Tensions flared up. Sylvester and Hendrix waited to see which side would make its move first.
"That was good food, Hendrix. Give my thanks to your wife." The Pope returned.
Sylvester quickly changed the topic. "Indeed, mentor. Give my thanks to Lady Elaine as well, respected healer. But we should now rest as we leave early in the morning."
Hendrix nodded and picked up the fallen glass. "Yes, let's do that. My wife has set up a room for you at the end of the hallway. There are two separate mattresses on the ground. You can sleep on them. In the meantime, I will go and get myself a small carriage from the village chief for the travel."
Sylvester stood up. "I will help you. The least I can do for healing me."
Hendrix didn't spare any words and silently walked away. Sylvester kept a good eye on everyone at the same time and especially focused on the emotions of the Pope. He was worried that the old man would sense something was wrong. After all, he was the Pope.
"Good, go and help him. I shall do my evening prayers." The Pope walked towards the assigned room.
'Hmm, I wonder what's the daily schedule of the Pope. Does he do anything special? Are his prayers special?' Sylvester interestedly looked at him go.
Then once clear, he walked out of the house and noticed Hendrix standing near the gate of the property's boundary wall. 'I hope he knows he can't kill me.'
"Follow me."
Sylvester did so and soon arrived in a small barn where the cows were sleeping. There, Hendrix closed the door and turned completely serious while speaking. "Who else knows about you?"
"None," Sylvester replied. "What about you?"
"I, my wife, daughter, and now you," Hendrix answered. His hands seemed to be twitching, perhaps preparing an attack.
Sylvester didn't let his guard down either. He knew he couldn't fight a Grand Wizard, but all he had to do was make a loud enough sound to alert the Pope. For a Supreme Wizard, killing a Grand Wizard was as easy as stepping over a cat.
Sylvester chose his words carefully. "How did it come to be?"
"Does love need a place and time to flourish? She was kidnapped by slavers from Beastaria, and I saved her in Masan by buying her in an auction. She was about to be sold to a high noble infamous for killing his slaves. I protected her and promised to help her reach the eastern coast from where she could return home.
"Over the journey, we fell in love, and by the grace of god, our union was successful, and we were gifted with a lovely daughter. So, what now, Bard? She has taken the faith of Solis, so this shouldn't be a problem."
Sylvester countered him. "I saw the shrine of the elven goddess, so it's no use lying."
"It is to teach Daline about her other home. I wish for her to one day visit her homeland and see where her mother came from."
Sylvester scoffed strongly at that statement, although he smelled no lies. "You should know this better than most. Elves hate anything that's not pure elven. Half-bloods are loathed and only considered one step above slaves. So, if you want Daline to be a slightly higher slave but a slave nonetheless, then you're welcome to go."
"Is that why you remain here? Disguising as a clergyman?" Hendrix asked.
Sylvester sighed and walked closer to the man. He wanted to remove the tension as he knew that both of them held each other's secrets that could result in disasters. "Let's take a seat."
Sylvester dragged two wooden crates and passed one to the man while he sat on one. "No, I am not disguising. For the majority of my life, I didn't even know about my bloodline. So, I see myself as human, and that's it.
"I pray to Solis, I preach Solis, and I love helping followers of Solis. I sing the hymns of the lord as his bard. As a Sanctum Inspector, I fight for the goodness of the world, defeat bloodlings and demons, and uncover heathen plots that spread chaos or even general crimes. Well, can a disguised man do something like this?"
Sylvester sang a very short hymn to show his halo to ensure that Hendrix didn't see him as just a half-elf but as a genuinely blessed child.
♫Heathens, Bloodlings, Demons or so.
Not in blood, but minds, it may grow.
Humans or not, it's true for all.
You're blessed if you hear Solis' call.♫
♫So praise the Lord, and open your heart.
Let the worries of the future depart.
Blessed healer, I hope you're smart.
If not praying yet, it's not too late to start.♫
As he stopped singing and the halo disappeared from behind him, he faced Hendrix and tried to smell the scents.
Indeed, the result pleased him. 'I don't smell it much, but the sense of worship is in there. He does not appear angry or anxious anymore, either. Good, this is going great.'
"Isn't it against the faith to allow worship of a different god?" Hendrix asked him.
Sylvester warmly smiled like he was saying the words of God. "I see the world differently. Solis is the supreme god, the creator of the universe, space and time. Whatever we see around us is his creation, including elves, dwarves and even their gods.
"In a sense, the elven gods or any god or spirit are also children of Solis. Hence, we all belong to Solis, and as long as we have the Supreme Father in our hearts, we can worship his children too. And I firmly believe this path is what shall unite this world someday."
