"We don't understand how powerful their world is, and you wish to go there? Isn't that akin to suicide?" Julius asked, dissatisfied by Sylvester's plan. "In my long life, I have only ever come across five Demons, so they're clearly not as great of a threat to our world."
"Did you forget what happened in Beastaria? The Demon that killed King Malisius, and it took mine and King Rathagun's might to defeat it. There was another Souleater a few years ago right in Sol—the threat of the Demons is hidden, Julius. They're constantly waiting to grow and devour our world," Sylvester argued, reminding him of many instances. "There won't always be three Supreme Wizards in this world on friendly terms."
"His Holiness is right," Emperor Raz took Sylvester's side, surprisingly. "I've lived a long life, and I have seen things. Fifth Guardian, it may surprise you to learn how many times our world has come close to ruins, but each time, due to someone's heroic actions or good luck, the demonic threat was neutralized."
Julius sighed disappointedly, "Chances of the Pope surviving this are too low. If you proceed, I'll have to question my agreement with you."
Sylvester threateningly glanced at the man, "This is in alignment with my duties—protecting Sol and this world. If you make such threats, then I'll have to take precautions, Julius."
"Calm down," Raz intervened. "As much as I agree with you, Your Holiness, I also agree with Fifth Guardian. Going in there is suicide."
Sylvester sighed. He needed their support and trust if he wanted to enter the Demon Realm. The two were the safeguards to protect Sol in his absence. But he didn't want to tell them too much either.
"Alright, let me tell you a few things that may interest you in the Demon realm as much as I do. It all started with visions when I was a kid…" Sylvester told the two men the story of how he saved Xylena Blackhart and ended it with Zama'tar. "...that was a General under the ruler of the Demon realm. He had the power to destroy the world if he wished to, but he waited until his death by my hands to deliver the message."
"Solis is real?!" Julius exclaimed in shock.
"History is manipulated?!" Raz was interested in another point.
Sylvester nodded to answer both. "Of course, Solis is real. How else do you think I got so strong so fast? As for history, yes—all the signs indicate it. The two unknown beings of immeasurable power are planning something, and I believe the Demons suffer the same fate. Space and time are relative, and it's possible the Demons have been trying to contact me or someone in Sol for thousands of years."
"How do you explain their violent tendencies then?" Julius interrogated.
Sylvester shrugged, "We'll know if we seek that answ—"
He stopped speaking abruptly and stared down at the dark pit. As if his soul was screaming, goosebumps rose all over his body. The scent of death suffocated him, bringing out fear from the very depths of his being.
"MOVE!" He roared and jumped away from the dark pit underneath, as far away as he could.
Reacting to him, Raz and Julius did the same, despite their confusion, as they felt nothing from the hole underneath. They reached Sylvester's side, trusting his instincts.
"What happened?" Julius asked.
Sylvester kept staring at the hole, confused and afraid for the first time in a long time. 'There's still something in the mortal world that can kill me?'
"Did you not feel the presence? Something dark and powerful is looming in there. Something… dangerous to even us," Sylvester said, his gaze never leaving the darkness.
'I can't take this big of a risk before exploring further options. Even if this leads to the Demon realm, I have no idea where I'll end up—it could be some creature's lair, a creature strong enough to pose a challenge.'
"I felt nothing," Raz muttered.
"Let's return," Sylvester made up his mind to let this matter rest for now. "I'll visit the giants of Gantis before making up my mind. Guardian Raz, stay in Blackhart Kingdom and help them deal with the volcano eruption. Guardian Julius, you may return. I'll head back too."
The skeleton Guardian of Light saluted Sylvester, "Understood, Your Holiness."
"I shall return," Julius flew back without them, much faster than the bone dragon. Within a few minutes, he was likely going to reach the Holy Land as well.
Sylvester, with Raz, returned to the bone dragon, discussing various matters with the undead being. He appreciated the man's efforts to help the people in various ways. From building roads to houses and canals.
After landing back at Castle Ashstone, instead of going downstairs, he covertly jumped across the lava moat and entered Wailing City. Keeping himself invisible with advanced light magic, he reached the monastery and looked for the Head Bright Mother.
"Eyes smell, ears see."
The Bright Mother didn't lose her composure and turned around, finding Sylvester standing there. "The mouth listens, and the nose speaks."
Strange code words, but Sylvester wasn't the one that set them up. He saluted the old woman and cast magic that would alert him if anyone was coming towards them or spying. "May the Holy Light enlighten us, Mother Pamila. Do you have anything for me?"
