Chapter Text
August 26, 2024
Lesnik's Version
"Welcome, Mr. Sobol! I'm Adam T. Irving, and I'm the dean."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Irving. And, please, call me Lesnik."
"Well, Lesnik, I'm glad you've decided to attend this college. Walk with me, please."
The two men, one, Lesnik, is twenty, while the other, Irving, is 42, begin to walk out of the office building, as the older man continues talking.
"As you may have seen on our website, Saint Natas was founded two centuries ago, in 1813, by a Catholic sect known as the Order of Saint Natas. Saint Natas himself was a Catholic priest accused of attempting to summon the devil, referred to as Leviathan, and burned at the stake. You see, he preached acceptance of all, no matter their skin tone, nation of origin, or, indeed, religion."
The two reached the dorms, entered, and called for the elevator.
"Speaking of which, I've been informed by my secretary, Ms. Rebecha Holmes, that you're a Muslim and will need to pray at specific times. I've already informed your professors and set up a place close to all your classes for you to pray. Have you brought your prayer mat?"
"Yes, sir."
"Perfect. Here's your room. You'll be sharing it with a brilliant young man by the name of Poe Kaminski. He's at class right now, but why don't you get settled in, okay, Lesnik?"
"Will do."
Lesnik was left alone in his dorm room. He began to quickly, albeit carefully, put away his things. Once done unpacking and organizing, Lesnik looked at his watch and saw that it was just about time for him to pray, as it was just after noon.
He took out his prayer mat, layed it down, and began to pray.
Just before Lesnik's first class, botany, he sat down at a picnic table out in the grass next to a building, said the prayer bismillah, and opened his lunch. Suddenly, as he began to eat, he heard the voice of a woman, seemingly around his age.
"Excuse me. Do you mind if I sit across from you?"