CHAPTER 552: THE HEROINE’S TALE

Abrielle was beyond terrified, her eyes wide in terror. "Who are you?" She asked in a startled voice. Callista chuckled lightly at Abrielle. "I am Callista Starlight now Callista Nightshade..." She chimed in enjoying the look on Abrielle’s face. It was a treasure.

"Abrielle Nightshade, now Abrielle Ceaphyr, the original villain, but again the villain and hero changes based on who tells the story..." She chimed then her laugh died out.

"In your story, I am the villain, but in mine, you will always be the villain."

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If the hero tells the story, the villain would always be a villain, but villains are not always born evil; they can also be made. Some more unfortunately than others.

Years ago, over 2 decades ago, on a cold autumn morning. A loud baby cry could be heard from the wreck of a carriage. The baby was hidden well from all the mess and was fortunate enough to survive the attack.

Priestess Lucy, the oldest priestess of the Starlight Cove, was busy that morning, leading the girls to gather supplies for the convent in the forest.

The baby’s cries caught the priestess ’ attention. "Mother Lucy, there seems to be a baby here!" One of the ladies called out excitedly. Rushing towards their superior with a little bundle.

Lucy’s brows furrowed, the young girl opened the wrapped bundle revealing a little baby barely weeks old. She looked premature and very weak. It was even a miracle she was still alive.

"The baby is too weak..she might die soon." Another priestess chirped in from the side. Lucy’s frown deepened, she reached out for the baby and once she had her in her arms her face softened..

"What a poor thing," Lucy said. The glance at the other priestess. "It’s too early to judge Agatha. She is already a fighter, she will survive."

Agatha was speechless, but she could not argue with Lucy, the head of the temple. Her lips clamped together as she watched Lucy carry the baby away.

Lucy, who never had the chance to marry and have children, took in the weak baby girl and did her best to nourish the girl, and on her first birthday, granted her a lovely name.

"Your name will be Callista. You are a fighter." Lucy said with a bright smile to the one-year-old baby. Callista looked like a porcelain doll as a toddler. Her bright blue eyes were always filled with hope, with her silver hair sparkling under the sunlight..

The early years at the temple were fun. Lucy pampered Callista, obviously favouring her over the other young girls, and maybe that started to make them jealous of the lively girl, barely wanting to spend any time with her.

Callista, being a toddler, didn’t care because to her, her mother Lucy was her world, and she was Lucy’s world. Callista would always curiously ask Lucy why she had blonde hair with brown eyes, different from hers, and Lucy would joke about it.

Her life was sweet and flowers during the time Lucy was there. They even shared a bed most nights because Callista was always plagued by nightmares.

But nothing lasts forever, all good things must come to an end. Lucy passed away when Callista was just 6, on a beautiful summer morning. She wasn’t too old nor was she sick.

Callista woke up that morning in her mother’s arms, which felt too cold, like it was frozen. "Mother," she called, turning around to look at Lucy, who was lying on the bed, frozen like an ice statue.

A shrieking scream filled the room, "Mother?!" She cried again not understanding what was going on. Her screams and cries drew the attention of other priestesses.

They burst into the room and were stunned by the sight which welcomed them. Callista is hugging an ice statue identical to Lucy. "Get her out of here" Agatha commanded

The other priestess immediately approached to pull Callista away. "Let go, what happened to mother?" She cried, refusing to leave. She screamed out her heart and a bright light shone in the room.

In the blink of an eye, everything was covered in ice. The ladies all stood stunned at the sight. "She has magic." One gasped and Agatha’s face scrunched up

"This isn’t just any magic but powerful holy magic. I always knew she was trouble. Get her out of this place before I lose my mind." Agatha barked out. Callista was stunned by what happened, her eyes stuck on her pale hands.

The ladies grabbed her shoulders then pulled her out of the room. She didn’t resist. Her teary eyes stared blankly at the ice statue on her bed. Her heart choked; she didn’t need anyone to tell her what happened.

She killed her mother....

That was the last time she saw Lucy, she wasn’t even allowed to attend the funeral. They claimed it was because her newly awakened power was dangerous, but she knew that was a lie. They didn’t want the murderer to attend the victim’s funeral.

It was the first time she slept in the cold basement cellar, and since she had cold energy, the cold didn’t bother her. She curled up in a ball, a little girl of 6 who barely understood a thing, carrying emotions she didn’t understand.

She cried until her throat turned hoarse and nothing came out of her mouth. She didn’t ask for much and just wanted to see her mother once more.

Callista didn’t know when she fell asleep by the time she opened her eyes again. Agatha was sitting across the room watching her like a hawk. "Good morning sister Agatha.". She chimed, managing to sit up.

"Sorry you couldn’t attend the funeral, we had to take precautions ", Agatha apologised to the girl. Callista was smart enough to understand adults to an extent and could only nod

There was this complex look in Agatha’s eyes. She didn’t know if it was pity or concern. She sat up in a ball, her legs against her chest.

"You have the right to know the truth, Callista." Agatha started, "But unfortunately, you would have to be moved to another temple. The northern starlight cove because of your unique abilities to train as a high priestess."

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