Chapter II

“A demon attacked the outskirt of Menna again, my dear priestess! The Demon King’s pawn has gone far beyond our borders once more!” Attari, the commander of the land governed by the monks, priests, and priestesses, reported to Clairra, the highest priestess.

“And what remains of the village? You have troops, a priest, what had happened?” Clairra asked, her voice mellow as she performs a prayer.

“He appeared before us, my dear priestess!”

Finally, Clairra opened her eyes of amber, staring into her the lighted incense but her mind wandered through. The Demon King, stepping inside the light’s territory? He must be mad!

“Who else has seen him, Attari?”

“The villagers, my priestess.”

“Did he harm anyone? Told anyone what reason he has to have stepped inside the sacred land?”

Attari took a moment to respond. 

“The survivors told us he did not harm any of the people but his demons did! He only stared at this tower, like he was looking for something, my priestess.”

But he could barely see the top of the tower from the outskirts. What is this Demon King thinking? Is he planning to conquer the sacred land? 

Demons do not respect each other. They kill their own but they listen to one, scared of one, that’s the Demon King. If she could make him kneel before her, she could make all demons kneel. But how far and at what depth could she dig to grasp this Demon King?

“Leave, Attari and announce my visit to the wounded. I shall talk to the elders and heed their guidance.”

“What if they attack again, my priestess?” Attari asked with sparkles in her eyes. “We’ve not enough guard.”

“Here,” Clairra handed a metallic blue orb. “If the demons come again, say a prayer and a barrier will protect all of you who have faith.”

“Thank you, my dear priestess.” Attari lowered her head and stepped back slowly. Then she turned her back and left the chamber of prayers.

As Clairra was alone in the prayer room, she looks at the altar with a clam shell filled with Holy water. The demons had long interrupted their peace and it has been occurring more frequently in the past days. There has to be something she can do.

Clairra touched the Holy water and it showed her a lady who looks exactly like her. Her brows immediately crossed. The water has been showing her that lady every time she asks for answers. 

The lady of her face surely comes from another world. Just by looking at the way she was oddly dressed, Clairra could figure it out. But there was a connection between them. Clairra feels exhaustion when she gazes at the lady and somehow, she could understand. It was warm.

“I must see the elders.”

At the summit of the tower lairs the elders, sitting on their high thrones, laughing and indulging their titles. When announced of Clairra’s arrival, they immediately turned respectable and quiet.

“Greetings, my elders! I have come to seek of your guidance!” Clairra bowed her head for a moment and look up at them. She despises them but she has better hope for her subjects. 

“What are you in need of us, priestess?” The leader, Heliu, asked. “Disrupt us in our own ease? This should be of the essence.” 

Before Clairra spoke, she clicks her tongue, just enough for them not to hear. “The demons entered our land once more and this has happened way more often than in the past months. It is not just the demons, the Demon King was seen as well.”

The gasps filled the room and whispers began to surface. It was expected. Clairra didn’t want to come here but she is careful enough to let them know so they don’t put the blame on her.

“And now I ask, what I must do to put an end to this. I heed your guidance is essential in this.”

Clairra sees panic before her eyes. The elders were no longer listening to her. They were discussing their escape to the North and the Emperor’s name was mentioned. 

“Cowards,” she uttered and disrespectfully turn her back against the elders. But before she could step out of the door, Heliu had spoken that made her stop.

“The Sage! Seek the Sage of no name and you shall find your answers, my dear priestess! Save us, save your people no matter what!”

***

“I had high hopes, Eyaren! Now they are telling me to journey and pursue this Sage of no name! How am I supposed to find such when I don’t have a name?” Clairra frustratingly whines to her beloved servant. “They should tell me more! And the Holy water! It is showing me someone! It reflects me in another world-- worried and anticipating to perish!

“Calm down, my priestess, Clairra!” Eyaren took her hand and pulled her to sit down on her bed. “Might you want to see Bram and feel all better?”

“Eyaren!” Clairra narrowed her eyes at Eyaren’s ridiculousness which Eyaren just laughed at. “I do not have time for love! I have a whole land to protect from the Demon King. That cruel devil!”

“I understand, my priestess. But sometimes do you get lonely and wished you were never chosen at the selection?”

Clairra’s eyes grew large for a moment with Eyaren’s question. It makes her think of so many things. She has never thought of that but perhaps her loneliness was wishing that out loud too. And she looks away. 

“I have to find the Sage and I shall know what I’m supposed to do to protect all of you.”

That night, Clairra could not sleep and decided to wander the night, wearing only her thin gown. She went out to the endless field of moonflowers, glowing in blue. The moon was high and it was cold but it didn’t bother her.

Clairra giggled upon touching the flowers, and when the glowing pollens floated in the air, she twirls to have more spiraling her. There she forgot to be on her guard, failing to notice that someone was watching her.

“Priestess.”