"Clergyman! Over here!" Marziner called from his spot at the bar.

I slipped between chairs and tables filled with men and women having a merry time, quenching their throats with mead and other liquors.

"Unusually crowded here." I remarked as I took the empty seat beside my friend. The Riverdale pub isn't exactly a large establishment. All it needs are 30 or so people to make it feel like the castle square at the royal capital during a royal proclamation.

"The harvest season is near, Clergyman. This is just normal."

"Drop the title, it's just the two of us here at the bar." I frowned at that. Not just because of the over-formality of my friend, but the celebration as well. I just don't think it's a good idea to celebrate in advance for something that is still yet to happen. It's just not a good practce. I looked around the four corners of the stone building. Lamps illuminated the walls, casting light on all the merry makers. On the far side of the bar from us, barrels of booze are all lined up. Beside that, there is another wooden door reinforced with metal braces which I assume leads to the cellar, where more of those kegs and barrels can be found. One of the barmaids opened that door and disappeared behind it, then came out rolling a barrel on it's side, much to the delight of the merry-makers.

I nodded to the barman. A tall, bald fellow with an awesome moustache and a physique you would expect from a cattle wrangler. Did I mention the smile eternally plastered on his face? There's that too. "Good evening William." I greeted.

"Ah! Clergyman Fairsborough! What would you have?" The jolly barman said as he turned to my direction, leaning on the bar with his muscular forearm. "Perhaps a mead? An ale?" he suggested with a grin.

"I'm a priest. You know very well my answer." I sighed with a smile. As one of the role-models of society, priests and priesteses like us are forbidden to take in addicting stuff.

Well... it's not exactly the stuff that is forbidden, but rather being addicted to it. It's just better to be on the safe side. "Just the usual, milk with honey. Chilled, please."

"Haha! I thought this would be the day that I baptize your throat with liquor!"

"It seems that The Maker has other plans."

"Touché! I shall live to fight another day! Hahaha!" William then proceeded to prepare my beverage. I turned to Marziner who was silent during my exchange with William. I guess he really loves his ale.

"You all packed up?" he asked. He has been here for quite sometime now. I'm really impressed with his liquor tolerance.

"Yes. Just a single pack and my staff. There's nothing really much to pack up."

"Here you go, Clergyman!" William slid my order down the length of the bar. I grabbed it. I frowned.

"It could use more chill." I said which earned me a raised eyebrow from the barman. "Fine." I surrendered as I slid down my drink and three copper coins down to his side of the bar.

"Haha! Now we're talkin'!" William exclaimed. He then picked up my drink, held it in his grip, then furrowed his eyebrows as he focused. I felt the ambient mana in the air shift and turn, then coalesce in his hand. A small Willpower appeared out of thin air and hover just above my drink. It was just about the size of his fist and glowing light blue.

"Rune Art: Chilling Touch"

I felt a gush of cold wind come out from his hand and my drink. He slid down my drink down the bar again to me and I grabbed it. I smiled at the result. The two copper coins were for the drink. The third was for the extra service.

"Thank you William!" I thanked him as he nodded and turned to another customer. "What's with your office earlier anyway?" I teased as I turned to Marziner.

"Shut up." he retorted as took another swig at his now half-empty mug. It always amazes me how he can be overly formal almost all the time then revert to the Marziner I know when it's just us.

"I'll be entrusting the children to you." I said, shifting to a more serious tone.

"They said they'll have a replacement?" I understood the tone.

"I know, and there are no rotten apples in the church, but I don't have the opportunity to meet my replacement." I answered as I took a swig out of my own drink, and closed my eyes to savor the creaminess of the milk blending with the tang of honey. "Thing is," I continued, "all teachers are priests, but not all priests are teachers." I took another swig. "I need someone whom I can trust."

He just shook his head. "I'll do what I can." He took another gulp, bottoms up. He not-so-hardly slammed his now empty mug as an "Ah!" escaped from his mouth. He raised his mug to get William's attenntion and slid down his mug to the barman for a refill. "The parents and I will figure something out."

"Oh right," I remembered, "since we're on the topic, how did your discussion with the parents go?"

"Well, they are surprised, of course, but they understand that you are just following orders and the situation is out of our hands. As much as they would like you to stay, so do I, they understand that you are needed somewhere else." He paused before continuing. "As for the days that you will be gone and your replacement hasn't arrived yet, the parents will have their turns teaching what they know. Tomorrow, we will all be there to explain the situation to the children."

I smiled. "Those children are lucky to have parents like theirs. Their village chief, that is still a question."

"Funny" he deadpanned. "You really like kids don't you?"

"Well, yes. I mean, can you blame me?"

"I guess not. Ever since that happened." He smirked. "That sure takes me back."

I smiled too, "It sure does." I placed my mug on the bar. I guess it's time for the mandatory flashback.