"We all, we're all orphans. We've lived in a common orphanage for all our lives. Me, and Ana and Jess, Bill — everyone! They all joined one by one. And me and Jess, We were, you could say the older siblings. So... Well, it was our duty to protect all of the others. So its just that... Leaving some of our members behind, just ticks everyone off!"
Steve told Eiser, sittng on the ridge, infront of the cave. They sat under the giant panorama of the serenic stary skies. The wind rustled through the tall pine trees as Steve reminisced and told Eiser about their time together.
"We lived in Bolvania. It is a city of Arctica in the Heart Kingdom. Bolvania is a small town, covered in snow capes. Its not very welcoming. People are poor, live hand to mouth. We lived there with in a common orphanage, with our caretaker. His name was Master Ridgelhoff". He told in a classic, romantic tone. Eiser quietly smiled and listened to him. "Many Children came, and he accepted all. I... I was the... Oldest, there". His tone started to break like a land subjected to a drought — Cracked and dried, completely from within. Yet he continued; "I watched them all... Huh....."
The words couldn't come out of his mouth. Eiser, with a worried look on his face, shrugged his back, "Ohh... It'll be alright!!". He said in a hopeful tone. Yet as Steve looked into those Stormy blue eyes of Eiser, He laughed, unpredictably.
"Strange... The way you say it... Makes it actually..... achieveable!" He said, a confused yet an amused expression covered his face."
Eiser laughed as he heard that,
"Is that so??"
He said. Steve looled at him as blurted out these words. Those words, that mattered so much to Steve, he had blurted them out with so little care. Steve wanted to be offended by Eiser's tone, his ease and his flippance to disregard, the very reason, Steve had and his group had been struggling out in the world. Yet, he laughed. For that freedom, and the rhythm and the hope in his voice and tone of saying that, It made Steve laugh away without any care in the world.
For Steve had listened to people comfort him, all his life, by telling him these words.
"I am so Sorry to hear that, But i am sure It'll be alright!"
They'd tell him, with worry and delicacy. Yet whenever he'd look into those weary and numb eyes of theirs, he'd get to know that all they were doing were deluding him with comforting lies.
Yet that day, sitting under the dark night lit up by that substantial amount of stars. That cold breeze of wind that upon rustling created a psiruthismic sound. Ontop of that grassy ridge. Those words that he heard, that had been blurted out in a dismissive manner, he persumed. Yet upon looking into those eyes. That rumbling aura that they had within them. It made his heart skip a beat and laugh uncontrollably. It gave Steve a wisp of hope, that he had lost after trying presistantly to find them.
That night talking to Eiser made Steve's heavy heart feel abit lightened. Even Jeesica, who was listening to their conversation from inside the cave, chuckled and got sentimental over thier conversation aswell, before she tucked in the blanket and went to sleep.
"Ana was always a delicate child, she loved to help even those who would bully her. She loved everyone of us. When Master Ridgelhoff along with Vicky, Maria, Bosch, Heather and Jared disappeared, one day, everyone was depressed. Even me and Jess, the supposed older siblings couldn't lost our cool. Yet she.... She comforted everyone and, hell, i knew that she was also feeling down, but... She held everyone strong. You better take good care of her yknow! She is my precious little sister!"
Steve said, in a melancholic tone as he entrusted Ana to Eiser.
Eiser's eyes were sharp. Steve then got up.
"Well, its almost twilight, so come on in, we should sleep aswell!"
He said as he stretched and went back inside the cave to sleep.
——————
Eiser remembered that chat as he walked to the outskirts with Sandy.
It was Sandy's first time out in the city like this in broad day light. He was amused as he looked around in the surroundings, as both of them walked out of the Elite Residential Area onto the streets. With a huge smile, he watched the businesses of the busy world. Suited people walking with briefcases, Carts carrying people, being pulled by horses. People selling things on stalls and in shops. This busyness of the society was oddly fascinating for Sandy. He admired that buslte of the society. Under the broad sunkight both of them walked quietly, as Sandy admired the dry busyness of the world, Eiser was reminded of his talk with Steve the night before he started his journey.
"It's nice... Isn't it! Blue bro?"
Sandy said.
No reply came from Eiser, who was lost in thoughts of his own.
"Blue bro? What hapoened?"
Samdy repeated himself as he grabbed his arm.
"Huh? Sorry..... i couldn't hear,
"What happened? You've looked tense ever since we came out of the Manor?"
"Have I? Its nothing! As a matter of fact, it looks to me like you are somewhat anxious about meeting Riley. Aren't you?"
Eiser cunningly dodged his question and put him on the spot.
"Huh? Me? No i am not!". Sandy replied, flustered abit, as he tried to hide his sweat.
"Its just that, its hot today, suddenly, and you made me wear a full suit!"
