Busy week, but I can't blame work for being behind on writing. That's my own fault for waiting so long to start. Oh well. Maybe someday I'll get organized, but today is not that day!

The second day of travel proved to be a short one, as they'd knocked out most of the journey on the first day, arriving in Katai right around lunch. Adam was grateful for the shorter ride, as he hadn't gotten much sleep after the Grimm attack - and what little sleep he did get proved far from restful. Plus, riding slowly on Eve proved more draining than he'd expected, especially compared to the leisurely ride in the wagon yesterday. The sight of the tall, wooden walls of Katai came as a welcome relief.

Katai turned out to be much larger than Adam expected. Father Bernard had often told him of the size of the town, but to someone who'd never left the small village of Shizukana, it was hard to imagine how much larger Katai could be. Even the entrance to the town seemed grand, as the large gates - standing at least a dozen feet tall - welcomed them onto a busy street leading deeper into a thick array of buildings.

Hand carts rumbled down the paved street, loaded with everything from building materials to pastries for sale. Shop owners called from windows, inviting passersby to view their wares. A few even called to the merchants in their caravan. People jostled past one another, rushing to and fro with a haste Adam had never seen in Shizukana. Children darted down alleyways or stopped to stare at the procession before running off on a new adventure. All around Adam, the town seemed to buzz with activity.

"Life moves a little faster here," Father Bernard commented from Adam's right. "This is the commercial district. You can find just about anything you want in one of these stores…for a price, of course."

"Where do all these people live?" Adam asked. Every building seemed crammed full of merchandise.

"Some live in their businesses," Father Bernard answered, pointing out a few of the two-story buildings. "Home upstairs. Business downstairs. But most of the homes in Katai are on the eastern side of town, closer to the lake."

"But all the excitement is here!" Their merchant excitedly interjected from behind, somehow hearing them over the bustle of the town. "Well, here and in the town center, of course."

"That's where some of the larger buildings are," Father Bernard said before Adam could ask. "The town hall is in the middle, along with the sheriff's office and a few other buildings, but with a lot more space between them. That's where we'll be heading."

Adam's eyes widened. "We're meeting with the mayor?"

Father Bernard laughed. "Nothing that fancy. The church is near there. That's where we'll be staying for the next few days."

Father Bernard had explained everything to Adam before the trip. Anytime Father Bernard came to Katai, Father Stirling - an elderly pastor who had helped train Father Bernard many years ago - invited him to stay at the church to avoid paying for an expensive room at the inn. It also helped that Father Bernard usually came to Katai specifically to meet with the much older man.

Adam had met Father Stirling a few years ago when he'd made the trip to Shizukana. He was a shorter man with thick, silver hair and piercing blue eyes that always shone with excitement. Age may have slowed the man's speed a bit, but it hadn't been able to dampen his spirits at all. The one thing that Adam remembered most about that week with the two pastors was the laughter. Father Stirling would crack up at the slightest amusement, letting loose a chorus of guffaws that echoed throughout the house. And if nothing amusing presented itself, he would often break off into one of his many stories and create his own excitement.

Their caravan rumbled past a few larger stores and came to a stop outside of a much larger, longer building. Immediately, Adam's stomach began growling as the aroma of the inn's kitchen wafted from the open windows, beckoning them inside with promises of a feast. Adam licked his lips involuntarily as they passed the front of the inn, just catching a glimpse of the front desk and the woman working behind it. She smiled warmly, waving when she caught Adam staring. Father Bernard had always taught him it was rude to stare, but he couldn't help it.

"Dad! Dad!" Adam excitedly shouted, catching his father's attention. "Look!" It only took Father Bernard a moment to understand. "She's a faunus! Like me!"

True to Adam's words, a pair of brown cat ears peaked from the young woman's head. She nodded to Father Bernard, likely hearing Adam's proclamation. Father Bernard chuckled as the two followed the caravan around the back of the building. Adam nearly jumped out of Eve's saddle as they reached the large stable beyond, only avoiding an impromptu introduction to the floor thanks to Father Bernard's quick catch.

"Whoa there, son! What's the rush?"

