"Marziner! What a pleasant surprise You came to check the children?" I asked.

Marziner is the village chief. Despite his position, he rarely gets to visit the children I am teaching. Part of it because of his paperworks as village cihef, part of it because of his busy work on his farm, part of it also because he trusts me. He is a good friend and we go way back.

I just wish he drop the formalities and just call me Erdem, just like a year ago.

"Well, yes. You also have a visitor." Marziner explained.

Only then did I notice the woman accompanying him. A middle-aged woman with black hair tied into a bun just like the women from the far east provinces do. It is also accented with white streaks, showing her age. She is wearing a white habit, just like mine, but with a black waistband, as opposed to my white. She also dons a green scapular on top of that. A church Minister.

I turned to her and I placed my right hand over my chest, right over where my heart should be, and took a bow. "May the merciful light radiate within us."

She returned the gesture. "And guide our way."

"If it's not disrespectful," I asked after the greeting was out of the way, "May I ask to what pleasure do I owe a visit from a church official, all the way here in our far-flung village? Minister..."

"Cedia. Minister Cedia Arongrutch. A pleasure to meet you, Clergyman Erdem Fairsborough." Minister Cedia introduced. "I have come here upon church business."

"Oh, I'm sure Chief Marziner here could be of assistance to you. He may be too young for the position, but I've known him for a long time. He is very capable."

"Actually..." Marziner began.

"I'm sure he is," Minister Cedia continued for him, "but the church business is actually with you, Clergyman Fairsborough."

"Oh." That was unexpected.

Minister Cedia continued. "Chief Glenn, if it's not too imposing, may I request a private place to discuss this matter?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Of course not, Madam Minister. Do... you mind if we use my... my office?" Marziner offered, hesitantly.

"Not at all. As long as it is behind closed doors, it would suffice." The minister stated with a smile.

"Shall I escort you to the Chief's office then, Minister Arongrutch?" I asked the official.

She smiled and nodded. "Please, just call me Cedia."

I smiled in return. We were just about to leave when I remembered something.

"Hey, Marziner," I whispered, "Can you take care of the children?" While the adults were talking, the children began doing their own thing. Most were playing, but some are reading and some are even sleeping. They know better than to snoop at adult conversations. I taught them well. But that may be more because they are kids. Adult stuff may come as boring to them. Which is perfectly understandable. Even adults feel that way sometimes.

Marziner just sighed. He never had the talent nor patience to deal with kids. But, he IS the village chief, he shouldn't have any problems with his juvenile constituents.

Minister Cedia and I were on the main, and I guess only, street of the village, on the way to the vilage hall just on the other side of the village, when we heard a certain exasperated man trying his best to choral a bunch of kids. The minister laughed, I just shook my head.

"Do you think the chief will be okay?" Cedia asked.

"He is a capable man," I repeated, "but let's just say every man has a weakness." I can't help but let out a chuckle as I said that.

The village of Riverdale, which I am assigned to teach to, isn't that large. Just a few minutes of walking and we are at our destination, the village hall. The hall itself isn't that big also. It is just about in the middle in the sizes of structures here in Riverdale, in which ain't that large to begin with. It's made entirely of wood top to bottom from the locally sourced lumber from the nearby forest. It is rectangular in shape with an A-frame with wooden shingles for the roof, painted over with varnish.

We waited for Marziner for a bit before he catched up to us and let us in to his office. It was understandable why he was so hesitant to offer his office earlier. Inside the hall was just a large open space to use as a, well, a hall. At the back was a single door leading to the chief's office. The office itself is plain as a room at the local inn, except that in place of a bed was a large wodden table. There are three wooden chairs, one behind the table and the other two before it, face to face. It would have been presentable enough if it wasn't for all the papers strewn around. It was clear that Marziner also has a weakness for organizing. He is capable, but is still learning the ropes. Which is honestly understandable, only having been Riverdale's chief for half a year, after his late father. The unfortunate early passing did not help also, as he was never trained prior to his assumption of office.

We took our seats, Marziner behind the table, while me and Minister Cedia took the two at the front.

Marziner was the first to speak. "So, welcome again to the village of Riverdale, Minister Arongrutch. Can I offer you some beverage or food, anything? I can arrange for some."

"Thank you for the graceful reception, Chief Glenn, but there is no need. I won't be here too long anyway." Minister Cedia replied. "I'm just going to deliver this to Clergyman Fairsborough and discuss it and I'll be on my way." She then reached inside her pouch, which was hidden all this time by her scapular, and pulled out a letter. It was wax-sealed with an emblem of hand with an open palm. The hand is cupping in it's palm a ball of light with rays of light radiating from it. The symbol of the Church of Merciful Radiance.

"As you can see," Minister Cedia stated, "it is still sealed, so I don't know the exact details, but I am here to deliver an order from the church's Inner Cloister to you, Clergyman Erdem Fairsborough."

"O-okay?" I stammered as I began opening the letter.

I didn't finish.

"You are to leave this village."