They got to the Archali province via water tunnel and as it turned out, the province was basically a chain of islands. Hotspot volcanism had formed huge mountains, covered in green. Big waves crashed against the cliffs and the sound of the surge mingled with the noises of the forest. Birds were chirping loudly and he spotted some white ones, making good use of the thermal updraft, looking very much alike to the seagulls he knew.
"These islands inhabit a lot of wildlife," Shersheba explained. "You cannot find any place else on the Planet of Oceans with so many species at one place. This is why our ancestors chose this place to built a shrine here. It is considered a holy place."
Jason shielded his eyes against the burning sun but the glittering ocean still blinded his sight. They had an astonishing view over the islands and he felt like he would never have had enough from looking at this beautiful spot.
"We have similar places on Earth," he agreed. "But this is remarkable. It looks almost untouched."
Shersheba nodded. "Only the holy women and men of the temple are allowed to live here."
She pointed a little down the hillside where he caught a glimpse of old masonry between the trees. "This is one of the oldest temples to find."
It seemed, they were not the only visitors seeking for answers. Usually, Jason would have felt a little off in his strange clothes compared to those around him, but most of the people they met on their way were too lost in thought to take notice.
The temple was built of columns and pyramids with flat roofs, embedded into the rocks and trees surrounding it. Planes and wide steps formed a generous landscape of terraces in front of the main building, revealing a direct view of the open sea.
Two female stone figures guarded the entrance on both sides. They stood tall and proud with their beautiful carved faces directed to the ocean, each holding an ankh in their hands. The right figure had creatures of different sizes cuddled up against her feet and on her shoulders, while the other one was surrounded by plants. Below them at their feet, there were small basins with an extraordinary looking, blue shining water.
"The twin goddesses," Shersheba explained quietly. "Machna and Eirhne, tutelary deities of nature. Women come to Machna, praying for fertility and asking her to protect their newborns. Eirhne provides a good harvest and keeps life in balance." She looked around and Jason followed her gaze. "Since science reached its boundaries in this crisis, many found back to the ancient beliefs, seeking comfort in the old ways."
Jason nodded. "Yeah, I figured. What's with the water in the basins?"
"Maybe the answer you have been looking for, Jason Bates."
They turned around to find the source of the unknown voice with the strange dialect and were faced by a dark-skinned woman, maybe a few years older than them, dressed in a plain white cloth. Her waist and arms were draped with matte golden rings. Her curly black hair was half-hooded with a white headcloth.
For a moment, Jason found himself out of words when the pretty priestess smiled with her full sensual lips. Her gaze out of the dark eyes was intense and knowing, but yet friendly.
"Shersheba." The priestess opened her arms and pulled her into a close hug. Shersheba seemed just as surprised as Jason, but hugged her back.
"It is so good to see you," the priestess said after retreating. "It is been too long!"
"You too, Merein," Shersheba replied, smiling back at her, "I just wasn't sure if I was still welcomed here."
"Of course, you are," Merein insisted. "Why wouldn't you?"
Shersheba blinked confused by her uncomprehending tone. "Because of the horrible things I said to you the last time?"
Merein smiled sympathetically. "Shersheba, I have known you since we both were children," she replied in a warm tone. "And we all make mistakes."
Shersheba still looked quite apologetic and they gazes met.
"We had a deal," Jason reminded her and she nodded with a sigh.
Merein gave him a curious look but her attention still was on Shersheba.
"Merein," Shersheba told her, "if you accept my apology I will try to not longer torment myself with the past."
"Of course," Merein responded.
Then she turned around to face Jason and took his right hand into hers. She closed her eyes and started tracing the lines carved in his palm.
"You have a strong sense of justice and moral," Merein said, her eyes still closed. "You're selfless and protective of the ones you love."
She opened her eyes with a smile and let go of him.
"You know who I am," he stated astonished and unbelieving, "and you get all this by just touching my hand?"
"You've come a long way," she answered, "and you have an even longer one to go."
His eyes narrowed by her cheesy phrase and he looked from Shersheba to Merein.
"You're making fun of me, are you?" he assumed and Merein broke into laughter after exchanging a glance with Shersheba.
"Of course I know who you are," she confessed, still grinning. "I heard a great deal about you. Everyone has."
"Hm," Jason made flattered, but also embarrassed, "I don't know what to say to that."
"Don't worry," Merein said sympathetically. "The Chosen One chose you. And that's got something to say, don't you think? – Now," she clapped her hands and pointed to the entrance of the temple, "shall I show you around?"
"I'd love that," Jason admitted, "but maybe you could start with explaining what you meant by the answer I'd been looking for?"
"Oh," Merein snorted, "I just said that to make a dramatic entrance. Most people coming here obviously seek answers on how to solve their struggles and many of them find them in this holy water – or at least, it is what they believe in."
"The bluish colour comes from a drug," Shersheba said drily. "A substance which helps you getting into a state of trance, but can also cause serious hallucinations."
"Ts, ts," Merein made and clicked her tongue. "You make it sound like something bad. It's a pollen," she told him. "Completely natural. If Eirhne didn't want us to make use of it she wouldn't have had provided us with it, would she?"
Jason laughed. "I see. Some principles of religious beliefs are, all the same, no matter the faith, - or planet. "
"In the end, it is all the same, isn't it?" Merein smirked. "No matter how you see your deities, - male, female, if they are many or just one, - and no matter how you call them, it's just about the feeling to have someone to watch over you."
Jason smiled back. Most people he met occupying a ministry had been very strict and stubborn when it came to other beliefs. Merein was the first he really liked and somehow he had the feeling to be in the perfect place at the perfect time.