Moving

Goddamit!

As a member of the governing family, Ayre should always be, at least on the outside, a presentable role model. Poor man can't even even curse out loud. However he wants to curse, he should and could not do it loudly. As a result, he had to hide his frustration

As he stepped outside down the carriage, he saw the closed doors of the cathedral and realized, painfully, that he missed the first mass of the day.

Aah, my dear Goddess, forgive me for what I, your lowly believer, is about to say. I have anything but hate and skepticism for you and your capabilities. My faith is stronger than the hardest legendary sword ever forged, deeper than the depths ever discovered and higher than the clouds ever reached....BUT FUCK WHY DO I HAVE TO BE STUCK IN TRAFFIC!

Without showing a bit of emotion on his still-cold face, he slowly walked towards the plaza where many vendors and kids were doing their respective businesses. Just as he was starting to wither from boredom, Ayre noticed a few people in blue robes unloading and carrying something towards the upper floor of the back of the church.

"Hmm? Who are they supposed to be? Hey Dan, are those people of the church?"

Dan, Dan Kush, his private carriage driver. Although the two of them were not on the same ladder of their society, Ayre found it unreasonable to treat people badly so he treated Dan as his aide whenever he is around. He was also well-informed in some areas and affairs so Ayre thinks it is not bad to ask him questions sometimes.

"Huh? Blue robes? Blue is certainly one of the main symbols of the gods, however, I haven't seen one that plain."

"That plain, huh."

"Yes. Mainly, the church of the Twelve Gods wear blue colored robes, cloaks or basically any cloth. However, the blue color still stays. Although not as plain as that and some shine missing, it's probability is high that those are also people of the church."

Squinting his eyes, he started pacing through the crowdy plaza towards the back side of the church with his hands in his pockets. Although he missed the mass, it does not mean he cannot see the outside affairs of the church. And therefore, he can also ask questions to the people in charge outside the mass hall.

Just as he stopped walking, he asked the people in question.

"Excuse me, uhh, what are you all supposed to be...doing?"

However, he was met with silence.

After that somewhat embarrassing one-sided exchange, Ayre showed his identification card to the working personnel.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I am the executive director of the foreign affairs department of this city, Ayre Bushnell. This is the custom's job but I have enough authority to foresee this. Now, let me ask again. What are you doing?"

The moving personnel still ignored him; however, someone did answer him in a tone not so polite but a bit sarcastic.

"Hello, Ayre. I am pleased to meet you. You can call me Min. I am an assistant of the new cardinal of this cathedral. The new cardinal is moving today so we will be quite busy."

"Huh? New cardinal? What happened to Cardinal Flinn? Was he assigned to to another cathedral? Is that even possible?"

Ayre was not reminded for this particular event, so this is still news to him.

Huhh?? Nothing in my goddamn logbook, records, or even...I did not even hear a fucking thing about this moving!

However, when Ayre asked for the papers, he confirmed it. All of the necessary documents for moving; even though it was not his department who handles them, he was still familiar of the stamps embedded on it and the paper itself.

"So? What happened to Cardinal Flinn?"

While checking and confirming the moving papers once again, Ayre asked casually.

"Unfortunately, I am also in the dark regarding this matter. Your father may know something about it, fortunately. I am not sure if you have the clearance for it though, since even me, who is close to a cardinal, still knows next to nothing regarding this."

"Hmm. Even me, huh? Aight, you can continue moving stuff now. Oh, by the way, I'm going to take these papers just for extra confirmation and for recording purposes. You see that guy in the carriage? He'll bring it back later."

Holding the paper, he pointed his right hand on Dan's direction and waited for Min to see him.

"It is alright. You can bring it back anytime. We shall get back to work. Bye...Ayre."

Hmm? Was it just me or is this guy...? Nevermind...

Ayre noticed something weird about that last sentence but he chose to not mind it.

Now going back to the carriage after that exchange, Ayre reminded Dan about the paper he is tasked to return.

"Dan, return this here later. I am just going to confirm it with my father first before believing what that guy earlier was saying. However, it is illegal to keep a person's original document so we'll have to return it."

"All right. You don't have to restate the what I have to do though. So? Still waiting for the mass to end?"

"Ahahaha. You f*cking reminded me of that? Really?"

Although it was suppressed, he cursed.

...

After waiting for "eternity", well, ten minutes, the mass hall finally opened again.

"Finally, the previous mass is done. All right, today's agenda is rolling. Dan, you can follow me in but make sure the carriage is safe first. Park it in the paid lot if you have to."

"Well, I will just be here. Not really religious and you know that. Man, you're bad at sarcasm. Heh."

"Aight then. I'm going in."

Walking along the path basked in warm sunlight towards the church, Ayre slowly readied himself for the mass.

Collar, check. Pocket, check, Clothes, all good. All right let's get this over with... He murmured.

As he heard the serenity of the mass hall, silence eventually enveloped him; clearly different from the joyful atmosphere outside just seconds ago. An atmosphere change of a hundred and eighty degrees was what he experienced. And just after a few minutes, the hall door closed marking the beginning of the mass.