30. Questionable Questions

There is no terrible man than the one who inflicts harm not physically but mentally. For the physical harm could be healed, but the mind continues to decay—slowly.

That was exactly what Bishop Norman Spring had planned to do for Sylvester. He knew he could not physically hurt a God's Favored, but breaking the spirit was a viable option as that would ensure that even the peak talents go to waste.

When the class began, he started the test. "I will name a rune, and you must perform the rune scheme I taught you this week. It must not only appear but work effectively. So first, let's start with the runes to create magma. You all have your experiment trays. Work on it."

Quickly, everyone moved their palms over the tray and started using their elements to create the runes. Of course, they all had been merely beginners, so this was a feat in itself.

To Sylvester's right, Felix used his fire element to create a little rune scheme. Markus used his water element to do the same. Sylvester, meanwhile, used his Light element to make the rune scheme. It appeared like a circle with various trigram patterns and rune letters.

As intricately beautiful as it appeared, it was as hard to work with. The Solarium needed to flow in a specific direction at a certain intensity. Failing to do so would destroy the rune, or worse, harm the caster.

It was understandable that not everyone was proficient in all runes. But this one, Sylvester could do it.

Woosh!—A beautiful red rune circle appeared and dropped a block of magma, shining red and as hot as ever. Then, it quickly started to cool down and release smoke.

"You need to work harder, Deacon Louis." Bishop Norman gently instructed those who could not use the rune correctly.

'He does not even try to hide the fact that he's biased against me. That's the amount of power he thinks he holds, and he's sure that nobody can do anything to him.' Sylvester glared at the man who he so much wanted to strangle.

"Done!" Felix exclaimed a few minutes later. Markus could not do it, however. He needed more practice, something Sylvester was happy to help with.

But that was for later as the Bishop ordered the next task. "Now use the rune schemes to create ice spears. Remember to do it carefully and not hurt yourself."

Once again, Sylvester got right to it and made a rune scheme with the light. However, he had some troubles this time as he had never trained the water element much. The glowing blue rune would flicker a few times and get destroyed, sometimes only creating water and no ice.

But he kept trying again and again until once he was lucky and made the spears. He looked at Bishop to show, but he noticed that the man quickly turned away after seeing him.

Instead, he went to Romel to praise him because he could do it. "Marvelous, you have great talent in runes, Deacon Romel."

But then he walked to Sylvester, knowing that the spears had melted. "So, where is yours?"

Sylvester sighed and tried to make the ice spears once again. He had peak talent, but that was a possibility, not the current reality. Right now, he was merely better than most others in mental and physical abilities, but in magic, his starting point was the same as others.

"You can't? It seems simply singing some words will not take you far in life. You are supposed to have peak talent, yet you are behind Deacon Romel, Louis, and even Markus. Unruly, misbehaving, and now unscholarly. You have failed every step that is required to become even a clergyman. It's better if you simply quit and live among the peasantry. That's what children with your status do."

'So he's trying to break my spirit since I am the biggest thorn in Romel's way. If I quit, then he wins this race, as I don't think Felix is even in the race to become the Pope. This would be a good strategy if I were a normal kid. I would have been dejected… but alas.'

Sylvester wasn't going to take this man's words just like that. He quickly retorted in a respectful voice. "Thank you for your helpful advice, Mentor. I don't know what I would have done without your sage words. I reckon you too were a bastard like me and lived a peasant life once—to know such intricate details. Respect for you, in my mind, has now increased many folds. Aren't I right, my friends?"

"Pfft…" Felix tried to hold his laughter as hard as he could, to the point his face reddened.

Bishop Norman's face was worth seeing as well. He was never expecting a retort like this from a child. In his mind, it wasn't tough to bully a kid. But instead, he was made the laughingstock while the other Deacons tried not to laugh.

"After class, in my chambers, Deacon Maximilian."

Sylvester nodded. "Ah, you shall depart more bastardly advice to me? Thank you for this generosity."

"..."

Left speechless, Bishop Norman decided to move on to teaching and try to forget what just happened. But being an insecure man, every smiling face felt like they were laughing at him. It spoiled his temper and drove him mad.

Eventually, the class finished, and Bishop Norman left, not before reminding Sylvester to meet him.

"Will you go there?" Felix asked.

