Velicia’s words cut through the pleasant fog that was starting to settle over her thoughts. It was relaxing to simply be in the woman’s presence, and it had been a long time since Rhaya had felt this comfortable around a stranger. It had taken her weeks to warm up to the two girls she shared a room with on the island, a pair of childhood friends by the names of Dioni and Kita. They hadn’t grown particularly close over the years, but they were kind to one another and treated the others with respect. She hadn’t made any lifelong friends, but in the end, all prospective Priestesses were serving Soulithya. Personal relations didn’t matter when the Goddess of the Sunrise was all one needed.<br/><br/>In Faena’s teachings, that level of devotion didn’t seem to apply, as Velicia was more than content to press herself against Rhaya and be close. Rhaya, lost in the gentle lull of Velicia’s presence, had hardly noticed the woman’s touch on her head until she was being guided down toward her lap. Her eyes fluttered open completely, but by that time, her cheek was pressed upon Velicia’s supple thigh. Her leg was like the world’s softest pillow wrapped in a silken cover. Coupled with Velicia’s hand in her hair and her gentle words whispered in her ear, Rhaya felt like she could have stayed there for weeks and never wanted to move. The buildings on the island had old beds that had been used for years, and Rhaya found herself sleeping in uncomfortable positions more often than not. However, Velicia was akin to a perfect head rest, and Rhaya’s eyes returned to their half-lidded gaze.<br/><br/>Velicia’s fingers massaged her scalp and that fragrant smell entered her nose again. She breathed in deep, letting the warm, pleasant scent permeate her. Velicia was telling her to sleep, and Rhaya wasn’t sure when she had become lethargic. The voyage<i>had</i>been long, and her journey through the city had only added to her exhaustion. The other woman would let her go to the church once she was properly rested.<br/><br/>No... not let. Those words didn’t feel right to Rhaya. She was independent, and she had a mission. She didn’t need Velicia’s permission to go anywhere or do anything. Her light brown eyes scrunched up as she started to shift upright, but Velicia’s words made her falter.<i>It’s alright to rest.</i>Surely Mazia wouldn’t mind Rhaya regaining her strength before she could do her job properly. If she was tired, she couldn’t expect anyone to follow her teachings, nor could she help anyone who was in need. Velicia was right; Rhaya was in no condition to help anyone and could rest, just for a little while.<br/><br/>“Mmkay...,” she answered, her own voice barely above a fatigued whisper. By the time Velicia’s cool lips descended on her skin, Rhaya was asleep. She felt only the spread of pleasurable warmth lingering in the spots where Velicia had kissed her. Rhaya had never been kissed by anyone other than her parents, and she likely wouldn’t remember that Velicia had even done it in the first place.<br/><br/>Perhaps the strangest part about this that Rhaya would remember upon waking was the dreamscape she found herself in. It was a dark place, but a cool wind swept across her naked body. It was like many pairs of hands were caressing her, even in her most sensitive regions. She wasn’t fighting the advances of these invisible, inquisitive hands, and both her dream self and real self breathed out tiny whimpers of pleasure. She had never been taken by a man, and she should have felt timid about such a dream, but the coolness was familiar and gentle, and Rhaya let it roam across the expanse of her flushed, freckled skin.<br/><br/>At some point during her nap, Rhaya had turned on her side toward Velicia. Her head was still supported by the woman’s soft thigh, but her nose was brushing Velicia’s clothed belly, warm breaths expelling from her lips every so often. Her hands twitched as they curled under her chin, and her legs curved up, closer to her chest as much as the position would allow. Sometimes, her eyes squeezed shut tight, and that motion was always followed by a relaxing of her tensed muscles and a quiet whine for something more.