Luke finally arrived back at the cathedral, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he stepped through the familiar doors. Sister Maria greeted him with her usual warm smile, and Father Wingate gave him a nod of acknowledgement. It was only noon, and the cathedral bustled with its daily activities.
Luke joined everyone for lunch, sitting at the long wooden table where the children, including the boys he had confided in, gathered. As he began to eat, he couldn't shake off a nagging feeling. The boys, who were usually the loudest during meals, chattering and laughing about their day's adventures, were uncharacteristically silent. They avoided making eye contact with him, and their usual animated conversations were replaced with subdued whispers.
Sister Maria noticed the shift in the atmosphere.
"Is everything alright, boys?" she asked gently, her eyes scanning their faces for any signs of trouble.
The boys mumbled their assurances, but their responses were too quick, too practised. Luke could see the unease in their eyes, and it made his heart sink. He knew they were struggling to keep the secret he had entrusted to them. The weight of it was more than he had anticipated, and he regretted putting them in such a difficult position.
Despite the awkwardness, Luke focused on his meal, trying to push away the discomfort. He didn't want to draw any more attention to the situation, especially in front of Father Wingate and Sister Maria. They were perceptive, and he didn't want to raise any suspicions.
Lunch concluded with a palpable tension lingering in the air. The boys quickly dispersed, eager to escape the heavy silence. Luke watched them go, feeling a pang of guilt. He had to find a way to ease their burden and reassure them that everything would be alright. But for now, he had to bide his time and find the right moment to address the situation without causing more alarm.
After lunch, Luke felt the sudden and urgent need to go to the lavatory. Nature's call. After a couple of minutes spent addressing his needs, Luke finally left the lavatory, only to find himself surrounded by the girls. Surprised and a bit fearful, he took in their judgmental expressions. What wrong had he done to them? He had yet to get to know them, so what was the reason behind this unexpected confrontation?
Before the silence could become any more uncomfortable, Luke spoke up.
"Do you need anything from me?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
The oldest girl, based on her height, stepped forward and replied with a defining accusation.
"You're a mage, aren't you?"
Luke's heart sank. Had there been a slip-up? He had been so careful to keep his secret hidden. Had the girls been paying close attention to him, watching his every move? That was a disturbing and dangerous thought. After all, even the boys, who were often close to him, hadn't discovered his secret until he chose to reveal it.
Though Luke tried to maintain a neutral expression, his silence was answered enough for the girls. The same girl continued, "We learned about it from Samuel. Now that we know, we want you to meet us at the cathedral's lawn, behind the single tree. If you don't, we'll spread this information."
As the girls walked away, Luke fell to the ground, feeling a crushing weight on his shoulders. He couldn't believe it. He had told the boys, even that morning, to keep his secret. No wonder they had been so quiet during lunch; they knew they had messed up. Placing his face in his palms, Luke had to think hard about how to handle this situation.
His mind raced with the possibilities. He had to find a way to keep the girls from spreading his secret. The consequences could be dire, not just for him but for everyone at the cathedral. He couldn't risk the wrath of those who feared magic or the potential danger of being exposed. Taking a deep breath, Luke resolved to face the girls' demands and hoped he could find a way to navigate this precarious situation.
Luke picked himself up from the ground, determined to get to the bottom of the situation. He needed to understand exactly what had happened and why the boys had broken their promise. The first step was to find them and get some answers.
He headed outside to the cathedral's lawn, hoping to find the boys playing or doing something that might give him a chance to talk to them. Instead, he found Sister Maria tending to the flowers.
"Sister Maria," Luke called out, approaching her. "Do you know where the boys are?"
"I think they might be in the bedroom, Luke," Sister Maria looked up from her gardening and smiled warmly.
"Thank you," Luke replied, his mind already racing ahead to what he would say to the boys.
He hurried back into the cathedral, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the boys' bedroom. Without knocking, he swung the door open.
Inside, he was met with a scene of pure terror. The boys were all tucked in bed, clutching their blankets tightly. When they saw Luke, they immediately covered themselves completely, their voices rising in a chorus of "Sorry!" Luke let out a deep, frustrated breath, closing the door gently behind him.
"Line up in front of me," he commanded, his voice calm but firm.
Slowly, the boys shuffled out of bed and formed a line, their faces pale with fear. Luke noticed Samuel was sniffling, tears brimming in his eyes. Samuel was the one who had revealed the secret.
