Chapter 1: Falling Away

In the early morning where the sun is not yet visible. Only the orange hue of its light can be seen, as it slowly creeps into the azure-blue sky.

Across the emerald forests; a large building looms. Its appearance has that of a large temple, with its large pillars built around each corner.

A few individuals walk into the entrance with their white robes, and a hoods over their heads.

Within the interior; there are two sets of pews that stand along side each other. The whole room is lit up by candles along the walls. The windows of the temple has images of a brunette woman wearing armor on her torso, along with an aura, and white feathered wings stretching out from her back. Her eyes are closed, with her hands joined by her abdomen.

Within her hands, a light is seen shining from them along with rays pointing out to all sides.

Another window shows the side of her as if she is falling forward with the light in her arched hand. On the other side is a blonde woman in a similar stance, with the same light in her hand and with a group of figures along side her. It looks as though they're in battle with each other.

At the very front of the temple is a black marble fountain, with a continuous flow of water gushing from the top which gracefully flows down into the larger pool of water below.

The ceilling above shows the reflection of the the waters that dance within the fountain, the light inside it, helps drive the effect.

At the back of the temple near the entrance, three individuals walk between the pews. They stop walking, only for the them to group together, and talk amongst themselves. The one nods and turns away, only to carry on walking towards the front, while the other two went the opposite way to go about their own business.

The hooded individual who has a female figure, walks up the three steps that lead towards the fountain.

The hooded individual kneels down and dips her hands in the water, and rinses her face.

She stays on her knees for a moment with her hands holding the edges of the fountain. She slowly stands herself up, and walks slowly towards the front pew on the left side of the temple. She takes her seat, and joins her hands together and lowers her head.

"Dear, Mother of Light..." she said in a quiet, sorrowful tone.

"...may you guide my ways, I seek refuge under your wing...I know that I may have stumbled in your eyes...I only ask of your forgiveness of any wrong that I may have done...I ask that you may give me strength and wisdom, so that I may know how to live in this world the way it is now...In honor of your name, I pray..." she raises her head, only to look up at the large window of the same image of the woman.

Her face is now lit by the light on the ceiling above which shows her blue eyes, as well as a few strands of white hair against the one side of her cheek.

"... Amen." She stares ahead for a moment, and lets out a sigh.

She gives a downcast look, doubting if her prayers are even heard.

"Beautiful," a young man's voice said with a cheerful tone. The woman gasps as she quickly looks behind her shoulder, only to see young man dressed in the same robe as herself.

The woman looks ahead of herself, for a moment. Puzzled by his odd compliment.

"It wasn't meant to be beautiful," she muttered in a doubtful tone, hoping that he might walk away now.

He takes one step forward, and stands for a moment.

"For a priestess, you certainly are different," he said with now a curious tone.

Something about him, it troubled her.

"Why are you bothering me?" She asked, slightly turning her head.

"You know not to disturb during this practice."

"Oh, of course... My apologies, miss." He said taking a single step back.

"I just want a word with you for a moment...can we talk?" He asked.

He stands, and waits for an answer from her, and notices her lower her head for a moment. She is well aware of how a priest would approach her, this one is strange to her.

"As you wish..." she said in a neutral tone.

"... brother," her tone almost sounded bitter, as if that very word let out her suspicion. She stands up, while avoiding any eye contact with the man, and walks passed him.

He walks slowly behind her as she makes her way towards the exit of the auditorium.

A few moments go by...

The two walk outside of the temple, and onto a gravel road that curves into the forest.

The woman stops walking which urges him to turn to her.

She takes the hood off her head which reveals her soft, yet calm young facial features that is occompanied by her platinum hair in a sheaf hairstyle.

"Woh..." the hooded man whispered, while taking a step back. His words urged her to narrow her gaze.

His surprise confirmed her suspicions.

"You don't think I know?" She said with an angry look on her face.

"Know what?" The man said, taking another step back.

"That you're an imposter!" She quickly steps towards him, and takes the hood off his head, only to reveal him to look much younger than she thought.

She frowns at him with a scolding look in her eyes. So many thoughts run through her head, a young man, and yet a priest.

"What is your business here?" She asked, taking a step forward, which urges him to step back with his hands held up near his chest.

She looks down at his hands, and grabs the sleeve of his white hood.

"This is not yours!" She grabs him by the collar of his hood and pushes him back towards the wall of the temple, and slams him against it with her forearm under his chin.

"Talk!"

The man closes his eyes for a moment.

"Look-" he said, and opens them again to look into hers, only to see her eye pupils glowing bright blue as if there's a circulating furnace in them, which causes him to widen his eyes.

"Alecia," an elderly man's voice is heard from the entrance. The woman gasps, knowing full well of this gruff voice. She quickly turns to look at him.

Only to see him in a similar robe as herself standing with two other individuals.

"What are you doing to this man?" He asked, stepping towards them slowly.

