‘Peter’ moved along quickly with Traya and Ennalyssa, being led along by the older of the two young women, out a side door and into a courtyard of sorts.Traya kept walking, holding onto Ennalyssa’s hand, and not waiting for ‘Peter’; though he had little trouble keeping up. “Guess Santis is that bad…” He muttered. “Peytr.”, Traya shot him a look, “Shepherd Santis is among the leaders of the Church Luminous. Granted he is not one of the Radials…” “Wait, Radials…” Peter belted out — He reized that wranted as a mathematical term from high school, not from a religious source; and a ‘Radial’ was higher than a Shepherd? Who exactly did I piss off?

  ?I could tell you, hun, but I doly have a glowing opinion of the man.?

  Ah.Peter did not have to hear more; Na’at’s tone aloold him volumes. Though he quickly turo pay attention to Traya as they kept walking — the young woman wao be gone. “Radials are just below the Illuminance, uiding light called by the Goddess of Light herself. Our leader. The Radials make up the cil of the pass Rose and sit in power just below him.

  pass… Rose.Peter blinked, “So these Radials… they’re representing the positions of a pass?”Traya nodded, but smiled, “Yes!” She said cheerfully, despite her previous fear. Judging them far away enough, she slowed down as she tio talk, “When appoihey take a surname based on one of the eight dires. There are four major seats, named for the cardinal dires, and four minor, named for the sub-cardinals.”“And… Shepherd is…” He vewo stations below them. Radial, then High Shepherd, then Shepherd.”Peter blinked, speaking calmly and even giving a warm smile in thanks for the knowledge, “Ah. Good to know.” Oh… Fuck me. I snubbed a Bishop — if things trad a ‘Radial’ equals a Cardinal — And I was sassing him to another Bishop.

  ?We both know you could have sassed much harder. Frankly, I’d have loved to have seen it…?

  Oh… quiet you.Peter looked down to Ennalyssa, “How’re you doin’?”“Fenn.” Ennalyssa frow her stuffed-nose voice, “Ken Ah tek dhez dom dhengz ut?”Traya hid a smile behind her hand again, trying not to ugh. “We try one.” He said, kneeling down aly plug o by the tiny bit of un-bloodied cloth, “Blow through that one, gently. No good starting it up again by blowing too hard.”Ennalyssa did so, and while little speckles of red came out the flow did not resume. “Looks good.” Peter said, tugging at the sed one. “Oh, thank the Goddess.” Ennalyssa muttered, blushing before standing a little taller and affeg a serious look to her young face, “I-I mean… I was fine. You didn’t have to do that. It was just a bloody nose.” “You’re right; I didn’t have to. But what kind of person would I be if I didn’t help a… how old are you?” “I was found ten Founding Days ago, almost eleven.” She said proudly, resting her fists on her hips. “Ah, very good.” Peter hough he had to keep his thoughts from boiling over like a volo at the thought of a ten-year-old training to fight a ‘great demon lord’, “Well. What kinda person would I be if I didn’t help an almost-eleven year old.” “Hmph.” Was Ennalyssa’s reply.

  ?Have fun with this little one.? Na’at snickered softly.

  Again. You, hush.Peter chided mentally and was about to say something to the pre-teen before him as he stood up, but a voice calling her errupted them.

  “Enna! There you are!”A male in a light armor leather top and pants came jogging over, a training sword in hand. He was smilily — that sort of relieved smile after finding what you thought was lost — and came to a stop before the trio, brushing some of his blond bangs away from his fabsp; “Oh. Hello.” He said to Peter, obviously nnizing him. He also o the other in their group, “Traya.” “Broseff.” Traya nodded gently ba. “’Seff!” Ennalyssa’s eyes widened in happiness for a moment before she forced herself to look impassive, “Shieldbearer Broseff. How I help you.”Looking down at her the young man shook his head, “You are almost te for practice.” “Shit.” Ennalyssa whispered, “I didn’t realize, I’m sorry Shieldbearer Broseff. I was… looking into other things.”“Language, Enna.” This Shieldbearer Broseff chided her gently, her his hand, “e o’s go before Swordbearer Havengard has a fit.”Ennalyssa wi that, taking Broseff’s hand and looking back to Peter o time, quickly, like she had not meant to and was trying to hide it.

