We No Longer Pray

Today was the day of the ball that she had promised to go. Her brother's sun was slowly setting beyond the tips of the forest trees. She really hoped she was able to speak with her devotees before the day end.

The door opened and the man was looking at her with slightly narrowed eyes. They saw the bread in her hands and she handed it to him. Still suspicious of her, he was about to tell her to leave, but the young boy happily grabbed it. He hadn't seen the boy smiled so wide in a long time. Looking back at the female, he stepped to the side and let her in.

The Moon Goddess entered the house and she felt the lingering of prayer for her, but the place was reaching coldness. This man and boy were not devotees of hers. Did that man who she ran from lying to her? Did Bruin lied to her? Maybe there was another red house further down?

"We no longer pray to her, miss," the man stated and watched his son ate the bread happily.

"May I ask why?" She whispered as she noticed a picture of the man, the boy, and a female.

It was quiet and she waited, watching the child stuff his mouth with bread. The man held the boy, not once asking for a piece. She could tell they were both hungry, starving, but no one was willing to help them. The people of Springcall avoided them like the elder lady just because they believed in her.

Maybe she could talk to Sir Bruin about this. Maybe he could help them somehow.

"My wife was devoted to her, but she had passed recently. My son and I pray after her death, but it had been difficult. I try to find work with my son all day, but no one wants a Moon Goddess believer to work for them. If they did, they paid little and we only gain scraps of food. I do not want your pity. I am merely telling you that we no longer pray to her."

Moon understood. She didn't cry. She didn't feel confused and upset.

She understood.

"I know it is difficult to be seen as anything other than a believer of the Moon Goddess. Do you… regret it?"

"No," he shook his head and smiled at his son who was still chewing a piece of bread, "I love my wife. I would not regret it."

'Such love,' she sighed with a smile, 'I am glad he was happy. They were happy.'

"May I share a story with you, sir?"

He nodded and the Moon Goddess told a tale of a female who cried to her, feeling lost with no purpose. One day, the female ran into a farmer. She was smitten and her heart would not settle even when she lied in bed. The female prayed to the Moon Goddess, asking what she should do. After a few months had passed getting to know the farmer, she prayed for strength to have courage to express her feelings.

"Did she?" The boy questioned with big eyes staring at her.

"She did," Moon nodded smiling, "She met him in his field and when she was before him, she could not speak. Fear was choking her and she looked to the moon, silently praying what to do. After a moment and the questioning of the man, she said all she wanted with a kiss. Under the moon of her goddess, the female confessed her love and the man did the same.

They married, had a daughter, one they dearly loved. They taught her of their love for the Moon Goddess, hoping their daughter continued the faith. Do you think she continued the faith?"

"Yes!" The young boy grinned.

"Why are you telling us this story?" The man questioned.

"Do you think she found love, the way her parents did?"

"Yes!" The boy exclaimed laughing.

"I am sure she did. I am sure she married a good man who loves her undyingly, would practice her faith, give her a beautiful child," Moon looked at the man, "I am sure she had lived a happy life."

The man closed his eyes and she smiled. So he understood now what she was telling him. This story was of his wife's parents. The Moon Goddess was asleep and didn't hear the child's mother's prayers to her, but she was sure it was for protection of her family.

"Thank you."

Moon made sure to leave her power with them, only a small amount, but enough to protect them.

Leaving the man's home, she noticed there were not many people outside.

"Oh! They must be at the ball!"

She rushed to Sir Bruin's home and changed into the outfit the man had bought her. Maybe he was waiting for her at the ball?

'Eh? Where is the ball though?'

For Sir Bruin, he was at the ball thinking Moon had already returned to wherever she came from. Taking a drink of his wine, he smiled and greeted the people around him. The female with purple hair was taking her third drink of the night. She looked beyond bored of the entire ball. When he asked her to dance as one should at a ball, the female did so with no excitement.

He looked over to his leader who was looking at him then glancing at her, as if speaking with his looks.

'You wish for this relationship to work, but there is nothing here,' Bruin frowned and his eyes brightened seeing a familiar face.

"Sir Rei," He stood up and the man, a couple years younger, ran over to him.

"Sir Bruin!" the freckled face man grinned, "It had been awhile."

"It has. I didn't expect you to be here. You normally avoid these things."

The brown eyed man smiled, but Bruin saw something in those eyes. They seemed to have sharpened, a look he had never seen Rei Solis wore before. The free spirited man seemed different to him. He wondered if something happened in the city of Dragonport. He glanced over to Rei's father, leader of that city to find the older man speaking with a few maidens.

"I must grow up, Bruin. I am no longer a child. I must do so for her. I promised."

"Her? You are… in love?" The blonde blinked at the raven haired man and heard the laugh.

"She is special," Rei smiled and sighed when his father called him over, "Speak to you later, Bruin!"