You step off the airship, grasping at the rail to avoid slipping. The sun has set now, the crisp chill of the night air causing you to pull your cloak tighter around yourself. The starts in the sky twinkle like crystals, taunting you with their false pretense of value. The noises of the surrounding jungle have died down with the fading light and an uneasy silence has fallen upon the land. You have been journeying for nearly a week, ever since you deciphered the ancient code forwarded to you by a mysterious Chinese benefactor. You're not sure how they got this information and you're not going to bother asking. All that matters is the location which you have sought for so long. The Temple of the White Mage. What long-forgotten secrets could it hold?

As you reach the hard stone of the structure you raise your lantern. The soft flickering orange glow illuminates a small section of a large stone structure. Long vines are scattered along the ramparts; plants and mosses and fungi have sprouted wherever even the slightest opportunity presented itself. Nature has reclaimed what humanity once owned, as it always does. The rest of your party follows behind as you all slowly progress to the main doors. The ancient hinges groan in protest as the group forces the doors open slowly. Dust falls off of the grooves in the old wood and fills your lungs. You cough and splutter as the entrance finally makes way.

The first thing you notice is light. It's bright inside, unexpectedly so. Second, comes the wave of warmth that flows over you like the soft breath of a close lover. It caresses your cold cheeks and fills them with life. The group slowly makes their way inside, weapons at the ready. Everyone is on edge. This is an unexpected development. Could it be that someone else got here first? Or even more amazing, maybe people still live here after all this time? Your ears pick up a sound. A soft aria resounds through the hollow walls, gentle as a summer breeze through jasmine fields.

Will the crystal be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

Is a better rainbow drop rate

In the sky, lord, in the sky

The chorus of voices all sound feminine and in perfect harmony. You unconsciously step forward towards the source of the sound only to recoil as water splashes at your feet. The entire floor is covered with a thin layer of water, only a few inches deep. Candles and flowers both float all around you, bobbing slightly from the ripples. With a few hand signals, you and your expedition force slowly walk towards the sounds, lanterns left behind. The candlelight flickers along the walls and across the group's faces, shadows protruding at odd angles due to the erratic light.

We were standing, in the party

Wielding staves and all white cloth

Doing our best to protect the

whole team from Aigaion's wroth

You hold your weapon higher as the aria gets louder and louder. You can tell you're approaching the source of the majestic singing. Despite your best efforts, there is a notable splashing as you stalk forward like a panther. You turn the corner and are greeted with a great open room. There are seven girls crouched around a large stone statue. All the women are in pure white robes, plain and undecorated. The hems of the garments are dipped in the water but the young women are paying the fact no heed. Candles adorn the room and structure generously, filling the room with light. Flowers of blue, pink, white and orange float in the water around the women and also are in great bouquets at the feet of the statue, adding a deep splash of colour to the otherwise simple room. One of the girl's head twitches slightly as she looks over her shoulder, her pink hair swinging with the action, but she turns back immediately and continues her adding her voice to the chorus.

Will the crystal be unbroken

By and by, lord, by and by

Is a better rainbow drop rate

In the sky, lord, in the sky

.

I said to the holy mother

goddess of mages white

'Will our spells now use our spirit'

and she blessed us with her light

Though you never lowered your weapon, signaled to the party to not make any sudden actions. While the women continued their singing, you studied the statue carefully. It was a girl, young from what you could see of the face, with thin arms and legs. She was adorned with a long flowing robe and large boots. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail while she held a long staff behind her back. The crown of the staff was ordained with wings, giving off a regal divinity to the otherwise ordinary looking weapon.

After the recent verse, one girl broke off from the crowd. She turned a gracefully walked towards the party, feet light in the water as if gliding on the surface. Her face was soft and her skin fair, her hair was an odd gradient of lilac, teal, and rose pink. You could swear there was glitter in the air around her, but that would be impossible. "Greetings, and welcome to the holy church of the White Mages. My name is Tillith, and I am the current matriarch," She gave a graceful curtsy. "Are you also here to praise the coming of the supreme being?"

"Supreme being? What the hell is this?!" One of the guys behind you pipes up, a brutish fellow who looked a bit like a gorilla. Tillith only smiled serely in response.

