Based on the Manga (Novel) Trinity Blood by Sunao Yoshida
Image taken from the manga series Trinity Blood also by Sunao Yoshida

~ Gardens of the Roman Vatican ~ Springtime ~

Esther Blanchett, sitting on the edge of one of the gardens fountains, looked up the bright morning sky. Ever since she was brought to the Vatican by Abel Nightroad, she loved enjoying the beauty of the gardens. Esther adored the scent of the many flowers that surround the fountain and her feet. She slowly picked a flower and watches it carefully.
Esther did not understand. How is it possible for her to be confronted with the huge, endlessly raging war of the world? Esther, being a nun all her life, had never really figured out what was happening. Abel had informed her about the negotiations between the Terrans and Methuselah that never found a way to bring peace amongst themselves. What Abel had told her made her understand that she was now in the Vatican which was responsible for protecting the Terrans.

Esther dropped the flower and watched herself in the reflection of the pure water. The reason why she loved hanging out in the gardens, was because she had lost this magical bond with nature due to damage war had inflicted to the area surrounding the church where she last lived her life. Esther worshiped to be happy without anything. Nature, in all his glory and simplicity. Suddenly, Esther felt watched and quickly turned around. Nothing. Esther could not shake off the feeling she just had and left the fountain. All of sudden she saw a boy, hiding behind a pillar.
“Hey!” she shouted but that frightened the boy.
When he ran off, Esther tried to follow him. The drapes of her wide skirt were blown in various directions due to the rush.
“Don’t run! Who are you!”
Esther kept yelling but the boy kept running. He made his way to the entrance of a labyrinth with huge bushes that represented the walls. Considering the fact spring had already begun, the walls rose high above Esthers head. She tried to follow the boy but lost track of his movements before she even realised.

Just when Esther was about to give up and retrace her steps, she heard the gracious stream of gushing water. She followed the sound and discovered a central garden which had a Stone Kiosk in the center.
Within the Kiosk, the boy was hidden, his face buried in his lap.
Esther approached and the sound of her feet hitting the grid made the boy look up into her direction. Just when he was about to run away for the second time, Esther quickly made her way up the steps of the Kiosk and grabbed the boys hand.
“Please,” she asked, “Don’t run.”
The boy looked into her eyes and a smile appeared on his small lips.
Esther went sitting next to the boy and patted his knee.
“What are you hiding for?”
“Cardinal Alfonso,” replied the boy, “that angry man.”
Esther couldn’t keep her laughter from escaping. The boy looked at her with a playful, semi – anger look.
“It’s okay,” smiled Esther, “he’s not in here.”
“Are you Esther?” asked the boy.
“Yes.”
“I heard Abel talk about you,” said the boy, “you truly are beautiful.”
Esther blushed.
“It’s okay,” smiled the boy.
“So who are you?” asked Esther.
“I … um … me.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” replied Esther.
She looked at the boy. He was dressed in white wardrobes and looked very innocent and young. At least a couple years younger than herself, she guessed. Maybe he was an orphan or something like that.
“You know,” whispered the boy, “You remind me of Brigitte.”
“Brigitte?”
“Queen of Albion,” replied the boy.
Esther smirked but a strange feeling overwhelmed her.
“I heard of Albion before,” she whispered, “I want to go there one day.”
“I will.”
“What?”
“Take you there!”
Esthers laughter exploded at instant and the boy joined her. It felt good to laugh again. It felt good to be in the Vatican, enjoy the harmony.
“When we ‘ll visit Albion,” continued the boy, “we will see a Star of Hope.”
“Meaning?”
“The Star of Hope will bring peace,” spoke the boy with enthusiasm.
After these words, the boy stood up. He took Esther’s hand and helped her stand.
“We must go,” he said.
He than walked away, followed by Esther. When the entrance of the labyrinth was lurking behind a corner, voices could be heard.
“Alessandro! Alessandro! Esther!”
Esther’s’ jaw dropped, and she looked at the boy next to her with bright, growing eyes. She almost fell on her knees to worship the boy. He was Alessandro XVIII, his holiness and pope of the Catholic Church. A drop of sweat appeared on Esther’s’ forehead. How could she not have discovered he was the pope?
“Don’t,” ordered the boy, but it didn’t really sound like an order, “Let us be friends Esther.”
After that, Alessandro ran towards lady Sforza who was calling his name.
Esther stood there and smiled. She remembered the words of the young pope, and she would remember them for a very long time.

I will take you to Albion. When we’ll visit it, we will see a Star of Hope.