Tira had come to work for Padre Bran, a kind priest who ran a branch of the Stellar Church on the Southwestern part of the Spooner Continent.
Called "Restoration Place", the church provided outreach to many needy parsoners. The sick and the poor came to be fed and healed, some needed a place to stay. Bran never denied anyone provided they try and sort out their spiritual life as well.
Tira had worked hard to acclimate herself to the routine, spending a lot of time caring for the sick, injured, and dying. Her healing abilities were put to the test every day.
Bran made everyone he took in feel welcome and tried to get them to work as if the place was a community. Each was assigned different tasks and chores to keep them busy and able to contribute to others. The Restoration Place was located on hundreds of acres of farmland; many people worked in the fields, sowing and cultivating crops. Others built small one story homes and dug wells.
Of course the Church was not without its enemies. Three small city states bordered on it, each ruled by a greedy, maniacal sorcerer. Many of the parsoners had come to the Place to escape the lofty, unbearable taxes placed upon them as well as persecution for their religious beliefs.
Tira walked from the free clinic, physically spent after a sixteen hour shift. Her legs ached and her back felt quite sore. She longed for a soothing bath and a good night's sleep.
"Long day?" asked a male voice.
Simon Budh fell into step beside her. The ruggedly handsome Haz Knight was in charge of protecting both the Restoration Place's people and property. She hadn't known there was a sixth Haz Knight until coming to the place; he was best described as a poet with the soul of a clown. Each Knight had their own peculiarities and this one was no exception. He wore his long dark hair in a ponytail and possessed a matching beard not to mention piercing hazel eyes.
"I'll say," she agreed. "There are so many needs around here."
"I don't know how many kids I've checked for orange plague, we've gone through hundreds of tongue depressors," he told her.
"It was kind of you to help out," she smiled. "Aren't you more suited to security?"
"I'm a man of many talents," he replied with a lopsided grin. "Speaking of which, would you allow me?"
"What?" she gasped.
Simon took his strong hands and placed them atop both her shoulders. He began to rub her upper back. Tira tensed a little, hesitant and uncertain.
"Relax," he urged. "You'll feel a lot better."
Tira closed her eyes and tried to, the massage started to feel rather good. It wasn't every day that she let a guy touch her let alone via massage. Simon's good naturedness and calm demeanor set her mind at ease. Ever since her arrival nearly a month ago, he had showed a certain interest in her. She felt he was just being mostly friendly and remained polite and shy. He persisted that she loosen up and come out of her shell. Maybe by letting him give her this therapeutic massage was a first step in the right direction.
His hands worked their way down the small of her back giving her goosebumps. She hoped her face hadn't flushed crimson.
"Tira_chan?" a young voice uttered.
The girl and Simon saw a small child holding out a piece of paper. It showed a crude drawing of a heart and Tira herself with very large glasses.
"I made this for you!" the little boy said bashfully.
"Thank you, Kintaro," she smiled.
The little tyke ran away, a sign of his crush on her.
"Ever since you got here, you've brightened the children's lives," mentioned Simon. "And mine as well."
"Thank you, Simon."
From his vantage point, Padre Bran smiled. The Misu girl and the Haz Knight were getting along nicely. Having her around did wonder's for the latter's morale. He had been starting to go crazy working with a bunch of celibate nuns. Bran made a mental note to thank Big Mamu for sending the girl to him.
Later that night Tira lay in her bed, thoughts keeping her awake. Perhaps she had truly found her calling. The joy she brought to the children's faces at the clinic inspired her.
Healing and helping others made her feel worthwhile, something she couldn't get first hand as a sorcerer hunter. And being welcomed with open arms by Simon made her feel great! She shuddered at the memory of his touch. Would there finally be a man in her life as well?
Carrot. A flood of painful memories returned.
Marron. Gateau. Especially Oneechan. She missed them. Tira had sent a letter to Dota asking her to tell them she was alright.
Carrot. He still wasn't out of her system. Would he ever be? At least she had finally told him how she felt before leaving.
