A Journey Unwanted

[Realm: Álfheimr]

[Location: Heart Kingdom]

[Pulchritudo]

("Whoa...") Paimon’s thoughts came to a complete standstill the moment she properly looked at Mikoto. ("...She’s even prettier up close.")

Her brilliant blue eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she stared; from a distance, she had thought the white-haired youth was beautiful. Now, standing only a few paces away, the impression had only deepened.

There was something almost unreal about that small figure. Delicate features that looked painstakingly made, red eyes that somehow felt both deep and piercing, and a grace that seemed to exist despite the heavy black armor adorning such a petite frame.

("It’s like looking at an Angel...")

The comparison surfaced before she could stop it.

She remained completely unaware of the mistake she had already made concerning Mikoto’s gender.

Nicholas was the first to break the silence.

"Ah, young Mikoto, Robert..." the elderly priest greeted warmly, offering the pair his familiar, gentle smile. "I owe the both of you an apology. We sent you away rather abruptly earlier, and that was discourteous of us." His gaze drifted toward the unconscious soldiers scattered across the church floor. "As you can plainly see, we ended up receiving rather unpleasant company."

Robert followed Nicholas’ gaze before letting out a quiet breath through his nose.

"You don’t say," he replied dryly. "Though I suppose Heart Kingdom soldiers have never exactly earned themselves a reputation for kindness or restraint."

His emerald eyes shifted toward Paimon; a small, approving smile appeared.

"I will say this, though, I think you did the right thing by putting them firmly in their place."

Paimon blinked.

Only then did she realize she had been staring at Mikoto yet again.

Her cheeks warmed slightly.

"Hehe..." she laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her head. "Honestly, it wasn’t anything all that special."

Despite her words, the bashfulness on her face suggested she was secretly pleased by the praise.

Catherine seemed to remember something.

She stepped forward with a welcoming smile.

"Well, perhaps the circumstances surrounding everyone’s meeting could have been much better," she admitted softly. "Still, since we’re all here now, perhaps we should make proper introductions."

She gestured warmly toward the red-hooded girl beside her.

"This is Paimon."

Paimon immediately brightened.

"Nice to meet all of you!" She lifted her hand into an energetic little wave.

Then almost instantly, her eyes drifted right back toward Mikoto.

"..."

Robert barely had time to notice.

The next instant Paimon vanished from where she stood. Or rather, she moved so quickly that it almost looked like she had teleported. A small rush of displaced air swept across the church as she suddenly appeared directly in front of Mikoto.

Far closer than any stranger reasonably should, her blue eyes sparkled with unconcealed fascination.

Her smile was innocent and entirely genuine.

"And can I just say..." she blurted out without restraint, leaning forward until there was scarcely any space separating them, "...you’re unbelievably pretty! Seriously, you look exactly like an Angel!"

Nicholas quietly closed his eyes, and Catherine smiled with visible embarrassment. Neither of them looked surprised. If anything, their expressions suggested this happened rather often.

Mikoto simply stared back at her, expressionless. His red eyes did not even blink.

"Move out of my face before I set you on fire," he said flatly.

"...!"

Paimon visibly flinched, oddly enough not because of the threat. Her own realization struck first. She had invaded someone’s personal space almost immediately after introducing herself.

"A-ah..."

She hurriedly stumbled backward several steps, clasping her hands together in front of herself.

"S-sorry!" she apologized quickly, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I got carried away... I just..." She laughed nervously at herself. "...I’ve genuinely never seen anyone this pretty before."

Robert watched the exchange in silence.

("To speak that bluntly to a young maiden...") Then again, this was Mikoto.

Politeness had never exactly ranked highly among his priorities.

Robert’s eyes drifted toward Nicholas and Catherine. Neither seemed particularly bothered; it seemed they did not hear Mikoto.

The moment of awkwardness slowly settled.

Robert decided not to let the conversation remain there; his expression became more serious.

"Hm, while I’m certainly glad those Heart Kingdom fools were finally put in their place..." His voice grew quieter, "...retribution won’t be slow in coming."

He looked between Nicholas and Catherine and finally Paimon.

"You all understand that, don’t you?"

His words carried no accusation, only concern. The warmth inside the church cooled noticeably. Catherine’s gentle smile slowly faded as Nicholas lowered his gaze.

"...Yes."

The elderly priest sighed quietly.

"I fear..." he admitted after a long pause, "...this incident may very well mark the end of this church."

The severity behind those words settled heavily over the room.

Paimon’s cheerful demeanor disappeared almost instantly, her lips pressed together. The earlier embarrassment gave way to guilt.

"...I’m really..." she whispered softly, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. "...I’m truly so sorry."

Nicholas immediately shook his head.

"No, child." His voice remained calm and comforting. "This was never your fault."

He offered Paimon the same gentle smile he always seemed capable of giving.

"You merely protected both yourself and Catherine."

He slowly glanced around the modest church.

