Annan stood to one side, both mentor and friend, and quietly listened as Rainer recounted his experiences in the Southlands.
Before finding Colette, Rainer had wandered among Order Churches in other regions.
He had seen an entire city forced to pray all day for order to return to the world. He had also seen church knights who had lost their faith betray order and embrace chaos.
During that year of training, he had seen too much... The complexities of human nature had played out before his eyes, but he had never had time to stop and reflect. Then he found Colette and returned to Annan, and all the emotions he had bottled up burst forth.
"I'm tired, teacher..."
Rainer's armor still gleamed, but his back was no longer straight.
"Then rest in Free City for a while. Look around and take time to absorb what you've learned. Once you get through this, you'll emerge a new man."
"All right..."
Annan felt that Free City was becoming something of a Noah's Ark. The comparison had been a stretch when it merely took in foreign races, but with the Wealth Church and then Rainer seeking refuge there, it was gradually living up to the name.
All it needed now was a great flood—just kidding.
Persuading Rainer alone was not enough. If Annan wanted him to stay in Free City, he would have to persuade Colette too.
Leaving Rainer to get some more air, Annan returned to the banquet and approached Colette, who was with Cathy.
Seeing Annan approach, Cathy waved and called out, "Sister, our father's coming."
The guests around them turned to look, their gazes shifting between Annan and Colette, who appeared to be about his age.
"Uh... don't call me that. Colette is my friend."
"Do friends call each other