Walking in, the wyrm and Achil found themselves istening in to a conversation between a very eager child, and Richard with a great deal of patience, though Richard had never shown himself to be the impatient type.

Regardless, the patience he was showing currently was unprecedented.

"How's being able to move feel?" Leo asked, this time more tenderly, as he understood the delicacy of this question.

And Richard was hesitant, obvious in the way his movement changed slightly and incomprehensibly.

Yet...

"It's wonderful." was Richard's confident answer, happiness leaking out of his every word. .

This second life, in spite of the dangers and perils he had faced through all of it, was a life that he would never regret. His past life may have been safe and quiet, but it was quiet.

Sad.

He lived a life on a ticking clock, knowing every moment could be his last, his breath his final.

Even with the presence of friends and loved ones he felt alone, just a minor note in everyone's life while he waited for his to end.

Every quiet moment was agonizing.

Death was at the forefront of his every moment, the limit that ensured Richard's life would never reach the peaks that others would.

This new life was different.

Exciting.

This year alone was more life than he had ever experienced over the course of 19 years.

He wouldn't say the family he's made this past year was worth more to him than his last family.

He just felt like he was something more than just a footnote to them, someone who would only be there for a limited time for him.

And with this new body, things would be different.

He could be more.

Leo seemed happy to hear this, as he gave Richard an earnest hug. "I'm glad to hear that." he said sincerely, happy for the man who had been locked away in a frail body all his life, finally unburdened and free to truly live life.

"All right, enough of that." snapped Panda. "Who are you anyway? Rather chummy with Richy aren't you?"

"Richy?" Richard asked.

"He's like a father to me." Leo said definitively, without hesitation, as Richard's head spun around.

"Well, I wouldn't say father, more like steward..." he said awkwardly. A tinge of embarrassment was flush on his face.

"Oh?" Panda said, as his ears perked up. "So he's daddy Richard?" he asked, watching the dragon's expressions.

"Oh no, not that again." moaned Richard as his face flushed even harder.

"I called him father most of the time." affirmed Leo.

"Ah, so it's father Richard!" He paused. " Too priestly. I liked daddy more."

"Dear Isis no." said Richard, as he covered his face.

Richard cherished Leo, he truly did. But as a child who was only 19 as a human, and a year old as a dragon, being called "daddy" by a peer was embarrassing.

Panda didn't stop ribbing Richard of course, doing it even more furiously than before.

By the time sister Alexandria and Achil walked back into the room, they found Richard curled up, vehemently blocking off all sound, while Panda continued ribbing.

Poor Galileo just sat there, more confused than anything else.

"All right Panda, I think you've had enough fun, don't you?" she said as they entered the room, with snacks in tow, held up by magic.

"Yeah, alright, I got my jollies." he said as he hopped over and rested in Galileo's lap, much to his surprise.

"Hey, you said Richard was like a father to you right?"

Nod

"Alright then, feel free to treat me like a dog." Panda said reluctantly as he plopped down on the man's legs.

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Stunned, Galileo froze for a second, before slowly scratching Panda's back.

Despite not saying anything, he did snuggle up closer to the man.

No longer being embarrassed, Richard up righted himself as he shook himself, as if shaking off the embarrassed appearance from earlier.

"Sister Alexandria." he said stiffly as he addressed her.

Sister Alexandria chuckled as she coiled up to sit down.

"I saw you guys were having fun."

"Well, you know, just a little teasing as Panda usually-"

"He doesn't like being called daddy!" Panda interrupted suddenly as he sat up, before being pushed back down by Leo, quietly enjoying having his back rubbed.

Alexandria glanced at Richard, curiosity very present and clear within her eyes.

Leo stepped in to explain.

"Back in the church, people used to go to Richard to seek alternative answers for their questions. They didn't call him father, because he wasn't technically a priest, and at some point it just became daddy..."

"That was your fault!" interrupted Richard with a flustered face. "You and sister Lyssandra decided to spread it as a joke. And then everyone started to call me daddy Richards! It was- it was it was, so, so, so."

"Hilarious!" Interrupted Panda. "Daddy Richard! Really!"

Richard groaned.

"To be fair, you're the one who pointed out we couldn't call you Father Richard since you weren't happy with the title." pointed out Galileo, seemingly finding nothing wrong with the title. "We just tried to find a workaround to it."

For the first time Richard sent Leo a genuinely annoyed look, causing him to shut up.

"Well I think it's very cute. It's clear to me they treasured you very much, and saw you worthy of respect." she purred, clearly proud of him.