"Elder?" She said, feeling guilt and shame building up within her, with a stressful look in her eyes, she locks her gaze on the old man.

"He is a trespasser and stood as an imposter among our brothers and sisters." She looks at the confused young man against the wall.

"Such deeds should be prosecuted!"

The elderly man sighs sorrowfully.

"Alecia..." he said looking at her with a disappointed look upon his face, which urges Alecia to look at him.

"...your mind is in the right place, however your heart is at odds."

Her feeling of shame and guilt grew.

"What are you saying?" She asked with a trembling tone.

"I have taught you many things in her name..." His voice begins to sound troubled.

"...the action of violence is not one of them."

"But, elder, he-"

"Nothing must urge you to use violence," he said in a strict tone.

"Not even to someone like him." He looks at the young man who is still being held against the wall by Alecia.

"Let him go."

Alecia, looks ahead blankly for a moment. He was right, this isn't what a priestess should do.

She looks up at the man, and pulls her arm away from his throat, leaving him to cough out while he leans against the wall.

Alecia turns away from him, and places her hand on her one arm with a downcast look. Knowing full well of the lecture that she is about to hear.

The elderly man slowly steps towards her with a compassionate look in his eyes.

"Alecia?" he calms his voice, which urges her to look at him.

"For the time you've been here at Angelica's temple, I have noticed your behaviour." Alecia's frown begins to disappear.

The elderly sighs sorrowfully, with a compassionate look in his eyes.

"I am sorry to tell you...that you are not fit to be a priestess."

Alecia's eyes widen with adisturbed look on her face.

"No elder, please," she darts her eyes between him and the other two beside him, seeking their defence.

"I'm sorry," he said with a downcast look.

"I have been discussing about this, and we have all agreed."

Her heart dropped.

"We!?" Her voice raises, with a look of betrayal on her face

Her hand grabs onto the collar of her hoody.

"You can't be serious about this this?" She takes one step back while looking at them, knowing their hearts now.

"I'm afraid so." The man beside him said, which in turn got glare from Alecia.

"What about him!?" Alecia, shouted while pointing at the trespasser, who was about to sneak away.

"He's the one who trespassed here!" She walks in to grab the man by his arm, and holds him in place.

"Why not punish him!?"

"Leave him be." The elder said with a strict tone.

"The only crime that he has done was percinating a priest." He gestures his hand out to the man.

"Now for his punishment as you mentioned. I will only exile him from this temple for a brief period of time."

He lowers his hand to his side.

"Just as I have to do to you as well, since I believe that violence isn't a way to solve problems."

Alecia's bottom lip begins to tremble, she looks at the ground beneath her feet. She can't believe this is happening, she tries to keep herself calm when near him.

"And I'm a problem?" She asked taking a few steps towards the elder

"That's not what I'm saying." The elder said in frustration while he looks at Alecia's eyes, all he can see is her spirit which is deeply troubled, like a child who is lost.

"You still have violence in your heart, and I'm afraid that being here..."

He looks up at the roof of the temple and looks at her once more.

"Being here won't help you overcome the struggles you are going through." His lips form a gentle smile while he looks at her with compassion.

"What about your family?" His question made Alecia raise her eyebrows, with a stunned look in her eyes. She never thought of her family in a while.

"You mentioned you had a sister, you haven't seen her in months. I'm sure you miss her very much."

Alecia closes her eyes with a sigh. Her fingers start to fiddle her hood's collar.

"She doesn't need me." She said with a sorrowful tone.

She opens her eyes and stares at the ground for a moment. Her mind trails back to the thoughts of her sister, reminding herself of the memory of her.

"Maybe so..." The elder said with a calming tone in his voice which urges Alecia to look up at him.

"Perhaps you need her?"

"But..." she said, looking at him with a thoughtful gaze, only for her to give a downcast look. Her thoughts circle throughout her head, about her time as a priestess.

"I really thought that being here would help me."

"I'm sure it has, Alecia." He said with a comforting tone.

"I have seen a lot of positive traits from you, not just the negative."

Alecia, looks up at him with a saddened gaze.

"Good to know." She said averting her eyes. She hardly believes his words.

"So..." she looks at him once more.

"...looks like this is goodbye, then?"

She receives a soft nod from him. Not only that, she sees his saddened look in his eyes.

She looks at the three of them. Waiting for the two to say something, only to receive silence.

"Goodbye," she said, slowly turning around and walks away from them.

The young trespasser, who stands a fair distance, has his gaze locked on Alecia while she continues to walk her way towards the forest.

He lets out a soft sigh while he watches the elder, and the other two walk into the temple once more.

The young man takes off the white hooded-robe, only to have a dark green shirt and black pants and black shoes.

The man walks away from the side of the temple and follows Alecia into the forest.

In the horizon, the sun is seen rising as a bright golden disc, which stretches its light upon the land as it welcomes its warm glow.