"In truth..." he continued quietly, "...a place like this was always destined to be viewed with suspicion. A church that welcomes those whom the city refuses to understand could never remain unnoticed forever."

His smile became tired.

"In a city that clings so tightly to what it already knows, something different was always bound to become a target." The old priest let out a long, weary sigh; there was sadness in it but no bitterness.

Before anyone else could answer, Robert folded his arms.

"I suppose..." he began thoughtfully, his gaze lowering toward the unconscious soldiers scattered across the chapel floor, "...simply being associated with that baron wasn’t enough to provoke this sort of response." He looked toward Catherine. "There has to be something larger behind it."

Catherine slowly nodded.

"There is."

Her expression became noticeably more troubled.

"Those soldiers were rather fond of boasting." There was no satisfaction in her voice as she recalled it. "Again and again they claimed they served beneath Duke Bluebeard himself."

Robert’s emerald eyes widened ever so slightly.

"They said that?"

Catherine nodded once more.

"They did. Whether every word was true, I cannot say..." she admitted honestly. "...but if it is..." Her eyes briefly fell upon the unconscious soldiers. "...then even if they were only ordinary infantry, this incident would not simply be viewed as several soldiers being defeated." Her voice quieted. "It could very easily be interpreted as an insult directed toward the Duke himself."

Silence settled over the church, and Robert felt the implications almost immediately. One soldier seeking revenge was one thing. A Duke, that was something else entirely.

Nicholas sighed heavily.

"There have long been rumors surrounding Duke Bluebeard," the elderly priest said gravely. "Many claim he possesses connections to one of the Royal Guard."

He slowly shook his head.

"If those rumors carry even a measure of truth..." His tired eyes drifted toward the broken church doors. "...then he is not the sort of man one simply opposes and walks away from."

The atmosphere grew noticeably heavier.

Even the sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows seemed strangely dull.

"You can’t give up, Father." Paimon stepped forward almost instinctively. The nervousness she’d worn only moments ago disappeared beneath genuine determination. She stood directly before Nicholas, her bright blue eyes fixed firmly upon him. "I can help."

She clenched her hands lightly.

"I’m a Nil, remember?" she continued earnestly. "I have power. I don’t have to just stand here while everyone else worries."

Nicholas’ expression softened immediately.

"No, child." He gently shook his head. "You cannot." His refusal was gentle and immediate. "I will not permit you to throw your life away over this." He placed a weathered hand lightly upon her shoulder. "That is not what our faith teaches us." His smile became tinged with sadness. "Your life is precious. It was never given to you so that you might squander it for our sake."

Paimon’s lips parted.

"But—"

"Doesn’t your God teach something else as well?" The interruption came quietly, Mikoto. Despite his soft voice, every eye in the church shifted toward him almost immediately.

His gaze rested upon Nicholas without wavering.

"Does your God not tell you..." he asked calmly, "...to be strong and courageous because He is with you wherever you go?"

Nicholas looked at him for several seconds before slowly inclining his head.

"Yes." His answer came without hesitation. "He does." A small smile crossed the old priest’s face. "Those words have guided many through hardship." He lowered his gaze. "But courage alone cannot resolve every conflict." His expression grew weary once more. "Sometimes struggling only gives birth to greater suffering."

Mikoto regarded him quietly.

"That’s your problem, Father." The statement was neither cruel nor mocking. "You’ve got very little faith."

Nicholas blinked.

So did Catherine.

Even Robert found himself looking sideways at the small armored boy. Mikoto continued as though he had merely stated something obvious.

"You’re already preparing yourself to lose." His tone remained remarkably gentle. "So..." He shrugged lightly. "I’ll solve your problems for you."

The church fell completely silent, but Catherine recovered first. She stepped forward, concern immediately replacing surprise.

"Mikoto..." she began carefully, her voice warm despite the worry within it. "We truly appreciate that you wish to help us. We do." She offered him a grateful smile. "But this isn’t a small matter." Her eyes searched his face. "This concerns a Duke." She hesitated before continuing. "And you’re still so young."

There was genuine concern in her words.

"You have no obligation to shoulder a burden like this. You’ve no reason to place yourself in that kind of danger."

Mikoto’s red eyes shifted toward her.

"Quite the opposite." His answer came almost absentmindedly; he slowly turned away from the group, beginning to pace across the worn floor of the church.

No one interrupted him.

Robert simply watched; even Paimon followed him with curiosity.

Mikoto eventually stopped.

Before him hung the painting of Michael. For several moments, he simply looked at it. Then he turned back toward everyone gathered inside the church.

"I have every reason." A small smile appeared upon his rosy lips. "I am an Angel of the Lord, after all." His voice remained almost soothing, gentle enough that disagreeing with him somehow felt difficult.

Robert stared.

The smile...

It truly was beautiful, impossibly so. Anyone seeing it for the first time would likely find it comforting and hopeful. Yet Robert’s gaze inevitably drifted upward, toward those red eyes.

The smile reached his lips; it never reached his eyes.

There was no warmth there.

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