It was another fairly average day in La-Lakoosha, and the Claire Moa Temple was bustling with activity as usual. Priestesses both in training and fully formed were going about their duties, performing rituals and services for the locals who followed the way of the Goddess Claire. Others headed out into the nearby towns to perform errands and assist in the community, as was often the routine to ensure their relations with the people around them remained good.

In the centre of the temple, at the end of a large hall, the administrative leader of the temple and the priestesses there sat in a sizeable chair, dresses in special robes and holding a staff with an emerald gemstone on the top. No one was really sure what her true name was, not even her closest confidants, so to all concerned she was just "The High Priestess". Which was what she asked everyone to call her anyhow.

Today she did not have much on her schedule. Usually she would deal with the administrative dealings of the temple and those under her care, or alternatively meeting with ambassadors to discuss relations with the other kingdoms of Lunatea. Today though most of those were taken care of, so all she really needed to do was sit in place at her throne should anyone come to ask of her presence.

Sure enough, one of the higher ranking priestesses came through the door to the hall, giving a polite curtsey before the High Priestess' presence before continuing.

"Um, Miss? There's a Leorina here to see you."

The High Priestess' ears perked up upon hearing the name and a flurry of painful memories flooded back. So much potential there…

She coughed and managed to bury them before they became noticeable. "Of course, send her in."

The priestess bowed and shuffled out of the room. The High Priestess stood up from her chair and adjusted her robes. This would not be an easy appointment.

A few moments later, Leorina walked into the hall, flanked by one of the priestesses. She was a dark skinned and red haired young woman who had gained infamy as a Sky Pirate with her partner in crime Tat. But after meeting with the dream traveller Klonoa and being freed of the sorrowful energy that had possessed her, she had renounced her old ways and was working towards rebuilding the long-lost Kingdom Of Sorrow, Hyuponia, whose king had been reincarnated after Klonoa had defeated him. The newborn King was under the High Priestess' care, as a matter of fact.

Although she never boasted about it, the High Priestess had an uncanny ability to read people's faces, and Leorina didn't look like she wanted to be there at all. And yet here she was, as the priestess who had led her in gave a bow and left the two alone.

"Ah, if it isn't Leorina!" the High Priestess said with a smile, wanting to start up a little light hearted repartee with them. "It has been a while!"

Leorina gave a curt nod, mumbling an indistinct "Yes, it has" under her breath.

The awkward atmosphere in the room could be cut with a knife. The High Priestess cleared her throat, trying to get to the matter at hand.

"So, what brings you back to our temple?"

Leorina provided a set of handwritten notes, speaking in an almost robotic tone, clearly wanting to get out of there as quickly as she could manage. "The rebuilding of Hyuponia is proceeding apace. With the current speed that we're going, it should be fully restored by the end of the year."

The High Priestess scanned the notes and smile broadly. "I am pleased to hear that. Soon the fifth kingdom of Lunatea will be made whole again." Her tone shifted slightly as she continued. "I didn't expect you to bring the progress report yourself. Usually Tat fills in that role."

Leorina shrugged slightly, unable to meet her gaze. "She wasn't feeling well, and I was the only one free to deliver it."

The High Priestess nodded. "I see. Any news on any possible surviving Hyuponians?

Leorina shook her head. "I'm afraid not, attempts to locate remaining settlements haven't been successful yet, and it's starting to look like there might not be any left. If only we could get the King back there, it might trigger something and bring them back there."

The High Priestess tutted a little. "I'm afraid that isn't possible. The King is still an infant, it will be many years before he will be mature enough again to be fit to return to his duties."

Leorina muttered a little under his breath, frustration evident on her face. "Typical, just when it seems like we're on track, and its restoration gets multiplied tenfold."

The High Priestess cocked an eyebrow with an amused look. "Still the one looking for the quick and easy fix, Leo?" she said, before cursing herself quietly. That was the wrong thing to say.

Leorina looked stung at her words, and her face hardened. "Guess I haven't changed much, have I? Still the same screw-up I always was." and promptly turned around to leave.

Realising she had caused her old pupil hurt, the High Priestess called out to her. "On the contrary, Leorina! You were one of the most promising priestesses under my tenure."

Leorina's walking only slowed slightly. As much as she may want to believe this, she couldn't bring herself to accept it. "Yeah. And then I threw it away and proved to everyone that I really was a failure."

