Walking along the west side of Glacial River, Sorein found himself quietly admiring the twisting path leading away from his cityless residence.

He'd spent the last hour watching river spirits tease fish along the shoreline as their leisure pace continued. The apartment was a convenient fifteen minute walk from the outskirts of Chiori Faire, with quick access to Bentrii in the south.

He relished how easy shopping would be in the anonymous town of farmers. Though agriculture brought wealth, they were a community of soft spoken workers who seldom asked questions.

Questions were all his companions seemed to be full of these days.

"So many children," Jeremy muttered, bemused by a small boy brushing past.

Noah laughed. "It's not so bad."

"Says the extrovert."

Sorein exhaled and tossed a fleeting look around the crowded streets. Kids played with mythical toys and chased each other into candy shops.

A small Therian girl reminded him how different they could be. Despite her small stature, mature eyes scanned the parade for her friends. Their natural lifespans were twice that of the Fae and slow.

Many double the age of their appearance.

Before Sorein knew it, they entered the heart of Chiori Faire, where the festival was underway.

Loud music pounded through the cobblestone streets, drums rumbling the ground beneath them. Flutes filled the air with their melody, fits of laughter announcing a magical atmosphere.

His training allowed him to catch the concealed weapons arming supposed citizens, hidden guards dispersed among the floats.

A sharp pop gave way to millions of confetti strands falling from above, colors so vibrant they might've burned were the skies not clouded with looming rain.

Noah seemed mesmerized, mouth agape, as he watched the festival-goers. He was so distracted, he was almost run over by a girl dashing past.

"S-sorry," she blurted out, keeping her head down.

Sorein's gaze slid from the thousands of ribbons fluttering through the air, the bright blues, violets, and oranges giving way to a short, slender girl dressed in white weaving through the crowd.

A lengthy braid bounded against the girl's lower back, a flaming chestnut tail waggling after her.

"Isn't that Princess Dalaminai?" Jeremy murmured, as if he were trying to keep it a secret. "Rhydian told me she never leaves the palace grounds, not even for Solstice."

Sorein didn't need to have that conversation with the Therian Lord to know that Iliya Dalaminai never left her estate.

So to see her dashing through the brilliant colors and winding between stalls was astonishing to say the least, although she didn't stop long enough to make contact with another soul, gliding through the crowds as a ghost would through Azuris.

He didn't feel the need to mention just why it had become so rare to see the young girl passing through the streets.

He drifted closer, eyes locked onto her lean frame, fit with white knee length shorts and a billowing blouse tucked into them. The only way he'd pick her out of the throng of people gathering outside the Temple and kiosks.

The white streak was a beacon to Aida, herself.

With his palms beginning to sweat, Sorein dragged his attention back to his friends.

They, too, watched the princess run.

"Should we go after her?" Noah asked. His friend's words were laced with awe and admiration.

Sorein noticed the way she slipped past every stare and danced away from every wandering eye.

A ghost.

Just as she wanted to be.

He knew there was nothing he could say to her, offer her. He wasn't supposed to be here.

"No," he said quietly. "Let's make our way to the Temple."

~ 🔮 ~

It shouldn't be possible.

The looming wraith of a Fae prince could've been anywhere.

Iliya had barely left the Estate, her fears fading to the background. Her entire world screeched to a halt at the sight of him, as if even in a sea of endless people she would always crash into him.

She slowed to a stop outside Aida's Temple, eyes tracking the area wildly and marking her surroundings. There would be no rehashing once she entered the sacred building.

Taking a deep breath, she assessed the Therian and Fae hovering along the steps, waiting to be let in. A line had begun to form, starting near the entrance and pooling into a large herd near the stairs.

The music played like a distant hum behind them, dissipating as night drew near. All sound would soon cease for the first vigil, until dawn crested the horizon. Every immortal soul would spend many days without rest in honor of creation.

The birth of light.

Staring up at the large polished stone, Iliya swallowed roughly as her lungs caught up with her mind. This Temple was her safe haven, a respite.

Within these walls, speaking wasn't simply prohibited, one could be exiled.

If a sneering royal wanted a piece of her, they could not bite.

The law was so sacred, even the Fae revered its integrity.

Iliya steadied herself, straightening out her clothes and gliding through the crowd. She was small, just barely peeking over the shoulders of most, making stealth effortless.

Keeping her chin tipped down, she avoided eye contact with everyone but the young priestess guarding the door.

