Some things never change

The day of prophecy comes near.

Each passing day, shivers linger near the hearts of the villagers.

The only thing that's holding back their panicking heart is the Pope who can be seen praying day in and out in the center of the village together with several priests.

Some villagers occasionally drop by to pray.

In the midst of all this Ryan is sitting on the bamboo couch with a book covering his face and both hands on his stomach.

"little Ryan your sleeping again? You should've finished studying that book by now" Ryan's dad disappointingly argued.

"but dad it's so hard! I understand learning about quantum theories and terminology but why am I studying the history of other religions? it's not like it's of use for me" Ryan put down the book in his head on the table beside the couch.

"…"

Ryan's dad tactfully disrobes his belt, stretching it in front of Ryan.

"umm… dad you know what, just don't mind what I said." Seeing the long belt before him Ryan immediately replied without a moment's notice.

"Good, now here's some more. Study electromagnetism after you finish them"

This makes Ryan's heart sink into the abyss. His head floating into the river of thoughts wanting to never return.

In his heart, his father is the bringer of terror and suffering, an apostle of darkness and the devil beneath the holy heaven.

He always thinks of a way to break free.

Constantly running away from home hiding in places that his dad will never find. This leads to several unpresented games of tags.

Although it is unknown why his parents always forced him to study such boring subjects. He still doesn't bother to know…. why?

because he is ...…actually a... genius in monkeys clothing… at least that what he thinks to himself to avoid possible depression...

He possesses pictographic memory which boosts his learning speed dramatically.

He reads a thick book in an hour due to his honed skills in studying over the years.

A couple of thick books doesn't faze him.

Math?

he measured the 4th dimension!

Science?

He knows all theology and laws of several Worlds!

Art?

He can draw you into a masterpiece!

Art without a dress,

monkey without his fur!

Music?

Well, He can sing!!!! but he rarely does so, the reason well…..

+ mock

+ disturbance

+ emotional damage

+ belt vulnerability debuff

+ slipper taunt (passive skill)

Once he sings it will feel like the earthquakes and the mountains collapse.

He started reading the books his father presented to him gradually finishing them one after another in a 3-4 hours interval.

Although he could read a book in an hour or so he still needs to understand the information beyond words which is the hardest part of studying.

We must understand that the essence of studying is learning not reading.

…

While Ryan is studying, the village is still busy as always.

In a fruit store near the main gate of the village, Ryan's mom is picking a good fruit to buy.

"Miss Mary good noon!!! beautiful as always, ehhh~ "

The old yet buffed fruit vendor speaks in a perverted way, offending Ryan's mother.

"that's Mrs. For you! Mr. Robert..." Mary spurted out with an unveiling voice.

"I'm just joking "laughing aloud Robert said in a shameless voice.

"What a perverted old man, you're unbecoming of this holy village,"

she said with a half-willed voice.

"Oh am I? hohoho, what are you then?"

"yeah(2x), so what? All of us here are unique and will probably never going to see our god in the future but at least my son has a chance to... probably"

"See our god huh, if only that was easy… there are several prerequisites in entering his holiness, one such condition is to love your parents as much as you love God, do your son have such love for you?"

"of…of course he does"

at this moment hint of sorrow flows in the eyes of Mary

Seeing this the old man stop his criticism

"I don't know about your past since the pope only brought both of you here when you were in your teens but you should forget about the past "

with a comforting voice Robert said solemnly from the bottom of his perverted heart.

"I'll buy this please."

"that'll be 6 white coins and 9 silver"

"I thought it was 1 white coin?

"don't worry it's a discount"

"Okay here "

while getting the two basket of fruits, one big ,one small. Mary glared at Robert one last time

" bye pervert"

Robert felt annoyed

"hmph, goodbye and don't come again here if your gonna talk about that"

"oh don't worry I will "

with a smile on her face she burst out of the shop and slowly walk going near the center of the village where a small orphanage can be seen.

