Snippet #2735564

xxxxxThe wind was blowing gently and the sun was shining serenely. It was but another fine, fine day on the Wandering Island - the so-called wonderland where sadness, despair and worries do not exist. Where people can throw their pasts behind and start anew, blissfully without a care for whatever problems they once faced. Splendid, magnificent, glamorous, words simply cannot express how heavenly it is. To share a privilege of becoming a part of this utopia, who could possibly ask for more?

At least, that is how a normal person would have perceived. Time means little here, as nobody becomes old. While one used to be worrisome of the never-ending cycle of life, they can all cast it all aside, and take all the time they can, as long as they remain within this Island, entrusting their hearts to its' splendors and allowing themselves to be basked and embraced by its' motherly warmth. They need not to question what they see, they no longer have to fear the uncertain, ephemeral future that once haunted them.

This is the true home for their souls, a refuge for their tiring and troubled hearts where sorrows will soon be but shadows of the past.

Somewhere within the Sanctuary of the Three Heavenly Graces, in the large garden situating behind one of its' three gigantic temples, a lone man with long, flowing white hair that gives off an unearthly feel to it, was sitting on a bench under an arch at the middle of the garden, and he seems to be deeply indulged in a book that he was reading. God knows how long had he been sitting here, bathed in the sunlight and let the wind carries all his thoughts away. The man seems to blend perfectly with his surrounding, becoming something that one can probably find only in a Renaissance work of arts.

"Maestro." A husky, matured voice suddenly appeared from nowhere, pulling Fides away from his immersion in the allure of the wise words of the book he was reading. A tall, thin man wearing a pair of glasses with a long white hair like him approached him from behind, "I believe the Innocents whom our almighty Owner spoke of have arrived. But I suppose I needn't have to tell you?"

"Is that so? Thank you for the reminder, dear Reinhart. I almost forgot about it." Fides said with his usual calm smile. It was quite obvious that he was joking. How could he ever forget his duty, and the important task that the Owner of the Island had entrusted him? To serve the Island and its' Owner is but the very purpose of his existence, the moment that he became the first to have tumbled his way here, and granted with the title as the Grace of Faith. It was the sole belief that had driven and motivated him for who knows how long, and he had sworn to never forget, even in sleep, "Well, I guess I shouldn't keep them waiting. As of now, they are like mere infants that had just left their mothers' wombs to greet the world. It would be bad to left them confused and uncertain of the gift that had just been bestowed upon them."

With that said, Fides closed his book and set it aside. He can continue with where he left off when he returned. Just as he stood up and grabbed his staff which he left laying against the bench, his assistant suddenly wrapped his arm around Fides, caressed his chest and leaned his chin against his shoulder. "You don't have to go, Maestro. Your colleagues can take care of the job just fine. I want to listen more of your stories, and there's a few points I haven't really gotten the gist yet about the theory of relativity."

Fides let out a quiet sigh and patted Reinhart's head, like he had always did since his assistant was but a small kid. The way he is clinging to Fides right now is, according to him, his own way of showing respect for his mentor. Cecilia once commented that it was a very suggestive way of displaying affection, and that there's a lot more to it that Fides wouldn't know. But he didn't pay much attention to it and felt that there's no problem letting his apprentice does what he want. "Yes, yes. I certainly won't forget to attend to my beloved student. But you of all people know well that slacking from my duty is unthinkable for me, right?"

"I know. And I wouldn't dare. I was just joking back at you, Maestro." Reinhart smiled and placed a light kiss on some locks of his teacher's hair. "Shall I accompany you to the warp pad, then?"

Exiting the Temple of Faith, Fides and Reinhart left for the warp pad of the Graces' Sanctuary. It is where he met up and greeted his three colleagues - Makas the Grace of Hope, Cecilia the Grace of Love, and the in-training Lucian the Grace of Truth. As the first inhabitant of the Island, Fides sees all of those who arrived after him to be either his younger siblings or children. Even more so with his fellow Graces whom he entrusts as his closest friends. Wasting no more moments for chatting, the four of them enter the warp and was transported to the Soul Garden - where new inhabitants are first arrived and prepared to become a part of the Island.

From the warp pad, Fides and his colleagues walked through the lustrous field of the beautiful garden filled with other-worldly flowers and plants. It was so breathtaking that it wouldn't be wrong to call it the Garden of Eden itself. Along the path leading to the warp pad, statues of Obsidians can be found standing vigilant as ever, blowing their rhapsodies through their horns to welcome the newly arrived inhabitants of the Island.

And the four of them came into Fides' sight. The lost souls granted with salvation from their miseries and sorrow to join the eternal bliss. As he and the other three approached the four new faces, Fides greeted, "Welcome, dearest wayfarers, to your new home. Please, you do not have to doubt what you see or raise your guards with us. We have been tasked to come here to greet you, and to help you prepare everything you may need before you begin your new lives."

Then, he took off his hood, revealing his face, "Allow me to introduce ourselves. We go by the titles of The Heavenly Graces. My name is Fides, and these three are my colleagues, Makas, Cecilia and Lucian. It is a pleasure to meet you." Fides smiled warmly, "Of course, I believe there is a great deal that you want to know about your being here. One thing I can assure you is that this is certainly not a dream. We are here to answer any questions you have in mind, so have you any?"