Chapter 12: Alaylle's Decision

"Eh heh heh... This should be pretty easy now! Just stay in there, okay Alaylle?" Corin chuckles as he pulls his pushcart through Yoyo Forest.

Alaylle quietly sits in her father's pushcart as he tugs her along. She looks around the forest and has her book open on her lap. "Hmm... Yoyos... and Poporings... what a strange forest! Daddy, are you sure it's safe here?"

"Well... I haven't been here in a long time, Alaylle... so I'm not sure if it's safe here like it was before." Corin looks around cautiously as he works his way east, following a forest path. "Hmm... let's get this done quickly, so we don't find out... what do you say?"

"That's a good idea!" Alaylle smiles happily at her father. She then looks down at the things that are riding along with her in her father's cart. "Daddy... your cart is a mess!"

"Heh heh heh... so you say... but I can find anything I need in half a heartbeat! Ahh, we're here. Yoyo Forest Monestary!" Corin gently picks Alaylle up off the cart and places her on her feet. "Your Majesty" He grins and bows.

"Daddy!" Alaylle giggles and tickles her father.

"Bwhahahaha!" Corin manages to squirm out of his daughter's tickles. "Aahh... the fresh air out here is great! Much cleaner than Prontera!... I'll be right here... go conduct your business with Father Tongue-Twister."

"Daddy, his name is Father Rubellkebira..." Alaylle takes out the package and reads it. "Oopsy! I meant Rubalkabara!"

"Heh heh heh... go on now... don't want to spend the night in this forest, right?" Alaylle's father glances around Yoyo Forest.

"Umm... right! Be right back, Daddy!"

Alaylle runs over to the monastery's gate to see a man in minister's robes glancing up at the monastery itself. Her gaze then travels from the man to the massive ivy-covered stone monastery. "Gosh..."

"Hmm... rather intimidating isn't it? It's more comfortable living here than you'd think it is, though." The man turns around and smiles. "Hello there... I'm Father Rubalkabara... do you happen to have-"

"Oh yes! I have a package for you!" Alaylle quickly gives the package to Father Rubalkabara.

"Ahh... excellent! Preparing the monastery for training Monks is far more difficult than we thought it would be... this will help out tremendously! You... you're Alaylle, correct?" Father Rubalkabara takes a closer look at Alaylle. "Hmm... you look much different than what I'd picture you to look like... Aahh, Father Renauld has written quite a lot about you."

"H-he has?" Alaylle blushes and looks away slightly.

"Yes... by the way... have you thought of becoming an Acolyte of the Parish?" Father Rubalkabara glances significantly at Alaylle.

"Umm... actually... recently, yes I have..." Alaylle glances up at the father.

"Well, I'm sure they will accept you." He smiles softly and looks up at the sky. "Ahh, the time... you should start heading back or you won't make it back before nightfall."

"Oh, right! Bye bye Father Rubalkabara!" Alaylle waves goodbye happily and runs off to meet her father.

Father Rubalkabara quietly walks through the monastery gates and shuts them behind him. He walks over to the cages for the homing pigeons and takes out a few strips of paper, quickly scribbling a few notes. He tucks the messages into the foot cylinders of three pigeons and sends them off.

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Alaylle runs from the monastery's gate and in her father's direction, only to suddenly stop. She turns and looks in the direction of a strangely large and darker colored Yoyo.

The Yoyo snarls at Alaylle... and then suddenly charges at her.

"Kyaaaaa! Daddy! Help!" Alaylle quickly starts running in the direction of her father.

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Corin quietly shoos the Poporings from his cart. "Away, away you green Porings..." He startles when he hears his daughter's voice and turns in Alaylle's direction. He quickly spots Alaylle running away from a large, brown Yoyo. 'The Choco!... I won't make it to her in time, unless...' He quickly grabs a Mystic Frozen from his cart and takes the hammer from his belt. He dashes towards the Choco and slips the blue spiky crystal into a notch in the hammer. Alaylle's father swings the hammer at the Choco just before it reaches Alaylle.

The Choco flys through the air and lands in a glowing blue circle with runes and symbols drawn into the ground.

