Maya wondered if she should visit Maureen, the information broker, to ask about the strange absence of children, but she had been too occupied with finals. With their conclusion, they could finally enjoy the winter break, which was filled with events. With the new year, they would be enrolling in the second trimester.

Celebrating Winter Solstice was akin to Christmas for witches, so the beginning of the winter break was filled with festivities, starting from the morning ritual to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun to the procession that led to the Harvesting, and a banquet held in the honour of the Harvester at the temples, to the school dance happening on Christmas Eve that freshmen students were especially excited about.

Within the academy's main building stood a grand dancing hall that freshmen students could only gaze at, wondering what extravagant events might be held there. Due to renovations, they were left to wonder throughout the entire first trimester, but now it was finally finished and ready to welcome them in.

Andrea was especially proud since she joined a club that organized social events at the academy, and they were pushing heavily for the dance to be held. Because of her, the whole squad was looking forward to the weekend.

The main event was still the Winter Solstice.

From how much Elena had been occupied lately, Maya could infer that the role of a Harvester wasn't an easy task. The other students had to be only present during the Harvesting, but Elena had to participate in the whole ritual; starting from preparations and spending the entire Longest Night without sleep, praying at sacred temple grounds, greeting the morning sun at dawn, and then, at the climax of the day, performing the Harvesting itself.

In the lead-up to the Harvesting, visitors would throng to the temples, each bearing candles and incense. They would place small trinkets and tokens that bring them joy at the altars, already heaving under the weight of countless such offerings. This ritual marked the celebration of fresh beginnings and the embodiment of their hopes and wishes, set to come true when the morning rose.

On the eve of the Harvesting, Maya, Andrea, and Linda joined the multitude of visitors to make their offerings. Among the solemn congregation of priestesses, they spotted Elena. She was a picture of focus and devotion, kneeling before the quartet of god statues, her energy solely directed towards amassing as much magical power as she could harness.

Maya had never seen Elena exhibit such a level of dedication and commitment. Even Sarah and Lisa, fellow priestess candidates participating in the ritual, seemed dumbstruck by Elena's unwavering concentration.

As Maya bent down to find a spot for her candle at the foot of the four statues, where spaces unclaimed by the warm glow of flames were a rarity, she stole a glance at Elena.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Opposite her, shrouded in a thick black cloak, Elena bowed her head in deep prayer. When Maya stood up, Elena's face was hidden from view, but as she knelt, the warm candlelight revealed Elena's countenance. To Maya's surprise, Elena was looking directly at her.

Caught in her gaze, Elena responded with a playful pull of her lower eyelid and a stuck-out tongue. This unexpected gesture nearly drove Maya into fits of laughter. But she quickly regained her composure, mindful of the sanctity of the surroundings.

Unable to properly see her for the past few days, Maya didn't know how she was holding up. Seeing her having to kneel before gods, Maya was initially concerned. However, this small action alleviated all her worries.

As the longest night gradually succumbed to dawn, the time for the ritual gathering was at hand. Maya found herself among the first to arrive. Her position at the front rows alongside other Harvester candidates and temple priestesses demanded her early presence.

As they slowly navigated the temple grounds, Maya's gaze fell on Lady Kiana. She stood, a stoic figure against the grand backdrop of the Temple of Light. Despite being the High Priestess of the Amellan Temple, she was not presiding over this ceremony—an expected circumstance given her Fire element and this year's Harvest being in the element of Water.

It was an unusual sight, the normally vivacious and whimsical priestess following the procession with such solemnity, as though the proceedings were a source of discomfort.

The procession moved on, leaving the grandeur of the Temple of Light behind, and made its way to the opposite temple, designated for Water rituals, and presumably devoted to the God of Repose.

Although Maya possessed the gift of all four elements, it was only the Temple of Sky she had seen from the inside. Her initiation had only acknowledged her Air element, as it was her only known element at the time. The sacred nature of the ritual prevented any subsequent ceremonies to pledge her to her other elements from being held solely for one student.

She found herself wondering if her unique circumstances would necessitate her participation in the initiation ceremonies each year alongside the newest students. The thought of mingling with younger students, like being held back a year, stirred her imagination.

The Temple of Repose, like its counterparts, was of a circular shape. Its design allowed for the masses participating in the Harvesting to gather around its centre in concentric circles, their hands joined in unity. Most congregants found themselves encircling the building outside, while Maya, privileged by her status as a Harvester candidate, was positioned in the inner circle, where the convergence of power would be most potent.

The interior of the Temple of Repose was a serene sight to behold. Upon entering, you would be immediately captivated by the focal point of the temple — a sizable oval pool of water, its surface shimmering under the soft luminescence filtering through the high, arched windows.

The pool was encased by a walkway of dark polished stone, reflecting the pool's tranquil aura in its mirror-like surface. Overhead, a grand fresco depicting a night sky embellished the domed ceiling, enriching the temple's serene and contemplative ambience.

Although the room was bathed in light pouring in from the tall windows, the dark stone surfaces absorbed and softened it, exuding the overall effect of tranquillity and reverence, making it a fitting sanctuary for a deity known as the God of Repose.

"Today, the harvesting will commence," the leading priestess declared and opened up the ceremony.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.