Disclaimers: I do not own Fairy Tail or DD
A/N: Short chapter today, basically made to check up on the rest of the Conbolt family and give you guys a little peek on how magic works in this story.
Please, Fav, Follow, or Review if you want and check out my other stories:
Right Claw of the Dragon King, Fiery Hurricane of Love, and Romeo Rising.
P.S: If you play Dungeon and Dragons, you might see where I'm coming from.
The Family of the Wild
"For it's only through the magnificence of Kossuth, the mighty lord of fire, that we have warmth in our homes during the bitter winters and hot meals on our table! It's only through his grace and mercy that humanity has risen from the confines of the caves to dominating the land!", the Flame Bishop preach from his podium that was surrounded in heatless flames. His hair was short and grey from age, though his unnatural red eyes still had a fire in them that could never truly be put out. A dozen tapestries depicting a fiery deity were erected on the walls behind him, the edges lace with silver lining and glowing fiercely with magic and giant pure gold statues, each twice the size of a full grown man, of powerful fire mages of old were position in along the walls of the room.
"While the other gods are no doubt important, it's Kossuth to whom all should give the most thanks too! For only he and the great Supreme One, Mystra, truly run the world! Praise to the fire that warms and protects us all!"
"Praise to the fire that warms and protects us all!", the crowd in front of him echoes, their voices filling the confines of the small section of the Kardia Cathedral in Magnolia that was slated for those who followed the teaching of the Great Fire Lord.
Julia and Roselina found themselves struggling to stay awake during the sermon and it took glares from both Macao and Enno to make them listen through until the end.
"Now that we have given our love and devotion to the mighty Kossuth, the communion and offerings shall begin. May the young pupils of the great Fire King come forward first with their parents", the Flame Bishop announce as one of the lesser priests, who eyes were slightly less red than his own, appear alongside him with a collection plate. Both Julia and Roselina rise and head toward the altar with Macao and Enno guiding them along. Soon the rest of the children in the sermon rose as well, escorted by their parents to the podium and form a line behind the Conbolts. As they kneel before the podium, the Flame Bishop walks to them and leans over to the girls.
"Present the gifts that the great and powerful Kossuth has bestow upon you, my children", he says and both of the Conbolt sisters present their hands and small flames erupt from their palms. The priest then hovers his own hands directly above the top of their fires and chants:
"Blessed be the flame within you. May it grow to rival an inferno!"
"May it grow to rival an inferno!", the Conbolt's family repeats and for a brief moment, the fires in their hands flash a divine gold then return to normal. Soon afterward, after Enno and Macao had done the same, the girls and their mother get up to leave while Macao takes behind and drops eight jewels into the collection plate.
"Mr. Conbolt, a word if I may when all is finish here," The Flame Bishop says, stopping the man in his tracks.
"Of course, Stoker Mcryan", Macao answers.
"Please meet me out in the hall near the back", the bishop says and returns to the ceremony while Macao went to catch up with his family and within moments, the Conbolts were out in the main hall of the Grand Kardia Cathedral of Magnolia waiting for the service to wrap up. While doing they watch as all the over services wrap up and people began to exit out, even seeing people from their own start to come out. They spot Gray, fully clothe for once, leave from his worship of the Water God, Istishia and they also see Ezra leaving from her worship of Gond, The Lord of All Smiths. While seeing them at the evening services wasn't anything new, it was always rare to see them so well-behave outside of the guild.
After a moment, Stoker Mcryan finally emerges into the hallway and walks directly over to where Macao and his family were waiting.
"Sorry for the delay, my children", he says.
"It's no problem, Stoker", Enno assures him, "Now what is it you wanted to talk about?"
Stoker Mcryan directs the family to the nearby benches that were in the hall and the group makes themselves over to them.
"Nothing urgent, I assure you. I just wanted to talk", he began, "I hear that Juliet and Rosalina will be starting their apprenticeship at Fairy Tail next week."
Macao nods, "They will be doing small local jobs alongside Master Makarov and Mira to help them get the feel of it."
"They won't be doing any with you and your wife?", Flame Bishop asks.
"Oh, no. Master Makarov felt like we would be too lenient on them", Enno answers, "By doing it this way, it ensured that they will understand the value of each job."
Stoker Mcryan gives a nod before looking out the window toward the Fairy Tail guild hall, "You know, I too wanted to be a guild mage back in the pinnacle of my youth."
"Really, Stoker?", Macao asks.
"Yes, I was young and full of spirit, ready to make my mark in the world, ready to make a name for myself. It was the day I arrived in the town of the guild I wanted to join, Shining Embers, I believed it was called back in the country of Stella. But just as I was about to enter through the front doors, it happened", Stoker Mcryan said as he looks back at the Conbolts so they could see his red eyes as he pointed to them, "I felt the change within my eyes. I felt them heat up as if they were on fire to such an unbearable pain that I was brought to my knees. When the torment eventually passed, I ran to the closest thing that could resemble a mirror, a clear blue water fountain near the town center and gaze into it. My eyes had turned a fiery red, no longer the grass green they used to be, and were glowing and at that moment I knew my life had changed forever."
