Alennya's Story
Prologue (Part I)
A chill wind blew lightly through her hair that morning. The sun hung
low in the sky, mostly obscured by dull grey clouds. Before her, the stone
steps leading to the Temple stretched out and up. She felt the slightest
squeeze on her left hand, the one held by the slender figure standing next to
her.
Turning her head, the child looked up. Next to her, gazing
emotionlessly at the steps, was her mother. She had no idea why Mother had
taken her to this place, but it was not for her to question. Mother's word was
Law. She felt another tug on her hand, as her mother stepped forward in an
effortless glide. The child scrambled forward, trying to maintain the same
kind of grace and dignity her mother, without falling behind as she tried to
climb the large steps.
The child was not very tall yet, as she was still a few months shy of
her fifteenth birthday. To her, this was a normal thing, having never met any
humans to know that she would appear but a small child of perhaps four or five
years in their eyes. As such, she had to struggle to climb the steps fast
enough to keep up with her mother's pace. She looked up every so often, as if
to plead for her mother to slow down some, but her mother's gaze was locked
firmly forward.
By the time they had reached the top of the stairs, the child was
nearly out of breath. Her mother stopped, and pulled on her hand yet again.
Sensing her mother's wishes, she did her best to compose herself, standing up
straight and tall. It was then that she noticed the priests.
They stood about ten feet away, at the main doors to the Temple
proper. Both looked strange to the child, as they had no points on their ears,
and their skin was much paler than even hers, let alone that of her mother.
Her experiences with those from the outside world had been very limited, as
mother had never allowed her outside the small shrine where they had lived in
seclusion. Aside from the few Perpetuim who lived there, she had never seen
another living being.
"Why have you come here? Though we both respect the same God, your
dark ways are not welcome in this holy place," the first priest spoke in
challenge, towards her mother. His robes were a bright white, and he bore a
tattoo of a crown of stars. At his belt hung a sword of some shining metal, on
whose hilt his hand rested tensely.
"I have matters to resolve," came the reply from her mother, its tone
icy and biting. Her mother let go of her hand, and brought it to the handle of
the whip tucked into her belt. The hostility seemed to hang physically in the
air around them all. Frowning, the second priest put up a hand, as if to
interject between his companion and the child's mother.
"Speak, then, please. Let us not come to battle in this holy place,"
said the second priest. He then looked down at the child, as if noticing her
for the first time.
"I have come to deliver this child into your care and teaching."
The child looked up at her mother questioningly, not knowing what
exactly the meaning of those words held for her. At the same time, a perplexed
look came over the face of the second priest, as the first nearly exploded in
fury.
"This is an outrage! We'll not have scum of your kind in this place!
Take her to the other temples, for your own kind, we'll only train.." he
blustered, as the second priest cut him off again with another hand motion.
"This is an unusual request. You're aware that we only train priests
in the path of the Light here, aren't you?" he queried, answered only by a curt
nod from her mother. "I see," he continued. "Tell her to come here, then.
What's her name?"
Her mother then turned slightly, and glanced over at her. "Go over to
him, Alennya. Take this with you, as it contains my remaining instructions to
you." She then handed the child a small book, bound in some unusual kind of
leather, held together with a tiny golden clasp. "Remember what I have taught
you." The child looked up uncertainly at her mother, then stepped hesitantly
over to the second priest, who squatted down to welcome her.
"Hello there, Alennya," he smiled, but her attention had already
shifted back to her mother, who had turned and begun to descend the steps.
"Mother! Don't leave me! I'll be good! I won't cry anymore! I
promise!" she shouted, with sudden vigor, and began running after her mother.
As fast as she ran, though, her mother seemed to recede further and further
into the distance.
It was then that she realized she was sitting bolt upright in bed,
tangled sheets drenched in sweat, tears streaming uncontrollably down her
face. The young woman stared at the wall across the room, where the vision of
her mother in the dream had walked moments before, then held her head in her
hands and continued to weep.
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