Chapter 98 - Ninety-Four

I'm unable to stop my eyes from widening so I quickly look down.

The puppeteer has her already under his control!

For a moment my mind is a mumble jumble of thoughts put together, giving me a slight headache on my forehead and temper as try to figure out what is going on.

And just how much power we were truly up against.

I don't like this, I don't like this at all, is like every step we take the puppeteer is two, three steps ahead of us, always already there, with plans upon plans up from his sleeve.

It makes me wonder for how long has he been planning this, or putting it to practice even.

"Let's eat." The Priestess says when I'm distracted while all the food starts to come from the side doors, quickly filling the place with the delicious smell of their cuisine.

The smell was good, and even the looks were quite appetizing but I could tell, or rather, I just knew, that Leonel's food would taste better than that, and knowing that I could have better food then they made standing there watching they eat while I didn't have dinner a little better.

But never say that to Leonel otherwise he won't stop pestering me about it.

Plus who leaves their servants watching while they eat? This should be some kind of torture, or a patience test.

An entire pig is stretched out right in the middle of the table, with slices already cut on the side so the ladies could reach and serve themselves without much effort, as well as fresh fruits and bread, beyond many more plates that I didn't bother looking at because I woulnd't be eating anyway.

They eat in an eerie silence were only the clashing of tableware could be heard, probably afraid to disturb the High Priestess, but did not bother hiding how they keep sharing looks, mostly mocking or narrowing their eyes in a silence chat that I was unable to keep up.

Even though some of them haven't finished with their plates yet once the High Priestess lays her fork and knife down to the side all do the same, some faster than the others, and look attentively at her.

Never saw such a messy group behave in such a well-mannered way, the High Priestess must be really fierce.

She stops for a while, as if letting the suspense set as she looks at each and every single one on the table in the eye before she starts talking:

"A man, literate in writing, if put in a village of common folks, will think himself a smart man. However, if same person is put in a house full of writers and poets, his intelligence will be harshly criticized and a fool he will be."

"If one of you here think you are the smartest, wisest person in the room, then you should first change rooms to say as such until there are no rooms left, until you are truly capable."

"And tonight, Sisters, I'm here to tell you how I, for years, thought that there were no more rooms left for me to go to; and how wrong I was."

"Tonight, Sisters, we will make history as the ones guided by the Goodness herself into the righteous path, and the ones who brought true enlightenment to the church."

At that she stands, making everyone around suddenly follow her steps into standing as well; even though there was quite the amount of food left on the table, though food seems to be the least of our problems right now.

The High Priestess starts walking out, leaving all Sisters bewildered behind, looking at each other without being certain about what to do, until one went and follow behind, making that all the others did the same and having the big group march out once more.

I quickly arrive at my place beside Isa, and with an exchange of looks I can tell he is as worried as I am.

We don't walk much, just to the back where stood a very high building, and even though it was full of windows the glass keeps the mystery of the insides to themselves as I could not see anything with the pattern crafted on them.

Even though I had to be objective and aware of my surroundings I could not ignore the beauty of this place; encaged by glass and walls, this place was untouched by the wind and weather, a bubble of stillness, unaffected by the outside.

It has the same characteristics from the garden outside, however since it was more reserved and untouched it had more details and care put into it; from the double stone path, where a line of round stones followed the smooth path on the sides in parallel, to the white sand covering the ground, allowing only some well put plants to sprout out of them.

And the pure white sand itself was put here like a piece of art; there were lines drawn on it, circular shapes with three lines curving around plants and stones, some intricate shapes in the form of leaves and stars.

It was almost a pity that it wasn't made with paint, otherwise it would have survived for longer… like this it is almost as if it could vanish if I blink too fast or walked too close to it.

It added some sadness to it, like it would last a mere second, and made me want to look at it longer to engrave it in my mind, and all seemed to think the same as we carefully advance our way through this mystical still garden.

Beyond the rails of moonlight passing through the windows, there were candles rested inside some round stones, letting the red flame add to the atmosphere of the place, giving an even more beautiful and Zen atmosphere.

With a flicker of my ear I hear something out of place, a very smooth sound, and curiosity attracts me to the source.

Against the silver moonlight shining through the glass was a figure wearing all white, many layers of clothing hiding its image from view, the back of the head facing me, letting visible some blond wild locks of hair stretching out from the clothing that hid the rest of the head.

We stop in front of that person, all waiting in silence, all questioning who they were and why had the High Priestess brought us here, watching as the mesmerizing figure moved.

Observing closely I could see that the person had a big brush being held by both his hands, the white wood contracting a lot with the black brush that draws precise lines on the sand as if it was embedded in ink.

There was something eerie calming about that image… the way it moved, its posture, even the smell.

The smell… this smell… have I felt it before?

I have my answer not to after, when the figure stops moving, turning around and smiling at us before saying.

"Welcome chosen ones, to the new illuminated world."