All four of the Conbolts currently present remain quiet as Stoker Mcryan told his story, even Juliet and Rosalina were captivate by it.
"With one last longing look toward the guild hall of Shining Embers and the dreams I knew I would never have, I made my way to the nearest temple of Kossuth and began my tutelage as a priest of the fire god", the bishop finished with a smile, "The head priest there was very understanding and after a couple of weeks of learning he allow me to return home one last time to say my goodbyes to my friends and family before I officially took up the fiery cloth and became one with the priest brotherhood of fire."
Stoker Mcryan then turns his attention directly to the girls who were staring up at him, "But do not fear my children, I predict that the Lord of the Eternal Flame has a plan for you two and it involves you being outside of the church as guild mages."
Both girls give the man of faith a smile that radiates like a flame in response to his kind words.
"Now tell me, girls, how often must you thank the mighty Kossuth for his gifts?"
"Once when you wake up in the morning!", Juliet says first.
"And once before you go to bed at night!", Rosalina finished.
"And what happens if you don't do this for seven days and nights, girls?", the bishop asks.
"Then mighty and all-loving Kossuth takes back his gifts and you must ask for his forgiveness to get them back!", they both say.
"Good, very good, girls. You two will make fine mages, just like your parents", Stoker Mcryan chuckles before looking down at both ends of the hallway, "I couldn't help but notice that Romeo is not with you right now and Sister Halem mention that he was not present in the church's daycare center. Is the boy not feeling well?",
"Oh, no", Enno answers, "He is spending the summer with Porlyusica at the magic guild Cait Shelter to start his tutelage in potion making."
Stoker Mcryan's eyes suddenly narrow in restrain anger, made all the more intense by his glowing red eyes, catching Enno and Macao off-guard though Juliet and Rosalina were lucky enough to get distracted by a butterfly flying through the room, "He is with...that vile woman?"
"Now Stoker Mcryan", Macao starts while holding his hands up, "I know you and Porlyusica have different opinions on how things are in the world..."
"Juliet, Rosalina", Enno tells her daughters, "How about you two go wait in the daycare center with Ms. Halem?"
"Okay!", both of them say as they take off toward the door that led to their destination.
"And don't light anything on fire!", Enno calls to them before turning back to Flame Bishop who was polite enough to wait until the door was closed before speaking.
"That woman of the forest is a blasphemer of the highest degree, constantly belittling the beliefs of the people. Calling us nothing more than mere playthings for the gods", he seethed, "Why, less than a century ago that kind of talk would have gotten her burned at the stake and I would have gladly been the one to light the pyre!"
"Porlyusica is a wonderful person though she is a little rough around the edges", Enno interjects, "Despite her beliefs, she still is more than willing to aid Fairy Tail, a very prominent magic guild, without question."
"Yes, she only takes your money in exchange for her help", Stoker Mcryan sneers, "That woman is a blight on all magical society and is only because she has taken leave to the forest that I tolerate her presence whenever I have the misfortune of seeing her."
The three fire mages dwell into tense silence and after a moment, Stoker Mcryan gets up and slightly bows his head toward Mr. and Mrs. Conbolt.
"Forgive me, it would seem I let my anger get the best of me. Terribly sorry you had to see that", and then leaves without waiting for a response from them.
After a few moments, both Macao and Enno turn to look at one another.
"Well….that's was something", Enno eventually says as she gets up.
"I know, never seen that side of him before, not even when I was a kid", Macao adds as he too stood up and the parents made their way to the daycare center.
"He's not the only one with that opinion of Porlyusica", Enno admits, "I have heard that other people in town don't like her being around because of her beliefs."
"I know, some have even questioned the old man's sanity for allowing her to be a semi-member of the guild", Macao says, "But him being him, he simply ignores them."
"Do you think Romeo is doing fine at Cait Shelter? He's not going to send us his first letter for a while.", Enno wonders.
"He hasn't even been gone for two days, Enno", Macao says, "That's not even enough time for him to miss us."
"Maybe you think that because of how your father raised you, but this is my baby boy we're talking about here", Enno pouts, "I just want to know that he's okay."
"Enno", Macao says as he grabs her hand, "I'm sure he's doing fine. No doubt he is sound asleep right now having pleasant dreams."
Meanwhile, at Cait Shelter village
"AAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAHHHHH!", Romeo screams as he rolls out of the way of the giant spider's leg which punch through the roof of the guild hall in an attempt to skewer him like a pig.
A/N: Stoker is basically what we would call "Father" for a Catholic Priest. They are "He who stokes the flames". So basically, there are gods in the story and they bestow magic onto the people. In order to keep your magic, you have to constantly pray to the god or goddess of your primary magic or you lose it. This will be explored more in future chapters.
Remember to Fav, Follow, or Review if you want and check out my other stories:
Right Claw of the Dragon King, Fiery Hurricane of Love, and Romeo Rising.