Tears stained her pillowcase, but eventually she drifted off to sleep.
Called "Restoration Place", the church provided outreach to many needy parsoners. The sick and the poor came to be fed and healed, some needed a place to stay. Bran never denied anyone provided they try and sort out their spiritual life as well.
Tira had worked hard to acclimate herself to the routine, spending a lot of time caring for the sick, injured, and dying. Her healing abilities were put to the test every day.
Bran made everyone he took in feel welcome and tried to get them to work as if the place was a community. Each was assigned different tasks and chores to keep them busy and able to contribute to others. The Restoration Place was located on hundreds of acres of farmland; many people worked in the fields, sowing and cultivating crops. Others built small one story homes and dug wells.
Of course the Church was not without its enemies. Three small city states bordered on it, each ruled by a greedy, maniacal sorcerer. Many of the parsoners had come to the Place to escape the lofty, unbearable taxes placed upon them as well as persecution for their religious beliefs.
Tira walked from the free clinic, physically spent after a sixteen hour shift. Her legs ached and her back felt quite sore. She longed for a soothing bath and a good night's sleep.
"Long day?" asked a male voice.
Simon Budh fell into step beside her. The ruggedly handsome Haz Knight was in charge of protecting both the Restoration Place's people and property. She hadn't known there was a sixth Haz Knight until coming to the place; he was best described as a poet with the soul of a clown. Each Knight had their own peculiarities and this one was no exception. He wore his long dark hair in a ponytail and possessed a matching beard not to mention piercing hazel eyes.
"I'll say," she agreed. "There are so many needs around here."
"I don't know how many kids I've checked for orange plague, we've gone through hundreds of tongue depressors," he told her.
"It was kind of you to help out," she smiled. "Aren't you more suited to security?"
"I'm a man of many talents," he replied with a lopsided grin. "Speaking of which, would you allow me?"
"What?" she gasped.
Simon took his strong hands and placed them atop both her shoulders. He began to rub her upper back. Tira tensed a little, hesitant and uncertain.
"Relax," he urged. "You'll feel a lot better."
Tira closed her eyes and tried to, the massage started to feel rather good. It wasn't every day that she let a guy touch her let alone via massage. Simon's good naturedness and calm demeanor set her mind at ease. Ever since her arrival nearly a month ago, he had showed a certain interest in her. She felt he was just being mostly friendly and remained polite and shy. He persisted that she loosen up and come out of her shell. Maybe by letting him give her this therapeutic massage was a first step in the right direction.
His hands worked their way down the small of her back giving her goosebumps. She hoped her face hadn't flushed crimson.
"Tira_chan?" a young voice uttered.
The girl and Simon saw a small child holding out a piece of paper. It showed a crude drawing of a heart and Tira herself with very large glasses.
"I made this for you!" the little boy said bashfully.
"Thank you, Kintaro," she smiled.
The little tyke ran away, a sign of his crush on her.
"Ever since you got here, you've brightened the children's lives," mentioned Simon. "And mine as well."
"Thank you, Simon."
From his vantage point, Padre Bran smiled. The Misu girl and the Haz Knight were getting along nicely. Having her around did wonder's for the latter's morale. He had been starting to go crazy working with a bunch of celibate nuns. Bran made a mental note to thank Big Mamu for sending the girl to him.
Later that night Tira lay in her bed, thoughts keeping her awake. Perhaps she had truly found her calling. The joy she brought to the children's faces at the clinic inspired her.
Healing and helping others made her feel worthwhile, something she couldn't get first hand as a sorcerer hunter. And being welcomed with open arms by Simon made her feel great! She shuddered at the memory of his touch. Would there finally be a man in her life as well?
Carrot. A flood of painful memories returned.
Marron. Gateau. Especially Oneechan. She missed them. Tira had sent a letter to Dota asking her to tell them she was alright.
Carrot. He still wasn't out of her system. Would he ever be? At least she had finally told him how she felt before leaving.
Tears stained her pillowcase, but eventually she drifted off to sleep.