56. So Long...

"Deacon Sylvester Maximilian is required to see His Holiness at six! Please accept this invitation letter, Brighter Mother."

It was still too early in the morning, but it seemed people at the highest office did not sleep. Xavia took the letter that summoned Sylvester. She quickly ran into Sylvester's room and woke all the boys up.

"What did you do? Is this because of the ranking? Or did you misbehave?" She asked. It was expected for a mother to worry when the supposed strongest being in the world called him.

Sheepishly, he took the letter and read it. After a few lines, his sleep was gone. "Hm, the letter is signed by the Headmaster, mum. It's likely due to my ranking. Don't worry. I will go there on time."

"On time? Get up, take a bath, and put on a new pair of robes." She quickly pulled him out of bed and threw him out to go and take a bath. Thankfully, he now had a private bath as he was big enough for other Brighter Mothers to feel conscious about him using the same bathroom.

He also dragged the three with him and got ready. His meeting was scheduled an hour before school began, so he left early. While the boys headed to the school, he headed to the Pope's Palace, a long walk away.

'Is he going to praise me?" he wondered.

As he arrived at the long stairs of the Palace, the guards stood stiffly as if saluting him. He reckoned they still remembered him from when the Inquisitor High Lord brought him.

One of the staff members soon pointed him in the right direction. Then just outside the Pope's office, the Pope's assistant greeted him and let him in with no trouble as he had the invitation letter.

There was no security check or such, but could anyone be threatening the old man? Wouldn't that just be a form of suicide?

"Candy!" He greeted the old man with the usual candy. This was a tradition among them since he was small, and if it kept the Pope kind to him, he'd do it no matter how embarrassed he felt.

"Haha, come in, Sylvester. Take a seat." the Pope voiced, sounding old and wise as always.

This was the first time Sylvester entered the Pope's office. But he was surprised to see that it was nothing special, just a simple room with various decorations and beautiful carpet and curtains. There were gold ornaments around the corners and on the main table. Other than that, the most exquisite thing he could see was the strange quill made of some unknown red bird feather.

'Even the headmaster had a bigger office.' He thought and handed the candy.

"A Master Wizard? I remember I was 13 when I became a Master Wizard, so you're doing better than me." The Pope said in an attempt to encourage.

Sylvester tried to feel the air and smelled a sharp nose tingling, sweet aroma of boiling caramel. 'He's excited?'

"Am I the youngest?" Sylvester inquired.

"Sadly, no." Pope started by pouring himself and Sylvester a glass of water. "More than four thousand years ago, the fifth one, Pope Pollux Ragthon, the warrior, attained the rank of Master Wizard at the age of 5. Times were a lot different back then. The church was not strong enough to ensure peace. Sol was divided into hundreds of small kingdoms fighting each other.

"I believe his mind grew faster than his age with a mix of talent and tragedy. He's the man who truly spread the faith across the continent by subjugating and combining kingdoms. Our faith is a blessing of the first Pope, but what we have today is the fifth's gift."

Sylvester digested the new information. Unfortunately, these finer details were never revealed in the 'History with Popes' book. There was much more that he had to learn, and Sylvester wished he could spend one day staying in the Pope's library.

"But! Deacon Sylvester, you have exceeded my expectations. You are merely nine, not far from Pope Ragthon. You have blessings from Solis himself, and you have a strong, smart head. I am very proud of you, and this is one reason why I gave you that spear—you're worthy of it." The Pope suddenly started wrapping items on the table as if preparing to move.

"I noticed the quest you picked for this year, and I understand why you did so. What happened in Goldstown was a lapse in the Guild and the school's work, a rare case. However, I hope that does not make you afraid of taking risks because risks are meant to push oneself, and only when you push will you find a more incredible version of yourself.

"I remember ranking up during life-threatening battles in the past. There has been no study done on it, but I think the more one pushes himself, the faster they grow stronger. It certainly has something to do with our bodies and Solarium.

"But, safety is important too, because dying at this stage is equal to having the best ingredients to cook a meal but throwing them away. So, in the coming seven years, give your best and grow. After that, we shall discuss your future career.

"Now, I must take my leave. The Sanctum Council must be waiting. Take care and enjoy this good time while it lasts." The Pope patted his head and left quietly.

However, Sylvester was cursing the man in his mind. 'To hell with this. What does he mean by 'discuss my future?' and did he just warn me not to go too easy and grow stronger by taking risks?'

Sylvester already knew that the old man was not as kind as he seemed. So he took everything said with a grain of salt. 'But I will not put my life at risk anymore. I wish to live and aim for peace, and I shall continue to do so.'

He quickly left the Pope's office and headed to the School of Dawn, he was slightly late, but none stopped him.

However, once he entered, all the remaining eleven Deacons except the three friends had their jaws falling. The murmurs started simultaneously because noticing the significant change on the rank plate was not hard. Shining silver was a lot different from dark bronze.

Sylvester felt the envy and worship from all of them, and it was the best thing he could ask for. Winning them over by being their big brother was the quickest way to form his powerful cult.

Instead of going to his friends, Sylvester went to Romel and sat beside him. "How are you, buddy."

"Sylvester! Y-You ranked up? Holy Solis, that's so amazing!"

"Yeah, and I just returned after a meeting with the Holy Father." Sylvester boasted, hoping Romel would look up to him as his way to achieve greatness.

