The Festival. Part Two

After a while..

They reached the village's church..

"Look, kurose! That is our village's church." Ven remarked. with a grin on his face, hands on his hips."Beautiful, isn't?"


"Ohh." His cheeks flushed. "I pass the church on my way to the forest every day, but it looks even prettier tonight!" He marveled at the church, brimming with glimmering lanterns and warm decorations. 


"When was the last time we visited the church together?"
Hely remarked, soothing his little sister.


"Umm.." 
He narrowed his gaze, staring at the church.
"I think when Julie was born... We came here for the goddess's blessing... That was about two and a half years ago I believe?"

After a pause..

"Ohh yes!, I remembered!" He pressed his fist into his palm... "It was also the day when kurose stopped drenching his be-"


"F-father! S-stop it!."
His cheeks flushed.


"Honey, Let's go inside! The gates will be closed soon."
Hely chimed.


"Yes!"  Ven answered, with a smile.


They walked towards the church's gate.

After a moment..

Church was filled with wooden benches in both directions.... Goddess statue in front, church decorated with lanterns. Glimmering light's rays flowing inside through the colorful tinted windows...


"E-excuse m-me?" Ven murmured while opening the church's gate.
"Huh, There isn't anyone here?" Ven said as he stepped in, looking around..

After a few seconds..

Kurose's family entered the church..

"I suppose everyone went to the festival long time ago.."
Hely murmured, placing her palm against the cheek.


"Well, It's a festival celebrated every five years.." Ven said, as he searches further in.. " I cannot blame them for it.."


"Since, we're here, Hely said. "Let's pray to the goddess and enjoy the festival after it!" 

After a pause..

"Cecilia and Kurose, have a seat at the front row!"

"Yes!" Cecilia beamed, as she ran lightly towards the front row..


"Wait, Cecilia!," Kurose said..
"I'm coming too!"

He started following Cecilia behind her..

"Wait.." He peered a sight on goddess's statue... "H-have I s-seen it b-before somewhere else?" Kurose mused quietly.

"Kurose! Come sit here!" Cecilia called, softly patting on the bench seat next to her...

"O-okay!" 

"I think... i'm just imagining things again..." He mused, gazing at the Goddess statue.. "It's happening quite often today."

"Have I caught a cold?"
Tilting his head slightly..

A moment later..

He sat on the seat next to her..

"Hmm?" He looked at Cecilia. After a few seconds..
"Cecilia, you seem kinda glowing.. You're not talking in your usual way."

"Hmm?.. Cecilia noticed.. "S-s-s-s-sorry, h-have I-i b-been s-showing I-it?"
Her cheeks slightly reddened..

"S-sorry, I t-thought it would be a g-good t-thing if I a-ask you, if you're a-alright." He murmured, staring down..

"Kurose, she must be happy because it's special place in her heart!"
Hely chimed, as she walked towards them. Softly patting on Julie's back.


He looked at his mother... "Why?" He said.


"Cecilia was raised and lives in the orphanage funded financially by the church. " Hely answered.


"Really?." His voice fluttered.
"I thought...
she lived with her parents..."

"I don't have parents..." Cecilia looked at the statue.
"A sister told me that they died in an incident... After giving birth to me..."
She said.

After a silence..

"S-sorry, Cecilia... I made you recall memories from the past..."
He murmured as he gazed down..


"A-ahh, Cecilia stammered. "D-don't w-worry a-about I-it, I'm f-fine now!" She answered as her posture relaxed and added "I never felt lonely in the orphanage because i was in a warm environment."


"I-is t-that s-so?" He answered...

After a moment..

"Oh, I know, kurose." Hely said to him. "You don't know anything about the goddess, right?"


"Ohh, Yes!" His cheeks slightly flushed. "I only know that she's a goddess who gifts blessings." He exclaimed.

"Then, listen to me carefully!" Softly patting Julie's back..

"The Goddess is the one guiding humans from centuries and rules over destiny..
Hely remarked while looking at kurose. "Her name is The Goddess Of Destiny, Aeriana."

"Aeriana?" He murmured..

"It is said that She is one of the seven existential beings that rules and helped make this world, but..." She looks at the Goddess Statue...
"She is sleeping in her eternal slumber... Yet, The goddess still guides us and gives blessings to live such a life..."

"That's why they worship her with such devotion." He mused.

"Everyone in the village worships her as a Diety of Destiny and protector of this village."


After a moment..


"Goddess is really amazing!." A smile appeared on kurose's face.

"She is!" Cecilia remarked, cheeks slightly flushed as she smiled.

After a few seconds..

Hely noticed..

"Oh... Her eyes softened... "Julie fell asleep." She murmured, her posture eased.

After a brief pause..

"After praying, let's head home right away!"
Hely calmly remarked.

"Okay!"
"Okay!"
Cecilia and Kurose answered..