Minister Cedia was already waiting for me when I arrived at the village entrance. She was talking to a man I haven't seen in a long time.

"Apologies, Minister Cedia. I came late."

"Nonsense, we were just too early." she replied. "I see you're well prepared for the journey."

"Indeed. The Maker will provide, but being prepared won't hurt." I replied with a humble smile.

"Clergyman Fairsborough! It's been a long time!" the man Minister Cedia was talking to exclaimed.

"Pastror Horatio! May the merciful light radiate within us. It is good to see you again!"

Pastor Horatio Windsor was one of my mentors back then in the seminary at Swordbreak. He is a plump man with a very impressive moustache and beard, and a silky-smooth slicked-back hair. All in natural black. He also always has a smile on his face. The first time I met William after graduating from the seminary and returning here in Riverdale, he actually reminded me of this very man. Aside from their physique, of course.

"What brings you the Riverdale, Pastor?" I asked him.

"And guide our way. I'm Minister Arongrutch's escort! And now, your escort too!"

"Pastor Horatio here is also our coachman." Minister Cedia chimed in, gesturing to the carriage onto the side.

Well, it's not really much of a carriage, but more of a really small covered wagon. Four wheels, four sides, with the three bows arching up on the top. The white leather cover was rolled up and strapped to the wagon's side.

"Where is the horse?" I asked.

"Ah, I took him earlier to the river. Tied him to a tree. I think it is a good idea to let him graze and drink before our departure." Pastor Horatio replied.

I nodded at that.

"Say, this is the first time I saw you in a cassock! It looks good on you, Clergyman!" the pastor added.

I'm wearing a black cassock and a white priests' collar around my neck. I packed my stuff inside my brown leather satchel, and straped across my shoulders.

As for the two, Minister Cedia was wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt and an ankle-length brown skirt. She had a coif on her head. The bandeau and the wimple was white with a black veil. Pastor was also wearing the same black cassock and white collar attire as I do. Those were the customary attire of the servants of the Church of Merciful Radiance when we are outside doing non-liturgical activities. Cassock for the priests, and Coif for the priestesses.

"Ah, well, I rarely get to wear this. I think this might only be the, what, fifth time I wore this? Hahaha!"

Pastor Horatio nodded at that. "Well, shall we load up then? I'll pitch up the cover on top then I'll get the horse afterwards. I reckon we'll be good to go by the time the sun has fully risen."

"I'll help you with the cover, Pastor." I offered. He just nodded his acceptance.

"Clergyman! Wait!" someone called out from the village.

I looked towards that and I saw Marziner coming to us, along with the parents of some of my students.

"Marz-Chief? What brings you all here? Came to see us off?"

"That, and we came to give this."

Marziner passed to me a whole crate full of jarred pickled vegetables and fruits. There was also a sack of what I assume was grains. I peeked inside and I saw an assortment of oats, barley, and rye.

"What's this for?" I asked.

"Those are for you Clergyman... I mean all of you." The one who answered was Alanis. She is the mother of one of my students, Prima. She is very young for a mother. From what I heard, she got pregnant during her adolescence. Her husband, a village hunter, passed some years ago in a night beast attack. "Consider it as a token of gratitude from us parents."

"But aren't all of these too many? What about what's left for all of you?"

Marziner was the one who answered. "Don't worry. The harvest for this year was remarkably plentiful. We have enough stores to last all of us until the next planting season. Those are the excess." He gestured to the parents, "We already talked about this yesterday. Think of it as our gratitude for all of your services to Riverdale for the past years."

"But-"

"I see. We humbly accept this gift, then." Minister Cedia stepped forward. She took Marziner's hand in both of hers. "May The Maker bless all of you and all of your harvests to come. Thank you."

With no choice but to accept their offering, I picked up the crate while Pastor Horatio picked up the sack and we loaded it into the wagon, while Minister Cedia talked some more with Marziner and the villagers.

Next, we pitched the cover over the bows of the wagon and pulled it taut on the sides. I can tell that this wagon has been heavily used by the church. The white leather cover has scrapes and scratches all over. All superficial and nothing that are threatening to the integrity of the leather. There were also specks of dirt, pressumably accumulated on the trip here. The wood of the wagon itself also has many scratches, and in some places, tiny messages in carvings. Pressumably written by the previous passengers, or perhaps vandalism by delinquent children in the cities and towns. The oak wood feels very sturdy. The metal reinforcements on the tires, axles, and hounds don't show any specks of rust, meaning that this wagon is being well maintained.

"I must say, Pastor, this wagon is in pretty good shape. Have you always driven this one?"

"This one? Oh no. The church always employs coachmen for their wagons and carriages, you know, for use during travels. Minister Cedia just requested the Outer Cloister that I be her coachman for this journey. Maybe she just feels safer with me. We know each other for a long time, you know." Pastor Horatio shrugged.

