As soon as the Saintess uttered those words, Clerk Aether immediately moved without the slightest hesitation… as if making the Archpriestess wait even for a moment was not only disrespectful—but a grave sin in itself, an act bordering on blasphemy in his eyes.
He entered the orphanage—a white stone building that stood out in its radiance.
The walls were immaculately polished, the surface gleaming under the sunlight, reflecting its pristine maintenance and noble intent. Everything was of high quality—from the structure to the smallest furnishings—and it was evident that every corner of the place was cared for with devotion.
It was unlike any other orphanage he had ever seen, let alone worked in. Most were dull, deteriorating, forgotten by society.
But this place?
It felt holy.
As he stepped back into the guest room, his gaze locked onto an elegant figure seated by the table.
A woman with flowing grey hair and matching grey eyes that shimmered with wisdom and calm. She looked incredibly young—perhaps in her mid-twenties or even younger—but there was an ancient stillness about her, the weight of years hidden behind her gentle expression. She sat with perfect posture, exuding divine authority with subtle grace.
Beside her stood a golden-haired boy, the Apostle, radiating quiet strength and protective instinct. He stood close to her, as if ready to strike down anything that dared threaten her peace.
“Archpriestess,” Clerk Aether said reverently, bowing his head low, his voice laced with respect and awe.
The Archpriestess slowly turned her face to the boy beside her and smiled, her voice soft yet vibrant with warmth.
“Hmm… you’re doing far better now than you did when we first met,” she remarked, giving him a graceful nod.
Clerk Aether offered a shy, humbled smile.
“It’s all because of your grace, Archpriestess. Without your guidance, your kindness… I wouldn’t be who I am today. I owe you more than I can ever express.”
Her eyes sparkled with gentle fondness.
“You give me too much credit. I didn’t do anything… It was the Holy Mother who opened her arms for you, not me,” she said with a soft sigh, her tone full of faith. In her heart, she could still recall the day they had met—he had been hollow, like a shattered shell of a boy.
Lost.
Afraid!
Borken!!
But now… now he stood tall.
“Anyway…” she breathed out, brushing aside sentiment as she returned to the matter at hand.
“I came here for an important reason. I bring good news—you’ve been promoted.”
“Promoted?” Clerk Aether blinked, momentarily stunned by her words. He hadn’t expected that. His expression, however, quickly shifted—not to joy, but something more somber.
“Hmm? That’s a strange reaction. Are you not pleased?” the Archpriestess asked, tilting her head slightly.
Clerk Aether quickly straightened up,
“No, of course I’m happy! Truly, Archpriestess, I am… it’s just…” He hesitated, his voice faltering.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Strange. You say you’re happy, but your face speaks a very different language,” she remarked with a small frown as she leaned forward slightly. “Speak honestly, Aether. What’s weighing on your mind?”
There was a long, tense pause. His fingers tightened slightly.
“I… I just…” he began, then stopped again.
“You are wasting our Archpriestess’s precious time, Clerk Aether,” the Apostle snapped coldly.
Clerk Aether flinched at the tone, then rushed to speak.
“I-I’ve just grown attached to the children here… deeply. I don’t know how to just leave them behind so suddenly,” he admitted, his voice trembling with sincerity. Then, nervously, he asked, “Is it possible… I mean, can I refuse the promotion?”
“You dare go against the Archpriestess’s—” the Apostle growled, ready to explode with fury, but before he could speak further, the Archpriestess simply raised her hand, calm and commanding.
The room instantly fell silent as she fixed her gaze on Clerk Aether.
She stared at him for almost a minute—no words, just silent scrutiny. Then she exhaled with a weary smile.
“If other clerks heard this, they’d claw each other to death just to steal your opportunity,” she said with a soft, amused scoff. “You have no idea how rare it is to rise in the hierarchy. Most clerks never get the chance, no matter how hard they work or pray. And here you are, turning it down?”
Even in a sacred space like this, the hierarchy was everything.
The higher you climbed, the more influence you held, and with that came responsibilities—and privileges.
Promotion wasn’t just a title.
It was power, and with power came change.
She leaned back in her seat, her voice gentler now,
“Let me tell you what this promotion means. You’ll be placed under the care of a priest who oversees a larger region—a region filled with children and other people. Dozens, hundreds of them. With the proper resources and guidance, you could help far more than just these few here. And if that priest sees your worth—your heart—there’s a strong chance you’ll rise again.
