Narrator's POV:
. . .
*pumped*
"But I shouldn't be depressing about it! I'm fully aware that you were such a great knight with superb abilities! Even your leader, Zemislav, acknowledge you of your strength and dignity as a knight."
- the girl excitedly said.
*cheered up*
"Just a little more and I can now travel towards the Capital... Mark my words father, I will surely surprise you as I go there by myself."
- the girl made a vow of herself.
The girl boosted with enthusiasm but it doesn't last that long as her cherful expression replaced by worry. The girl looked up from her window, all emotional.
As she's in an emotional state, she heard a yell.
"Benedetta!!! Hurry! We've got company to tend to!"
- an angered yell of a lady.
. . .
The girl, who's staring at the skies that it filled nothing but darken clouds that stretch all over the horizon, turns out to be Barry's eldest daughter, 'Benedetta'.
*flinched*
"Ri... Right away, ma'am!!!"
- Benedetta answered immediately.
Benedetta jolted and quickly move her pace. She go downstairs as fast as she could.
- - - - Meanwhile - - - - -
( At the Monastery of Light )
In a far Eastern part of Lumina City, not to distant from the City, there lies a Monastery which is a religious shrine where it was built by the Moniyans who believed in the Lord of Light.
Monastery of Light before is known as the Church of Light. Old believers and pastors used this building in performing ceremonies. But later, as time passes by, the Holy Order moved to the Monastery that came from Lumina City
Some people who upheld ancient doctrines returned to the Monastery of Light and followed the most stringent ancient doctrines.
. . .
Inside the building, Betty and the other higher ranking Monastery workers are having a conversation.
Monastery's workers are mainly Demon Hunters in disguise as they are all belonged in Holy Order. Aside from The Light's Order, whose mission is to protect the Empire and its people from the forces of the Abyss, the Holy Order, or a bunch of demon hunters are the ones who are working underground.
( Narrator: What I mean about 'underground' is that... They're the ones who works out of society's point of view or worked in darkness such as: (1) working as an undercover agent in locating the evildoers lurking within the Capital, (2) performing slaying or assassinating heretic demon worshippers, (3) working in the shadows and etc. They are not evil as they worked for the side of good but their job are kind of villainous in the eyes of many. )
. . .
"Oh, thank you so much for accepting me in the Monastery. It truly means a lot!"
- Betty expresses her outmost gratitude.
As Betty expresses her gratitude towards the higher ranks, a demon hunter with a blue colored clothes, jet-black hair, 2 humongous-looking dual swords, and an purplish colored eyes came out from the corner.
*tak!* *tak!*
*all gasps*
"Is there anyone who summoned me?"
- a demon hunter with blue clothes ask.
The demon hunter wasn't aware of Betty's presence until...
"Claudius?!"
- Better yells excitedly.
*funny stare of Claudius*
*cricket*
. . .
*Claudius gasps*
"Be... Betty??! Is that really you??!"
- Claudius surprisingly said as he halted.
*Betty didn't respond*
"You've changed a lot since the moment I've meet y-"
- Claudius gladly said.
Claudius didn't manage to finish his words as Betty dashes quickly towards this direction and embraces him tightly.
*hug!*
"Thanks the heavens you're... you're ALIVE!!"
- Betty worriedly said.
*Claudius's confused noises*
"I'm... actually alive... What makes you said that?"
- Claudius doubtedly replied.
"I heard from my Light's Order's colleagues that you went missing after you departed from Castle Grandock to Northern Vale. Many expects that you died during your missionary days."
- Betty said in a way of remembering some stuffs in her head.
"Wow... I didn't know people would arrive such conclusion about me. And it's kinda frustrating to ever think about it."
- Claudius deliberately expresses his thoughts.
"I know right?... Anyway, what did you do back then?"
- Betty asked curiously.
*Claudius starts being unresponsive*
. . .
"Like the rumours stated, Sir Claudius performed his missionary work. That's all."
- (1) high ranked official immediately answered.
*Betty wondered*
"Further informations can no longer be answered in either both sides, including Sir Claudius, as it holds conspiracy information under the Holy Order."
- (2) high ranked official added.
