The next day after my planned meeting with the Princess, the envoy appeared.

  He insisted on seeing me in person, as he had something he could give only to me. If Evadne seemed happy I didn't go, that happiness vanished the moment the envoy stepped into my room, his footsteps clicking against the floor.

  I couldn't see his face—the bouquet of deep red flowers hid it completely. They resembled roses—not only the stems had thorns, but also their petals. The scent reminded me of Ari... of the Princess.

  "On the desk." My voice came out raspy. I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose with sweaty fingers. Words and thoughts entangled themselves, and I only managed to add, "And leave."

  I heard his polished leather boots clicking across the floor, then a louder clack when he placed the vase with flowers on the desk.

  But then I heard his voice, and my head pounded with each word that followed, like a flood. They melted into nonsensical murmur in my head, fighting for their place in my own chaos. All I got from his tirade was "Princess... worried... disappointed... of course understands."

  I tried to piece the words together, but they were literally hurting my ears. When he raised his voice a little, I snapped.

  "Next week." I hissed at him. I had to say something to get him out of here. "I'll explain next week." I looked at him from under tensed eyebrows. "Now leave."

  His face became red, but he didn't say another word. The envoy just placed a small package and a letter alongside the flowers. Then he nodded—with some generosity, it could be interpreted as a shallow bow. He turned on his heel in an instant and left. The door closed behind him louder than necessary.

  I looked at the mess on my desk, but my gaze ran away from the new distractions and landed on Evadne.

  A faint smile tugged at her mouth. She caught me looking and smoothed her expression, but her eyes still held traces of it.

  With Evadne's help, I met Brutus guarding the door to my room.

  I steadied myself on both Evadne and the doorframe, then forced the words out. "Prayer room."

  But Brutus didn't move. He just gave a long, cautious look.

  "Saint Leonard, maybe we go to the guard's quarters first."

  I wanted to resist, but all I managed was silence.

  "The boys are eager to meet you in a less formal setting. They prepa—" Brutus continued, but I reached into the depths of my resolve and cut him off.

  "Tomorrow." The lie tasted familiar.

  Evadne turned her head away from me, hiding the growing grimace of pain on her face. Brutus's eyes filled with... sadness.

  "Saint Leonard," he said quietly, "you said that yesterday."

  This time my face turned in an attempt to hide my emotions. "Prayer room. Now."

  In silence that itched me more than the catalyst, we reached the Prayer Room in something that felt like hours.

  The bright, open space was filled with strangers, but also with faces I already knew from my repeating visits. The air was suffocating, pressing against me.

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  The voices of people scraped against my ears, making it harder to focus on my goal. I stood before the sculpture of Pandora. The Beginning and The End. Mother of All. But not mine.

  The sun's and moon's cold beam made my eyes hurt. I began my prayer.

  "Pandora," my voice quiet and broken, "tell me how can I go back."

  Silence.

  My shoulders dropped, head followed.

  "P-Pandora," I tried again. But the lump grew in my throat, preventing me from saying more. Evadne's grip tightened around my arm. I felt Brutus's eyes on my back. I tried to hold back the rising emotions.

  I tried to file the absence of Her reply as yet another distraction. But when I placed it on the pile, the distractions fell on me, and I fell to my knees.

  The happiness of the pregnant priestess celebrating new life, when my old life was gone.

  The day of the tea party with the Princess, when Veronica had to spend another day without her father.

  Althea's cold and definitive "your past life is gone," when Vivi and Veri were all my world.

  Pythia's non-answer "I don't know how you can return," when all I had was that goal.

  Pandora's silence when she held the most important answer I desperately wanted.

  A sob shook me. Once. Twice.

  Distractions fell on the dam holding my emotions, and they poured onto the floor without control.

  Drop after drop, something inside me slipped away. I couldn't breathe. Noises around me dissolved into distorted nonsense.

  My heart forgot its rhythm—skipped, stuttered, faltered.

  Ba-dum. Ba. Ba-ba-dum.

  A high?pitched tone pierced my ears like a needle driven straight into my skull.

  Hands wrapped around me. Someone’s quiet, broken sniffing joined my own.

  I felt the crack in my soul, right through my resolve. I tried to patch it up, but instead the fracture spread. My chest went cold—colder than the stone floor beneath me. I collapsed like a broken puppet.

  A desperate cry tore out of me as my fist struck the cold stone. Like it could make a difference.

  “Paaandoraaaaaa!”

  Silence again, interrupted only by my pathetic sobs and Evadne's whispers. None of them held the answers I was dying for.

  Then the world from behind my closed eyelids became darker. Surprised squeals and cries joined soon after, pressing against me.

  When the light returned, Her voice filled the room.

  "Leonard, my chosen." Her words were heavy with promise. "Serve your purpose."

  Then... nothing.

  Silence again. The same crushing silence that had answered me every day.

  She'd spoken. Finally. And given me... I didn't know exactly.

  "Saint Leonard!" Hands grabbed at me. "The Mother spoke!"

  "She chose him!" Someone exclaimed right beside me, my ears hurt.

  "Saint, Saint, Saint!"

  The chant erupted around me. Religious, fanatical rapture. Bodies pressed close, warm and smelly. Hands reaching, pulling, grasping.

  "Back!" Brutus roared, sweeping believers aside. "All of you, back!"

  They kept coming. Kept reaching. Kept chanting.

  Brutus lifted me. "Hermes, need backup, Prayer Room, commence, now!"

  He tried to clear the path, but succeeded only when three more Shadow Guards arrived to help him.

  The crowd parted reluctantly, their voices following us into the corridor.

  "Saint, Saint, Saint!"

  Even when the Prayer Room door closed behind us, I could still hear them.

  Even when Brutus set me down in my room, the echo remained.

  *Serve your purpose.*

  The bed creaked when Evadne sat beside me. Her gentle, soothing voice tried to reach me. "Leonard...". But it was suppressed by the chant from the Prayer Room echoing in my hears.

  When my heart found its rhythm again, I twisted Her words in every possible way.

  Serve. Your. Purpose.

  "Leonard." Her hand brushed my forehead, but I looked inward. Focused.

  I studied Her command from all angles.

  Evadne's arms wrapped around me, but the warmth felt distant. Minutes passed. Probably.

  I had a purpose—go home—but that's not what She wanted.

  Somebody prompted me to rise, "I'm sorry, but we have to begin soon." I obeyed mindlessly.

  Pythia said to aid them in their war for survival.

  My body walked the Temple corridors. Stairs. Orbs. People. But my mind stayed still.

  Pandora gave me a Guide to navigate my journey. My Guide helps me with my training. My training gives me strength. My strength is Her weapon.

  My body trained, pushed the limits, guided by... Hector, was his name. Pain filled my body, yet it felt dull. Like somebody else's. I was elsewhere at the time. I was at the crossroad, deciding my fate.

  "Saint Leonard, are you with us?" Hector's hand shook my shoulder slightly.

  I looked past his measuring, worried eyes. "Yes." My mouth replied.

  He didn't look convinced. I returned to my decision.

  Pandora told me to serve my purpose. Will she bring me back when I finish?

  I clung to that thread of hope, the last one I had. Final boundary before despair.

  I will aid them in their war for survival. I will do all I can to lead them to victory. I will end this war.

  But I swear, if She doesn't send me back after...

  For a brief moment, a spark of hope blew into something more dangerous.

  ...then I will burn this world to ashes.