Chapter twenty two.

Manøvie.

I followed Sobêiski's advice and broke out of my shell. It was going to be difficult walking out on the streets again ever since the coronation saga but whatever would happen was probably totally worth it and I deserved what ever was to come.

Although not feeling wholly comfortable with the idea of spending most of my time with Tõrontõ, I was positive that perhaps things would take a different turn and somewhat bring a lot of good and surprises my way.

I crossed my fingers in anxiety hoping only for the best as I made my way through the empty halls. This was my third day after the imitate encounter with Sobêiski and I was very nervous about meeting him again, let alone being in the same room with him.

A new priesthood student was being brought to the Temple today and I had to be there as well, though Lord LeoNaidus didn't mention why. I just prayed that it didn't take much of my time as I had planned to meet Tõrontõ at the fields today.

I ambled down towards the Synōd which was open, the images of Sobêiski and I immediately snapping into my mind as I erased the breadth before me. I drew a breathe, grabbing onto the side of my dress and peeked in.

"My lady?" Someone invoked me.

I stifled my gasp and pivoted,only to notice LeoNaidus standing there with a young boy almost in his teenage stage.

"Lord LeoNaidus, Good morning." I greeted with a small bow which he returned

"Please, come in. You don't have to stand here, you're a part of the Temple and are very welcome into the Synōd." He said, motioning for me to enter through the door.

I looked up at him slowly, meeting his dim dark eyes that spoke so loudly through the silence. He knew my fears and he understood what I was feeling, being here and the awareness of having to be around the love of my life who is forbidden fruit to me.

His hand still stayed up straight, pointing at the door and unrelentingly gesturing for me to go in. I threw a stiff smile his way and walked into the room.

"Lady Manøvie." Sobêiski acknowledged when he saw me,rising from his seat and walking to where we stood.

"My Lord." I gave a slight nod his way.

He was a Lord now.

"Lord Sobêiski," the two priests shook hands, each of their palms clasping the other's elbow joint with one shake and he did the same with the younger boy abreast of LeoNaidus.

"How are you doing, Zephanêth?" Sobêiski asked with a small smile.

They knew each other? Oh, yeah. They had to be related in some way. However I had never seen this boy before, where was he the whole time?

"I'm okay," he nodded with an authentic smile "Mother sends you greetings." he added

"Wait, you're brothers?" I interupted, obviously baffled

"No,no,no. Zephanêth is my cousin." Sobêiski told me

"Goodness, how rude of us!" LeoNaidus palmed his face "My lady, this is Levi Maritús Zephanêth- son of Fernah. The second daughter of Lord Thesårus. He will be Sobêiski's student," he preceded as the boy and I shook hands

"Its pleasure to meet you,my Lady."

"Please, call me Manøvie." I smiled back politely and he bobbed his head in acceptance, the fringes of his tar hair falling to his face.

"Wonderful, now as the Temple family, we all know each other! I'm going to leave you with all the hard work,Sobêiski make sure to take care of Zephanêth." he said then left.

There was a deadly plague of silence that fell after Lord LeoNaidus' departure. My skin itched and plotted with goosebumps of discomfort from the germinating awkwardness as I kept standing here and avoiding Sobêiski's eyes.

"I-I uh, have to go as well." I broke the quiet "Have a great day the both of you." I added, hurrying for the exit but stopped at Sobêiski's words.

"Make sure to get enough sunlight and send my regard to Tõrontõ,"

I didn't turn around to face him again.

The temple's double doors opened and a fresh gust of wind blew against my face, sending chills down my open back. The atmosphere was welcoming but the people, the people who once saw me as a gem now looked at me with indifference and deeply judging eyes.

I for one couldn't blame them at all. I had so fiercely told them that their goddess didn't exist, so plainly cast aside their beliefs and hopes without thought and caused an unsettling commotion ending with the death of the high priest.

My body grew tense as my feet touched the ground, I squeezed my toes tightly feeling the soil and stones crush against my skin. I let out a sigh and started to walk, everyone seemed to give me their attention, the sting of their gaze soaring through my skin to my chest. I could taste the vibrations my heart sent throughout my body and I could hear my footsteps as I slowly lingered farther from the temple.

I arrived at the temple square, the ceremonial podium had been taken down and the ground swept clean but nothing could be done to hide the huge lightning patches everywhere. The ground was cracked and dry and the atmosphere seemed very tense , nobody seemed to want to be close to the temple square anymore and knowing the people of Modeus, it would be considered a ground for bad luck.

I quickly passed by trying to avoid the vivid memories of that day. The day I lost my love before I could get the chance to have him but I was all too prepared for that heart break, at least he was safe and alive.

I continued to sulk as i walked only to cross paths with Univia. She stopped in her tracks with a judgmental look of amazement at my decision to be in public again, with an empty basket held between her hands and stomach. I remembered her from that day at the Ashdonite palace. She didn't seem too happy when Toronto turned her down to stay with me and from the looks of it, she still held a grudge.

"Well look who decided to show her face to society again," she scoffed at me while the other girls beside her tittered with laughter.

A frustrated sigh left my nostrils as i stared at her quietly. I didn't know what to say because it was obvious she would use the whole 'Härshänoäh isn't real' incident as a way to hate me more so I gathered I would just walk away without saying a word.

Univia stepped in front of me, held her basket to her hip with a little tilt to the side and cocked an offended eyebrow at my attempt to ignore her rant.

