Page 28 of Cursed Dreams
She had read much about Iku’s priestesses. They were said to guide souls to the afterlife, offering prayers to ensure a peaceful journey beyond the mortal world. The sight of them, so composed and unearthly sent a strange chill through her.
She looked across to the opposite temple, a stark contrast in colour and atmosphere.
The Temple of Eshu, the God of Luck, stood proud and inviting, its grand staircase leading up to doors gilded in gold and red. Worshippers laughed as they ascended, some tossing coins into offering bowls at the foot of the steps, others pausing to whisper their prayers before stepping inside. The scent of burning incense, rich and spiced, filled the air, curling in thick tendrils toward the sky.
Thalia felt a jolt of familiarity and warmth at the sight.
Her mother had spoken of this place often, of how she had journeyed here once, 26 years ago, to offer prayers and gifts, asking Eshu to bless her and her father with a child. Eshu had answered.
Thalia swallowed, suddenly overcome with a strange sense of connection, as if she had stepped into a part of her own story rather than just another grand landmark of Vertrose.
“Feeling lucky, Thalia?” Cellen’s teasing voice cut into her thoughts.
She blinked and turned to find him grinning at her, clearly having caught her staring at the temple.
“I—” She hesitated, unsure how to answer. “I was just… remembering something.”
Vaelith’s voice was quieter, but she still heard him. “Eshu’s temple is one of the oldest in the city. Many make pilgrimages here, hoping for fortune or… divine intervention.”
Thalia glanced back at him; his expression was solemn.
They continued through the city, weaving past bustling markets and wide avenues where carriages drawn by sleek horses rattled over the stone. Vaelith occasionally pointed out landmarks, a grand library, an ancient clock tower, a street known for its fine jewellery. His knowledge was impressive, and despite herself, Thalia found herself listening intently, absorbing every detail.
She tried to ignore the way Roina occasionally shot her pointed glances, as if still wondering about her relationship with Vaelith. Tried to ignore the way her stomach flipped when she felt Vaelith’s presence just a little too close as they maneuverer through the crowds. Tried to tamp down her growing excitement, she washere, in Vertrose, a city she had only ever dreamed of, this was her new beginning, it felt surreal.
As they rounded the final curve of the main avenue, Thalia’s breath caught.
The Grand Temple of Amara was unlike anything she had ever seen. Towering above the city, it gleamed in the midday sun, its pale stone walls kissed with streaks of gold and inlaid with veins of shimmering blue that appeared to pulse faintly with residual magic. The structure soared impossibly high, its spires reaching for the heavens, tipped with crystal-like points that reflected sunlight like a cascade of stars. The temple doors, tall enough to accommodate even the grandest of Fae warriors were carved from a rich, pale wood, etched with ancient symbols of healingand renewal. They stood slightly ajar, as if always open to those in need.
A grand set of marble steps led up to the entrance, so wide that entire groups of acolytes could ascend side by side. The main building itself was flanked by several sprawling wings, each with its own function. One in particular drew Thalia’s attention immediately—a hospital wing she assumed, larger than any structure she had seen before save the temple itself. Its walls were lined with open balconies where robed figures moved with graceful efficiency as they attended to unseen patients. Banners depicting both Fae and human healing symbols fluttered along its edges, a sign of the unity between both peoples in the pursuit of medicine and magic.
Thalia’s heart pounded wildly in her chest, her skin prickling with the sheer weight of the moment, it was overwhelming, the scale, the grandeur, the sheer weight of history pressing down on her. This was where the best healers of both realms trained, where the greatest scholars and physicians worked side by side, where magic and science intertwined in the pursuit of saving lives. A mixture of elation and fear flooded her system. Was she truly meant to be here? Was she good enough to be here?
She barely registered the reactions of her companions, so consumed by the sight before her. Through her haze of emotion, she caught glimpses of their expressions.
Nyla, usually composed and regal, had a rare look of pure wonder on her face, her dark eyes drinking in every detail.
Roina had stiffened in her saddle, her arms folded as if unwilling to let awe creep into her demeanour, but her keen gaze betrayed her admiration.
Cellen let out a low whistle. “Well. I was expecting something grand, but this… this is on another level.”
Lina’s eyes were wide, her lips slightly parted, a silent whisper of reverence escaping her.
And Thalia?
She felt small.Insignificant. But also…alive.
She was still reeling when she felt warmth at her ear, the faintest brush of breath against her skin as Vaelith leaned in, his voice low and certain.
"You are going to do great things."
A wave of emotion surged through her, so sudden and unexpected that it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. Before she could thank him, he had already swung off his horse and turned to her, offering his hands.
She hesitated only a moment before placing her hands in his, her fingers barely grazing the cool leather of his gloves. With effortless strength, he lifted her down from the saddle, his grip firm but careful, his presence impossibly steady.
She landed lightly on the stone path, her legs tingling from hours of riding, her heart hammering for reasons she couldn’t quiet grasp.
Before she could gather her scattered thoughts, a group of figures in flowing robes emerged from the temple entrance, their presence commanding immediate attention.
