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TheOffering
One
Whenthebelltolls,Iknowtheceremonyisabouttobegin.
It'safamilytradition,heldeveryeighteenyearsonthisday,wherethefamilyhostsagrandandluxurioussacrificialritetohonoroursupremedeity.
Two
AndIamthesolepriestessinthisritual.
Three
Dressedintheintricatevestmentsofapriestess,Iboardthepalanquinboundforthetempleundermymother'sworriedgaze.Beforedeparting,Ifollowtheoldcustomsofthefamilyandbestowthepriestess'sblessingupontheunbornchildinmymother'swomb.Four
Thetempleisbuiltatopamountain,andthepalanquinstopsatthefootofthehill.Withadevoutheart,Iascendthestairsleadingtothetempleonestepatatime.
Thepathislong,andtheceremonialrobesfeelexceedinglyheavy,yetIdonotsensetheexpectedweariness.
Frombirth,Iwastaughttoshouldertheresponsibilitiesofapriestess.
Five
Uponreachingthetemple,Iseeeveryonebrimmingwithhope,tearswellingintheireyes.Theyretreatnaturallybehindme,ignitingthecandleinmyhand.Iunderstandthatthepathaheadisminealonetotread,fornooneotherthanthepriestessisallowedinsidethetemple.
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Six
Thetempleisdark;thedooropensbrieflybeforeclosingagain.Holdingtheonlysourceoflight,Islowlymakemywayinside.Iswearthatnoonehaseverenteredhere,foriftheydid,theywouldwitnessthebonesstrewnacrossthefloor.
Seven
Uponseeingtheso-calleddeity,Iamnotsurprised.Imerelyundress,makingmyselfreadyforthe"deity's"feast.
Eight
Fromtheverybeginning,IknewIwasthesoleofferinginthisceremony.
Nine
Thechildinmymother'swombisborn.ThatisthenextofferingIleavetothefamily,thenext"me".Ineighteenyears,hetoowillbeeapriest.
Ten
Theceremonywillnotcease;allwillbetrappedinthecycleofrebirth.AndI,Iwritethebeginningofthistale.