“Ugh…I feel like I’m I got hit by a family of trucks…” Ryunise was pressing her groaning face in a hand.

“A family of what?” The man across from her asked.

“I mean, I feel like I’m hung over,” She sweated a bit.

“Oh? Is that so?” August asked, and thankfully left well enough alone, “Are you feeling queasy, Young Miss?”

“A little, yes.”

“Here, perhaps this will help you,” He said and handed her a cup of what looks like steaming tea.

August Haviomist, Principal to the Harmelod faith of the Sacred Oraclast Church. He was a man partnered with time; hair a laughing color of flint fossil, lines that could tell seventy some years of stories in his hands and face, and a posture that fought gravity and won. His eyes were the tender of warm currant preserves with the strength of a willows bark.

“Thank you, Principle Haviomist. I apologize for the disturbances I have caused,” She bowed to him, but slowly, or else she was going to throw up.

“Please, lift your head. There is no need for reverences,” He spoke gently, “It is I who must express how terribly remorseful I am.”

“N-no, wait…”

But the words she tried to speak would be swallowed by bewilder and hesitation. This elevated holy man of the clergy and faith was already on his feet and kneeling on both knees before her. No word of the Gods and Goddess made human was to ever lower to their knees for anyone except for the deities and royal family. She was obviously neither.

“I have caused an atrocious error that lead to your death, My Lady. And though you live now, that does not excuse me from what I had done.”

“You're Principle…” Ryunise’s breath caught a bit.

August Haviomist was called away on an urgent matter that morning and left in a hurry. He had no time to inform one of his assistants or students to wait for her arrival in his stead. It was only a sigil of summons from the sky did he realize what was happening in the Church.

“My Lady, please. Do not forgive me. I will dedicate the rest of my life for what you and your family would have lacked if you had gone into pass.”

His sayings had an immense amount of power, and bore so much burden. It wasn’t an oath, but it might as well be. She was Marcaes Emerodelle’s daughter and blood of the Emerodelle line, as well as the last of the House.

Then there was the matter of the Dark Sleep affliction. If she had died, that would be the end of the trail. The curse would have been completed, and any clues as to who or what had casted successfully such a grave and dangerous invocation would be smoke in a windstorm. Dark Sleep, however, is rumored to have a failsafe built into its shadow.

“Please, I beg you to accept my life,” He continued.

“Principal Haviomist, there’s no need to go so far. Perhaps you should discuss it with my father?”

“No,” August politely spoke, “The offence was not committed to Sir Emerodelle, but to you, My Lady.”

“But I’m just ten?”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m not of legal age to be making such an important decision.”

“Here age matters not.”

“I couldn’t possibly take someone who has a right to their own life,” Ryunise curled her hands in her lap, “Your life has been given to you and you alone by the Goddess, hasn’t she? This gift was made for you, not for me.”

Is she really but ten? August pondered. Why does it seem that I’m in the presence of an adult? An adult of maybe two, three lifetimes? It’s almost like being in the same room as the Twin Kings.

“You are very kind, My Dear Lady. Very wise as well. But I will still have to decline with deep respect.”

Oh Gods, what do I even do? Ryunise wanted to find some place to curl up and hide. Why is she being asked to make a decision on such a huge thing? She’s just a little kid! A child! And she knew it was impossible to refuse. There was only one thing left to do.

Ryunise swallowed, then squared her shoulders and lifted her head, “…I accept, August Haviomist, Principal to the Goddess Faith and the Sacred Oraclast Church, your life and what remains therein.”

“Thank you, My Lady Ryunise Emerodelle, daughter to the Goddess and last blood to the Emerodelle House,” He recited.

The long words weren’t just for show, grandiose, or pomposity. It was a binding contract through the element of air, the holy wood walls of the Sacred Church as witness, and the great silver tree presiding in an open window. So, this is why this man chose the closest room to the tree instead of his office. It was to seal and intensify the bond. Words said aloud have power, but this would be fortified like no other. To break this contract carried a terrible price.

“Somehow, I feel like I got the perfect deal out of this,” She muttered into her tea.

August chuckled as he returned to his chair and his own tea. For an aging human, he was shockingly limber like a man in his twenties. He made his thick, layered, opulent fig and chocolate-dyed robes look light as air, too. As far as she could sense, he didn’t have any aptitude for vigor skills.

“Perhaps. Though I’m told by my students I’m a handful.”

Perfect hearing? Check.

