The Festival III - A Priest's Warmth

After praying to the Goddess.

“Now, should we head for home?” Ven asked, hands on his hips.


“Yes,” Hely answered as she stood up from the bench. “Let’s head home!”


“Kurose, what do you want to eat for dinner?” Hely asked.

“Cecilia, It’s been late.” Hely remarked, looking at Cecilia. “Do you want to eat dinner with us before going home?”


“I-if I-it’s a-alright…” Cecilia stammered. Her fingertips touching together.


“Yes!” Hely said, her cheeks warmed faintly.



“Hmm…” Kurose murmured, staring at the ceiling. “What should I eat for dinner?...”


After a second.

“Yes, I know! How about mushroom pi-”

The church’s gate opened.

Ven glanced at the gate as a man stepped, His footsteps slightly echoing through the.quiet hall, inside the church.

Kurose stares at the man, standing next to Hely. Fingers lightly curled around the hem of her dress.


“Oh?” The man remarked, with a steady posture. “A family is still here?”

He noticed.

“Sir Ven,” he bowed his head, hand placed on the chest.”I presumed that you already went home.” The man said.


“We were visiting the church,” Ven said as he walked towards the man.”Since, It’s our son's second time visiting the church.”


“I see,” the man said.” So that's the reason I haven’t seen Kurose in church.”


“Yes father,” Hely remarked as she walked towards the man. “Kurose was saying that he wanted to know about the Goddess, and insisted on visiting the church today due to the festival.”



“I see… I’m happy to hear that.” The man calmly said, bowed his head, hand placed on the chest and added “Once again, it's an honor to meet you. Lady Hely.”


After a second.


“Yes!,” She walked towards the man.”It’s a pleasure to meet you again, Father Guliard!” Hely said, with a smile appearing on her face.


After standing next to Ven, she added “Kurose,” looking at him, softly gave a reassuring pat on his back. "Give your introduction.”

Kurose goes a step forward.


“U-umm,” Kurose murmured, after a brief pause. “I’m Kurose Levein,” his eyes darted around. ”Nice to meet you, Father Guliard.” He said while placing a hand on his back head.


“Levein?” Guliard looked at Ven.

Ven gave a steady head shake…

“I-i-i see…” Guliard said, while looking at Kurose as he stooped.”It’s a good name.” He smiled, traces of sweat on his face.


“Y-yes.” Kurose murmured.


“Is he going to participate in the Destined-One Ceremony?” Guliard asked while looking at Kurose.

“Yes,” Ven replied, his arms crossed.”He's been training for one and a half years for the ceremony..” with a grin on his face.


“I s-see.” Guliard remarked, traces of sweat appeared on his face. He looked at Kurose.”Is it alright if I check something?” He said.

“Y-yes.” He murmured.

“Then, can you come closer to me?” Guliard said.


Kurose walked towards Guliard.

After a few seconds..

“Is it alright if I touch your shoulders?” Guliard calmly said.


“Y-yes.” His eyes darted around.


“Hmm…” Guliard murmured while touching Kurose’s shoulders. “I have inspected Alen and Kein as well, but. Sir Ven’s kid must be on par with them, or even…” He mused quietly as he slightly narrowed his eyes.”Stronger than Alen and Kein.” After a brief pause. He narrowed his eyes, his expression steady, and mused. “I don’t know.”


“What do you think?,” Ven asked, with a smile on his face. “My son is amazing, right?”

“Yes,”Guliard replied as he straightened his posture.”I have also examined other kids from the training ground.” Guliard said while Kurose went back to Hely, running lightly. “But, compared to them. He is quite strong for his age.”


“Is that so?,” Ven said. “Well, he’s my kid, so that’s obvious!” with a grin on his face.


“Father” Kurose said, lightly gripping Hely’s dress hem. He signed to come here.


After a few seconds.


“What happened, Kurose?” Ven said, standing next to him.

Kurose signed.


“What is it,” Ven murmured as he stooped down. Lending an ear to Kurose.”What do you want to tell your father?” Ven faintly smiled.


