The Covenant of the Matron Saints, to Irene, was like a combination of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from her old world. The difference is that women here are allowed to hold positions. They can also marry, but a background check is necessary for any and all potential spouses. After all, a good leader is nothing without a righteous spouse. 

Many people within the kingdom of Artamita are members of the Covenant of the Matron Saints, including the royal family and the Ironbloods, so naturally Irene converted after being adopted. 

Irene hoped that her family being on good terms with the church would allow her the chance to examine the princess’s body before the preparations for burial. So now she’s waiting outside of the chapel room. Much like her old world, it doubled as a funeral room where memorial services take place. 

Irene and Lucas were outside the palace chapel room while the royal family was inside with a representative from the church to comfort them, very common when a loved one dies. The doors soon opened and one by one the members of the royal family came out looking down with puffy eyes from all that crying. 

Annabelle ran right up to Irene and hugged her friend. 

“Thank you for coming, Lady Irene,” she cried in her Irene’s arms, her makeup running from crying so much. 

“I’ll always come when the royal family needs me,” Irene said, comforting Annabelle.

King Hubert and Queen Lorelei were not far behind their daughter. “Lady Irene, we apologize for not being here when you arrived.” 

“Don’t worry, your Highness,” Irene said curtsying to the king and queen. “You two have the right to mourn” 

“You are so kind and understanding Lady Irene,” said Queen Lorelei. Dimitri soon arrived, practically dragging his younger brother Alexander along. 

“Good morning Lady Irene” he smiled at Irene who smiled back” 

“Crown Prince, I’m glad to see you are alright,” she curtsied to Dimitri. 

“I’m trying to be,” he confessed, his eyes noticeably stained from tears. “And my brother here has something he wants to say to you.” Dimitri pushed Alexander toward Irene 

Alexander was silent for a moment and looked at the floor, but then blurted out “I’m sorry for my behavior yesterday, I was angry and should not have taken it out on you.” 

“You’re forgiven, I would be angry too if any of my siblings were murdered or killed themselves,” Irene said, bowing to the prince. When she raised her head, Irene noticed a semi-fresh scar on the right side of Alexander's face on the cheek. Irene figured he cut himself shaving this morning, but she swore he had a scar last night that Uni maid was treating. 

There’s no time to think about that, though. Irene has a job to do. 

“Have you by chance started on your investigation, Lady Irene?” King Hubert asked. 

“Yes, I found some interesting things but I need to examine your daughter’s body again to confirm something,” Irene explained. “Has her body already been sent to the church?” 

“It has, but why do you need to examine her body, she needs to be prepared for the funeral?” the king asked. 

“I need to examine more thoroughly in case I miss any evidence,” Irene explained. 

“I understand that, but I’m not sure if the Church would allow it since the body is sacred since the Great Mother created it,” the king pointed out.

“But surely there have to be exceptions! And I bet their spirits on the other side are screaming to be avenged. I just need to talk to the clergy that’s been assigned to you so that I can get permission from the higher ups in the church.”

“I’m here now, Lady Irene. What is your request?” someone asked from behind. Irene turned to see a woman dressed in a pope-like uniform. She had very beautiful pale skin, with lavender hair tied in a low bun and navy blue eyes. But what really made her stand out was her white horse ears, tail, and white horn in the middle of her forehead. 

This wasn’t just any clergy of the church, but the leader of the church, the Prophetess Alma Celestian, the Uni. Unis are the unicorn beastmen, and are well known for their incredible healing and purification abilities. Alma chose to join the church to use those abilities to serve the Great Mother and through her hard work she is now in charge of the whole church. 

She also happened to be old friends with the Queen and her mother since her family is nobility as well. When Irene was little Magnolia often told her stories about how she, Queen Lorelei, and Alma were a trio of troublemakers during their youth, recounting all the mischief they’d always gotten into. Irene had a hard time believing that, though. She’d never seen her adoptive mother as anything but an elegant noblewoman.

“Your Holiness,” Irene bowed, surprised to see the Prophetess herself here. 

“No need for bowing, my Little Spark. We are more like family,” the Uni smiled. Little Spark was a nickname Alma gave her when Irene was a little girl. When she first came into this world. 

~.~.~

Irene was frightened by everything about this strange, new world, including the non-human beings. So much so that she had to be isolated in a hospital room where only the human staff could enter and help treat her wounds from the car crash, which were mostly bruises, scratches, and a broken arm. 

