Thread: Facing Fate (the-juggalo-warrior & darkangel76)

The bells sounded, echoing throughout the air. The chimes of the bells of the Girion Order rang out signaling to all who lived within the walls of the temple that they needed to pay one last rite of homage to the deity Girio, before retiring for the night. The priestesses living within the sacred walls, lined up and walked their way to where the ceremony would be held, a vast room filled with lit candles and smelling of sweet herbs. Elana Verin, a priestess-in-training, walked with her sisters to the ceremonial room. She held her head in a bowed position, her nearly black hair shielding her luminescent gray eyes from sight. She watched the ground as she walked almost mechanically to where the ceremony was to be held. Her hands gripping her white robe tightly against her body. Deep within her belly, Elana was dreading the end of the day. Shed been told earlier, by her mentor, that she needed to leave Girion Temple and make her pilgrimage to the city of Seras, Girios most sacred city. More than anything, she did not want to leave the safety and security of the temple. She knew of no other way of life and had heard stories of the outside world that frightened her beyond belief. Her mentor had said that such a pilgrimage was done precisely for this reason. To not only see Girios holy city for itself, but to gain a better understanding of the outside world. Elanas mentor had seemed so casual, so at ease, when she spoke about it. But Elana felt a coldness inside, fear. She hoped that her feelings of dread would all be for naught, that indeed the world would not be as frightening as she thought. Her sisters had all spoken words of comfort and encouragement to her about the pilgrimage. Letting her know how wonderful an experience it was for them and how it made them stronger in their faith. Elana wanted to believe that her mentor and sisters were correct. She had to believe it if she were to make it all the way to Seras. She was told that shed be accompanied by a small entourage, a group of people who would ensure her safety and be able to explain to her about all the new and fascinating things shed be seeing along the way. This did bring her some comfort and she prayed to Girio that he would look after her as she journeyed. As she walked up to the statue of Girio located within the ceremonial room, Elana kneeled down, her hands still gripping at her robe. Lowering her hood, she looked up into the face of the statue. Please watch over me on this journey, Girio. Let my fate hold for me the beauty of the world, the excitement and joy it can bring to my life. Let me learn to see and appreciate everything thats in it. To see the good in it all and to gain a better understanding of myself in the process. Smiling to herself and feeling much more at ease, Elana stood up and placed her hood back over her head. Slowly, she made her way toward her chambers where she would rest for the night one last time before making the journey to Seras. She would miss the temple, her sisters, her mentor. But she found a renewed sense of strength after her prayer. She was ready to face the outside world and all that it had to offer.