"Indeed, the supreme being, the greatest of all White Mages, Ayaka,"

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done," As if on queue, all the other women behind Tillith resounded in unison. One of the other expedition members swore loudly, another jumped back and muttered something about 'gypsy witch magic'. Tillith only continued that intense, overbearing smile. With a small flick of her wrist, the other women lined up on either side of her.

"These are the sisters Lenna, Refia, Luka..." She indicated to the three on her right with a wide sweeping arm. "...Y'sholta, Fina, and Aria," The other side was named also, and all six of the women curtsied in unison. You noticed a few things in the brief glances. Some of the girls looked ragged and tired, while others had a worried look on their face. But it was only for a second before the porcelain mask of serenity returned. "Now, what are you doing here? You are interrupting our sacred worship. The goddess Ayaka..."

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done,"

"...will be returning in but a night. We have many things to do,"

A thin woman in your group, with light blue hair, pointed ears, and a chilling presence spoke up. "We are here to seek the greatest white magic, to help us defeat the great trials of the Ten Arms," Her voiced boomed with the confidence of someone assigned to the main expedition party.

"Oh?" Tillith voice cracked as she gestured widely. "Well, we have a wide variety of capable White Mages. I'm sure any would be able to help you overcome these Trials," All the girls bowed their heads humbly like small children who are seeking to avoid the gaze of stern parents. "Everyone here is a master of White Magic," She lifted her arms into the air towards the roof. "We all seek to praise and become closer to our great goddess Ayaka,"

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done,"

.

Over the next few hours, your group slowly got to know the priestesses of this temple. They fed you and eased your tired bones. They were all very kind and gentle. As you relaxed more and more, you felt your eyes drooping closed. Your mind became clouded and drowsy, a soft sweet smell in the air. You slowly drifted into the soft embrace of sleep. The last words you hear are from the mouth of Tillith. '...soon they will all know the glory of the White Mage Goddess, Ayaka,' Under your breath, you can't help but mumble the phrase "Her name be praised, her Curaja be done,"

Your eyes open slowly after what feels like forever. Your head hurts like a bad hangover and you stumble to your feet, falling off the ledge you were on and into the water. A nearby priestess quickly walks over. "Are you ok?!" She asks, her short pink hair reflecting the candlelight all around her.

"W-where am I?" You mumble. Your tongue feels heavy as lead. There is still that sweet smell in the air. It seems so familiar but you can't quite place it. "...Who am I?"

The girl smiles. "You are at the Church of the White Mages. My name is Lena, and you are one of our newest initiates," She leans forward slowly and kisses you on the brow. "The time has finally come for our new members to be ordained before the light of Ayaka, our holiest Savior,"

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done," The phrase comes out reflexively, surprising yourself as the words pass your lips. Lenna nods approvingly and takes your hand. She leads you towards a large stone statue of a figure you recognize as Ayaka. Wait, how do I know that. The thought flickers in your mind before being washed away like a dingy in a storm. The sweet smell is stronger now, overwhelmingly so. You think you're going to be sick for a moment but the nausea passes as quickly as it came. There are lots of people around this statue already. Several girls with all sorts of hair colors. Orange, Pink, a weird Gradient, blonde, a light blue...a few men are also here, including one who you can't help but think looks a bit like a gorilla. You chuckle to yourself for a second, unsure why that is so funny. The one with the many-colored hair stands at the center of the kneeling group.

"The time has come, initiates. The greatest among us is coming. Ayaka is coming!"

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done,"

"May we all be blessed by her holy light. May our lives be touched by her magic!"

"Her name be praised, her Curaja be done,"

The statue at the center has begun to vibrate, a light hum filling the air all around you. It started softly at first but quickly became louder and louder until it is deafening. Cracks begin to appear in the large statue at the center of the room. Powerful beams of light pour through the cracks, blindingly powerful and intense. Tillith's voice raises above the shaking and the noise, bellowing her sermon.

"GLORY BE TO THE WHITE MAGIC!"

"HER NAME BE PRAISED, HER CURAJA BE DONE,"

"GLORY BE TO THE HEALERS!"

"HER NAME BE PRAISED, HER CURAJA BE DONE,"

"GLORY. BE. TO. AYAKA!"

"HER NAME BE PRAISED, HER CURAJA BE DONE,"

"HER NAME BE PRAISED, HER CURAJA BE DONE,"

"HER NAME BE PRAISED, HER CURAJA BE DONE,"