Eight Intertwined

140 - Matchmaker

After the travelers went their separate ways, Ophilia, Cyrus, and Olberic started off through the town square. There was no way of saying for sure where Derryl, Emil, and Nate would be playing, but Ophilia was determined to find them and at least ask how they were doing. She had left them on a high note, and she could only hope their relationships had continued to improve in her absence. There was no way to know but to talk to them for herself though. Beyond that, Ophilia was looking forward to talking to the three boys far more than she was looking forward to talking to the bishop. She was certain the news about Morlock's death had traveled to Saintsbridge already, and she didn't want to have to tell Bartolo what she had done. Ophilia was going to make herself say it no matter how anxious the idea made her, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Luckily, she didn't need to worry about going to see Bartolo so soon at all. Almost immediately after she arrived in the town square, she caught a glimpse of the three boys standing near the bridge, all of them talking and laughing happily. Ophilia pressed a hand to her chest with a fond smile at the sight. "I'm glad to see they're still doing well," she remarked as she glanced over her shoulder at Cyrus and Olberic. "I was a bit worried, but I'm glad to see I had nothing to fear."

"Of course not. You changed the lives of those children, and you should be proud of yourself for it," Cyrus smiled. "I believe now would be the perfect time to go and speak with them. We don't know how long it will be until we have to meet up with the others again."

Ophilia nodded before approaching the three boys. Cyrus and Olberic flanked her from either side, quiet but still very much present in the conversation. "Hello, you three," she greeted. "I hope you're having a lovely day."

Derryl was the first one to turn, and his eyes went wide as a smile brighter than the sun spread across his face. "Sister Ophilia!" He rushed toward her, and Emil and Nate were quick to follow his lead in hugging her. Ophilia staggered backwards by a few steps, but Olberic placed his hand on her shoulder to ground her. She cast him a grateful nod, and he returned the gesture as she continued to hug the three children tightly. 

"I'm glad to see you're all doing well," Ophilia told the boys as they pulled away from her. "It's been a while since I was last in the city, and I was hoping I would be able to catch up with you before I left town. I'm just passing through, so I won't be here for long."

"That's a shame..." Emil said softly with a shake of his head. "I was hoping we would be able to introduce you to one of our new friends. He's kind of shy, but I bet he would really like you if you two had the chance to talk."

"New friend?" Ophilia echoed with a slight tilt of her head. "I would love to hear you tell me about him even if I don't get the chance to meet him. I want to catch up with you in any way I can, after all."

"His name's Tim," Nate told her. "It's short for Timothy. He's new in town. He and his mother just moved in here a week and a half ago, so they're still getting settled in, but we've been showing him around. It's hard to get used to living in a new place, so we're doing what we can to help him out."

Ophilia bit back her surprise, and behind her, she felt Cyrus and Olberic both go tense. They had just seen a child by the name of Timothy collapse as a result of what appeared to be an allergic reaction in the tavern. Ophilia had already met him, or at the very least, she had seen him. She couldn't tell the boys that though. She didn't want to scare them by saying Timothy had been sick just half an hour ago. It would be too much for them, especially after all they had been through when Ophilia was last in town.

Instead of saying any of that, she just continued to smile. "That's incredibly kind of you," Ophilia beamed. "I'm sure he appreciates having the extra help. You're right about moving being very difficult. It took me a long time to get used to my current home after I left my old one behind." No, she couldn't think about Flamesgrace right now. She would just end up wanting to go back, and if she returned home... She didn't know if she would ever be able to get back on her feet and back on the road again.