Lesson 1: Apologize When you mess up

A cozy one bedroom inn, private bath (powered by a water crystal with a temperature control fire crystal), with a generously spacious closet.

So why was he is he sitting on his desk chair staring at the red haired girl nonchalantly kicking her feet on the bed he paid for? She also just returned his gaze, not an inch of muscle movement in her face to betray any emotion of what she was feeling.

“You going to tell me why you did what you did?” Leo asked breaking the silence.

“Cuz I wanted too.”

“Was the boy mean to you?” All he got was a shrug, “Were the men in the adventures guild mean to you?” another shrug. “Look Zentella, I just want to know what we do from here.”

“Aren’t you going to get revenge for my Daddy?”

Her semi-innocent speech made him groan as he pinched the bridge of his nose. How could she sound so cold while using child like words. “Zentella… Don’t you think I could possibly do that without you in danger?”

“You couldn’t kill Dirk without me.”

‘Of course she knew the cloaked guy’s name.’ He sighed, “And that’s why you should have stayed. If I end up relying you, I can’t get the revenge we want.”

“I can get stronger.”

“But I need to get stronger.” Leo said pointing at himself.

Zentella tilted her head and close her eyes. She then entered a thinking a posture. “Hmm… Why?”

Leo let out a sigh again before answering, “Because I got a specific job only I can do. And if I can’t do that job, we can’t get our revenge.” It was strange that he was still using the word “revenge”. He never knew Zeke, Aleister, Alicia, or Rebecca, yet he still felt their loss. There memories seemed to take root in his mind and heart. That root made him feel that this mission was personal.

“Hmm…” She took a while before responding. “Ok… but I help you on adventure requests.”

‘I’m being extorted here.’ Letting out another groan Leo answered. “Fine, as long as we understand.”

If he could he would have removed her all together from this endeavor. However… that was because he still wanted to treat her a child from Earth. Zentella was not a child from Earth. She was not even a “real” child of this world. He didn’t have the whole story from Zeke’s memory, but Zentella’s story was far from ordinary. Something about Natasha’s side of the family training her when she was really young.

Leo groaned as he got up, “Alright, now that’s settled. Shall we go?”

Zentella jumped off the bed and placed her hands on her hips keeping her emotionless expression, but a gleam escaped her eyes, “Yup, where to?”

XxXx

“No.”

“Zentella.”

“No.”

ALEISTER’S STRENGTH

Leo strengthen his grip just to ensure his hand didn’t break. Now it only looked like a rambunctious child was attempting (and failing) to escape her parent’s grasp.

“We are not here to drop you off! We are here to… clear the air.”

“I don’t want to apologize!”

After a long and exhausting trip to the doors of the orphanage Leo finally made contact with the sisters. If Zentella was going to be joining him, then he needed her to listen to him. Even if that means apologizing when you are wrong.

Luna was more than willing to arrange a meeting with the boy who got his arm broken. It was now the four of them in a room sitting across from each other. Luckily living in a world as connected to magic as this one, he was already fully healed.

“Zentella… Isn’t there something you wanted to say?” Leo asked prodding the small girl sitting next to him.

“No…”

Leo pinched her arm causing her to jump, “Zentella.”

“I’m… sorry.”

Leo looked over to Luna and shrugged giving her a look of, “This was the best I could do.”

Luna nodded and tuned to the boy, “Thank you Zentella, that was big of you. What do we say?”

The boy grumbled and looked away. Luna then stomped her foot causing he boy to jump. The look on Luna’s face scared the three to crawl back into their chairs. “I’m sorry too…” The boy said out of pure survival instinct.

“Ok,” Leo announce composing himself, “Now, I think that’s all we needed to discuss. Thank you for your time. I appreciate that you made time for us.”

“Ah… mister Salazar.” Luna announced as she let the boy leave. “Forgive me, but could I have a moment of your time?”

Leo looked around the room confused with only Zentella giving a shrug. “Um… sure. What can I do for you?”

“If you would follow me please.”

The orphanage was very spacious with facilities for the children and even the staff. Kitchens, a cafeteria, dorms, classrooms, and open areas for play. Rebecca sure did put her whole heart into places like this. Of course, it was the demons that were responsible for the need for facilities like this. Along with the wild monsters that showed no sign of decline, demons were evil beings. They constantly attack further remote settlements leaving many families broken. Rebecca was one such victim and was taken in by the church.

“I know, this may seem sudden, but I was informed not too long ago that you were the one to find Saint Rebecca’s adventure tag.”

Leo adverted his gaze while he kept walking. “Yeah…” What could he say? Did she want answers? What could he tell her?

“Oh, it's not like I am accusing you or anything.” Luna turned to him flustered attempting to smooth the air, “It is just… we need to send word to the church to renew our Blessing for the orphanage. We normally do this regularly, but with the Saint’s death…”

“The church would probably be too busy reorganizing themselves right now to send anyone.”

“Yes…” They soon entered the to a small building where a white marble statue. It was depicting a beautiful woman clasping her arms together in a prayer. “I know I’m probably asking too much, but if you haven’t sold off any of the Saint’s personal artifacts maybe… it, you know.” The more Luna talked the more nervous she became.

Leo nodded understandingly and was about to reach for the spacious bag when Zentella spoke up.

“Can’t any Sisters here renew the blessing?”

Leo inhaled deeply and prepared to apologize for the girl’s curiosity when Luna responded

“No…” She looked away from the two in shame, “Normally we should, but our resident priest died last year. None of us are qualified at to preform the rite.”
This was were Leo would have left it, but Zentella became curious.

“Why?”

“It… is because none of us are ready.”

Leo then jumped in sensing that this was going down a road he did not need to address, “Right well, I’m pretty sure I should have something here.” He quickly made a show of retiring an item of Rebecca’s from the bag and pulled out her staff. “I think something like this should do the trick.”

“Possibly!” Luna exclaimed recomposing herself. Leo then handed her the staff to her puzzlement, “Uh… right…” She knew she had to at least attempt the rite. How could she expect Leo to know what to say?

“We should go huh?” Leo said turning around to make an exit

“No no! It’s okay you may stay.”

Before Leo could find an excuse Zentella tugged his arm seemingly full of curiosity of the rite. “Alright.” After all? What could her by seeing this ritual?