"Oooh what bird is that?" Asked the exuberant girl as I walked the street. She had been talking non stop for what felt like an eternity... but was probably no more than a few minutes.

  I drew in a deep breath, "It's a seagull. They're everywhere around here." The bird was eyeing me off, no doubt trying to if I had any food worth stealing, as I came into a plaza. The place was surrounded by various buildings, and littered with a few stalls, as the chapel at the far end stood proud with its stained glass windows. But of course during such an early hour, the place almost empty, with nothing but the sound of distant waves filling it. That, and the two people chatting outside the chapel. A young woman with orange hair and white robes, the other a young man with brown hair and a green tunic. I couldn't quite piece together their conversation, but both seemed to be smiling, with the man being rather rowdy.

  "And who are they?"

  "Trindus and Liselle." I answered her quietly enough for them not to hear me.

  As I approached them, they stopped whatever conversation they were having, and turned to face me with smiles. Though what they were so happy about, I had no clue. "New getup eh Sorace?" Asked Trindus. I had noticed some unusual attire on him as well, many pouches on his belt as well as a leather shoulder pad on his left shoulder. Why he didn't have one on his other shoulder was beyond me.

  "Yes." I replied, moving past the two towards the chapel entrance.

  "Odd to see you at the chapel. What are you doing here?" Said Liselle before I could place my hand on the door.

  "I'm seeing the priest. What about Trindus?" I pointed at the man in question.

  "Heh, haven't you heard? It's Sir Trindus now." He answered.

  I cocked my head a degree. I hadn't heard of anyone being knighted by the lord of Haute'eaul, let alone Trindus. Then again, I paid little attention to anything outside my studies. "You are a knight?" I asked incredulously.

  Liselle giggled at the notion. "It's hard to believe isn't it?"

  "Laugh it up you! I'll be the best knight in all the land, just you wait!" Trindus rebutted.

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  "A real knight in shining armour." Eeuna commented sarcastically.

  The chapel door opened, revealing an older gentleman who wore similiar white robes to Liselle, and a black zuchetto on his balding head. Only his outfit was a slightly more ornate with an icon of a golden flaming sword on the torso and shoulders, the symbol of the crusader goddess Yishna. In his right hand was an oaken staff with a ruby affixed atop , which he used as a walking stick. Though I imagine even in his old age he was more than skilled with it's use as a weapon, as all devout followers of Yishna are. With a stern face he looked me in the eyes. "Now here's a rare sight." He said. Was he referring to the three of us together or me visiting the chapel? Likely both.

  "Is it ready?" Trindus asked the priest eagerly, like a hound waiting for a treat.

  "Not yet. I came because I heard this fellow."

  "I require your services."

  "Services? I run a chapel, not a brothel." The priest chuckled, as he beckoned me inside.

  I had only ever been inside the chapel once, when I was born. I can't say it was how I remembered (newborns are quite forgetful), but it was how I imagined it. A few rows of pews, and an altar raised a step. It was supposedly minute compared to other places of worship in the Kingdom of Thele, but it looked capable of holding at least half the people in town. On the altar was a weapon with an axe head facing one direction and a blunt, rectangular head facing the other. "Can you perform an exorcism?" I asked.

  "But I can't exercise in here! ... Can I?" Said the voice in my head. Though I suppose if she were a demon, she would not be half as annoying as she.

  "Is the grass green?" The priest replied to me. "But why such a thing on the day of your birth?"

  "Because I think I'm being possessed by a devil."

  He chuckled again. "Were that so, I would have sensed its presence the moment I saw you. No, I think you are just nervous, no doubt because your father has you running some errand for him. How is the man's research, by the way?"

  "I think he's made a breakthrough. I'm not sure what on though. He's needs me to go into the forest for some artifact."

  His face softened slightly as he nodded. "So he thinks you're a full mage now."

  "Will that be a problem?" I asked.

  "No." The priest shook his head. "I've had sanctioned you since before you were born" There was brief silence. "In any event, I won't give you an exorcism."

  Hearing his denial, I turned for the exit.

  "One last thing." The priest said, handing me the axe on the table. "Give this to Trindus will you? He has his first assignment as a knight today."

  "Doing what exactly? It isn't like we're at war."

  "We may not be at war, but the undead never rest in those forests. If that's where your going, you may find it beneficial to accompany him."

  "Him? don't be ridiculous."

  "Be that as it may, the goddess works in mysterious ways. And I sense the fates of you, him and my daughter are linked." The priest talked as if he was saying his final wishes. "Please, keep them safe."

  I never knew if he was talking to me or Yishna.