Sarai rushed back to her house. Her parents looked at her in astonishment when she arrived home out of breath.
"Mom, can I have a sister? I have a friend who is very very beautiful, I want us to adopt her.", With an out of breath Sarai spoke.
"Slow down. Try to explain from the beginning what happened.", Mrs. Patal came to her daugther with water to drink.
Sarai explains everything that happened. How she met Iris and they spent time in the garden.
Her parents listened carefully and looked at each other after Sarai finished the story.
"So, how's Mom and Dad? Can we adopt it? Please finally I have a sister who can be my friend too. Please???", Sarai looked at her parents with a happy look.
"Honey...adopting isn't that easy...we don't know where she came from and we haven't even met her...we can't possibly adopt her...", Mrs. Patal tried to explain gently.
"Come on, Mom, Dad. She's a good person. I beg her to wait for my answer. Isn't there anything you can do?", Sarai looked at her parents.
"Sarai we can't adopt people who are obscure and we don't know. This is different from caring for a wounded bird you have ever done. We can't afford it anyway…", Mr. Patal tried to help his wife explain.
"Then give it a chance, how about you guys meet her first? Please???", Sarai ignored her parents' explanation and started to whine.
Both of her parents sighed and looked at each other.
"Okay...you bring her here and then maybe…we can talk about it.", Mr. Patal raised his hand in surrender.
Sarai jumped happily, "Yay!"
"Remember Sarai we just want to meet her, see what kind of child she is. We don't promise to adopt her or promise anything. Remember that.", Mr. Patal reaffirms his words to Sarai.
Sarai nodded, "Okay Dad. Tomorrow I'll go see her and tell her what Dad said."
"Well, that's that then. You take a shower first Sarai and after that we will have dinner.", Mrs. Patal ends their conversation.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly. Sarai and her family are doing business as usual. After finishing her lunch, Sarai said goodbye and walked briskly towards the library. Sarai can't wait to meet Iris and convey the news that her parents want to meet Iris.
But her cheerful steps stopped because the library that day was not as usual. The library door was closed tightly. There was no sign of anyone around. Sarai tried to open the door. But the door was locked tightly and didn't budge one bit. Sarai looked around and asked passers-by, hoping to find an answer. All she got was a shake of his head. No one knows why the library was closed that day and when it was reopened.
Sarai walked back to her parents' booth in the market with her face down. Full of disappointment. Her parents tried to comfort Sarai and said maybe the next day the library would reopen. Sarai nodded and smiled hearing that. But only disappointment she found. Because the next morning, she came back to find the library still closed. And the day after tomorrow and tomorrow and the next day the library will remain closed. Sarai hoped to find a message or anything that implied Iris's existence. But there was nothing there but a tightly closed door.
It had been a week since her meeting with Iris and Sarai never missed a visit to the library. Even if it's just passing by to check if the library is open. And it was Sunday, the second Sunday for Sarai and her family to attend at the Cathedral of Nova Mesto. After Sunday service, they walked around the Cathedral area which was crowded with people who had finished worship. Sarai followed her parents unenthusiastically. Her parents seemed to stop to chat with their acquaintances. Sarai looked away from the closed library while dreamily recalling her encounter with Iris which now felt like a dream. Her daydream was shattered when she heard his parents scream happily.
Mr. Patal swung Sarai up, "You heard that, Sarai? Dad just got a business offer and we're finally going to Beverlem. More precisely we will live there! We don't need to move around anymore. Because Daddy is going to open a shop there!"
Port City of Beverlem is a town that Sarai and her family had visited as merchants a few months ago. She and her family really like the atmosphere of the city and plan to live there someday because the city is very lively.
Sarai widened her eyes in disbelief, "Really Dad?"
Her father and mother smiled at each other and looked at each other, "That's right dear. We'll go there tomorrow."
For a moment Sarai was happy to hear that but she remembered she had not yet reunited with Iris. Sarai sighed, "But… what about Iris? I promise to meet her…"
"Oh dear… we have to go as soon as posible because of work…", Mrs. Patal stroked her daugther's head.