"its aunt Mary" hearing this a bunch of kids surrounded Mary seemingly cheering for her return

"Aunt Mary, Aunt Mary let's play"

"Aunt Mary, let's play"

"Aunt Mary, let's play family. I'll be your husband"

Seeing the crowd of children happily receiving her, a warm feeling circled around her heart.

"Now(2x), kids let's keep it down I'm here to check up on your grandma Ana. Let's play some other times."

She handed out one big fruit basket to the children walked away from them and slowly approach the doors of the orphanage.

After entering the door what greeted her is a fragile old woman sitting comfortably in a cushioned wooden chair.

The old woman smiled at Mary as soon as she saw her.

"still as beautiful as ever"

hearing the old lady's compliment, she smiled

"buen mediodía mama, how have you been?" a hint of Latina accent can be heard in her voice

"buen mediodía dear, still stronger than a bull" she spurted out jokingly

"hmmm, glad you're still lively as always. I've got some fruits for you, mama please eat it."

"Gracias"

Mary hummed in agreement

"how's little Ryan"

"his fine I guess"

"why not be sure?"

"nothing"

Old Ana holds Mary's hand. Looking at her as if she has seen through everything

"No te preocupes little one, I know it is hard to raise a child"

Mary looked at her mama embarrassed and ashamed.

"mama, I have seemed to inherit my late mother's violent behavior "

Old Ana glared at mary

"You noticed that just now?"

Old Ana laughed and jokingly questioned

"mama~," Mary says like a little girl in her teens

"haha, I'm just kidding."

With a pouting face, Mary decided to peel some fruit for her mama

Seeing Mary with a pouting face she smiled and decided to preach

"Personality and actions are co-related to each other, Mary. As such if you really want to change your behavior you need to change your actions first."

Hearing her mama preach she started to ask

"But mama its hard"

"I know Mary, I know. Why do you think it is hard to come closer to god? It is because it is hard to change. All of us experience such thing, for we are sinners, we are humans"

Hearing this Mary fell silent. Old Ana continued while eating Mary's fruits

"They say change is a natural river but why not create another path for the river."

Mary felt it was ridicules

"How can I make a path for a river with fast-flowing current ready to take me in and bring me down with the current flow?"

As Mary says her thoughts Old Ana closed her eyes

"I've already said it, Mary. It's through Actions"

Seeing Old Ana's shoulder down, Mary stand up and walked in front of the door.

"I'll be leaving Mama, please rest for the rest well and greet Papa for me later when he came back"

Old Ana hummed in response.

Before leaving Ana said her goodbyes to the children and the orphanage's helpers.

…

Outside of the house, Ryan is chilling in a hammock attached to two trees.

He had already finished some books that his father gave him.

After a while, his mother has arrived with a fire burning in her eyes seemingly determined.

She approached Ryan slowly.

"Son, good afternoon," she said with a harsh voice and a hint of nervousness and embarrassment

"good afternoon?" Ryan said in an awkward voice

After finally greeting her child she walks towards the house with a glint of a smile.

Ryan was surprised by the sudden change in her attitude, usually, she would ask if he…...he…

"Oh god!!" Ryan suddenly remembered something, It's weekend!!

He got off the hammock and run towards his best hiding spot.

Moments later a loud boom can be heard from a door that was suddenly forced opened

"you unfilial son!! Why haven't you cooked the rice and eggs yet!!!, you didn't even wash the dishes!!!"

Seeing as Ryan already left to hide she followed suit and searched the village.

At some point, she bumped into her husband and they started to search for him together.

After a while, they still couldn't find him.

Realizing that they are just wasting time they've gone home to eat…well to cook and eat.

After they finally got home Mary randomly decided to go into Ryan's room for a final check…

As she opened the door, there was no one there so she decided to leave but suddenly she noticed some movement underneath the bed.

She checked it and Hola!! Es Ryan!!

"Hi mom"

And one of them lived happily ever after

The End….

Of the night

…