The large doors open before us, pouring a brighter and warmer light into the hallway. Muffled sounds from beyond become clear as we gradually step into the chandelier lit ballroom’s platform, raised higher in ascension with carpeted stairs crawling up the sides only to meet halfway down the middle. 

“Entering—His Highness the Crown Prince, Iliazo Kalpana Ouranos and Her Holiness the Saintess, Mayari ka Surya!” 

Iliazo. Iliazo. Kalpana must be his divine name, then. Most noble children are taken to the temple to get their divine name from the Pope, royalty I assume being the same. Traditionally, Surya bestows them through the Pope's divinations. Of course, that meant every divine name in my father’s generation were fabrications. Repeating the prince’s name in my head, I glance over to him as we turn to walk down the stairs. Divine names are reserved only for those not in the temple, deriving from the old language in the Divine Surya’s reign. Those in the temple such as the Pope and myself are given Surya’s name directly as Surya’s blessing. Illiazo Kalpana Ouranos, huh?

Dream-like imagination, I try to remember vaguely. It doesn’t fit him, yet also does?

The various ballroom conversations begin to quiet ever so slightly, the heated stares starting to overwhelm me. It’s familiar, eerily so. The prince’s words couldn’t be any more true; it’s as if they are watching a spectacle. Even so, I continue to smile, my fingers stiff against the prince’s palm. Gloved fingers underneath my palm curl, darting over quickly to his reassuring smile. As the carped upon the stairs ended, the soles of our shoes clacked at the bottom of the staircase where a small crowd of nobles in extravagant suits and dresses began to approach.

We part here, and then…

I walk past the Prince, my fingers slipping away from his palm, before he suddenly catches a hold of my wrist. It was such a sudden movement that I stagger backwards. Turning my head, I look at him awkwardly. 

“Your Highness..? Is something wrong?”

Prince Iliazo’s frozen green eyes widen as if suddenly realizing what he had just done. He quickly lets go, the familiar polite smile on his face once again.

“Apologies. You just…” I look at him with a raised eyebrow before he shakes his head. He holds his hands up with a grin. “Never mind, go on! I have people to converse with, after all.”

Curiously, I let my eyes linger a moment longer before turning and walking further away through the crowd. For a moment, he had muttered under his breath—something I could just barely make out through the resumed ballroom conversations muddled around us.

“What a familiar scent.”

I quickly shrug it off as I brace myself at the sight of people already eagerly approaching me the moment me and Illiazo split off. The first to make a move is an average middle aged man in a snugly but not oddly fitting tailcoat.

“Blessings and glory to The Saintess. It is an honor to be graced with Her Holiness’ presence this fine night,” he says at first, making sure to bow before continuing. It still strikes me with discomfort and unease, how naturally it comes to others to prostrate themselves before me. Even back then, when my job as the Saintess was even more prevalent than in this era, no one ever bowed or curtsied to me. It’s strange. The people of this era never lived through the time where people, rich and poor, were plagued by a fog of fear and death from corruption’s beasts. And even if I was destined to lift that veil, divinity if not proformative was seen as folly to the nobles of my era. That’s why neither the king nor my father spared anything our way when we left to do our actual duty in saving the continent—our performance had ended, and neither could gain anything. We mostly helped the poor on our travels after all, as those in the outskirts and countryside had fallen to corrupted beast attacks most.

I suppose there is a reason for it though, I surmise. To these people, I am direct proof of what’s almost a fairytale come to life.

But, I am not a myth or fairytale. I may be deemed the daughter of god, but I am not a divine. I may exist in fairy tales or be seen as a miracle, but I will never be seen rooted in reality by my own kin.

“... Please, rise. There is no need for such actions, I am merely a guest to such a festive event after all.” The man looks up to me before straightening his back.

“While on such a topic, if I may be so bold,” he coughs. What dark and bushy eyebrows. “Does Your Holiness intend to stay throughout the entire night?”

“Who is to say?” I smile politely. “I am still not very accustomed to the environment of this era, so please do not hold it against me if I retreat early.”

That’s a satisfactory answer, right?

“What was that about retreating early?” A noblewoman’s smooth voice pitches in. She’s aged gracefully with short faded brown hair framing her cheeks and pleasingly attractive age lines beside her surprised lips lightly tinted a more neutral red. Upon her neck is a single string of fine pearls so as not to distract from her more naturally plump face. Her dress seems much more layered, poofier than mine and—via a quick glance—other ladies, of a more muted color and devoid of pattern. I can see why, it’s as if every article and accessory she’s worn is simply to draw attention to her hypnotizing, opalite eyes. “Oh my dear, you’ve only just arrived, Your Holiness!”

“You’ve misheard me, Madame,” I correct with a smile. “I was simply telling this gentleman that retreating early may be possible, as I do seem to tire easily these days.”

A lie, somewhat. Now that two have approached me, it seems other nobles have grown more comfortable with coming closer and joining in conversation—overwhelmingly so. 

“Your Holiness, pardon me, but…”

“Your Holiness, is it true that…!”

“Your Holiness, what do you think about…”

“Your Holiness…!”

My mind begins to spin and I can feel myself fluster at the sudden surge of people, staggering a bit as it overwhelms me. I try to retain a polite smile, wrapping my head around the individual questions involving me. But it all is beginning to blur together, making me dizzy and confused.

“I apologize sincerely, but could you please repeat…”

“All of you, control yourselves! Have you so quickly lost your dignity, and have resorted to behaving like common street children?"