Adam bounced energetically as he struggled for words. "That woman…I thought, maybe I could…you know. Go meet her?"

Father Bernard shook his head in amusement. "We'll head inside just as soon as we secure Eve and Abel for the evening," Father Bernard advised, causing Adam to spring into action. In no time flat, he'd managed to unpack their belongings from the horses' riding tack, eagerly awaiting Father Bernard, who took a moment to speak with one of the stableboys nearby. The young man assured him that the horses would be looked after. "Let's head inside, Adam. We need to pay for the horses before we head to the church."

"Nonsense!" Mazarin said as she appeared behind them. "We'll cover the cost for you two."

"You don't have to…"

"Yes they do," Mazarin answered, turning to the nearest merchant, who rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the jab. "And I hope you're not in a rush, Bernard. I owe you two a meal before you go."

"But we-"

"Ah ah ah! No buts." Adam laughed at not being on the receiving end of that for once. "Those that fight together dine together." Adam's stomach roared in approval. "Besides, the boy must be starving by now."

"Can we, Dad? Please?" Adam practically begged.

Father Bernard couldn't hold up long against the combined assault. "Alright." Adam cheered their victory. "But I expect you to be on your best behavior, young man. Understood?"

"Lighten up, Bernard. I'm sure the kid will be just fine. Right?" Adam eagerly nodded his head. "See! Now let's go get some grub."

The three of them followed the merchants inside, stopping briefly at the front desk so Mazarin could check in and get her room key. True to her word, when Father Bernard stubbornly tried to pay for their horses, the woman behind the counter told him it had already been taken care of. Throughout the conversation, Adam watched the woman closely, fascinating in how her faunus ears seemed to have a mind of their own. He coughed softly, delighting in how they twitched in his direction for the briefest moment.

"Whatcha lookin' at?"

Adam nearly jumped at the question, whipping around to find Mazarin smiling behind him. He flushed bright red at being caught staring. "I, um…well, I was just…"

"Don't be gettin' all anxious on my account," Mazarin said, cutting off his jumble of words. "Have some confidence, boy. If you're gonna do something, be bold about it. Don't get all antsy when someone asks a basic question." Mazarin looked past him to the counter before a mischievous smile spread across her face. "Hey, want me to check if she's single? Probably a little old for you, though…"

"What? No!" Adam winced at his own volume, ducking his head as Father Bernard glanced at him. "Sorry," he whispered, before turning back to Mazarin. "It's not like that. It's just…I've never seen a faunus before."

"Hate to break it to ya, kid, but have you checked a mirror lately?"

"Another faunus," Adam corrected, rolling his eyes at her pathetic excuse for a joke.

"Hm. Makes sense, I guess." Mazarin stepped back from their little meeting, making it clear she was done whispering. "How about we go grab a table while your old man takes care of business? Hey, Bernard!" Mazarin called out, catching his father's attention for a moment. "Me and the boy are gonna go grab a table. Don't keep a lady waiting!"

This time, it was Father Bernard's turn to go red as Mazarin cackled and led Adam through a large set of wooden doors. The large dining room hummed with the sounds of people chatting, silverware clinking, and tables being rapidly cleared. A few servers wove their way between the tightly packed tables, expertly carrying trays full of food and drinks to and fro. Adam's mouth watered as a waitress passed in front of them with a trio of large plates piled high with meat and vegetables.

"Good afternoon," a pleasant looking man said, snatching a pair of menus as he approached them. "Just the two of you?"

"We've got a third in the lobby. He'll be in shortly."

The host nodded as he grabbed another menu. "Not a problem. Did you want to wait for him here? Or I can go ahead and seat you, if you'd like."

Adam's stomach let out a little whine. "I think we'll grab a table," Mazarin laughed. The man led them along the edge of the room to a table near the back corner, quickly retreating with a promise that their server would be by shortly. Mazarin claimed the seat by Adam, leaving the other side of the table for Father Bernard. "So how's life in little Shizukana, kid? Anything exciting?"

"My name's Adam. Not kid."

