Gift of a Miracle

Chapter 11

No more was said on the topic when Father Benjamin led Iliana, Yuki and Jung down the spiral stairway. The priest's mind seemed preoccupied with other matters, causing Iliana to rein back her multitude of other questions for another time. Nonetheless, she gained an insight of Lord Baddesley's past. Whether or not she should be worried of Mother's safety around the man, still remained questionable as were her own perceptions of him. Especially since their first meeting. There was something indescribable about him which Iliana couldn't decipher.

Jung rushed out into the narrow passageway like a young gazelle when Father Benjamin opened the door, he yelled goodbye loudly as he dashed up towards the cloister.

"Are you sure you don't want a lift back to Primrose Bay with Jung?" The priest asked, whilst Yuki trotted into the passageway after Iliana.

"Positive... I want to explore this beautiful Cathedral before going home." Iliana reassured.

"I would love to give you a personal tour but alas... I have people to see, places to go, phone calls to make." There was a distinct look of reluctance flickering across the priest's hazel eyes.

"May I ask you a personal question?" She asked.

"Go ahead."

"Do you also believe we humans don't strive long or hard enough to fight our inner Demon?"

Father Benjamin's eyebrows lifted as if surprised at her question, then a knowing smile formed under his stumble beard.

"Such words that come out from Kazuki's mouth always has a way of arousing one's thoughts... and yes, I have slowly come to believe him. We all face a constant battle within ourselves, many cannot always find the strength to fight, and that is when our inner Demon feeds on our weaknesses."

"Our inner Demon manifests itself from our weaknesses?" Iliana question.

"Yes, our inner Demon is the manifestation of darkness that naturally dwells deep in our soul... it's nurtured by the accumulation of negativity with ourselves or the world around us. If we don't control it, it controls us." Father Benjamin replied, leaning on the door frame. "The balance of good and bad in our soul is very delicate... anything in life can either make or break that balance and that's before another Demon attempts to Taint it."

"Life can sometimes feel like a challenge than a gift." Iliana mused.

"Quite... but the challenges we all face in life reveals our gifts, and with those gifts we use to make a life for ourselves and those around us. There is one gift which every human in this world share and store deep within them... hope."

The priest's philosophical words struck a chord within Iliana and stayed with her even after she parted ways with him. She wandered around the magnificent cloister at her own pace with her furry friend at her side. The once crowded square was now at her disposal with only the odd nun or priest passing by.

On their way back to Primrose Bay, Iliana noticed a newly familiar figure standing at the mouth of Tribus Bridge. She witnessed the contemptuous glare thrown at the woman by a couple approaching her. Their noses turned up in condescending manner as they crossed to the other side of the road, their voices were deliberately raised as they exchanged jarred words concerning the woman.

Iliana frowned at the couple's glare and proceeded her own approach to the woman. Though she wasn't expecting the flow of tears streaming down her porcelain face. Iliana hastily rummaged her jean pockets for a spare tissue.

"I would offer you a tissue but I have none." She confessed, standing before Mrs. William's.

The woman's teary gaze levelled hers, a sprinkle of surprise at Iliana's advance flickered across her cobalt eyes, yet she gave no response. Father Benjamin's words of everyone carrying a burden returned to Iliana's mind and seeing the woman closer... it's obvious her burden seemed to have a steel weight on her shoulders and her heart.