Abel trudged away from the restaurant with his hands in tight fists. Leon had been so heartless when it had come to Noelle. His callous attitude toward her death had hurt Abel on so many levels. The punch to the poor priest's face only added insult to injury. It was completely uncalled for, and caused quite an unnecessary upset of those dining. He felt especially bad for those whose table he had crashed into. Abel loosened his fists. He sighed and gently touched the swollen lump that was his cheek. He winced.
"Such rude people at that restaurant, don't you think, Father? They had no respect for a priest that was only doing what was natural and mourning the loss of someone very close."
Abel jumped and turned around. There behind him stood a sophisticated looking girl. She was somewhere in her late teens, and her exquisite red vest and pristinely creased dress pants showed her to be of a very noble family, possibly a musician.
"Ah," Abel was taken aback by the young woman's looks and her amiable nature, "So you understand?"
"Of course," the girl gave a warm smile, "I couldn't help but to overhear, with that boisterous priest going on about everything. Come; let's sit down on this bench. No point standing here in the middle of everything!" Her fluttering laughter was enough to ease the pain of Father Nightroad's heavy, aching heart to a degree.
After they had sat down the girl continued. "What you did was only part of human nature," she rested her long, slender fingers on the priest's shoulder, "and there's nothing wrong with that. Even a wandering priest such as yourself has someone to care about and grieve for."
Abel heaved a heavy sigh. "That's true. I guess I just felt that I couldn't go on without her." He bowed his head and wept. "I'm such a fool!"
The young woman softly stroked the weeping priest's silver hair and patiently replied, "No, that's not true. You're not a fool. There's absolutely nothing wrong with conveying your emotions stronger than others."
"There isn't?" The priest sniffled a little and attempted to regain his composure.
"Of course not, silly. We're all different, that's just the way we are."
"Ah." This girl had shown such compassion and understanding that Abel was unsure of how to respond.
"There is one thing, though," the girl matched her eyes up with the father's.
"Oh?" Abel felt trapped in the girl's soft gaze. "What is that?"
"It's really a simple thing. I'm just wondering, what would this woman, the one you lost, think of you abandoning your cause just because of her death? Wouldn't she be disappointed?"
Abel closed his eyes tightly. This girl spoke the truth, but he didn't want to admit it.
"I'm sorry Father, am I getting too personal?"
"No, it's not that. It's just… Well, you're completely right. She'd probably chew me out for being such a blubbering dope!" Abel laughed nervously at the thought, but he calmed down quickly. "You're right though. I need to stop complaining and act like a man about this!" He jumped from the bench with replenished motivation. "Thank you very much, I'm…" The priest stared in disbelief. The girl he had been talking to for a good while was no longer there. He heard a light laugh and turned, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. Abel slumped back onto the bench. "Am I going mad? That nice young lady, was she ever there to begin with?"
"And just where have you been, my dear?" Wizard kept a calm voice, but his twitching eyebrow betrayed his annoyance toward his daughter.
Isabella smiled with venomous innocence. She was hardly intimidated. "I only went into town, that is all. Is there something wrong with that?" She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.
Kampfer's eyebrow twitched harder in response. He clearly did not want to put up with Isabella. "I clearly stated earlier that Dietrich and I had some important business and you were to stay here until we were finished, did I not?"
"Oh, but it's so boring here. Besides, I helped you by stabilizing that pathetic priest, so he might actually rise to your bait." The girl smiled wickedly.
Kampfer narrowed his eyes. "How dare you insult my work. Even more disrespectful for you to make alterations!" He raised his hand as if to strike his daughter, but was stopped.
"Oh come now, Wizard. She only did it out of concern for you." Dietrich gave a warm smile and released Kampfer's arm, "She's guaranteed that the circumstances will be met. What would you have done if this "god", as you call him, did not rise to the bait?"
Wizard didn't answer. He simply lit a cigarillo and left, glancing back in displeasure at Isabella and Dietrich.
"I don't see why he's so unhappy." Isabella pursed her lips in a pout.
"Ah, now that's the strange thing about artists," Dietrich smirked, "They despise criticism, even if they know it is true."
The young lady Kampfer shrugged a bit. "Ah, well, he'll probably thank me later. I put so much work into what I did to help him. Dear Lord, that priest is so pathetic!"