"Yeah it is.... But thankfully, you know, The sun is finally up. Besides its not a full suit you're wearing. Its normal clothes, everyone should wear good clothes when they go out to meet someone!"
Two of them conversed lightly throughout their way. And until they reached the orphanage.
———————
Eiser knocked on the wooden door, before opening it and getting inside. As they entered they were greeted by a member and some children. After meeting with them, both of them went to old Regto Pa's room, which was just to the right of the entrance. As Regto saw Eiser, he expressions became ecstatic.
"Eiserr!! Thank goodness!!"
He said as he rushed forward with his stick and hugged him. After finally seeing his beloved and meeting Sandy. Regto invited them to sit down on the red sofas around the centre table. Sandy had come to this room for the first time, as he noticed The old and rough wall fan, a single, broken bed beside the sofa and a lamp that whose glass was cracked. Perhaps Sandy had noticed the poverty inside the orphange for the first time. Yet as they sat down, a few moments later. After knocking on the door, a thin man with somewhat muscle, clad in the traditional red pyjamas and a red head band of the bald theif gang, entered through the door.
"Please parson my intusion Pa, I have some business with Eiser here."
He said. From the looks on his face, he was looking abit worried. There were deep dark circles beneath his eyes and the moment he entered, he was unable to control his speech.
"Are you alright? What is it, Paulo"
Eiser inquired.
"Eiser, I've come here to make a request to you." Paulo's voice broke as he said that. Perhaps he did not want to say those things, that's why his voice didn't come out. He clemched his fists, took a gulp, as Eiser waited. Memories of him and Riley ram through his mind, the moment they met in the basement of the rich man as slaves, the momwnt they were freed, the substantial amount of times Riley had saved him, that all roamed his mind. Yet he stood firm, Perhaps it was Paulo's moment of Enkrateia, for he didn't want for Riley to go yet he still made that request.
"I.. I want you to take Riley..."
He mustered up his courage and plead.
"Pleasee...."
Tears ran down his as he bowed down.
Yet Eiser upon that request, chuckled.
"Paulo, did you actually come in here to say this?"
Eiser said in comfortable tone.
In pure shock, Paulo looked up and wiped his tears.
"What do you mean??"
He abruplty asked.
"Why do you think I've come here?"
He said. Yet as he did, tears started to reap out of Paulo's eyes again. Yet this time, those were the tears of happiness. Eiser went ahead and hugged him.
"Thank youu!! Thank you so much!!"
Was all Paulo could say, as he continued to cry upon Eiser's hug.
Riley was a Timid guy. Due to the horrors he had faced at the time of his mother's death and the Infamous "Bloodthirsty Church" incident, Riley had not been able to open to anyone about himself before the recent events with Wandera. Paulo explained Riley's nature and past in detail to Sandy and Eiser. Though Sandy listened to it all, Eiser had slept midway through. For he didn't care about others natures. He believed that if you treat people woth Pure heart, you will get purity in return one way or the other.
"But where is Riley?"
Samdy asked after listening to Paulo, Yap for about an hour.
"Well... He isn't here right now!"
Paulo said, in a secretive manner, as if hiding something from the two.
Eiser quickly opened his eyes in suspicion as he heard Paulo's tone.
"There were some left."
Regto started.
"Some left, what do you mean?"
Sandy inquired.
"The Diocese wasn't the only place the Chained Dogs were limited to. There were spread throughout the country-"
"But you said, they had all gathered into the Diocese for some reason!"
Sandy said in a deep shock.
"That's what we thought! But that wasn't the case. Three executives had stayed behind in the Capital, where The Country's only Archdiocese is."
Regto stated.
"Pa, You could've told us! We would've went there right away!"
Eiser said, in a frenzy, as he quickly stood up from the sofa.
"Where is the Capital? How long does it take to reach?"
He inquired.
"Relax... Those executives aren't nearly as Strong as the guys you faced here. There were only kept behind to keep the children enslaved in the Capital in check. They shoild be back any minute now."
Regto cleared and calmed their nerves.
"That's fine then! But what is this Archdiocese?"
Sandy asked.
"Oh You dont know it? Its a kind of church, but in this decisions for all the country are made. It is only one inside each country that explains its importance. Amd like Drew was a Bishop in this Diocese. An Archdiocese is run by an Archbishop".
Paulo explained.
"Yeah let's just hope that Archbishop is not evil like Drew was!"
Sandy said and Eiser laughed.
"Vice Captain Riley is back!"
Suddenly a voice came from outside the room.
"There they are. See... I told you!"
Regto Pa said as they all, stood up and went outside.
*************
Tips:
1. A church is run by a Priest.
2. A Dioces is run by a Bishop.
3. An Archdiocese is Run by an ArchiBishop.
4. A Patriarchaty is run by a Cardinal.