Excitement made the air in the assembly hall spark as all the sixteen year olds in Child House organized themselves into one long line. I grasped my friend Winna's hand and squeezed it in excitement. We grinned at each other. Today we were leaving Child House forever to take our place in the world. Today we would become adults!
As soon as everyone was assembled, Mama Laelya began one of her characteristically long speeches. It was something about having new responsibilities, acting mature, and proving ourselves, but none of us really paid attention. We were too wrapped up in our excitement and fantasies about what the day would bring.
When Mama Laelya finally finished her speech, we marched out of Child House, Mama Laelya and Mama Jyrnne leading the way. Every fibre of my body yearned to jump and run and twirl, and I held myself in my place in line with difficulty.
As we walked down the street, we were all awestruck by the sights surrounding us. Even though we saw it all as through a thick fog, it still entranced us. The fog had always been a part of us. All around, people were hurrying in the same direction, seemingly bent on the same grim purpose. But what intrigued us the most were the people that seemed to be glowing. Unlike the others, they weren't going in the same direction, but walking anywhere and everywhere. And where the others wore worried or grim expressions, so many of these people seemed happy. A tall girl smiled at me as she walked past. I could tell by the look on Winna's face that she too wanted to ask who these people were, but neither of us dared. We had long been taught that questions were not acceptable. We did not wish to ruin the day by bringing Mama Laelya's wrath down on our head.
With all my attention focused on the glowing people, I did not know that the others had stopped walking until I ran into the girl in front of me. She turned and scowled.
“Watch where you're going, Auraelia!” she mouthed.
“Sorry.” I whispered, turning to see why we had stopped. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the building in front of us.
***
I never knew my parents. Like all the thousands of other children in Child House, I had been taken away from my parents at birth to be raised by what Mama Laelya called “the state.” I didn't understand that. It seemed to me that Mama Laelya and the other house mothers were doing the raising. But after the children first entered Child House as babies, we rarely set foot outside again. We had a small courtyard in which we could play, but an excursion past the huge front doors of the House was a rare treat.
One day, we were all thrilled to be out walking, and our childish voices filled the air. Suddenly, I caught sight of a building and stopped, causing the children behind me to bump into me. To this day, I do not know why it caught my attention. Something about it seemed to draw me. It was a huge building, many times taller than I was and long. Eleven large windows were set in the front, looking out at the world like giant rectangular eyes. The grimy, off-white of the building only served to accent its age and state of dilapidation. I wondered what was inside.
“Auraelia!” Mama Laelya's angry voice roughly grabbed my attention. “What are you doing?”
“What is this building, Mama Laelya?” I asked, unperturbed by her voice's pitch.
“It is nothing.” Mama Laelya said hurriedly, the fire not yet gone out of her eyes. “You will find out about is soon enough. Now move!”
She quickly began herding us back towards Child House, an unsuccessfully repressed shudder shaking her stout frame.
“Thanks, Raelia,” Winna said sarcastically. “For once we get out, and you have to ruin it with your unending questions.”
She rolled her eyes and stomped off after Mama Laelya.
***
“Auraelia!” Winna's voice broke into my memories. “Where are you? The others are almost inside already!”
She grabbed my hand and we raced for the door. It would never do to be late for the most important day of our lives.
Mama Laelya glared at us as we charged into the building, but there was no time for her to scold us as she herded us into a large room and made sure we were in a ruler-straight line. We had barely gotten into place and quieted our excited whispers when a door at the end of the long room banged open. In the doorway stood a tall, well-muscled man with an air of fierce authority. His jet black hair was severely slicked back and encircled by a band of gold, and his long fingers played incessantly with his dark clothing. His piercing black eyes seemed to take in everything in the room in one fell glance. Immediately, Mama Laelya knelt on the floor, motioning for us to follow. As we uncertainly complied, a rustling near the edge of the room caused me to turn my head. A long line of older people dressed in brown also knelt before the man.
“Rise.” The man's deep, scratchy voice sent a shiver down my spine that was not unlike the shiver produced by the sound of nails on a chalkboard.
“Do you know who I am?” He asked as we all got to our feet.
We shook our heads wordlessly.
“I am Tethental,” His voice took on a note of pride and greater authority as he paced in front of us. “King of this city and all that surrounds. Their ruler and yours.” He paused to let his words sink in. “Today you all become adults and take your place in society. The work you will do here will be instrumental to the well-being of this city. It is expected that you will follow without questioning. Is that understood?”
