Victor closed the store temporarily for an extended break in the afternoon. While walking on the local shopping district, the smiles and the cheer from the pedestrians warmed Victor’s heart.
Placing his right hand over his heart, he could not help but feel a bit empty inside.
I always felt that I did not belong here, but it surely doesn't feel good to realize how lonely I have been… No real friends, besides the new puppy no family and I even swore to not to touch science. What is my purpose here then?
Wrinkling his forehead while feeling a bit lost, Victor walked onwards towards his destination.
Glancing at the pedestrians walking with big smiles on their faces and on the corner of the street some kids surrounded a man wearing a magnanimous smile handing down used toys. Seeing this, Victor smiled bitterly.
Maybe it’s time to get a proper hobby or meet new people… Even that fat priest has more social life than I do. Wipe that pretentious smirk off your face, this world prob has the same choirboy – priest problem as my previous home.
Victor strolled past the kids surrounding the fatty with haste, lest he would be a target for aggressive preaching. Memories of Jehovah's witness preachers showing up on his doorstep every Sunday evoke an instinctive disgust on the so-called ‘’Men of God’’ and he wished nothing more than to stay away from religion.
‘’My child, do not be in such a hurry!’’
Hearing the priest speaking in a gentle but firm tone, Victor just assumed that some of the kids were trying to get away from him. Pushing his gaze firmly on the streets and placing both of his hands in his pockets, Victor sped up.
‘’Lost lamb of God wearing black jacket, please wait! I sense an evil presence lingering around you.’’
Victor heard hurried footsteps behind him, and he just hoped that the fatty was not trying to address him.
Yeap, why would he want to talk to me of all the people around here? If the church has some sort of pagan radar invented here, then maybe.
Suddenly Victor felt a hand grabbing onto his shoulder. Looking over, he saw luxurious rings attached to the fingers and fine fabric sleeve that enveloped the sweaty and meaty hand that grabbed him. Why do all the premonitions in his heart have to come true?
Turning around, Victor had a puzzled but amazed expression on his face. Surely the church did not have pagan or heretic detectors attached to the priest's garments? Waiting for the priest to explain himself, he took a deep look at the huffing priest.
‘’My child, there is an ominous presence lingering around you. Have you had any symptoms of sleeplessness, anemia, nightmares, weakness or such? There are demons walking amongst the chosen people of light, and it is in everyone's best interest to eradicate such a threat.’’
Hearing the priest's delusional words, Victor snorted while thinking that surely enough: Demons and superstition, the followup should be converting to the church, donating money and exorcism or something.
‘’I am sorry, but isn’t that a bit too far-fetched? Demons and ominous presence lingering around me? I am a man of sc…*Khrm* Not a believer, and I believe on things what can be proven true’’
‘’My eyes can see the lingering evil around you. Oh lost lamb, take this and you may feel God’s loving grace embrace you.’’
Victor watched warily the overly friendly priest handing over a crystal vial full of water. A slight blush bloomed on his face as he realized that he was surrounded by a crowd of people gawking at the vial and sensed the excitement and the chatter of the surrounding observers.
‘’Oh my lord, Father Roan actually gifted him a vial of holy water! He saw something plaguing the young man and just decided to reach out and help him without expecting anything in return!’’
‘’What a lucky dude! That bottle must cost at least 10 000 Remis when bought, literally a fortune falling into his lap and he still looks disgruntled.’’
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Victor took a glance at the smiling fatty and felt that he was just doing a publicity stunt. Surely he just assumed that he was just a chump that can be used for better public relations?
There are no free favors in the world, hopefully he just used me for publicity? Still, the assistant at the clinic told me that holy water was helpful for wounds so it can’t hurt to try, huh?
Realizing that he was staring at the vial intently and ignoring the ever smiling priest, Victor felt that maybe he could re-evaluate the religious people. After all, the fatty gave him basically 10 000 remis worth of goods without expecting anything else in return but a good public image.
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Finally Victor opened his mouth to thank the priest that was keenly observing him.
‘’Thank you very much. I have heard that the holy water is miraculous, but I have yet to see it. I appreciate the gesture very much.’’
The priest saw that Victor genuinely did not believe in miracles, but held out hope for him.
‘’You are most welcome, my child. Should you ever find yourself lost or plagued by evil, come find me at the Lisser parish. Just ask for father Roan.’’
Victor fiddled the expensive looking vial in his hands and nodded his head.