"Well, that's it for her!" Pastor Horatio said while patting the side of the wagon. "Time to get the horse!"

As Pastor Horatio went to the river to get the horse, I went back to Minister Cedia and the villagers.

"Ah, Clergyman Erdem, we were just talking about you." Minister Cedia told me as I got there.

"Wait, me?!" I was puzzled.

"Yes, I asked the villagers here about your time in the village. About your conduct, your relationship with the village, with your students."

I felt something warm on my face, specifically, my cheeks.

"Ah, look at you, Clergyman! Blushing like a sweet child!" Minister Cedi teased. "If you weren't a priest already, I'm sure a lady or two would be smitten! Hahaha!"

cough cough

The sound came from Marziner. Both Minister Cedia and I looked at him.

"What? Did I say something... fitting?"

Marziner didn't say anything. Instead, he just nudged an elbow at Alanis, who was beside him. The woman was fidgeting in her place. She was blushing hard and won't look our way.

Marziner nudged an elbow at her again. This time, a tiny bit stronger.

"C-Clergyman..." she finally said.

"Yes?"

She then stepped forward and from her back, she pulled out a single flower. A white lily.

"T-this... this is for you, Clergyman. Have a... have a s-safe trip."

She still won't meet my eyes. I saw hers already on the verge of tears, and her face now almost matching the shade of her auburn hair.

Only when I took the flower from her hand did I realize that there was a letter attached to the flower stalk.

I did'nt know what to say. I really don't.

"Uhm. Thank you, Alanis."

I saw Marziner slammed a palm in his face.

Minister Cedia had an eyebrow raised.

I put a hand on her shoulder. "I... I really appreciate this gesture, Alanis. I really do. But, as you know, I am a priest. I'm sure that you will find another man. A man that The Maker has chosen for you." I managed to console.

She just nodded, still not meeting my gaze. The tears were now trickling down. She then turned around, and run away back to the village, past the other villagers.

I sighed a sigh of relief. I saw Minister Cedia still raised an eyebrow at me.

"I swear to my oath as a priest Minister, I had no idea about... about that."

"Of course you don't." I heard Marziner whisper to the wind.

Minister Cedia just sighed and smiled at me. "It happens Clergyman Fairsborough, it happens. You're not the first."

"I'll go talk to her later, Clergyman, don't worry." Marziner added.

I sighed a sigh of relief.

"I'm going to pretend that I did not see all of that."

I turned around and saw Pastor Horatio coming to us, a horse in tow.

The very muscular stallion stood a full head taller than me. It has long black hair, and deep brown skin turning white near the belly and hooves.

"Clergyman, meet Müller!"

I nodded at that. I slowly approached the horse as not to spook it. I held out a hand a few paces from him and let him come to me. He sniffed my hand, and once he's done, he nudge att my hand with his snout. I then petted him gently.

"Look at that, he already likes you!" the pastor mused. "If only he's a stallion, he'll also be a casanova like you, hahaha!"

"Pastor, please!" I said as I blushed in embrassment.

"Pastor Windsor, language." Minister Cedia reminded.

"My apologies, Minister, Clergyman," he said with a smile.

I took that chance to look at Müller's underside. It seems that Pastor Horatio is correct. The horse is castrated. He's not a stallion, but a gelding.

"Shall we go then, Minister?" Pastor Horatio asked.

"Preferably, yes. I think it would be best to leave early so that we can gain substantial distance, if we are not to camp in the middle of the North Woods come night fall."

"Understood." Pastor Horatio then walked over to the wagon, Müller in tow, and started harnessing the horse to the reins.

Minister Cedia then bid the villagers goodbye, and joined Pastor Horatio.

That left me with them.

"I guess this is it then." I said.

"I guess so." Marziner replied.

"Take care of the kids for me, brother."

Marziner just sighed. "I... I'll do my best, brother."

I then hugged him tightly. I found my hands patting him on the back. I waved the villagers and the village of Riverdale goodbye, and joined the others in the wagon.

"All set?" Pastor Horatio asked me as I climbed inside the wagon.

"Yes."

The inside of the small wagon was really cramped now with our belongings and the villagers' gift, but I still managed to find a somewhat comforable spot. Inside was me and Minister Cedia sitting across me, while Pastor Horatio, now wearing a straw hat, took the seat at the front, behind the reins.

click click

Pastor Horatio made a clicking sound with his mouth, and with a weak whip on the reins, Müller started walking down the road southbound towards the royal capital.

I took one last look at the village of Riverdale, and at the villagers who grew smaller and smaller and smaller as time went by.

Minister Cedia placed a hand on my knee. I looked at her. She just returned my look with a smile.

I understood.

Farewells are hard, but one can only dwell in the past for so much. I looked ahead, past Pastor Horatio and Müller, towards the path that lay before us; curious, and excited, for what the future holds for me.

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