I extended my hand forward through the still air, raising my knuckles toward the weathered surface of the large wood barrier. I knocked on the door with a steady and rhythmic force, causing a solid, heavy sound to reverberate through the quiet surroundings of the village. The sound of my physical knocking broke the silence of the afternoon, echoing clearly off the rough stone walls of the structure before fading away completely into the cool atmosphere. After my hand descended back to my side, I stood perfectly still on the packed dirt ground, maintaining a patient and stationary posture outside the entrance. Beside me, Tokine remained completely quiet, her feet planted firmly on the earth as we both waited for any indication of life from within the building. The seconds passed slowly under the permanent, bruised grey sky that hung low over the entire area, casting its constant, dark twilight over our figures as we waited on the path. There was no immediate movement from the other side of the thick wood, so I remained completely motionless, breathing the heavy air while the echoes of my knuckles disappeared. We continued to wait outside the entrance for a brief period, the quietness returning to fill the open space. After a bit, the faint sound of slow, deliberate footsteps began to resonate from the interior, indicating that someone was finally approaching the front entrance in direct response to the knock I had placed upon the wood. The footsteps grew steadily louder, drawing closer to the physical threshold until they ceased entirely right behind the heavy barrier.
A sharp mechanical click sounded from the lock mechanism as it was disengaged from the inside of the building. Slowly and steadily, the heavy entrance began to swing backward on its old hinges, opening up to reveal the dim space of the interior hallway beyond the threshold. After a bit, a nun opened the door completely, her figure appearing clearly in the open frame as the wooden barrier moved entirely out of the way. She stood firmly in the doorway, looking out into the dull afternoon light that covered the village paths. As the entrance widened completely, she saw me standing right there on the packed dirt path directly in front of her, my physical presence immediately entering her line of sight. The moment she saw me, her entire expression shifted into a state of sudden surprise and immediate recognition, her attention locking onto my face without a single moment of hesitation. She identified me instantly as I stood outside the structure, and she instantly said, "Oh, Celdrich, you're here?!" Her voice rose in a clear, astonished pitch that cut through the quiet air, completely expressing her deep surprise at my unexpected arrival at the church. The words were delivered rapidly, filled with immediate emotion and genuine astonishment, showing how completely caught off guard she was to find me standing right at her doorstep on this particular day. She remained stationary in the open doorway, her gaze fixed entirely on me after speaking her sudden exclamation, waiting for my response.
I stood perfectly still on the packed dirt ground, listening to the sound of her surprised voice as it drifted into the quiet afternoon air. I did not make any complex movements or offer a long explanation for my sudden appearance at the village church. Instead, I kept my physical response completely simple and direct, ensuring my reply was clear. I just nodded my head in a slow, deliberate manner, lowering and raising my chin in a single, distinct motion to confirm my presence and acknowledge her words. After completing this simple gesture, I spoke clearly and directly to her, letting my voice carry a steady, calm tone across the wooden threshold. I said, "I am here to stay with Mia for a week." The spoken words explicitly stated the exact purpose of my long journey and the precise duration of time I intended to spend at this location. I made my current intentions entirely clear to her, informing her directly that my presence was focused completely on spending this specific one week period together with my ten year old little sister inside the settlement. The nun stood perfectly still in the open doorway, listening intently to my direct statement as the words traveled through the air. The clear declaration of my one week stay remained between us, providing her with the exact information she needed regarding my return. I remained stationary after speaking, waiting quietly for her to offer her immediate reply now.
The nun looked at me continuously as my words settled into the quiet space of the entrance, her initial surprise slowly changing into a completely different reaction. She looked at me for a few silent moments, processing the direct statement I had just made regarding my explicit plan to stay with my little sister for a full seven days. After analyzing my words completely, the expression on her face softened, and she smiled warmly at me, her joy becoming entirely visible as she stood in the doorway. The warm smile showed her total approval of my sudden arrival and my stated purpose. She spoke clearly, breaking the brief silence, and she said that it's fine, officially granting her full permission for my stay at the building without any hesitation or objection. Her voice was gentle and welcoming, making it absolutely clear that my presence was entirely permitted. Immediately after expressing her agreement, her attention shifted away from me to notice the other person standing right by my side. She looked at Tokine carefully, her gaze moving over to examine my companion who had remained completely quiet until now. She looked at Tokine with a sense of curious interest, noting her presence on the dirt path. After observing her for a moment, she turned her eyes back toward me and asked me, "Who is this pretty girl, Celdrich?" Her question was filled with a gentle, curious tone, explicitly asking me for an introduction.
Before I could say anything at all to answer the question, and before I could even open my mouth to speak or offer any kind of explanation, Tokine reacted instantly to the nun's inquiry. She did not wait for me to introduce her or explain her presence on this journey to my home village. Instead, Tokine introduced herself immediately, stepping forward slightly on the rough ground to take complete control of the conversation. She spoke clearly and confidently, her voice carrying a playful and bold tone as she delivered her personal introduction directly to the woman standing in the doorway. Tokine introduced herself by saying, "My name is Tokine, and I'm the master of my pet Celdrich." The words left her mouth with absolute clarity, containing a highly unusual and unexpected description of our relationship. She explicitly stated her own name first, and then she immediately declared herself to be the master, while simultaneously referring to me directly as her personal pet. This sudden and bold declaration was made without any hesitation, completely filling the space between us with her unique and playful assertion. I stood perfectly still right next to her, completely unable to intervene or correct her words before they were fully spoken out loud. The unusual introduction hung in the cool air of the entrance, presenting a completely surprising description of our dynamic to the person listening. She remained perfectly still after speaking her piece, completely confident in the words she had chosen to describe our unique connection.
The nun looked at us both as the unusual words settled into the quiet space, her eyes moving between Tokine and me as she processed the bold statement that had just been made. She looked at us for a brief, silent moment, taking in my silent posture and Tokine's confident expression after making her sudden claim. Instead of becoming confused or upset by the strange introduction, the nun looked at us and just laughed out loud, her amusement completely breaking the quiet atmosphere of the entrance. Her laughter was bright and genuine, echoing softly against the old walls of the building as she found the entire situation completely funny and entertaining. She laughed heartily for a short while, her shoulders moving slightly with her amusement as she enjoyed the playful nature of Tokine's unique presentation. After her laughter slowly subsided, she maintained a warm and cheerful expression on her face, looking at both of us with total friendliness. She spoke clearly, using a welcoming gesture, and she said, "Come in." The direct invitation was officially given, offering us full entry into the building. As soon as she spoke the words, she stepped aside to clear the path, and we both went inside the structure together, crossing the threshold and leaving the permanent, bruised grey sky completely behind as we moved into the interior space where our visit would now begin. The heavy wooden door shut gently behind us, sealing us away from the dreary village streets as we stepped forward.