Siobhan watched as the kids continued to play on the floor. Dia, always helpful, was trying and failing to get Dinah to grab the colored, wooden shapes and put them into the right holes. Dinah, acting far more like the ten-month-old baby she was, seemed significantly more interested in trying to stuff the oversized blocks into her undersized mouth.
The act amused Siobhan. Watching Dia, who for all intents and purposes was the same age as Dinah, possibly younger, cast a glance at Siobhan and puff out her cheeks in a frown as if to say, “Are you watching this silliness?” brought the nun endless laughter.
It had been over six months since Diadora had happened into their lives, and despite the initial worries and ordeals, things had mostly calmed down. Spring came and left, Summer was now past, and the early chill of Autumn was just setting in.
Dia had given up on trying to show Dinah where to put the blocks, as the human child had decided she was more interested in touching Dia’s face and making cooing noises at her. Siobhan understood the sentiment, as Dia always seemed to be pleasantly warm, but it was still cute watching the little imp’s cheeks pout up as she closed an eye to avoid Dinah’s probing fingers.
The act warmed Siobhan’s heart a bit. She’d been worried since day one that Dia wouldn’t fit in. She was also worried about Dinah’s reactions and the two getting along. Not to mention the logistics of caring for two children now.
Those worries had melted away. Diadora was marvelously well behaved, and that didn’t even account for her ease of care. Other than her voracious appetite for mental stimulation, Dia was a saint. Siobhan hadn’t had to change a single diaper, and Dia would forego breastfeeding without a complaint if Siobhan let her.
Actually, a small part of that stung. Siobhan knew that Elias was probably right. Demons didn’t really need food, so her efforts were largely negligible. But Siobhan had decided to at least keep up the act for Diadora until Dinah aged out of it. She didn’t want Dia to feel left out of yet another thing, or grow up with some sort of mental imbalance due to not being shown proper care.
Speaking of which…
Her wooden chair lightly scraped the floor as she stood. It was nearly time for today’s mass.
Siobhan made her way over to the kids and played with them both for a short while, before feeding Dinah and returning her to her crib. Siobhan set a small stuffed bear down and gave Dinah a kiss on the forehead.
Eleanor would be fine taking care of Dinah for a short while. The two women typically rotated shifts and would try to attend service once per week. Which meant today Dia would be coming along.
Siobhan turned to Dia. “Are you ready?” she asked cheerfully.
A tiny voice and pearly smile happily greeted her in turn. “Yup!” the small girl nodded.
Dia had been rather insistent on walking by herself lately. She still had Siobhan hold her hand for stability, but watching the girl slowly work her way down the hallway did odd things to the nun’s heart. She couldn’t tell if it was simply cute, or if a touch of it was misplaced pride. But helping Dia down the hallway made her happy nonetheless.
Eleanor hadn’t shared in Siobhan’s enthusiasm much the past several months. She’d made several dull comments about how unnatural the girl’s growth was and how it just meant she’d grow up into a full, adult demon in no time.
Siobhan wanted to fully refute that. She wanted to tell Elias that she didn’t appreciate Eleanor’s comments. Possibly even get her into trouble. Yet a small nagging in the back of her head, a tiny, dark thought that latched onto all those happy moments, telling her that maybe, just maybe, Eleanor could be right.
Siobhan knew Dia’s growth was impressive. And she knew comparing her to a regular child like Dinah was unfair. Dia hadn’t done anything wrong herself, but demons were still a terrifying existence for a reason. Elias’ feedings of the girl were proof enough.
Those negative thoughts were quickly pushed down, as they arrived at the main chapel with time to spare.
Dia had expressed interest a few times in learning magic. She also wanted to attend service and meet people more often. The girl had so, so many questions about even mundane things like the fountain, or the lights, or the garden.
Put simply, Dia was too smart to keep things from for too long. Which was why Siobhan had ended up making her cry several weeks ago.
You can’t do Sacred magic like I can, it would probably kill you.
