When I got home, I told Mother everything that had happened. She listened in silence, her hands pausing over the vegetables she was chopping. Then she smiled, soft relief flickering across her face.
"I'm glad you're safe, Arthur," she said, brushing her hand gently against my cheek.
I grinned. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll always come back."
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment, as if she wanted to say something more, but then she just shook her head and laughed. I was damn glad she was my mother — strong, gentle, and endlessly worried about me in her own quiet way.
That night, as I lay on my bed staring at the wooden beams above, my thoughts kept drifting toward tomorrow. I had explored a lot in these three years, but there was one place I hadn't properly visited yet: the church. If the gods were real in this world, then I wanted to see what they were up to — or at least what their worshippers claimed.
---
**The next morning**
"Oi, Arthur! How're you doing today?"
Leo's voice carried across the street before I even saw him. He was waving at me like I'd been gone for a year instead of a single night.
"Hey, Leo. I'm good," I called back. "What about you?"
"Me? I'm always good." He puffed his chest out, then leaned closer with a grin. "So, what's the plan?"
"We're going to the Church of Light."
"The church?" His grin faltered. "What, did you suddenly turn holy overnight?"
I smirked. "No. I just want to see what the gods are up to."
Leo groaned dramatically, throwing his head back like the world had ended. "Gods, Arthur, you're always dragging me into weird things. Can't we just… I don't know, steal some apples or something?"
"You mean watch *you* steal apples while I get blamed?"
He froze, then burst out laughing. "Okay, fair point. Fine, fine. Let's go meet your gods."
---
The church loomed ahead of us. A massive building, less than a cathedral but still towering over the houses around it. Its white stone walls gleamed faintly in the sunlight, and colored glass windows shimmered with faint golden hues.
"So this is the church, huh…" I muttered.
Leo leaned closer and whispered like a gossiping villager. "I heard there's a cute girl around our age here. Daughter of one of the sisters."
I turned my head to scold him, but then I froze.
Near the entrance stood a small girl, no more than seven, with neatly braided blonde hair. She wore simple white robes — the kind the sisters wore — though hers were slightly too long for her small frame.
She was… adorable.
Holy hell, she was cute.
Wait. No. What the hell was I thinking? I wasn't about to be some creep.
Before my thoughts spiraled, Leo elbowed me. "Well? Go say hi, brave knight."
I shot him a glare but stepped forward anyway.
"Uh… hey. I'm Arthur. Could you… maybe show me around the church? And introduce me to the Father?"
The girl blinked, then gave a shy smile. "Umm… hello. I'm Esabele. I'd be glad to show you."
---
Esabele guided us through the church, pointing out the grand prayer hall where sunlight spilled through colored glass, painting the floor in shades of red, blue, and gold. She showed us the side chambers where sisters prepared offerings, and even a small garden tucked behind the building where herbs were grown for healing.
Leo kept smirking at me every time she looked away, mouthing *"See? Told you she's cute."*
At one point, Esabele nearly tripped on the hem of her robe. I caught her arm just in time, steadying her. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Th-thank you," she murmured.
Leo snorted. "Arthur, the knight in shining armor!"
"Shut it," I muttered, though I couldn't stop the grin tugging at my lips.
---
By the time we reached Father George, the three of us were already talking like old friends.
"Hello, Father. My name is Arthur," I said with as much respect as I could muster. "I came to ask a few questions."
The man, tall and kind-eyed, smiled warmly. "Of course. I am Father George. What troubles your mind, young one?"
I asked about the gods of this world, and he answered with patience.
First, there were many gods — the Goddess of Light, the God of Darkness, the Dragon God, the Demon God, the God of Time, the God of Hunger, and countless others.
Second, they were divided into three great groups:
* **Deus** — the heroic gods.
* **Medius** — the neutral gods.
* **Malum** — the evil gods.
Each one controlled a part of reality itself.
---
When we left the church, Esabele walked with us all the way to the gate.
"Thank you for visiting," she said softly.
"Thanks for showing us around," I replied.
"Yeah!" Leo chimed in. "We should hang out again sometime, Esabele. You're way more fun than Arthur made me think the church would be."
Esabele giggled, and I felt my cheeks warm — though whether from embarrassment or annoyance at Leo, I wasn't sure.
---
**Later that day**
The three of us ended up sitting by the river just outside town. Esabele had brought some bread the sisters had baked, Leo had managed to sneak a few apples, and I contributed nothing but my company — which, according to Leo, was worth less than a moldy potato.
"Arthur, you're too serious all the time," Leo said, tossing an apple core into the water. "You should laugh more."
"I laugh plenty," I argued.
"Yeah? Prove it." He pulled a face so ridiculous that even Esabele burst into giggles.
I tried to hold it in. I really did. But when he crossed his eyes and puffed his cheeks like a frog, I snorted so hard I nearly choked on bread.
"There! See?" Leo crowed triumphantly. "I win!"
Esabele smiled at us both, her eyes shining. "You two are funny. I… I've never really had friends before."
The words caught me off guard. She looked so small, clutching her half-eaten piece of bread like it was a shield.
"Well, you've got us now," I said firmly.
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "And we don't let go of friends easily. Right, Arthur?"
"Right."
Esabele's smile widened, and for a moment, everything felt warm and steady.
That day, I realized something.
The gods might rule reality.
But for now, what mattered most was this — the laughter by the river, the bond forming between us three, and the feeling that I was no longer walking this world alone.