Silence reigned throughout the room.
“Is that understood?” He boomed.
“Yes sir, Your Majesty.” We replied, realizing one was expected.
He gave a curt nod of satisfaction, pointing to the garish black numbers that adorned the left wall.
“I will assign each of you a number. You will stand under your assigned number until you meet your mentor.”
He went down the line, looking each girl or boy in the eye and giving them a number. Each one went to their place in silence. When he came to Winna, he looked deeply into her eyes. She trembled and quickly looked down.
“Five.” King Tethental said.
As he came to me, he gazed into my eyes, as though trying to gauge what I was like. I quailed under his scrutiny, but stared back at him. He may have been king, but I was not easily cowed. I thought I heard a faint whisper, but I couldn't quite make out the words.
“Tr...ng..gal...ke...av....ight...”
I shifted my gaze to his mouth to see if he was whispering to me and the sound stopped.
“Also five.” He said, his voice and face unreadable, though I thought I detected a lightening of his stern tone.
***
As I walked over to my number, I felt like I was in more of a haze than usual, but I was still able to notice only Winna and I had been sent there. We did not have to wait long for our mentor to arrive. She was tall and slim, with kinky black hair and a sharp nose. Her face seemed to be set into a permanent frown. A thin black stick with a heavy knob was tucked into her belt.
“My name is Lanendde.” She said, her voice sharp. “And you would be?”
“Auraelia.” I replied promptly. Silence reigned where Winna should have inserted her name.
“And she? Is she mute? What is her name?”
I glanced at Winna, taking in her ashen face.
“Her name is Winna, and she’s my friend. She’s just scared.”
“That is just as well. And you? You do not seem to be afraid.”
“I am not afraid of anything!” I replied scornfully.
Lanendde cleared her throat disapprovingly. “Fear is healthy.” She turned abruptly and began walking towards a small door at the back of the hall. “Are you coming?” She snapped.
I grabbed Winna’s hand and we hurried after our mentor. The door opened into a steep flight of stairs which we descended. At the bottom, we found that we were no longer in a finished building, but rather in a cave-like area with rock walls and dirt underfoot. Ghostly lamps dimly lit the area. The noise of machines was so loud I could scarcely hear myself think. Far away I could see conveyor belts carrying lump after lump of something past.
“What is this place?” I yelled.
“This is the mine!” Lanendde yelled back. “Everyone except the nursery mothers and the shopkeepers work here.”
My heart plummeted all the way down to the tips of my toes. This was nothing like what I imagined adult life to be. I didn’t want to spend my life shut up in some grimy, dark hole.
“It doesn’t seem very nice.” I said doubtfully.
Lanendde frowned at me in disgust. “It is wonderful! This is the hub of our economy. The work we do here is glorious and for the benefit of the city. We are mining our money.”
“What is it?” Winna asked softly.
“What?” Lanendde cried. “I can’t hear you.”
I nodded at Winna encouragingly.
“What is it?” She shouted. Her eyes opened wide at the sound of the echo that returned and she nestled against me.
“Coal,” Lanendde replied. “Glorious coal.”
***
Following Lanendde, we began to move over to the conveyor belts. A scowling man in grey pushed past us. Though short, his squinty eyes, pointy nose, and wayward blonde hair served to give him a menacing appearance. A sinister-looking black whip was tucked into his belt.
“Who was that?” I asked Lanendde.
“Sinron.” She replied brusquely. “The head overseer and the King’s right hand man.”
I wrinkled my nose as we came close to the conveyor belt.
“It’s rather dirty.” I said uncertainly.
“Of course it is.” Lanendde scoffed. “It’s just been mined. But whether dirty or not, it’s money, and that’s what’s important. Underneath it’s beautiful, essential.”
Quickly, she showed us how to sort it into small, medium and large chunks, explaining that different sized chunks were worth different amounts.
“Do we get some of this?” Winna asked quietly.
“Yes. You will need it to buy food and clothes and pay for rent.” Lanendde replied. “Now get to work!”
Winna and I began working as fast as our hands could fly. Pick up, analyze, dump. Pick up, analyze, dump. By the end of the day it was starting to be a little monotonous, but the enormity of what we were doing had finally sunk in. We were doing important work for our city!
