Father Ralnr is a holy man, the caretaker of the orphanage.Old and experienced, somewhere in his mid-sixties,his eyes carried a calm wisdom,and he was well aware of Lucian's condition.
A common saying in Luminor was:
"Children are pure, and the ones with no parents are the purest."
Twisted logic of these medieval clowns.
Even the saying lacked any poetic depth.
They called orphans children of God.
. . .
"Hm, lying is bad child."
Father Ralnr pulled Miyu's ear, and she immediately retorted.
"How do you even know!? And I'm no child — I'm 19!"
Miyu winced at the sharp pain, the kind that makes you want to slap the hand away,but Father Ralnr only pulled harder.
"Lying even more."
"Stop! Stop! I'll be 19 in four full moons!"
Her cat ears twitched rapidly as Ralnr finally loosened his grip.
"Hm… oh great Sun, bless this child with a spouse soon.Nineteen and still without a man…My mother had me when she was seventeen."
Miyu looked at him completely flustered, while Lucian (the foolish one in control) buried his face between Miyu's legs like an ostrich hiding from a sandstorm.
Miyu's face turned crimson.
Even a small smile curled on Lucian's lips — if souls could smile.
"Hm, child… you can take this fool if you like.
And I myself will be the priest at your wedding", Father Ralnr chuckled warmly, glancing at the two of them.
"Old man! He's like my brother! We… we grew up together!And you—!",She shot a glare at Lucian, grabbed his face, and lifted it from her legs, forcing him to look directly into her eyes.
Lucian's soul felt the warm sensation of her fingertips on his chin.
Even the fool in command couldn't help but stare into her golden eyes.
Her short silver hair framed her face gently, her cat ears twitching cutely.
She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful sight Lucain had ever seen.
A strange sensation rose in his chest —
A fast, loud heartbeat.
Lucian wasn't sure if it was his heart or the boy's…
but he couldn't deny the idiot's eyes were completely locked onto her face.
"Just don't eat shit or do something intrusive…"
Lucian begged the fool who was incharge.
"She's beautiful."
"An idiot like you… you're my little brother, don't forget that!",Miyu smiled brightly, her golden eyes squinting.
Father Ralnr rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Miyu, I'm not even joking this time. All the young men are scared of you… they call you a wild cat. No one in this village of refugees will ever marry you."
Pause
"Their perception of beauty is limited to human females. But, great one, under your light, we are all your children… your light falls on everyone equally. You never discriminate."
Thornridge was a village on the outskirts of Luminor—not even a proper dot on the kingdom's map.Most of the people were refugees from the Kingdom of Zenith, mixed with migrants from the other five kingdoms.
Different cultures, different beliefs, different traditions… all thrown into one place.
And when it came to beastmen, they were an entirely different race of their own.
Most beastmen belonged to the Kingdom of Felisara—united under a single Moon Empress,a legendary feline queen whose tail was said to hold the power of tides and dreams.
This world is divided into seven kingdoms.
Zenith is the kingdom ruled by the Eternal One-Armed King.
A land of stone and strict order, built on rigid hierarchy after the War of Ashes.
It could be said that most class differences in the world come from this kingdom.
Things about magic, kingdoms, and everything else felt unreal to Lucian's soul.
He didn't know if any of it was real or if he was trapped in some illusion—
but the feelings were real.
Even the sound of wind ruffling the grass was clear,
and the warmth of Miyu's fingertips on his jawline felt unmistakably real.
"And of course he's five years younger than me… old man",Miyu muttered with a faint blush on her cheeks.
Even if this Lucian wasn't handsome or sharp-looking,he had an innocent, cute face—
even if smeared with dirt.
"Ohh, this bastard is even lucky to be touched by such a beautiful young lady…
and I'm older than you, miss. I'm 20…"
Lucian's soul pondered bitterly from within.
"Beastmen live longer than humans, so in a decade or two,a five- or even ten-year gap won't look like much.And in fact, most beastmen—if choosing their spouse from humans—prefer younger humans, at least a gap of a decade or two.Beastmen maintain their peak features until the end,"
Father Ralnr said.
"I'm not a beastman! I… I'm human!!"
Miyu glared at him.
She hated being associated with beastmen—
she hated that part of herself.
She wanted to be normal, born normal…
but her mother's bloodline was stronger.
"Hmm, Miyu, young one… you are a good lady at heart.The great Sun never discriminates with His light—but humans do.
And that is why you are outcasted by the villagers,"
Father Ralnr said with the calm weight of experience.
Miyu didn't fully understand,
but her heart felt a little lighter hearing his wise words.
"Father, what about the couple whose house Lucian burned?
