THRONE OF THE SERAPH ; g.yuno

Chapter Five

Throne of the Seraph
five — archery

"Wake up. WAKE UP!"

The three childhood friends were woken up by a stern voice. Rubbing their eyes, they were then greeted by Father Orsi, along with Sister Lily who looked at them with worried eyes. Asta laid back down on the ground while Asteria and Yuno remained sitting, messy hair and eyes looking far away.

"Good morning, Father, Sister," they both greeted with a groggy voice.

"What were you thinking, sleeping out here? On the ground?" Father Orsi  immediately cast a heating spell around the teenagers as he nagged. "Why did you let Asteria sleep on the ground in this kind of weather?"

After talking and admiring the stars last night, Asta, Asteria, and Yuno had fallen asleep on the ground.

"Don't worry, Father. It wasn't that cold." Asteria assured the older man. She leaned her head on Yuno's shoulder and tried to sleep again.

Father could only sigh in return. He didn't let them sit on the ground for long and took them all inside the church. They prepared breakfast and the kids all scrambled into the dining room, none of them fully awake. Nash's head fell on the table and Recca was snoring.

"Good morning." The married couple joined them a few minutes later, holding on a basket of bread and tea. Orion joined Sister Lily to make the tea while Esmeray walked towards her daughter.

"Asteria, why are your clothes dirty?" She asked, patting her back. She then took out a hair brush that no one knew where it came from and began brushing her daughter's silky white hair.

"We slept on the ground, outside the church," the child replied.

"You slept where?" Esmeray heard it loud and clear, but she couldn't quite believe it that she needed to ask again.

"The ground, Mother."

"W-What? How could you, it's filthy!" Esmeray Emerson was indeed the epitome of grace and beauty. She couldn't bear imagining, let alone letting her only child sleep on the ground and eat breakfast without taking a bath. "You're so uncivilized!"

"Why? What happened?" Orion placed the tea cups on the table, and then the cups for hot choco. Recca, who was taking care of Aruru, whispered what his wife was complaining about. "Oh, that's why. Esme has always been addicted to cleaning, it can't be helped."

Sister Lily entered the dining room, holding on a tray of bread that was cut into small pieces. "She can't stand the sight of dirty things."

"I will not stand by this. Asteria, go and take a bath right now."

"But Mom —"

"No, go right now. Take my broom and head home." Esmeray turned to Asta and Yuno, who were now attempting to eat before they could get scolded by the woman. "What are you two doing? Have you even washed your hands? Go and take a bath."

Asta and Yuno shivered at the look thrown at them. It suddenly felt cold. "B-But Father Orsi is using the bathroom —"

"And? Is that an excuse to be unsanitary?" They could feel Esmeray's mood turn sour. The air around her grew cold.