(not the future, but perhaps a future…)

Lolo sat in the grand hall, kneeling before an altar of Goddess Claire in a state of meditation. She'd recently celebrated her 26th birthday, which had coincided with her official rise to senior priestesshood. While she had been a late bloomer in gaining priestess status, once she had reached that point she'd shown great initiative and risen through the ranks considerably, becoming something of a gold standard in how a priestess of the Claire Moa temple should be. Many of the newer trainees looked up to her as an inspiration, something to strive to be like. Truth be told, she didn't quite like to be deified like that, but if it bought people comfort and strength to succeed where she had done so before, then so be it.

Things had changed a lot since she had become a priestess. Popka had some time ago decided to move out and into a place of his own, which only made sense as her quarters seemed more cramped when they were both trying to live in it. The pair kept constant contact through letters, but she had to admit that she kind of missed the days where they were practically bound at the hip, and wherever she went, he followed suit.

That was the same for a lot of things in Lolo's life. She was grateful for her current place in the universe, but a part of her couldn't help but pine for the old days, where the world seemed so much bigger and there was so much to find out and explore with her friends…

She heard a set of footsteps walk up to her, and she stood up from her kneeling position.

Enlightenment could wait.

Turning around, she smiled as she saw Leorina standing there in her priestess uniform. She too had grown older, her vivid red hair now cascading down her back instead of being tied down, but her face showed a greater sense of peace and happiness than she had once possessed.

The two women walked through the temple grounds together, watching the priestesses of different ranks and ages working together to keep things moving.

"How's the High Priestess?" Lolo asked.

"Oh, Omiko's quite well." Leorina replied pleasantly. "She's been through a bit of an illness recently but is still going strongly. It's funny, but even after all these years, it feels like she's barely aged a day. Meanwhile, I'm out here and the age is really starting to get to me!"

"Oh, stop!" Lolo giggled. "You still look really great, no matter what you think. Barely a wrinkle on your face!"

Leorina shrugged her shoulders, but she was smiling widely.

"We were actually talking the other day… supposed to be hush-hush for now, but she mentioned the idea of retiring sometime in the future."

Lolo looked over at her in shock. "Retiring? Surely not, she's got too much life left to be thinking about such things."

Leorina nodded. "True, but she's been in that role for quite some time now, and I get the sense that she's accomplished most of what she wanted to do while she was there. She's talked a lot about travelling, going on a trip to visit some of Claire's holy sites, seeing if she can finally reach enlightenment at one of them."

Lolo smiled. "Well, I wish her the best, if she decides to step down."

"I'll tell her you said that." Leorina nodded. "But it's not just her wanting to try other things. She's mentioned how she doesn't want to hold the role forever, and she wants to let another worthy priestess take her place and lead the temple in their own image. She mentioned maybe holding an election to choose one when she decides she's ready to leave."

"An election?" Lolo repeated, surprised. "That'll get people's attention. There's never been an election to instate a High Priestess in living memory; the senior staff has always chosen successors from the previous title holder's recommendation."

"Omiko wants to change that." Leorina continued. "She wants her successor to be someone that the temple wants to lead them, rather than letting her own biases get in the way. I was as surprised as you are, but she really seems passionate about this."

"A true follower of Claire indeed…" Lolo mouthed as they both stopped at a balcony, overlooking the temple grounds. "Will you be running for the position when she decides to retire, Leo? You've both been together for a long time now."

Leorina shook her head. "I doubt it. Not just because I've been close to her for so long, but I feel like I'm not the right fit for the role, considering how conflicted my life's been. No, if anything, I feel like you're much more fit for leading everyone here in her stead?"

Lolo blinked as she thought this over. "Me? High Priestess? I don't know… could I really have what it takes? I could never replace her, I know that much…"

She felt Leorina's hand on her shoulder, and turned to see her smiling warmly at her.

"Lolo, you are one of the most talented and dedicated priestesses I have ever known. Almost no one in this temple could compare to the work you have put in within these walls and elsewhere in the world. And I know that Omiko would be overjoyed to see you take on the role of High Priestess. We both know you'd deserve it."

Lolo's lip quivered, her eyes tearing up in emotion, before she pulled Leorina into a hug, grateful for her kind words, which her friend gladly returned.

As they pulled away, Lolo looked over at the horizon and gasped softly. "Evening already? Goodness me, where did the time go?"

Leorina chuckled. "Sounds like one of your prince charming's will be picking you up soon then. I trust that I will see you tomorrow?"

Lolo beamed. "Definitely."

…

Lolo walked down to the temple gates, wearing a more casual outfit than her more regal senior priestess uniform. Right on cue, the noise of a revving motorbike grew louder and louder as a red shape screeched down the lane and stopped in front of her. On board was a gruff wolf with yellow and black fur. His fur was much shaggier, his chest floof more like his father's, but he still wore a red uniform like the old days, and his tough yet playful personality hadn't dulled a bit.

"Evening, miss." Guntz grinned with a southern drawl that had deepened a lot over the years. "You ready to go meet Mr. Ears down in the town?"

"Oh, you know I am." Lolo said with a teasing admonishment, but she was smiling widely as she jumped on the back of Guntz's motorcycle and held on tight as it wailed to life and took off down the road.

It's as they say, the more things change, the more things stay the same…