Remiel was similar to Aster in many ways. They were both considered as "chosen" by the Holy Beings and both possessed considerable magic abilities. However, Remiel was different. Unlike Aster, Remiel exuded a warmth and charm that drew people close to him and made them yearn for his approval and recognition. That aside, Remiel possessed an elegant beauty that made him incredibly popular with the commoners and nobility alike. His short silver hair was always combed neatly to the side, his golden eyes shining radiantly with holy power. While the other apprentice priests at the Holy Seer's Temple wore a smart white uniform with blue details, Remiel wore one that was white and gold, as he was the heir of the Holy Seer.
Remiel seemed perfect.
But he was not.
And Aster knew exactly how. The powers of a Saintess comprised of three parts - aura, matter and void. The powers of aura helped the Saintess see the darkness and light in people she spoke to. However, the aura would only be visible if the Saintess made physical contact with the said person. The powers of matter gave the Saintess the ability to heal wounds and illnesses. The powers of void were a defensive ability that shielded and nullified attacks on the Saintess' body - be it physical or spiritual. While her teacher at the Temple had taught her how to control her powers extensively, Aster had always felt like her knowledge was one step away from the full picture. However, she had never bothered to learn more than she had been taught.
It was the first night that Aster came to the Temple, that she encountered Remiel. Her attendant had left her in the carriage and gone inside to relay the news of her arrival. While her mode of transportation was luxurious, it turned out that it had been an elaborate ploy by the Holy Seer to avert attention from her arrival at the Temple. She discovered this when the door of the carriage opened prematurely and a young cloaked boy jumped in.
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"Elina!" the young boy exclaimed without looking at the passenger, instead bending down and wiping the dust off his trousers.
"Took you long enough to return." he continued, now settling for dusting off his shoes.
It was clear that Aster had been brought to her destination in the private carriage of one of the residents of the Temple.
It was only then that the young boy noticed the unusually poor make of his companion's shoes. He looked up.
Aster stared at the unwelcome visitor blankly. It was clear that he had mistaken her for someone else.
On seeing the face of his co-passenger, the young boy jerked back instinctively.
Then uncharacteristically, Aster held out her hand. "I'm Aster." She said, omitting vital information.
"Remiel", the response came and just as uncharacteristically, the usually shrewd Remiel, unthinkingly reached out and held Aster's hand.
It was a few seconds, but Aster saw Remiel's aura - a deep purple aura that was steeped in deception and hatred. Then, enmeshed in the miasma of hate, thin whisps of a pure golden aura rose out, as if escaping from its clutch. A golden aura so pure and good, that it confused Aster and made her question everything that she had determined about Remiel.
As if sensing that some magic had been used on him, Remiel pulled back his hand and moved away from Aster. Still unaware of her identity, he let out a disarming smile.
Aster smiled at him. Interesting, she thought. She had never come across any one else with such duality in character.
It was as if her mathematical world had encountered something a little - unpredictable.