"There's some of that confidence I was looking for," Mazarin laughed, nudging Adam's shoulder. "Guess you got some fire in you after all. Then again, so does your dad. Never seen a civvie take on an Alpha like that." A sudden thought stopped Mazarin for a second. "Well, at least not one that walked away in one piece."

Adam shuddered, not just at the comment, but how nonchalant Mazarin said it. He dreaded to imagine how many she'd encountered that didn't escape unscathed.

"But enough about that," Mazarin said, quickly changing the subject. "You and Bernard got a nice little setup back home. What does a pastor get up to when he's not behind the pulpit?"

"Not much," Adam shrugged. "He usually visits people in the village to help them out."

"But what about when he's home?" Mazarin asked. "Surely he doesn't just lock himself in his office to study. What's a guy like that do for fun?"

"I dunno." Adam didn't really think of adults as having fun. They were always so serious. "I mean, he mostly tends the garden and helps me with my lessons."

"He teaches you himself?" Mazarin glanced to the door before focusing back on Adam. "Doesn't Shizukana have a school?"

"We do, but Dad says I get distracted too easily. Says I do better when it's just the two of us." Shizukana's school was pretty informal. They only had a couple of teachers, each watching over a few years' worth of children in the small school building. Adam wasn't the only one to be schooled at home, either. In fact, most of the kids at school were those whose parents both worked during the day. It was more of a glorified daycare than a true school.

Their waiter arrived, asking if they were ready to order. Mazarin told them they were waiting on another but asked for three waters in the meantime before returning to their conversation. "So walk me through a standard day for you two. You wake up. Then what?"

"Chores. I check on the horses while he tends the garden. Then, Dad makes breakfast while I-"

"He cooks, too?"

"Yep." Father Bernard wasn't the greatest cook in the world, but Adam enjoyed the simple meals. "I make lunch for myself, though."

"Well maybe we should have him go make us something," Mazarin said, a little louder this time. "Whadya say, Bernard? Want me to see if I can get you a spot in the kitchen?"

"Trying to weasel out of paying already?" Father Bernard asked as he claimed the seat across from Adam. "I trust he wasn't any trouble."

"None at all," Mazarin promised, much to Adam's relief. "Adam was just telling me about life back home. Sounds relaxing."

"It sure isn't as exciting as a life on the road," Father Bernard said. "Things can get a little boring compared to all of your adventures."

"Boring can be good, sometimes," Mazarin countered.

"Someone like you would have cabin fever within a week," Father Bernard assured her. "Just like we'd struggle to live on the road like you do."

"I think I'd get used to it after a while," Mazarin assured him. "Besides, life on the road ain't that bad. I'd bet you and your boy would love it. Just think, Bernard. You could be a traveling preacher," Mazarin elbowed Adam's arm, "and little Adam here could get a chance to meet more pretty faunus girls like the one up front."

Adam unceremoniously sprayed a mouthful of water, most of it landing just short of Father Bernard. "Adam…"

"It's not like that," Adam insisted, hurriedly setting his glass down and reaching for his napkin, only to knock the rest of his drink over in the process. A few heads turned to watch the commotion, some laughing at the impromptu entertainment.

Father Bernard was not one of them.

"I'm just pulling your chain, kid." Mazarin seemed to be the only one amused by her joke as she helped clean up the mess. "Lighten up a little. Thought your dad was the only one who didn't know how to have fun."

"Huh?" Father Bernard looked offended at the accusation. "I know how to have fun."

"Really? And what, praytell, does a small town preacher do for fun?" Mazarin leaned forward, hand resting on her fist as she called Father Bernard's bluff. "Whoopee cushions in the choir seats?"

"Nothing so juvenile," Father Bernard assured her.

"So you aren't still putting rubber snakes in sleeping bags?"

Adam didn't miss how Father Bernard suddenly clammed up. Drying up his mess could wait.

"That was a long time ago…" Father Bernard hesitantly answered.

"Doesn't seem that long ago to me," Mazarin shot back with a smile, leaning back to include Adam, who couldn't wait to hear more. Thankfully, Mazarin seemed intent on sharing. "We had this young guy traveling with us this one time. Real snot, if you ask me. Always complaining about having to help and flashing his lien around, as if that meant anything on the trail. One night, the guy lets out this horrendous scream while helping with the wood."

