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Join the ServerThat day, she watched the sunset.
Its afterglow bathed the small village.
Church bells echoed softly.
Men returned from the fields, their farming tools slung over shoulders.
Women emerged from the riverside woods, their faces alight with radiant smiles.
Everything was utterly beautiful.
“Cough, cough… Fionn, it’s time for dinner.”
An aged voice drifted from behind her.
She turned to see the elderly priest, with his long white beard, waving her over.
Smiling, she rose to her feet and brushed the dust from the hem of her skirt.
Then, she ran towards the old priest.
“Coming, Grandpa Kamil!”
The old priest chuckled, gently patting her head.
He then led her towards the small church behind them.
Inside, the church was empty.
Yet, a four-inch cream cake sat on a nearby table, a small pink candle nestled atop it.
‘Such a small, delicate cream cake would likely cost two silver coins in town,’ she mused.
Still pondering, she heard clapping from behind her.
“Happy birthday, Fionn.”
“Congratulations on turning sixteen. From today onward, you are an adult, a young lady.”
A large, wrinkled hand gently ruffled her hair.
Turning, she saw the old priest gazing at her with a benevolent smile.
Only warmth filled her heart.
She threw herself into the old priest’s embrace.
“Thank you… thank you, Grandpa Kamil! When I earn money, I’ll buy you a cake every year too!”
“Hahaha, Fionn, I truly look forward to the cakes you’ll bring me in the future.”
The old priest nodded contentedly, as if watching his own child finally grow up.
“But my child, I still hope you’ll make more friends to talk to in the future.”
“After all, I’m just an old bag of bones now. In the future…”
“Ah, never mind. Let’s not speak of such inauspicious things on a day like this.”
“It’s time to light the candle and make a wish.”
The old priest released her, retrieved some matches, and lit the pink candle.
Under the lingering twilight, the candlelight flickered, transforming the small cream cake into a radiant golden beacon.
To her, it was the most beautiful treasure in the world.
“Come, make a wish, child.”
“Mhm!”
She clasped her hands before her mouth, closed her eyes, and whispered softly:
“My birthday wish is for Grandpa Kamil to be forever healthy and live a long life…”
Having made her simple, heartfelt wish, she exhaled gently.
With that breath, the candle’s flame was extinguished, and twilight faded into night.
The church plunged into darkness.
It was utterly dim, devoid of light.
Fortunately, the old priest relit an oil lamp, bathing the church in a warm glow once more.
“Now that your wish is made, you can eat the cake.”
The old priest handed a spoon to her.
She looked up and asked, “Grandpa Kamil, what about your dinner?”
“Me? I’ve already eaten.”
“Really?”
“Truly. On my way back from buying the cake in town, I got hungry and ate some dark bread beforehand.”
She believed him wholeheartedly.
Nevertheless, she scooped a spoonful of cream cake and offered it to the old priest.
“Delicious food shouldn’t be eaten alone, Grandpa Kamil! You must try some!”
The old priest was about to wave her off, but he saw her expectant gaze and her outstretched arm.
Finally, he smiled with helpless affection, leaned forward, and swallowed the spoonful of cake.
He nodded, though it was unclear if he had truly tasted it.
“Mmm, delicious.”
Her eyes brightened, and only then did she happily and confidently savor her cake.
The cream cake was sweet and delectable.
She wanted to share more with the old priest, but he gently declined.
“Too much cream will make your teeth ache.”
“Oh… alright then.”
She could only pop the spoonful of cake into her own mouth.
As the delicious treat melted, her face glowed with an expression of pure bliss.
The old priest simply watched her in silence as she finished her cake.
Finally, he took out his handkerchief and wiped the cream from the corners of her mouth.
Even as she lay in bed after eating the cake, before drifting into slumber, she savored the memory.
Today had been the happiest day of her entire life!
However, she never imagined that this happiness would vanish like smoke by the very next day.
Early the next morning, she was jolted awake by a cacophony of noise.
Still in a daze, someone burst through her door, delivering news that struck her like a bolt from the clear sky.
The old priest had passed away that morning.
During his morning prayers, he had coughed up a large mouthful of blood.
He managed to cling to a stool for a moment, swaying, before finally collapsing to the ground.
The village had no doctor, and Kamil was the only priest in the church.
No one knew how to save him.
The villagers could only call for help, summoning a carriage to take the old priest to town.
Yet, as they carefully lifted the old priest onto the carriage, they discovered he had already drawn his last breath.
” ‘But Old Mr. Kamil seemed perfectly fine usually. How could he suddenly… alas…’ ”
” ‘Indeed, when I saw him going to town yesterday, Old Mr. Kamil was in excellent spirits. He even hopped onto the freight carriage with ease.’ ”
” ‘It’s truly strange…’ ”
Many people gathered in the church, all discussing the old priest’s death.
It wasn’t until lunchtime that they finally dispersed.
Only she remained, kneeling blankly on the ground, staring numbly at the old priest’s cold remains.
In the afternoon, the villagers pooled their money to buy a coffin and found a plot of land for the old priest’s burial.
She followed behind, as if her soul had been torn from her.
The funeral concluded hastily.
Even after everyone had departed, she stood motionless before the old priest’s simple grave.
She couldn’t recall how she eventually returned to the church.
All she knew was pushing open the heavy doors to a profound silence, broken only by the stark, pale moonlight.
No matter where she looked up, the familiar figure was nowhere to be seen in the empty hall.
The only thing visible was the glaring bloodstain on the floor.
She was a child the old priest had found.
He had said that when he discovered her, she was a mere infant, lying alone on the grassland, seemingly abandoned since birth.
The kind-hearted old priest had adopted her, and her birthday was set on that very day.
Until today, the old priest had accompanied her for a full sixteen years.
It was as if it had been decided long ago, not a day more, not a day less.
At the funeral, she hadn’t shed a single tear, leading people to believe she was a strong child.
Only she knew that she was still struggling to process the profound shock of the old priest’s passing.
She had always known that the day of parting would eventually arrive.
But she had never expected it to come so swiftly… so utterly without warning…
By the time she regained her senses, her tear ducts had completely burst.
There was no collapsing into loud sobs, only silent, choked weeping as she hugged her knees, huddled behind the door.
From that day forward, a new voice echoed in her mind.
[His death is merely the beginning. Everything around you will befall misfortune because of your existence.]
[You cannot escape your destiny, Child of Calamity, Cassius.]
[Until in the future, the entire world will tremble in fear and plunge into chaos because of your name! Finally, it will meet its end! Hehehehe!]
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