1 Enlightenmen (2/2)

”You're already sixteen aren't you? You'll soon have to start fighting these kinds of fights in real life, not on paper.” He smiles before he goes on like he's revelating in some old memory.

”Yep, I remember way back when I was a strapping young man about to be shipped off to the front lines, I made sure to spend the time I had before then well, I can still remember the beating I got after peeking on the nuns changing.”

I reddened slightly as he bellowed a laugh, as he knows those kinds of things embarrass me.

”So how about it lad, do you have a girl waiting on you to come back?”

”No, I've been too busy training to talk to any girls, anyway Reverend Jason says that god looks down on those who'd rather be married than fight for him.”

Sir Richard shakes his head and looks at me seriously then speaks with an even tone that he rarely uses.

”The scriptures say no such thing, you should know that, you've read them almost as much as I have. You need someone to fight for, everyone that fights righteously has a cause. Someone that fights just to kill is nothing more than a brigand or a murder.

You know a Paladin Knight fights to protect the innocent and those who cannot fight. You may have become stronger, but If you use your strength for your own gains, then you're no better than the demons you fight.

His seriousness fades and he smiles warmly at me.

”We all have our reasons to fight, so tell me, lad, what would you have in a woman if she'd be yours.”

It's not like I haven't thought about it, or prayed about it before. My training has taken much of my time, so I haven't spent much with the girls in the temple or in the nearby village. But it's not like I haven't thought about the kind of woman I want to spend my life with, or imagined what she would be like, I'm a young man after all.

”I'd have any girl god would prepare for me. But if I had to choose what she was like.”

I thought for a second to collect the right words to say.

”I'd like her to be really kind, I'd like her to have a smile that puts me at ease and beautiful eyes that sparkle and shine, and I want her to be able to make the most delicious food ever so I'd be able to eat it every single day.”

”Just like my wife used to make, I haven't had a good meal since she passed.”

He laughs sadly at that for the sake of humor bringing to surface bitter-sweet memories in exchange.

”But most of all, I want her to love me for who I am,” I say passionately

He nods at that.

”That's very mature of you Christian, I'm sure you'll find a wonderful girl waiting for you when you get out of the war.

But you never said anything about her chest, are you the kind that likes them big, or do you prefer them to be on the smaller end?”

My face blooms red and I become flustered, I look around to make sure that no one was around to hear him.

”You don't need to talk about those kinds of things Sir Richard, not in the temple at least. What if one of the nuns had heard you? You would have gotten at least twenty lashes.”

He laughs at that. ”Don't worry lad It wouldn't be the first time.” I shutter at his shamelessness.

I can't help but laugh though. Even if Sir Richard can be a little weird, he's the best man I know. The kind of man I want to become, just less perverted.