"A Grimm?" Adam guessed.

"That's what I thought! So I rush over with my sword drawn, and this guy's clinging to your dad for dear life, shrieking in his ear, all because of a tiny little snake." Mazarin reached across the table, slapping Father Bernard's arm playfully. "I'm surprised you can still hear after all that."

"I swear I was deaf in that ear the rest of the night," Father Bernard added, clearly displeased with the memory as he rubbed the side of his head.

"So then what happened?"

Mazarin took a quick sip of water before continuing. "Well, I flung the thing into the woods and this guy spends the rest of the evening hiding by the fire, refusing to help anymore. We finally get him to calm down and everyone goes to bed. It wasn't a minute later that he screams and starts frantically rolling around in his sleeping bag. Finally claws his way out and dives into the wagon, yelling something about the snake coming back to finish the job."

Adam turned to Father Bernard, eyes wide as he put two and two together. "You put a snake in his sleeping bag?"

"That would be foolish and irresponsible," Father Bernard answered. A quick cough from Mazarin weakened his defense. "What? It wasn't a real snake."

"Your dad swiped some tubing from the farming equipment we were transporting and hid that in the bag," Mazarin clarified. "But as far as that guy was concerned, it might as well have been a King Taijitu lying in wait that night."

Despite his complaints, Father Bernard laughed along at the retelling. "Whatever happened to that guy?" he asked. "Did you end up taking him all the way to Mistral?"

"Nah! He refused to travel with us after that." Father Bernard nervously scratched the back of his head, glancing around in embarrassment at the impact of his little prank. "Don't fret. We still got paid for all that equipment. Plus, you should've seen the look on the innkeeper's face when we told him about the guy. With no other caravans scheduled to come through for at least three days and a pampered, big spender like that in town, I'm pretty sure this place made a big profit that weekend."

Adam couldn't believe his dad could be so…well, childish. He'd always seen Father Bernard as some super-strict rule keeper. "Dad really pranked the guy like that?"

"What I did was-"

"Your old man isn't quite as old as he pretends," Mazarin interrupted. "Then again, I guess being a father really changes things, doesn't it?" Father Bernard nodded along happily. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. He used to tell the same, boring stories about medical plants or stories from the scriptures. You know what he talks about now?" Adam shook his head. "You."

"Me?"

"Guy won't shut up about you," Mazarin insisted.

"It's not that bad," Father Bernard complained. "Is it?"

"I talk with the other guards. I think most of them could tell you Adam's life story by now." Father Bernard gulped at the realization. "Not that it's a bad thing. I think it's adorable how much you talk about your kid, personally."

"Well, I guess my priorities changed a bit when Adam came into my life."

"They sure did," Mazarin agreed, winking at Adam before their server returned.

After the trio placed their orders, Father Bernard goaded Mazarin into sharing some of her adventures, knowing Adam would enjoy them. She dove into tales of fighting Grimm, facing off against bandits, and the amazing places she'd visited over the years. A few nearby tables listened in, though they did their best not to make it obvious. By the time they finished their meal, several abandoned stealth entirely, turning their chairs to watch Mazarin's energetic recountings.

It didn't take long for Mazarin to notice her audience. She rose from her seat, drawing even more attention. "But none of that compares with the craziest thing I've ever seen on the trail." Even some of the servers slowed to listen in. "There I was, face to face with the monster. Our fight was brutal. A solid ton of teeth, claws, and rage bore down on me in the dark. All around, the howls of lesser Grimm echoed through the woods, cheering on the abomination - baying for my blood."

A chair squeeked as the occupant scooted closer. Mazarin smiled in the lingering silence, knowing she had claimed the entire room. She stepped onto her chair to let everyone see her easier, waving her hands animatedly along with the tale.

"Suddenly, it charged forward, batting my sword aside with ease! The thing pinned me to the ground, glaring into my eyes with all the hatred it could summon. I just glared right back, defiant to the end. It's mighty jaw unhinged as it prepared to claim my head in a single bite, when suddenly," Mazarin jumped down, causing a few people to jump as she stabbed at the air with an imaginary weapon, "a man charged in, thrusting his knife into the beast's throat and throwing it off of me!"