Hendrix nodded in silence, likely weighing his options. But a small thought still lingered, telling him to kill Sylvester. After all, the best way to hide a secret was to erase anyone who knew it.
Sylvester sensed it and warned him. "I don't want to harm your family, for they are innocents. Nor can I kill you as you are too strong. But you can not kill me either, as that would doom your family. The Pope will kill you easily, and your wife and daughter will be caught and sold as elven bed slaves at a high price. And if you somehow run, you still won't ever live in peace as the Church of Solis sees all--everywhere."
Hendrix obviously didn't like that. Of course, nobody likes it when someone threatens their family, be it Sylvester or him.
Bam!
Hendrix jumped to Sylvester suddenly, faster than Sylvester could react and lifted him by his throat. "Speak again about hurting them, and I will..."
"Yes, they will be harmed if you proceed to clench my throat." Sylvester didn't stop speaking. "Don't let the rage cloud your judgement, respected healer. Both of us are in the same boat, just in different circumstances. In fact, I have more to lose than you because you live away from the Holy Land, and nobody is after you to kill you.
"While I have enemies all around me, trying to find an opportunity to end me, like the Shadow Knight. Someone even tried to kill my mother just a few months ago. You may feel you are cursed, but I am cursed once and then again and again. Not only do I have to worry about my mother, but also my blood, about work, about surviving on every mission I go to. I have no option but to rise... But you have the option to live wherever you want--However you want. I am envious, truly."
Hendrix let Sylvester down gently and sat back, reeking of guilt. "Forgive me. I didn't know... It must be exhausting to manoeuvre while living in the lion's den itself."
"It's tough, but good folks do exist. Anyway, if we have an understanding, we should return." Sylvester extended his hand to shake.
Hendrix wasted no time responding. "As you said, we are in the same boat. I have no hatred or animosity towards you, so I have no reason to harm you."
"Likewise. In fact, I believe we can partner with each other to create a better world. I have recently acquired two eyes that belonged to Duke Daemon of Gracia. I could use some help researching it." Sylvester offered him.
Hendrix wasn't interested. "Why would I be interested in eyes?"
"Because Duke Daemon had the ability of Futuresight. Just imagine if we're able to crack the secrets of futuresight. Then, we will be able to protect our families from any harm yet to come." Sylvester added and made the deal much sweeter.
"..."
"Are you serious? Do you have any idea how rare Futuresight is? I have never met anyone in my long life who had such an ability."
Sylvester smirked proudly. "I not only found him but defeated him as well. So, are you interested?"
"Absolutely, Bard. I will be delighted to even check the eyes, let alone research them. But where and how? I'm sure many eyes are on you, and I'd rather not have them focusing on me." Hendrix said, explaining his well-deserved fears.
But Sylvester had already started working on this aspect. "Worry not, respected healer. As I told Daline, I am building a house with an extensive labyrinth underground nearby. On the surface, it will be an eatery. You can visit it to eat, and do the research later. But it's better if you remove the elven goddess's shrine and trim your daughter's ears. I could easily feel them when patting her."
Hendrix took a long breath and nodded. It was reasonable, even more so, after having been caught by Sylvester so easily. "I will, Bard. I should now go and get the carriage. You should return, or the Pope may get suspicious."
Sylvester agreed. "See you in the morning."
"Likewise. And... I hope I won't be betrayed."
"I feel the same," Sylvester responded and left. He knew it was impossible to become one hundred per cent trusting towards each other with such a short meeting.
'Who knew this misfortune would bring me a fortune? With him, the research of those eyes will be easier. Then, if I can crack the secret--Perhaps I will be able to see the future. This is quite exciting.'
He silently went to his room and rested down on the mattress to sleep. But, to his surprise, the Pope was already snoring by then.
...
The next day, they woke up early, just an hour before the sun rose.
They prepared all the luggage and filled the carriage. But, for some reason, the Pope decided to tie his and Sylvester's horses to the carriage as well and travel on the carriage itself.
Sylvester had noticed the weirdness in the Pope since early morning. 'Why do I smell so much anxiety in him today?'
"All ready. Let's move." Hendrix locked his house's door and took the reinsman's seat. The Pope sat beside him while Sylvester, Elaine and Daline sat behind under the arched cloth roof of the carriage.
"Big Brother! Sing me a song, please. I remembered my homework yesterday." Daline jumped onto Sylvester's lap and requested.
But Sylvester was only focused on Pope addressing him and Hendrix in a low voice.
"You two, keep your senses open. I had an ominous feeling while praying this morning. If I shout, protect Elaine and Daline."
700 GT = 1 Bonus chapter.
1 Super Gift = 1 Bonus chapter.
Ape Together Strong