How do you tell a child that? Dia had asked her if she could cast a Light spell like Elias, and she’d done so, but that only opened up the door to questions. Questions Siobhan wasn’t fully prepared to answer. A simple slip up, and Dia put two and two together.
“Does that mean Healing magic would hurt me?”
That question had caught Siobhan flat-footed. She didn’t know how to respond, and had ended up nodding. Seeing that dejected look on the usually cheerful girl’s face had pinched Siobhan’s heart. Thoughts of how sad Dia had looked her first week here came back to mind.
At first, Siobhan thought Dia was fine. It wasn’t until much later that night, Siobhan stealthily caught Dia crying in her crib. The act of being found out seemed to open the floodgates. The fact she was trying to hide her disappointment only made Siobhan feel inadequate. Babies, no matter how smart, were supposed to cry when they were sad. After all, what good were adults if they couldn’t handle that much?
Of course, Dia had soon recovered and was back to her happy, baby self the next day. Dia had doubled down on insisting on walking, and after a few more conversations, she desired to attend service.
That would have been fine, but Dia asked for a small chair that she could put behind the back pew.
Siobhan had been concerned. Elias got involved. After some prodding, Dia said she wanted to sit closer.
The thought horrified Siobhan. She still remembered the day she’d accidentally burned Dia. They’d been standing a good distance back ever since, keeping a careful eye on the girl for any ill reactions.
Elias was equally confused and concerned. The pulpit housed a statuette of Benevitas that was sanctified and blessed with potent and specifically attuned Sacred energy. He explained that carefully to Dia, and gave her a short, simplified explanation on the types of mana and how it was bad for her body.
Naturally, Dia continued to listen attentively, but it was what she said at the end of the discussion that had been troubling.
“Maybe I can get used to it?”
She’d half-asked, half-offered. Siobhan was ready to reiterate Elias’s earlier words, in case hearing it from her instead would help Dia understand how dangerous Sacred mana was to her body.
Instead, Elias’ brow furrowed and he let off a considerate, throaty grumble.
“Perhaps,” he finally replied. Siobhan gazed at him with a look of mild horror.
“Father! Dia can’t get any closer, she’ll burn herself!”
Elias sighed, returning a sad nod. “She will. But it is technically possible to build resistances to magic. I’ve never heard of anyone developing resistances to Sacred or Infernal mana before, but many people have done so for the four base elements. It’s primarily done by Fire casters, but I’ve known of a few smiths that also trained against Earth mana to handle more exotic metals.”
A pained look flashed across his eyes. “But that’s typically done by humans, who don’t already have a weakness to those elements. I’m not sure if it would work for little Dia.”
Siobhan wanted to protest further. Elias already looked troubled. Belatedly, the nun realized she had gotten out of her seat and her hands were nervously balled up. She worked the tension out of her body and forced herself to sit back down.
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A sideways glance revealed Dia looking worriedly at her. Dia sat atop one of Elias’ chairs, the thing far too big for her. Her striking, yellow eyes radiated concern, but when she turned them back towards Elias it was obvious the girl was thinking something. She then spoke up, her tiny voice filling the room.
“I wanna sit with Sib on the pews. If it hurts, I’ll move back.”
Siobhan’s protests got caught in her throat. Elias regarded the red girl in front of him studiously, despite her diminutive size. In his mind, he could perhaps picture Dia being able to manage sitting in the back when she was much older. But currently? The girl was far too young. Even the outermost layer of the ward would be too much for someone with hardly any mana and no control of it anyway. It didn't matter if she was a polite, well-mannered child. To the ward, a demon was a demon.
Thankfully, the ward's capabilities had never been tested by true evil to this day. But Elias had seen fully-grown demons. Ones that dwarfed his age severalfold. He didn’t doubt in his mind for a second that they’d be able to take several, barreling strides down that aisle before being forced to turn back or succumbing to the ward’s might.
Those were dark thoughts. Should he just have another set of pews constructed further back? That would ruin the floor space, and the support pillars were…
He sighed, rubbing his head.