“Principal Haviomist,” She began, but was interrupted.

“Hmm…that’s a bit of a full, isn’t it?”

“Full, Your Principal?”

“Saying my name,” He smiled then, “Call me ‘August.’”

Ryunise nearly spat out the tea she was choking on.

“Yes, yes,” August chortles into a closed hand, “Ho ho, I never liked being called by my full name. It’s so difficult.”

“I couldn’t possibly…!”

“I insist!”

Her face and mouth sunk open in horrendous horror while the holy elder prattled on happily in a fantasy.

“I’ve always hoped for a granddaughter. She would call me ‘Gran’pa,’ cling to my robes, or maybe she would just call me ‘August?’ It would be lovely if she was like you.”

“I-I haven’t the slightest idea what you’re saying?” She at least managed to gawk now, “No, wait! Again! I can’t possibly call you by your first name!”

“Such a fiery spirit, yet still such a kind heart. I wonder who you got that from?”

“Y-your Holiness, hold on…”

Is he even listening? Are old people masters at selective hearing?

“Perhaps Lady Anjina? She was also a snappy spirit. She intimidated every man that tried to gain her attention. I wonder how Sir Marcaes was able to catch such a resilient woman?”

Not to mention champion digressers. Ryunise just resigned herself to this fate, sucking down her tea, like it was alcohol.

“Oh! Pardon me,” He finally caught himself after several minutes, “What were we talking about again?”

“Honestly? I have no idea, My Principal.”

Ahh. I wanna go back to bed, she whined to herself.

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I insist you called me ‘August.’” He smiled brilliantly.

Well shit.

“May I use a lifeline and call my father?”

“What?”

“Ahh, nothing.”

August chuckles. He had won, and he didn’t bother hiding how pleased he was. He opened his eyes after pouring more tea for them.

“My Lady, how is your eyesight?” He asked.

She blinked once, and nodded, “I can see perfectly now.”

“That is wonderful to hear.”

“Was it because of the Miracle Your Principal has used?”

“August.”

“I…I-I don’t…think I can…”

“August. It’s much simpler to say.”

“…Your Holiness. We’re in the Sacred Church. Next to the great tree. And you are Principal,” She was starting to sweat.

Then the man went in for the kill with a grin under his wizardry beard.

“I do believe we have made a contract that you are to have my life and all that it contains therein.”

The girl slumped in her chair, almost feeling faint from being so easily defeated. Good thing she put down her tea cup.

“We can’t continue if I do not, I’m guessing.”

“You would be correct in your guess.”

“No exceptions?”

“Well, society and laws require all to be addressed appropriately,” August admitted, “But, when we’re not being seen by anyone, I do expect to be called by my first name from you.”

“So that’s a ‘no.’”

“’Tis so, My Lady. ‘Tis very much so.”

“…yes,” Ryunise hung her head, “A…Aug…August…”

“What?”

She shuddered, but swallowed, “…August.”

“Much better,” He sipped.

I can feel I’m being blasphemed. Or punished. Or something. What did I do? Who did I offend? At least let me remember so I can add it to my list!

“To answer your question, I can’t honestly say with a hundred percent certainty. My Miracle Absensae, do you know it?”

Ryunise thought for a moment, “Aside from it being a medium-level holy water cast, not very much. I remember something tasting like fresh minty water in my mouth.”

“Yes. Miracle Absensae is a blessing given to only a few of the Harmelod followers, and only to those who have a connection with Her Goddess Liffi. It’s partly why I’m where I am for the past decade,” August explained, “But the Miracle can sometimes be a mystery. Absensae is a literal meaning for ‘absence.’ It grants a void to numerous afflictions, but I haven’t had the experience to use it against Dark Sleep. I wasn’t sure what it would do, or any consequences.”

“Consequences?”

“Like dreams, Dark Sleep is like a world of webs, similar to a spider web. There are many branches, and they work to collapse and snare unsuspecting victims. Each thread doesn’t grab the same part of the body twice. Your waking had damaged the web, but you weren’t completely free. The spider – or the caster – sought to pull the threads still attached, throw another line of silk, and drag you back under.

“For this instance, it was attached to your eyes. That silk dragging you caused other parts of the web to trap you, and triggered a different reaction.”

“This…Shadow Drowning?”

“Yes. It wasn’t intentional, perhaps, but Dark Sleep was ultimately to blame for it.”

Seriously. Who did I offend around here? Can I unoffend them?