Farasee Davithius overlooked our group, as if searching for something. Those steel blue eyes beamed in the quiet while Granmanmi and Farasee Kaelthos waited for him to continue. Finally Davithius seemed to come to a decision.
“At this time, you will all be brought to our main cathedral for collective studies. You will be divvied up into the four Efysien Orders. You will also be given your designated Order Presbitaris and…”
He paused. He slid his gaze to Granmanmi. She nodded once, before her eyes came to land on me. I wrinkled my nose wondering what that exchange meant.
“This dawn all of you will be temple-mated.”
“We willwhat?” an angel from the front screamed. He shot out of his seat, his eyes bulging. He wasn’t the only one disturbed by this.
I surveyed the commotion. I looked at the Ascendants then at Granmanmi. Then Davithius. The Farasees were unmoving. Even Kaelthos looked placid, watching the Ascendants protest. He rolled his eyes as if he was listening to a youngling throw a tantrum. Which…with how old Kaelthos was, he basicallywaslistening to younglings throw tantrums.
Granmanmi observed me. She seemed pleased to see I hadn’t reacted. I couldn’t blame the Ascendants though. Bonding, at any level, was no small thing. Once a bond was sealed, breaking it could lead to potential death for both angels.
“Are you done whining?” Davithius barked. “Want to go back home to your parentlings?” It got quiet. “I didn’t think so. Now listen up, all of you will get up, file out in an orderly fashion, and follow the trail of stars until you get to the cathedral. Then you’ll wait to be placed in your Orders, and be temple-mated, before you’re dismissed. Got it?”
“Awoui, Farasee Davithius!” we said collectively, slapping our wings together once in obeisance.
“Good. Wings high. File out!”
Ellabeth and I let go of each other, floating into the air along with all the other Ascendants. We all shuffled into a neat file, flying through the massive doors that opened to the right.
The ornate walls of the temple were covered in scrolls full of the holy verses. They filled the walls between prayer shawls that hung like enormous curtains, from floor to ceiling. Everything was gold or ivory. Golden floors and walls. Ivory decor and furniture. This hallway was also lined on either side with high standing pillars of gold covered in burning, iridescent flames.
After flying across, we were led through gilded double doors that led to an outdoor courtyard. I gasped at the opulence. I thought where the Sifting towers were located was resplendent.
I was wrong.
The courtyard looked like one built for kings. Marble white floors with golden trim covered every inch of space so far I couldn’t see where it ended in the distance. There were a litany of lofty cathedrals, some in a long line of rows, and others tucked away in pockets, all finished at the top with expertly crafted spires. Every cathedral held an open flame above it. All flames were iridescent or ivory.
Spotting the trail of stars, we collectively obeyed Farasee Davithius, flying along the trail as it wound us through the grounds of the temple. As we flew, we reached a fountain that left me in awe. Before I could ogle for too long, we were flying tothe largest cathedral just ahead, perched at what had to be the very center of Temple Efysis.
Every Ascendant flew in silence. We were lost in the marvel of the temple. I’d never pictured this when Manmi told me stories about living here when she was Ascending.
Not a flower or shrub wasn’t perfectly trimmed. Not a glass window wasn’t clean to perfection. Every ethèrlamp was filled with magical light. There were more fountains, angelic statues, and endless billows curling through the differing cathedrals.
“Oh my stars,” Ellabeth breathed.
“Mhm.” I nodded, at a complete loss for words. “Whew.”
Milling throughout the temple grounds were a group of wingless figures covered from head to toe in russet gowns made entirely out of linked chains. They kept their eyes low and stayed out of the way of us angels as we passed. I recognized them immediately. The gods and goddesses.
I thought of Serafina, Natalie, and Caliana. My hearts twinged with sadness. I missed them already. They were slaves to the temple, but they’d started becoming more than just quiet strangers to me.
One female looked up. I caught her hazel eyes. My hearts nearly shattered at the sheer wells of sorrow I found in them.
I wanted to know her name. Her story.
I could just make out her long honey colored hair bound beneath the chains, the headdress wrapped around her head and down the length of her body.
I looked back. The goddess still watched me as I flew by. Her eyes burned with a fire. A fire I found myself wanting to ignite.
I looked away, following the mass of Ascendants. We flew through the open, gilded doors of the cathedral, past more pillars with endless burning fire, and into a colossal amphitheater chamber that took my breath away.
“Holy burning stars,” Daelun breathed. “Whoa.”
“Well,” Omarion exclaimed, floating close to me. “I never imagined…this.”
“I can’t believe this is our new home. Where we’ll have our classes,” Amayah whispered.