“Let me think on this for tonight, Dia. I’m certain we’ve a spare chair or two," he continued slowly, enunciating each word carefully, "I just don’t want you to be disappointed if it doesn’t work out.”
Diadora nodded at him in understanding. How much she really comprehended was a separate manner. Elias still hadn't discussed the girl's unusual affinities with anyone, but they'd do nothing to protect her from those very same energies.
Some things simply are how they are and that’s fine.
He wanted to tell the girl that, to set realistic expectations, but the excited and determined look in her eye caught him off-guard. They’d have to keep a good eye on Dia so that she didn’t harm herself. Despite her uncanny intellect, that didn’t mean she had any frame of reference for what she was getting into.
Elias had some experience with resistance training himself. It was hellish, and he’d very little to show for it. He was already expecting Dia to take a few burns and the aftermath of having to heal them. His own soul twinged a bit at the discomforting thought.
The Abbot chuckled quietly to himself. Things were just calming down this summer, and this little troublemaker is already active as soon as she’s able to walk. It was making him tired already. Perhaps this would simply be a short-term fancy.
Siobhan, however, was still silently staring holes in the man. She felt exasperated, and like she was the only sensible person in the room currently. She didn't understand why Elias would even entertain the matter.
It was with bitter acceptance that Siobhan had left Father Elias’ office that day. Not even the following week, Diadora was carefully walking around the back of the nave, trying to decide how far up she could sit. She’d apparently decided on a spot where it ‘tingled some’, so Siobhan helped set a small dining chair down and helped the girl atop it.
Siobhan got her own chair and sat beside the little red girl. They were still nearly four feet from the backmost pew, and while Siobhan’s back and shoulders greatly appreciated not having to stand the entire service, it felt both silly and improper to be sitting here like this. The view was a bit poor, but not too dissimilar to the rear pews.
Several questioning glances had come their way. A few conversations and short explanations ensued. But for the most part, Dia sat atop her chair happily and was facing forward attentively the entire time.
When Siobhan had tried to check on Dia and make sure she wasn’t hurting herself, the little imp had turned toward her and nodded seriously. “Don’t worry Sib, I got this.”
As Dia turned back to listen to Father Elias’ opening sermon, Siobhan couldn’t help but let out a deep-bellied chuckle. This precocious little brat! Siobhan had no idea what to do with her.
The rest of the service, Siobhan spent absent-mindedly listening to it while thinking about and worrying for Dia. It felt very much like when Dinah was crawling around or when she’d been sick. Newborns bodies couldn't handle excessive healing magic, so Siobahn had felt awful and useless at the time when all she could do was the minimum. Even now, she couldn’t believe how nervous she got when the kids were in trouble.
It made her wonder. What would it have been like?
Siobhan’s eyes misted over, so she closed them conveniently when the room was about to enter prayer. Siobhan began to pray along with the rest of the congregation.
‘Lord Benevitas, please watch over our house. The children especially. I pray that they are able to grow up healthy and strong, and that they walk a life path devoid of danger. Please guide them safely.’
“Praise be.”
“ “Praise be.” ”
After a moment of silence, Elias’ voice carried throughout the room yet again. They were coming up on the part of the service where they discussed any events in the town, things of note, and any upcoming marriages or extra services to be held.
Elias noted a few more issues with the harvest. There was talk amongst the monks of expanding the garden again this year. The town’s food imports of grains were up again. Somehow, despite all that had occurred, Mayor Penbright had won reelection and was working steadily on securing food before Winter struck.
Siobhan didn’t pay nearly as much attention to the town’s politics as Father Elias or Prioress Anita, or even Eleanor for that matter, but she’d begun to hear the whispers in town. What’s worse, despite all the time and acceptance Archangel Hokhmah had secured by his mere presence, Siobhan knew there were a few who were less than keen on Diadora existing.
Or at least, tidbits of that had worked their way in during regular town services. “We’ve been cursed by that demon!” and other such nonsense.
