The Light’s High Priestess

The temple of Lady Erya is an imposing cathedral on top of the highest hill in the city. It has no high towers, but a large domed roof. The whole structure is made of bright stone, glowing in the late afternoon sun like a beacon. There is no doubt that this is a temple made for the Goddess of Light. There is a large plaza in front of the temple, which is currently filled with hundreds of people, the noise of whom is absolutely deafening. I don’t even have time to take in the sights, much less admire them, as a corridor through the masses forms as soon as they realise who has just popped up behind them. The sight is intimidating, and I am off half a mind to leave, but Captain Kal waves for me to follow him, and so I do.

Around me, the crowd is visibly excited. Many cheer as I pass, but there are also sceptical looks. No matter how much I look the part, they have gone though centuries of failure. It makes sense now why Erya was so angry with me. I am supposed to be her last hope—everyone’s last hope. Now they can only pray that the other heroes have more suitable powers.

At the end of my walk of shame, I can see a woman standing on top of the stairs leading towards the cathedral doors. She motions for me to join her. Captain Kal remains at the bottom of the stairs. I wish he wouldn’t. He’a my emotional support captain now…

“Welcome, Hero of Light, to the Cathedral of our Lady Erya! I am Shilvy, the high priestess of our Lady’s faith. As she has foretold, you have arrived. Join me inside.”

I take a look back down the stairs, where everyone looks up at me like I’m a famous idol in concert, having just walked the red carpet. And I feel like it too, only at the same time I feel like I’m absolutely wrong here. The priestess looks at me expectantly, and I nod at her to follow. We walk along the path, which is paved with the same white stones as the cathedral. It is framed by gardens, well-maintained and peaceful. As we walk, the clamour of the crowd fades away.

The priestess beckons me to follow her into the building, which is constructed elegantly in its simplicity. Inside are only a few decorations. It’s a large, circular room under the dome, light and airy. The dome itself is fashioned out of milky glass, so that the space is as bright as the heaven I had found myself in. At the end of the room is a throne, which looks exactly like the one Erya destroyed earlier, only much larger. I walk behind the priestess to the middle of the room, where she kneels down. The space is empty except for us. I can’t help but think how many refugees could be housed here instead of the dirty alleys.

“Lady Erya, I bring your hero!”

I jump, startled at how Shilvy’s voice carries through the space, loud and authoritative. The air over the throne starts glowing and a sweet aroma fills the air. Everything in me relaxes as a shining figure emerges from the glow and slowly sets down on the throne. Erya sure knows how to make an entrance. She opens her eyes and we are bathed in light.

“Our deepest thanks to you, Lady Erya, for sending us a hero in our darkest hour!”

Erya, large like a giant, holds out her hand and motions for me to come closer. When I reach her, she touches my forehead with her finger and light floods me. Just after this, she vanishes once more. The room, which had seemed so bright before, now feels dim without her radiance.

I turn around to face the priestess, who seems ecstatic. She runs up to me and takes my hands—holds them up so the backs of them are showing. Then I see it: A golden mark on each of them, looking like little swirls. It’s like a shining tattoo, glinting in the light like actual gold.

“You really are the Hero of Light! Lady Erya‘s appearance confirms it! Show these marks to anyone who doubts you.”

“That’s… nice,” I reply. “Now what?”

“You march on the demon army, as is your destiny.”

“Wait. Now??”

“The masses have eagerly awaited your arrival and are here to see you off!”

“But I only just arrived??”

Shilvy squeezes my hands. “You’ve no doubt seen the dire state the city of Atol is in. It’s summer right now, but winter is coming, and we can’t feed, cloth and warm all of these people. Even the temple will be too full then. Usually, there are many refugees in here, but none may lay eyes on Lady Erya’s form except her chosen, so they had to temporarily clear the building.”

“Thanks, now I feel really bad.”

“Don’t be! They all know you’re here to save us, hero…”

I bite my lip as I take my hands back. “Hiroyuki Satoyama, but you can call me Yuki.”

“Hero of Light Yuki.”

“Right. But I am no hero. I can’t fight!”

Priestess Shilvy smiles at me. “Many came though here claiming that, but they all took to their powers like fish to water.”

“And now they’re all dead.”

“Details.”

“Important details!!”

Shilvy shakes her head. “What are your powers, then? Light blades? Sunflare? Glow—”

Ugh. Here we go again.

“Appraisal.”

“That’s certainly unique. What else?”

“That’s it.”

“That’s… it?”

“Believe me, Erya wasn’t all that pleased either. I’m probably useless to you like this. You should invest in better protection for the city. Maybe I can tell you which rocks to use…”

Shilvy closes her eyes and takes a deep, deep breath. She is visibly trying to calm herself down. I wonder if Erya is watching all of this from above. Maybe she can bestow an extra blessing or two for compensation.

“I’m really sorry. I mean, I wouldn’t be that much of a fighter if I had all these great powers everyone wants me to have, but at least I could try. I can only appraise things and people.”

“Wait. People?” Shilvy asks. “That’s not how Appraisal works. There’s no magic in this world, which can appraise people.”

“Well, I can. Maybe Divine Appraisal is different from regular Appraisal? There’s just one catch. With things, it’s enough when I look at them. With people, I have to touch them and it only works as long as we’re touching.”

Shilvy reaches out and takes my hand.

“Tell me what you see.”

[Shilvy Kal]

Attributes: Light, Water

Life Points: 60/60

Skills: Holy Water, Blessing of the Light Goddess, Heal, Greater Heal, Antidote, Cleansing, Light Blade

Notes: Has been granted an extra life by her goddess, through which she can be revived once.

“So you’re Safrim Kal’s sister?”

Shilvy nods. “But he could’ve told you that. What else?”

I stare at the text. The skills could be well known, but the note…

“You have one extra life.”

Shilvy’s eyes widen. “You’re telling the truth. No one knows that. No one except Lady Erya and me. Don’t tell anyone about this. Not of my secret and not of your power.”

“But I fail to see how it will help.”

“Follow me.”

The priestess leads me back out of the cathedral. The switch from the cool air inside to the more humid atmosphere outside feels oppressive. The voices in the distance grow louder once more and I can even hear music. This is shaping up to be a festival of some sort. Well, I would celebrate too, if the saviour fell out of the sky.

The gardens surrounding us are filled with people now—everyone wearing a similar garb to Shilvy, evidently members of the temple of Erya. They stand at a respectful distance, but their eyes are shining. I know it’s not my fault, but it still feels awful to be letting so many people down.

“Hero Yuki?” Shilvy asks.

I stopped without realising. “Sorry. I’m just a bit overwhelmed.”

“Understandable. Come now, we will find a way.”