It was late at night and the children of the abbey were being put to sleep. Some quietly chatted with their neighbors while others snuggled up under the covers, clutching their stuffed dolls close. Two nuns were currently watching the children settle down. One of them wore a pleasant smile, while her partner had an unusually disgruntled expression. Glancing at her out of the corner of her eye, the nun finally decided to see what was wrong.
"Ellie, why do you look so unhappy?"
Rather than answer her question, Ellie simply said what was on her mind. "Brother Thoma looked happy. Do you think it's because of those guests?"
"Ah, the guests."
The nun recalled the duo that had arrived alongside a group of knights just a little while ago. Ever since they'd come, Brother Thoma had been happier than anyone at the abbey had seen him before.
Even Ellie, who had spent more time with him than the rest of them, had never seen him wear such a genuine smile.
"I don't like it," she pouted. "He was all slack-jawed, fawning over that mage just because she's such a beauty. He must have went with them because of her, right?"
"Are you jealous?"
"Jealous? Never! That's not true!" Ellie denied it vehemently as she shook her head.
The sister who was watching her covered her mouth and tried not to giggle.
'Well, it's normal for her to feel attraction toward the opposite sex, but comparing her age with Brother Thoma's… It'd make him a cradle-robber, but it does make for a juicy story. The forbidden love between a sister and a monk~! Ah, is this actually that uncommon?'
It was not without precedent. Many monks and nuns often married people from the same church or abbey. She recalled a certain popular book in her head and grew excited.
'Ah~ It's a romantic story. The sweet story of a nun and a monk! Together, in the chapel where they had pledged their lives to God… Kya! Should I tease her more?'
"Heh~ Looks like you're worried that your boyfriend is going to get taken?"
Ellie tilted her head in confusion. "By boyfriend… you mean lovers?"
"That's right."
Ellie spoke in shock. "My goodness! Think of our age difference! There's no way!"
'Huh…? Was I wrong?'
The nun felt disappointed, but continued watching Ellie. She looked troubled, avoiding the nun's gaze while scratching her cheek.
"It's like… my a member of my family is being taken or something…? I'm just worried he's going to go somewhere…"
"Family? The brother…?"
"It's that… I don't have family. I just think it's this kind of feeling… Maybe he'll leave the abbey and go on an adventure with those people…"
"You're worried that Brother Thoma will leave? He's like family to you?"
Ellie shut her mouth and nodded.
"Just how are you so cute?!" The nun happily hugged Ellie and rubbed her cheeks. "Ellie! Then I must be family as well! Call me Sis!"
"… Are you sure it's not auntie?"
"… Don't call me auntie! I might be chubby, but it's not that bad! But also… your body is quite cold? Are you ok?"
Ellie looked surprised at the nun's concern before shaking her hands in defense. "I"m fine! I'm fine! This is nothing. Anyway…" Ellie looked out a bag from a drawer. "I also have the medicine that Brother Thoma got for me."
Ellie was looked at the bag happily, when a sudden thought popped into her mind..
"Now that I think about it, where is Brother Faron? I hadn't seen him recently."
"Well, I don't know…" the nun said as she tried to remember. "Ah! Now that I think about it, I heard that he was invited to the palace! He's probably busy at work there."
"Oh really?"
"Yep, it's almost time for the festival, right? He must be busy because of all the work for the upcoming summit on the alliance between The Holy Kingdom and the Kingdom of Lome."
Ellie was satisfied with the sister's explanation. When she left, Ellie stood for a moment thinking of Thoma. His image in her mind caused her to suddenly blush.
"Well, family… there are a few different meanings behind it."
She had a sly smile on her face.
***
"Now! Drink!"
The group toasted one another, raising their cups in the air. This bar they'd come to in Lania was always bursting with life. Whether they were farmers returning from a day of hard labor, merchants, or even mercenaries hired to slay demons, they were gathered here. Everyone sat around wooden tables, dimly lit by candle light, as they drank away the stress and fatigue of their daily lives
"Haha! You know, it's just been too long!"
Oskal was seated on a wooden chair, which creaked dangerously under his bulk. Oskal was a big man in his own right but he was also wearing his armor, so his weight was considerable.
"I don't really like this place. Can't we drink somewhere more fancy?"
Akareal lifted her mug of beer with both hands and daintily drank from it, but frowned as though it didn't suit her tastes.
Thoma smiled as he watched the two of them.
Ah, it has truly been a long time since I last saw my companions!
He had many fond memories of their time together, back when they all went on an adventure to subjugate the Demon Lord
"I… don't like this heavy armor. It feels stuffy! I'm wearing it out of formality since I'm in another country but I'd rather wear something more comfortable, like a good set of leather armor!" Oskal pounded on his chest plate as he spoke.
"It's good at covering all those stupid muscles of yours." Akareal said, lightly tapping on the armor with her staff.
Thoma enjoyed their company, but he still didn't know why they were both here. "So, what have you two come all this way for?"
The pair glanced at each other awkwardly after hearing his question.
"The Holy Kingdom decided to finalize the century-long alliance between our kingdoms," Oskal explained, "so I used that as an excuse to tag along with the delegation."
"Ah, now that I think about it, I heard something about that…" Thoma had been relatively oblivious to the current happenings of the world ever since he'd started running his abbey. "And you, Akareal?"
Akareal averted her gaze and scratched her cheek. "That is… I didn't really have a reason. I just wanted to meet the Hero after such a long time."
"So that's how it is, haha. I should've visited you guys, but I had some personal matters keeping me…"
As Thoma awkwardly explained himself, Oskal nodded sympathetically.
"Ah, looks like it. For the triumphant Hero to now live in some remote, dilapidated abbey… Hah, the kingdoms are ignorant of such things as gratitude. Rather than reward you for your heroics, they abandoned you. Should I use my resources to make you a member of the Royal Knights?"
Hearing Oskal's offer, Akareal quickly proposed her own "… Or, would you rather work as an assistant to the Royal Mage of Lome? I can even have a position prepared for you immediately!"
Oskal laughed when he heard that. "Aren't you being too obvious?"
"It's not like that!" she snapped.
Thoma chuckled at their interaction. "You two, have you both met Salem?"
The pair went silent, their previously cheerful moods vanishing.
"No, we should meet him soon but… it's a bit…"
"Yea, he… he's changed a lot since our days in the Hero's party."
They were both a bit reluctant to meet with Salem. Oskal had to meet him for diplomacy's sake but Akareal had no such duty, as she had only come here for personal reasons.
At that moment, the door to the bar burst open and soldiers rushed in. Wearing chainmail covered by a white surcoat bearing the symbol of a golden cross, they were enlisted soldiers. Behind them was a Holy Knight. The knight quickly surveyed the room before spotting his quarry, a group of men sitting a few tables away from Thoma and his friends.
"Shit! A Holy Knight?!"
"Book it!"
The group that had been leisurely drinking beer just a few seconds ago flipped their table over and scattered.
— Ω —