26: Lady of the Magic Tower - Part 2

Sophia waited until the last of the younger priestesses-in-training left the room, leaving only Priestess Lilith, Auriel, and Carol.

Once the door closed, she sighed deeply and turned to face the two. Her cheerful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a grim seriousness that made even Auriel uneasy.

"There's something strange happening in a village on the outskirts of my territory." 

Sophia began, her voice low and measured. Once she was sure she had everyone's attention, she continued to speak.

"The people there have been falling into a deep sleep, one by one. At first, it seemed random, but now nearly half the population has succumbed. They don't wake up, no matter what we try. I cannot sense any trace of magic in the area, not even the faintest aura."

Auriel tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. 

"No magic at all? That's… unusual."

"Exactly. At first, I thought it was some sort of illness, so I sent healers. But they couldn't identify anything wrong with the bodies of the afflicted. Then I sent mages to investigate, but even they came back empty-handed—and one of them fell asleep as soon as they returned to the village."

Sophia clenched her fists, her voice rising slightly in urgency. 

"This is not something ordinary. I need your help, Divine One. I believe you might be the only one who can figure out what's going on."

Priestess Lilith frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing as she studied Sophia. 

"And you think dragging the Divine One into your problems is the solution? This sounds like a local issue—one that you should be able to manage on your own, Candidate Sophia. The goddess is not here to handle your every inconvenience."

Sophia bristled but kept her composure. 

"This is not just a 'local issue,' Priestess Lilith. If it spreads beyond the village, it could turn into a disaster. What happens if entire towns or cities are affected? If this is some kind of curse or… worse?"

Lilith folded her arms, unimpressed.

"Even so, the Divine One's role is not to clean up after you. Surely you understand that, as a candidate for the Empress."

Auriel, who had been silent until now, raised a hand, halting the brewing argument. 

"Wait. Sophia, you said you couldn't sense any magic, right? None at all?"

Sophia nodded eagerly, hope lighting up her face. 

"That's correct. Not a trace."

Auriel's brows furrowed. Something about this situation tugged at her mind—a faint memory of her recent encounter with dark magic. A place where magic could not be felt could very well be a place where it was deliberately suppressed. And the unnatural nature of the villagers' sleep…

"It might be worth checking out. Priestess Lilith, please make preparations for me to leave for this village as soon as possible."

Auriel spoke confidently. For the first time, she saw Lady Sophia more than her title and the mask she wore.

Lilith sighed heavily, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Goddess Auriel, please understand your position. We cannot have you running toward danger-"

"I'll take responsibility. If this is nothing, I'll return immediately. But if it's dark magic…it is my responsibility to take care of.."

Lilith glared at Sophia, who looked like she was trying very hard not to smirk. 

"Fine. But if anything goes wrong, Auriel, you'll answer for it. And Sophia, if this turns out to be a waste of time…"

Priestess Lilith agreed, but she looked tired than before. 

Auriel sighed inwardly. Why does that sound more like a threat than reassurance?

"Let's get moving. The sooner we investigate this village, the sooner we can figure out what's going on."

Auriel made the final decision, but she felt as if she was moving at Lady Sophia's pace. Or, that's what she felt every time she looked at Lady Sophia's face

As they left the room, Sophia's excitement was palpable, but Auriel couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in her chest. Whatever was waiting for them in that village, she had a sinking suspicion it wasn't going to be simple.

"I shall head back for now, Goddess Auriel. I will come and pick you up at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Please, eagerly await my presence, and I am sure we will be able to have some fun."

Before anyone could stop her, Lady Sophia made her way over to the goddess, taking her hand in her own and pulling it closer to her chest.

"Then, my lady, we shall meet in two days. Please, dream of me in that time—"

"Priestess Lilith, no! You cannot kill her!"

Carol's voice rang in Auriel's ears as she watched Sophia press a light kiss on the back of her hand before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Seconds later, a knife landed where Sophia had been standing, mere inches away from Auriel's feet.