"Heh... Torrent Hammer!" Corin swings the hammer up and a large geyser of water blasts up from the circle and into the sky, taking the Choco with it. He then grins and swings the hammer down at the ground. "Fall!" The water freezes slightly as it arcs downwards towards the ground, smashing the Choco against the ground with water, ice, and frost. The water gently rushes against Alaylle and her father's feet.

"D-daddy..." Alaylle looks both frightened and relieved.

Corin holds the pose for a little while longer and then secures the hammer at his belt again... the Mystic Frozen is gone. "Heh heh heh... your old man's still got the moves that made him famous! Bwhahahaha!"

Alaylle blinks her eyes for a moment. She then giggles and starts tickling her father. "Daaaddy! You're such a goof ball!"

"Hey hey!" Alaylle's father dodges his daughter's tickles. "Hey, let your old man gloat! It's been so long since I did that... brings back great old memories!" He quickly looks at the sky. "Whoo boy... Alaylle get in the cart, we gotta get back soon, or your mother is going to kill us-I mean cook for us."

Alaylle giggles and gets in her father's cart, carefully sitting down in it.

"Hold on! Gotta make up for lost time!" Corin grips the cart and then speeds off towards Prontera.

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Alaylle quietly walks on the path towards Prontera Parish. She glances up at the morning sky. 'Hmm... got a few minutes before he's expecting me to arrive...' She quietly continues on the path. "Father Renauld...? I was wondering if I could become an acolyte?... Hmm... That's kinda direc-"

Father Renauld suddenly jumps out from behind a tree, dropping a broom and grasping Alaylle's shoulders. "Yahooooo! You do!"

"Kyaaaaaaaaaa!" Alaylle tries to jump, but of course Father Renauld keeps her on the ground. "Father Renauld! Don't do that!" She catches her breath from screaming.

"Heh... sorry about that, Alaylle... but... fantastic! Come, come! Let's head to the church right away and make it official!" Father Renauld quickly leads Alaylle to the Prontera Parish.

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Father Renauld leads Alaylle into a side room of the church. Sister Nun quietly follows, carrying a few things.

"Aahh... now, first of all... oh... wait... your clothing is actually okay!" Father Renauld laughs nervously. "Usually we have to give new acolytes some new clothing because, well... you won't believe what some of them wear as they come in!" He holds up a finger. "But! It wouldn't be quite fair to not give you anything... not after all the hard work you've done here!" He ahems softly.

Sister Nun rolls her eyes at Father Renauld but smiles at Alaylle. "Here, Alaylle... this cloth is normally dyed green, but... well... you should make some clothing out of it." She hands the roll of cloth to Alaylle.

"Hmm... I probably don't need to tell you about the role of an acolyte... you pretty much had that down even before you came here..." Father Renauld thinks for a moment. "Ahh, that's right... you should take this along." He glances over at Sister Nun and ahems again.

Sister Nun shakes her head slightly and then gives Alaylle a long chain. "Dearie, keep this with you... I know you don't seem to be the type to fight, but... it's good to have just in case..."

Alaylle quietly accepts the two things. "I... I'll do my best!" She bows and leaves the room.

Sister Nun glances at Father Renauld. "Are you sure it's alright to make her an acolyte?... She doesn't seem to have any magical ability or is even noticed by the light..."

"Hmm... don't worry about it... I'm sure the light will notice her one day..." Father Renauld holds his rosary for a moment and then glances up.

Sister Nun quickly whaps him on the head. "Quit trying to act all mysterious! And for crying out loud, I'm not your servant!" She continues slapping Father Renauld on the head.

"Oww, oww, owwww!" Father Renauld winces. "Hey couldn't you let me have my moment there?... Honestly Sister Nun... uh oh... I shouldn't have said that..."

Sister Nun rages at Father Renauld. "I have a proper name you know!" She starts throwing chains, maces and birettas at Father Renauld.

"Ouch, oww, yipe!"

End of Chapter 12
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Chapter 13 Preview!

Alaylle: "I'm an acolyte! It's so exciting!"

Alaylle: "But you know... I wonder how Mr. Metaller is doing..."

In the Next Chapter: "The Coast is NOT Clear!"

Alaylle: "Oh no!"
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