'The Extra's Progression'-Chapter 70: Modus Operandi [4]

[ "Helvítis fokking andskotans rassgat! Komdu núna, þú helvítis fjandans fiskur, festu þig á krókinn, annars drulla ég þér í rassgatið og fórna þér til djöfulsins!" ]

"What the hell is happening?" Ezio groaned, turning his face into the pillow. Still the aggressive noise reached his ears.

From somehere close, a loud voice was blasting itself in a strange language.

Ezio glanced once at the desk, peeping from the small space of the pillow.

"Lower the volume, man," Ezio muttered, his voice rough with sleep.

Raviel clicked his tongue. "This language is tough to crack," he said casually.

"Still, you messed up my dream." Ezio spoke, rubbing his eyes.

"Huuuu..."

Ezio forced his eyes open, and saw the light streaming through the open window.

And on the desk...

Raviel sat, one leg hooked around the chair, his Arctic was hovering a holograph in the air. A video was playing — some guy out in heavy snow, cutting holes in ice and pulling out fish with his bare hands.

Seeing Ezio finally awake, Raviel closed the tabs and waved him over.

"Hurry up, now. The church’s activities start in an hour."

He then, slid a folded paper across the desk. "They gave this in the morning. It contains a schedule chart. Timings and all that. Learn it too."

Ezio rubbed his eyes and yawned, then finally looked properly at Raviel. "What are you wearing, though?"

Raviel glanced down at himself. "These?"

"Yes!"

He tugged at his brown shirt, which had a simple torch symbol printed on it, paired with plain black pants.

"Clothes, which the old man gave us yesterday."

Ezio sat up slowly, still half-asleep.

Raviel checked the time again and sighed "Seriously, hurry up. We leave in an hour."

....

Raviel and Ezio moved through the church passageways, turning left, then right, then stopping again. They then realised, after seeing the same statue for the second time, that they were lost.

"...We were just here, ten minutes ago" Ezio muttered, clicking his tongue in slight annoyance.

Ezio then stopped again, grabbing the collar of his shirt.

"These clothes are really itchy at the collar. This material is weird."

Raviel stopped and facepalmed hard. "You’re wearing it wrong."

Ezio looked at his shirt, then at Raviel. "I see, tell me did those people we had passed saw me?"

"They should have, now wear it properly idiot."

Without another word, he stepped into a corner and flipped the shirt the right way. When he came back out, the collar sat properly.

Raviel shook his head, realising that Ezio was just day walking. "How long were you talking with Isabelle last night?"

Ezio paused, then just nodded once. He didn’t say anything.

They continued walking and eventually reached the prayer hall. Inside, all the other volunteers were already there — ten of them — standing quietly near the benches.

Raviel and Ezio slipped in without drawing much attention and stood near the side.

Raviel’s eyes wandered over the paintings lining the walls, old and detailed, but for Raviel, they seemed more like they were drawn by some todler in the name of ancient art.

"Ahem—!!".

Just then, Emil stepped into the center of the hall. He clapped his hands softly to get everyone’s attention and smiled.

"Alright," he said calmly, "let’s begin the morning prayer."

"O Thou Evernight Mother, who chasest the fleeing light yet embracest all in Thy endless dark. Thou art the eternity of the moment, where time bendeth and ceaseth not.

Thou art the grace of the fallen, lifting souls from horror into quiet mercy. She who healeth our weary souls, grant Thy believers solace in Thy shadows deep.

She who gazeth upon us with boundless affection, teach us morals veiled in mystery and dream. In this dawning hour, when light pursueth yet Thou ever remainest. Let us, Thy children, find strength in Thy eternal now. Grace upon our stumblings, peace in Thy concealing embrace. Praise be to Thee, O Lady of Nightless Night, forever and ever."

With a deep breath, Emil spoke loudly, again. "Amen"

The prayer ended in silence, and for a moment no one spoke.

Then Emil stepped forward again, gethering the attention of others.

"Alright," he said, looking around the hall, "let’s begin our respective work. Remember, churchgoers will start coming in from eleven o’clock, so try to finish up before that."

"With this I’ll be taking my leave." Emil then proceded to walk out of the hall with measured steps.

Seeing Emil walk out.

Raviel and Ezio nodded as well. They had already been assigned their duties. Ezio was told to help out in the kitchen with the cooking, while Raviel was given the task of watering the flowers around the garden.