Father Bernard sighed, head in his hands as he realized what was happening.

"With the tables turned, I carved its face open before setting the beast ablaze! Utterly defeated, it fled, tail between its legs as we celebrated our victory!" Mazarin threw a fist in the air, receiving a mixture of cheers and applause.

"She exaggerates a bit," Father Bernard interjected, standing up to interrupt the triumphant moment.

"How would you know?" someone called out from a few tables away. Mazarin grinned at Father Bernard, letting him know he'd played right into her trap.

"Because he's the man with the knife."

Her bombshell had the desired effect, silencing the room as everyone turned to look at Father Bernard in amazement. Mazarin silently reclaimed her seat, leaving him as the lone focus amid a sea of faces.

It took them almost half an hour to escape the diner after that. Half a dozen people offered to pay for his meal out of respect before the server advised it was on the house - compliments of the staff for his heroism. Several begged him to join them for drinks later, which Father Bernard politely declined. Some even asked for his autograph.

Through it all, Mazarin's laughter only grew alongside the reddening of Father Bernard's face.

"That was a bit much, don't you think?"

Mazarin wiped a tear from her eye. "Nah, that was perfect!" She waved off Father Bernard's glare. "Oh, come on Bernard. You did sorta save me from that Alpha last night, so it wasn't a complete lie."

"You made it sound like I fought alongside you," Father Bernard pointed out. "As I recall, that thing threw me away without any trouble."

"So I embellished a bit," Mazarin shrugged. "So what? Everyone loves a good story. Besides, you think I'd pass up an opportunity at a free meal?"

Father Bernard stopped. "You did all that just to get out of paying?"

"Not just that," she assured him. "Watching you get all frazzled was worth it."

Father Bernard shook his head hopelessly as Mazarin started laughing again. He waited for her to calm down again before reminding her of a rather important detail. "We still need to report that Grimm to the authorities, Mazarin. Can't have something like that roaming around the villages."

"Back to business, then," Mazarin said, adopting a much more serious tone. "You're right, though. Bad enough we've got something like that out there, but an Alpha is sure to draw more Grimm."

That detail definitely got Adam's attention. "They can do that?"

Mazarin shook her head. "Not exactly. Grimm sometimes travel in packs, especially Beowulves. When two of them meet up, they tend to stick together by instinct. They don't usually travel far though, so running into each other is rare unless there's already a lot around. But Alpha's are different. They have a much larger territory and tend to run into other Grimm a lot more, forming a pack in no time."

"Not to mention how the mere presence of an Alpha can cause a lot of negativity," Father Bernard added.

Mazarin nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Word will get around that there's something big out there. Even if it doesn't attack anyone else, people will get nervous and scared. That'll just pull more Grimm to the area, increasing the pack size. Doesn't take long for something like that to spiral out of control, and next thing you know, villages start to disappear."

"Which is why we'll report it and get a Huntsman sent to track it down," Father Bernard assured Adam, seeing the panic creeping in. "Not the first time something like this has happened. Doubt it'll be the last, either."

"So they'll really send a Huntsman out for a single Grimm?" Adam asked. Even if the Alpha was terrifying, it was just one Grimm. With the stories and legends of Huntsmen taking on hordes of Grimm, this seemed a little beneath them.

"It's not just one Grimm, though," Mazarin said. "It already has a small pack."

"Had," Father Bernard countered. "You killed the Beowulves that were with it, unless you mean the horde you made up for your story."

"If it found some before, it'll find some again," Mazarin rationalized. "Besides, that thing was smart. Flanked our camp, ambushed the other side, then ran away when we started winning. That alone is cause for concern."

"But I thought Grimm were mindless." Every book Adam had read on Grimm emphasized the point. Grimm existed only to hunt and kill. They roamed around until they found someone, then tried to kill them. That was it.

