"O Eshara," A figure whispered, their hands joined together as they knelt down in front of a large lake. It's bright blue colour glistening in the sunlight as a reflection was cast on its surface.
A boy, looking as though he was thirteen, with short dark hair and a small posture. He wore a white tunic with golden trims on its edges. His mouth moved softly as he prayed quietly.
"Blooming One, cradle of mercy,
Guide our breath as you guide the roots,
Let your light awaken the wilted heart,
And your grace mend what the world has broken.
From soil to sky, from seed to soul,
We walk your path in bloom and in stillness..."
He slowly opened his eyes after a short pause , it shined a silvery glint as he sighed quietly. "Why do I always forget this last part!"
"That is because your never focused!" A voice said calmly from behind him. He could here the snapping of branches as the figure pulled closer to him.
He turned slowly, and immediately he saw the figure, he smiled brightly. A smile that could brighten up a room at any given moment as he said, "Mother!"
"Kai!" She replied, a soft smile finding its way on her face as she knelt beside him. "You've always been such a heavy thinker! its why you always forget the most important part of the prayer."
She brushed his hair softly, "Come, let's finish the prayer!"
She closed her eyes and put her arms together,
"May your hands shelter the lost,
May your voice calm the storm..."
Kai slowly opened his eyes, and glanced at the beautiful woman beside him. She had long silver hair and wore the same white tunic as him, her beautiful face calm.and composed as she said the prayer.
He smiled softly, and closed his eyes once more.
"....And may we ever blossom in your name. Amen."
"Mother! Why do we really pray? Are the gods actually real? Are they even alive?"
She smiled softly as she heard the questions, "The air that we breathe, the land we walk on and the food we eat, even the water we drink." She said slowly as she placed her hand in the glittering pond. Her reflection shining on the surface of the pond.
" It's all thanks to them. Just take a look at the beauty of the world we live in, the beauty of the world tree we are sworn to protect."
He looked up at the large tree standing gloriously above the lake. It towered so high one was unable to see its end. It branches large enough to build a whole village on one of them. It's roots deeply rooted into the ground.
"This tree was gifted to us by our goddess, Eshara, the goddess of life! Not only does it grant us amazing aspects, it also gives life to the whole forest as a whole." She turned and looked at Kai.
"One day, you will be the one tasked with leading us and protecting the world tree, just like I am doing now, and how your grandfather did as well!"
"Fine! I think I'm understand now!" Kai said with a sigh, "I will try my best mother! As long as it makes you happy." He smiled brightly.
"That's my boy! Now come, let's head to the temple! We have a prayer to lead." She smiled while rubbing his hair.
They both stood up, and dusted of their tunics, before walking of to the temple in the distance. The sun had already began setting as the golden glow that showered the forest changed into a deep hue of orange.
After walking for another twenty minutes, they made it to the temple. It's large structure towering in the evergreen forest. It glowed with soft vines and luminescent moss.
Spirit beast— deer with petals like antlers, foxes with bark like fur, wandered around freely and peaceful with the people who wore white and green robes
The people living in the temple where had happy smiles on their faces as they went about their duties.
The air was lively and peaceful.
As they strolled through the halls of the temple, the people who saw them showered them with praises, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.
"It's the head priestess! Our goddesses voice!"
"Your prayer grants us courage and strength!"
She smiled and waved at them, causing them to squeal. Kai watching this smiled.
He looked up, 'Hmmmm! The birds! Why are they all flying this way!' His eyes squinted, he could see a dark fog, though not thick and visible, it was still there. 'What is going on!'
Suddenly a man ran up to his mother, he had a white light armour around his body and a sword by his side, "Head priestess Aeryn!" He exclaimed before whispering something into her ear.
Kai could see it, his mother's eyes darkening as with each word that came out of the man's mouth.
*BOOM*
Suddenly a large explosion occured, causing the whole temple tremble. Kai stumbled backwards from the shock waves, his ears ringing as the sounds of people screaming hit him.
He could see it. It wasn't fog after all, thick smoke crept across the sky, swallowing the horizon.
He turned to his mother, "Mother! What is happening?"
But Aeryn didn't answer, her face going pale as her lips pressed into a thin line. She turned and faced the armoured man once more. "Take the civilians to the sanctuary chamber! Start with the children."
"But—"
"That's an order!" She said, her expression grim.
"Yes head priestess!" The man saluted before running off.
She then turned to face Kai, "Kai! Come! Follow me!" She grabbed his hand and started walking through the temple with hurried steps, her grip tight as she dragged kai through the halls.
"Mother! Your not explaining things to me, what is happening?"
"Shhhhh! Just follow me quietly!" She replied, her voice grim as her grip tightened.
Noticing how tense she was, he kept quiet and followed. They followed through a flight of stairs that took them under the temple.
A large door blocked their path, which she hurriedly opened with a key she brought out of her tunic. She pushed the door and a large chamber showed itself.
She took a long breathe inside and turned to face Kai. She could tell just from how his eyes shone that he had a lot of questions. She smiled lightly and squated down to his level.
"Kai! Listen to me! I want you to stay inside here for a while, just wait for Mommy to come and get you! Okay!"
"Mother! You still haven't told me what is happening!" He questioned.
"Don't worry about it! Your mother will handle it. Just stay in here for the mean time okay!" She said as she slowly pushed him into the room.
"Mother! Please answer me!"
"Don't worry! I will tell you when I come back. Mommy has something important to do for now." She said as she began closing the door.
His eyes widened as he watched his mother close the door, her expression faltering. "Mother! Please!"
"Don't forget to always pray." She smiled as she closed the door and locked it. Her expression finally broke as tears began streaming down her eyes. She clenched her teeth and ran upstairs.
Meanwhile in the chamber, Kai sat in the middle, his head buried in between his knees. The sounds of screaming and explosion getting louder with each passing second.
Tears streamed down his eyes, he had a lot of questions but couldn't get a single answer. Was the temple going to be destroyed, was he going to loose everything he once had.
There where too many unanswered questions.
"O Eshara! Blooming one, cradle of mercy,
Guide our breath as you guide the roots..." He whispered to himself, his words cracking, tears pouring down his eyes as he rocked himself with the words of the prayer taught to him by his mother.
******