Sylvester shrugged. "Why not? He can't hurt me. Everyone knows where I am going, and he will be the first suspect if something happens. But I need you to go and tell Sir Dolorem about my whereabouts. Tell him that he can bring the Inquisitors to search if he does not hear from me in an hour."

"Don't worry. I will do it!"

Sylvester gathered his items, put them in a cloth bag, and headed to Bishop Norman's chambers. The teachers of the school lived on the ninth floor in a separate space. But they also had public offices on the ground floor.

After knocking, he entered the chambers. The room looked nearly empty, and there was only a table in the middle of the room, two chairs for visitors, and one at which the man sat. Then there was a single bookshelf.

'Is he like those obsessive-compulsive disorder folks who like minimalistic things?'

"Sit, Deacon Sylvester. I have much to talk to you about. But, first, tell me how your life has been at school? I heard you lived your childhood within the confines of these boundaries."

Sylvester already felt the lies through the smell. The man had hatred in his heart and was only posing as someone nice. This raised questions. 'What does he want?'

"That's fine, Bishop. I am particularly enjoying your classes." Sylvester didn't try to hide the contempt in his voice. It would be better if this man knew he was smart and shouldn't be messed with.

"I am delighted. But I feel sad to see a child living life like you, away from the fun little things. So I reckon I can help you, let's say, get you 30,000... no 50,000 Gold Graces and a patch of land with a large mansion in a lush county of Riveria."

'Ah, classic bribery to kill the competition. Use poor vulnerabilities and exploit them. I would have accepted if I had not known I have such high talent. And, even if I take the money and go, there is no guarantee I won't be mugged and sold as a slave. I have no power.'

"So much money? Where did you get that, Bishop? One day I want to become like you and make money. I never knew church pays so much. But sorry, I can't quit right now. I want to become a good Inquisitor later.

"Ah! I should go, Sir Dolorem and the Inquisitors will search the whole Holy Land for me otherwise. Inquisitor High Lord will scold me too for disappearing."

As soon as Sylvester said the name of Inquisitor High Lord, Norman shuddered. "Yes, you may leave. This offer will always stand, however."

'But I can't promise if you shall stay standing.' Sylvester gave a weird smile and left silently.

Just outside the school building, he found Sir Dolorem with a dozen Inquisitor Knights in armor, ready with torches and swords. 'W-What the… they were going to burn the school for me?'

This made him feel strange all of a sudden. 'Inquisitors are the nastiest folks… but I love them so much.'

"Sir Dolorem, everything is good. He was merely offering me a better deal, but I rejected it. Mother must be worrying about me. I will leave now."

Sir Dolorem sighed in relief. "That's good to hear, Master Maximillian. You can call us anytime you need. I'm sure the Knights of Inquisition will be ready."

"We serve the Solis, and for Solis, we shall protect you with our lives." One of the knights saluted Sylvester.

"Thank you. I will remember this help and give a new hymn to the Inquisition one day."

This seemed to make them all happy and allowed him to leave. Sylvester ran to his home fast and arrived at the Bright Mother's complex. Now his home was on the 2nd floor, instead of the 4th.

"Yes! That's the way, Mother Loreen!"

"This is it!"

But as he was about to climb the stairs, he heard the muffled voices of many women. Alerted, he looked around for the source. "What was that?"

"You don't know?" Miraj jumped from his shoulder to the floor. "Follow me. I've seen it many times."

Sylvester carefully followed Miraj to a room's window on the ground floor. Most administrative offices were on this floor, so it didn't make sense for anyone to be there at night.

"Look from here," Miraj called him to a window and pointed at a small gap to look inside.

Sylvester glanced, "What is it, Chonk- Ah!"

There was something that made him question his vision as he rubbed his eyes. His faith in humanity and religion was in doubt. All the rules, the solemn vows of the faith were… shattered.

"W-What…"

Right there inside the dimly lit room was Great Mother Grace, the leader of Bright Mothers, completely exposed with five other Bright Mothers, doing the unspeakable. They held each other like two scissors, caressing each other in various places and making noises that should not be coming from that building.

But he couldn't bring himself to condemn it as it wasn't a big deal for a 21st-century man. In fact, it was lovely to watch. The men and women in the church were deprived of their natural instincts… so this was the result.

He decided to leave and let the women be, only to stop when a horrendous thought appeared in his head.

'Wait!… Is my mum also into… this?'

[Para Comment: Sylvester's reaction basically.]