After getting a room at the inn where they were staying, Kit gathered the family to give a quick rundown of the festival and the plan for the day. The room was small, and the furniture was simpler than what Isaac had gotten used to. His bed at Kit's house was stuffed with feathers, whereas the bed he would sleep in for the remainder of the week was stuffed with straw. The framing was sanded but lacked a glossy varnish, and the plaster wall had parts chipped off, revealing the layer of stone behind it. There were no decorations, and the only source of light came from the outside window, as well as a single candlestick on the empty dresser. Isaac didn't mind, though. His thoughts were occupied with anticipation.
As for today's plan? Isaac and Elyse would head out to the holy temple and speak with the local head priest, though Kit didn't specify as much. Meanwhile, he would take Emryn to see the sights before the festival truly began the next day. Afterward, the family would meet up and have dinner together.
"Now, Emryn. These are for you to use during the festival."
Kit fished two silvers from his pocket and handed them to his daughter. She took them in her hands and stared down at them in bewilderment. Her eyes were sparkling even brighter than the coins themselves.
"These are... Mine?"
"Yeah, sweetheart. Use 'em on whatever you like."
"Though, keep in mind that this is the only money you have to spend during the entire festival, so don't go using it all right away, alright?"
"Okay, Mama!"
While the three of them were smiling, Isaac looked down into the knapsack he had brought with.
Five silver coins. Although Mykal said ten would last an entire month, I'm sure he didn't put the marked-up prices during the festival into account. The wares there are sure to cost way more than they would normally, so I hope I brought enough...
Emryn must've noticed Isaac's slight concern while looking down at his money pouch because without hesitating, she reached out to him with one of her coins. Her eyes seemed determined, but Isaac declined her with a smile.
"No, it's alright Emryn. Those coins are yours, and I have my own. Don't worry."
She seemed to doubt him for a second, but after confirming with her parents, who nodded affirmatively, she looked back up at him and grinned.
"Now, are you ready to see the town, sweetie?"
Emryn nodded eagerly at her dad's question, and he nodded in return. Then, he opened the creaking door to the room, and the two of them headed for the exit. Before Isaac could follow them, he was held back by a tug at his sleeve. He turned around.
"I just wanted to do a quick check with you before we head out," Elyse said as she released him. "This is your first time in a holy temple, correct?"
Isaac nodded, and Elyse continued.
"Well, in that case, some basic guidelines. It's not very strict, but the priests will appreciate it if you follow them..."
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The sun was shining down upon the two as they walked the streets. It was busy with people everywhere, most of them carrying materials or goods in preparation for tomorrow's festival. A group of kids were playing together, and what looked to be their parents were chatting nearby. The town was lively and joyous, and the atmosphere filled Isaac with a curious sense of joy he didn't understand. He looked at Elyse, and she too seemed to be affected by the liveliness of the town.
Though she said she prefers the quiet farm life, I guess part of her enjoys the busy commotion of a densely packed area. Maybe it's nostalgic for her or something?
Elyse noticed his gaze, and their eyes met. She smiled at him, warmly, and he returned a smile at her. Then, looking forward, he saw their destination growing ever closer.
As they neared the temple, Isaac could see it was a building with architecture, unlike anything he had seen before. The main part of the building was tall and made from gray stone bricks. According to Elyse, that part of the building was the hall dedicated to Othrys. In addition, there were two extensions, one on each side. The left section was painted lighter, whereas the right one was darker. They were dedicated to Ardentia and Spectre respectively. Overall, the building was symmetrical in architecture, apart from the different colors in the left and right wings. Isaac thought the building felt huge, but apparently, it was relatively small compared to the one Elyse had used to work at.
Isaac looked to the right side of the temple, where a path was diverging into a beautiful flowery garden. It featured a small fountain, and crowning it was a symbol to Othrys carved out of polished stone. Behind it was a circular building, much smaller than the temple itself. Elyse followed Isaac's gaze and spoke:
"That right there is the living quarters and office of the head priest. If he's not in the main temple, we can almost certainly find him there."
"I see. It has a banner decorating it, what's it representing?"
