"We are honored King Rowand and Queen Agatha. Thank you for coming to grace us with your presence at our sacred establishment." the older priest bowed, closing the door behind him.

He led them down the marbled aisle, leading them to take refuge in the first two pews. "Humble a Church it may be but the spirit of the Lord reigns clear" the priest beamed.

The king and queen took their residence at the front pew, King Rowland holding his wife's hand into his.
Agatha lifted her eyes to observe the empty space with caution, taking in the beauty of the stained glass windows.

"So what has brought you here?" the priest smiled.

"Our daughter...she is..." the king began.

"A non believer?
Doubtful?
Strayed from the Lord?
Insane?"

"Touched" the Queen corrected him impatiently.

"Yes, of course your majesty. Touched" he smiled politely, looking to the king. Queen Agatha observed the church once more, finally understanding the circumstances of their visit and frowned, crying into her husbands chest.

"Apologies father, she just never thought... we never thought we would be here, asking for some sort of divine intervention."

"All fall short but come to the glory of God. Come as you are Christ says."

The king nodded and looked to Agatha, still comforting her as she gasped for air.

"We have tried everything father. Medicine, meditation, letting her rest? It seems like prayer is far beyond our reach. I have been praying since she tore open that frog when she was 4" the Queen whispers, refusing to face the priest's eyes.

The priest nodded, understanding the severity of the situation and stood to grab a small book.

"It seems the necessary steps to take is to perform an
expulsion."

"Expulsion?" Queen Agatha asked, wiping her tears away.

"An exorcism" he announces, pushing the book into their hands so they could flip through the pages.

"Father Yei is our newest recruit from the church in the kingdom of Ampai. He is three months short from the end his apprenticeship but has been trained to perform these expulsions."

"Is he any good?" King Rowand asked.

"Very. I wouldn't endorse him if I did not think he possessed the capabilities to perform well. He has performed 10 so far."

"That little!" Queen Agatha scoffed.

"10 may seem small, but it is a lot in the church. Not everyday does someone come across a body possessed by a dark entity" the priest reminds them. They both nodded and listened.

"I will talk to him tomorrow. He has stepped out to conduct some business for the church but once he agrees, he will come to the palace to introduce himself and start the process"

"That would be... wonderful" the king nodded, finally hopeful at a new promise of life for his daughter.

But the king's joy did not last long as the queen scoffed in denial.
"We have not determined if we are going onward father Abban"

"My apologies your majesty. I do not wish to pressure you both but I suggest you move in haste.  Father Yei has spoken with interest of international travel. He will be leaving the kingdom at the years end"

Rowand nodded, looking to his wife as she stared into his. "Can he come Friday?" she whispered.

"Friday he shall come. There he will meet you and discuss more about the process"

"Yes, yes" the queen clapped, hope filling her eyes. She knew once the priest cast out her daughter's dark entity, she would remain sane.

No more voices.
No more posion.
She would be her perfect little princess once again.

—
Two days later

"Ah Yei, I have been expecting your return" Father Abban announces, turning the pages of his wrinkled Bible. The young priest comes in, bowing his head to show respect for his elder. "Father Abban" he nodded.

"I take your trip was favorable?" Farther Abban asks.

"A little rainy along the way but I must thank God for his traveling mercies" Yei nodded, thinking of all the events from his trip and the small congregation he had grew accustomed to.

Abban signals for the young man to sit, clearing his side of the table to free the space. Father Yei nodded and sat in the seat adjacent to his mentor.

Father Abban's eyes traced down to follow Yei's dark ink markings that were casually peeking through his tightly rolled shirt as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Sorry Father" he confesses, quickly down pulling his sleeves to cover them.

"As you know, to be in priesthood you must be complete your ordinances which you have, but have not completed your apprenticeship. I also see you have been working under the direction of an experienced exorcist, even completing 10 of your own."

"Yes Father. I am blessed"

"I am also aware you have spoken interest of traveling internationally but I come with good news. A new opportunity has unearthed itself."

"A new opportunity?" Yei repeated.

"The king and queen came two days ago to seek out an expulsion of their daughter, Princess Anai."

"I see" Yei nodded.

"The daughter is a bit touched. The Mother thinks she has a demonic being in her but at the same time, refuses to accept it"

"The dissonant. I have seen many mothers like her before" Yei smiles, recollecting his past expulsions.

"They think she has a dark energy? Why are they not sure?" Yei ask, curious as to why it was not as obvious.

"Well... here and there she has shown episodes of complete sanity then utter insanity to simply put it" Father Abban explains.

"And I suppose this is where a certain young priest makes an appearance" Father Yei announces, sitting up a little straighter as he heard his mentor's words.

"Wiser and wiser you become Yei" he teases, standing up to start the trek to the outside garden. He follows after him, lingering behind him as he bent to check on the patch of vegetables growing in the small garden.

"You have been called too perform an expulsion and cast the demon out, that is if you deem she has one. Once this is done, your apprenticeship will be completed and you will you be free to travel"

Yei knew better to protest against the higher ranking priest. Although he had been anticipating leaving the kingdom, he knew he had a duty to Father Abban and God.

"And if I cannot?" Yei asks, curious to see the outcome of failure against a powerful family like King Rowand and Queen Agatha.

"I suggest for your sake and God's will, you come out successful" Father Abban advises, patting the young priest's shoulders before leaving the garden to venture into the church.