"Ugh!" Orfen threw the book down on the floor and rolled over, turning his back on it. He glared at the opposite wall, bottom lip jutted out, and arms crossed.

"Come on, Orfen, that's no way to treat any book, let alone a sacred text." Behind Orfen there was a rustling as Marsa bent down to pick up the thrown away book. Orfen relaxed marginally when Marsa's fingers combed through his loose curls to scratch at the base of his ears. Orfen uncrossed his arms, holding himself more loosely but not yet turning over to face her. "Perhaps Vasara's writings are a tad too dif-boring for you. I'll find you something else."

"Don't bother." Orfen turned his face down into the pillow, muttering, "I can't really read well anyways."

Marsa's hand followed Orfen's head, not relenting on the comforting scratches, "you may only have a few days with me but I can teach-"

Orfen interrupted her with a derisive snort, pulling his ears out of her gentle hold with a harsh jerk of his head. "Racqein, Marisol, Cruxion all tried and couldn't teach me, I doubt you can in less than a week."

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The bed dipped as Marsa took a seat. "If reading is so hard for you, why did you ask to borrow a book?"

Orfen flopped onto his back, now able to look at Marsa, his hip pressed against hers. "Most books in a temple are about its Ascendant. You are the first human besides Racqein and Marisol to be kind to me. I wanted to… " Marsa tilted her head to the side, raising a curious eyebrow but waiting patiently, "anytime anyone owes Marisol a favor she always makes them listen to her talk about Cruxion, buy her talismans, pray to him. Thought it would be a good way to repay a Priestess since I don't have any money."

The last syllable of his statement was drowned out by Marsa's laughter, "Vasara has plenty of worshipers, sweet boy, and I need no repayments."

Orfen frowned, feeling a tad disappointed.

Marsa stopped laughing, her eyes still bright, and her smile still wide, "if you are simply curious, I can tell you some stories about her."

Orfen smiled, though his smile quickly grew tight at the edges, "aren't you busy?"

Marsa crossed her legs, settling in more comfortably, "I am a Priestess, it is my job to preach. It does not matter to me whether I am speaking before a crowd of Vasara's worshipers or to one curious werecat."