Rayla fastens her pace to the point she's almost running towards the small church, but not as much as to put a bit distance between her and Johan.
'Come on Johan!, we're gonna be late!'
Instead, he keeps walking on his slow pace, taking his time to look around.
From the isolation of Roman's house, they moved through the "As it occurred" road, filled with the various villagers selling the ends of their hard work, or the varying shops, selling flowers - the owner of one seemed acquainted with Rayla -, books, equipment for the field...
Now they close at the small church where school is held according to her, he notices the four busts, curved over the wall of the building.
'These are the Four, right?'
'Of course they are!' she answers like a person who loves talking about these things 'We have four smaller ones inside, but these here are the proudest works of art in all of Faugh!'
She apparently forgot she was in hurry a moment ago and draws near them.
'This one...' she points at the leftmost bust, that of a young-looking man with an arguably funny mustache '...is Ravìsea, Blesser of Aqua! He gifts Magikars the power to turn their mana to water and manipulate it at will! They say he chooses his Naturals for their calm demeanor, but isn't it funny how the sea in tales is always described as wild? But not as funny...'
She moves to the next one, of a man whose left side of the head has what appears as a long-haired ponytail, but the right half...
'...is a different head all along!' she tries her best not to burst to laughter at the obvious disaster of a piece of art.
'...According to the story Granny said, the artist started with the intention to honor a villager that bought him ale, only to remember half-way he was paid to make that one, Mugearth, Blesser of the Force of the Earth, resemble the then mayor. Being behind schedule, he panicked and did both in one, which I find really honorable! And funny, but honorable as well! And thus we have reached...!'
She hops on the side and presents with grandness...
'...the Goddess of Fire herself, Panfire!, my personal Bleaser! Among the Pantheon, she's the fiercest warrior, unleashing mass destruction wherever she passes by! According to the Legends, she chooses for Naturals those with a...burning passion!
...
See what I did there?
...
You're no fun...
Anyway, as you can tell, she is my personal favorite, for obvious reasons. Mummy said she and Daddy were so happy when they saw the little mark on my hand, then but a small red straw. But it was Granny, she said, who was the most happy of all. For days she'd cook for all the villagers, offer cookies to whoever she met on the road, she even called a priest from the nearest town to bless my birth.
And by nearest I mean the letter got to him a year later, but still, it was a big deal here!'
'She called a priest? I thought being a Natural is a blessing itself?' asks Johan, more suspicious than he should be.
'Yea...it's a blessing allright...'
'...But you do not feel it as one'
'No!, it's not like that, it's just...yes!, it is like that' she spouts suddenly.
'All the adults keep telling me how lucky I am, but all I know is when I get overly excited there's a chance I burn something! We sent a letter for a Magikar tutor, but they said they won't get one for years to come, so there goes that! On top of that, I have Father Edmund telling me now and then my Mark isn't growing as it should but I shouldn't be worried but how not to be worry when a God-given gift doesn't work as it's supposed to? It's...it's unfair!' she finishes loudly.
A stupid smile spreads to her eyes,
'Better?' he asks.
'Yes.
Yes!
It felt so good!'
'Not sharing when you have to can be cruel. You should generally avoid it' he instructs calmly.
'Wow, how can you talk so mature? I didn't pay attention to it at first, but you talk an adult already!' she looks at him curious 'Could it be you were a noble before you lost your memory?'
'Not likely. My body is vey worked out, so I assume I am of lower birth. If I had to choose, I would say either a farmerboy or an outlaw'
'Woah...' she says impressed
'And you ended in that result all on your own? But why a criminal?'
'I did some rough tests, and I find I am abnormally flexible for a farmer. But then again, I am only eight, so it could because of the age' he remarks assured.
She just can't stop but admire his logical breakdown and his composed way of thinking.
'But whatever' he shrugs
'In the end, until I get more evidence I cannot be sure about nothing. I should not be theorizing that early, it could lead me looking for the wrong signs. I will probably have a better understanding after I talk with that Edmund'
'I told you, school is the best place to ask for-'
Her face darkens.
'School!
We forgot school!
Quick Johan!'
'Oi, you still have to tell me about the last one' he points at the last bust, featuring...a pretty normal face, if anything.
'Nah, don't worry, Gyair is just chill'
'The God of Wind is...chill?'
'Yea, yea, he just lays back, you know? Now hurry, we so late!'
She runs ahead, almost breaks the door in her hurry.
He stares at the four busts.
He cannot tell why, but he does not like the sight of them.
Except the Earth one, it has a distinct artistic expression.
He shrugs and moves on.