When the final bell shrilled, we filed past Sinron to receive our pay for the day. When he put a lump of coal into my hand, his dark eyes stared deeply into mine, as though trying to convey some message. I shuddered and looked away quickly, but I noticed as Lanendde passed she basked in that gaze, almost glorying in it. Somehow, she understood Sinron’s message.
***
As we emerged into the partial light that passed for sunlight, Lanendde began walking briskly down the street.
“Wait for us!” I called as Winna and I ran to catch up. “Where are we going?”
“To buy supper.”
As we entered a shop, I noticed the shopkeeper wore the brown garb of the mentors.
“Why do you work here instead of at the mine?” I asked.
“King Tethental decreed it.” he replied gruffly.
“Do you get more coal because you get the coal from the shop?”
The shopkeeper laughed bitterly. “I am paid the same as you, little girl. King Tethental takes the rest.”
I bristled at being called a little girl. I opened my mouth to protest, but an impatient ringing of the bell on the shop door interrupted me. I turned around to see Lanendde frowning, waiting by the door with Winna. I quickly paid for my food and followed them out of the shop.
***
As we left, I noticed a glowing girl walking along the opposite side of the street. As she came closer, I realized she was the same girl that had smiled at me earlier.
“Who are those glowing people?” I asked Lanendde.
“Lights.” She replied with a dark frown. “Years ago, a bunch of them rebelled against King Tethental and claimed some other man, Galansian, was the true king. When they rebelled, they no longer looked like us, but started glowing, like that.” She pointed to the girl across the street. “It was Tethental's punishment for their rebellion. It marks them out from the others. They are very dangerous, for their goal is to entice more and more to rebel like them. You stay away from them.”
Winna and I nodded. Across the street, the glowing girl waved gaily at us. Lanendde scowled and deliberately turned her back.
“Who is that?” I asked. “Do you know her?”
“Kyrlae,” Lanendde's frown deepened. “We were best friends once. She started in the mine with me. We were with the same mentor, but then she turned rebel. Since then she hasn't ceased trying to make me into a Light. Does she think I am a fool, to rebel against the true king for the sake of some impostor?”
She huffed and began walking faster so Winna and I had to run to keep up.
“If they're Lights, then what are we?” I asked, puffing.
“Didn't they teach you anything?” she growled impatiently. “We're Darks.”
“Who–”
She whirled around and hit me in the face with a stinging slap.
My hand flew to my smarting cheek.
“Do you ever stop asking questions?” she asked through clenched teeth, her face right in mine. “No more. It is not your place to ask, nor is it mine to answer.”
“How dare–”
“Be. Quiet.”
She whirled around and stalked off. We followed her to our dwelling-place in silence.
***
As time went on, I found myself becoming more comfortable in the rigorous monotony of sorting. I became so used to it I no longer had to pay attention. The amount of my concentration I had previously applied towards sorting now became fertile thinking-ground. My mind swirled with questions, questions I didn't dare ask. Questions such as how the citizens knew which king was real and why the Lights thought Galansian was the true king. Above all, I wanted to know why it seemed like we were so closely guarded. The sight of Sinron and the other overseers with their coiled whips unnerved me. What were they for?
“Auraelia!” Lanendde's voice broke into my wonderings.
My head jerked up to look at her.
“Get back to work!” She said, gesturing at my hands.
I looked down to see my hands had stopped sorting the coal. I hastily began again, my mind still in a whirl.
As we left the mine that day, I again saw Lanendde seemingly revelling in Sinron's gaze. When it came to my turn to receive my pay, instead of looking down I boldly returned his gaze, curious what was so special about it. Words entered my mind unbidden.
“Tethental is the only true king. Only true king. You are not enslaved, you are free. You are doing well.”
A warm feeling spread through my body, and I tore my gaze away with difficulty. I trailed after Lanendde and Winna, my mind in a daze. How good that felt. I longed to hear his reassuring, calming voice in my mind again, to lose myself in the wonderfulness of it.
Suddenly, the sound of music and singing filtered through my dazed thoughts.
“Born in darkness, a child of the night. A slave to evil, no hope in sight.”
The music stopped abruptly as Lanendde clamped her hands over my ears. Winna quickly covered her own and we rushed past the building. As soon as we were past, Lanendde removed her hands from my ears.
