They came through the brief rain, across the gently sloping hill from Landhaven, to stand at the edge of Starry Lake, where they'd been told that the Temple of Tisa once stood in all its shining glory. Now, however, there were only broken walls and toppled columns, ghosts of the grandeur that had once blazed with the light of the sun. The white marble, long ago adored with shimmering gold, was now pitted and worn, bared of its gilding, and no longer reflected the rays of the daystar above. Yet, worshippers attended this place as they had done for centuries, no longer standing in a gleaming temple, but rather making their prayers in the open air, directly up to the Goddess of Light Herself. At first, the priestesses regarded them with war-wary eyes, seeing only those who would further desecrate this sacred place, rather than believe that these Shupaza could possibly have real purpose here. One of their number came to meet them, clad in fine white linens, trimmed in golden thread. "Come no nearer, for you are not welcome here," she said, her head held high and her hand resting lightly upon her sheathed blade. "Only those who are favoured by Tisa are permitted upon this sacred ground." It was then that the rainbow over their heads split open, revealing the Eye of the Goddess. "They find favour in Mine eye, Priestess. The boy with hair of gold I am most pleased with and shalt be given my Hand." The people gathered there, no more than twenty, all gasped and began to whisper amongst them. A Shupa?? Favoured by the Goddess?? But the Eye was proof that none dared question. The Goddess had spoken, so the Weapon of Light would be given to Ciaran, Tisa's Champion. (excerpt from my novel, not yet finished) Done in Apophysis 3D Hack plus Trystian's Plastic Script (tryst-plastic205-textured); some postwork done with PSP 8. Thank you to all who take a look. Immense thanks to all who leave a comment! I truly appreciate the encouragement to continue. Peace.