Beneath the Lord’s Gaze

“No, I am the one honoured, O Holy One.” Father bowed courteously, one arm tucked across his chest. Alice and Karen followed, lowering their gowns with practised grace. Feeling out of place, I copied them clumsily. Grandma, however, turned her head away, refusing to show the priest any respect.

I guessed she wasn’t a devout believer. Then again, who was I to blame her? I, too, felt a flicker of awkwardness bowing before him. It wasn’t that I disliked the idea of respect; it was more that something about the priest unsettled me. A presence, faint but strange, that didn’t fit the image of holiness I had expected. Perhaps I was overthinking it. Or possibly Grandma’s blunt defiance meant she had noticed the same thing.

“Oh, please. There is no need to bow before me,” the priest said, spreading his arms and glancing at the great statue of the Lord behind him. “It is He who is worthy of your reverence, not I.”

He certainly sounded humble, but my unease remained. I looked toward Grandma, and she only shook her head slowly, as though to confirm my doubts.

“So then, Sir Vandrelis,” the priest said, turning back to Father, “I assume you are here to see the Grand Priestess?”

I froze. How had he known? Perhaps it was obvious, why else would Father have come to this holy city?

“Yes, that is correct, O Holy One,” Father replied steadily. “If you could please request her audience?”

“My pleasure.” The priest gave a small bow, then gestured to the rows of chairs lining the aisle. “Please, be seated.”

We sat together, waiting. Grandma, however, crossed to the far side of the hall, draping her arms lazily across the bench as if this were all beneath her. 

Truly, she was one of a kind.

"..."

Nearly half an hour passed before the priest returned, his solemn face breaking into a smile. “The Grand Priestess has agreed to your attendance. Please, follow me.”

We rose and followed him beyond the towering statue of the Lord to another door, tall, heavy, etched with patterns of wood and metal. Golden plates and tiny gemstones glittered in the design. The priest pushed it open, and we stepped into yet another vision of grandeur.

"..."

A long aisle stretched ahead, its carpet dyed a deep cosmic blue, traced with golden patterns. On either side, marble tiles bordered channels of clear water, holy water, no doubt, gently fed by twin fountains at the front. Stained-glass windows bathed the chamber in shifting colours, each pane depicting celestial figures.

And there, at the far end, upon a small dais, knelt a woman. Draped entirely in white, a veil concealed her face and hair. Her figure was elegant, tall and graceful, with a slender waist and poised shoulders. She knelt before another statue, not the stern Lord from the hall, but a younger, almost childlike form. The figure’s right hand pointed upward, on the tip of the finger was a jagged, deep blue disc, embedded with small, coloured orbs. 

Without doubt, it represented the universe itself, the endless expanse of space with planets and suns orbiting across its depths.

"..."

The sight overwhelmed me. The very air seemed to hum, the divine aura magnified by the Grand Priestess’s quiet prayers.

When at last she finished, she rose smoothly, lifting a ceremonial staff, its handle blue, its golden rings chiming softly, a radiant globe crowning its head. With one hand on the staff and the other extended in welcome, she approached us with steps measured and serene.

Her voice, gentle and melodic like a young lady’s, carried effortlessly through the chamber, “How may I help you, dear believers?”

We all bowed instinctively. Even Grandma lowered her head this time. That alone told me how much respect the Grand Priestess commanded.

“May you be blessed,” she said warmly, and we lifted our gazes.

Father stepped forward, dropping to one knee with his arms spread. His voice trembled faintly with earnestness. “O Holy Maiden, my daughter”, he looked toward Karen, “has been cursed by dark magic. I beg of you, by your mercy, purify her of this foul affliction.” He bowed his head low to the floor.

“My, my… how terrible to hear,” the priest muttered beside her, shock and faint panic etched on his face.

"..."

A silence followed, as we awaited the Grand Priestess' response.