A rough bamboo broom scraped across the cold bluestone floor.The sound was sharp enough to make teeth ache.Lila gripped the broom handle so tight her knuckles turned white.Chilblains covered the backs of her hands, and several blisters on her palms had burst open. Blood mixed with dirt, sending searing pain shooting up her arms.She wore a faded grey coarse linen robe today. A veil covered her face, hiding the toxic blisters that still hadn’t fully faded.This was the back hill of the Moon Temple.The once-proud daughter of the Silver Moon Chieftain was now reduced to the lowest form of drudgery, sweeping floors.“Hurry up, stop slacking!” A fat temple overseer walked past, lashing her back with a rattan cane without mercy.Lila stumbled, nearly falling.She bit her tongue to hold back a cry of pain, bowed her head, and kept sweeping.Two young acolytes carrying basins of holy water walked past the cloister.“Come on, stay away from her. You’ll never wash off the bad luck.”“Heard
Last Updated : 2026-05-16 Read more