Beliefs

[Zerrif]

It had been a day just like any other day for Father Mareusis-- another group of Acolytes had been inducted, and sent off to the Saint Capitolina Abbey for training. Wiping his brow with a handkerchief, the elderly priest made his way out of the usual chamber he was in, ready to turn in for the day. He had no been no further than perhaps a few steps from the front doors of the Prontera Church, when a small crying alerted him to a presence nearby.

He turned to see a child sitting under the shade of one of the trees that lined the road leading into the Church. He looked to be no older than four, maybe five-- dirty, and disheveled. His hair was a clump of brown, both natural and from dirt, and he was covered in what looked like dried blood. He didn't seem to be hurt-- so it couldn't have been his own; still, the priest calmly walked over, a sincere smile on his face.

"What has you down, young child?" He asked, the youngster stopping his sobs to look up. Despite his sadness, the child's navy blue eyes held a certain calmness to them, and the priest felt a small tingle inside of him, but he dismissed it. "Are you hurt? Where is your mother and father? Come, off the ground, that's no place for a child." He said, taking the child's arm lightly, and lifting him up. "Everything alright?" He asked.

The youngster remained silent for a bit, before he broke down into tears again, and buried his face in the clergy robes. Immediately, Mareusis' hands consolingly rubbed the boy's back, soothing whispers soon flowing forth. "Mommy... Daddy... gone." He mumbled. Mareusis pushed the boy back to stare into his eyes again. "We were... travelling from Alberta... aaah... and then..."

"Shh... it's okay." Mareusis said, looking around. He knew right away that the child hadn't just gotten himself lost-- by the way he was speaking and acting, "gone" meant he'd lost his parents for good. Still, that didn't make much sense-- most likely his parents and the child had come by boat, to Izlude. That was only a short distance away, and the monsters were so tame the child could have probably dispatched them with minimal training. "What happened?"

"These... these guys... dressed in yellow and brown. I don't know. They dropped a stick and... and bad things came. Mommy and Daddy told me to run to Prontera... I went and started yelling for help. People started talking about dead branches, and then they all rushed out. I... I saw them carrying their bodies." He mumbled. Mareusis just nodded knowingly. The poor boy. Already alone at such a young age. "They said... if anything happened, the church would help."

"We'll do our best, don't you worry." The priest replied, though looking up at the sky, he was greeted with a beautiful orange, darkening with purple strands. "Come inside, we'll get you cleaned up. I had heard about the Dead Branch attack, and I'm sorry for your loss." He said. He ushered the young boy inside, who seemed to go without hesitation. Probably still in shock, Mareusis thought. "Do you have a name?"

"... It's Gerik, father. Mommy and Daddy..."

"Picked a wonderful name for you, child." The priest interrupted, taking the child inside. He was rewarded with a smile over the youngster's shoulder, and returned it in kind.

Still, something in the back of his mind worried him. A group of people dressed in yellow and brown, unleashing Dead Branches on travellers? So close to Prontera and Izlude, too? What was happening to the world, that people would do such a thing?

---

Light poured in the stained glass windows of the church, signaling a new day. Soon, the devouts would come in to have their weekly service. That only left him a few minutes, if that even, to finish.

The brunette stood there, holding a broom that looked like it could have been used by some old magicians or witches of lore, making his way through the pews. Footsteps echoing in the mostly empty hall made him look up, watching as Father Bamph soon stepped into the main chapel area.

"Not finished yet?" He asked-- mildly annoyed, but not angry. "Where is Acolyte Bartuc? He was supposed to be helping yout his morning." The priest asked, looking around. The brunette, a little on the short side, stood there look diminuitive with broom in hand.

"I'm sorry, Father. I know Acolyte Bartuc was suppsoed to help me as he had been charged, but he looked terribly pale and ill. I sent him to Father Mareusis to be looked after. I thought I could finish the sweeping myself before the sermons would start." The brunette replied, his hair long enough to go down to his shoulders. It had been tied back in a neat, yet simple ponytail, just to get it out of his face.

The priest smiled, and simply looked around again, noticing a broom left unhandled against the wall. He went over and took it, starting to help finish the job. "Ah, Father, you don't have--" The brunette started, but was cut off as Bamph simply looked up, and shook his head.

"Can't have them complaining about our church, right?" He asked, with a smile. "I know that you like to think of this place as not only your sanctuary, but your home, Gerik; but please, you are not just a simple janitor. You only have the title because you requested it, so you could pay off the room that we offered you for free. Such a stubborn young lad, even to this very day." The priest said, with a laugh, tones of wisdom and sincerity held within. Gerik just smiled, and continued to sweep down his side.

"I feel like I have to repay you, Father Bamph, no matter how many times I have told you, and you have rejected it. I owe you all my life. From when I was young and lost, you led me along the right paths. So long as my efforts go on to lead other people towards the same, then I feel like I have done my duty. Even if it's just easing the comforts of those who come in here, I want to do my utmost." The brunette said, before he walked into the middle aisle, now sweeping the dust and litter out into the hallway for collection.

"So you constantly tell me." The priest said, laughing once more in that same, wisened gruff. He soon accompanied Gerik into the hall, who quickly stooped over and collected the dust into a pan. "Still, you're coming to that age where many of you youngsters are deciding to go on adventure. That does not entice you at all?"

Gerik stopped his dust gathering for a split second, before continuing. "I... don't know." He mumbled. "I do want to go out, see the world-- return to my old home and things like that. But you know me. I'm not strong, nor quick, nor an amazing scholar. I don't think I'm quite cut out for much adventuring." He said, with a shrug of his shoulders. One of which, soon had Bamph's hand resting on it slightly.

"My child, I have watched you grow, and watched you become who you are. While you might not be those things, you still have gifts inside you that you can nurture, and use to become any sort of adventurer you want to be. You don't need to be a skilled fighter, or a quick archer, or the best mage-- be yourself. That's all that is asked of you." In that moment, as Gerik looked up, the priest seemed to have a glow behind him-- before he realized that was the light coming in through the windows.

"Ah-! The doors! I have to open them!" Gerik said, soon taking the dustpan off into the closet, and dashing for the double doors, soon opening the church yet again to the world. While it was never really "closed" to visitors and those seeking sanctuary at night, the doors were simply kept closed for aesthetic purposes, and safety issues. With a heave, the young brunette's arms pushed open the wide, mahogany doors, and light poured into the chapel once more.

But the Father was right. He was nearing that age. And while he had been here for most of his life, he felt like something else was out there. Something else that made him want to go seek it. "Am I excused for the day, Father? I'll be back after the ceremonies." Gerik asked, looking back. Father Bamph just chortled.

"As if you have to ask. Go on now, have a nice day. May you walk in the Light, Gerik."

The youngster bowed his head in pious reverence, and then made his way out of the church. He did have a few spare zeny after all, working at the church. Maybe it was time to start looking at some gear to go adventuring...