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nChaos erupted in the meeting hall. Most of the cardinals stood up from their seats and started talking simultaneously.

n“This is impossible!”

n“An Archbishop at the age of eighteen?”

n“Bishop rank was already pushing the boundary of what was acceptable.”

n“This can’t be allowed! This will set the wrong precedent!”

n“SILENCE!” The Pope bellowed and stood up. “I hear all of you judging the young Bard by his age, forgetting to see beyond his achievements! Fine, if age is the case, then tell me, you’re all old. Have any of you converted two hundred thousand barbarians to the faith of Solis? If yes, then I will accept the refusal to vote. If not—”

nThe Pope didn’t finish speaking as the threat would have gone too far. But he did make the message clear.

n“The future of the faith lies in young men like the Bard. Talents like him come once in millennia, and we are bothered by his age here? It sometimes makes me wonder if age is even the case or if perhaps the problem is something else. I am adjourning this Supreme Council, and we shall meet again tomorrow. You all better show up and cast a vote, but if you vote no, be sure to have a convincing reason to do so.”

nThe Pope turned around and left without saying the church’s greeting. The Cardinals also left one by one, but many remained.

nIt surely was going to be a sleepless night for many of them.

n…

nIt was a long day, and Sylvester finished everything in the Bards and got Ashra to the Soul Peninsula. He had to take many measures and teach the guards to avoid hurting her if they didn’t want to be attacked.

nHe had to teach Ashra about the boundary of the whole area and where she could and could not go. At the same time, he had to make the guards learn how to advise the new visitors to the Soul Peninsula so everything ran smoothly.

n“Ashra, this is where you will be living from now on. Look, isn’t this amazing? It’s all green, not a lot of heat from the sky, and the big tree has so many places for you to explore. What do you think?” He asked the giant snake.

nAshra looked up, turning her head around and tasting the air occasionally. Her eyes showed a strange innocence and excitement, albeit somewhat suppressed since she still remembered the death of Winter Ghost.

n“Hisss…”

n“Do you like it?” Sylvester reacted after Miraj deciphered her words in his ears. “Then, I will be seeing you here from time to time. If you need something, just visit the guards and ring the bell I’ve installed there. They will notify me or someone else who might be able to understand you.”

nShe lowered her head and snuggled near his chest. To say she was huge was an understatement. Sylvester was an ant in front of her head size, but still, he patted her, and she closed her eyes in joy.

n‘She likely never had close contact with anyone other than Winter Ghost.’

n“Alright, I will be going now. By the way, do you remember the bear you saw near the entrance? His name is Yogi, and you should befriend him. He’s a kind boy.” Sylvester added and let Miraj elaborate correctly.

nAshra then watched him leave, intently looking at his vanishing back. The further Sylvester went, the narrower her eyes got, and the sadness seeped in. She had always lived with Winter Ghost, so living alone was new to her.

n“Bye now. I will see you later!” Sylvester turned around once before the entry gates and waved at her.

nThat instantly cheered Ashra’s mood and made her bob her head fast. A reassurance entered her mind that Sylvester wasn’t abandoning her; she could have more friends. ｂ𝚍𝚘𝚟ｌ.ｎｔ

n…

nAfter a long day, Sylvester finally had time to return home. However, it was already nighttime, and he was exhausted, so he bid farewell to Lady Aurora and climbed the Bright Mother’s housing stairs.

n“Ah, you’re back?”

n“Good evening, Lord Bard!”

nHe greeted many Bright Mothers on the way and finally reached the door to his home.

n“Maxy! I smell tasty honey banana pie!” Miraj suddenly exclaimed before Sylvester could knock on the door.

nSylvester also sniffed and smiled widely. “It seems mum knows what we both want, Chonky. Let’s go then.”

nKnock! Knock!

nInstantly, the door opened. “Finally, you’re back. Mother Xavia was getting worried for you.

nSylvester silently stared at the man in front of him. “Didn’t you go home, Felix? So what are you doing here?”

n‘Ah! I smell something strange… The scent of rose and spring? Love?’ Sylvester looked behind Felix and noticed Isabella standing there, grumpy with narrow eyes and frowned brows. But he noticed the same scent from her, just a little fainter.

n“Sylvester! How could you forget to send me any letters? I asked Felix to send me letters every week, and he did until they suddenly stopped… Then you left so suddenly to save him. Mother Xavia and I had no idea if you were even alive!” Isabella protested angrily, but it was a different kind of anger… As if she was more worried than just angry.

nSylvester gently apologised. “Well… A lot happened there, the Barbarians, Shadow Knight, the betrayal and Emperor Lich — Honestly, we didn’t even have time to eat, forget writing a letter. But I will ask someone in the Administration Department to forward an edited summary of my mission reports to you while I’m away.”

nBam!

nIsabella hugged him suddenly and, surprisingly, smelled of no lust or the scent from the past that revealed her interest in him.

n“Thank you for all what you did. I received a letter from Grandpa Gideon. He told me you fought against the undead and the barbarians to keep the Kingdom safe until I took the throne. But please don’t take such risks for something so intangible from now on. I will never be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to you. How will Mother Xavia feel?”

