Beginning Commentary: Let me know if this is far too controversial, alright?
Libra: The Boy and the Church
There once was a boy that everyone hated. When he was born, he gave off a demonic aura so foul that it could be compared to the Fell Dragon. His parents mistook him for the Fell Dragon's vessel, which made his parents fear him. His own father struck the back of his neck out of pure fear. No sooner after that, he could be found on the steps of the local orphanage.
The baby grew to into a beautiful young lad. However, due to his foul aura, not one person wanted to be near him. He was in no means a terrible person, in fact, he was perhaps the kindest orphan his caretaker could ask for.
"Why are people scared of me, Madame?" The boy would ask the caretaker.
"You, my child," the decaying old hag would begin, handing him a bowl of soup. "You make every person around you tense and uneasy."
"But I did nothing wrong!"
"Maybe not, but it's your mere presence that does this."
Why was this the case? Was he truly possessed by a demon?
The caretaker eventually passed away from old age, leaving the orphanage in disarray and resulting in its foreclosure. While many of the orphans were given new homes and families to live with, the boy was alone.
As he would walk down the streets, many of the boys his age would tease him for his appearance. Yes, he was beautiful, but boys weren't supposed to be that. Boys were meant to be stronger with more rugged, handsome looks. This boy had a much more feminine appeal to him, with smooth, pale blond hair that gently touched his shoulders, stunning blue eyes, and a build more suited for women than men. Even when his voice changed through puberty, it was still quite feminine.
One day, though, he had enough. He was tired of the Grimleal accusations, tired of the gender confusion, all of it. He hated Grima, the mere mention of His name caused a twinge of pain in the back of his neck. How dare he be compared to such a monster! He hated how feminine he looked. No matter what he did, people would still confuse him for a girl.
No longer would he be a part of that society which mocked him so.
But where would he go?
The air grew colder and colder as he travelled. He had no proper way to keep himself warm, as at this point, his clothes were merely rags. Nobody wanted to hire him as an apprentice since they already had enough people or they could sense his aura, so he couldn't make money. Because of this, he couldn't pay to stay in any inns or eat any foods that weren't scraps.
Soon, it began to snow. Not just snow, hail. Not just hail, it turned into a blizzard. The poor boy was left out in the cold to wither and rot. Soon, he could no longer feel his legs or arms. He collapsed into the bitter snow, wanting to die so that his feelings of loneliness and hate could disappear forever.
But then…he saw something. A building of some sort. Sanctuary, perhaps?
Something in him compelled him to stand, to discover this building and its purpose. Why was it here of all places, he thought.
The building, though not as tall as others that the boy had seen, still towered him in comparison. The one window that could be seen in the front was colorful, depicting a dragon of some sort. Its two brown doors soon opened slowly and quite eerily with a horrendous creaking sound that echoed throughout the building. Inside, there were several brown benches on both the left and right. A green carpet ran right down the middle, soon ending at a couple of stairs. On top of these stairs lay a podium of some sort, and more windows behind it. These windows seemed to tell some of story, as each one depicted a different scene. One had a sword and a shield with six colored orbs in blue flames, while another had a giant and a dragon interacting with one another.
A middle-aged man soon appeared in front of the boy. He had blond hair just like the boy did, but he definitely had more scruffy hair than smooth. He had blue eyes like the boy, but they were more fierce than beautiful. His build was appropriate for skinny men, not feminine in the slightest. He even had a goatee growing on his chin. His robe was as white as the snow, with a few hints of gold here and there.
"Come in, lad," the man would say with a smile. "It's far too cold for you to stay out here on your own."
The boy, shocked at this sudden kindness, hesitated at first. But as the man continued to offer his invitation, the boy grew more and more convinced to accept it. At last, he huddled himself inside.
"Hold for a moment. I shall fetch you something warmer to wear along with something for you to eat. You look practically starved."
As the man went away to find these, the boy continued to look around in this strange building. Chandeliers hung gracefully from above, and unlit candles were held at the ends of each bench. The smell also seemed quite different than what the boy had been used to. It was not that of filth, but of something more wholesome. It made him feel…secure.
The man returned with a blanket, a similar white robe to the man's, and a loaf of bread.
"Sir, do you not fear me?" The boy asked as he changed.
"My boy, why would I fear you?" The man laughed.
"Well, everyone I've been around seems to think of me as some kind of monster. Madame, my old caretaker, told me it was because of my presence, but I don't really understand it. All I know is that it caused people to not want anything to do with me."
"Clearly, they have not accepted Naga into their hearts."
"Naga?"
"Oh yes, the Divine Dragon Herself. She is a loving, wise, and kind goddess that watches over all. However, those who are truly blessed with Her love are the ones that devote their lives to Her. She allows those followers a true sanctuary once we depart from this mortal realm."
The boy bit into the bread, both fascinated and confused by this concept.
"Is She here?" The boy asked.
"Her presence is all around, my boy," the man responded. "This church we stand in is meant to honor and worship Her, and in return, Her presence gathers much more prominently than in, say, a slum."
"Do you think She would love me, even with my 'presence'?"
"If you truly accept Her into your heart, yes. All of that and far more."
The boy's confusion dwindled, but his fascination bloomed.
"Now, where is this caretaker of yours?" The man asked. "She must be worried sick about you."
"She's dead," the boy responded glumly. "I've been on my own now for a while now."
The man stayed silent for a while, allowing the boy a chance to get comfortable in the blanket provided to him.
"You may live here for as long as you need to," the man finally decided. "That is, if you're willing to help keep this church clean and help me spread the word of Naga. We shall baptize you so that this 'presence' of yours will not be a part of you anymore."
The boy wholeheartedly agreed. Finally, someone to care for him! Someone who could make him feel safe and normal! Someone he could love, and could love him in return.