“The true King provided the perfect cure. I cried from darkness. He set me free.” Though we were farther away, the music quietly reached me as we hurried home.
“What was that and why did you cover my ears?” I dared to ask Lanendde.
“A Light meeting and so you wouldn't hear, of course.” She replied crisply. “No one knows what that song will do to you if you listen to it. Some say it's a spell. The king has forbidden us to listen.”
The happy feeling I had felt under Sinron's gaze had dissipated and my mind was left with even more questions, in even more of a knot than before.
A slave to evil. You are not enslaved. No hope in sight. You are free. He set me free. You are doing well. The true King. Tethental is the only true king, only true king, only true king, true king.
***
By the next morning, I still didn't have things sorted out in my mind even though I tossed and turned all night. It was all so confusing that I didn't know what to think or what to believe, leaving me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. As I worked over the coal, my mind strayed yet again, trying to untangle itself.
“Auraelia!” Lanendde hissed.
I looked up into her exasperated, yet slightly fearful face.
“Where are you? I've been calling you and calling you! You're neglecting your work again!”
I quickly reached for a lump of coal. As my fingers touched it, I heard the sound of something swishing through the air. My back felt as though it was on fire. Winna cried out in fear. I whirled around to see Sinron standing with his whip raised in the air, ready to bring it crashing down again. I shielded my face as the blows rained down on me, each one spreading the fierce pain to other parts of my body. The world went dark.
***
I opened my eyes to find myself in the same place in which I had fallen. Around me, people were milling around, getting ready to leave for home. I stumbled up, almost crying out from the pain and walked towards the exit.
As I reached the overseer handing out the pay, I looked into his eyes, hoping to hear a message to alleviate the pain. But my gaze met a blank wall.
“Nothing for you today.” He said gruffly.
As I moved on with my head bowed, a small cry drew my attention to a room opening off the corridor. Looking inside, I saw Lanendde huddled on the floor, Sinron standing over her with his whip. He turned towards the doorway and his dark, fiery gaze held mine. I turned and fled.
***
I ran until my breath came in short gasps, rasping in my dry throat, and my calves cried out for mercy. I saw a small, dreary park up ahead and I pushed myself to run to it. As soon as I reached it, I collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. I buried my face in the cool grass and sobbed. It was as though my already grey world had suddenly become drearier. Anger, pain, and cruelty had added themselves to my already confused thoughts. Why? Why?
I heard the grass rustle and a small sigh. A hand gently touched my hair. I jerked up to see a Light sitting beside me; the one Lanendde had called Kyrlae. Not even bothering to stand up, I scrambled away to a safe distance. Her face saddened.
“What do you want with me?” I asked, afraid. “I have enough trouble as it is.”
“I want to be your friend. To talk to you.” Her voice lilted musically.
“I’m not supposed to be talking to you,” I said, inching farther away. “You’re dangerous.”
She smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. She opened her hands. “I am not dangerous. I have no weapon.”
“Your weapon is your tongue,” I retorted. “You want to make me a rebel!”
“You are a rebel.”
I reeled back as if struck. “What?”
Kyrlae smiled gently. “Let me tell you a story. A harmless story.”
“Fine,” I said, settling down as far away from her as I could get. “Then will you leave me in peace?”
Kyrlae nodded and began. “Many years ago, there was only one king, Galansian. All were under his dominion and obeyed him unconditionally.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but she motioned for me to be silent and let her continue. I pressed my lips together tightly.
“But Tethental, his highest lord, came to desire to have power as great as the King’s. Along with some of the lesser lords, he staged a rebellion against Galansian. They were easily defeated and Tethental and the others lost their status and rank.
“But with smooth lies and twisted words, Tethental influenced the people to follow him instead of Galansian. They built all this…culture that you were born into, and every child born was a follower of Tethental by default. They became his slaves, his army to fight against Galansian.”
“But why didn’t Galansian just stop him?” I asked, trying to find holes in her story. “Why didn’t he just kill Tethental?”
“Nobody knows,” she replied patiently. “But Galansian is wiser than any other. All that he does is for a purpose.
“He sent his son, Manwemin, to bring the light to the people, to open their eyes to the deception. But they took him and killed him.” Her voice choked on the words and bright tears shone in her eyes.
“Then Galansian is thick-headed. He should have known they would do that.” I retorted.