Romel's eyes shined. "I'm so envious. My father came to meet me yesterday. He said I have brought shame to his name… that I am not trying hard enough."

'Good. Thank you, King Riveria.' Sylvester patted Romel's shoulder. "Come, sit with me and my friends. Maybe you can learn something better from us. After all, I helped them get to Adept rank even before you."

"Y-You would help me?" Romel felt it was too good to be true. He never knew why Sylvester was being so kind to him when he tried to harm him. However, he slowly felt ashamed of what he tried to do, as Sylvester turned out to be genuinely kind, according to his analysis.

But Sylvester simply raised his palm and said a rhyming line. "What's gone shall never be forgotten, but we can't have our future rotten. We are the children of Solis; in brotherhood is our solace."

Romel nodded vigorously, and Sylvester smelled a hint of worship. It was all going according to plan.

"Thank you, Sylvester. I will never forget this. I will…"

"Ah, come on, Romel. Come and sit with us." He dragged the boy and made him sit not far from Gabriel. He avoided Felix because the latter would have bullied Romel.

Markus just then stopped writing on parchment and stretched his arms. "Yes, finally done with the assignment. Now I can focus on the quest from tomorrow."

Sylvester nodded. He, too, was not worried about the quest he was to go on in a week. This time it was a simple reconstruction and preaching work. And, since the location was beside the Blood Sea, he would also see the beaches.

"Hah, for me, it's equal to a vacation. As long as there is no cave there, I'm okay." Sylvester blurted.

"Nothing can compare with mine, though. I will literally be staying at home." Felix added, making everyone else grit their teeth in jealousy.

However, Romel smacked his head when he learned Felix's master plan. "Stupid stupid, why didn't I think of this. My mother could have made a quest for me as well."

'Because you are stupid." Everyone thought but didn't say anything.

Sylvester kept relaxing with a satisfied smile. Thankfully, life has gotten much calmer now for him. He would take the second-year tests in a few days and finish another class—that's another milestone achieved.

The winds were blowing much calmer for him now. The hectic life from day one seemed to take a turn for the good. The rays of Solis didn't feel ominous anymore, and the slight happiness from talking with his friends, Miraj and Xavia, was soothing to his damaged mind.

He put his arms behind his head and looked at the classroom ceiling while Miraj slept on his lap, softly snoring.

However, something in his mind was bugging him to ruin this peace. Despite all this, he couldn't help but feel slightly suspicious about the life that had suddenly gotten too warm. 'I hope this is not the calm before the great storm.'

But what could he do now other than giving his all to grow stronger? To transform into someone who shall stay unfazed by all storms. So be it dark or light, nothing could be of harm.

'I wonder for how long this bard will be able to satisfy that so-called lord. I hope I don't end up in the book of the dead—as just another name. I hope to keep playing this game until I achieve my final aim.'

"Oye, Max, what are you doing? Dreaming about being hugged by your mum again?" Felix barked all of a sudden, ruining the little moment of peace he was having.

He gasped in false anger, "Boy, you want me to rat your quest scheme out to Archpriest?"

"..."

"That's playing dirty!" Felix barked.

"Insulting my mum is dirty as well."

Felix nodded as he looked down. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Don't tell anyone about my plot—please."

"Hehe…" However, Sylvester's face showed an evil smile that sent shivers to Felix's spine.

Felix quickly covered his chest with his arms, hiding his pockets. "F-Fu… I have no money anymore! So I won't throw any more feasts for you hungry beasts."

But hearing the word feast, Markus and Gabriel also narrowed their eyes and grinned at Felix.

Sylvester patted his shoulder. "Lad, this is just a simple tax for your annoying acts. So it's not a matter of if—but when!"

"Fu-Fuck you!"

"Deacon Felix Sandwall! How dare you use such filthy words in class!" Shouted Sir Baldfreak, who had just entered.

Poor Felix, it seemed Sylvester's bad luck somehow passed on to him.

"Thirty rounds of the central garden—Now!"

Felix had a crying face as he looked at his laughing friends. "I hate you all."

"Deacon Sylvester, Deacon Markus, and Deacon Gabriel, you three as well! I know you all are chums… and you too, Deacon Romel!"

"B-But I didn't even speak!" Romel cried.

"Did I stutter?" Sir Baldfreak showed his big angry eyes shining as bright as his bald head.

Sylvester certainly felt he got his bad luck back in an instant. Except for Felix, his new servant and friends had tears, while only he had simple fears in the hope that it wouldn't suck like this in the coming years.

In the end, only Felix was laughing as they all ran circles. However, Sylvester was annoyed by his constant mocking laughter.

Bam!

Felix fell face first into the grass. "Sylvester, you bastard, you tripped me!"

"Hmm? I missed the part where that's my problem." And they kept running.

The light of Solis stood witness, in seven years, this group of laughing young kids would stand tall and face their destiny to fight for their dreams. After all, they were not naive, and the future belongs to those who believe in the dreams they conceive.

Their choices, decisions, and spirit will either take them to the pinnacle or make them question:

'When did the dream of the future turn from being a promised land to a pit of dark, filthy quicksand—consuming all they loved?'

[END OF VOLUME 1 - Next Chapter starts with a Time Skip]

[Next Volume: Servant of Faith]