Sarai looked at her family, "At least I want to say goodbye to her. Can we meet her? Iris said she lives with the priests at St.Varos church."
Her parents seemed hesitant and confused to fulfill Sarai's request.
"I'm sorry. I overheard your conversation. Are you Sarai Patal who is also Iris' friend?", a nun approaches Patal's family.
"Right. That's me. How's Iris? Can I meet her?", Sarai immediately answered enthusiastically.
"Forgive me. But Iris was currently living with her new family in Lindheim. The day after she met you, her family's relatives were looking for her. They had been looking for her for a long time and had only been able to find her whereabouts now. Her new family hastily brought her back to her hometown. She asked me to pass on this news and an apology for not being able to say goodbye to you Sarai.", The nun answered softly.
Mr. and Mrs. Patal looked at their daugther with pity. Although disappointed to hear that, Sarai smiled with relief, "Thank you for conveying. I'm glad to hear that Iris found her family. Now I can calmly move to Beverlem."
After saying goodbye to the nun; Sarai took her parents' hands and they walked home. Her mind was filled with excitement because they were going to live in the port city of Beverlem.
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The bells in the church rang every morning signaling the time of morning prayer for priests and nuns. Even though Iris is not a nun, every morning she is required to pray in her room accompanied by a nun. After finishing praying, Iris usually spends time in her room by going to school. What is meant is home schooling. Study subjects in general with specially appointed priests or nuns as tutors.
Iris's home schooling usually finished before lunch. After lunch was free time for Iris unless there was an assignment given by priests or nuns. That day, Sister Mel, who was in charge of taking care of Iris, asked Iris to help her tidy up some things in the warehouse. Iris looked out the window for a moment, she wondered if Sarai was still waiting for her in the library. But the voice of Sister Mel broke her thoughts and she was busy helping Sister Mel again until the afternoon. Once finished, Iris went straight to the undercity garden. Her steps however stopped when she arrived at the door near the fountain. Because in front of her appeared several priests who were laying bricks to close the passage.
"Father, what's wrong?", Iris approached to find out.
"Oh Iris. Inside this old passageway something collapsed. We had to close it down.", He replied while still laying bricks.
"Will it reopen? Or is there anyone in it?", Iris asked with a pale face.
The priest shook his head, "We've checked. No one. But because there is a possibility it could collapse again and be dangerous so we have to patch it up and close it."
"I see…", Iris's face went limp.
Her hopes were dashed to be able to go to the library. She walked to her room and lay down. Her eyes stared at the ceiling of her room. She remembered High Priest Carlos' words that if there was a problem, she could tell him. Hope comes back. But High Priest Carlos was an important figure in the church of St.Varos. Not every time he can be found at will. And he didn't come regularly to visit Iris either. Suddenly an idea popped into Iris' head. She remembered that she had written a letter of thanks to High Priest Carlos when he bought her a new book and that Sister Mel had told her that High Priest Carlos was very happy to receive her letter. Iris immediately got up from her bed and her hand started holding the pen. Iris fiddled with her pen for a moment then she started to write. Iris expresses her wish to meet Sarai and hopes to be allowed to go out to look for Sarai and visit her at the market. The bell rang just as Iris finished writing. She put the letter in the envelope neatly. Iris looked at the letter for a moment, silently praying that High Priest Carlos would grant her wish. Iris then leaves her room looking for Sister Mel to hand over the letter.
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It had been five days since Iris wrote a letter to High Priest Carlos. Although there was no news every time she asked Sister Mel about it, she tried to remain patient. Iris believed Sarai was still waiting for her in the library. And this morning at breakfast with the Sister Mel, she was going to ask again.
"Sister Mel is ther-" but before she could finish, Sister Mel raised her finger and told Iris to calm down.
"Iris, I remind you that we are still having breakfast. Finish your breakfast first. And… about your letter. Father Carlos would like to see you after lunch in his office."