White-haired and darker-skinned, Pamila whispered in a low and careful voice, albeit full of smiles and feeling giddy to see the Pope. "I do, Your Holiness. I have received word from Bright Mothers across the Blackhart Kingdom. The Tears of Solis is clutching the lives of young ones like a demon in disguise. All these young ones are mostly those without jobs, without an aim in life. They try the devil's nectar once and fall into addiction. The Wailing City itself has an entire building designated to imprison these addicts—their screams echo even during the night."
Sylvester sighed, finding the spread of Tears of Solis faster than he expected. "We know that it's coming from the Sand Continent. How is it getting distributed? Who is producing it?"
"I don't know about the production, but its distribution is being handled by a few trading groups who used to sell slaves before," she revealed.
Sylvester sighed, rubbing his face wearily. "Once you taste the blood money, it's hard to return to the rightful path. I'll do something about it, Mother Pamila. But beyond this, are there any issues that you're personally facing? Or other Bright Mothers?"
The old woman smiled warmly, cherishing the care Sylvester showed. "You worry for us, and that is enough, Your Holiness. We suffer no hunger; we suffer no crime. The fear and love for Solis has allowed us to serve the faith better than ever before."
"That's great to hear." Sylvester took out a small pouch filled with gold before he left, "Use this to treat yourself and other Bright Mothers to the Bard's. Its new branch is opening in the city in a few days."
"Oh dear, this is too much," Mother Pamila took it, but her morals didn't waver. "Perhaps I shall take the poor children with us."
'These ladies… The faith of Solis would have vanished if not for these kind, mother-like figures.'
He respectfully saluted her and headed out of the monastery under invisibility again. Walking through the city, he noticed his statue that was under construction. The volcano eruption didn't damage it, and only some ash stained it.
'Years of propaganda, traveling, and hymns—the long plan finally comes to fruition.'
He returned to Castle Ashstone and jumped to its roof again to speak with Gabriel through the Solarium Web. Finding a spot where no soldiers stood, he closed his eyes and let his senses probe towards the north and, with ease, found the solarium signature of the Wazir in his office.
"Gab, stop writing the budget allocation report and listen to me," Sylvester spontaneously interrupted him. "I need you to make a list."
Gabriel jolted for a second but soon remembered there was only one being able to speak in his mind. "What happened? Are you alright? Why did Julius leave so abruptly?"
"I called him. But that's not important. I need you to make a list of every single slave trading group that used to operate throughout Sol in the past. Especially those that have contacts in the Sand Continent. I've uncovered that these old slave traders are now trading in Tears of Solis," Sylvester ordered him.
Gabriel quickly began writing down the orders on his side. "I'll tell my assistants to compile the report in a day. We had uncovered all the information regarding each and every slave trader from the Tower of Godless. This should be easy."
'Tower of Godless? What happened to it after I left?' Sylvester remembered that he had forgotten about that massive building. 'Did Gab turn it into a school as I had planned?'
"That would be great, Gab. I'll be returning to the Holy Land in three days."
"Wait!" Gab exclaimed. "It'll be better if you come early. The Dragons are here, ten of them representing their entire species from all across their different tribes and mountains."
Sylvester threateningly asked back, "Do they want another war?"
"No, they want to surrender to us," Gab himself sounded dumbfounded. "They hate the elves so much that they flew over the entire Blood Sea to come here and seek our protection. But they wish to speak with you—Divine Dragons are also among them."
"The peaceful sect?" Sylvester remembered them, the ones who flew over the Holy Land once to warn against the calamity. "Let them wait and feel nervous. There's no need to spread the red carpet for them or give them special treatment. Send them to one of the empty peninsulas with a mountain."
"Even their remaining King?"
"Mistreat him especially," Sylvester responded nonchalantly. "But give more respect to the Divine Dragon Sect. I value and cherish peace, so they're worth befriending. Hand them some picture books, try and see if they can be brainwashed so we can keep them here."
"..."
"I'll see what can be done, Your Holiness." Gabriel signed and felt the connection break.
Quickly, Gabriel took out a diary from his table drawer, something given to him by Sylvester a long time ago.
'Let's see... 'How To Subdue Felix In Heat,' 'How To Lure A Dwarf,' 'How To Impress Women'... Ah! Page sixty-one, 'How To Brainwash' this should help.'
The Book of Knowledge by Sylvester, his greatest treasure, yet again helped him at his job.
Thank you for reading. Gifts and GT votes are highly appreciated.