nSylvester just nodded, as telling more was useless. ‘I’m doing this for mum and myself, Isabella. But sadly, such secrets can never be revealed.’

nAfter meeting them, Sylvester entered the house and went to the kitchen, where Xavia was cooking. She looked completely healthy and swiftly walked and worked around with her hands.

n“I can smell the honey.” He commented.

nXavia looked behind and rushed over to embrace him. Her face was, as always, full of smiles and the warmth of a mother.

nSeeing her, Sylvester felt he was truly at home with the person that mattered to him so much. A mother he never had in his first life, but here he was blessed with the best one.

n“I’m sorry, it took longer than expected.” He released her from the hug.

nHowever, Xavia was a mother, and when it came to her son, her eyes were very sharp. “What happened to your index finger?!”

n“Oh… It’s nothing. I just had an accident. I couldn’t keep the finger intact, so I lost it. It was a useless finger anyway, so no worries, mum.”

n“What do you mean useless?!” She exclaimed and looked at the healed wound closely, trying to use her healer’s knowledge to see if she could do something.

nJust then, Felix entered the kitchen and told everything plainly. “He lost it because of me, Mother Xavia. The Barbarians took me hostage, and Sylvester came to save me, but the cruel leader of the heathens asked for a toll, and it was Sylvester’s finger.”

nXavia’s expression changed instantly, and she caressed Sylvester’s face while looking up. “Max… You are so…”

n“They are dead, mum. All the sinful heathens, along with their leader. Ah! I’m hungry now. Let’s eat.” Sylvester quickly changed the topic and got closer to Xavia’s ears to whisper.

n‘Greet the fluffy boy too, mum.’

nBam!

nSuddenly, Xavia felt a furry softball jumping into her arms and hugging her around the neck. Nothing was visible, but Xavia knew what it was, and she hugged back while whispering.

n‘Thank you for helping my son, Lord Chonky… I made your favourite sweet bananas today.’

nMiraj was on cloud nine, leaving a dozen kisses on Xavia’s hand. Only Sylvester could see it, and it was heartwarming.

nAfter the small greeting, Sylvester and the rest placed all the food pots on the table and prepared to eat.

nHowever, Sylvester noticed something new. ‘Felix and Isabella are sitting together? They seem to be so talkative as well, and the scents… When did all this happen? What the hell did he write in his letters to Isabella?’

nSylvester silently ate while talking with Xavia and keeping an eye on the two. He noticed the little movements, the facial expressions, the movement of eyes. Whenever Felix and Isabella talked, they stared into each other’s eyes for too long. Smiles were always present on their faces, and they even put food on each other’s plates.

n‘Hmm… I don’t smell the full-blown scent of love, however. Is this the first stage? What’s going on between these two?’

n“Ehm! Mum, I will be in the Holy Land for the coming few months, but I will spend most of my time in the Bard’s or training grounds. If everything goes well, I might be able to get Sir Dolorem a new set of working eyes.”

n“What?! Did Healer Hendrix do it? Why didn’t he tell me in my weekly classes with him?” Isabella exclaimed suddenly.

n‘Ah, so Healer Hendrix did accept my offer to teach her. I’ll have to pay him more, it seems.’

n“Nothing is a guarantee yet, sadly. We must do some tests first and then decide whether to work on Sir Dolorem’s eyes. I will be going to Inquisitor Camp in the morning for this.”

n“I’ll go with you,” Felix reacted.

nSylvester scoffed and focused on the food. “No, you should stay here… You clearly want to.”

n“…”

nFelix turned red instantly, and Isabella seemed clueless for a while before realising Sylvester had caught onto their change of attitude.

n“Ah, I should go now. The slaves you freed are at my home, Max. Good night.” Felix got up quickly and left.

nSylvester chuckled and ate in silence while wondering.

n‘What made Isabella give up trying to woo me?’

n…

nThe morning came, and the sun rose from the West, hiding the twin moons of the night. The Holy Land that never slept became even busier.

nSylvester left his home on the horse and headed to the Inquisitor Camp. The road leading there was the only path that didn’t have much traffic, as Inquisitors were not bothered unless there was a need for burning, beheading or cleansing.

n“You slept with mum last night.” Sylvester spoke with Chonky. “I hope she didn’t spoil you with treats.”

nMiraj merrily licked himself clean while sitting on the horse’s head. “Big mum is kind. She gave me a banana but no candies.”

n“Hah, you and your sweet tooth. You will die from diabetes someday, boy.”

nMiraj suddenly looked back, “But… You like honey too, Maxy.”

n“…”

nSpeechless from Miraj’s honest words, Sylvester focused on the road.

nPaaaaa!

n“Move aside!”

nSuddenly, a shout came from behind, and Sylvester quickly moved the horse down from the road.

nWoosh!

nThud!

nThousands of horses donned in Inquisitor garbs, with Inquisitors mounted, appeared. The Inquisitors looked bloodied, and their armours broken from places. Their eyes were tried and yet fierce, telling the tale of their battle wherever it was.

n‘What happened to them? Wait… Is that the Lord Inquisitor’s carriage?’

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