The rain was unrelenting as the vendors began closing their shops. The children though ran--Their slippers contacted the slushy wet paths--As water soaked in through them. Just then--A little girl sprinted to a boy, chasing him. Letting out soft giggles as she taunted at him. Marcellos Mane! Mane! (stop!) her voice dripped with a southern accent. As she then continued trailing behind him.
Marcellos looked at her above his shoulder--His lips curled in a mischievous grin--Numquam ad me pervenies, Helen! he yelled back--As his gaze then returned to the front--He then saw a man's robe--His legs gave off as he then bumped into him.
Helen then stopped dead in her tracks, her smile dropped as she saw the man and Marcellos. Marcellos then gazed at him--Slightly shuddering with fear. His green eyes then met an old, frail ones. It was an elderly man; may as well be a scholar--His robe said so.
"Me paenitet, domine" I'm sorry, Mr... he murmured gaze low. The man just gazed at him then removed his cloak--It was Dominic.
He stared at the child then just as his arms reached out for the boy's head--Siste domine! Helen's high pitch rang out. As she positioned herself in-between them.
Domini raised one of his eyebrows as he watched her bite sized frame in defiance. Videaris vir bonus, quaeso ne eum laedas, laede me si id te sanum facit! (You seem like a good man, so please don't hurt him, hurt me if that makes you sane) she continued, her words were final.
Dominic's lips then curled into a soft smile as he then pulled out some sweets from him pocket and offered it to the children.
They gazed at it and then at him--Then they took it hesitantly. Dominic's hands then reached out to the boy's hair--Though this time she didn't stop him. Though, her gaze was still on his frail arms.
He then softly ruffled the boy's raven hair--Don't worry child, I wouldn't do anything. Marcelo stared at him, then nodded.
Soon the children ran off as the rain seemed to be still ongoing.
Dominic then watched them flee--At how their tiny fingers seemed to intertwine with one another, at how much they seemed inseparable.
Dominic smiled as he then began to walk further.
Meanwhile----
Further in a cottage--Sitting near the window was Eleanor petronella--Her dazed eyes seeming to watch the racing droplets as her mind swirled in thoughts. Was it the excitement that she will be closer to master Flaytus from now on? or was it the anxiousness of leaving her comfort zone and into a place so enormous--Where she could lose even herself?
She sighed--for there were no answers, she couldn't think of any.
The door behind her creaked opened as Dominic stepped in--His gaze then fell to a curled Eleanor. His eyebrows furrowed, was she alright? a fatherly instinct ran through him as he then quickly placed the logs on the floor and strode to her.
Eleanor hadn't even noticed his presence until a frail hand grasped her shoulder. She then sniffled as she glanced at him. Dominic's worried gaze swept through her. What happened daughter? he asked, his raspy voice dripped with concern.
Her lips quivered, as she then hugged him. Dominic held her. What is it daughter? you are making me worried? he asked softly.
Eleanor then parted as she then gazed at him, f-father, she murmured. "I will be leaving you" Dominic's hollow eyes widened, where my, daughter? where is it that you are going to leave me for? he asked. voice pressing.
She explained master Flaytus's whish.
Dominic nodded along--We have to obey by the master's whish daughter--But father, I... her voice trailed off. Of course, she wasn't in the position to oppose Dominic--And certainly not master Flaytus.
She then reluctantly nodded as she then sobbed onto him. He patted her back in a soft manner as his other hand ran through his silver beard--He didn't want her to go either, though, this was master Flaytus--And he did not have to ask twice--"his words were always final"