And… how do you even know Lucian did it?"
Miyu asked.
Father Ralnr closed one eye, the corner of his lip curling up.
"It's a secret, child.
I am aware because… my Lord Sun whispered it in my ear."
"Lord Sun whispered it?"
Miyu raised a brow.
"Don't worry. The villagers don't know.
They just call it the couple's bad luck,"
Father Ralnr said as he leaned closer
and pulled Lucian's ear.
"You damm clown—!! That hurts!!"
Lucian's soul screamed from inside,
while the foolish boy on the outside
simply surrendered in front of his old caretaker.
"Now then, shall we go?
Hmmm… foolish boy! Didn't I give you a new pair three days ago?
What have you done to your tunic?"
Father Ralnr scolded Lucian.
Lucian had no memories of this man at first.
The memories only rushed into him when he interacted with people
connected to the original owner of this body.
Father Ralnr seemed like a kind man,
but Lucian still couldn't understand why the fool was shaking
like an autumn leaf in front of him.
"See you later, Lucii!"
Miyu waved her hand, smiling.
---
People bowed respectfully when they saw Father Ralnr,who smiled warmly with his usual squinted eyes.
The villagers respected him—he was the caretaker of the orphanage
and the representative of Thornridge Village.
"Father! I… I have a complaint!"A man in his forties knelt in front of Father Ralnr.
"Speak, child. And please—you don't have to kneel before me."Ralnr bent slightly, his old knees cracking softly,as he gently lifted the middle-aged man by the shoulder.
The man's gaze flickered nervously
between Lucian and Father Ralnr's feet.
He didn't dare look into the old priest's eyes.
Father Ralnr chuckled and patted the man's shoulder."Child, don't worry. You'll have extra rations next week...Make sure you work hard."
"Thank you, Father! You are wise and kind!"
The middle-aged man bowed with respect.
"And as for you…"Father Ralnr pinched the bridge of his nose, staring at Lucian.
"Just come to the orphanage… troubled one."
He sighed, giving up on the boy's condition.
"You know he's special, right? What can be done…"he said to the middle-aged man.
"Yes, I'm aware…"The man clicked his tongue and shot a hostile glare at Lucian.
"Yes, I'm like a special pest… no different from a cow in an apple orchard or a rat in a warehouse of grain,"Lucian's soul snickered from within.
They reached the orphanage —a modest place, four stories tall, made entirely of wood
with a roof of dark slates.
"Look! It's Lucian! He's back!"
Several kids ran toward him and hugged him.
"You smell like shit!"one kid said, and another immediately echoed him.
Father Ralnr just chuckled.
"Alright, little ones, time for bed," Father Ralnr called out.
In the Kingdom of Luminor, there was no concept of sunset.
The geography of this place was different from normal continents—
unlike the tectonic plates of Earth, this kingdom was a chain of floating islands
constantly moving with the sun.
"Aww, Father Ralnr!! We want to play with Lucian!"
A little girl with sparkling eyes pleaded.
"Father, he ran away three days ago, and it's been so long and boring without him!
Please, just another hour…"
Father Ralnr froze for a brief moment, then looked at them.
A boy around Lucian's age stepped forward
and gently guided the younger kids toward their room.
"Father, I have to study.
Can you please do something about him?
I already told you—I can't stay another day with him."
The boy had bright blue eyes and golden hair cascading down his shoulders.
He looked around fourteen or fifteen years old.
"Young Aurelian, bear with your friend.
He's like your brother — you two grew up together,"
Father Ralnr said with a warm smile.
Is he a doll? Why is this kid so unnaturally good-looking?
Lucian's soul couldn't help but stare at him.
Aurelian clenched his fists, his brows twitching at Father Ralnr's words.
"Please, Father… he's bothersome.
He always causes trouble for me.
I… I'm tired of being his caretaker,"
the words finally spilled from his lips.
Aurelian knew that one day he wouldn't be able to take care of Lucian anymore.
Ever since they were little, he treated him like a younger brother…
but once he grew older and entered his teens,
he realized he didn't want to carry that burden forever.
"I want to enter the academy as a scholar.
I want to study magic… travel the world.
I can't— I don't want to be his caretaker forever."
A few tears rolled down his chin.
"Poor soul… I know exactly how you feel.
I'm sorry you've had to suffer because of this foolish boy,"
Father Ralnr said gently.
Lucian's soul felt like he was staring into a mirror.
He too had his own dreams when he was younger…
but eventually, as he grew older,
he gave up on them piece by piece.
I wish I could ruffle his hair…
but I can't do anything.
I'm just a prisoner in this body.