As they stepped out of the hall and started heading in different directions, Raviel glanced back and said casually, "Remember to actually do it. Don’t forget it this time."

Ezio just nodded again. "Yeah."

They parted ways and walked off to their assigned work.

....

Raviel moved slowly through the garden, the water sprinkler resting lightly on his hands as he sprinkled water over the plants.

’How many colour do even exists for the same flower?’

He couldn’t help but feel a little impressed. There were so many kinds of flowers here —some were small and simple, others bright and unfamiliar. The pond beside the garden reflected the soft morning light, making the whole place feel calm and quiet.

As he watered one of the beds, he noticed a butterfly resting on a flower.

He stepped a little closer, curious, but the moment he did, it fluttered away. Raviel watched it disappear, with a sigh he continued his work again.

That was when he noticed a woman sitting on a bench near the garden path, on the bench, near the shadowy part of the garden.

She was dressed in robes that matched the creamy color of the church walls. She looked beautiful in a gentle, motherly way.

The glow of the sunlight, illiuminated her face.

The fine wrinkles on her skin didn’t take her beauty at all — if anything, they added more to it. Her black hair was neatly tied back, and she sat very still, her eyes closed.

Raviel slowed down and carefully watered the plants near the bench, making sure not to splash any water in her way. Still, the soft sound of water seemed to reach her.

"Oh my," the woman said gently, her eyes still closed. "Is someone there?"

Raviel paused. For a moment, a thought crossed his mind.

’Is she blind?’

Her eyes hadn’t opened at all, even when Raviel stood infront of her.

Hearing her question, his senses returned. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Aah, yes," he said politely. "I was assigned the duty of watering the garden."

The woman smiled warmly. "I see," she said, even though her eyes remained closed. "By any chance, child, are you a volunteer?"

"Yes," Raviel replied. Then he realized he hadn’t introduced himself. Judging by her clothes and calm presence, she seemed like someone important, someone of high position in the church.

Raviel placed the sprinkler, lightly on the ground. And spoke clearly this time.

"My name is Rafael Save-aur-son."

’Fuck I fumbled again.’

The woman’s smile widened just a little. "That’s a very nice name."

Noticing Raviel still standing there, the woman lightly tapped the empty space beside her on the bench.

"Why don’t you sit, child," she said.

Raviel paused for just a second, then walked over and sat beside her, keeping a respectful distance.

She turned her face slightly toward him and smiled.

"Relax," she said softly. "No need to talk like those folks here. I can tell from your accent—you’re not a native. But that’s fine. New generation means new things, right?"

Raviel let out a small nervous laugh. "Yes,"

She nodded. "You don’t have to worry. Even the people living here don’t really speak the language anymore. English is common now. Only those who want to carry the tradition still use it."

"I see," Raviel replied. Inside, he sighed in relief.

’Thank god. I thought I was doomed before I even began.’

The woman’s smile returned. "The garden is nice, isn’t it?"

Raviel looked around — the flowers, the pond, the quiet air — and nodded. "Yes. It really is."

"The light feels brighter today," she said, almost to herself.

Raviel listened for a moment, then spoke carefully. "Pardon me, but may I ask... are you meditating, or... can you really not see?"

She laughed gently, a warm and calm sound left her lips as she tilted her head once more. "Definitely the latter," she said. "But it doesn’t hinder my devotion at all."

Raviel nodded, not sure what else to say.

"For me, it doesn’t matter," she continued. "I like lying in the light. Feeling it on my face."

She tilted her head slightly upward, as if looking at the sky. "But if I ever wish to die, it would be at night. That’s what I want."

Her words made Raviel pause.

Then she turned back toward him. "What about you, child? No one really comes near the pond these days. People are missing out on this view, don’t you think?"

Before Raviel could answer properly, his Arctic buzzed softly. He glanced at it and saw the time

[ 10:45. ]

’Shit!.’

"I should take my leave now," he said, standing up slowly. "It seems I still have work to do."

The woman smiled gently, her expression remained unchanged. "Of course. Go on."

Raviel gave a small nod and stepped away, leaving her sitting peacefully by the pond.

’Aah! I forgot to ask her name.’

Raviel turned his head back, but saw that the women was deeply engrossed in chanting. Her lips moved softly in the light. Raviel didn’t want to disturb her at this moment, so he started walking away.

’Well, I will ask her later.’

Walking a few steps, he picked up the sprinkler and started watering the remaining plants.