It’d been five days since the incident in the woods. Len had spent most of his free time with Dolion and gotten to know his siblings better. His older brother scared him a little when they first met, but Len felt a little better being around him now. Sal was just a quiet man who only spoke when spoken to and kept his answers short unless he felt he had to elaborate. It was clear that Dolion and Ilys respected him as both would quiet down and listen to him whenever he talked.

Len enjoyed being around them and Alwyn and her family. Spending time with Dolion and his siblings at The Drunken Wanderer reminded him of home. The nights he and Varrick spent with their fellow neighbors. Since the tavern in the Riverfront District was rather small, most of the patrons stood outside. But the closeness he felt with his new friends reminded him of the closeness he felt with them. 

He looked up at the large light blue marble statue of the Memoria. The serene look on her face gave him some comfort as he put some flowers on the altar. He’d never been one to regularly pray to the Incarnates. People from the Riverfront District weren’t forbidden to visit the chapel in Luxivita, but were scoffed at whenever they did. He and his family rarely visited since many people in the kingdom knew about his mother being a witch. But right now, he felt he needed to pray for some guidance as he felt lost. “Lady Memoria, all I ask is that you give me a clear mind when tough decisions must be made.”

“I’m sure The Lady of Memories and Clairvoyance has heard your prayers.”

Len looked to his side, seeing a middle-aged human man with russet brown skin. His long gray hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. His green eyes looked warm and welcoming. He wore a black undershirt and pants with a light blue surplice and a navy blue stole with silver accents on top. A silver chain with a matching silver pendant with a forget-me-not flower carved in the middle hung around his neck. 

The younger man nodded to him in respect. “Thank you, sir.”

The man stood next to Len and looked up at the statue. “Is there something I can assist you with, young man? I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Father Hammond Oath-Sentry. I’m the head priest of this chapel.”

“Pleased to meet you, Father Hammond,” Len greeted, bowing to him. “My name is Tegan. I’ve been staying with Miss Gloriosa.” 

“A fine woman and a great alchemist. I’ve asked her to join the chapel a couple of times, but she’s refused. Said she prefers to be a free spirit,” Father Hammond told him. “Though you can stay here if you ever wish to. We provided temporary shelter to those in need.”

The Light Elf nodded. “Thank you, but I’m happy staying with Miss Glory. I’m learning about alchemy from her.” 

“Ah, I see. She has been looking for an apprentice for a while. I figured either Ilys or Dolion would’ve taken the position eventually. But they’re far too interested in being sellswords,” Father Hammond sighed. He saw the younger male looking at him in wonder and gave him a small smile. “The two of them, along with their older brother, Absalom, used to live here at the chapel. They left when they were about fourteen years old and became mercenaries. I wasn’t happy with their decision, but there was nothing I could do to change their minds.” 

“Oh, I didn’t know that,” Len murmured. For the short time he’d been here, he noticed that a lot of the people in town came to the chapel regularly, except for them, Miss Glory, Sid the Butcher, and Alwyn’s family. “They were raised here?”

Father Hammond nodded. “Yes, along with their sister, Kara. She was left on the doorstep when she was a baby. A few years later, I found Ilys wandering just outside of town. From what I gathered, her family was killed during the disaster at Everglow. About a year later, Absalom and Dolion wandered into town after their parents abandoned them on the side of the road.”

It was surprising to Len to learn this about Dolion and his siblings. Usually, he and Dolion would talk about anything, but usually kept it simple and from revealing too much about their lives. Len had revealed some parts about his childhood, but made sure not to reveal anything about where he lived or give many details about his mother and brother. He looked up at the priest, seeing a wistful look on his face as he looked at the altar. “Are you alright, sir?”

“I’m fine,” assured Father Hammond. “I’ve seen you and Dolion walking together a couple of times in town. Has he…done anything to you?”

Len frowned, not liking the tone of that question. “What do you mean, sir? Has he talked to me? Yes. Has he protected me from a group of men that harassed me? Also yes.”

The older man sighed as he scratched his chin. “My son is very...free-spirited and-”

“Promiscuous, sir. I believe the word you’re looking for is promiscuous,” Len deadpanned. “And no. He hasn’t tried to bed me or anything of that nature. He’s been very respectful of me.” Normally, he would’ve been too shy to call a priest out on something like this, but he didn’t like how Father Hammond thought ill of Dolion. 

“Okay, but I feel I should inform you that Dolion has had a lot of…partners. He talks about it to get a rise out of me and Mother Cornelia. I don’t believe he should be so adventurous, but he doesn’t care what we think. You seem like a good young man, and I would be sad to see my son take advantage of you,” the priest explained. 

