Chapter 5. Children
Speaking of it, this seed to be Leticia’s third ti entering the chapel since coming to this world.
The first ti had been related to her previous illness. It was apparently for observation and recovery afterward. That was also the first ti Leticia had t Priest Marshall.
An old man in gray robes with a kindly smile stood in stark contrast to the villagers of Innsmouth, who always wore cold, indifferent faces.
Simply put, Leticia’s first impression of the Priest wasn’t bad. If only the chapel’s interior had been a bit brighter, instead of shrouded in gloom and needing candlelight, her opinion of the old man might have been better still.
The second ti had been when Uncle John fell ill, forcing Leticia to steal herself and seek Priest Marshall’s help.
The result was good, though the process had been a bit frightening......
And the third ti was now. Priest Marshall had taken the initiative to summon so of the village’s children. What he wanted with them, no one knew.
She had asked her uncle, but what could an ordinary country laborer say?
Leticia pondered as she walked. Her bare little feet let the gravel jump between her toes.
She disliked going barefoot—it was uncomfortable—but all the shoes at ho either had holes that hadn’t been patched, or were too big to wear.
Looking at her peers, all of them barefoot, Leticia understood it was the “custom” here.
“Leticia!”
Just as Leticia’s thoughts were veering in a stranger and stranger direction, suddenly, from behind, a black hand stretched out......
Yes, the hand was literally black, a genuine black hand, reaching out from behind and resting on Leticia’s shoulder.
“Eh, Laila? Why are you here?”
Leticia quickly filtered through her mory of the village children—mines, enthusiasm, girl—and matched the voice. She concluded the hand belonged to a child from the outskirts of Innsmouth, near the mining area.
Laila Bliss.
Laila was a very cheerful child. Unlike most of Innsmouth’s villagers, she had not yet been infected by the gloomy indifference here, and still carried a warm heart.
Missing a front tooth, she wore ear-length short hair. Her flaxen strands glead under the dull sunlight like rippling wheat.
Different from her black hand, Laila’s face was still fairly clean, with only a few dark smudges—gifts from helping at the mine.
“Haha, my father told Priest Marshall asked to go to the chapel. Said he had sothing for .”
Laila spoke cheerfully. Removing her hand from Leticia’s shoulder, she left a clear black handprint. “What about you, Leticia? Why are you here?”
There weren’t many children in the village, only a few dozen. The original Leticia hadn’t had good relations with them, and now even less so.
But Laila—she ca over simply through sheer enthusiasm.
Leticia didn’t really dislike it.
“Ah, what a coincidence.”
She gave Laila a faint but sincere smile. “I was also called by Priest Marshall.”
“Eh, really?”
Laila Bliss covered her mouth in surprise. “I thought he only called . Turns out there are two of us?”
She suddenly leaned close, eyes shining with excitent. “Hey, Leticia, this is sothing for both of us! Before we et the Priest, we must keep it secret. Afterward, we’ll show off to the others!”
“Others” naturally referred to the other children.
Listening to her, Leticia’s eyes twitched. Her inner urge to ridicule was overwhelming.
Never mind that Priest Marshall had surely called more than just the two of them—take ten thousand steps back, even if it really were only them, with Laila’s loud mouth, the news would spread across the entire village before they even reached the chapel......
For soone like her to exist in such an environnt was truly a miracle!
But perhaps, because she was still a child, it made sense.
“I heard quite a few children were called, so I don’t think it’s much of a secret.”
Leticia shrugged, rcilessly pricking Laila’s fantasy. “I’m also curious what Priest Marshall wants us for.”
“So there are a lot......”
Laila’s disappointnt showed plainly. “Really, I thought the Priest saw so talent in us and wanted us to take an apprentice test......”
Apprentice?
Catching that word sharply, Leticia asked in a calm voice, “Apprentice test? Why would you think that?”
She had been here two months but had never heard of such a thing. Naturally, she needed to probe, lest she expose herself.
“Uh, because, because......”
Laila scratched her head sheepishly. “Didn’t the Priest say the Church opens so positions every year? They take in so—sothing, I don’t rember exactly, but basically new people. My parents said, if you can get in, you’ll never worry about food or clothes again!”
“Doesn’t Leticia want to join the Church?”
“Ah, oh, haha, of course.”
Listening too intently, Leticia had almost been caught off guard. Coughing twice, she said, “I don’t think anyone would refuse the chance. But, it probably won’t be us, right?”
Although the promise of food and clothing was tempting, if possible, Leticia would rather avoid the Church all her life, find a quiet place, and die alone......
As the saying went: “To serve the king is to serve a tiger.” The Church’s sches ran deep; better to return to the countryside.
If she went into such a place, who knew what would happen? If theology and mysticism truly existed here, her secret might be exposed.
She had no desire to end up on the pyre!!!
“But Priest Marshall could give out a place. Why couldn’t it be us?”
Good, very good. Child, your thinking is advanced. If you were born at the right ti, you’d thrive......
Silently applauding Laila, Leticia forced a smile and kept quiet.
“By the way, Leticia, did you just cough?”
Who knew how this kid’s mind worked? One mont here, the next there, changing topics mid-sentence so fast it left people reeling......
“Ah, nothing, nothing.”
Laila’s enthusiasm made Leticia uncomfortable, yet warm too. “It’s nothing, don’t worry.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Laila nodded. “I heard your uncle was sick before. I worried for a while.”
“Thank you.”
Leticia smiled. Her eyes glanced sideways at soone nearby, and she deliberately added, “This too is the Lord’s blessing.”
“Eh...... Leticia, you really seem mature......”
Laila pouted. “My parents always scold , saying I’m just a kid who won’t grow up. I envy you......”
Trust , there’s nothing enviable here......
With two dry laughs, Leticia didn’t answer.
As the two chatted idly, the black chapel was already close at hand.
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