'Sir Richard, the Crimson Lion of Wayrest and representative of my image.'
That was the last thing that was said to him at the Chapel of Akatosh by the heavenly voice. For a couple of days, he weighed his choices away from the influence of the Chapel. Unfortunately, Erica from before visited him at least once a day. She tried to convince him it wasn't for any purpose other to make sure Ricard was doing okay, but he knew better. She wanted to know his choice but would not say it herself.
"How are you doing today, Sir Richard?" Richard cringed at the question, his gaze locked at the Erica's feet. This was asked enough times that he could consider Erica someone who actually wanted to speak to him.
"Exactly how I was yesterday and the day before. What do you want?" He couldn't see but assumed she was holding the usual daily rations she brought to him. If he wasn't starving, he would leave them without eating a bite. Unfortunately, his luck was worse than it has ever been. He didn't get a septim since the day he went to the Chapel, which he didn't enjoy doing in the first place.
"I have simply come to give you my personal blessings along with a meal. Why do you ask every time I come without looking for yourself?" Erica didn't make a move, holding the basket still. She never did leave until he took the food. He even tried to ignore her for up to ten minutes, yet she still stayed without any motions to leave.
"Why?" A simple word that could reveal a lot out of a person.
"Well…I just feel like we are…special and I do not know anybody else who has personally been spoken to by Akatosh." Richard knew the reason would be something about who Erica followed. Although that reasoning sounded a bit fake.
"No one else has experienced what I did? You said before that everybody who is part of your group was spoken to by the voice. How would you not know anybody else who have had the same experience." Richard looked up finally to see Erica was indeed holding her daily basket. Oddly, she was fidgeting her fingers and a deep blush was across her face.
"Oh, did I say that? I meant that…I do not know anybody else that personally, but we have all indeed heard the voice of our Lord." It was a big difference between the sentences, meaning different things entirely. Erica was skipping over her words for some reason.
"Of course you have. How long do you plan on doing this?" Boldness was a quality that Richard had before and will always have.
"Until I am no longer able to walk or find you. I apologize if it is an inconvenience, but I was told by Lord Akatosh to keep you safe and healthy as best I can." Richard narrowed his eyes at the response, the reasoning sounding a little fake to anyone who hasn't experienced the connection themselves.
"She said that to you? That's your only reason?" The blush deepened, Erica's eyes starting to move away, breaking connection to Richard's before reconnecting and repeating.
"That is the only reason I would like to admit. Would you like me to stop?" Richard looked down again, thinking the response through his head. He would say yes without hesitation, but something in him seemed to have changed a bit. He didn't want to immediately push this person away.
"No. I just don't want you coming up to me like this. It could make things harder for me, seeing as I am a begger." If Richard had someone supplying him with food, even if it wasn't what he wanted, he wouldn't get any more attention.
"I understand but I cannot deny my Lord's request. I hope you can understand my reasoning." Richard scoffed, his gaze wandering around the ground. Erica continued to stand in place, even though she wasn't speaking anymore. If anything, her persistence was on the level of obsessed to Richard. Even with hearing the voice of the woman, possibly Akatosh, he wasn't about to give in easily to the idea of believing in a Divine.
The follower of Akatosh continued to visit Richard, who was getting too comfortable with her presence. He was getting fed every day and Erica even brought clothing for him to wear. It wasn't the robes they were donning themselves, but it was new and proper clothing. Richard even caught himself waiting for her approach, almost waiting for the time when she would be walking towards him.
"Hello, Sir Richard. How are you today?" Erica sounded happier today then usual, an unusual skip in her step. Richard glanced to her, seeing her usual delivery in her arms and a large smile on her face. Evidently, her mood had changed for the better over the last few days. She was in a miserable mood, yet still did her usual rounds to him. It was quite inspiring to see someone so dedicated.
"I am no different than yesterday, although the weather doesn't seem to be about to let up again today. Did you get back before it got bad yesterday?" The two had planned to not meet in the usual spot, Richard losing his patience with not getting anything ever since Erica was visiting him daily. They agreed to meet outside of a tavern, a place Erica was surprisingly quick to suggest. It might have been the thought that a follower of any Chapel didn't partake in such activities, especially a woman.
"I got a little wet, but that is it. Did you make it before as well, or did you decide to try and act tough, waiting out in the rain again?" Richard sighed, rolling his eyes. The two constantly got into their bickering match, but it was always playful banter at best.
"No, I decided to stay out of the rain this time. I don't approve of you giving me your septims, just so I can be warm, you know." Erica was giving Richard the daily amount of coin needed to keep a room in the cheapest, although Erica wanted to go more expensive, Inn rather than sitting on the streets. Richard was adamantly against the very thought of it the first dozen times Erica suggested, but she had worn him down to giving in to her barrage of questioning and demanding of it.
