Prayer
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The next day, John and Rayla meet up early for breakfast.
Giving him a teasing smile, Rayla says, “I’m surprised you can sit down so comfortably, John. That guy was huge, he looked like a sailor.”
“Heh, who said that I was receiving? I’m a pitcher through and through.”
“Really? And that huge guy let you do that?”
“Let’s just say I’m persuasive~ How did your night go?”
“Honestly, really well. I have no idea where you found this guy but wow…He was good.”
“I’m glad to hear it was better than your first time, haha.”
“It wasn’t even comparable! What’s your trick John, how did you find a guy that cares?”
“Easy, you just have to…”
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A little later in the morning, during breakfast, John and Rayla come back.
“Welcome back ane! Did you two have fun?”
John chuckles as he answers, “We certainly did.”
Rayla then nuzzles cheeks with me, “How about you? Did you have fun?”
“Not really I was just sleeping, you two really need to take a bath though. You stink weird.”
A bit confused, Rayla cogs her head, “We already took a bath, oki.”
“Then what’s that weird smell from both of you?”
After thinking for a bit, Rayla’s face suddenly gets really red as she answers, “Oh, yeah that’s right, you have a better smell now… Let’s just say that’s the scent someone who met with their boyfriend has. It will go away in a day or two.”
“So you got a boyfriend, ane!? Is he nice?”
“Uhhhh...Yes but he is busy…VERY busy, we probably won’t see each other for a looong time.”
“Ah, well it’s a good thing you don’t age then!”
“Shit…That’s right.”
John puts his hand on Rayla’s shoulder, “Have fun explaining why you won’t show your boyfriend to him over the next few hundred years. Scarlet when do Dragons reach puberty?”
“At around two hundred seventy years.”
“Those are going to be some looooong two hundred and seventy years Rayla, haha!”
“Oh shut up John! Anyways…Today’s our last day here, do you guys want to go anywhere specific?”
“Yeah, I want to go to the church of Holly.”
“Didn’t you go yesterday?”
“Actually…I passed out on my way there, I never went inside.”
“Huh…Sure, we can swing by, it’s pretty close. John, any ideas?”
“I’m actually going to stay here today. I got myself a book on advanced light magic theory. I’m going to use the time we have to read that today and practice.”
Sher Aka lifts her hand, “As for me, I'd like to spend my time going through middle park today. I’d like to talk to some of the landscapers there.”
“How about you Scarlet?”
“I’ll go where Rose goes.”
“Right…I guess we’ll just keep going down the sightseeing map. So, should we start with the church?”
“Sure!”
Scarlet interjects, “Actually, while you guys go there, I’ll go somewhere else. I have some bloodworks to pick up. I’ll meet you again when we pick up Rose from the church.”
“Bloodworks? Are you sick manya?”
She smiles at me, “Oh no, just a checkup I did when you got your blood drawn. I thought it would be a good idea since we’re already there.”
“Ah, makes sense.”
Clapping her hands together, ane says, “Alright it’s decided then, let’s go.”
Splitting up, John stays in the hotel, Sher Aka goes to middle park and Scarlet goes to the guild’s medical office while Rayla and I move to the church grounds.
Standing at the gate, the guard from yesterday greets us, “Back again? Would you like me to call a priest?”
“Yes please.”
He raises the flag and I ask, “Do you think the same priestess as yesterday will come?”
“Hmm, it’s pretty unlikely. You met with the cardinal yesterday, she’s in charge of the entire country’s matters of faith in Holly.”
“So she’s a high ranking person?”
“Yes, second only to the Grand Mater. There is only one cardinal per country and this is the country with the biggest faith in Holly.”
“Woah…That’s really impressive, right ane?”
She shrugs, “I have no idea. It does sound impressive but I’m not informed how the churches work and seeing as Holly is a pretty minor goddess in Berk I would not be surprised if it wasn’t that impressive.”
“We are certainly working on improving how Holly is viewed in the west,” a familiar voice says from behind the gate, “Welcome back Rose.”
“Sister! It’s you again, aren’t you busy?”
“Pfft, of course I am but I am doing the Goddesses work right now as well am I not?”
“I guess you are…Still thank you for coming when you’re so busy!”
“You’re welcome.” She then holds out her hand for me and I take it.
Together, we go inside again but this time I’m prepared and rested so I shouldn’t have a breakdown again, “I’m sorry for yesterday sister. It won’t happen again.”
“Please don’t say that Rose, there is no need to apologize. I’m very glad you felt comfortable enough to let out some of your pent up feelings.”
“Still…I wasted a lot of your time and then we didn’t even get to the church so I’m sorry.”
I feel a soft hand on my cheek as she says, “There is no such thing as wasting time on a child in need. If I had to choose between consoling a crying child and handling xxx paperwork for the church I would console the child even if the church as an institution was at stake.”
“Really? You are very kind…”
“Daaw thank you, Rose. Have you given the idea of staying here some more thought?”
“Yes…I can’t. Without my sisters even heaven would feel like hell…”
“I understand, if you ever change your mind feel free to stay here though.”
“Okay…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Rose.”
