Filed to story: The Chosen Saga Novel PDF Free
The next day Araiya awoke around mid-day, finally catching up on the sleep she desperately needed. After seeing to her needs, she stumbled back into her main room and up to the breakfast tray. She nibbled on some bread, and she read the instructions laid out for the day.
It looked pretty straightforward.
Chosen are instructed to drink the elixir on the breakfast tray and purge themselves of anything that could affect their bodies when anointed. Spend the day meditating and cleansing yourself.
Okay that seemed a little dubious, but okay.
Dinner will be held later. Then we will leave for the ceremony as it hits dark. The ceremony will be held under the full moon and Chosen will meet with the Goddess with nothing between them.
Also sounds a little weird but okay.
Anointed Chosen assigned to you will be by around mid-day to explain the elixir and finalize steps for the ceremony. Have a Goddess-blessed day.
“Okay then,” Araiya murmured to herself. She picked up the elixir and uncorked it. Araiya was about to drink it when Shavon and Tal knocked and walked in.
“Oh, the elixir of cleansing.” Shavon shuddered.
“Did you just shudder?” Araiya looked at the little bottle in her hand. “What the fuck is in this that made you shudder?”
“That little bottle is the start of your cleansing. This ritual prepares you to accept the Goddess’s magic. Apparently, that means you need to be cleaned inside and out.” Shavon shook her head and smiled. “I am so happy I never have to take that little bottle of darkness and evil ever again.”
“Oh, Goddess what is it going to do?”
“It cleanses you, over and over again. It’s like you have the flu. It purges you of everything. It lasts forever.”
“It does not.” Tal laughed. “It’s a cleanse that flushes your body out. In other words, you shit your life away for a few hours. They tell you to meditate and pray during the hours because it feels like you’re going to die.” Tal started laughing so hard he could no longer go on. Tears flowed from his eyes. “You pray for the Goddess to make it stop, and by the time you think you’re about to die, your body is cleared out. Thank fuck we don’t have to do that.” Tal wiped at his face and tears.
“You will feel amazing, starving, but so dirty you need five baths. I think I took like ten. By the time you feel clean again it’s time to eat and you feel rushed. The sooner you start, the more time you will have to get ready.”
“Fuck that. I’m not doing this.” Araiya put down the tiny bottle of doom and backed away.
“Unfortunately, you have to. It is said, but no one has tested the theory, that if you’re not properly cleansed you can reject the Goddess’s power. Does anyone know this for sure? Not at all. Are you willing to lose the opportunity because you didn’t force a cleanse on your insides? I know I sure as hell wasn’t going to tempt fate and be stuck going back home.”
“No other way?”
“Nope,” the two chimed. Araiya pouted for a second but then took the doomed drink.
“Atta girl. You have maybe a quarter of an hour before all hell breaks loose so let’s talk about tonight.” Tal patted the bed and Shavon sat next to him. “After your deathly cleanse, Shavon and I will come to get you for dinner. It’s just a light soup, just in case you are nervous. Last year someone threw up.”
“Fuck off about that, I was too nervous, and my Chosen forced me to eat chorta. I fucking hate chorta.”
“You got sick?”
Shavon blushed. “When the Goddess filled me with her power my already twisted stomach gave up the fight. Thankfully I was the last to go because I threw up all over the altar. After we returned, I also had to spend a full week cleansing the altar.”
“Romantic first week together, right? We had to soak off a lot of her dinner for a few days to make sure it all came off.” Tal kissed her forehead.
“Okay so I die for the next half a day, then you come to get me for dinner, then the ritual. Seems fine.”
“Well…” Shavon scratched at her neck.
“What else?”
“You face the Goddess bare. That means under your ceremony robe, you have to be naked. When you step up to the altar you drop the robe. Bright side, a few years ago they built a small screen around the altar. So, you have walls but no ceiling. Before that you had to be naked in front of everyone.”
“Naked.”
“Yup.”
“Great.” Araiya felt her stomach roll. She clutched at her stomach and Tal started to giggle. “Seriously. You’re giggling?”
“Is it nerves? Or…” Tal couldn’t stop the chuckle that happened. “Or is it the elixir? Who knows, but you’re starting to sweat a little here Araiya.” Tal turned to Shavon. “We should go, all darkness is about to be released and no one needs to witness it.”
“Araiya I will be back to help you get ready. Trust the process, and I will see you soon. Stay hydrated.” Shavon patted her back and left.
Araiya stayed on edge for the next hour, but she started her meditation and prayers. She followed the steps laid out in the letter. Her stomach hurt a little throughout the day, but nothing like the doomsday she was expecting. Araiya decided to take her time cleansing her body since the elixir didn’t work. She started to panic more and more as the day drew to a close.