Now Len could see why Dolion didn’t say anything about his past. Just from this, he could see that Father Hammond was being judgmental when talking about him. But he supposed this is what most priests and priestesses of the “good” Incarnates thought about those who didn’t live by their standards. He’d met his fair share of zealots who held such positions and saw how they judged others for not following their beliefs. A lot of the priests and priestesses back in Luxivita looked down on him since he was raised by a witch. 

“Father Hammond, I think Dolion is a wonderful man who is enjoying his life. Your thoughts on what he does with his life are your opinions. But from what I’ve seen, he’s a man who helps his friends and family when they’re in need and does everything he can to protect them, even if it means getting his hands dirty. Granted, I don’t know everything about him, you, or what your relationship is like with him now. But I can assure you that he hasn’t “done anything” to me,” Len firmly told him. He bowed to the priest once more. “Good day, sir.”

He left before the other man could say something. It was still pretty early in the morning, so there weren’t that many visitors. As he walked out of the chapel and into the courtyard, he felt a strong grip wrap around his arm. When he looked at the person, he saw the head priestess holding him. It was the head priestess. “Mother Cornelia, is it? Please release my arm.”

The priestess gave him a stern look and tightened her grip on his arm. “How dare you speak to Father Hammond that way! He was just trying to tell you about that wretched boy! And you raise your voice at him for doing so?”

Len glared back at her, ignoring the pain in his arm even as he felt bruises forming. “He told me information that I didn’t ask for. It was also very inappropriate of him to talk about Dolion’s business like that. And I’m fully aware of his nature. But he’s been respectful and kind to me since I’ve arrived here.”

Mother Cornelia raised her other hand and brought it down to slap him. Just before she made contact, something stopped her. She gasped as whatever held her wrist tightened around it hard enough that she feared it might break.

“Now now, Corny. We don’t raise our hands or voices to visitors.”

Len looked over and saw Ilys standing next to the priestess. The old woman released him and tried to get her wrist free, but the Earth Elf held it firmly. He looked down at his arm and saw that he was going to have bruises later. 

Mother Cornelia glared at the younger woman. “Release me, you wicked girl!”

Ilys did so and smirked when she saw the priestess rubbing her wrist. She waited for her to realize something…

The priestess shrieked as she saw blood covering her wrist, and some had gotten on her sleeve. She looked at Ilys and shrieked even louder when she saw the younger woman was covered in blood again. “ILYS!!!”

“I was helping Sid the Butcher and made a delivery here,” Ilys said innocently. “I just happened to leave out the front door instead of the back door. Thought I’d say hi.” She nodded to Len. “C’mon, Tegan. Let’s go see my promiscuous brother and visit the den of sin-er-I mean The Drunken Wanderer!”

Len walked away with her, hearing the priestess shouting about how wicked Ilys was and other not-so-kind things about her. “You make a habit of getting her mad?” he asked in jest.

Ilys shrugged as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “Always. She’s been unhappy with me since the day I arrived. I don’t have any memory of my past before Ebonwood. Only thing I know is that Everglow is my original home. Corny said I must’ve been a wicked child if I can’t remember anything. Said Memoria wiped my memories to give me a clean slate.”

“How in the world is she a priestess?” Len questioned.

“No idea. She’s been at the chapel for a long time, and people in town are scared of her wrath. Her influence is pretty strong here,” Ilys told him. “She’s never been a good mother figure to me and my brothers. The only one she likes is Kara. My sister is the only one who turned out good and everything Corny and Hammy wanted.”

“Hammy?”

She chuckled and winked at him. “Father Hammond. He tried his best with us, but Corny’s attitude made us leave as soon as we could. I don’t blame my brothers for leaving sooner, especially Dolion. When Hammy wasn’t around, Corny would try to force him to pray to Memoria. Locked him in a closet until he said the prayers. One time she left him locked up for two days, but he never gave in.”

Len looked horrified at that. “What…?”

Ilys nodded and sighed. “Hammy didn't mind that we didn't pray to the Incarnates regularly, but Corny thought otherwise. She thought we needed to be saved by Memoria or some other "good" Incarnate. My punishments for not praying weren't that bad, but with Dol…she was extreme. Even went as far as to say that his parents abandoned him because he was an evil child. Don’t know why she’s always seen him that way. He’s mischievous, but he’s not evil. The woman needs to get out of the chapel more.”

“Ilys!”

Ilys stiffened and grumbled, “Damn it. We were halfway home.”

They turned around and saw Kara running to them. “Ilys! Wait up!”

Ilys rolled her eyes as her sister stopped in front of them. “What is it, Kara? Did Corny complain to you about me and Tegan? If so, I don’t have time to listen.”

Kara shook her head and held up a letter to her. “No. I was coming to tell you that Father Hammond’s friend wrote back and wants us to bring the orb to him.”

The Earth Elf let out a heavy sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose. “…Fuck.”

From me and the characters of EC. We hope you had a great Pride Month! <3