  “Okay so…” Peter started, looking to Traya as Broseff left with Ennalyssa. He took note of her rea to him: how she seemed to be calm in his presence, even expet, as shown by her calling him by a shortened name, and smiling at him when he came up to her. “He is a good person.” Traya whispered, blushing a little.Peter blinked, “Pardon?” “The look on your face.” Traya discreetly poio him, “You looked like you weren’t sure if you wao throttle him or not.” “Mh. Sorry. New body… still getting used to it.” Peter admitted, “Guess I o get my poker face back.” “Poker face?” Traya asked, cog her head to one side.Peter winced, “Ah. Okay… so…” He sighed, rubbing his fa his hands, “Poker is a game we pyed back ‘home’, with cards…” He held his hands up, using his finger and thumb to make the shape of a regle about the shape of a pying card. “Do… you think we don’t have games? That we’re that backward?” Traya frowned.Holding up his hands Peter sighed again, “No. I’m sure you have games to py for learning, fun, whatever. It’s more the ‘card’ aspect? And it’s not that I think you’re backward but you are a totally different world, totally different culture. I wao expin clearly to avoid fusion.” He looked at her, the pout she had on her disbelieving face.“We have cards too.” Traya expined, “You said ‘poker face’… what does your face have to do with a card… Oh! It’s a bluffing game, isn’t it?” “Well, bluffing is involved, yes. When you’re looking at your cards, moving them around you have to keep your face pretty impassive to keep other pyers from guessing if you have a good or bad hand wheting rounds e up.” “Oohh…” Traya nodded, “You bluff the other pyers to make them think you have a better hand in hopes they give up that round.” “Yeah!” Peter nodded, “It sounds like you have a simir game, ames, to poker.” “Perhaps. The one I’m thinking of is called Rounders. But it uses a cadre-style deck.” Traya said.Peter smiled, “Well, maybe you’ll show me one day. But … what do we do now?” “A good question. I think perhaps you should look around the grounds, I’ll show you around, of course.” Traya mused, tapping a fio her , “We could… walk around the town, I guess.” “Guess?” Peter asked.Traya pursed her lips, “Well… Shepherd Santis prefers we not leave the Temple grounds — he calls it an ‘unneeded distra’.” “He… calls the eown around the temple ‘an unneeded distra’?” Peter’s tone was dry, disbelieving, and f a less-than-generous opinion of the thin, elderly man.

  ?Go with that feeling~? Na’at chimed in.

  Are you seriously going to just… hang out in my mind all the time?Peter asked, though to Traya he smiled, “Well. I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to learn about the world I’m going to live in, I think I need a ‘distra’.” He motioned, with a half-bow, for her to go ahead of him ahe way.Unsure, cheeks red, she nodded and took ‘point’, with Peter stepping in behind her an arm’s-length babsp; “It’s funny, though.” Traya said, “You call it a town… but it’s a rge city.” “A city…”Traya nodded as they walked, “Yes. And not just a city, this temple is located in the rgest city, the first city and capital, of Freiholm.” “But he calls it an ‘unneeded distra’.” “Yes, from our devotion to the Church, and the Goddess of Light.” Traya expined, looking down at her feet as they walked, “But… but sometimes… I sneak out.” “Well, your secret is safe with me.” Peter said gently, chug.Her blush strengthened, “Thank you. Shepherd Santis would not be pleased to know this. If I am lucky I will only be disciplined, at worst I would be expunged from the Order of cilors.” “Mh.” Peters frowned as they walked, with him following Traya — she knew a way to sneak around (he hoped, at least, it was secret) and out of the Temple, so why rush ahead of her; plus he could keep this secret for use ter if he needed.“I am sorry, I know I must not be making a very good first impression as a denizen of your new home.” Traya whispered. “Oh, naw. Whats-his-face, with the water, he kinda ruihe whole mystique of being pulled into another world.” Peter assured her with a smile, “You’re doing fine, Miss Traya.” “Oh, no. Just Traya.” She corrected, “I am not worthy of a title.” “It’s not actually a title, just a polite way to address a young, unmarried, woman where I’m from.”Blushing and putting a hand to her mouth she shook her head, “You worry. I am your aide, your subordinate.” “I don’t need a minion or ckey, I’d like a friend, holy.” Peter admitted.

  ?Don’t I t as a friend?? Na’at pouted, though her tone was teasing.  you physically e into the world and keep me pany, ‘mom’? ?Actually I could. Though having aally-charged Stand-in made of Chaos energy might not be the best idea? I am… actually impressed you could do that. And… kinda touched you would do that. ?You’re my kiddo. Of course, I would.? Yeah… I think we o have a long talk about that…

  Traya looked to Peter and gave a half-smile, nodding, “I … uand what it’s like to be alone. I will do my best to be your friend.” “And I will do my best not to get you in trouble with the high muckity-mucks.” “The… what?” “An informal, perhaps irreverent way, to refer to those of a higher station than yourself when talking about them.” Peter coughed, “Really the only two people who left a good impression on me were you and the shorter Shepherd. Vaunn, I think?” “Shepherd Vaunn, yes. He’s quite kind.” Traya nodded. “The other dies there… I’m not sure where I pce them, you know, in a ‘positive’ or ‘ive’ way, holy. And, of course, Whats-his-fad…” He paused, “… Shepherd Santis.”

  He could have sworn he heard Traya mutter a ‘thank you’ under her breath aer couldn’t help but stifle a snicker.

  “… Those two were ive.” Peter said, shrugging and spping his hands against his hips, “… I’m gonna miss pockets…” He muttered, more to himself than Traya, “Well. I was going to say 'Take me to some of your favorite pces you go when you sneak out’ but… I don’t have any ‘ of the realm’. Not that I’d have any pce to put it.” “Well. A pouch, on your belt.” She pulled one from the inside of the belt she was wearing around her simple dress, jingling it to show it had some . “Huh. Well, as long as it doesn’t fall out at your feet.” Peter shrugged. “I have a pouch sewn into my belt that keeps my pouch from falling.” Traya nodded. “Where I’m from… we call that a pocket.” Peter snickered, “Usually at our hips, just below the waist. Right where our hands y naturally.” He pat his thighs, “They’re sewn on the inside of the pants. A simple pouch design, really, and there’s an open slit we slide our hands into them.” “How do you keep things from falling out?” Traya asked, stopping for a moment and peeking around before moving a bush to the side and dug down. “Hoh boy.” Peter whispered, rolling his eyes at the ‘hidden path’ as he crouched down and followed through the hole after Traya.

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