"Oh, that's the symbol of the deity the head priest has specialized in. To be granted the rank of Head Priest, one needs to gain a good understanding of another deity apart from the three the temples are dedicated to. Sadly, I do not recognize the symbol for this one."
"You don't? Haven't you been here before?"
"I have, but last time I was here the banner was different. Sadly, the head priestess I knew passed away not too long ago."
I see...
Isaac nodded, and the two continued walking in silence, the entrance just a few steps away. As they approached the main gate, Isaac braced himself. Elyse checked with him one final time, then reached out. The door opened before she could reach the handle, and a woman stepped out. She quickly noticed Elyse and her face seemed to lighten up a little.
"Oh my, if it isn't Elyse. Here for a prayer before the festival?"
The woman was wearing a strange yet simplistic robe in bright blue, and her dark hair was tied up in a crown braid. Her eyes landed on Isaac, and she tilted her head a little. In a curious, yet gentle voice, she asked:
"And you? I've never seen you around before. May I ask your name?"
This woman seems to be a priestess. I should do as Elyse taught me.
Isaac bowed his head slightly in greeting, then looked up and answered her:
"My name is Isaac. I'm a farmhand working for Kit and Elyse."
The woman nodded and shifted her focus back to the one standing next to him.
"I see. So that's how it is..."
Huh?
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Elyse must've understood the woman's thought process, and quickly corrected her:
"No, that's not 'how it is', Lynn. We're here to ask some questions of the head priest. Is now a good time?"
The woman, Lynn, seemed just a bit disappointed. Clicking her tongue, her smile returned and she opened the door wider for the two, as if guiding them inside.
"Father Quillon is inside. Go right on in."
"Thank you, Lynn. It is good to see you."
"You as well, Elyse."
Elyse gestured to Isaac before stepping into the hall. He followed her, still a bit perplexed. Once Lynn had stepped outside and closed the door behind them, he asked in a whisper:
"So, that woman. What did she mean by that?"
"To be honest with you, Isaac, I'm not sure what her thoughts were. But knowing her, it couldn't have been good."
What the hell does that mean?
"Right..."
Isaac went quiet as he started looking around. His view was filled with the temple's interior. The walls stretched up high, the ceiling unreachable with large lanterns hanging down from them. The orbs of light themselves were strangely shaped, vaguely resembling the symbol of the human god. On the left and right sides were big archways leading to the sections for Ardentia and Spectre. They weren't marked, but the arches were painted in the same shades as their exterior walls. Looking ahead, the hall was grand and empty, with a rectangular fountain in the center. Lined on the walls were desks made of stone, with many of its chairs occupied by priests and priestesses writing on sheets of paper. The temple was eerily quiet as if they had entered a different realm from the one outside. Isaac didn't want to add to the noise, so he kept his footing light and spoke no words as he walked the halls.
The way the priests and priestesses are working somehow feels more like an office building than a church. According to what Elyse told me back at the inn, they're busy performing rituals or something, which requires total concentration.
It took a couple of minutes, but finally, they reached the rear section of the hall. Ahead of them was an altar, where Isaac could see a man standing.
That must be Father Quillon.
Above the altar was a large window, again shaped like the symbol of Othrys. It cast rays of brightness all across the hall, lighting it more than the lanterns above ever could.
As Elyse and Isaac approached the man, he turned around, meeting their gazes. He nodded in welcome and spoke in a low voice:
"Greetings and welcome to the holy temple of Imrys. I am Father Quillon, the head priest in this town."
Isaac bowed his head in greeting as he had done with Lynn, and stated his name. Elyse, however, put her hand on her amulet as she introduced herself:
"I am Elyse, former priestess to Othrys."
"It's Good to meet you both. Elyse, I heard of you from Lynn. I understand you are currently married and live on a farm."
"That is correct," Elyse nodded. "Though my teachings are still close to my heart."
The priest nodded back, then turned to Isaac, looking him up and down. As soon as he noticed the wooden amulet Isaac was wearing, though, his search stopped, and he spoke again:
"So then, what can I do for you this day?"
"Father Quillon, Isaac here has some questions which I know not the answer to. We were hoping you could enlighten us with your knowledge."
