"Faith must be truly novel, beautiful and timeless, so gives life to thee."
Act 0
Chapter 6 - Ah, Bitter!
"Oh, thank God, he finally left..." heavily sighed Phanuhel, "I should go make some tea, or I'll pass out in the middle of a day." he thought to himself. "When Xavier comes back, firstly I'll ask him to get me some coffee." exclaimed Phanuhel with an enigmatic smile.
***
Phanuhel sat on a wooden bench beneath the oak tree, a cup of steaming tea in his hand. His gaze was distant, his expression troubled. It had been a long time since anyone had approached him, seeking spiritual guidance.
A few hours earlier, he had met the man that claimed that he was an experiment, and the children that came with him. The man was young, barely old enough to be called an adult, but the girl, Isabella was the one that drew Phanuhel's attention the most. Unlike her brother Dubur, her eyes held a wisdom beyond her years, and the way she carried herself, and her attitude, were not like any child's Phanuhel had met. "...well, she's barely a two year-old child" he evaluated while rubbing his eyes.
The more he thought about it, the more certain he was that she was no ordinary child.
Phanuhel sighed. He had spent so much time alone, that it had become his habit, and he was not comfortable around others. Even his only friend, Agaue Veres, was too busy to come visit some old bones out of nowhere. After all, she is a descendant of Agathe, a girl from a noble family of Acria, that once came to the church of Cyrchos, many centuries ago.
The man who had devoted his life to preaching, was terrible at keeping company.
He took a sip of his tea and grimaced.
"Ah, Bitter!"
"Bitter, bitter, and bitter," he muttered while clenching his jaw.
He didn't have sugar, and didn't want to add a spoonful of honey, as he had already done earlier.
"Ugh, whatever, it'll keep me awake, at least. I'll just wash my mouth at the water well later."
The wind was picking up, and Phanuhel shivered.
He wrapped his cloak tighter around his shoulders, his gaze wandering to the horizon.
While stroking his chin, he thought about the children, and Xavier, and the strange shadows they brought with them.
Phanuhel closed his eyes, feeling the wind rustle his hair. He knew it was only a matter of time before the children awakened, but he could not say how.
And as for Xavier...
A memory flickered through his mind, a moment long past. A young woman, her voice soft and soothing, her smile bright and radiant.
He had seen that smile in the face of a young man.
And for a moment, his heart had soared. But now, she was gone, and he was alone.
Phanuhel opened his eyes and gazed out across the ruins, a sigh escaping his lips.
"Perhaps it was a mistake, taking in these children, bringing back such memories..."
But he knew he had no choice. He had taken a vow, a solemn oath to care for the children, no matter what.
And despite his reservations, he knew he could not turn away from them, could not abandon them.
Phanuhel's lips curved upward, a smile slowly forming.
"Yes, perhaps it is time for a new beginning," he murmured, "a new chapter in my life."
He finished his tea, his eyes still fixed on the horizon.
With a heavy sigh, he turned and went to the water well, alone in his thoughts.
As the sun began to set over the horizon, the lone figure of a man stood silently on the shore of the Sacred Ocean, gazing out across the vast expanse of water.
He stood up, his cloak billowing in the wind. "Ah, but first, I need that coffee."
He heard something that sounded like a wind blow from afar, but didn't pay much attention it. He made his way back to the church, his steps slow and body slouching.
Inside the church, he walked over to the counter where he kept the church's inventory. He rummaged around for a moment, looking for money, so he could send Xavier for Coffee.
When he glanced over, he noticed a small, thin piece of paper lying on the counter, its upper-right tip tucked under a loose piece of wood. He picked it up, carefully unfolding it to reveal a handwritten message.
"A letter to Phanuhel Estat from her majesty Agaue Veres". Phanuhel's hands trembled slightly as he read the sender's name. "I completely forgot about it...". He hadn't heard from the Queen in years, and he wasn't even sure this was a real message. It might even be a joke from somebody. He started to read.