Ashes and Kingdoms

The Temple of Nena was in a square arrangement surrounding the courtyard. It's a common way of doing things in Diatius. From the entrance you can see the main hall dedicated to the statue in the back of the front, and on the left and right there is an annex. The types of facilities vary depending on the goddess of sacrifice, but they are often resting places for worshippers, treatment centers, schools for local children, etc.

There is still a treatment center here, too, and Finn found his parents in it. Fauna accompanies Oandus, who is treated for his right hand, but has no other familiar face. Looking around, Finn glanced a little.

"What about the kids?

"He's in an orphanage, taking care of baths and changing clothes. All the people in the temple here are very kind and grateful."

Fauna smiles. Good, Finn nods too, then looks around again.

"... Nellis over there too?

To the anxious question, there was no time until the answer was returned. Finn stares at his parents tightly. Oandus told me to roar with his face up.

"Nellis is with the priest in the back.... suddenly I cried."

Finn stifled his face at the ominous news and looked behind him. It was only for a moment that I hesitated, and I said, "I'll see how it goes," and ran out.

In the courtyard and in the corridor, citizens spanned here and were interested in arguments and rumors, but Finn ran blind to them, sewing between them to avoid obstacles. One man, lightly hit on the shoulder, looked back uncomfortably and tongued at his hearing when he saw Finn's dirty appearance.

Running into the main hall, Finn immediately noticed Nellis. A stone bench built on a wall, shaking a blanket over his shoulder. A small elderly man, who would be a priest, was seen sitting beside him, rubbing his back and shoulders.

"Nellis!"

Finn rushed over and bowed to the priest with a pebble before crouching before Nellis.

"What happened? Are you okay, Nellis?"

Reach gently into Nellis' cheek, still wet with tears, and wrap it with gentle, palms. Nellis opened her mouth trying to say something, but she just shrugged away.

Finn didn't rush, and when he lowered his hips next to his empty side, he held him by his shoulder. Nellis clings so hard that he hurts as soon as possible. As Finn continued to rub his back, Nellis eventually spilled a small, faint voice.

"... KAKAKAKA... I've come so far... KAKAKAKA, HIKAKAKA... no use, it was..."

Finn shrugged. I thought you “understood” what happened at the barracks. But Nellis snorted, pressing her forehead against Finn's shoulder, whispering in such a voice that she could barely hear.

"Nanais... burned... all dead"

"Huh!? No way, no way!

Finn also lost color on the boulder, grabbing both shoulders of Nellis and trying to peek into its face. But Nellis did not try to look at each other, but lay down his face hard.

"And your brother, I know... you know, the corner light... if you put it on"

…………

The force fell out of Finn's hand. It wasn't my fault or some mistake that that glow nearly faded away last night. Perhaps Nellis feels right. Even if I lit that corner light now, there is no more Audia protection. It would just be a small, weak flame light.

I didn't feel like making sure right away. Finn was stunned, just caressing Nellis' shoulder unconsciously.

After a while, the priest coughed modestly.

"Your sister seems quite tired. Like the other kids, if you take a hot bath and change into clean clothes, you'll feel a little calm... and of course, you too"

The calm voice had the power to calm my heart oddly. Finn thought he was about to collapse from dust as it was, but when he told him, he nodded unconsciously, taking Nellis' hand and standing up.

The priest supports Nellis' back and gently urges him. Nellis remained nagging, but walked out with pleasure.

In the end Finn and Nellis regained their comfort after bathing and dressing, as the priest said, and by then, the outside had already been faintly stained with honey.

Dropping blood, mud and dirt, sleeves through clean clothes while wearing old clothes made the line feel much better. When the weary and rough mind warms up a little, the misery and dangers that appear on the outside also fade. Finn sighed as the woman who was looking after Farnayne sidelined a little cheer for her beloved princess, who appeared from under the dirt. If Igross had been here, he would have looked good at it.

Then the men of the temple gathered the line into the dining room of the orphanage, and sifted the bread and soup. The bread was baked this morning and still fragrant, and the soup was boiled with beans and root vegetables in water and milk, hot. It's been a long, decent, humane meal. Deceiving the stomach is at best not just a substitute for being eaten anyway. I can taste it, I can feel the joy of eating it, and the warmth spreads to every corner of my body.

There was a slight sweetness spreading on Finn's tongue, but there was nothing I could do to mix a little bitterness there when I thought of my companions who had not benefited from this.

But the children were more innocent, visibly invigorated, shaken and even laughed. When I saw it, I didn't even know Finn's face.

Finally, I could do one decent thing. It wasn't wrong to take them out of Tetna. Though sacrificed, I remember being able to help, even just the children here today, whispering but deeply satisfied.

