The sun is starting to descend into the mountains as night slowly approaches. Merchants and mercenaries started packing their goods and to call off for the day, counting their profits as well. The Pronteran Church rang its bells, signaling the approach of night.

The blonde-haired boy laid on the bed, constantly smiling and giggling in his sleep. He rolled over and over, over and over, over and…thud! He fell flat, face first on the floor.

"Oww….ouchi…" Zephyrus holds his nose and winched in pain, finally awoken out of his dreamland. He stood up and sat back on his bed, gently massaging his nose. "It hurts…" He murmured to himself.

"Ari nee-chan?" He looked around for his sister and found the two identical twins instead, sleeping soundly on a cradle not too far away from where he slept. "Maybe she went away for a while…" Zephyrus stood up and walked slowly to the washroom, rubbing his little eyes on the way.

He pushed the door a little, revealing a girl about his size, dressing up and was half-naked. Zephyrus stared wide-eyed at the girl for a while and turned away, embarrassed. Before he could even step out of the room, an ear-splitting scream was heard.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! What are you- Get out get out GET OUT!"

Zephyrus recognized the voice and turned to the girl again. "Ari nee-chan?"

Ooops, wrong move.

"Zephy-kun! Don't look! GET OUT THIS INSTANT!" Arigatou screamed while trying to cover herself.

"But nee-cha…Ouch!" His words stopped immediately when a shampoo bottle flew straight into his face, knocking him down and made him to see stars. Yunaliska rushed inside the room and saw Zephyrus lying on the floor, clutching his nose, followed by the sound of the door being slammed.

Yunaliska sweat dropped. "Now now, what happened h…"

"MOM! ZEPHY-KUN LOOKED AT ME WHEN I'M CHANGING!" Arigatou's voice boomed from inside the washroom.

Yunaliska crossed her arms and looked at Zephyrus angrily. "You did!"

"No…oww…." Zephyrus tried defending himself. "It's a misunder…."

"YOU PEEK AT ME!"

Yunaliska sighed. "Anyway, dinner would be ready soon. Come with your sister okay? And apologize."

"Okay…" Zephyrus replied. Yunaliska stroked his forehead and left the room. Zephyrus massaged his nose again. "Nee-chan, dinner wou-"

"YOU PEEK AT ME!"

Zephyrus sweat dropped.

Arigatou walked along the hallway of the church, heading towards the church canteen. Zephyrus followed behind, still feeling guilty of what happened earlier. Arigatou, noticing this, stopped and faced Zephyrus. He quickly kneeled down and crossed his hands, holding both his ears. "Nee-chan, sorry bout earlier…"

"Shssh," she bent down and said to him, "You'd better not remind me of that."

"Nah, I won't," Zephyrus stared at her. "Still angry, nee-chan?" Zephyrus asked playfully.

"You lil Zephy-kun!" She pinched his little cheeks, causing him to stand up in a start. "What did I just tell you?"

"Okay okay nee-chan! Stop!" He pleaded her to stop pinching him.

"Hmph!" She jerked her tongue at Zephyrus, and received one from him, too. "Okay, let's have our dinner then. I'll introduce you to some friends there." Arigatou held his hand and continued walking along the hallway.

"Okay…" Zephyrus mumbled and followed his sister, with one hand on her hand and with the other caressing his cheeks.

Arigatou and Zephyrus finally reached the church canteen. The chatters in the canteen immediately turned into silence, then to whispers when they saw Zephyrus. Zephyrus had a weird feeling, mainly because dozens of pairs of eyes were staring at the new boy.

"Ahh, Ari-kun, Zephy-kun, you're here," Yunaliska greeted the two children. Arigatou released Zephyrus' hand and ran straight towards her mother, hugging her. Yunaliska smiled and brushed her stray hair aside. "Been missing mummy huh? Have you forgiven Zephy-kun yet?"

Arigatou nodded. "Yup. Hello Sister Charlene, Sister Serena," Arigatou greeted the two ladies dressed in a purple priestess uniform, standing behind Yunaliska.

"Ahh, Zephy-kun, come over here will you?" Yunaliska called him over. Zephyrus walked up to her shyly. Yunaliska placed both her hands on his shoulder and introduced him, "This is my new child, Zephyrus. Zephy-kun, meet Sister Charlene and Sister Serena."