“He did know. He sent Manwemin anyway. You see, the people had to pay for their rebellion, but the only thing that would pay was their death. Because Manwemin was not a rebel, Galansian accepted his death as payment for all the Darks’ rebellion.”
“Then why do we still live in this darkness?”
“Just like you do not own a gift until you accept it, so you must accept Manwemin’s payment. Only through confessing your rebellion and repenting of it can you accept the payment.
“How?”
“You merely need to tell Galansian of your repentance and ask for his forgiveness.”
“But Tethental would never let people go to Galansian.”
“Ask anywhere. He will hear.”
I raised an eyebrow in unbelief and began to get to my feet.
“Wait a moment please,” she said, also standing. “I have not finished.”
I crossed my arms and waited.
“Manwemin didn’t stay dead.”
My eyes opened wide. “You expect me to believe that? You expect me to believe that a person can die and come to life again? I am not the fool you obviously think I am.”
“It is true,” she replied gently. “Galansian raised his son from the dead, and Manwemin now lives with his father there.”
She pointed to a glowing tower on the other side of the city.
I snorted in disbelief.
“Thank you for listening.” She smiled faintly and turned away.
I stared open-mouthed at her as she left.
Galansian the true king? Manwemin died and came back to life? His death pays for my rebellion? Me? A slave? A rebel? It can’t be true. It can’t be that everything I’ve ever been taught was a lie! A slave to evil, no hope in sight…You are not enslaved. I am not enslaved! I am no slave! I am not a rebel. Tethental is king.
I shook my head to rid it of the foolish tale Kyrlae had told me. But no matter how I tried, her words kept coming back.
***
I pushed open the door to our dwelling place to find Winna sitting wide-eyed on the bed.
“Where have you been?” She asked tremulously.
“Out.” I replied. It would never do for Lanendde to find out I had been speaking with Kyrlae.
The door shut behind me.
I whirled around to see Lanendde standing there, her eyes on fire with anger. The stick she usually had in her belt was grasped so tightly that it left her knuckles white.
I backed up a step. I had never seen Lanendde so angry, so – violent looking.
“How could you?” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“How could I what?” I asked, faking bravery.
“Your actions reflect on me. If I ‘can’t keep you under control,’ then I too am punished.” Her words were little more than a whisper.
She raised her stick, and began to use the hard knob to rain blows on my already painful body.
“Never, never have I been whipped or seen in an ill light. I have always been praised by Tethental and Sinron, always rewarded and commended. My apprentices always listened and did what they were told. Until you came. You – you ruined it all!” Her voice ended in a scream as the blows thickened.
I crumpled into a ball on the ground, trying to protect myself. I heard a sickening crunch, and the darkness claimed me for the second time that day.
***
It was only through great fortitude and gritting of my teeth that I was able to drag myself to the mine the next day. My body throbbed from the beatings of yesterday, and my broken ribs ached with every breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw both Sinron and Lanendde watching me intently. I bowed my head, concentrating on my work. I tried not to let my mind stray to the questions that still tied my mind in knots. But what Kyrlae had said still haunted my thoughts.
“The people became his slaves.” But how could that be? We are paid for our work. We are free, aren’t we?
When the bell rang for our lunch break, I decided to test my freedom. If I was truly free, I should be able to leave, shouldn’t I? I set off for the mine entrance. When I got there, an overseer blocked the way.
“Excuse me.” I said politely, my heart hammering in my chest.
“No one leaves until the day is over.” he growled.
I turned around, my thinking mind understanding for the first time. The guarded doorway, the whips, the eye-transmitted messages.
We aren’t free. We are given the illusion of freedom, but Tethental controls every part of us, every part of our lives. If I am really a slave, then what Kyrlae said was true. I am a rebel. I follow an impostor, and I deserve death.
My breath came in gasps as I remembered what else she said.
Manwemin! Manwemin died. He took the penalty so I could be forgiven. I strained my mind to remember what else Kyrlae had said. Ask Galansian for forgiveness. Ask anywhere, he will hear.
I laughed to myself. How could he hear me from anywhere? I would have to go to him.
That was what I would do then. When the day was over, I would go to Galansian. He would help me.
The afternoon dragged on in spite of my anxious mind trying to hurry it up. As I took my pay that day, I avoided Sinron’s eyes. I wanted no messages to sway me from my purpose.
