July 20^th. Cloudy afternoon. James was walking around the corner from the inn all the way to Lunn’s Bakery to get some food and pastries. As he was walking, he wondered about Delianna and her whereabouts, and was anticipated in seeing his parents on this day.

‘I wonder what Delianna’s doing.’ He thinks to himself. ‘She’s been living with me for two months. I think she’s… growing on me. Every time I wake up, she’s always gone. When it’s night, she’s there. Right by my side. And those touches of hers… What am I supposed to do about that? She’s… beautiful. I feel… like… I should—No! What am I thinking?! I shouldn’t think like that about her! I will have to marry her if I want to… go to that stage. But then again, it’s in the cards. Besides that, I hope my parents got my letter and I hope they’re here. I… can’t believe I’ll see them in person.’

As he was in thought, he arrives and enters the bakery with the owner behind the showcase of baked goods.

“Ah, hello, James.” The baker greets. “How are you today?”

“I’m fine Samuel.” James replies. “You?”

“Never been better. How may I help you?”

“I need a couple of loafs, a few desserts, and if you have any turkey in your meat locker, I’d like to have that, too.”

“Sure thing.”

Samuel opens one of his bread cases and pucks it up with the parchment paper. “So, how’s the psychic business?”

“It’s good so far.” James replies. “Since I have no clients for today, I saw I was in need for some food and I decided to come here, so I can make something and save some food for later.”

Samuel wraps the bread in the parchment paper with sealing, and gives it to James, and gets started on the desserts.

“Understandable.” He comments. “Also, Harland told me that you have a woman staying with you now. A vampiric one. How’d that happen?”

“It was back in April. She came out from the bushes when I was making my way back home. She said that she was being chased by a group of men that were committing genocide in that area.”

Samuel wraps a couple of desserts. “Where?”

“South of Velorice City, I think, or the next city over. She didn’t divulge enough details.”

“Oh, I see… Well, on the lighter side, I think I’ve found the one. I think I found the right woman!”

James looks at him with a straight face while Samuel smiles happily.

“Do you want me to see if you’ll be with this woman?” He asks.

“If you please.” Samuel replies.

James looks him in the eyes and starts to see the vision of a woman. “Black hair. Blue eyes. Her name is Kathlene?”

“Yes.” Samuel replies.

James then reads on other things about the woman. “In a short period of time, you’ll be married to her to where you two are going to have a child together.”

“Seriously? Is it going to be a boy?”

“Sorry, Sam. I can’t determine genders.”

Samuel gives him the wrapped desserts. “Oh, right… Will she and I have another child right after the first one?”

James looks at him was questionable stare. “Honestly, you think you should take it easy when you have the first one?”

Samuel wipes his hand and goes to open the meat locker to slice some turkey for James. “I’ve always wanted to have a big family, James.” He replies innocently. “And who wouldn’t like a little bit of running around with little ones?”

“Best to ask your soon-to-be spouse about that. Anyway, I am unable to see that far, unfortunately. Perhaps, it will be far down the line.”

Samuel sighs as he wraps the turkey slices and turns to James. “Oh. Well, if it’s just only one, then that’s fine with me.”

He then gives James the package of turkey. “Thanks for that. That’ll be 10 Veles.”

James gives Samuel money for the food.

“You have a good day, James.”

“You as well, Sam. See you soon.”

James takes his purchases, and leaves out the bakery and into the street.

.   .

After the bakery, he walks a few miles to St. Lithe. As he reaches the corner to the sanctuary’s front door, he sees Sister Deborah and Sister Theresa on the front steps of the sanctuary. He walks up to them, and they happily give him a hug.

“How are you doing today, Sisters?” James asks them.

“Oh! We’re doing fine, dearie.” Theresa replies.

“We have a surprise for you, darling.” Deborah states.

James looks surprised making Theresa and Deborah smile at his reaction. “They’re here?!”

Theresa and Deborah nod.

“Just go on in.” Theresa instructs. “They’re talking to Father Nyris near the pulpit.”

They move aside for James to open the front door. He walks inside into the foyer and opens the cathedral doors to his right. As he did, he sees a middle-aged woman wearing a blue dress designed with coins and beads along with wearing a matching scarf covering her hair. Her skin was a shade darker than James’. Next to her was middle-aged man with salt and pepper colored hair with the same skin tone as James. He was wearing a cotton long sleeved shirt and cotton pants with leather boots. James walks slowly towards the pulpit catching Nyris’ attention. The middle-aged couple look in the same direction as James walks towards them. James becomes filled with joy as he saw the couple’s faces; so were they.

“James?” The woman asks.

“Mama Elsa.” James responds then looks over to the man. “Papa Gad?”

Gad smiles at James. “My son.”

All three embrace in a hug with Elsa weeping on James’ shoulder.

.   .

James, Gad, and Elsa were sitting in the pews in the sanctuary by themselves to have time with each other.

“So, what is it that you do in this day in age, James?” Elsa asks.

“I work as a psychic.” James responds. “I set up a booth around the corner from here. I live in an inn not too far from here, and I come over here to help Father Nyris and the sisters with the orphans, or the sermons for Sundays.”

“Interesting for a psychic to help out in a sanctuary.” Gad comments. “People in these times don’t associate those two together.”

“Why is that?”

“Because commonly, the church never accepted what they thought was the work of the devil.”

James becomes surprised about this revelation.

“But it’s not. It’s harmless.” He explains. “It works only with the flow of people and nature itself.”

“Even if you say that to them, they won’t believe you.” Gad counters. “That’s how my mother and father were.”

“Really? How did that go for you?”

