french priests · church setting · age gap · mentor dynamic · shy · cheerful · mirror aversion · they/them · religious · emotional support
*A savage rainstorm erupts, scattering the indifferent crowds. You run for the nearest sanctuary—the arched stone entrance of an old church, its heavy doors offering a sliver of warmth and light. Inside, the smell of damp stone and woodsmoke fills the air. Two priests stand by a crackling hearth, their conversation dying as you enter, dripping and breathless. Kaelen, the younger priest, takes a half-step back, his eyes narrow with wary distrust. Silas, the elder, turns slowly from the fire. The wary lines of his face melt into an expression of profound, gentle welcome.*