Oandus and Fauna also looked at the children in a relieved manner. Next to Nellis, Mac sits down, offering this fun topic and skipping jokes in an attempt to get her attention that is blocking her. Nellis grinned sometimes as he rewarded his efforts, but he still felt compelled.

Eventually, when the satisfied children began yawning one after the other, the orphanage staff gently went to bed. And only “adults” remained in the dining room. Finn's family and Mac, and Fentas the priest.

When asked how he had been, Fentas nodded with a sympathetic smile on his round face.

"I understand the story. Raise the children of Tetna responsibly in this temple. Phineas, what are you going to do?

"... in the Legion, I think we have to work. Because then they'll take care of the family home. I don't think we can get another decent job in this city."

Finn answered in a dark tone. There are only a few jobs that a family of powderers who have lost both molars and livestock can do. There is also the hand of living under in a rich mansion, but it will not be the first thing to keep the whole family together and take care of them. Besides, Oandus lost the finger of his opponent, and for the time being, he can't do a decent job, so it's even worse.

If we say that and our families live apart, we must be prepared for the danger of being separated in this day and age, as it is. It was Finn's idea that if there was an army, he wouldn't dare to choose another path.

Fentas seemed to agree, and responded as he was touched.

"That would be good. I sympathize with your predicament, but I can't prepare you to live in a boulder. But if it's an army...... Mr. Oandus, Mr. Fauna, I would appreciate it if you both could come through here and help me with my work at the orphanage while living in a room that the legions would prepare. Newly entered children will also be more familiar with having adults they know. I can't give you much wages, but at least I guarantee a meal. And... Mr. Oandus' hand still needs to be treated for a while."

To the generous offer, the couple let their faces shine. Fentas, step aside.

"Of course, if you can find a better job, you can move over there."

added, making the family laugh a little bitter.

And so suddenly Mac opened his mouth.

"Brother Finn, I'm in the legion, too. Take me with you."

"Don't be unscrupulous," Finn shouted unexpectedly. "It's not until you're eighteen that you join the legion. No matter how many times I tell you it's an emergency, you haven't..."

"It's fifteen."

Mac quickly blocked it. Everyone on the spot for this - even Nellis - stared at the boy in surprise. With his gaze all around him, Mac bites his lips with regret. Thirteen is the limit of that figure, no matter what you estimate.

"I know my body is small. But I'm not lying, I'm really already fifteen. In six months, it will be sixteen. Still a little young... but I'm not old enough to take care of an orphanage anymore"

"Sure, it's normal to have them out of the orphanage if they're fifteen," Fentas said puzzled. "Things are the matter, and the kids will be anxious without you. You don't have to hurry. You can live with me for a while."

"But..."

"Mac, the priest is right. At least stay with me and do it until the kids settle down. You can't quit right away if you join an army."

Finn also told me. Once officially registered as a legion soldier, three years will never slip out, unless there are so many circumstances. No matter how much I say the empire is rattled right now, no, because it is, there will be severe punishment waiting for me to escape.

Finn himself was not anxious in that regard. Now his identity is still hanging around, but if his enlistment is officially recorded in this Winnea, he will be held in disappointment. But will you be able to work safely for three years?

If the war starts in earnest in the country, and Dilgius leads the soldiers on the north side into the war, it is unlikely that there will be a piece in three years. Promises of discharge, etc., would be broken more easily than cracking eggs. Even though it is unavoidable for immediate clothing and living, it is likely that only Finn will be separated from his family as a result.

(Still... if we can all live in a safe city, fine)

Those who weren't there at first are just leaving. Isn't it enough if you can just disappear and leave a place to live, a souvenir?

As Finn was comforting himself, Mac reached over the table and grabbed Finn's arm. To Finn, who looked up surprised, Mac said with a strong temper in place.

"Then at least teach me how to use my sword. Even if you join the legion, you can come here for a little while, right?

I won't let you say no. It was a tone. On my journey from Tetna to this point, I painfully realized that I had no power to fight, but therefore I was determined. Of course Finn didn't say no or forgive me. I want the power and skill to fight, I want the weapon - because I know exactly what that wish is.

"I'll tell you everything, if that's what I taught you. Besides, if I can find someone in the Legion who's got the right skill and is going to tell you, I'll ask for it. I promise."

So he smiled in agony.

"Either way, I need to be properly taught by someone. Because it's going to be hard to get three years with a burning blade."

"What are you talking about? Brother Finn will be fine."

Mac laughed as if he was stunned. To the color of trust in its eyes, Finn lay down his face bewildered and embarrassed. It was certainly a surprise that I was able to fight properly unexpectedly. But there's no way that luck will last.

"You have to work hard," he whispered to himself. "Each other, to survive"

There was no response. However, everyone who had crossed the arduous journey nodded small without speaking out.