"Ooh... I see... That's kinda disheartening.... Anyway, thank you for the warning, I appreciated it."
- Betty said feeling down as she heard the words of the high ranks.
*Claudius still speechless*
*moment of silence*
. . .
"Anyway, enough of those silly and nonsense blabbering and let's get on with the main objective."
- Betty enthusiastically said.
. . .
"So, where's the Head of the Holy Order?... I... I mean, The one who's in-charge of Monastery of Light you've high rankers mentioned about? Is he or she or whatsoever that guy's gender arrive here? Or... Do that anonymous guy wants me to go instead?"
- Betty said all pump and excited while looking every corner.
*crow of awkwardness*
"Actually, there's no need for you to look for him though."
- Claudius replied with an awkward sensation.
"Huh? The Head of the Holy order is a man?..."
- Betty shockedly said.
*funny awkward noises*
"Anyway, enough nonsense blabbery... So... Yeah... Uuhhm... Huh?.. wait, wh.... why's that? These guys here did summon the Head of the Monastery back then... And it's been an hour since-"
- Betty said while looking up, pinching her chin because she's thinking.
"I'm the Head of this Monastery."
- Claudius blurted.
*awkwardness intensifies*
. . .
*funny blinking noises*
"Really? You're joking right?"
- Betty glares as her words filled with uncertainty.
*awkwardness rises more*
"I guess it can't be helped then."
- Claudius funnily frowned as he slowly opened his leather-like clothing he had.
Claudius shown his under uniform which is covered by his leather-like cloak of his and then, an insignia pinned on his left chest has been shown.
The moment when Betty saw the insignia wore by Claudius, she was greatly shocked upon seeing it.
"Wow... I... I didn't know you were-"
- Betty shockedly admit.
"It's okay... I usually get that impression a lot. But anyway, enough of those things..."
- Claudius said in a funny upset way.
. . .
- - - - - Meanwhile - - - - -
( after monkey business )
. . .
After Betty finished explaining some stuffs to Claudius, he nod and faces his other colleagues.
"Dear brothers, can I ask you a favor?... Can I have a moment with Miss Betty, for this time being?"
- Claudius asks.
*high rankers exchange looks to one another*
. . .
"Right away, Sir Claudius."
- high rankers immediately replied and bow to show respect to Claudius.
*departing footsteps*
. . .
When the Monastery's officials left, Claudius faces her.
"Uum... Why are they leaving, Claudius?"
- Betty curiously ask.
"Neeh... Please don't mind it Betty. I'm sure they had their own different agenda to do before sun rises. So it's best to send them off for now."
- Claudius replied.
"How about you, Claudius? Aren't you a busy man?"
- Betty curiously ask again.
"I would be lying if I say no right? So... Yeah... I'm indeed a busy man but you didn't have to worry about it though. My schedules are neatly organized in place."
- Claudius confidently replied to ease the worry of Betty.
"Well, that's great to hear then! As always, you're such a organized man! The Monastery would be blessed upon having you. Heheh! You were such a befitting leader eversince you were a-"
- Betty cheerfully said.
"*tch!* Enough of those flower-y words... It kinda disgust me."
- Claudius said with a strict glare on him, funnily.
"Ooh... Sorry, sorry! Ahahha! My bad!"
- Betty awkwardly apologize.
. . .
*staring each other for a minute*
. . .
"About your statement earlier... It would seemed you've made your decision pretty well."
- Claudius said with a serious face.
"Yeah... But I wouldn't say it turns out what you've expected Claudius... *sigh* Well, basically it took a heavy burden upon arriving that decision of mine. Such as failing my-"
- Betty said as her face shows worry.
"Family expectations? Is that what I think it is, Betty?"
- Claudius interrupted.
"... Yeah....."
- Betty frowned.
"Well, cheer up! There are always an obstacles that we must face in each of one of us.... Like they used to say, 'problems are everywhere'."
- Claudius said.
. . .
"Either way, I have something to ask you frankly."
- Claudius formally said.
*Betty's listening*
"Why took Knighthood if you're just gonna resign afterwards? Thinking about it would be wasteful of your years of training and hardwork, you know?"
- Claudius curiously ask.
*Betty gone quiet*
. . .
