"Oi, Raki. We're heading to the cathedral. You coming?"
"No, I'm fine. Go on without me…"
Seth stared at Raki's dejected state, lying face down on his bed with his lower half hanging off to the side.
"Mmkay then—oh, by the way…here," before he walked off, he took out a gold cylinder from his pocket, "Here." He threw it on the bed.
"Get something to eat and don't die before we get back."
"Yea." Raki replied, mumbling.
Seth turned to Clare.
"Let's go."
The two quickly left the inn and headed straight for the cathedral located in the center of the town.
It didn't take long for them to arrive in front of the building.
The building's exterior wasn't anything special, with Seth noting how it mostly resembled how cathedrals looked from the various history text books back in middle and highschool.
People could be seen going in and leaving.
"What's wrong?"
Clare turned to look at Seth staring up at the building in silence.
"Nothing really…Just that it's been a few years since I last went inside a church."
He used to go to churches on Sundays with his parents when he was a kid but after second year of middle school, the weekly visits became monthly which then became yearly before it stopped altogether.
So now this was the first time in a while he was visiting—even if it's just part of a mission.
In another world to boot…
I wonder what mother and father would say about it…
"Let's go." Clare interrupted his thoughts and entered.
Seth quickly followed after her.
Once they were inside, people—both old and young, could be seen kneeling and praying.
Before they could continue further, a guard in heavy metal armor blocked their way with his spear.
"The baptismal hall is beyond here, It's closed to the general public."
Clare then quickly spoke up.
"We came to be baptized…"
She took out a pendant that Rubel had given her and showed the guard.
The guard took it and inspected it for a few seconds before handing it back to Clare.
"This is proof that you've completed the pilgrim's journey," he stepped aside, "you may enter."
The two continued forward, descending into the baptismal chamber halls as Seth glances around at the various mummies, which grosses him out.
"What kind of church keeps mummified corpses? Aren't they afraid of harboring evil spirits?"
Seth chided internally.
It was then that they were called out to by a voice from a side corridor.
"You there."
They turned to see that it was an elderly man dressed in a robe with a calm, welcoming demeanor which suggested he might be a priest.
"Are you here for a baptism? Come this way please." The elder said.
"Are you Father Vincent?" Clare asked calmly.
"Yes, I am."
"It's an honor to meet you."
Afterwards, they began the ceremony.
Seth stood a ways behind Clare as he watched her kneel and clasped her hands in a praying posture as Father Vincent placed his hand on her head.
"I baptise you in the name of the Lord. What is your name?"
"It's Rimuto," Clare said, her eyes still closed. "I have come from the land of Sutafu."
As soon as she said this, Father Vincent immediately became one of shock as he lost his earlier composure.
"Th-then you…"
"Is something wrong, father?"
Seth spoke up. He had heard what Clare had said and understood the implications that came along with her words and so did the priest.
Father Vincent looked around and saw a few strangers who were witnessing the ritual staring at him worriedly.
"Cough! Nothing, I was just reminded of something and was caught off guard. Forgive me."
Recovering slightly, he quickly continued on with the ritual.
Leaning forward to bless her forehead with a kiss, he took the opportunity to inform her,
"Let's meet later this evening in the south room on the top floor. There's a curfew at night, so it will be difficult to walk around. Will you be alright?"
"Yes…leave it to me, father."
To keep up the performance, he added the finishing touches.
With a couple swipes of his hands, he declared, "You are now baptised. Go forth with the mercy of our lord. Forget not the modesty of a child of our lord."
Clare thanked him before turning to Seth who had a smirk on his face and arms crossed. "Let's go."
With their business with the priest settled for now, they headed back to their place of stay.
—
Pushing the wooden door of the inn and entering, they found the bald innkeeper seated at the reception desk.
He glanced up, surprised clearly. "Back already? I thought both of you wouldn't be back for another hour or two…"
"Is it unusual?" Seth wondered.
Clare didn't pause. She left his side and went straight for their rooms.
The innkeeper nodded.
"Pretty much. I'm sure you've at least heard the rumor by now. About the yoma appearing in this city… with the looming threat of the yoma above their heads, people were lining up in droves to be baptised, even the unfaithful."