Irene sat in her bed by the window overlooking the garden outside. She couldn’t comprehend what was happening. She could’ve sworn that she was in a normal hospital, but instead, she was in this new place, filled with strange-looking people who looked like the characters in some of the books about princesses and magic that she loved to read. 

And she knew for a fact that they weren’t people dressed in Halloween costumes. 

Just then a nurse came in to check up on her. “How are you today, little miss?” She came up to Irene with a tray of food. A bowl of soup, a loaf of bread, a glass of milk, and pudding. 

“Are you Miss Mary?” Irene asked, turning to the nurse. 

“That’s right! You have a good memory, little lady,” the nurse named Mary smiled. “You have a visitor today from the church of the Covenant of the Matron Saints.”

“Really, who? Please tell me it’s not a scary monster,” the poor little girl asked. She did not want to go near one of the non-human-looking people. 

“Oh no, not at all! In fact, she’s quite beautiful and very nice. She is the Prophetess Alma,” Nurse Mary explained. 

“Prophetess?” little Irene asked curiously. 

“It’s what a female prophet is called,” Mary explained. 

“I did not know girls can be prophets too,” Irene was surprised. 

“Well, I’m not sure how things work where you're from. But here women can be spiritual leaders, too.”

“What is this prophetess like?” Irene then asked. That’s when knocks can be heard on the other side of the door.

“She’s arrived,” said Mary as she walked to the door and opened the door revealing Prophetess Alma. 

Irene could not stop staring at the prophetess as she entered the room. 

“Greetings, little one,” She greeted with a smile on her face. 

“Irene, this is the prophetess I told you about” the nurse introduced the prophetess to the young girl. 

“Why do you have a horn on your forehead? Does it hurt?” Irene asked, concerned for the prophetess. 

“My, aren't you the thoughtful child,” the prophetess smiled as she sat down in a chair next to Irene’s bed. “It was uncomfortable when my horn started to grow in, but it’s fine now. It doesn’t hurt.” 

She could tell that Irene was curious about her horn, so Alma leaned in a bit until the horn was at Irene’s level. “Feel free to touch it if you like. But be gentle, it is sensitive.” Being as gentle as she could, Irene touched the horn in amazement. 

“It looks like a unicorn’s horn,” Irene said in amazement. 

“That’s because it is a unicorn’s horn. I’m a Uni, we are basically unicorn people,” Alma explained. 

“Really, unicorn people?!” Irene asked, her eyes lighting up in excitement, she’d always been a big unicorn fan. “Are there real unicorns here? I always wanted to meet one, but my Mommy says they're made up.” 

“Your mother said that?” Alma asked, raising an eyebrow with interest. “What else did she say wasn’t real?” 

“She also said that about fairies, vampires, mermaids.”

“Well, they’re also real and they live around here.” 

“They do? How is it possible?” the eight-year-old asked, now really confused. Alma was silent for a moment pondering about what the little girl said. Then an idea came to her.

“Would it be alright if I take a peek into your mind?” she asked Irene. 

“My mind?” asked Irene

“I know of a spell that allows the caster to see in the mind and memories of a person. It can help me figure out what happened to you” Alma explained. “Want to give it a try?” 

“Will it hurt?” Irene asked, a little nervous. 

“I promise you won’t feel a thing,” the prophetess smiled to try and reassure Irene.

“Okay then!” Irene was still nervous, but was eager to give it a try.

“Great! Now hold out your hands for me,” Irene did as instructed and held out her hands. The prophetess gently grasped her hands and closed her eyes to concentrate. A slight glow was coming from Alma’s hands and Irene looked at it in awe. About a minute later, the glow disappeared and the prophetess opened her eyes. 

“I had a hunch that you’re not from around here. But it looks like you are from another world. This explains quite a lot.” 

“Another world?” Irene asked, confused. 

“You’ve noticed that this world is strange, haven’t you?” Alma asked, releasing Irene’s hands from her grasp. 

“Well…the clothes look weird. Some people here seem to have animal body parts, and there’s no TV to watch cartoons on,” Irene said.

“I saw that when I looked into your memories, it’s much different from our world here. And the ‘TV’ and ‘cartoons’ you mentioned don’t exist here.”

Irene remained quiet, pondering about what the prophetess told her.  She looked back towards the window, seeing many nurses and patients outside in the private garden full of growing flowers.

