So somehow this became something for Spice! 8D
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This was the largest, grandest church in all of Reajh. All of Connlaothian nobility and royalty attended this church when they were within the capitol, and it was the church that the Grand Duke himself took his religious services in. It was no wonder; the sweeping cathedral ceilings depicted a mural of the rise of Ansgar, as well as that of the saint of the Knight of the White Lily. The very finest architects and craftsmen in all the kingdom had built and carved it, and the greatest artists had decorated it. Everywhere you looked the light glinted of a gilded surface.
It was perhaps the most beautiful building that Lillian Coleridge could think of in the entire world. Her father had brought her here when she was a child, on those rare state visits to Reajh. The church the Coleridge family attended in Orchy was certainly beautiful and grand, but not like this, not even close. Over the past five years this had become her church. Most of the Knights of the White Lily came to this church; it was just expected, really. She knew many Mordecai, knights, and high-ranking officers of the military also attended this church, as well as Reajh's wealthier citizens.
Not that Lillian really minded. Her family had always been extremely religious and conservative. Still, something left her feeling homesick today as service ended and people began to leave or mill about, chatting with people they knew. Normally it would be a crowded and noisy affair, but attendance was down with the war, and those that did stay spoke in hushed whispers in small groups. Most of her fellow White Lilies left immediately after service ended. Many of them probably had work to do. Lillian didn't have another patrol or any chores to worry about until tomorrow
Sighing softly the young woman leaned forward, folding her arms on the pew in front of the one she was seated at, resting her chin on her arms as she gazed up at the great statue of Ansgar behind the pulpit. Jade eyes occasionally glanced at the well-dressed nobles that milled about, a small part of her envying the women in their silken dresses. She'd loved dressing up in silk and lace before being sent to train to become a White Lily. Sometimes she still thought it was unfair that someone like her had been given such a gift. To what purpose did her life serve as an Adhara? She didn't like hurting people, and that seemed to be what her entire reason for being was anymore – to bring pain and suffering.
Hunting mages was an emotionally exhausting task. They didn't really look, sound, or behave differently than other people. It was hard for her to swallow the justification given for ruining these people's lives, for breaking apart families, for shipping people to horrible camps when their only crime had been to simply exist. Still, she was a Coleridge, and a Coleridge did not falter in their duty just because of something as petty as it being hard.
More and more people left, wandering off to return to their self-absorbed lives; or leaving together for whatever purpose. Lillian remained seated until she was very nearly alone in the church. After so long sitting on a hard bench her back creaked more than a little as she stood. Stretching a bit she looked around, wondering what to do with herself. Without any assigned duties she felt kind of lost and alone in Reajh. This wasn't her home in Orchy, she probably had more enemies in this city than she could care to count – although technically they would be her father's enemies, she supposed.
There wasn't really a reason to stay any longer. Everyone had left or was leaving, and she didn't think she would find any answers to the doubts in her heart. Smoothing down the quilted, dove grey tunic bearing the white lily of her order, she started slowly down the aisle, heading for the exit. Maybe she should do some practice in the garrison sparring yard.