As promised, I arrived at the borders of the territory of the Church of Lumienere at daybreak, approximately two days after I left the Astrantia duchy. I stealthily arrived in the territory by foot then road around to check the whole territory then mapping it, of course.
I road around freely looking at the quality of the soil (which was good for farming by the way), how much unused space they have as well as the facilities available. For one, the constructed temple and priests’ quarters of this main branch of the church was impressive. It was very similar to neoclassical architecture with a few differences in the choice of materials and color.
They have a huge garden and a few ponds with beautiful and colorful fish swimming in it. There were also a few spacious round gazebos partly covered with curtains with mats and pillows laid inside it. From the looks of things, they should be used for prayer or ditation. At least, I did not catch anyone sleeping inside any of the ones I checked.
There was a courtyard hidden at the back nearer to the forest periter, It has a small patch of land that was used to plant so fruit bearing trees, vegetables and so common herbs. It looked definitely more like a personal garden than a farm. Even harvesting all of it, won’t be able to feed a household of four people for a week.
Just as I was leaving the courtyard, I heard an ethereal voice from behind asking, "Who is there? What do you need from my courtyard?"
As I looked back, I saw a man who can’t be more than 25 years old. He had straight black hair up to his shoulders. I imdiately noticed that he was not looking directly at and as I looked closer, his eyes were vacant and the color of his pupils were a light shade of gray.
He was blind. Since he was blind, his other senses beca sharper thus he detected my presence through sound or maybe even my scent.
I did not feel any ill intent or anger from him so I reluctantly replied to be polite, "I am just looking around here. I got curious at the plants you have in your courtyard."
His eyes widened as he realized that I was female. He hurriedly grabbed the rim of his clothes and closed the chest area of his robe tightly as if I was ogling him. His brows furrowed as he asked, "Why would soone roam around at day break. If you are a thief, I have nothing to give you. I can’t even see and take care of my plants anymore. I have soone else taking care of them for ."
I can hear the somber tone of his voice. From the look of things, he should have not been born blind. Does it an that his illness just flared up and only recently did he finally lost his eyesight?
Though I am curious about his circumstances, I am not in the position to pry to a strangers personal affairs. I smiled at him though I know he could not see it. I walked towards him, this ti, loud enough for him to know I am approaching.
He started taking steps backwards then briskly turned around, using his hands to sense his surroundings so as not to bump into anything. Of course, his speed would not match mine even if he was to run. Before he could even reach the threshold of the door to his ho, I used one of my hands to cover his mouth and the other one to cover the area of his eyes.
I did not want him to scream thus I covered his mouth. I also intended to heal his eyes thus covering his eyes. It may look like I am kidnapping him in others people’s eyes but my intentions are good.
My sudden action of course, scared the hell out of the man whose na I do not know. He grabbed on to my wrists, furiously pulled at them, trying to get away from my grasp. He stiffened suddenly as he felt the heat from my palm going to his eye area and as he heard whisper to him, "Calm down. I am not going to hurt you."
He let keep my hands on his eyes and he did not even scream from the start up to now. He did not make even a squeak even after I uncovered his mouth. Once his mouth was free, he asked, "Who are you? Why are you- This is not- I’m..."
He seem to have lost the ability to speak coherently due to the shock. I smiled and whispered to him, "I am the new saintess." Before he could even speak again, I placed a sleeping spell on him. His consciousness left him and his body leaned back towards .
I carried him princess-style towards the inside of his courtyard and placed him in his bedroom. I am lucky that the inside of his house was simple so it was not hard to find where to place him. I closed the door quietly and cleansed the area of any sign that I was ever there in case he gets into trouble for being alone with a woman.
I stealthily left the courtyard and went back to the garden area once more. As I was about to reach the backdoor towards the temple, I heard so sounds of what seems to be fighting nearby. It is weird to hear this in a place of prayer if you ask so my curiosity won over and before I knew it, my feet is already taking towards the direction of that peculiar sound.
I tried to keep myself hidden while approaching the area. It was towards the other area, opposite from where the lone courtyard was. I was hiding within the lush trees and as I peeked in, I saw a wide area that looked like training grounds for soldiers.
The open area is currently filled with about a dozen n tall n who are not wearing any upper body clothing showing their tones bodies and a few scars here and there. It was a dead give away that are mbers of the private army of the church, also known as the paladins. In the middle of the open area, two people are currently sparring using spears.
All of them were just too busy to notice that a woman was watching their practice. I only watched a bit before turning around and walking back to the main temple. But just after taking a few steps, I noticed that all the sounds from behind ceased. I smiled in amusent as they finally noticed the stranger who have been roaming in their midst and peeking at their activities since daybreak.
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