The ride back to home was silent and uneventful. Melsier and I didn't even glance at eachother. We covered the entire journey in just 2 hours and managed to reach home just before dinner.
Melsier knocked on the small door. "How are you going to break it to Alexia? She won't like the idea of you leaving." I asked with a questioning gaze.
"I know."
CRACK! Alexia opened the door with a lot of struggle, her expression quickly changed she recognized us. "Y-You guys are back?"
Melsier smiled as he pointed at the horse behind him. "I got a ride."
With a delighted expression, Alexia stepped out to see the horse.
Rushian peeked out to see as well. "What happened Alexia big sis- WOWW! IS THAT OUR HORSE? I WANT TO RIDE IT!!!" His loud voice was heard by everyone in the house and soon they all came running out to see the horse.
Melsier chuckled at their clumsiness. "Don't pull the tail or anything!"
"Why are they so much excited about a horse?" I question as I tilt my head in confusion.
"You probably don't know this but as war got brutal in the kingdom, prices of basic armours and weapons skyrocketed. No blacksmith took any personal crafting requests as they were busy all year mass producing weapons for the kingdom's army. Horse prices increased drastically as well, the army wanted faster and more fearless horses so they began selectively breeding them which made military horses very desirable and status of wealth."
I nod as we enter the house.
On the bed, Kela is playing with the mud dolls. She turned to us and cutely laughed. "Dah! Dah!" Melsier immediately went to her and picked her up.
"Atleast there is one person in this household which cares about us." I say in a sarcastic term. Melsier starts playing with Kela, tickling the baby which produces more cute noises.
I silently watch from the sidelines.
"I have been actively dodging this but what is your choice?" Melsier asks without looking at me.
"About what?"
"Your choice, Altaris. Do you want to help me? Do you even want to look after the kids? Do you… even want to do any of this?"
I struggle to give a direct answer. 'Until now, I just went with the flow. I don't even know if the things I am doing are right. Yes, I have my own questions about my past, my current state, my future. I had spent my last life running around following orders. Always on the move, always in middle of something, always busy. Ever since I opened my eyes in that dungeon, I spent every moment on myself and…. I like it.'
"Yes. I want to help you."
Melsier's eyes lit up at my words. "A-After waking up I quickly realized that I don't have anyone in this world. Then, I decided to stick around you until I figured things out. Hope you don't mind."
Melsier finally looked at me with a smile. "It feels like I just gained a brother."
"What?"
"You do realize that you don't act according to your age."
"I-Is that so?"
Seeing me panic, Melsier chuckles. "Don't worry. Dungeon dwellers are known to be the black sheep."
"Haha…"
Melsier puts Kela aside and walks towards me. "How old are you anyway?" He puts his hands on my shoulder.
"I-I don't know." I answer.
"Hmm. You are shorter than Alexia but taller than Rushian. Maybe around 12 or 13 years old?"
'Huh? Is this body that young?' I wonder in my mind.
Melsier squeezes his hands. "Your bones feel fragile too. Definitely not 15. By the way Alexia is the oldest and she is 15."
I make a mental note.
THUD!
We both turn our heads to the door and see Rushian on the ground. "Rushian! I told you not make any noise." Alexia scolds him.
"But Fran stepped on my foot."
"No, I didn't."
"You liar!"
The conversation quickly turns into an argument. Melsier had to step in to make peace.
Meanwhile I walk up to Alexia. "Eavesdropping?"
The girl quickly turns her head to the other side. "No? I was just… making sure Kela wasn't crying or anything."
I smirk and decide to tease Alexia. "Oh my. I didn't know Helen taught you such habits." Infuriated,
Alexia turns to me and yells. "Big sister didn't teach me anything and this isn't a habit."
"I wonder how she will react if I tell her about your habits."
Alexia grabs my collar and threatens with a punch. "You…"
Melsier comes in to calm things down. "Alexia! Put Altaris down."
I flash my tongue to her which further infuriates her. "What? He is-"
"Alexia! Calm down." Melsier yells at her.
'Rage baiting kids is always fun.'
"Altaris you go with Rushian and others to grab dinner. Me and Alexia are going to have a talk." Melsier winks at me in the end. I understood his sign, he is going to tell Alexia about his job and the treasure thing.
I simply walk inside the house and see all the kids lying on the bed, clearly hungry. Rushian sees me and sits up. "Hey! are they done talking? I am very hungry."
"No, I think they are going to have a long talk."
"Noo!" "We are hungry!" "Where is big sister?" "Can't they talk later?" All the kids began complaining and wailing.
"Melsier said that we can go ahead and eat."
"Yes!" "Let's go! Let's go!" "Today's dinner is at father Patrick!" Rushian claims in excitement.
"Ohh! I want eat his bread. It's always so soft." A kid says with saliva dripping from his mouth.
I raise my eyebrow in question. "Who is father Patrick?"
"Father lives in the village church! He always invites us for dinner! He is very sweet and a great cook." Rushian explains.
I hear very positive things about the father. This piqued my interest. 'Is the church still rich and powerful as it was during my time?'
"Does this Patrick live with other nuns and emissaries?" I ask Rushian.
"No? I always seen the Father alone in the church."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
'A father alone handling an entire church?'
"Alright let's go and eat dinner." I announce and follow the kids to outside. I see Melsier and Alexia having a deep conversation. I purposely ignore them and led the kids outside the fencing. "Where does this Father Patrick live?"
"Here! This way!"
I follow the kids into the village, the roads felt more emptier and all houses had their doors closed. 'Maybe because it's night?'
After walking for a few minutes, we reached the other edge of the village. On the side of the road, bit deeper into forest stood a small stone tower. "Is that the church?" I ask.
"Yep!"
We walk to the church and Rushian knocks the double wooden doors aggressively. "Father Patrick!!! We are here for dinner!!"
I glance around the building and my suspicions only raise every second. 'No lights? The building feels too small to be an actual church. In my time, even the smallest church had a grand entrance with multiple people attending the gates at all times. Sure, war might put a strain on their manpower but this is a bit too much.' I subconsciously raise my sense with mana. 'Just in case.'
CLICK! A man in his 50s opens the door with a smile. "Sorry. My old age has taken bit of my hearing."
"Father Patrick!!" Rushian quickly goes and hugs the father. Slowly almost everyone hugs the father. I simply stand on the side, my eyes piercing this old man. 'One wrong move and swear I rip your heart out.'
"Is little Alexia not with you?" The old man asks with much interest. "No, he and Melsier will come later."
"That's really unfortunate…. Anyway, come inside. The table is set."
We walk into the church, the father stays behind to close the doors. Everyone takes a seat at the table, I seat beside Rushian. The food is already served. 'Some kind stew and a single piece of bread.'
"Now kids, has everyone done the things I taught you about?"
'What things?'
"I sacrificed 15 blood droplets for our apostle."
"I sacrificed 20!"
"I did 7. It hurt too much."
"I did it too."
Every hair strand of hair had stood up on my body, I tightened my grip on the wooden spoon that it cracked. My thoughts going wild. 'Apostle? This bastard is using children's blood to strength the church apostle? Wait. Only devoted who took vows can offer blood. Regular blood won't cut it.'
"What about you?" I turn my head to the old man. Everyone is looking at me. "How much did you sacrificed?"