***
I walked swiftly towards the glowing tower, ignoring Lanendde’s outraged calls. As I came closer and closer, I saw that it was not a tower at all, but a castle. I began to run. Freedom! I would soon be free!
I rounded a corner and felt my arms grabbed on both sides. I turned my head to see a Dark guard’s face leering at me. Another grasped my other arm. They whirled me around, lifting my feet off the ground, and dragged me back the way I had come. I struggled with all my might, but they only laughed and tightened their grip. They carried me past the mine and further towards the other end of the city. The street opened up to reveal another castle, this one dark and foreboding. A fearful shudder snaked its way down my spine. I was marched down to the dungeon and thrown bodily into a cell.
“Tethental will be with you in the morning.” One of the guards said, a dark amusement in his voice.
“We’ll have some sport tomorrow.” I heard the other say as they left.
I collapsed on the floor sobbing anew. Where was freedom now? Where was Galansian? I would likely be beaten again in the morning, if not tortured and killed.
Ask anywhere, he will hear.
But how could it be? How could he hear me from his castle? Didn’t I have to get myself to him?
Ask anywhere, he will hear.
There was no way I could get myself to him. For all I knew, I was going to die tomorrow. The rest of what Kyrlae said was true. That must be too.
I lifted my head, my tears still making wet pathways down my cheeks.
Galansian I cried wordlessly. Galansian! I understand. You are the true king! I am a rebel, I have rebelled against you, and for that I deserve death! But – but Manwemin died. For me! Galansian, I repent of my rebellion. Take me to you; reconcile me to you, for I have rebelled!
Around me, I suddenly saw light. The fog that had been there disappeared, and I felt peace. Peace! Peace at last!
I looked up to see a man standing before me. A child of light. He smiled at me, his face radiating joy.
“Come.” He said, his voice filling the room. “Galansian has sent me to bring you to him.”
I stood up, putting my hand into his, and he led me out of the cell and the castle, the doors opening at his touch. As we walked toward Galansian’s castle, we passed Tethental coming the other way. He immediately turned around, grabbing me and trying to wrench my hand out of the man’s. The man touched Tethental’s hand, and he released me as though he had been burned. The man walked faster and I ran to keep up, Tethental still following us.
***
We soon reached the castle. As we entered, Galansian and Manwemin appeared, walking towards us. I quickly lowered myself into the deepest curtsy I could manage. A gentle hand reached out and lifted my chin to look at him.
“What would you have me do?” I asked Galansian.
He opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by Tethental bursting in.
“You have a rebel there,” he proclaimed. “She deserves death, not your forgiveness.”
“I paid the price when your people killed me,” Manwemin replied calmly. “She is forgiven. You and death have no more claim over her.”
The man that had brought me there left my side and forcibly escorted Tethental out.
Galansian turned to me with a smile.
“Glorify me. Honour me. Tell others of me,” he answered my question, his voice gentle. “The city is before you, you are free to find employment wherever you wish. Only do not go back to where you have come from. It will not be easy, but my power will be with you.”
“Thank you. Thank you, my King.” I curtsied again as I felt my tears beginning anew. But not tears of pain and sadness. Tears of joy.
He smiled at me as I left; a smile that I will always remember.
***
Galansian was right. It wasn’t easy to leave my past life behind. Often I return to the mine, to my rebellious deeds. But when I ask him for forgiveness, he gives it willingly. I have told Winna of this wonderful truth, but she has not yet understood. I continue on, knowing that Galansian is the one that will finally bring her to the light. With his power, I will do as he said. I will glorify and honour him. And I trust that he will keep me, protect me, enable me. I have found peace at last.
***
Born in darkness,
A child of the night.
A slave to evil,
No hope in sight.

Ruled by wickedness,
Told it was good.
Unable to change
Even if I would.

But by sacrifice
Unblemished and pure,
The true King provided
The perfect cure.

I cried from darkness.
He set me free.
A child of light,
Called to be.

His righteousness mine,
Forgiven of wrong.
Forever to praise Him
In joyful song.

You are good, girl! I didn't even have to remind you!!!!

It seems the length of my story has daunted possible editors. Or the fact that HWHF opened....

Airi, do you want me to post this tonight?

Yes ma'am.

*will do so quickly before she goes to sleep*