"Mah Leithae," Iliya murmured to her. "Theileh..."

The Priestess blinked in surprise, before smiling. "Aenio, Phrina."

Iliya's body went stiff. Phrina, the Therian word for princess, was rarely spoken anymore, although she remembered her mother whispering it to put her to sleep.

Most Therian royalty was either male or serving a throne in Tae'Rainne.

The priestess brushed her hand along the small of Iliya's back, guiding her inside, and whispers stirred behind her. She knew many would wonder why someone was allowed to enter before the ceremony.

She kept her gaze fixed on the ground, training herself to memorize every crack and marble.

She was safe now.

Iliya stepped into a large room wrapped in crystal and stone, four glowing pillars of quartz and obsidian reached towards the translucent ceiling.

The Temple expanded beyond the columns, offering hundreds of plush benches. Some were placed in crescents for families and wakes, others were separate.

The ground beneath her became soft, giving under her weight, as if she were walking on a large pillow. It was still taut enough that she never worried about losing her balance.

In the center of the farthest wall stood a statue of Aida. The impression of her body had been carved out as if the temple began and ended with her.

Surveying the empty chamber, Iliya found herself wandering, inspecting the various paintings along the walls. A story could be followed around the entire room, ending at the Goddess of Life and Magic herself.

The ink and oil blended in a whirl of gorgeous colors, depicting the story of Aida's creation.

The Afterworld.

To save her sister Kolida from the corruption of her lover, Peruk, the God of Space and Darkness.

A world many believed the Gods still dwelled in.

Iliya traced the golden frames with her fingers, time slipping away, until the doors behind her opened again.

Iliya took a deep breath and hurried to the small alcove off to the left.

The Therian Wing, where only the royal families of Chiori and Tae'rainne could sit vigil.

To the right was the Fae Wing for royals, either left vacant or full of the raging pricks she always hoped to avoid.

With most people just entering the city and preoccupied with finding lodging and socializing, Iliya believed this to be the safest day, and she watched as bodies funneled in, finding their seats in silence.

All she could do was hope to find peace in the solitude and safety of her compartment.

~ 🔮 ~

Sorein was ready to escape the incessant noise of the city. After attempting to slip past nosy royals, he waited in line outside the Temple.

Soft raindrops had begun to fall, batting the top of his drawn hood, the thumping echoing in his ears as he pushed forward.

The doors were opening, and the crowd shifted inside. Soon, he would finally have a way to collect his thoughts.

The High Priestess greeted the trio with a warm smile, her eyes lingering on Jeremy as he stepped up to enter.

The Captain had done his best, choosing a light gray button down and black slacks. He must have forgotten Aida's nature and prepared as though they were visiting Heithos' Temple in Azuris

The topic of beliefs had always been fleeting..

Though he'd never bothered to ask, Sorein often wondered if the man even found reassurance in faith.

He might bow to Aida, who was often claimed as the Goddess of Freedom, but he did not particularly care if others did the same.

As they stepped up to the large archway doors, cresting over them with beautiful obsidian and quartz embellishments, Noah opened his mouth to speak.

The glare Sorein shot him couldn't be helped, his restraint completely worn from the constant bickering between his friends.

"Ni Labria Anse," The Priestess said, her voice kind but her eyes stern.

Noah looked between his friends. "I don't understand."

Sorein tipped his head to the Priestess, having learned long ago to seek such permission, and when she nodded, he said, "We do not speak here."

Noah's brows furrowed in frustration.

Taking a deep breath, Sorein tried again without the straight translation. "You cannot speak inside the Temple, thus is the sacred law."

He was certain he'd told Noah once before, mentioning the rule on their walk.

The only finite law in Aida's domain.

Those who did not follow it would be escorted out, immediately.

Leaving them to figure it out, Sorein entered the building quickly, if only to escape for a moment.

Aida's Temple was split into sections. In the back, seats had been set into the floor itself, where only he would sit on this day.

It felt like Yulemas, so much so that he found his hastened steps off-putting to some of those he passed, but there was no time to care.

He would be alone.

Finally alone.

Free of the constant chatter of these careless people.

But as he descended the stairs and found his place, Sorein also found himself staring straight into the lime green eyes he'd hoped to avoid.

They burned into him, reflecting brightly in the fading light as rain began to hammer on the crystal roof.

Princess Iliya Dalaminai sat in the opposite corner.

And she was not happy.