It’s rare, yes, but not impossible.
Once you become a priest yourself, you’ll be granted a piece of land, permanent settlement, and a lifetime of food and protection.
Is that really something you’re ready to throw away?”
She leaned in once more.
“Will you cling to the comfort of what’s familiar… or embrace the chance to become something more? To help more lives than you could imagine?”
Without hesitation, Clerk Aether gave his answer, quiet but firm, “I humbly decline.”
The Apostle’s jaw clenched. Veins rose visibly on his forehead. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
This boy—this mere clerk—was refusing the Archpriestess herself?
She had graced him with a personal visit. She could have sent a scroll, a decree, and that would’ve been enough.
She didn’t owe him this… And still, he had the nerve to say no?
“How dar—” he began, but again, the Archpriestess raised her hand, silencing him with a look.
“Is it because you love them?” she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Clerk Aether took a breath, shaking his head slowly.
“I don’t know if what I feel is love… It’s something else… When I’m with them… I feel free. I feel whole. I feel joy, peace… no weight pressing down on me. No guilt. No judgment. Just… me.
Being with them makes me feel like I’m truly alive. And that feeling… it’s not something I want to give up.”
As he spoke, the Archpriestess saw something shift in his eyes—something fragile, like the remnants of past wounds stirring just beneath the surface. He looked like he was moments away from breaking again.
Recognizing it, she softened, letting go of the tension in the room.
“I see…” she murmured, then changed the subject with care.
“I heard you’ve been making some rather strange toys?”
Clerk Aether blinked, caught off-guard by the sudden shift, and let out a nervous chuckle.”Ah, that… I just cobbled together a few things to help the kids pass the time. It’s nothing special, really.”
The Archpriestess smiled gently, glancing around the room.
“Is that so? I must say… they look quite impressive…” Her eyes drifted to a small collection of colorful objects scattered nearby—things the children had left behind.
Some resembled tiny people, others looked like carriages, animals, or strange little machines with wheels.
She’d never seen anything like them here.
Not in any of the places she visited.
The Apostle behind her narrowed his eyes, clearly unsettled by her shift in tone. Her softness was unfamiliar. And his scowl deepened as his eyes locked onto Clerk Aether once more.
“Anyway… I will be leaving now,” the Archpriestess said with a soft nod, rising from her seat. Her robes shifted gracefully as she turned and began walking toward the door.
But just as she reached the door, she came to a sudden halt. Without turning around, she spoke again, her tone almost playful.
“Oh, I nearly forgot to mention one last thing…” she said, pausing for dramatic effect.
“You’ve been given a double promotion.”
Clerk Aether’s eyes widened.
With a small, knowing smirk, she turned her head slightly and added,
“You are now officially the Priest of this local body.”
As she opened the door—
“Ouch!”
A pile of children tumbled in, crashing onto the floor with surprised squeals. They had clearly been eavesdropping just outside the room.
Even the Saintess was there, standing among them, looking slightly embarrassed as if caught red-handed in a prank.
“Don’t worry,” the Archpriestess said with a gentle smile, her voice filled with warmth, “Your big brother isn’t going anywhere…”
Then her eyes narrowed just a bit as she turned her gaze toward the Saintess, giving her a pointed glare.
The Saintess awkwardly looked away, clearing her throat and pretending to examine the ceiling, trying to hide her sheepish guilt.
Hearing the Archpriestess’s words, the children lit up with joy, erupting into excited cheers.
“Big brother is staying!””Yay!””He’s our priest now!”
Their shouts echoed through the hallways like festival bells.
Meanwhile, outside the orphanage, the Archpriestess walked quietly under the open sky. The wind gently played with her long grey hair as her steps slowed slightly.
“Was the double promotion really necessary?” the Apostle asked, walking beside her with a frown tugging at his lips. “He’s only been working as a clerk for a few months. It feels… undeserved.” His voice was calm, but a hint of disapproval lingered beneath it.
The Saintess nodded as she followed behind.
“For others, it took over a decade to even get a single promotion, let alone a double one,” she said matter-of-factly… There was no bitterness in her tone—just the cold truth.
But the Archpriestess didn’t respond to either of them. Her expression remained serene as she gazed forward.
Because in her heart, she already knew the answer.
‘That’s what Mother wanted… Her will, her decision… not mine.’
And in the end, the will of the Mother was absolute.