The priest nodded, and looked to Isaac, expectingly. With a nudge from Elyse, the boy lifted his right hand and drew up his sleeve, revealing the symbol he had been marked with.
"I was recently branded with this symbol. I was hoping you would recognize it."
Father Quillon drew closer, focusing on the holy symbol on Isaac's wrist.
"Hmm... That is indeed a holy symbol, but you said you were marked recently, did I hear that correctly?"
"Yes, it happened while I was harvesting in the field," Isaac explained. "I stumbled, and almost fell to the ground. That's when I found out I had the power of gravity manipulation, and the emblem etched into my skin before my very eyes."
The priest seemed intrigued, but also confused. He didn't speak for several seconds, taking in what the boy had just told him. Finally, his mouth uttered some new words.
"I see... Sadly I'm afraid I must disappoint you. I do not recognize this symbol."
"Understood..."
"However, I have a book in my office that might help. It contains many descriptions of the various gods as well as their symbols. If you'd like, I could look into it."
Isaac's eyes lit up again.
"That would be of much help, thank y-!"
In his excitement, Isaac answered the priest a bit too loudly. Only after he heard his voice echoing through the hall did he manage to stop himself. Embarrassedly, he looked back towards the entrance and saw a few priests looking at him with less than pleasant expressions. Father Quillon, however, did not seem upset with him. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, looking at Elyse, he proclaimed:
"I'll be busy with the festival for the next few days, so give me that time to look into it properly. We can meet in my office on Water's Day, just before noon. I shall have an answer for you by then."
Elyse nodded and thanked him. Isaac did the same, and they turned to leave.
Their walk out of the temple was done in complete silence.
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"So, did you see anything interesting today, sweetheart?"
"Yes, Mama. There were lots and lots of pretty things. I even saw a real princess dress!"
The family sat around a table at the inn, eating dinner together as planned. Emryn was excited as she recounted the amazing things she had seen today, including a bookshop, a carpenter's shop, and a tailor. She hadn't spent her money yet, but Kit had treated her to a small cluster of purple grapes. She loved the taste so much that she proudly proclaimed it her new favorite food.
Also, her father had picked up a new wooden figure from the carpenter, to add to her set. Her collection featured a princess, a horse, and now, a fox. She had seen a glimpse of one a few weeks ago and hadn't stopped talking about it for days. Needless to say, she seemed very happy with her new toy, which she had on display on the table as she was eating.
"Don't forget, Emryn. Tomorrow, there will be even more things for you to see."
She didn't answer with words, but her eyes were sparkling as she eagerly nodded at her father's reminder. Then, she turned to Isaac, eager to hear the sights he had seen.
"Br... I mean, Isaac, what did you see today?"
The boy turned to Elyse, who gave him an affirming nod. Then, he looked back at Emryn with a smug grin, as if he had one-upped her in today's sightseeing adventure.
"Well, we started walking the main street, and there were lots of kids playing around and people preparing for the festival, mostly like what we saw when we arrived here. But then..."
He paused dramatically, and Emryn grabbed the table edge and leaned in, anticipatingly.
"Then what? What did you see?"
"The holy temple. It was amazing!"
"Woah!"
Emryn's mouth went wide open, and she looked to her mother, who nodded, smiling. Isaac then described how strange the interior of the building seemed, comparing it to 'stepping into a whole new world'. Emryn took it all in like a sponge, and then hurriedly turned to her father, begging him to take her to see it as well. He promised that they would poke their heads in, if only for a little before they headed back to the farm.
"By the way, papa. Will we split up tomorrow as well?"
"Hm? Why do you ask, Emryn?"c
Emryn went quiet and looked down at the table, her confidence rapidly waning. Isaac could see that she was giving him occasional glances, and after a few seconds, she leaned into her dad's ear and whispered something.
"Then, how's this? We'll all go together, at least from the beginning. Then we'll see what we find, and make our decisions from there."
Kit looked at his daughter as he answered, but he was addressing everyone at the table, so Isaac and Elyse nodded in agreement.
"Great. Now, it looks like everyone is done with their dinner, so how about some dessert?"