AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The temple’s grandeur unfolds around me. Marble columns rise toward frescoed ceilings, the air is perfumed with the sweet scent of incense, and the gentle sound of water echoes from serene fountains.
The rapid beating of my heart and the rushing blood in my veins seem to stop. I can hear my heart through my ears, but it’s a soft and rhythmic drum now. The adrenaline from my pursuit levels down, and I can’t help but be in awe.
I look down at myself, chuckling silently. My appearance doesn’t match this ethereal place. I’m a stain of tar over a white canvas.
“Well, nothing more I can do about it,” I mumble.
I move silently, a shadow among beauty, like a curse overtaking a saintess. I take in the lush tapestry of colors and nature meticulously maintained within these sacred walls. It certainly feels like I stepped into forbidden grounds. The rest of Aerasak simply falls away while I’m here.
My feet glide on the sleek marble floors. I have to be careful with each step I take, for everything can be heard. Even my own personal thoughts.
I pick a golden leaf from a nearby tree. I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere else. The city may have the most beautiful of all things, but never something like this. It makes me wonder what power Karona holds.
“Everything she holds precious must be in here. I’m sure of it,” I tell myself, crushing the leaf. “Why else would she create a space like this? Especially in a world full of sin.”
The remnants of it trickle out of my hands, like specks of dust. How anyone ever tried to steal from here is beyond me. Just this one tree’s value can finance two noble houses for a few years. But I could care less about making a profit when I already have so much.
I delve deeper into the temple, driven by curiosity and my intrinsic need to disrupt. Moreover, I need to find out more about what’s hidden here. There’s an inkling in my chest that the satisfaction I may find here will overshadow the mess I made in the tavern.
A smirk plays on my lips as I contemplate the chaos that I might bring to such perfection. Besides, I’m quite curious about the famed ‘priestesses and handmaidens,’ well-known for their beauty and arts. A little corruption won’t do any harm if no one knows about it.
A sneer escapes me. “This is turning out better than I thought.”
And what will the great, merciful, and beautiful Karona do if she finds out that I have intruded her sacred walls? How far can I take it before I can see the fireworks?
Just like that, my adrenaline returns. The nefarious craving pumps up my blood. The small grin on my face never fully disappears. My mind runs rampant with ideas on how to make this beautiful temple into my debaucherous playground.
I have to plan this out carefully if I want it to come down in shambles.
“I wonder where to start from here.”
With that in mind, I sneak through the perfectly manicured bushes, trying to blend as best I can. There’s no exact plan in my mind but for some reason, my body moves as if it knows where to go. I don’t question it and keep going deeper into the forbidden temple.
There’s a calling in the air, luring me inside. I can promise that it’s no longer curiosity taking over. The stillness of the air signals something awaiting me. My smile couldn’t be wider at this very moment.
Drawn by the inexplicable pull, I find myself by the lake. A gazebo sits like a jewel upon water, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moon.
My mouth hangs slightly open. It’s like stepping onto a mirror. Everything’s washed in white. If I touch another leaf, it’ll rot instantly.
My eyes never leave the water, but the ripples catch my attention. I follow the rings to the gazebo. That’s when I find the precious treasure Karona holds dearly.
There, in the gazebo, I spot her, one of the handmaidens. She's alone, her veil in place, and her attention entirely consumed by the canvas before her – a painter lost in her art.
My feet root to the ground upon taking in such an overwhelming sight. I watch, intrigued by the serene figure.There’s an unfamiliar tightness in my chest as I stare dumbfounded. Her presence is a melody that seems to resonate with a hidden part of my soul.
What is this?
I clutch my chest, wanting the tightness to go away. It only gets stronger the more I watch her. It’s almost painful but euphoric at the same time.
She continues to paint, and I feel the air shift. A silent charge that whispers of destiny. And it draws me closer.
As if the universe itself conspires to bridge the gap between us.
The ethereal figure, unaware of my presence, leans closer to her painting. Her brush dances with precision and grace, unaware that the course of her life hovers on the brink of irrevocable change.
I take a step forward, drawn by the compulsion to see her face. Every part of me loses complete control. My drive to see her face, to know the woman behind the veil, overpowers my usual nonchalance. There’s one thought and one thought only in my head.
“I need to see,” I whisper.
