"Hi. My name is Julius Whitewood. I'm the priest of this church which is also a home to children with no parents, families, or relatives. But the children here call me Father," introduced the man.
Zaril'n listened, he wanted to respond, his lips trembled to speak, but he couldn't form any words. He understood what Father had just said and Zaril'n too wanted to introduce himself, but the words wouldn't come out.
" I'm going to set the table Father," Xavier said not wanting to stand around.
" Go ahead Xavier," but the boy had already left after speaking. " You children should wash up too,"
"Ok," they all said in chorus before scampering off. Zaril'n stomach then growled which caused them both to look down.
" Haha," chuckled Father elegantly. Seeing that the new boy wasn't speaking Father simply led him to have dinner.
Zaril'n followed Father while looking at the interior designs. There wasn't much, just brown walls, burning stones that shone bright illuminating the areas and a few portraits that were hanged. All these portraits were drawn by the children.
Zaril'n entered a big area where he saw a long table filled with plates, cups, jugs and food. There was a lot of it, but Zaril'n didn't know the name of any of them. But the aroma was enough for his belly to rumble again. Xavier appeared from around the corner with something over his hair and an apron. Zaril'n didn't understand why he changed into such clothes, but he wanted to laugh. But he thought not to.
Zaril'n took notice that there were many small children. Fifteen in total.
" Now, now take your seats everyone,"
Father said clapping his hands to get there attention. " I'm sure many of you are still anticipating to know the newcomer, but unfortunately he hasn't spoken yet. So please let him feel welcome and maybe when he gets some more rest and warms up to us he'll speak,"
" Yes Father," said the children in chorus except Xavier who rolled his eyes.
" Now we pray," Father added.
All the children held hands, this closeness was surprising to Zaril'n at first, but he followed their lead. Everyone closed their eyes to pray and Zaril'n closed his eyes following them. The children and Father prayed while Zaril'n remained silent until it was over. And after that the children dug into their food. They were quite chatter some.
Everyone ate heartily while Zaril'n stared onto his plate not knowing what the food was. There was a white grainy stuff and a brown wet looking stuff. The little boy who sat across from him noticed that he wasn't eating.
" It's tasty don't worry. The white stuff is rice,"
" and the brown stuff is stewed pork," added a little girl who sat next to him.
" Xavier caught the boar this morning so he made a feast for us,"
" He's a great cook!" praised a girl who sat four chairs away.
" But he's miserable,"
" bad temper sometimes,"
" Eat your food before it gets cold," said Xavier hearing them.
Zaril'n smiled a bit picking up the utensil they were using and mimicked their actions. Back in hell the demon usually gulf down their food, or used there hands.
Zaril'n took the first spoonful and it was remarkably delicious. The next moment he couldn't help, but to stuff his face.
They all ate happily like one big happy family.
When dinner was over the children cleared the table and went to do the dishes except Xavier. They sang merrily while cleaning up which Zaril'n helped with, but he barely did anything as the children didn't really let him, he was new after all.
It would soon be bed time and Father announced that Zaril'n would be sharing room with Xavier and another boy named Alex. Alex didn't mind, but the same couldn't be said for Xavier, but he didn't voice his opinion and kept it to himself.
Two days went by and Zaril'n found himself unattended, he would be left having nothing to do most of the time. The day after that Xavier tapped Zaril'n awake,
" Huh, what's happening?" Zaril'n muttered still feeling tired. The sun's rays felt blinding, every since he came to the human world he had two fighting feelings about the sun.
Firstly he loved how beautiful it looked and how it gave light everywhere and secondly, he hated the sun as it was too bright.
" Let's go, didn't you remember what I said yesterday?" Xavier asked making his bed.
" Yesterday?" Zaril'n murmured.
" Yes,"
Zaril'n tried remembering, but he didn't and the brightness of the sun pouring in from the window was too much.
Zaril'n slid from his bed, immediately he was knocked down on his bum as Xavier tossed a set of clothes at his face, he told him to get dress, and then Xavier stepped out.
" What a grumpy human," Zaril'n muttered lazily standing up. Everything felt so slow and he was trying to adapt to the time and everything. Zaril'n got dress wear a brown pants and brown shoes, a white shirt and a large brown straw hat, he found his attire interesting, but who's clothes was he wearing?
Zaril'n walked out the room passing the kitchen going out, he saw and was greeted by few of the other children, he was told the younger one's were still asleep. Zaril'n pictured himself doing just that to. He wasn't someone who usually overslept, but a day seemed to take forever.
When Zaril'n found Xavier, the boy was bright with energy while fixing something on a strange creature. Zaril'n was greeted by two of the children who were carrying vegetables.
" It's a horse," Xavier spoke without batting Zaril'n a glance. He came to the conclusion that Zaril'n is very stupid, he knows nothing, so he's not much of any help.
" A horse?" Zaril'n repeated amazed. He moved to the face of the horse finding the beast magnificent.
Los was six feet tall, very healthy looking,
He was mostly White, but from his hips going down to his back hoofs were coloured with a golden brown, to go with his magnificent features he hand brown spots a long his neck.
" It's beautiful,"
The horse grunted bobbing it's head down while tapping both it's front hoofs on repeat. It neighed, but not too loud,
" Even the horse knows you're stupid," Xavier thought to himself. Speaking his mind would definitely land him in trouble, especially for someone under a church's roof.
" Stop it, your making Los agitated. He doesn't know you so he probably doesn't like you. If you're trying to be nice at least talk nicely and try feeding him," suggested Xavier, once again he barely looked at Zaril'n.
" I can feed him, but with what?" Zaril'n asked captivated by the beast.
" Ask Alex for a Lettuce he's around back," Xavier pointed while speaking.
" Lettuce?" Zaril'n asked himself while leaving. Xavier only rolled his eyes.
It didn't take long for Zaril'n to return with a little run in his step. Upon returning Xavier could tell he was about to give Los the lettuce while. With patience Xavier instructed Zaril'n to remove a leaf from the lettuce when feeding Los. Xavier gave a demonstration which Zaril'n clumsily followed.
As he moved to the horse about to feed it the horse rose upwards neighing with agitation, it's saliva raining down. Zaril'n was surprised falling on his bum and Xavier reacted fast enough catching the reins and tried calming the horse down.
He hummed a soothing tone, slowly Los calmed down. He couldn't understand, Los was normally a calm horse, he wasn't the friendliest of horses, but he would never react in such way unless he was threatened or sensed harm.
Now Xavier knew he wasn't crazy, he was certain than ever Zaril'n wasn't just some random unfortunate boy.
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~° Notes°~
• The Horse is called Los
( Pronounce the letters as they are, the 'O' is a pronounced with a 'short O sound'