"O-Okay Sister Mel.", Iris tried to answer as calmly as possible but she couldn't deny that her heart was jumping with joy.
After breakfast, Iris hugged Sister Mel and thanked her. Sister Mel looked surprised then smiled before leaving the room.
That afternoon Iris sat in front of High Priest Carlos' study with Sister Mel. It seemed that High Priest Carlos was still not done with his guests. They didn't wait long because the door opened and a young married couple came out of the room. And before long the voice of High Priest Carlos called them in. Iris sat nervously, this was the first time she had specifically come to see High Priest Carlos. She felt like an important guest. For a while High Priest Carlos sighed before finally breaking the news.
"Iris about your letter…. I'm sorry Iris I couldn't fulfill your wish to meet Sarai…to be precise…she couldn't meet you.", High Priest Carlos says with a regretful face.
"Why can't she, Father Carlos? Did something happen?", Iris looks worried.
High Priest Carlos sighed, "She and her parents have moved away from Nova Mesto. Yesterday the temple knights went to the market to arrange your meeting, they found their booth empty and according to information from the surrounding merchants they had moved from two days ago."
"I see…", Iris tried to hide her disappointment. There were tears in the corners of her eyes that were about to fall but she quickly wiped them away.
High Priest Carlos and Sister Mel looked at each other. They noticed Iris' sadness. High Priest Carlos came over and stroked Iris's head while Sister Mel held Iris's hand.
"Perhaps this is St.Varos' will. Don't be sad Iris. We at church are also your family."
Iris forced a smile, "I'm fine…you're right…. This might be the best."
"Tok-tok". there was a knock on High Priest Carlos' door.
"Please come in.", High Pries Carlos replied.
A gallant-looking temple knight entered the room. His handsome countenance was accompanied by a dashing physique that was clad in a shining armor.
"Forgive me. I have a guest now. Maybe later in the afternoon I'll visit you again, Iris.", Answered High Priest Carlos while signaling Sister Mel to leave.
Iris and Sister Mel took their leave and left the High Priest Carlos' room. The temple knight glanced at their departure with a cold gaze.
"High Priest Carlos, I brought a report. I've confirmed with my own eyes that the Patals have left Nova Mesto this morning. The Thompsons have also confirmed that they have reserved a place in Beverlem.", The temple knight replied in a deep voice.
"Good, very good. Make sure the Thompson is properly rewarded. It's not wrong for me to entrust this matter to you.", High Priest Carlos replied with a satisfied smile.
The temple knight nodded respectfully and left the High Priest Carlos' room.
In another time and place...
That afternoon Duke Barrington was sitting in the library. Nearby was a cup of tea that was still warm, visible from the faint puff of smoke. Duke Barrington was gazing out of his window when there was a knock on the door as someone entered.
A well-groomed man entered with a husband and wife and their child.
"Your Grace, this is the family I spoke of. Sorry for the delay due to bad weather during the trip.", The well-groomed man replied respectfully.
"It's okay, Dumar. Thank you for escorting our guest all the way here.", The Duke replied in a hoarse voice.
Duke Barrington invited his guest to sit down and Dumar brought some cups of tea for his guest.
An awkward atmosphere pervaded the room.
"Okay. Thank you for accepting Duke Barrington's invitation to come here. You can start the story by introducing yourself,", Dumar opened the conversation.
"Thank you for inviting us. We didn't expect a Duke to meet us. It's never happened before and it's an honour.", The husband replied, turning his head in confusion to his wife. They looked confused and didn't know why they were invited by Duke Barrington.
Duke Barrington took a thin sip of the nearby tea while looking at Dumar.
"Ehem..Please introduce yourselves.", Dumar replied as if he understood the meaning of Duke Barrington's gaze
The husband nervously replied, "Ah yes. My name is Abe and this is my wife, Esther. This is our thirteen years old daughter Sarai. We're the Patals. My wife and I opened a shop in Beverlem."
-end-
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