Now we head to Mineral Town, home to a wide variety of people. From the ones who make you tools to farm with, to the ones who keep you warm when your just visiting, the town is filled with many friendly faces. Everyone knows each others secrets and everyone grew up together. Its very rare that someone new moves in or visits.
For each new visitor that comes, the young priest cleanses them of whatever sin they may have or confess to. Usually it was the same.
"I littered in the road…"
"I was rude to someone…"
"I didn't say goodbye before I left…"
The priest would just give his gentle smile and say the same thing every time, to comfort those lost souls, "The harvest Goddess is in a forgiving mood and has decided to overlook your mistake. May you be blessed." Leaving every single one of them happy and glad to be forgiven. They would be back for the services, seeking guidance from the harvest goddess, through the messenger himself.
The priest spent his time reading over sad stories that had been passed down in the town from elders to young kids and passed around when people would talk. The stories made everyone feel thankful for what they had and feel sad for the families of which the stories are about. But, the priest would just write it off and tell them they are all truly blessed.
It might be more believable if he truly believed what he preached. It was true, the priest didn't, for a second, believe in any sort of higher being. The only reason he became a priest was because he thought it could cleanse him of any wrong-doings he had done. Before he didn't believe, he went to school, training to a minister with a school full of other boys. But, when he was finally told he had been forgiven and was sent to do god's work, he didn't feel any different. He spent his nights in the church, trying to make sense of it all.
Until one night, he finally grasped the reality he had been trying to deny.
He looked up from the alter, up at the picture of the harvest goddess. He hadn't been in Mineral Town too long, but he already knew he was wronged. He shook his head, his tone emotionless, "Its all a lie. There is no god, the harvest goddess is nothing more than wishful thinking based upon a woman who died here."
He almost couldn't believe the words that came out of his mouth. But, somehow, he felt right at that moment. He smiled, grinned, at his knew found world. As he turned and stood, facing the empty church, he knew what he had to do. Even though it went against all he was taught, he was going to try and tell people all that he believes. He gave a smirk as he started down the aisle. Yes, he decided he would hint in all his preachings, never say right out that there is a god or goddess, never saying anything more than "May the goddess bless you." It was far fetched, but he had no other choice. Besides, religious believers always gave generously to the church.
The young priest smirked back at the church as he reached the door. The doors were opened a little, the darkness from the street, and the priests soul, starting to seep in. By day, well mannered and polite, friendly priest. By night, a whole different person. But, he couldn't tell anyone.
"Come on," he said to no one, closing his eyes as he turned towards the door, "They wouldn't believe it anyway. An atheist priest is just an oxymoron. But they exist. In them, and in me."
He just laughed as he closed the door, not only on the church, but on every religious belief he was raised to believe. Opening him to the greed and lust that human kid was forced to succumb to.
