Chapter 42: Bishop
In the lord's fortress, the four maids had already disappeared, leaving only Pegiraov and Aivas.
"How is Cicero?" Pegiraov opened his eyes and asked.
"He's playing with two children in the mud," Aivas replied.
After speaking, he raised his hand and gently snapped his fingers.
The expanded hall contracted, returning to its original form.
"He's very happy; this is what he wants to do. He's free now." Aivas smiled, happy for Cicero.
"Perhaps," Pegiraov said.
"Although I knew when he was two years old that he hadn't inherited all my talents, I tried not to constrain him afterward."
"But he understood. Even though I carefully concealed it, he still sensed my disappointment."
"That made him feel pressured."
"That's probably why he became fascinated when reading the Holy Scriptures," Aivas said, gently tapping the silver pedestal with his wooden staff.
Like peeling off a skin, the edges of the silver pedestal gradually flaked away, revealing a lower layer—a whole slab of white marble platform.
The platform floated, with no ground beneath, only mercury stretching to the horizon.
Above was a sky dotted with golden light.
At the edge of the platform stood twelve stone pillars, each carved with different patterns. Pegiraov's golden throne was at the very center of the platform.
"The Lord said, 'Man is born to realize his own value; if a farmer, to make his fields yield wheat; if a merchant, to deliver goods to those in need; if a knight, to protect his lord's honor with his sword; if a king, to bring happiness to his people. The realization of value, whether great or small, makes a person perfect and meritorious.'"
Pegiraov recited Cicero's favorite passage.
"Perhaps I should have encouraged him to do what he liked after giving up on him inheriting everything from me, rather than preparing to cultivate his next generation," he said.
"He has seen the glory of the Eternal Empire, so he doesn't dare to express what he wants to do."
"He thinks what he wants to do is too insignificant compared to the empire's great achievements, unworthy of someone who is my child."
"He's been suppressing himself for too long."
"But now, Cicero is very happy," Aivas said.
"Yes, he's very happy." Pegiraov nodded, then asked, "Has he completed the baptism today?"
"Yes, it's done. Apart from the meaningless rituals, that priest gave him a blessing." As he spoke, Aivas extended his right hand, projecting a transparent crystal in his palm.
"Although it appears to be technology from before the divine era, its essence is different," he said.
"This power comes from personal will; the stronger the will, the stronger the blessing."
"But before that, a key is needed to activate this blessing."
"The key is faith, right?" Pegiraov glanced at the crystal and asked.
"Yes, only Cicero's blessing has been activated. The blessings of those two children are dormant and slowly dissipating. In about three years, they'll completely vanish." Aivas nodded.
Pegiraov extended his hand, and the crystal floated over.
"Let me see..."
"This is using past technology to draw power from the future." His voice was somewhat surprised.
"Past technology? From before the divine era?"
"No, it's even older, from the birth of mystery." Pegiraov shook his head.
"So, this is what that priest meant by the Lord existing in the past, present, and future?"
"Such a trinity..." Pegiraov pondered.
"Wow, that's terrifying. Such an existence—could it be watching us right now?" Aivas squinted, gripping his wooden staff tightly.
"Who knows if such a Lord exists? At least, the priest we've seen doesn't seem to possess matching power," Pegiraov said. "Moreover, as the Holy Scriptures say, the path we've walked might also be our destiny."
"At least, we've succeeded; we've also become perfect."
"Hmph, so sanctimonious." Aivas was uncharacteristically angry.
"Hehe." Pegiraov laughed.
"How's that seal in my territory?" Pegiraov asked.
"It's being eroded by that fat pig's power. Perhaps in another year, we can awaken the warriors and charge in," Aivas replied.
"Maybe this time, we don't need to disturb their slumber," Pegiraov said. "Capture two low-level demons."
"Send one to the Daniels' territory. Brother George will be stationed there in a few days. They say his power strengthens when facing evil forces."
"Send one to the church to see how that priest deals with this evil deemed great by the Holy Scriptures."
"Don't care about the casualties among ordinary people?" Aivas asked.
"That's why I'm counting on you."
...
Flower Church.
Cicero was drawing lines on the foundation with two children using wet mud.
Menon held a wooden board, listening to Cicero's explanations while writing and drawing.
Ando stood nearby, his gaze constantly drifting in another direction.
Over there, Borien was training George.
He wanted to train too.
He knew, as his sister had told him, that Borien was once a knight who lost his title due to a grave mistake.
Ando despised Borien for losing his knighthood due to a mistake but also envied having such a knight as a teacher.
However, now he could only assist Cicero alongside the Adams family's brat.
Ando was very unhappy.
In the church, Corleon knelt before the Lord's Throne, eyes closed.
In the world of light, a pale red crystal appeared before Corleon.
[Commandment · Bishop]
The one who receives the commandment shall be the Lord's servant, spreading the Lord's teachings, sowing the Lord's gospel in the world, and being revered by life.
The one who receives the commandment shall be recognized by believers, remember the Lord's words, and be devout.
This was the bishop commandment that Corleon had condensed.
Like the Holy Knight given to George and the Guardian he was currently using, it was a commandment bestowed for a specific role.
Unlike Toward Life, which was born from the desires of believers.
Among the requirements to wield the power of the bishop commandment, being recognized by believers and remembering the Lord's words were perfectly suited for Corleon.
As for devotion, at least he could normally use the Guardian and Toward Life commandments.
He removed the Guardian commandment and bestowed the bishop commandment upon himself.
In recent days, Corleon had experimented; the Holy Knight and Guardian commandments couldn't be accepted simultaneously, but with both present, Toward Life could still be received.
However, bearing multiple commandments exponentially increased the physical and mental burden on the recipient.
At least, George couldn't bear the Toward Life commandment now.
After accepting the bishop commandment, Corleon felt physically weaker but mentally clearer.
He exhaled, hesitated, then pointed at the cross on the Lord's Throne before him and said,
"The Lord said, 'Let there be light.'"
Thus, on the wooden cross that Corleon had assembled, holy light rose, illuminating the dim church hall.