"Most are, but not all. Some have been around long enough to learn a few tricks. Nothing spectacular. Just little things like trying to attack from behind and stuff. The way this one ran off, I have to assume it's gonna go find a few friends to help out next time." Mazarin turned to Father Bernard. "Or it'll run so far away from your old man that it'll eventually come across some others."

Father Bernard rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. "I doubt any Grimm will take me seriously."

"You kidding? I bet that Alpha tells stories of the Fighting Preacher for years to come," Mazarin laughed. "Or, at least until we get a Huntsman out here to finish what you and I started." Mazarin looked back to the inn. "Tell you what. I'll draft up a report tonight and we can turn it in tomorrow morning. Sound good?"

"What do you mean we?"

"I need someone local to act as the point of contact when the Huntsman arrives," Mazarin explained. "Unless you're saying I should stick around, that means you. After all, who better than the man who tried to slice the thing's throat open? Pretty sure the two of us had the most facetime with the beast."

Father Bernard sighed, knowing she was right. "Alright. I'll meet you at the town hall tomorrow at sunrise. Don't want to keep the merchants waiting."

"Afterwards we can grab a bite to eat for breakfast," Mazarin offered. "I still technically owe you a meal."

"No embarrassing me just to get out of paying this time," Father Bernard insisted.

"It's a date!" Mazarin chuckled before rustling Adam's hair. "And you're welcome to come, too, kid."

"Really?"

"Sure! Wouldn't be right of me to leave without saying a proper goodbye, now would it?"

With a quick promise to see her in the morning, Father Bernard led Adam further into town. The buildings began to spread out a little as they kept going. Soon, Adam could spy the ornate roof of a large building looming above the other structures ahead.

"The town hall," Father Bernard explained. "One of the tallest buildings in town. And if you look to the right a little…"

Adam squinted as he followed Father Bernard's finger over the rooftops. A gleam caught his eye, drawing his attention to a pair of golden figures. It took only a moment to recognize the image of the Twin Dragons around a spire - a common symbol used by the Brotherians.

"The church here is a little more ornate than our old building back home," Father Bernard laughed. "Bigger, too. You could easily seat our entire village in there with room to spare."

They passed by the front of the town hall, Adam watching people streaming in and out endlessly. A group of people were gathered by the front, talking with anyone that passed by while a few held signs. Protestors, Father Bernard told him, bringing their concerns and complaints to the local government directly. They didn't linger long enough for Adam to figure out what they were protesting, though.

The hustle and bustle of the city lightened as they neared the church, with only a few people passing by. A lone figure stood in the church's doorway. As they came into view, he waved excitedly, then slowly started down the handful of stairs in front of the building. Father Bernard picked up his pace, reaching the bottom of the steps at the same time as their host.

"You know you can use the ramp, Father," Father Bernard commented while Father Stirling caught his breath.

"That's for old people," Father Stirling laughed despite his own advanced age. "Good to see you, Bernard. You can drop the formality, though. You're a pastor, same as me. No need to call me Father anymore."

"Old habits, I guess."

"My goodness! Is that Adam?" Father Bernard grasped Adam's shoulder, giving him a friendly shake. "You've grown so much! Won't be long until you pass up this old bag of bones."

Probably, Adam thought. Father Stirling wasn't exactly a giant.

"How was your journey. Not too hard, I hope."

Father Bernard regaled Father Stirling with details of their trip while they headed in. Father Stirling showed them to their room while they talked. Adam sat on one of the beds while Father Bernard finished talking about their journey.

"Oh my. Sounds like you two had quite the adventure, didn't you?" Father Stirling claimed a chair from a nearby desk. "Thank the Gods this Mazarin was there to protect you both."

"We were truly lucky to have her with us," Father Bernard agreed.

"She bought us lunch today," Adam added. "And we're gonna meet her in the morning for breakfast."

"Such generosity!" Father Stirling exclaimed.

"She didn't really pay for lunch, to be fair." Father Bernard shared how Mazarin had embarrassed him at lunch, getting their meal for free. Father Stirling laughed as Father Bernard got all worked up, griping about all the ribbing from Mazarin throughout the afternoon.

"Quite the interesting woman," Father Stirling commented. "Or, perhaps I should say interested woman."