The two lifted their dress a little and bowed, "Welcome to the Sanctuary, little one." Zephyrus returned the bow timidly.

"Well, shall we have our dinner now?" Yunaliska suggested.

"Sure, I guess they were starving by now," Sister Serena joked, followed by giggles from Sister Charlene.

Yunaliska clapped her hands, earning the attentions of the people there. "The foods are ready at your respective tables. We will have our dinner now, but please hold your hands together for we will now pray to God."

Everybody in the canteen held their hands, lowered their heads and remained silent, waiting for Mother Yunaliska to recite the prayers. "Ari, get Zephy-kun to your table please," Yunaliska whispered.

Arigatou nodded and dragged Zephyrus to a table nearby, forcing him to sit down on the bench. Zephyrus responded by puffing his cheek and an 'hmph!' He turned to his side and saw three girls; one with a short, blonde hair, one with long, blue hair and another with a shorter (than the previous girl), blue hair. A black-haired boy sat opposite the blonde-haired girl, eyeing on Zephyrus curiously.

There was this girl Zephyrus couldn't take his eye off, the girl with long, blue hair. She too, stared wide-eyed at Zephyrus. The two stared at each other for a few seconds longer before Arigatou nudged Zephyrus, signaling him to clasp his hands for prayers. The blue-haired girl broke off the stare and clasped her hands back, blushing as she did. Zephyrus' reaction was almost the same, except that he didn't know how to clasp his hand properly.

"Dear Odin, the holy God we all worship, for now, forever," Mother Yunaliska started reciting the prayers. Silence filled the whole of the sanctuary, all praying to their God. "We're all here safe and sound, with dinner's ready. Before we start this meal, I wanted to say thank you for allowing us to enjoy our dinner without much difficulties. May we be blessed again tomorrow. Amen." Yunaliska ended the prayers by placing her hands on her chest, with the rest doing the same. "Now, let us have our dinner," Yunaliska said.

Everybody rose from their idle positions and started to eat. All, except the four unknown members from Zephyrus' table, eyeing on him curiously. "Let me do the introductions!" Arigatou said.

"This is Zephyrus, my lil bro!" Arigatou said, patting Zephyrus' back.

"Hello everybody…" Zephyrus greeted shyly.

"Lil bro…?" the black-haired boy asked.

"Uh huh. That's Derg,same age with ya, Zephy-kun," Arigatou said, pointing at the black-haired boy. "That's Xiao Yu, a year older than ya," Arigatou said, pointing her finger at the blonde-haired girl.

"Hie!" Xiao greeted Zephyrus with a cheery face.

"That's Reina Valentine, much younger than ya," Arigatou pointed at the short, blue-haired girl. "And that's her sister, Reishoa Valentine, a year younger than you, Zephy," Arigatou pointed her finger at Reishoa.

"Hello…" Reina waved a little. Reishoa just sat there, apparently blushing.

"Hello, mind if I call you…Reish?" Zephyrus asked.

"Erm, uh…" Reishoa's cheek turned deep red, showing an obvious sign that's she's blushing. She did manage to pull out a response, "…sure…"

Arigatou giggled watching the two. "Well, shall we have our dinner?"

"But nee-chan…" Zephyrus hesitated.

"Yes?"

"Where's my part…?"

"Oh silly me, you can share mine then," Arigatou offered.

"Excuse me; may I have your attention please?" Yunaliska said. All the six members on the table turned silent. "Tomorrow, you all will be acolytes."

"Really?" Derg asked curiously. All members from Zephyrus' table stared wide-eyed at Yunaliska.

"Yes, you will. I will give you all the tasks and instructions tomorrow. Meet me in Arigatou's room tomorrow morning. Enjoy your dinner, little ones," Yunaliska said and left.

"Yay! I'm gonna be an acolyte I'm gonna be an acolyte" Derg sang and danced about. Reina and Reishoa giggled upon Derg's actions. Zephyrus, however, doesn't seem very happy.

"Zephy-kun, cheer up!" Arigatou said, patting his back. "It's going to be a big day for us tomorrow!"

Zephyrus forced a weak smile, just to make her happy. Somehow…talking about being an acolyte bothered him, or otherwise…?