The blood tasted sticky and disgustingly salty. Illiamil coughed as the priestess brought the cup to his lips. But a drink was necessary. Through the thick fabric of the hood and the slight clouding of his mind from the suffocating incense, Illiamil noticed how his bride also took a sip. The priestesses monotonously recited prayers and blessings for the young couple, but all their whispers turned into a monotonous hum on the periphery of consciousness. Cold fingers touched his forehead, leaving a bloodstain from which the runes emerged. Fidelity, fertility, eternal happiness... Illiamil sighed, closing his eyes. I wonder what you even look like? he thought.

The next day of the wedding was even more exhausting. The morning had barely begun when Illiamil was already dressed up in an excessively lavish and expensive wedding dress, covering his face with a long veil, which the guy had to hold up so that the light fabric would not roll in the dust. For almost a whole day in the temple of the Goddess, the priestesses read their instructions and dogmas, instructing the bride and groom on the righteous path and dedicating them to the sacrament of marriage. Illiamil stopped listening after an hour. Three hours later, his back and legs were already aching mercilessly, on which he had to stand motionless all day. After another four hours, he was already damn hungry and thirsty. It was a real torture, designed to prove to the Goddess the purity of intentions and a sincere desire to tie the knot despite all obstacles. I really ready?... yes... probably... Otherwise, it's too late to think anyway.. Illiamil mused when the priestesses finally declared them legitimate spouses. And there was no one from the family around, just a suffocating, ringing loneliness.

The third day, in other ways, was no better. The noise and din of the guests was deafening, congratulations were pouring in and they were already sickening. He wanted to run away, lock himself in the library and bury nose in a book. And it would be better to get a sword and ... no, cultured young man like him could not even think about it. He nervously twisted the ring on his finger, occasionally tried to eat something, lifting his veil, and was already mentally saying goodbye to his native home. Because as soon as the banquet is over, his new wife will take him to another life... And only the Goddess knew if this life would be any better than the current one.