Before Luke could speak, the other boys stepped forward in defence of Samuel.
"If you want to punish Samuel, punish all of us!" they said in unison.
Luke's heart softened at their solidarity. He wasn't angry; he was disappointed. He understood the gravity of their mistake, but he also recognized their fear and regret.
"Explain yourselves," he said, his tone gentler now. "What happened?"
Thomas, the oldest, spoke first.
"This morning, we were playing, and Samuel couldn't stop talking about your magic. He wanted to impress a girl he likes, so he tried to mimic you."
"I didn't mean to tell, Big Brother. I just wanted to show Natasha something cool," Samuel, still sniffling, interjected.
"Natasha figured out it was your trick and asked Samuel how he did it. That's how the secret got out. We tried to fix it, but it was too late," Henry continued.
Luke sighed, piecing together the story. Samuel had found the secret spot where Luke hid his briefcase and used the magic flower stick to impress Natasha, revealing Luke's secret in the process.
"Alright," Luke said, looking at each of the boys. "Here are the new rules. First, do not imitate anything I do. My belongings are sacred, and you must not touch them without my permission. Second, you will follow me to meet the girls later."
The boys nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. They had learned their lesson, and Luke hoped that with these new rules in place, they could avoid any further trouble. To be honest, Luke needed them as leverage because he is a bit afraid of them girls.
Just then, the door to the room swung open, and in walked Sister Maria and Father Wingate. They had heard the boys' earlier screams of "sorry" and decided to investigate. Seeing Samuel's teary eyes and sniffing nose, along with the boys all lined up in front of Luke, Sister Maria's face became distorted with concern.
"What is happening here? Have the boys done something inappropriate?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.
Father Wingate, on the other hand, observed silently, his face showing a mix of curiosity and concern.
"We did a bad thing to Luke, and now we're admitting our mistake," before Luke could respond, the boys spoke up in unison.
Hearing this, Sister Maria's expression softened, and she turned to Luke with an apologetic look.
"I am so sorry, Luke," she said, bowing her head. "I am embarrassed that our teachings have failed you."
"We regret any distress this may have caused you," Father Wingate also stepped forward, offering his apologies.
Seeing the two elders so remorseful, the boys couldn't hold back their tears. They rushed to Sister Maria and Father Wingate, hugging them tightly and repeating their apologies.
Luke raised his hands, a gentle smile on his face.
"All is good," he said softly. "There's nothing to apologize for. The boys have already said they're sorry, and there are no hard feelings."
Relieved, Sister Maria and Father Wingate began thanking Luke profusely. Luke then addressed the boys.
"You can go now. We're all good."
As the boys filed out of the room, still sniffling but somewhat relieved, Luke turned to the two elders to explain a bit more.
"The boys touched my belongings without permission, that's all," he said, carefully omitting any mention of magic or tricks.
Sister Maria and Father Wingate exchanged a glance before apologizing once more.
"We're truly sorry, Luke," Father Wingate said. "We appreciate your understanding and patience."
"It's all good," Luke reassured them. "The boys learned a lesson today, and that's what matters."
Father Wingate, satisfied with the resolution, nodded and left the room first. Sister Maria remained behind, looking at Luke with gratitude.
"Thank you for not being harsh on them," she said. "The boys, and the girls too, have been through so much. They're all orphans, as you know."
"I understand," Luke nodded, feeling a pang of empathy. After all, his parents neglected him too. As they began to walk out of the room, Luke couldn't help but ask. "Why not get more people to work in the cathedral? It must be hard for just the two of you."
Sister Maria sighed, shaking her head.
"We've tried hiring, but no one comes. Not once, but multiple times. People want to be rich, live in big houses, not spend their time in an old cathedral watching over children that aren't theirs."
"People like you and Father Wingate are treasures. Especially to the children here," Luke nodded thoughtfully.
"Thank you, Luke. It means a lot to hear that," Sister Maria smiled warmly.
"I admire you both," Luke continued. "For being the only ones to watch over such wonderful kids."
"Stop with the praises, Luke. You're a good person, no less better than us. The children are lucky to have you here," Sister Maria placed a gentle hand on Luke's shoulder.
As they reached the dining hall, the bustle of the cathedral's daily life resumed around them. Luke felt a sense of belonging and purpose. Despite the challenges, he knew he had found a place where he could make a difference.