"Can we just move on please." Richard pleaded, clearly wanting to move on from the subject.

"All right, all right." sister Alexandria conceded. "But I want to hear more stories about your time in the temple." a platter of food landed in front of Galileo, which smelt absolutely delicious.

"I haven't cooked in a while, but I tried my best." she said unveiling a large ham and buttered potatoes, alongside a finely sliced platter of fruits.

"It's wonderful madam Alexandria." Galileo said, trying to be polite, but she waived it off.

"It's fine, and please, call me Aunty Alexandria. If I'm Richard's sister, that makes me your aunt." she said, giving him a warm smile.

Galileo nodded. "Aunty Alexandria?" he said in an innocent and friendly voice.

She smiled even more, as her aura grew warmer.

Poor Richard was just hiding in the corner, screaming internally.

"Make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop make it stop..."

----------------------------------------

After finishing the meal, sister Alexandria returned to more serious matters.

"Galileo, I know this may be asking too much of you, but-" Richard started but Galileo cut him off.

"It's fine. I don't mind telling you. The doctrine of Isis dictates that we prioritize our love of others over the church." Leo said. "And to me, my father is more important than what the church wants. Besides." he added, seemingly nonplussed, "nothing is wrong here. They just want to inquire with you to see what the other players are going through. Essentially a simple survey."

He paused. "Well, a more serious survey."

"But why?" Panda asked from Galileo's lap. "Aren't there thousands of players?"

Leo's eyes widened at that response. "Really!?" he said, astonished.

"Oohhh, that's one of those things we shouldn't say, huh?"

"Probably not." Galileo agreed.

"Dammit." Panda quietly cursed as he clicked his fingers.

"How many do the temples know about, Richard asked.

Galileo helplessly shrugged at that question.

"The temples have been keeping their cards close to their chest and Isis herself has not disclosed the numbers herself, if the other temples are to be believed."

To Richard's surprise, the system chose to pipe in on this matter.

[It is likely the system has chosen not to disclose the number, and Isis has chosen to do so as well.]

Why? Richard mentally asked, and the system hummed its speculation.

[Although I cannot tell you all I know, I suspect it's to avoid having these people be exploited by the temples as well as the nobility. And if the gods knew, although many would keep quiet, some would be bound to their nature and leak something. The god's themselves would also not hesitate to use people in their game amongst themselves.]

Richard could see what the system was saying.

As much as the god's were revered, many were revered for their great and terrible power, rather than their wisdom and good will.

Richard also suspected that the system was hiding something that the system gained from the players.

Although Richard knew that the system collected mana from each kill he made, there must be more, given the main system seemed unwilling to disclose it, something it wouldn't do unless there was a reason for the system to protect players beyond just that.

Regardless, this meant that the god's themselves were not aware of the number of players.

"Do you want me to hide that?" Galileo asked, willing to keep quiet about it if he were questioned.

Richard nodded. "Probably for the best. The system said that it is for the players sake, more than it is for it's sake."

Galileo tipped his head. "The system?" he asked.

"Oh, yeah the system is..."

Richard had no problem sharing the system with Leo because he trusted him, and frankly, the other players if found were likely to expose the system, so it didn't seem unreasonable to share it to the paladins, and he expressed as much, telling Galileo to share it with the paladins if they asked what the two of them had talked about.

Galileo nodded. "So that's what the system described was."

Richard asked. "You knew about the system already?"

Galileo shook his head. "Not quite. The gods were vague about it, talking about how all players were given guidance by a guide who helped them survive in their new lives. Even if they knew more, chances are the other paladins wouldn't share anyway."

Richard nodded in understanding. Even if the temples were united in the idea of protecting the empire, they all still had their own desires and goals, especially since none of them were limited to the empire, with many having branches in the surrounding countries and as far as the spirit federation.

"Anything else they told you?" Richard asked, and Galileo shook his head. "That's all I know, and all we were briefed on, though maybe more was disclosed when I wasn't there, since I have a connection with you."

"It's enough." Richard responded. "I'm just glad to see you again." he expressed, and Galileo smiled, giving Richard a big hug.

A click could be heard as sister Alexandria used her tail to produce a resounding sap.

"Alright children, time for bed. We have a very important meeting tomorrow, with a very important survey. Good night!" she said as the lights went out.

Richard curled up on the floor, and looked over with surprise as he watched Galileo sleep on his flank, though made no comment, with Panda resting on his head.

Tomorrow would be an important day, best they get enough rest tonight.