‘’If there is an evil spirit or demons after me, you will be my first choice to come.’’ Victor laughed in a playful manner and shook hands with the priest.
Saying thank you and farewells, Victor departed from the scene with a small blush on his face.
Why was everyone looking at me so intently? Feelin a bit jelly and want to get their own share?
Rationalizing the stares he got from the crowd, he just wanted to move on from this small episode in his daily life and get to the pet supply store.
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Seeing Victor’s lonely back disappear behind the corner, the priest shook his head, sighed out loud and retreated from the public into a secluded corner while pulling out a phone. Dialing an unknown number, priest Roan was quickly connected.
‘’I have come into contact with a demonic aura in a normal person. I am currently at the Siura shopping district so we should increase vigilance in nearby areas.’’
A raspy voice was soon heard from the other end of the line laced with some concern.
‘’How sure are you that there is a demonic presence in Runa? We must protect and divert the public from the cruel reality of the world.’’
‘’I know, mentor. What are your orders.’’
Roan nervously fiddled with his chubby fingers, waiting for his mentor’s orders. A while passed in silence and the familiar raspy voice was heard from the other side of the phone.
‘’If you are absolutely certain about the demonic presence, I will deploy a few from the templar order to search for demonic traces. I know what you are worried about, Roan… The demonic race should still respect the ancient treaty, thus there is no grounds to resort into harsher options, yet.’’
‘’Yes mentor, you saw right through my worries. The atmosphere has become more turbulent with each passing day, and there have been reports about unusual sights. May the god of light bless us with eternal grace.’’
Ending the call with his mentor, Roan could not help but appreciate him as a person.
Righteous, just, kind and decisive. That was his mentor Neville van Dyke, the archbishop of the Lucian Church. Feeling a warm current flowing towards his chest, Roan felt the absolute trust conveyed from his father figure and savior that guided him to priesthood.
It is reassuring that Mentor takes these possible threats seriously. Speaking of which, I hope the young man from before takes my words to his heart. Demonization might be rare, but nobody should suffer the corruption and mutation like I did.
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Victor opened the door of his little shop with plenty of shopping bags in hand.
Confident that he had gotten everything for his new little addition to the family, he pondered for a moment if he should flip the sign into ‘open’ now or a bit later.
After brief deliberation, he decided to take care of the pet supplies first, since he had learned the hard way that customers will show up when they are not expected.
‘’Pepi, I am home! And I bring gifts!’’
Looking around for the puppy, Victor heard small steps coming his way and finally a fluffy but injured Pepi came into view. Shaking her tail excitedly and tip-tapping on her feet, Victor felt joy that he had not experienced for a while.
‘’Whos a good girl, whos a good girl. I have food, bed and all the things you need right here.’’ Victor tapped the shopping bags in a cheerful manner and caressed the puppy lovingly.
‘’And guess what? A fatty priest gave me something that might help you heal better! I’d say everything went better than expected when I left for supplies.’’
Reaching out into his pocket, Victor pulled an intricate crystal vial filled to the brim with water and uncorked it. Gently placing the uncorked vial in front of Pepi, Victor’s eyes were filled with unrealistic expectations. After all, the hype was real from the clinic assistant and the bystanders from the streets.
Pepi warily approached the vial and finally took the courage to sniff the water from the bottle.
Her happily swinging tail froze instantly and she growled at the bottle before knocking it down. Victor watched in shock as the spilled so called ‘’holy water’’ seemed to be chasing Pepi with slow speed and Pepi was avoiding it like it was plague.
Reacting quickly, Victor ran into the toilet and grabbed a dirty mop, cleaned the holy water away without any effort and soothed Pepi.
‘’I am sorry girl, I should have known better to not take the sweeties from a suspicious priest… Let me make it up to you by making something yummy, deal?’’
Seeing the wary and trembling Pepi once again swinging her little tail, Victor raised his eyebrow and stroked her fur.
‘’Well, aren't you a smart one? You are in for a treat, I am planning roast beef today.’’
Watching Victor disappear into the kitchen, Pepi watched warily the now closed, half full vial of holy water. A look of hatred flashed in her eyes and memories of her previous captivity surfaced in her mind. After being taken in by Victor, she could sense the care he had for her wellbeing and the feeling of security he provided her.
After all, there was something in this store that could set her instinct for survival screaming if she had any hostile thoughts towards Victor.
The best thing to show her disdain towards the holy water under these circumstances was naturally what a puppy does best: Mark her territory.