,” Aer reminded gently. “Shall we?”

Elle nodded, rising gracefully. She crossed to the altar near the softly glowing runes. Kneeling upon a cushion, she bowed her head. In her mind’s eye, she pictured the Great Tree of Life, her parents now part of its cosmic wonders, and the gentle presence of the goddess Aelindra overseeing all. She prayed for guidance, for Eren, the kingdom, and perhaps for herself. When she finished, she looked up. Aer stood quietly behind her, eyes lowered in her short prayer or reflection.

A soft sound drew their attention: a chorus of distant bells signifying the afternoon sermon was about to begin. Priests and devotees, silhouettes in layered robes, gathered near the central altar, readying themselves to lead a sacred chant.

Elle rose, brushing off her silk trousers. She and Aer moved silently, retreating from the altar to avoid disturbing the incoming worshippers. They slipped through another column-lined passage, noticing another discreet doorway leading them back toward the gardens or deeper into the temple if they wished.

Quietly, they ventured farther, passing frescoes. Elle could make out the swirling colors even in the dim light of the side passage. They reached a corridor overlooking another series of reflective pools, set below like a hidden oasis. The geometry of the temple wove together so many layers. Vines and small plants crept along the edges.

“This temple might be larger than the palace itself,” Aer mused quietly, leaning against a stone railing. The water’s surface below shimmered like polished glass, reflecting columns and stained-glass patterns in perfect clarity.

Elle managed a small, playful smile. “It certainly feels that way.”

Finally, Aer broke the silence, turning to Elle with a gentle question. “Shall we return to the gardens, Your Highness?”

Elle glanced again at the watery depths below them, her reflection wavering in the still pool. She thought of her brother’s warning, of her restlessness.

“Yes,” she said, lifting her chin. “I’ve offered my prayers. It’s time we leave them to the goddess and do what we must.”

Together, they made their way back through the grand hall. Sunbeams slanted through the stained glass, painting their path with shifting rainbows as they made it back outside. Elle paused on the bridge, glancing out over the city beyond. Though the day’s sunlight bathed the stone and water in a soft, golden glow, she swore she could feel the pull of the horizon.