Monday morning in the Goddess temple.
In the early morning, Joy is brooming the outside of the temple.
There are leaves, dirt and filth that already come with people’s feet.
While doing so, he couldn’t stop himself from yawning.
He didn’t sleep much yesterday night and even wake up early.
It really took long to complete that ritual and now he is just tired.
However, he can’t really skip his daily routine because he is tired.
The motivation to wake up everyday is that he really doesn’t want to be homeless.
This is temple is much safer than the outside.
Joy also couldn’t help but move his tongue from side to side.
It just feels uncomfortable in his mouth.
‘Getting used to the feeling on this numbness going to take time.
However, I do feel clean from the inside for some reason.
It is like all the toxins or bad things were vomited out last night.
In other words, I am purified.’
He is really surprised to know that only one ritual can change his body to such a degree.
It makes him wonder what else will be happening to him if he did more rituals.
Could he just do more and more rituals of such kind to gain many abilities?
He doesn’t know if there is a limit to it or not.
He really wants to find some info on magic.
It will difficult to find a book like that one again though.
He sighs and gets to brooming the place.
While doing so he found someone outside the gate of the temple.
It is woman who looks extremely dirty and is covering body with a blanket.
The blanket itself is also very grossing.
A person like this will not be allowed in the temple.
People should treat temples or churches or places of Gods like their own home.
This is what priest has said to him and it makes sense to him too.
But not everyone has enough money to keep them clean.
Or get good enough clothes to look like a human.
Looking at the woman doesn’t make him feel any pity for her.
But he is currently here so why not talk to her.
So, he moves closer to her.
The woman doesn’t seem to notice him until he is close enough to reach her.
She even jumps in fright like he is sneaked up on her out of nowhere.
Joy examines her and finds out that this woman seems to be much older than he thought.
Was she abandoned by her children?
Or she lost her house because she could pay the rent?
He wouldn’t going to ask such a thing though.
That would be disrespectful and he has no interest in prying into her life.
So, he speaks to her.
“Miss, the temple will open in few hours. You can come after two hours. There won’t be many people here at that moment of time. So, I don’t thing priest would mind if you just want to pray to the Goddess.”
The doesn’t reply for ten or twenty second.
Then she realizes that the boy had said something to him and answers in a hoarse voice.
“No… No, I don’t want to come in… I just…”
She fell silent again and stare at Joy’s back.
He looks back but find nobody behind him.
‘Has she gone senile?’ He makes a guess of the woman’s condition.
If that is the case then talking to her might be useless.
He should just leave her alone and get back to doing his work.
“Boy? can I give ashes of my husband to you… He… wanted to be with goddess for the last time. He wanted her blessings. Would you do that for me please?”
He isn’t sure why can’t she just come inside and do it herself.
It isn’t that big of a deal.
She would have to donate some money if she wants to purification of the soul of her husband too.
He speaks.
“I can call the priest if you can talk to them about this…”
The woman almost freezes and stares at him… No, behind him.
She is starting to make him feel uncomfortable.
After ten seconds of uncomfortable silence, she replies.
“I don’t have the with me. Can I bring them on Friday? Would you still be here.”
He doesn’t think too much of it.
Only thing he wants is to end this conversation so he says, “Yes.”
She gives a final stare… this time… she stares at him.
After that she leaves without saying a word.
‘I will tell Priest Nors about her.
He would know what to do.’
He puts this incident at the back of his mind and continues doing his own work.
Soon, he is done with the outside.
Now he should enter the temple to clean the Goddess statue and other places.
Inside of the temple, he finds three more helpers like him doing their job.
He has no real friendship with them.
He is just acquainted enough to know them and have a good relation.
One of the helpers named Kek speaks.
“Today is my turn to take care of the Goddess’s statue. You should mop the floor and put all the candle nearby. I will ask Father were to put them.”
He has no problem with it.
This just means a little less work for him to do.
If he gets free early.
Then he can take a nap later.
He nods and does what he is told.
Nearby the other two helpers starts talking to each other.
These two’s names are Peon and Mar.
Poen whispers but because of the empty hall his voice echoes.
Joy is able to hear every word clearly.
“Mar, that Trader had appeared two days ago.”
Mar looks at Poen.
Clearly shocked after hearing what he said.
“What really? Who found him this time and what did they bought?”
Poen answer.
“I don’t know. He never told me what he bought and trade. My big brother heard it form his friend who had heard it from his friend’s friend. According to them, that guy had seen and even talked with the trader. The trader offered him something grand for his soul.”
Mar couldn’t help by shiver a little after hearing that the trader asked for his soul.
He moves his hand from his heart to his right and then back to his heart.
This is a gesture that is used for Goddess’s protection or for thanking her.
Joy also heard that and couldn’t help but mock.
‘Heard it from his brother’s friend who heard it form his friend’s friend.
This is clearly a troll making rumors or horror stories.
Trading soul.
It just sounds absurd.’
Perhaps because of his environment or trying to survive all on his own.
He has become a little bitter in the heart.
He compares and mocks people or himself a lot of times.
Of course, he does all that in his mind.
Poen continues and smiles a little after seeming his friend’s reaction.
“It isn’t that scary, Mar. You are little and that is why you think that selling your soul is devil’s work. But I can reassure that the Trader is fair and will not dare to lie. Why? Well, because if he does lie then he will die. He said it himself. He heard it many times.”
Mar didn’t understand how can you trust someone like that.
If the trader is a devil.
Then the words that “He will die if he lies” are also a lie.
Only a devil wants other’s soul.
He has heard priest warn people and everyone to never let temptation get the better of you.
Those who tempt you will lie and deceive.
So, he asks.
“Why would the trader die if he lies?”
Poen after noticing his friend’s hesitation and doubt, answers.
“That isn’t known.
But you idiot, of course, won’t just sell their soul.
This is just what the trader says.
We can trade anything for his trinkets.
I have even heard that people can even trade with money.
Too bad I don’t have money or any valuable.
If I even have a fortuitous encounter with the trader.
I don’t know what to trade.
I really want to ask him if I can get a money printing machine.
Hehe.
Maybe I can sell your soul for it…”
Mar jumps with fright.
“You won’t do that to your friend, right?”
Poen just stares at him.
This only makes Mar more and more uncomfortable.
Nearby, Joy ignores the two slacking off and not working.
Being a guy who snitch and be a nuisance will get you be a target of bullying.
It is better to be neutral, greet if you encounter them, have friendly conversation one or two times and just not try to get in their way.
They are actually slacking off because Joy is around.
They know that he won’t tell their slacking to the priests.
This unspoken agreement has given him some sense of peace.
If he doesn’t do such things then he will be ostracized for sure.
This has happened to him in his 1st incarnation.
It wasn’t obvious or too malicious.
But it was still effective to break someone’s confidence.
Not to mention, they’re rich kids and now he will only encounter kids from the streets.
The difference would surely be dramatic.
So, Joy continues doing his job and ignoring Poen teasing Mar.
His thoughts wonder to what he heard.
‘A Trader who can trade with you for your soul or something else.
Then he can give you odd things.
Like a money printing machine?
Also, it is hard to find him as he is mysterious and never shows himself in the public.
Could that Trader be related to magic?’
He fails to make sense of these stories.
On one hand, they all sound like rumors or horror stories that pass down form people to people.
On the other hand, if this Trader does exist then he could be a key to learn some things even if he can’t really make a trade with him.
However, he also doesn’t trust someone who asks for your soul.
So, he also won’t be actively searching for him.