"I will not let my conscious be burdened by you having to act like a degenerate anymore! You may not enjoy it, but it helps me everyday to know you are taken care of by someone, especially since it is me. Also, why do you not call me by my name?" Richard started chewing on the bread she had delivered, looking away when she had asked her question. A blush was starting to appear on his face and the last thing he wanted was for her to see it.
"I haven't called anyone by their name since…well, ever. You know me well enough to know that I have never bothered to learn anyone's name. I didn't even have the chance to call my parents by their names…" The blush disappeared instantly as he whispered the last sentence, letting it trail off. Erica leaned over, resting her head on Richard's shoulder. Richard kept his gaze away from the follower of Akatosh, not wanting to see him get angrier. It never helped when he thought about the early life he never got to experience, and to this day, no one told him about.
"I understand. You know my name, I hope." It wasn't a direct question, but Richard answered nonetheless.
"I do, Erica. Do these daily trips burden you at all? I feel like you have much better things to do besides see a nobody like me." Richard was getting defensive again, the only way he knew how: Insulting and deflecting. Erica abruptly pulled her head from his shoulder.
"I told you the reason I see you and of course not! As a follower of Akatosh, I have been given this task and I was told it would help me grow into a responsible adult by the older members." Richard quickly turned, having a defensive response ready but was cut short by a realization. He blankly stared at Erica, putting together what was said and what he was seeing. It really didn't hit him until just now to even bring THAT subject up.
"Hold on, what do you mean 'grow' into a responsible adult? And older members? Erica, how old are you?" Erica dropped her head to the side a little, a puzzling expression on her face. Richard was not on the same page as the woman beside him, it seemed.
"I am only thirteen. I have a while to go until I reach the age of the adult members, but I will make it!" Erica talked proudly, a wide grin taking over her face. Richard kept his expression, putting together what he figured out slowly. He was stunned, to say the least. "How old did you think I was?"
"I thought you were older! Your voice and actions don't seem like a young girl's! Plus, you didn't sound like this at all when we first met, in fact you seemed like a man at that point. I need some things explained…" Erica giggled and pushed herself to her feet. It was abrupt, leaving Richard no time to think about how he would react.
"I may be a devout follower of Akatosh, but I cannot give away my secrets to just anyone. I will only reveal what I can do and what I look like underneath this robe to the ones I trust. Unfortunately, you are not a member of the Chapel. My vows will not be broken, if I want to tell you. Forgive me, Sir Richard." Erica spoke quickly, but she recited her message as if she had practiced it. It was perfectly said, stopping him from getting his questions answered, as well as questioning certain parts of the speech.
"Really? You are saying the only way I can no more than I already do is by joining you? As a 'devout follower of Akatosh', you are going pretty low as putting up a bribe like that." Richard crossed his arms, not budging from his place.
"If that is how you feel, then I respect your decision. I must get back, today is busy. I am counting on you to bring my basket back to me today!" Erica pushed the basket onto Richard's lap, the contents barely touched and enough for a whole day. Richard didn't have time to respond before Erica, now who he would have to remember is a young girl barely younger than himself, trotted off happily back the way she came. Richard couldn't help but wonder what was said before and it if it meant anything different that only Erica was getting. Richard thought she was older, especially since he couldn't see under her robe, but the oddest thing was that her height was more suited to that of an older woman. She actually was taller than Richard when the two were standing side to side by at least a little.
Richard ate and contemplated on what he should do next. He wouldn't let what Erica said effect his decision, but he couldn't see going back to begging after being treated for so long by the girl. Also, it wouldn't stop by her words, no matter how long he was on the streets and without a home. Richard did not want to put Erica through the daily chore of seeing him, especially when she would get more responsibility.
There was also the subject of the voice that talked to him the only time he had visited the Chapel. It might have been a trick of the mind, the thing Richard was hoping was true, but Erica said she had heard a voice as well. Everybody who was a follower of Akatosh heard it at some point. It was too unbelievable to be coincidence.
Richard thought about the question Erica posed to him before. She had asked for him to become an official follower of Akatosh like herself and many others. He had thought about it since he left the Chapel months ago and was up until he stopped at the door to the building the followers called home. It was quiet inside, but there was noise coming from somewhere around the building. It was like metal banging into each other. Richard did only get a small tour from Erica previously, so there could be more areas that were owned by the Chapel.
"I have to make the choice." Richard pounded on the double doors, movement being heard from inside now. Despite being in the building before, Richard couldn't remember where all the sounds were coming from due to the long span of time. An elderly woman opened the door, clearly showing her age and being one of the common neighbors of High Rock, if not a Breton herself. It was harder to tell as she was shrouded by the same style of robe Erica was seen in constantly.
