CHAPTER 553: HER TALE

Callista’s fist clenched, and she vehemently shook her head. "I don’t want to," she pleaded. This was her home; she didn’t want to leave.

"It has already been decided, the priest will be here to pick you first thing in the morning," Agatha said, then got on her feet. Callista got up and ran to Agatha’s side, tugging her clothes.

"Please let me stay, sister Agatha." She pleaded with the sweetest voice ever, her eyes filled with tears. Agatha’s face scrunched up with disgust.

She raised her hand and slapped it across Callista’s face. Her fragile body was pushed away, slamming against the wall. "Don’t you dare touch me with those filthy hands," Agatha spat.

Callista, whose entire body was in pain, didn’t understand what was happening. "It is Mother Agatha now, and as the new head of the temple, it is my responsibility to protect the rest from a cursed child like you." Agatha barked out, her words like poison thrown at Callista.

After Lucy passed, Agatha was the next in line to take over.

"I am not cursed!!" Callista screamed back, unable to comprehend why Agatha was calling her cursed. She made a mistake, but she wasn’t cursed. She never meant to kill Lucy. She had been very cold that night, and Lucy had hugged her to sleep like she normally did.

If she had known that would cause Lucy’s death, she would have refused to sleep with Lucy that night.

"You are cursed, Callista. Your bad luck killed your real family. They were assassinated by bandits, and Lucy, the pure soul, decided to take you in. You also killed her," Agatha said. Callista felt herself go weak, and she fell to the floor.

It was the first time she found out Lucy was her birth mother. The naive little girl thought the priestess gave birth to her. "It is a lie. You are lying," she whimpered, tears rolling down uncontrollably.

"You wish. Since you want the truth, I will give you the truth," Agatha continued. She didn’t care what it would do to the little girl.

"Lucy was of common birth. Being too close to someone like you, with high magic affinity, was killing her slowly. Even if you didn’t freeze her, she would have still died early from magic poisoning...."

"You killed her, Abrielle. Only those at the northern temple can help you unless you grow more dangerous." Those words left Callista deflated. She did not fight Agatha anymore. She just stood staring at her hands.

"I killed Mother."

Just as Agatha had said, the next morning, the priest from the northern temple came to take her. Callista knew life would be harsher in the northern temple, but for the sake of the others, she accepted it.

"I can’t harm anyone," Callista muttered before she accepted the hand of the kind-looking priestess who came to take her. Lucy had taught her to be kind to others no matter what.

She was sure Lucy had forgiven her. None of the ladies hugged her goodbye. They all stood watching her, their eyes filled with relief that the cursed girl was leaving.

"Let’s go." The priestess urged her. Callista, who was staring at the place she knew as her home, nodded and then climbed up into the carriage. They settled down, and the wheels started rolling off.

Callista curiously glanced at the priestess. Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. Despite what she went through, she was still filled with hope. The priestess sensed her gaze and finally glanced at her.

"Is something bothering you?" The priestess asked. She was very pretty; she had sparkling blue eyes and blonde hair like a princess. She was rather young, since she grew up in the temple like an orphan.

"I’m Callista. What’s your name?" Callista excitedly asked. She smiled. She and Callista were similar. She had grown up in a brothel in her early years before she was abandoned by her mother. Luckily, she had a magic affinity and was accepted by the temple.

She knew how hard the training was and what it took. She only hoped that in the end, the little girl would still smile.

"I am Isabella," she answered with a soft smile. Life began at the northern temple. Just as Callista expected, the training was tough, but despite the challenge, she never gave up.

She fought hard and was recognised for her excellence in the temple. On the surface, she was seen as the perfect disciple. Things weren’t so simple.

Being exceptionally gifted gained you a lot of love with the same amount of hatred. A girl less than ten was more talented than old priests and priestesses.

She was faced with envy and discrimination. They did not see her as exceptional but as a monster. They said she borrowed evil powers and started spreading nasty rumours.

Callista was given more chores and harder tasks than anyone else. Most days, she slept hungry because by the time she was done, meals were over. At times she went hungry, and Isabella snuck her some dry crackers. In that gloomy place, Isabella’s kind smile was the only positive thing.

Yet Callista was wary of her, remembering Agatha’s words about being cursed.

Days turned to years, and despite all the hardship, she still remained cheerful. Others saw her as pretentious, while in reality, she was only trying to be positive, holding on to whatever blissful memories she had of Lucy.

One day the suffering would pass.

"Callista, Callista..." She heard a soft voice calling her. Callista stirred awake. Her hands rubbed her eyes before she glanced up. A perfect smile graced her lips.

Isabella was standing by her bed holding some crackers she had wrapped in her clothes to sneak them out of the kitchen. "Brought something for you," she chimed, handing over the crackers.

Callista, who had missed dinner, excitedly grabbed them and unwrapped the cloth. She started munching on the crackers. Her behaviour made Isabella chuckle. "Be careful or you might choke on it," she warned.

Callista didn’t reply. She was too hungry to spare Isabella any words. Isabella’s heart ached seeing Callista. She knew they were deliberately giving the girl more than she could handle, but there was nothing she could do as a junior priestess.

"Callista, can I ask you something?" She asked. The young girl glanced at her curiously. Isabella held her smile and then spoke. "I am leaving the temple soon. Unexpectedly, Jonah has agreed to marry me, and if you want, I would like you to leave with me."