Father Bernard raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Ha! Surely you're not that oblivious, my boy." When Father Bernard didn't say anything, Father Stirling elaborated. "You saved her from that Grimm. She takes you out to lunch, starts asking about your life, and jokes around with you. Then, she asks you out to breakfast tomorrow before she leaves." Father Stirling leaned closer, whispering loudly, "I think she may be interested in more than your ministry…"

"Father Stirling!"

"What?" the older man asked incredulously. "A strapping, young lad like you shouldn't be so surprised. You risked your life to save her. Is it so odd to think that might catch a girl's eye?" Father Stirling pointed to Adam. "And you're a good father already. If this Mazarin is thinking about starting a family, you'd be pretty appealing."

"She was just messing with me," Father Bernard insisted. "She's always been like that. Super serious on the trip, but the moment we reach town, she starts cutting up and messing with me."

"Ah, so the two of you have some history?" Father Stirling chuckled at the exasperated response he drew. "Now, now, my boy. Is it really so unbelievable that a woman might take interest?"

"She's just a friend," Father Bernard promised.

"Maybe she wants more than a friend," Father Stirling returned. "I'm not saying she wants to get married right away. She might just be curious about the possibility of a relationship, but if you never explore your feelings, you may regret it someday."

"Aren't we supposed to go visit the orphanage?" Father Bernard clearly wished to change the subject.

"Always work with this one," Father Stirling said, winking at Adam. "Are you sure you don't want to take a moment to rest? We could talk some more about-"

"We rested enough at lunch," Father Bernard said, cutting off Father Stirling's attempt to return to the prior topic. "Besides, you know Madam de Thom hates to be kept waiting."

"Spoil an old man's fun," Father Stirling muttered, grunting as he rose from his seat. "Well then, I guess we should be off. Did you want to tag along, Adam? Or you can hang around here, if you'd prefer."

And be stuck doing lessons? I don't think so! "I'll come with you," Adam hurriedly answered, hopping off the bed and rushing over to join them. Not only would it get him out of studying for a bit, but the merchant's promise of there being faunus children at the orphanage had him eager to go.

Father Bernard cornered him before they left the church. "I expect you to behave while we're there."

"Yes, Dad," Adam obediently replied.

"Ah, let the kid be a kid today," Father Stirling interjected. "The children should be done with their lessons. I'm sure he can go play while we meet with Gael."

Father Bernard leapt at the chance to get even with his mentor. "On a first name basis with her, are we? Maybe all that relationship advice was just you deflecting?"

Father Stirling visibly shuddered at the thought. "Don't even joke about that. I respect anyone who cares for children, but I guarantee we wouldn't get along. Not to mention her husband."

"They finally got married?" Father Bernard asked.

"Sure took them long enough," Father Stirling answered. "She's been dating the mayor longer than he's been in office. Not much longer, though." The implication was clear, though Father Stirling stopped short of calling her a gold digger.

"Father!"

"What? I call it like I see it," Father Stirling laughed. "Either way, I wish them a long and blessed marriage. The Gods know he'll need all the help he can get."

The orphanage sat closer to the edge of town, claiming a large piece of land that stretched all the way to the town's wall. Even before they arrived, Adam could hear the sounds of children playing in the distance. The building itself made the inn look small in comparison.

"It's so big," Adam commented as they approached the entrance.

"Only orphanage for miles," Father Bernard explained. "These children are from all over. They're all brought here, where Madam de Thom and her daughter take care of them. They even have their own schoolrooms inside. Housing so many children takes a lot of space."

"And energy," Madam de Thom added as she came out to meet them. She was a large woman, practically dripping with makeup. Several of her fingers glinted in the afternoon sun, light reflecting off the ornate rings she wore. "Fathers. Welcome to our home." She noticed Adam standing slightly behind Father Bernard. "You didn't mention you were bringing another orphan."

"This is my son," Father Bernard explained. "It's his first time traveling to Katai. We thought he could play with your children while Father Stirling and I visit."

Madam de Thom eyed Adam carefully, then shrugged. "Why not? I'll have my daughter show him to the playground. Alyssa!"