Gad sighs at the memories that make him feel anguish as he sighs.

“Well…” He responds. “Around the time you were conceived, my family disowned me because I was with your mother who is a Roma. I was raised in a very religious household, and they thought of Romas as demons, but ever since knowing your mother, that was not true. She was much wiser about everything in this life, and there was nothing of malice or evil in her voice. She is an honest and truthful woman. My parents thought that your mother had cast a spell on me just so she could have a mate, but I told them that I willingly wanted to be with her, and told them she was with child, you. That’s when they disowned me, but before I left, I took some documents of mine, some money and I went on my way. Sadly, I was unable to find your mother when I left to the north of Velorice City near the Kianu region.”

“Where did you two live before going up north?” James asks.

“On the Hale/Silenti city line.”

“And I lived in the Seran Desert.” Elsa replies.

“Where would you both meet up down there?” James asks.

“Near Coriga Town.” Gad replies.

James then looks to Elsa, and wanted to know more. “Mother… That night. When you dropped me off here, what happened down there?”

Elsa begins to shudder as she remembered that night.

“Midnight. March 8^th.” She starts. “That was the night that I gave birth to you. The area I was in housed witches, some humans, and vampires living down there. Everyone knew each other, and we were at peace. Then some rogues came down and started ransacking the area, killing humans, witches, and vampires alike. I guess they just thought it was a village of vampires and decided to come and raise hell. And let me tell you, it looked like hell. I was in so much pain, but I knew my sisters and I had to leave. Two of them had to carry me while one held you, but the one that held you was killed. I had you back in my arms and we ran for our lives. As we ran in Velorice City, we saw that the rampage did not stop at the Seran Desert. I saw Gad’s parents’ home burn down to the ground and I heard their screams. I was able to find Gad’s sister, Ester, and we ran all the way over at this cathedral. We stopped over here, I told them I was going to drop you here, Ester found a dry basket, since it was raining. I put you in it, knocked at the door, and we left because they were coming. Now the reason why I had to leave you—”

“Mama, don’t worry.” James interrupts. “I know why you did what you did. They were coming after you, you dropped me off at a safe place. If you didn’t, who knows what would’ve happened with you and me. I don’t think I’d be here today, so, I thank you for that.”

Elsa’s eyes begin to tear up, causing Gad to console her.

“Well, I’ll continue the story.” Gad speaks. “I’d say around the end of March, she, her two sisters, and Ester came to where I live. She told me she had you, but she had to keep you here and we married around July that year after the rebels died down. And she said: “Down the line, when he’s a man, we’ll see him again.” And this is that day, thank the Maker.”

James chuckles. “So, how is Auntie Ester?”

“She’s fine.” Elsa answers. “She lives next door to us.”

“What about my other two aunts?”

“We went our separate ways when said I was staying with your father.”

“What were their names?”

“Elodia and Rene.”

“Also, if you want, you should come and visit us, James. See new scenery.” Gad suggests.

“Sure. I’ll be more than happy to do that, Papa.”

Elsa chuckles. “You know, James, you don’t have to call us Mama and Papa. I feel like you’re forcing yourself to say it.”

“You can sense if I’m forcefully saying it?” James asks.

“A little.”

“I’m just trying to get used to it. You two made me, but most of all, you two love me. I can feel that from you both. That’s enough for me to call you both Mama and Papa.”

Elsa and Gad smile.

“If it is, so be it.” She comments.

Gad looked outside and saw the sun was going to set soon.

“The sun will be setting soon, so we need to depart.” He speaks. “To know where we are, I’ll write you the directions to get there.

Gad takes a piece of paper from his pocket, then stands up and walks to the pulpit, and finds a pen with a vial of ink. Gad then writes the directions to their home, then walks down from the pulpit and gives it to James, then looks at Elsa.

“I’m going to get the carriage ready so we can leave.”  

As Gad leaves to go and prepare the carriage outside, James looks to Elsa, making him remember a dream that he had a few years ago. The voice that he heard in the dream was identical to Elsa’s, which made him wonder.

“Mama,” James calls and catches Elsa’s attention. “Some years ago, I had this dream. The sky was… full of stars, and it was spacious. In it was a woman I couldn’t see, but she sounded like you.”

Elsa only smiled at James’ explanation.

“Was that you?” He asks.

Elsa chuckles. “Any clairvoyant being is able to go there, especially if you’re connected to a person with same gift.”

James gasps, realizing Elsa was the woman that came to him in his dream those years prior. James could not find the words to express the way he was feeling, only to just give Elsa an embracing hug and quietly sob; Elsa returns the favor, and consoles him.

“Funny how everything comes into a full circle, huh?” She asks calmly.

James nods. “It is funny, but I’m glad it finally happened.”

.   .   .

After their mother and son interaction, the two stand up from the pews and walk out the door of the cathedral and see Gad feeding one of four horses connected to the carriage. Elsa walks from James to Gad, who helps Elsa get onto the carriage. Gad then gets on the and holds the reins for the horses and sits in the seat.

“Make sure you send a letter to when you’d want to visit. Okay, James?” Gad informs.

“I will.” James replies. “See you both soon.”

Gad whips the reins, causing the carriage to ride away. Elsa waves goodbye, prompting James to wave back until the carriage is out of his view. Nyris comes from the cathedral and walks towards James.

“Well, I hope you had a good visit with your parents.” He comments.

“Yes. Yes, I did.” James replies and looks at Nyris. “Do you need my help before I leave?”

“Yes. I need help for the next sermon on Sunday.”

“Okay.”

James and Nyris walk back into the sanctuary to figure out what Nyris could preach for the next sermon.