Euphemia never considered the possibility she'd live to hear her final orders.
"Stay here. Learn how to live your life."
They had left in the dead of the night, bringing only a small bag which, Euphemia discovered later, only contained a few pairs of clothes and some cash. The rest of her equipment she'd usually bring on assignments were left abandoned. Euphemia didn't question the oddity, however. She'd never had any reason to question Father Jakov before.
"I...do not understand."
The older man put a hand on her shoulder and gripped it tight. She didn't recognise the smile on his face when he looked at her. She'd never been given one filled with such sadness before.
"I know you don't, but one day you will. I...I want you to forget about me, about the church. There's a school here that'll be taking you in. I've already seen to the arrangements."
"Will you be returning soon?"
He shook his head and squeezed her shoulder again.
"No, you'll be staying here for the foreseeable future. One day, maybe you'll leave of your own will. Even then, if I've done everything right...you'll hopefully never see me again."
He stood up, and with one final nod, turned away and left the girl alone.
Euphemia hadn't stopped thinking about this conversation as she walked in the direction Jakov had given her, towards the academy. Her robed figure a solitary presence in the evening. She walked with the same poise she always did, but her eyes seemed glazed, unfocused.
All her life, she had been given a single purpose. The purpose decided by the Church. The purpose that justified her existence. But with a few short words, that purposed had been taken from her. She wasn't angry, or upset. She'd never felt those emotions before.
For the first time in her life, Euphemia Dvorak felt lost.
"Stay here. Learn how to live your life."
They had left in the dead of the night, bringing only a small bag which, Euphemia discovered later, only contained a few pairs of clothes and some cash. The rest of her equipment she'd usually bring on assignments were left abandoned. Euphemia didn't question the oddity, however. She'd never had any reason to question Father Jakov before.
"I...do not understand."
The older man put a hand on her shoulder and gripped it tight. She didn't recognise the smile on his face when he looked at her. She'd never been given one filled with such sadness before.
"I know you don't, but one day you will. I...I want you to forget about me, about the church. There's a school here that'll be taking you in. I've already seen to the arrangements."
"Will you be returning soon?"
He shook his head and squeezed her shoulder again.
"No, you'll be staying here for the foreseeable future. One day, maybe you'll leave of your own will. Even then, if I've done everything right...you'll hopefully never see me again."
He stood up, and with one final nod, turned away and left the girl alone.
Euphemia hadn't stopped thinking about this conversation as she walked in the direction Jakov had given her, towards the academy. Her robed figure a solitary presence in the evening. She walked with the same poise she always did, but her eyes seemed glazed, unfocused.
All her life, she had been given a single purpose. The purpose decided by the Church. The purpose that justified her existence. But with a few short words, that purposed had been taken from her. She wasn't angry, or upset. She'd never felt those emotions before.
For the first time in her life, Euphemia Dvorak felt lost.
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