Chapter 33: Monastery

Apollo's Pov

So what is the monastery and what lunacy do they do, I'll tell you.

The monastery is a big cult that started 200 years ago, pretty old right?

However, for people who harness a large quantity of mana and ki, living at least 200 years is possible.

To start off, let me cut the difference between a religion and a cult. We had a rough discussion about this when I was in the tower so I would like to define the two first.

A cult is a secretive group or organization which focuses its devotion towards a certain individual or figure. For those in the monastery that would be Nirvana. He was the figure of their devotion, their God and saviour.

For religion, there are many definitions of it but we will focus on a simple one. A religion is a group or organization that has a belief and practices regarding spirituality, living and moral values. It is also a collection of faith and culture.

So what's the difference?

Both are organizations, both are worshipping a certain figure or individual.

It's not really about the structure but the purpose and how they are being run. I remember having an argument with one of the mages of the tower when he told me a cult, like the monastery didn't become a religion because it wasn't famous enough to become one. I said the two were different so let me tell you some stuff about them.

First, in a cult information is controlled, they would only feed you the things that will make it easier for them to control you. Oftentimes they would also isolate their members making them view society as an enemy, or people wouldn't understand them.

In religion, you know what you are getting into. There is a lot of information about them and they are known by the public. If mishaps happen the public eye would surely look into it.

Cults is like a one-way trip, you can only enter but never return or leave. Members who enter are unable to leave at some point since they have no place to return to. Either everything they have has been sold or if they leave unavoidable consequences will happen.

In religion you can stop whenever you want, heck you can even leave and get yourself converted. You have total freedom to choose which is the opposite of a cult.

[Creator what's the point of this?]

Suddenly Apollo's dialogue halted with Jeremiah's interruption.

"I was just explaining" he pouted as he said this.

[It's not needed, just explain who is Nirvana and what the monastery wants]

Sigh okay, The monastery believes that the world should be united. It includes races such as devils, demons and humans. They believe that they should all unite under the same kingdom, his.

The problem is the three races have been in conflict with each other for hundreds of years.

[I don't think they're bad, Creator]

I couldn't help but chuckle with Jeremiah's words.

"Jeremiah if they can't give such enticing belief no prey will take the bait"

As I said this my focus returned to the boy who lay unconscious beside my foot.

"I pity him"

[Are you perhaps hesitating?]

"I am"

I took a peek at his memories and there I saw how he befriends a magical beast and how they need to depart because of how the people of his town felt towards her.

I felt his emotion, it was too vivid and pure. He loved her even when he was just a small child, he recognized how important that beast was to him. Even when the world saw her as a monster he saw how kind she could be.

"A magical beast that can transform into a human, it's no wonder he felt something for her"

So he joined the monastery believing that a world where everyone can be united can come true. That way they could be together again.

"Sigh"

Apollo raked his hair as he thought of possible things he could do but time wasn't really on his side.

"Apollo?"

Soon 72 mages surround me accompanied by some guards of the city.

"Are those people from the monastery?" Tim asked recognizing the black outfits of the beheaded priest.

"Little sun care to explain?" Sir Gavin approaches me as if urging me to calm down.

"I am okay"

Then I looked at the boy who was still unconscious.

"Can I make a request?"

I said looking at one of the guards.

"Can you give him to me?"

All six guards look at each other before letting their leader decide.

"We will investigate first young master, so please cooperate with us"

I nodded not finding it a hassle.

"Apollo, are you alright?" Sir Gavin asked again.

He must have thought that I would receive some shock upon doing my first kill. However, I was fine, strangely I was. Perhaps it's because I am not too foreign to death and blood. Back at the tower, experimentation with humans was conducted and even with my mother's disapproval I still participated in those types of experiments.

Those experiments are done not because we discard human life and put more importance on knowledge and magic. We did it because of the law, there is a certain punishment on the empire's law that strips the human status of a person, labelling them as objects. It was a punishment known as 'A res'

And since they were deemed as objects, according to the empire's law they would be sent to five magical laboratories to be used as objects for experimentation.

"It will be his fate too" I could only say.

Crimes that are punishable by A res are treason, armed rebellion and rioting. Initiating separatism, colluding with the enemy and spying or espionage.

There is also selling important secrets and providing material support to the enemy, especially at war.

Currently, that boy will be put to trial. If he doesn't snap from the monastery's teaching and is deemed dangerous despite his age he will be punished.

"Apollo"

I looked back and saw Grandpa Alger it seemed he was able to make it.

"It seems like a task has been given to you"

I could only nod not daring to speak, my mind was still occupied with how to save that boy, but as my thoughts drifted away so did the bodies and blood that I caused.

"It's raining," I noticed.

More drops of water fell from the sky drowning my thoughts away.

The boy's memories caused me to remember things that I tried to forget. His pain and suffering made me sympathize with him.

"Apollo"

"Yes Grandpa"

"I am just going to remind you of your duty," he said softly while tapping my shoulders.

"I will"

I closed my eyes and erased any more thoughts that could jeopardize my plan.

After all that boy was one of the examinees that I found suspicious.

"Jeremiah"

[Yes creator]

"Show me their location"

A map presented itself to me and all the marked individuals appeared with their current location.

Ten red glowing dots can be seen on the map unfortunately four of them already left the city.

"Should I chase them?"

Looking at the 72 mages with me it's possible however it will be a different story if more people from the monastery appeared.

An unplanned attack often ends in bloody endings. I can't attack without any information about my enemy.

"I should wait until the class finally starts"

Then I took two chanting bracelets from my space ring.

"Sir Gavin can I ask for a favor"

"What is it little sun"

"I would like you to go to this certain place and guard the people inside it"

I gave a parchment containing the addresses of my future classmates. Sir Gavin took the paper and nodded.

"Leave this to me" Then his figure immediately disappeared along the increasing fall of the rain.

Then I shifted my gaze towards the other mages, then I said "Would it be okay if someone were to cast clairvoyance magic here"

"What are you trying to find little sun" they asked.

"A rat" I answered.

The mages look at each other confused.

The school year hasn't started yet I can already see how many headaches I need to deal with.

There is no such thing as absolutel in this world. That is why anyone can find loopholes in objects and people as long as they look around.

However, the academy's barriers are as strong as the imperial palace, so who could break it up?

"It's either someone tampered with the Academy's magical barrier or they have a master when it comes to magical barriers"

But l could feel it, something was weird as if I was missing something. Then suddenly it hit me.

I wasn't able to see the method of how that boy was able to escape from the academy's defence and detection mechanism.

"Someone manipulated their memories or..they didn't use anything to deceive the detection. They were eligible to enter and thus no alarm sounded"

Meaning to say, some respectable households actually allied themselves with the monastery, because the academy wouldn't just accept kids without a good background. Of course there all always exceptions to that rule.

"A genius"

That boy was really good, too good for his age then I began to think if it weren't for a fact his up against me then he wouldn't lose so easily.

The monastery's reach is very deep now.

This is messed up no wonder I was given this task, other families can't be trusted.

The only families the imperial family can completely trust are the four ducal families, which makes me involved.

And instead of letting those fifteen stay inside the imperial palace, the decision was to let them enter the academy where the emperor's control is minimal.

"That only means the imperial palace is no longer safe"

The last option now is to send them to the second most protective place in the empire, the academy.

The imperial family can't directly involve themselves with the matters of the Academy due to the oath. That is why they need someone who can move freely inside of the academy, me.

"Those kids might be in danger" I worriedly ran through the streets of the city, behind me were dozens of mages, all eager to see my next move.