“Father,” Kurose murmured in Ven’s ear. “Is that man fond of children?.” He murmured, looking at Guliard. “He said he has examined every kid in the training ground.”

“Ehh?” Sweat appeared on Ven and Guilard's face as they heard him.

”I believe he is fond of children too much.”

“Ehh?” More sweat appeared on Guilard's face.

"Father, let’s beat this ma-,” More sweat appeared on Guilard's face. “I meant this kid mag-”

“You have a misunderstanding!” Guliard shouted, sweat all over his face. “The church maintains and funds the training ground for training. and, I’m the one who trains those children for the Destined-One Ceremony.”
He said, breathing heavily.

“Oh…” Kurose murmured, looking at Guliard.

After a moment.

.”I’m the one who trains those children,” Guliard said, wiping sweat from his face with a handkerchief. “I have to examine every child to assess their pure mana potential.”


“Then,” Kurose murmured, gazing at Guliard.”He trains the two kids I saw from the other day too?” He murmured as his mind drifted back on the day where Alen and Kein were having a mock battle.


“Sorry, he’s still a teen.” Ven said, hand placed on his back head. “I think that’s why he misunderstood the situation.”


“I-it’s nothing to worry about,” He remarked. “He’s still a teen, so it’s nothing to be worried about.”


“Sorry, Father.” Hely said, softly patting a rhythm on Julie’s belly.”My son sometimes ends up with a wrong conclusion.” she faintly smiled.

“Kurose, Say sorry to father.” She softly taps on his head.


“It hurt a little.” He murmured, covering his head.
“Sorry,” Kurose said, staring down.”I came to a misunderstanding.”


“No, it’s nothing to worry about! Sometimes it happens.”
Guliard remarked.


“T-thank you.”

After a while..


“Now, let's head home!” Ven said. “Guliard, let’s talk another time.” looking at guliard, with a smile on his face.


“Yes!” Guliard said. “I hope we’ll meet again soon, Sir Ven.” bowing his head slightly with a hand placed on the chest.




“Kurose,” Guliard looks at him.”Good luck for the Destined-One Ceremony, and…” He relaxed his posture. “Good luck to you too, Cecilia.” He said as he smiled.


“Y-yes, father.”
Cecilia said as she faintly smiled. Her cheeks lightly flushed


“Do you know Cecilia,” Ven said, slightly turning his head, looking at him.”Guliard?”


“Yes,” Guliard said.
“When she arrived in the orphanage, since the orphanage was newly opened, there were no caretakers back then.There were only a few kids, and Cecilia wasn’t able to fit in between the kids.” He said while looking down as his mind drifted back.
“The church sent me to the orphanage to take care of the children, and I saw… Cecilia standing by herself in the playground…”
“And I thought, that I have to take care of this child or she’ll never know the warmth of someone.” He looked at Cecilia as he faintly smiled, his eyes softened.”Since then, I was taking care of her and other children for nine years, but. The church called me back one year ago, I was busy training the children in the training ground, and I wasn't able to go to the orphanage and I was worried about how children in the orphanage are living.

He said.

Took a quiet breath, faintly smiled and continued “After seeing Cecilia a few months ago, I was relieved that the children are happy in the orphanage after hearing from Cecilia.”

After a second.

He noticed.


Kurose stares at him as he walks towards Cecilia.


After a few seconds standing in front of Cecilia


He softly pats her head.”I haven’t done this in months, have I?.” He softly asked Cecilia, a soft smile on his face.


“Yes, Father!” Cecilia replied, her cheeks reddened.


After a silence..


“Mother, I think he’s too fond of chil-”


“Stop it.” Hely softly tapped his head with her hand.


After a moment.


“Then, we’ll be going now.” Ven said. With a smile on his face.”Take care, Guliard!”


“Thank you!” Guliard remarked as he placed his hand on the chest. “Take care, I hope we’ll meet again. Sir Ven.”

“Take care of yourself too! Cecilia. I’ll be visiting the orphanage soon!”
Looking at Cecilia, a smile on his face.


“Yes, Father!”
Cecilia said, a smile on her face as her cheeks slightly reddened.





They left the church..