Going further inside, past multiple classrooms, we come upon a huge building in the shape of a holly tree. The tip of the roof seems to be open. Looking inside, there seems to be a giant Holly tree with lots of red berries in the middle of the church, standing in the center of a beam of light shining down from the open roof. When I enter the church, a calming feeling fills me and I feel something spikey on my head that I can’t seem to get off.
“Sister, what’s that on my head?”
“It’s a holly wreath, when a child enters the churches of Holly a wreath is placed on them as a divine sign of protection. Depending on how good of a kid you have been, the wreath either becomes more withered or grows berries.”
“Huh? Is mine withered?”
She cogs her head, “No, it is full of berries.”
“Really?”
“Of course, there is a mirror over there, please confirm it yourself.”
Walking over to the mirror, I can confirm a wreath on my head full of red berries.
“Woah…So that just appeared through magic?”
“Not magic, a divine miracle. As long as this wreath sits on top of your head not even the greatest of knights could harm you.”
“Really?”
“Really, really!”
“Woah…How long is that going to stay on my head?”
“For as long as you are inside the hallowed halls of any church to our heavenly mother Holly.”
“So cool…Sister, can you teach me how to pray to Holly? I want to thank her and ask her a question.”
She seems excited, “Of course! Unlike other gods there isn’t much of a need for ceremony when you pray to Holly. All you need to do is say her name and think deeply of her as you say your prayer. It also helps when you bring an offering.”
“An offering? Like what?”
“Holly likes small thoughtful things like pictures you drew, a song you prepared, sweets, little crafts, those sorts of things.”
“Hmm…I have a chocolate bar that I got yesterday, will that work?”
“That should work perfectly fine! Just place it in front of you as you say your prayer and Holly will receive it.”
“Okay.”
Placing the chocolate bar in front of me, I go down to my knees, close my eyes and pray, “Dear Holly, goddess of children. Please take this chocolate as a small thank you for the gifts you gave me. I’ve been trying to listen to your advice and play a bit more as well as be a little more selfish. I hope I didn’t go overboard. My sister Scarlet and I have been playing with the ball you gave us from time to time. It's pretty fun. I’m not as sure about the bunny though. It makes me feel really calm but it also makes me feel a little weird.
It would also be really nice if you could answer a question of mine. Could you tell me how old I am? It’s been really confusing to all of us, at first I thought I was a young adult then suddenly Scarlet calls me a baby and now people say I’m a child. Then there is also the person I was before I lost my memories. I wish I could have some clarity so I don’t have to feel guilty about enjoying places like the playground. That’s basically it, thank you and bye bye.”
When I open my eyes again the chocolate in front of me is gone and a golden letter slowly materializes in its place.
“Woah…It worked. Sister, is it okay if I open it like this or do I need to do anything else first?”
She gives me a warm smile, “Not at all please feel free to read the words of our goddess.”
I then quickly open and read the letter, it says:
“Dear Rose,
I am very glad that you have been listening to my advice and I’m very proud of you. You have not at all gone too far with being selfish or playing. I’m also happy that you enjoyed the gifts I sent you! As for your age, I understand that it must be really confusing to you! Since you’re most accustomed to human ages I will explain it to you in terms of a human scale. Your physical body is currently 38 days old which for a dragon like you is basically freshly hatched. Your birthday is the 5th of December 397 Age of Water. Your body, before you lost your memories, was about five years old. Due to your change of body and environment when you became cursed, you were forced to rapidly change to your surroundings to survive.
As such, you have learned to act much older than you are but in terms of maturity your mind is still at the age of a five to seven year old with a lot of trauma. It is also possible that your new body will make your mind become a bit younger over time as you grow accustomed to it, especially once the scars on your soul start to fade a little and you begin to live in a stable environment. As for your new Dragon body, think of it as a rebirth rather than a change to your appearance. Her Highness Ifrit changed you on a level that goes down to your soul. When your curse is lifted you will still be a Dragon but you will also be the one you were before at the same time. In a way, you are the progenitor of a new race, I will look forward to the pitter patter of your descendants walking this earth in the future.
With Love,
Holly”
“Uhm, sister can you explain a word to me I don’t know?”
“Of course!”
“What does, Pro-genitor mean?”
“Pro janitor? May I read it so I can answer you?”
“Sure.”
I give her the letter and she reads it with a surprised look on her face before catching herself and going back to her regular expression, “It means something like founder or in this case the first ancestor of a new race.”
“Huh…Sister, is everything Holly says the truth? Can she be wrong?”
A bit apprehensive, she answers, “Hmm…She certainly does not lie but I do believe it is possible for her to make mistakes too. Why do you ask?”
“Because I feel like I’m way older than seven mentally! Like, I’m at least ten or twelve!”
“Pfft, hahaha.”
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m sorry it’s just… It took me a bit off guard that this is what you took issue with. Uhum. When it comes to matters of age, I would say that Holly is infallible. Which means she can not be wrong. But that’s also a good thing! If you already think you’re as smart as a ten to twelve year old just think how smart you’ll be once you’re a grown up!”
“Hmm that’s true I guess…”