“When you have eliminated all which is impossible then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth,” the little girl quotes. 

“Very wise words, who told you that?” Alma asked. 

“It’s from a book I like to read called Sherlock Holmes. Mommy says that I’m related to the author.” 

At the mention of her mother, Irene became silent once more. When she spoke again, her voice quivered, “Why am I here? And why didn’t my mommy and daddy not come with me?” Irene asked, becoming more upset.

Alma held onto Irene’s hand to comfort her and gave her a sympathetic smile. She had seen in the memories how Irene’s parents gave their lives to save her when she saw into the little girl’s mind. 

“I can’t answer why your parents aren’t here with you. What I will say is that it’s likely that  their spirits have been received by the Great Mother.” 

“Great Mother?” Irene asked curiously. 

“Our Goddess that we worship. We believe she has a plan for all Her children. She must have had a reason for bringing you to our world,” Alma explained. It wasn’t too different when her parents told her God has a plan for all His children when she asked them once why she was born with Autism.

Did this goddess need her here? And if so, why? 

“What does she want with me?” Irene asked.

“I’m not so sure myself, but the Great Mother works in mysterious ways. will have to thrust all will work out” Alma gently squeezed her hand. “In the meantime, focus on getting better. I’ll personally make sure to look for a good family willing to take you in,” the prophetess promised. I

Irene looked up in surprise. “A new family?”

“You're far too young to be out on your own, and everything feels scary to you. You will need someone who will love you as if you’re their child and help you understand this world so it won’t be as scary to you,” Alma explained. 

Irene was silent and looked away looking unsure of all this. “But…I have a Mommy and Daddy.” 

“I know, your new parents won’t replace your birth parents. And I’m sure they would want a good couple to look after you. Think of it more like additions to your family,” Alma explained. 

“Additions?”

“I promise great blessings will come from this trial of yours, Little Spark,” Alma said with a smile, which earned her a hug from Irene.

~.~.~

Irene often looks back at that memory with sadness, but also with gratitude. The Great Mother had sent her servant to help her adjust into her new reality, who then became an aunt-like figure to her and would hug her whenever she was able. The prophetess was quite the hugger and would hug everyone. With their permission, of course. 

Some of the more snotty family members thought it was unethical regardless of her asking permission, but everyone else loved it, as they found it to be very comforting. Irene herself was no exception.

“I’ve heard that you were put in charge of finding whoever committed this evil deed,” Prophetess Alma said, still hugging the now grown-up Irene. 

“I was surprised that they would ask me, to be honest,” Irene admitted. 

“Why wouldn’t they? You’re an intelligent woman, and with the Great Mother’s blessings I’m sure you will find the culprit no problem,” Alma said, breaking the hug. “Now what is it that you wish to ask me about?” 

“Well, I was wondering if I could examine the princess’s body one last time,” Irene explained. 

The prophetess was a little concerned by the request, “Why would you want to do that?”  

“I want to do a thorough examination to be sure I don’t miss anything. And to be clear, I’m not cutting into the body, just examining the surface,” Irene explained. 

“I see the logic in your thinking. In order to find the culprit, no stone should be left unturned,” Alma said before turning to the queen herself. 

“Is there an Orb nearby I can use to contact the morticians?” 

“Of course,” Lorelei ordered a nearby servant to fetch an Orb. The servant excused herself and then returned minutes later with a purple Orb in hand. 

“The Orb, Your Highness,” the servant said, handing the Orb to Alma.

“Thank you,” Alma said, bowing a little before walking away to make the call privately. The royal family, plus Irene and Lucas, all stayed back waiting in silent uncertainty, wondering if this would work. Irene hoped it would.

About a few minutes later, Alma returned with a smile on her face. “It wasn’t easy, but you now have permission to examine the body” she informed Irene, who smiled in relief.

“Thank you,” Irene said with gratitude.

“Let us pray that this examination will be fruitful to your mission,” Alma said. 

“I promise I won’t fail you,” Irene said, bowing to Alma. She turned to King Hubert and Queen Lorelei. “Your Majesties, once I’m done with the examination, I will return to share what I’ve found.”

“Go and find what you can,” said King Hubert. With that, Irene and Lucas then left the room. 

“I’ll be back later as well to help you,” Alma said to the king and queen before she followed the two siblings out of the room.