"You should be ashamed of yourself," she pointed at me "Seducing a Levite who you well knew was destined for priesthood....

"I didn't seduce him!" I snapped out of my silence, my angry gaze meeting Univia's at her wild accusation. How could she say that without even knowing the whole truth to the story. Obviously I couldn't begin to tell her that Sobêiski and I were in love because that wouldn't really help my case.

"How dare you?" She sneered at my voice of retaliation "You ruined an entire coronation, almost had Lord Sebêiski murdered and you dragged Tõrõntõ into your mess!"

And there it was, the real cause of her tantrum and indifference towards me. She liked Tõrõntõ and was trying to be protective of him. She saw me as competition and an obstacle to getting the man she wanted.

"..... because of you he was...."

"Manovie?"

Toronto. Hearing his voice now made me realize I didn't know what to say to him or if we would still be friends at all. He did kill the high priest to save my life and I didn't thank him, I wasn't around to know if the council of priests had punished him or chose to spare him.

I turned to face him and my heart dropped. His head was shaved and his neck was freshly tattooed with black ink that formed a small circle around it. My head started racing as i thought about all the things that he must have gone through after killing Lord Lucai.

The realization that there was no way the council of priests would have left him to go unpunished dawned on me and i was not even there to perhaps make a plea for him to be spared.

"Manovie, you finally came out!" he gently took me into his arms. "I've been worried sick, I honestly thought you had been locked up forever," he whispered, slowly bringing me to face him and the authentic look of worry in his eyes.

All I could do was stare silently because of all the guilt that had built up in my chest. I had a lot to say and a lot to ask and apologize for but didn't know where to start.

"I'm...I'm sorry!" I whispered back "I.....I...," I felt tears cloud my sight.

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"What, Univia?" Toronto turned to her

"Are you serious? Can't you see she's just manipulating you!"

"Now's not the time for your little episodes, okay?" Toronto glared at her

"Oh, of course! we should just forget the fact that she ruined the high priest coronation day for all of us!" Univia yelled dramatically which captured the curiosity of the villagers.

"Let's not forget that Lord Lucai tried to kill Lord Sobeiski and Manovie too!" Toronto defended, still holding my arms

"Toronto, its okay... I should return to the..." I started but was cut off immediately

"She said Harshanoah wasn't real and you believed her!" Univia shouted. "What if she's the reason the goddess doesn't bless us with gems anymore!" she continued

I felt my body tense up as the small crowd grew closer to us as Univia ranted on angrily. This was a terrible idea, I should have stayed locked away in the temple - out of sight and out of mind. Here i was however, standing in a mini crowd of disappointed people and being cursed out by an angry girl.

"Univia, keep your voice down!" Toronto said through gritted teeth hoping to avoid a large crowd "Our tribe doesn't even need those gems you're going on about." He sneered at her and slowly tried to lead me away.

"You know, you disgrace the Soloratos by even wearing our attire, Manøvie. You don't deserve it!" 

Toronto and I didn't look back even as she insulted me so she used that chance to continue taunting me as if to slowly poke my nerves just like Lord Lucai did.

"We aren't even sure if she really is  from the volcano. She must be a siren sent here to seduce our men and lure them back with her. That's how she so easily captured Lord Sobeiski and made him lose sight of his calling,"

That. Was. It!!!!!

"Manovie?" Toronto looked at me when i stopped suddenly.

What she said wasn't true, Of course I knew that but something in me snapped like a death switch had been flipped. I swiveled around to face Univia feeling my power overwhelm me that my eyes hurt from how hard they glistened. Our eyes met and her taunting gaze quickly shifted to scared as I gradually walked towards her.

"What do you think you're doing?" Univia asked frantically seeking protection behind her friends.

She screamed when i grabbed her into the air, my green flare engulfing her while singeing her skin in the process. I heard Toronto's muffled plea for me to stop but I didn't. I focused all the anger i felt onto causing her unbearable pain.

"Manovie, stop!!!"

I gasped and dropped Univia when Toronto angrily jumped in front of me. "You need to stop right now!"

I started to shake and hyperventilate when i came back to my senses. The crowd had scattered, Univia was on the group crying with her friends trying to comfort her. Her skin was blemished and i could feel her pain. What had I done?!

I'd just made my situation way worse than it already was. Physically attacking someone who wasn't as strong as me. What would the villagers say about me now? Probably that i had tried to kill Univia and i honestly knew that would be her story and the entire Modeüs would hear of it.

"Hey it's okay, calm down, calm down. Everything is going to be alright!" Toronto gave me a brief shake to snap me back to the now. He met my teary eyes but I quickly averted them and wiggled out of his grip.

"We need some help, her skin is burning up!!" One of the girls at Univia's side cried out gaining our attention

With the utmost importance, i hurried towards them hoping she hadn't already died.

"What did you do to her?"

Univia started to squirm aggressively when she saw me kneeling beside her and i couldn't blame her. I had tried to burn her skin off her flesh telepathically!

"Let me help you!" I snapped and she seemed to calm down. A tear seeped and singed off her face as i took her hot hand.

Closing my eyes to summon my power, we were both engulfed by the green flare sending the other girls away in fright as i slowly started to mend Univia's skin to its original. I felt a strong pang of pain break through my chest and i fell back letting her hand go.

"I got you," Toronto's virile voice comforted me as I melted in his arms

"Univia, your skin!"
I heard the girls gasp with glee but I didn't have the strength to look. All i heard was Toronto telling them to take her home as he picked me up in his arms.