"Bett-"
- Claudius called out her name.
"Claudius... I'm already aware that I'm not cut out to be a Knight because of my weak-willed nature or let's just say, the path of Knighthood doesn't fit me at all."
- Betty honestly admits and interrupted Claudius.
*Claudius listened*
"But I, too, lived up to their expectations that's been burdening me for so long.... You see, I want to make my parents proud of me.... *grit*... That's the reason why I took Knighthood in the first place. I was intimidated by my thoughts of not wanting to shatter their expectations."
- Betty emotionally expressed her thoughts.
"I'm.... not that ready to witness their precious expectation towards me, crumble into pieces. I just can't-"
- Betty gotten really emotional.
"Who cares about expectation if it's against your free will?"
- Claudius said seriously.
*Betty halted*
"Oh hey, hey? I know that face.. ahahahahah... Your face tells me you'll gonna burst right now saying 'oh no! An orphan like you wouldn't understand anything like family expectations cuz I'm just a mere orphan raised in orphanage blah blah blah' or whatsoever it is."
- Claudius said in a teasing way, comically.
*awkward noises*
"Hey?? I didn't say anything like that!"
- Betty said with a grumpy look on her.
*Claudius laugh*
"D*mn it! What so funny about it!"
- Betty angrily said with a pouty face.
"You know what, that grumpy face of yours feels nostalgic. Ahahah! That kind of face of yours never change over the past years. And that's what I like about you."
- Claudius teases her more.
*angry Betty noises*
"Are you mocking me or what??!"
- Betty angrily ask.
"Ahah! Alright! Alright! I'll stop okay? Ahah!"
- Claudius said.
. . .
"Betty, I may not understand much about family expectations or such, as I was raised on the Orphanage at a young age, but even if it did, the orphanage taught me something."
- Claudius said
"And that is; Your decisions and actions must in sync with your mind and heart. I believe in a saying; True Happiness can be attain through experiencing suffering. But if your suffering doesn't correlate with your mind and heart, that suffering you've went through will only result into Torturing you till the rest of your being."
- Claudius advices her and give her a sincerest pat on her shoulder.
*Betty is in shunned*
. . .
*silence dominates*
. . .
"Say, Claudius... Why are you telling me all this?"
- Betty seriously ask.
*Claudius gone quiet for a moment*
. . .
*exhale*
"I noticed that you're troubled in thoughts... Even though you've filed some papers, I can clearly tell your decisions aren't steady and you aren't confident enough about it."
- Claudius stated.
*Betty's fazed*
"And let me guess, you haven't consulted your parents about your decision, am I right?"
- Claudius seriously ask with a slight teasing attitude of him.
*Betty's surprised*
"Ha! I knew it!"
- Claudius comically confirmed his hunch and let out a snap his finger.
While Claudius is celebrating, Betty lowered her head and gotten serious all of a sudden.
"How'd you know Claudius?"
- Betty ask with a serious, emotional expression she has.
*pft!*
"Well, duuh? You told me earlier about your situation, right? So of course, I can guess it immediately. I've made it in a whole different way in order not to make it sound gullible. Hehehe!"
- Claudius said with a smug look on him, with a slight wiping on his nose as a sign of overconfidence.
*triggered Betty noises*
"Why you little sh*-"
- Betty angrily said in a comedic way.
"Woah! Woah! Hold your horses! No swearing inside the Monastery."
- Claudius halted her but still, in a comedic approach either.
*intensified angry noises of Betty*
*angelic posture of Claudius*
. . .
*WHAM!!!*
. . .
- - - Minutes Later - - -
*funny blinking warning noises*
*funny smoldering noises on Claudius's head where it swelled due to a smack*
"So, in correlation of what I've said earlier, I won't officially signed these papers yet. For now, while waiting for your response from your parents, I'll put these papers in the pending list."
- Claudius seriously stated despite the comedic and awkwardness in his swelled portion of his head.
*Betty gasps*
"What?? Seriously, Claudius?? I strongly believe that my parents and the rest of my siblings will surely be displeased of my-"
- Betty panickedly replied.
Before Betty finishes his panicked response, Claudius tap his finger down to Betty's forehead which made her halt.