III: Despair
Eight years later
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“I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M becoming a priestess,” Fari said. “Do you think I’m ready, Aksha?”
Akshara braided Fari’s long black hair. She was jealous of it, because her own had turned completely silver in her fourteenth year. Of course, Fari told her she was still beautiful no matter what color her hair turned.
“You’ve always been ready,” said Akshara. “Soon you’ll be a priestess and I’ll probably end up married to Heko.”
Fari laughed. “Is that so bad? I told you he’d grow up handsome, and he did. He’s turned out exactly as I predicted.”
“Your powers impress me, priestess. You even predicted Heko’s deep voice and muscles. It’s too bad that none of that does anything for me.”
Akshara had never confessed her love to Fari, but it was obvious to anyo