A tall girl hastily ran outside, nodding pleasantly at the trio before turning to Madam de Thom. Adam couldn't help but stare a little. Her long, golden hair fell in waves down her back, shining in the sun. Unlike the gargantuan woman before them, Alyssa practically floated through the air. "Yes, mother?"

"Father Bernard brought his son with him today. We thought he might enjoy playing with the other children during our meeting." Alyssa looked at Adam with an intoxicating smile. "Can you show him to the playground out back? We shouldn't be long."

"Of course, Mother," Alyssa assured her. Adam tensed as her eyes lingered on his head, but she just smiled brighter and said, "Follow me! I'm Alyssa, by the way."

"A-Adam," he managed for the angel before him as she guided him around the building. "I'm Adam."

"Well, welcome to our home, Adam," she practically sang. "Those meetings can get pretty boring, but it's recess time right now. I'm sure the other children will be thrilled to have someone else join them."

As they reached the back of the building, Adam was shocked to see at least a few dozen children around his age. Some played on a jungle gym off to the left. A handful of others raced back and forth on a basketball court, cheered on by a few onlookers. Others simply ran around the large yard, playing and exploring.

"Most of the older children are doing their chores, but that's fine. Let's see if I can find you a group to join in with." A few of the children near the jungle gym watched them approach, going quiet at the new arrivals. She rested a hand on the middle of Adam's back, gently nudging him forward. "Children, this is Adam. His father is meeting with Mother, so I thought he could play with you all while he waits. I trust you'll all be welcoming to our guest?"

"Yes, mam." The responses were more muted than expected, but Adam had to assume they felt just as nervous as he did about meeting someone new.

"Excellent. Now, I've got to head back inside. You let me know if they give you any trouble, okay?" Adam nodded slowly. "I'll come find you when your father's ready to go. Have fun!"

Adam watched her hasten back to the building. His eyes weren't the only ones fixed on her as she left, but soon, he was alone with the rest of the children. He turned awkwardly to the small group. "H-hi. I'm Adam."

Adam waited nervously, unsure how well he'd fit in with everyone. There was a brief pause as each waited for another to speak. Adam could hardly contain his excitement when another boy finally spoke up. "Wanna play tag?"

Adam spent the next hour with the group, chasing each other across the open field and climbing all over the large play structure they'd started at. He chatted with a young boy with a monkey tail, sharing stories of horseback riding back home. He had never tried swinging before, but quickly got the hang of it. By the time Alyssa came back, Adam was in no hurry to leave.

"Your father's waiting up front," she advised. "Did you have fun?"

"It was great!" Adam answered. Several of his new friends lingered nearby. "Thanks for playing with me!" He waved as he followed Alyssa away.

Sure enough, Father Bernard and Father Stirling were waiting out front when they arrived, though Madam de Thom wasn't with them. Adam rushed to tell them all about the other children and all the games they'd played together. Father Bernard listened contentedly while Father Stirling excitedly asked questions the whole way back to the church.

That night, sleep came easy. Instead of dark forests and red eyes, his dreams took him to open fields and golden sunlight.

More slice of life and pleasantness. Don't worry. This story will get dark in time. Then again, I seem to be sneaking in Grimm attacks every other chapter. Such is writing with a loose outline.

I actually had a lot of fun with this chapter, mostly thanks to Mazarin. Hadn't planned on her character originally (made her up last week), but enjoyed the bit of flirting. For anyone wondering, pastors in the Brotherian religion are not celibate (like priests). I kind of went for a more Baptist feel when I designed their beliefs, so there would be nothing wrong with Father Bernard dating or getting married. Pretty sure most pastors are married, from my observations, but that's just some minor stuff I wanted to clarify.

As always, spent way too much time designing names for characters. Gael de Thom and her daughter, Alyssa, share a literary allusion that I'm quite proud of. I'll be curious to see if anyone figures it out, as I rarely focus on allusions in my stories (something I wish I explored more). Regardless, we'll see them again later.

Next chapter: A little more of their visit in Katai before Father Bernard and Adam head home.