The life of Verosha was largely comprised of dark alleyways and shadowy corners; the rundown tenements of her birthplace; the bloated queues for the Dole... She has struggled against adversity her entire life. Just as so many other Eborians did before her. Just as so many continue to do.
While she had survived on what little given by the Dole, Verosha wanted more than the life of yet another Eborian street urchin. Even now, her fingers covered in grime, she looked upon the palatial temples and villas of the aristocrats with hopeful eyes. Yet for all the years she has roamed the cobbled streets of Ebor, never has she even been close to those opulent buildings of her hopes and dreams.
Today, once more, she stood in the ever-bloating queue for the Dole. The line was long and the air tense. The queues were never safe. They were a breeding ground for violence. Just a tiny spark was enough to cause another conflagration to consume the Suburbia. Luckily, today would not be such a day because the dark robed priests were casting their stern gaze upon the downtrodden masses.
Yet it seemed the black robed priests were not here to prevent any unrest. Instead, from the corner of Verosha's eye, she noticed the priests dragging out youngsters from out the masses. Such is the way in Suburbia. Abduction and other despicable acts were far from uncommon here, but never had Verosha ever seen it done so callously. Suddenly she too fell prey to the surprisingly strong hands of the priests, dragging her to a shadowy corner.
“Let me g…” Verosha tried to scream.
However, a cloth thrust in her mouth quickly silenced her. Following that, a surprisingly soft rope bound her hands, one that did not chafe her skin whatsoever. Ordinarily such ‘kindness’ would be wasted on the ‘goods’ acquired at the Suburbia. Yet, Verosha had no time to ponder further as the abductors blindfolded their prey and started dragging along.
Verosha had no idea how long she was dragged through the city. Though the priest tugged and pushed to guide them, but never were they too rough, never were they vicious. Whatever their plans were, it seemed that they tried not to harm them needlessly. Strange, but she supposes answers would come quickly once they arrived at the destination as she had heard large metal doors opening.
The tugging and and pushing had stopped after the noise of the closing of the door had stopped. Sometimes she felt soft tugging from the ropes, most likely from someone being untied, but she could not be sure since silence and darkness surrounded her. She did not know how long she had stood there waiting, but suddenly she felt the ropes that bound her being unfurled and she was guided towards another place by hand. A knock heralded that she had arrived at what she supposes would be her final destination. After she had entered, her blindfold was removed and her eyes had to painfully adjust to even this dimly candle-lit room. After what felt like an eternity, but probably did not last more than twenty seconds, her eyes had adjusted to the candlelight and she noticed that there were two men in front of her: one elderly man wearing the black robe and the other a soldier.
“Is she the one I had marked on the streets?” The elderly man, who Verosha assumed was a priest, asked.
“She is.” The soldier responded curly.
“You. What do you call yourself?” The robed priest asked while pointing his finger at Verosha. Verosha bit her lip softly, not knowing whether to answer. “Answer me.”
“V-v-verosha. I call myself Verosha.” She responded, deciding whatever is to come, it would be over quicker if she just cooperates.
“Starting today you are Tullia Verosha, my daughter and apprentice.”
“What do you mean?”
“My name is Gnaeus Tullius Obscurum, priest of Ensidia. Today we induct new apprentices into our priesthood and I chose you a long time ago. Now no more questions. Aurius here will guide you to your chamber. Sleep. Tomorrow we will speak more about your fate.”
The old man waved his hand at the soldier who quickly pushed Verosha out of the priest’s small chamber. While Verosha had thousands of questions whirling around in her head, the stern look on the soldier Aurius’ face told her he would not answer any. She simply sighed and followed the man. The corridors were long and winding, but eventually the soldier opened a door and ushered in Verosha. Once Verosha was inside the door he closed and locked it. Although the priest had called her ‘his daughter’, she was still being treated like a prisoner. Yet, the room was furnished. She had a table, a chair and even a bed. Quite the luxury. Up until now, the only thing that she had considered luxury was a patch of grass to sleep on. Now she had a bed and even a linen sheet. She felt uncomfortable with all this, yet due to the character that she had developed on the streets she still managed to fall in an uneasy slumber. Eventually she would come to know more so there was no need to lose sleep over it.
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