Avery's pov
The priestess continued staring, all the while not letting go of me.
"It seems to me that your family has been blessed by the goddess." She finally declared with a smile before handing me back to my parents. "You may begin the Sacrifice of Dedication now."
With a small bow of respect, my parents left and headed back to our space.
I was placed into the basket where pieces of cloth had been used as a sort of bedding for me. Cooing, I reached out my hands, but when my mother stretched out her hand, she carried the basket instead of me.
'Tch!'
They went separate ways, my father carrying the lamb for the sacrifice and my mother carrying the basket where I was placed.
"Your father is going for the sacrifice now, and you're going for your dedication. That's why it's called the Sacrifice of Dedication." She giggled to herself.
We arrived at a river that flowed into the temple. Unsurprisingly, we were among the first set of people there.
The water glistened even though there were no rays in it. Fishes that had a diamond kind of skin sprung out from the water and jumped back in.
"The water god has offered his protection! We begin now!" A priest announced.
The moon goddess and the water god were siblings and did almost everything together. Since the water was one of the only elements that could mirror the moon in the nighttime,it was essential for the Sacrifice of Dedication.
Standing at the edge of the river, the women began to dance whilst carrying the basket.
Lifting the baskets above their heads, they twirled three times, taking three steps away from the water. They rolled again three times. A bell was rung, and the chimes reverberated throughout the entire temple.
The baskets were placed in the river, and they began to float slowly. How they floated remained a mystery. The mothers took slow steps into the water, following the baskets until they reached a point in the water.
Abruptly, they fell into the water, letting it cover up to their waist.
"The goddess has granted these children!" A priest suddenly yelled.
"We are grateful!" The mothers responded.
"The goddess has granted them names!" The priest yelled again.
"She has distinguished them from the birds of the air and the fish of the sea and the animals on land!" The mothers shouted in unison.
"Do you give them back to her?" The priest asked, his voice echoing so he could be heard by everyone present.
"We dedicate them to her!"
"I dedicate Avery clouds to the goddess!" My mother yelled, clutching her chest in the water.
The other women present, kneeling in the water, also mentioned the names of their respective children and dedicated it to the moon goddess.
The baskets continued to flow in the shining river until it reached the middle of the river and abruptly stopped. Nothing was done until slowly. All the other mothers joined and repeated the same actions.
A gentle breeze blew as the last baby floated to the middle of the river. Leaves came out of nowhere, guided by the gentle wind.
The women suddenly left the water, chanting a song as they left.
"Ohhhhhh, arameathenis ooh, where are you?" Their voices harmonising together made a melodious sound, and the wind seemed to have become stronger as their voices rang. Soon, masculine voices joined them, and the whole temple was filled with the sound of music.
"Silence!" A female priest yelled. "She is here! And she will deliver the message of the moon."
On the other side of the river, a number of priests were gathered, garbed in flowing white gowns.
"I know who you are now, I know who you are.." they chanted in unison, their voices deep and full of spirit. "I know who you are now, I know!"
"Ahhhhhhhhhh" A loud soprano rose from among the priests overshadowing the rest until their voices gradually faded and became non-existent.
"The winds from the corners of the earth!" She sang, and the sound of a harp followed. "Hear now, children!" Drums soon followed. "You have been chosen!" Cymbals next. "You shall fulfil your destiny!"
All the instruments stopped playing and the woman stopped singing as well.
"Scarlet Herra! Fulfil your destiny!" A couple in the crowd squealed, and the wife went into the water to take her baby out of the basket
"Yyvette Dumble! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Eltharia Cresswell! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Allura Vexings! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Yaksuk Grey! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Mira Miriam! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Lumina Grey! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Kantida Miriam! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Beauty Agora! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Jade Hills! Fulfil your destiny!"
"Fiona Wissh! Fulfil your destiny!"
My name was mentioned.
My mother hurriedly came into the water to carry me. I thought she would be excited like the other women, but she wore a grave expression instead. Her pupils were dilated, and her lips trembled."
"There must be a mistake! This can't be happening, it's not possible." She muttered as she walked towards the priests.
She waited in line, and she was at the very back because she was the last person to carry her baby.
"Avery, what is going on? Why were you called?"
I stared back at her, not saying anything because there was obviously nothing I could say?
"The priests must have made a mistake, they probably called your name because there is someone with a name similar to yours. I'll just go there and let them know that they made a mistake." She smiled softly as we arrived there, but behind that smile, it was clear to see that she was scared.
All twelve women were gathered together in the front of the priestess, with their heads bowed.
"The goddess has chosen your children! Rejoice!" She shouted before keeping quiet as her face slowly settled into a smile. "Your children will be the ones to continue the blessings of the goddess upon us."
My mother, Rivetti, opened her mouth to 6 just as she was about to speak, the priestess spoke again. Her voice was calm and soothing.
"The goddess has asked me to relay this message to one of you. I gave life back to your child, remember my words."
Her hands trembled as after listening to the priestess' words. She sighed.
"We will keep it buried in our hearts forever."