"Tsk, I was too slow. Next time, I won't miss. How dare that young girl decide to challenge me like this and try to sully the priestess's name? Goddess Auriel, are you alright? You didn't get any of the… germs on you, did you?"

Priestess Lilith asked as she quickly performed a cleansing ceremony to rid Auriel of any residue that might have been left on her body.

Goddesses could not have their bodies contaminated or sullied by earthly pleasures—this fact was quite well known.

But despite knowing this, Priestess Lilith seemed to have no intention of letting it go. Auriel could only sigh in exasperation as she allowed the priestess to disinfect her hand as she pleased.

Well, at least Carol is finding it funny. I can tell that she wants to laugh but isn't able to because she's afraid she'll get punished if she does.

______

Auriel collapsed onto her bed, exhaustion weighing her body down like a lead blanket. 

Her mind swirled with the events of the day—Lady Sophia's visit, the uneasy alliance they'd formed, and Priestess Lilith's overzealous reaction to everything. 

She closed her eyes, letting out a weary sigh, and was just about to drift into sleep when a strange sensation washed over her.

Auriel's instincts flared, sharp and sudden, urging her to stay awake. 

It was an unfamiliar feeling, one she hadn't experienced in years, but Auriel had learned long ago never to ignore her instincts. Groaning softly, she rolled out of bed and rubbed her temples.

"I won't sleep until I figure this out, will I?" 

Auriel muttered to herself.

Throwing on a loose robe, she stepped out of her room and into the dimly lit hallways of the temple. The quiet was almost oppressive, broken only by the soft hum of distant chanting and the flicker of torches lining the walls. Walking aimlessly at first, Auriel let the cool air clear her mind.

That was when she noticed it—a shadow slipping around the corner ahead of her. It moved quickly, unnaturally silent. Her instincts surged again, this time screaming at her to act. Without hesitation, she followed.

"Who's there?" 

Auriel called softly, her voice barely above a whisper. There was no reply.

The shadow disappeared around another corner, and she quickened her pace. Whoever it was, they were fast, leading her deeper into the temple than she had ever gone before. 

The walls became narrower, the carvings on them more intricate and unfamiliar. The air grew colder, and with every step, an unsettling feeling crept into her chest.

Auriel stopped to catch her breath, realizing she had no idea where she was. This part of the temple was foreign to her, and the oppressive silence around her made it feel almost otherworldly. 

The flickering torches here cast strange, distorted shadows on the walls, and the air carried a faint, metallic tang.

She considered turning back when a voice cut through the stillness.

"You should not be here, Goddess Auriel."

Auriel spun around to find a priestess standing behind her. The woman was clad in simple robes, her head bowed respectfully, yet there was something disconcerting about her presence. Her face was partially obscured by the dim light, but her tone was sharp, almost accusatory.

"This place is not for someone of your stature. It is a lowly place, unworthy of your divine presence," 

The priestess continued, her voice steady but devoid of warmth.

Auriel narrowed her eyes, her suspicion growing. She had never seen this priestess before, and something about her words felt... wrong.

"Ah, is that so? Would you mind telling me what is in that hallway?"

The priestess didn't answer. Instead, she stepped closer, her movements deliberate. 

"You should return to your chambers. There is nothing for you here."

Auriel's instincts screamed at her to press further, to demand answers, but the unease in her chest grew unbearable. Reluctantly, she nodded, deciding to heed the warning—for now.

"Very well. I shall return back to my room now."

Auriel turned and retraced her steps, though it took her longer than expected to find her way back to familiar territory. By the time she returned to her chambers, her earlier exhaustion hit her like a wave, and she collapsed onto her bed once more.

"I'll figure it out tomorrow." 

She murmured, her mind already slipping into unconsciousness.

But when the morning came, the events of the night felt distant, like a half-forgotten dream. By the time Priestess Lilith arrived with the day's schedule, Auriel couldn't even remember why she had been so unsettled the night before.

The next morning, Auriel woke up feeling refreshed, but she also had a feeling that she forgot about something important.