He said, leaning on his arm, disappointment clearly etched on his face.
"…Anyway, there's a curfew at night. You should stay indoors as early as you can."
Seth flashed an 'okay' sign, thanking him for the heads up even though he already knew and went upstairs to their room.
Clare was already there…
Sitting straight on a chair by the window, hands resting neatly on her lap, posture perfect like she'd been there the whole time doing absolutely nothing.
Wait!
Of course she was…
Seth closed the door behind him and walked over to the bed, plopping down.
"You've just been sitting there this whole time…waiting for me?"
He put on a tearful act.
She paid him no mind so he quickly dropped it.
"In any case, how's that body doing?" He checked her out, "Feeling any discomfort?"
She shook her head as she patted her chest.
"I don't know, really. It all feels… so surreal."
"Please, elaborate."
Clare sighed. "For years, I've constantly felt as though my organs were about to spill out of the wound in my chest with every movement. With the added burden of becoming a monster constantly gnawing at my mind, and now that those worries are no longer a problem, it suddenly feels uncomfortable."
He now understood.
Basically, she got so used to being tormented, that she feels uncomfortable not being tormented. He nodded at himself for his summarization.
Seth leaned back on his hands, looking at her for a moment.
"Now I'm quite curious about your life… what kind of experience could make you feel uncomfortable in comfort."
She didn't say anything as they stayed in silence for a few seconds before it was broken by Seth.
"…Well, you better get used to it, it's your new normal now." He said, turning to her with a smile.
"…"
They stared at each other for a while.
Seth staring at her calm face.
Clare staring at his handsome smile.
The atmosphere between them felt a subtle shift as a blush slowly creeped up her neck.
Thump.
Her heartbeat began picking up speed.
It was unknown when she began having these new feelings but ever since meeting Seth, she had had many new experiences she hadn't before.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heartbeat was getting outrageously fast.
Which made no sense.
She wasn't fighting anything.
There wasn't any danger—well, not the kind she knew about.
There was no reason to be tense either.
And yet, her chest felt… warm.
She kept looking at Seth.
At that relaxed face of his.
That easy smile like nothing ever bothered him.
"…Weird," she muttered under her breath.
"Hm?" Seth tilted his head.
"…Nothing."
She looked away.
But the feeling didn't go away or diminish in the slightest. If anything…it increased.
She pressed her hand lightly against her chest again, trying to figure out what was happening to her.
What is this…?
This was something else entirely and obviously something new.
…
But it wasn't unpleasant.
Throughout it all Seth's eyes were solely on her.
"…You good?"
"…Yeah."
A small pause.
"…Just thinking about things."
Seth shrugged, completely oblivious.
"Don't think too hard. You'll give yourself a headache."
She didn't reply.
Instead, she just sat there, basking in her new feelings.
Maybe…this is just another thing she had to get used to.
Like he said before
Her new normal.
***
Time quickly slipped by quickly with Clare and Seth talking about her body and its changes.
Raki had come over after some time and the three spent the rest of the day talking and eating as they kept each other company before it was time for them to continue their mission.
whoosh—
Two shadows flashed across the rooftops silently.
Clare led the way, her thin body covered by a dark cloak. Underneath, she wore a shorter dress and long boots for easier and lighter movement.
Behind her—
Seth followed just as easily.
He had also changed his outfit into an all black getup, face half covered, straight out of a ninja movie.
When Clare had questioned him on it, he simply said:
"It's called being prepared."
"…Prepared for what?"
"…Stealth," he'd said it like it was the most obvious thing.
whoosh—
They leapt across another gap, landing cleanly.
With the curfew in place, the streets were empty.
Seth glanced down briefly.
"Man… this place really shuts down at night."
"Focus," Clare said.
"Yeah, yeah."
They continued moving.
—
Inside his room, Father Vincent could be seen pacing around nervously as he waited for Clare to arrive.
As faint clatters sounded, he turned towards the window to find it open and two individuals stood there.
Clearly they had came through it.
And it was clear who they were.
"I received orders from Chief Rimuto that were sent by the organization in Sutafu."
Clare got straight to the matter.
Chapter 20 end.
—————————
I wonder if the romance is too fast… I feel like I should have it start developing after chapter 400🤔