Elias had been working on stamping out the embers of those insecurities and concerns. The poor harvest was just a thorn in the town’s side, and those angered by that would often look for outlets to expel those negative emotions.
On her own, there wasn’t much Siobhan could do about it other than focus on raising Diadora respectfully. She had some hope things would go well as the girl got older.
Siobhan watched Dia nodding carefully along as Elias talked about spreading the light of Benevitas’ grace to the town and those less fortunate. She failed to see how the adorable, studious child in front of her had anything to do with a poor farming yield. It wasn't the abbey's fault they were so close to The Reach, or that the farmland was mediocre.
Then, that small whisper in her mind returned. What if whatever demon or thing had left Dia here was involved somehow? Or giving her instruction? Or would return to steal her back once she was grown?
These were idle, silly thoughts. Surely, Dia wasn’t capable of being so cute and vulnerable, yet able to participate in such an elaborate and destructive ploy at such a young age. Demons were notorious planners, thinking in decades and centuries instead of months and years, but that seemed too much of a stretch given all Siobhan had seen. She knew when looking at Dia her fears weren’t rational, but little about this situation was.
She’d have to pray to Benevitas again for mental strength. Siobhan couldn’t stomach another heartbreak.
As the service wound down, they all sang in hymn before adjourning for the day and setting about their respective tasks. Several would linger for further instruction or guidance, but Siobhan had no such need. She helped Diadora off the much-taller chair and stored them away in a separate closet.
“Sib, hug!” came the little voice behind her.
Siobhan chuckled before scooping the imp up, “I thought you wanted to walk on your own?”
Dia flattened herself limply against the nun, before her small voice came out, muffled against Siobhan’s shoulder.
“Tingling made me tired.”
The two returned to the nursery, a small grin on Siobhan’s lips. She supposed that made sense, but planned on making sure Dia hasn’t burned herself or anything. If Dia attending so close to the service just meant she’d be tired afterwards, then perhaps that wasn’t so bad. The girl seemed to rest less and less lately.
It was actually a small shame. Whenever Dia was asleep or relaxed, her short little tail would wag around lazily, like it had a mind of its own. Siobhan had to try very hard not to draw attention to that fact, as watching it was something of a fixation for her.
Dia’s tail was only as long as the nun’s hand, but the small appendage was currently rustling against Dia’s oversized shirt, making her heritage even more obvious. Siobhan wanted to touch it, but previous attempts had gotten a mix of ticklish laughter and protests, so she tried not to tease the girl too much.
Elias and Siobhan still weren’t quite sure what to do about the growth. He’d thought perhaps Dia might grow horns at some point, but thankfully nothing on that yet. It raised questions about how to clothe her in the future, but that was a problem for then.
“Do you wanna take a nap when we get back?”
“...Mm, maybe…”
The two got back and greeted Eleanor, who was sitting on the couch holding Dinah. Siobhan would have to go over a few things from the service with Eleanor, but that could wait.
“How was she?” Siobhan asked.
Eleanor looked at her with practiced impassiveness, “Normal. How was she?”
“Normal,” Siobhan grinned wryly. That earned her an eye-roll from the other woman.
“Right.” Eleanor sighed sarcastically.
After a bit more chattering, Siobhan carefully laid Dia down in her crib and kissed her warm forehead. A smile bloomed on the nun’s face while watching Dia’s sleepy expression. The girl’s thick eyelashes fought to stay awake, then fluttered shut, sealing the golden glow behind them.
Siobhan tucked Dia in, then gently stroked her silky black hair.
“Rest well, little one. Love you.”
There was a pause.
An ever so slight hesitation, that came after the words were already said.
Siobhan belatedly realized that unlike her regular phrasing, two extra words had worked their way on to the end of her ‘good night’.
Before she could process this or begin to wonder why she’d felt comfortable saying those words she’d reserved for only a short handful of people in the past, the little red face below her scrunched up and pressed further into the blanket. A teeny, half-awake voice snuck its way out.
“Night Sib, love you too.”