The Onyx Of Yore

High Priestess Devan

There was a narrow path connecting the church to the palace. It was a path only known to the royal family according to Mila and this was tradition. It was an interesting tradition. On Earth, the royal family and the church were closely connected but in truth, they were enemies who cut each other from the shadows. 

There is hope in my heart that this is not the case on Yore but everything I have hoped for has not gone according to plan. 

Not to mention that I don't have any magic as well. 

Gem-humans could use magic. That was the law. Whether it was powerful magic or mediocre magic, it depended on the quality of the gem and the hard work of the host. The most powerful gem-humans are the ones who take extra steps to strengthen their gems and produce more magic. 

But the gem in my chest had no magic at all. I couldn't sense any magic or produce any magic. Mila said I had been like that since I was born. It was disappointing. But, going to the High priestess might yield some results. The real prince hadn't seen the High Priestess before so I didn't have to pretend to be him. 

The path was dark, only illuminated by an orb Mila handed to me. I walked for quite a while before I chanced upon a crystal door. They were very large tall doors that gave with only one push. The floors were also made with crystals, making a click-clack sound as I walked across them. 

The floors started to illuminate. Looking under my feet, it looked like a pond where huge fishes of different colors swam around. As they swam towards the floor, they lit up in different colors. One illuminated in blue right next to me, scaring me to a standstill with the huge eyes that stared back unflinchingly. 

I walked as fast as I could, opening the next door and shutting it behind me. As I breathed in relief, the next room was worse. This time, the swimming fishes were right in front of my eyes. My body froze in fear. The room was white, the walls weren't in sight and the huge fishes were swimming around freely, in the absence of water. 

I was too scared to open the door behind me. I had only just come back to life and now, I was going to lose my life getting eaten by giant fishes. Soon, one of the fishes noticed me and came swimming. I closed my eyes and flinched. 

Before it got close, the door opened from behind me and a slender hand pulled me back outside. 

"Are you stupid?! What were you doing in there?!"

"I don't know! They were really about to kill me?!"

"They won't just kill you, they would eat your soul. Those are angels, the guardians of Satros!"

"Why were they behind a door like this?!"

"That's actually a good question. They actually randomly appear anywhere in the church. That's why we don't allow people in the inner sanctum. Which brings me to my own question. Who are you?"

"King Ketri Manni Von Belvari. Who are you?"

"High Priestess Devan Atress. Nice to meet you, your majesty"

The light came on and I finally saw who saved me. She was about my height, long flowing pink hair, a veil around her face, dressed in long white robes with a silver necklace and a pendant shaped as the fishes we just saw with a gem in its mouth. 

"Pleasure to meet you. Um, I was asked to come here but I don't know why I'm here"

"Ah, that's...... actually, I don't know too. I recently became High priestess too"

And thus, we arrived at quite a pickle. 

"Ah, seriously, what is the use of arriving in a fantasy world if I can't use magic?" I grumbled. 

"What?"

"Nothing. I guess I'll have to go back now. Thank you for saving me"

"Wait! Your Majesty, I can't feel life from your gem"

I would expect that much from a High Priestess. Still, what could she do about it?

"Yes. I cannot use magic and my gem is apparently dead. Can you fix that?"

"Such a thing is not something that can easily be 'fixed', your majesty. After all, the life in your gem has been robbed. At this point, that thing might as well be a decoration. It's like leaving a dead child in the womb of its mother"

What?

It's a morbid comparison but I never knew the issue was so severe. Did the parents of this body know about this? Did Mila know about this?

Is there a way I can even fix this?

"There is a way you can bring your gem back to life"

"Really?!" I grabbed her by her arms, excited at the prospect of hope. She nodded quickly, her veil remaining firmly over her face. I released her and stared her in the face. 

"In exchange for what?"

"Nothing. I am a High Priestess, representing the will of our guardian deity. Bribery and extortion is not something I should dabble in"

"But the church and the palace......"

"Such affairs are not my concern. My role is decided by the voice of our deity and right now, they are asking me to be your friend"

"A.... friend? How strange"

"How strange indeed. So do you refuse, o king, to be my friend?"

I smile, stretching my hand for a handshake. There was no iota of ill will coming from her and she had saved me once. From her 'aura', I could see she was much more powerful than the others I met during my coronation. Having her as a friend wouldn't be so bad.

"I will be your friend"