The High Priestess frowned, but not in any anger or indignation. She could tell that the young woman was still in a lot of pain. "Leo, please. It hurts me to see you put yourself down like that."

"WELL, HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO ACT?! IT'S THE TRUTH!" The speed of Leorina turning around and the intensity of her words took the High Priestess aback, and for a moment a feeling of indignation crossed her mind. How could she talk to her like…

She squashed the feeling where it stood. She was in no position to get angry; this wasn't about her. Looking behind the former priestess who seemed to be fighting back tears, she spotted a few priestess peeking through the doorway to the hall, curious about the commotion inside.

Realising they might have an audience, the High Priestess motioned for Leorina to follow her to a private room that led out near the back of the hall which she used for meeting with ambassadors in private. Somewhere less public seemed like just the thing the situation needed.

Despite seething with anger and pain, Leorina could feel the priestesses eyes on her from the only main way out of the hall, and it brought back no end of painful memories. She'd rather take whatever the High Priestess was going to say to her than their judgement.

Once the door to this private room was closed, a fairly modest study with a few tables and comfy chairs, The High Priestess turned to Leorina.

"Leo, please calm down. You know that it's not true—"

"Oh, please, don't lie to me!" Leorina snapped back as she began to pace around the room in an agitated stupor. "You must've been happy to see me go! No more questioning your rules or your ways, EVERYTHING would be back to peace and order."

The High Priestess sat down on a nearby sofa as she listened to her former pupil rant on, wanting to let her get these feelings out of her head. They had been clearly fermenting for a long while. "It disappointed me to see you leave us, but I trusted that it was the path that you wanted to follow."

Leorina laughed sarcastically, but her voice was already wavering with emotion. "You don't get it. You never did…"

"Then please, talk to me!" The High Priestess called back, her voice raising for the first time with concern, pleading for her to reach out. "What was it that you wanted?"

"I DON'T KNOW, OKAY?!"

The two looked at each other for a moment in silence. Leorina's face, once full of anger and hurt, was starting to crack and a deep sadness was pouring through. She looked at the High Priestess, her face still patient and understated. She wanted more than that, she wanted to see anger, condemnation, her fears legitimised. But all she saw was a want of understanding, and that made her feel all the worse…

"You think… you think I didn't want to be a priestess? Of course, I did! I wanted to make everyone proud!" Leorina began to stammer as she paced around the room, tears streaming down her face. "But I was young! Impatient! I wanted to change the world but felt pushed back! So off I went, thinking I could make my own way in the world, but—"

She steadied herself against a table, facing away from her former mentor, her voice nearly breaking with emotion.

"You… you know how quickly I wanted to return…? The very next morning, I wanted to come home so badly. But… but how could… how could I? After what I said to you? I couldn't…"

She stifled a cry.

"I couldn't face.. you... I couldn't face… face anyone… I just had to go down… the path I… had…"

Her voice trailed off and she tried to keep her mouth shut, terrified that if she said another word the levees would break and everything would come spilling out.

The High Priestess looked to her with concern. She had always wondered if the young and eager priestess she had seen leave long ago had regretted the path she had taken…

"It was never too late, Leo. You could have always returned to us, and we would have helped you however we could. You still can."

Leorina turned around, face wet with tears, and looked at her former mentor with dejection, her lips trembling.

The High Priestess gave her a warm smile, and outstretched her arms, offering a comforting embrace.

Leorina stumbled forward slowly, seemingly scared of letting her guard down in this way, but soon she couldn't hold it back anymore, almost falling into her arms as the levees finally broke and she finally started to openly cry.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she repeated as the High Priestess held her close, letting the tears come. "I was stupid, I should never have left! I should've been patient! I should've… should've…"

"Shhh… it's alright." The High Priestess soothed, quietly stroking her former pupil's hair. "You don't need to apologise. I'm here, and you're safe. Just let it out however you want to."

Unable to properly respond, Leorina wordlessly returned the hug as she kept crying, burying her face into their chest in a desperate search for comfort.

The High Priestess held her close, letting her work through her emotions, smiling as she looked down on her with a certain proudness she had not felt in a long time.

Once, she had sadly concluded that there was little hope for poor Leo, who had so rashly strayed from the path.

Now?

It seemed that there was hope for her yet…