The Hall of Devotion
1154 Words
I look up at the sky, the sun had begun to set over the horizon. It happened again. Ever since I found this garden three days ago, i've spent every waking moment here, cleaning and tending to the plants. When this started, everything was overgrown and the various structures were either buried in plants or crumbling away... but now, looking around, you can actually see just how glorious this little place could be.
" Your highness"
I turn to see Enoch glaring at me from the archway, a look of total displeasure on his face. I already knew what he was thinking about.
"Enoch-"
"what are you doing here?" He says " you should be deciding your specialization, your running out of time."
seeing my expression, he sighes.
" having a hobby is wonderful, your highness," He says " but you must prioritize your responsibilities first. As a royal-"
" I know." i say " As a royal, my duty to the people and the nation take precedence over all else... but i wasn't raised a royal."
I look at the plants surrounding me, at the piles of crumbled collumns and the walls of tangling vines.
" This scene, this is what i'm used to." I say " for as long as I can remember, i've been surrounded by plants."
" really?"
"My parents found me in the forest." I say " A baby nestled within the roots of a tree, as if it were safely cradling me within its boughs.. My mother was overjoyed to discover such a sight."
I stand up, brushing myself off.
"your... mother?"
"the woman who raised me."
"I see."
"my mother says that the day she found me, she knew it was fate." I say " That the forest protected me until she could, she says I am blessed by the gods... a Miracle.. her miracle."
"she sounds incredible."
"she is." I say " my father was too."
"was?"
Theres a sharp pain in my heart, the memory of what had occured haunted me.
" He died." I say "in the line of duty."
" may I ask how?"
"my father was captain of the village gaurd." I say " one day, monsters somehow got into the village and were attacking people. During the fight to defend the village, my father perished protecting a child."
"i'm sorry."
" Losing my father destroyed my mother." I go on " she couldn't believe she'd failed to save him... she's an herbalist, you see, but he was beyond help.. If only that outbreak had never happened."
Suddenly, a thought came to mind.
" Enoch, what powersource are monsters born from?"
"Dark energy" he says " the worst kind. A type of dark energy even dark mages hesitate to use."
"what energy is opposite that energy? light?"
"no. whiles its true light is the opposite of dark" He says " this type of dark energy is considered its own category, one not offered here at the academy. The only energy that can go against it would be Holy power, but thats not something this school can teach."
" how come?"
" because Holy power isn't magic but rather the gift of divinity." He says " its not something that can be inherited or passed down, the gods must bestow it upon you, typically at birth. And even if you recieved such a thing, which is quite rare, everyones holy power is different. Its not something that can be taught."
" I see." I say " but, what if-"
"my lady?"
"Enoch, take me to the Hall of Devotions"
His eyes widen, he quickly stands, hurriedly following after me as I leave the garden.
"Your highness, that particular Hall is only open to those prepared to devote themselves to a particular diety." He says " which rarely ever happens bec-"
"I know, its because mages utilize various forms of magic" I say " and devoting oneself to a singular diety is said to minimize your reach in the magical realm."
"exactly, why would you desire-"
" because it houses the energy archive" i say "thats why"
" You shouldn't-"
I reach for the doors but he blocks them. His expression was that of desperation.
" your highness!" He exclaims " you must not enter this hall."
"why not?"
" once one enters the hall of devotion" he says " you cannot leave the hall until a devotion has been made. The Gods-"
"If what I think is in there is, than i'm perfectly fine with that."
"My lady, you cannot mean-"
"I do. I'm willing to devote myself to a single diety" I say " step aside, Enoch."
I know what I want to do, and I know who to go to in order to do it... but the question is, will she accept my devotion... or will she cast me aside? If she accepts me, then my future is sure to be grand, but should she deny me... than that which I desire is lost. Even so, I have to go in.
" as you wish"
Enoch steps aside and I grab hold of the door. theres no turning back now. I pull the door open and enter the hall of Devotion, unsuure of rather I would find what I was looking for or rather or not I would come out of that place alive. I walk down the long corridor, torches lit themselves as I made my way forward, coating the stone floors in brilliant light. it was eerily silent within the halls, the air was dry and dusty with a scent reminescent of a building which had been sealed off for centuries, proof that not many visit this sacred place for fear of what it holds.
" I cannot enter with you, My lady" Enoch calls
" thats fine. wait there." I say " this shouldn't take long."
I walk down the firelit paths, soon walking past large statues of dieties which lined the way.
" where are you, Ma'at?"
As if in answer to my plea, a large pit lit on fire revealing a large statue behind it of a woman in Egyptian garbs.
" Ma'at" I say " I knew it."
Having found the diety i was searching for, I walk towards the fire, kneeling before it.
"Goddess of Balance, I beseech you," I say " hear me and grant my request..."
the fire suddenly disappears only to roar back to life moments later.
" Do you wish to offer your eternal devotion?"
I look over to see a hooded figure before me, a fabric covering over his face. Who is this man? and where did he come from?
"Answer me, child." He says " Are you offering our goddess your everlasting devotion?"
" I am."
Silence filled the room as if to allow my answer to sink into its walls.
" Then let us begin the ceremony."
- Writer