"Hello, young man. What brings you to us today?" As expected, the greeting was warm. With the large doors open, the noise from inside was easier to hear. There were some quick movements inside, although they were all being done well away from view.
"I am returning a basket that was left when someone from your group came to see me. A wom-young girl that was out earlier."
"There are quite a few of our young ones that do not keep themselves in this place during the day. Can you give me any details about this young girl?" Richard opened his mouth to speak as if he knew everything about Erica, but he couldn't think of anything on the spot. It wasn't that he didn't know what she looked like for the most part, it was that he never bothered to take much notice at how long it has been.
"Right. Erica has…short, light brown hair and an almost flawless face. I don't know much else, I haven't seen her out of her robes." The older woman smiled and stepped to the side, motioning for Richard to step inside. Hesitantly, Richard did so, if only enough to get out of the way of the door. Last time he came in, he was escorted by Erica, but something seemed different this time.
"I will get Miss Erica, but try not to keep her busy for long. She has yet to finish her duties, as she is always gone to see you for some time." Richard glanced away, his face heating up a little bit. So, this older lady must have been a mother figure for the other members.
It was a few minutes that seemed to stretch on for hours until Erica came in sight. While waiting, a few other followers passed by Richard, who stuck out more than an Orc in a group of Imperials. The variety of followers he saw was rather interesting, though. He seen a fair amount of people ranging in age and gender wearing the same robes as before, even some differing in either design or level of detail. There must have been some meaning behind it, but Richard couldn't even begin to assume what it meant.
The one thing that caught his eye instantly was when a pair walked past Richard to leave out the front. They were adorned in shining outfits of steel armor, the front beautifully decorated with the red of Akatosh, the Divine's image etched into the front. The back had three marks from the sides to close to the spine that resembled claw marks, spaced so that they covered the length of the cuirass. They also were decorated in the red color, darker than the front. The rest of the suit, including steel leggings and leather gauntlets with metal coverings extending to the elbow, had the same design to the cuirass with red making it stand out from any other similar armor.
"Sir Richard!" Richard was snapped out of his inspection of the armor by Erica's gleeful tone and her arms wrapping around his neck. Richard squirmed a bit, his ingrained natural reaction making his body want to push away whatever was holding him. With difficulty, Richard made his body stop moving at least until Erica released him herself.
"I told you before, I don't want to be called Sir." Richard held the basket out to Erica, who took it and held it like she always did. It must have been something that was natural for the members.
"I ask you for forgiveness to my actions, but I call you that to show respect. I do not expect you to do the same for me regarding my title, which I do understand why. I cannot call you anything else while you in this sacred place or the Chapel." Richard scoffed but couldn't argue. Just like he raised himself to not show respect to anybody who didn't earn it, Erica could not be scolded for acting according to her upbringing.
"Fine. Do what you want. Guess I had better leave before you are seen with someone like me anymore." Richard was naturally not thinking before talking, the abuse of himself being a constant action of his. Erica responded too quickly, grabbing Richard's arm.
"I will not let you talk like that! No other person would take their time to bring back the basket and you know that for a fact. You are so much better of a person than anyone else I have ever met outside these walls that are not part of the Chapel of Akatosh. I hope you at least take that as a compliment." Richard didn't pull back this time, just glancing down to Erica's grasp. He didn't know how to feel about what was being said about him, the treatment far from familiar even after this long of knowing the young girl.
"Erica, or I guess I can call you MISS Erica this once, why exactly do you try so hard for my sake? Don't say it is just because Akatosh said so, since I know there is at least one other reason." Richard stood tall, not being able to look down at Erica, rather the young girl looking evenly at him. The question looked like it caused her to consider her answer, her mouth opening and closing once before answering.
"I am doing this because I…just do not want you to be alone in a time like this. I will never claim to know you or your history, but I want to know more. As a friend, of course!" Erica quickly spoke the last sentence, adding it at the last second. Richard was not an idiot about words, purposely showing obliviousness to it.
"As a friend, right. I knew there was another reason behind it." Erica released Richard's arm, gripping the basket like before, although she was now staring straight down and fidgeting everywhere.
"I assume you will be going now? I am sorry to have made you do this." Erica was uncharacteristically upset. This subject was clearly not easy for her to talk about.
"Miss Erica…how do I join?" Erica's eyes shot up to look directly into Richard's. He held his neutral gaze, but Erica was cheered up in seconds. She excitedly and immediately grabbed Richard's hand, pulling him into the building. Richard did his best to keep up, trying not to fall on the ground and get dragged by the unsurprisingly happy member. He was about to get into more than he imagined from the start. His fate was going to continue on the path laid out by the Goddess, the manifestation of Akatosh that spoke to him months ago.