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“Set sail!”
Elland Kag gave the command with a profound sense of wistfulness and nostalgia.
White Agate gracefully sailed the water, leaving the Rose Wharf. This would be his last voyage as the captain of this ship. His children had nagged him for years to retire and settle down, but only now that Elland had the resolution to do so.
As a low-level Beyonder and a member of MI9, Elland knew a bit about what actually happened in the year 1360, the year of apocalypse, the year of corruption, and the year of the war between gods. Most people didn't know that humanity had nearly missed total annihilation.
They only knew that after that year, several orthodox churches rapidly fell from power, others merging and evolving, while some new beliefs emerged as new orthodox faiths.
Supernatural incidents happened more frequently. Although the general public were still ignorant of the mystical world, Beyonders had grown increasingly common, their advancements grew swiftly along with the emergence of new pathways.
Predictably, it turned the world into chaos.
It was even more so in the Southern Continent and the Five Seas, where wild Beyonders popped up everywhere like mushrooms after the rain. Only three years later, the dust had settled and peace was mostly brought back under the enforcement of the orthodox churches.
As for Loen Kingdom, new fleets with more advanced ships had also been deployed to monitor the sea routes.
And so, Elland Kag felt that he and White Agate had fulfilled their duties. He decided to go on one last voyage, a leisure journey with old friends to revisit old memories.
“Long time no see, Old Friend.”
Elland turned to see a smiling Urdi Branch. The rich businessman was still as plump and spirited as Elland remembered. They exchanged a warm hug as they walked to the open dining area.
Urdi Branch was one of the old friends he invited on this voyage. He and his family were among the ones who shared the legendary experience in the former Bansy Harbor. Elland and Urdi stayed in touch for all these years, having grown from casual acquaintances to good friends.
It was a pity that the Timothy family couldn’t attend, as the loving couple was currently expecting their youngest child.
At the Branch family table, Elland saw Urdi's wife, as elegant as ever. A graceful young lady and a spirited young gentleman sat beside her.
“These must be Donna and Denton? You have grown up to be such an outstanding lady and gentleman,” Elland smiled in greeting. The first time he met them, they were barely teenagers, just curious children exploring the wonders of the sea.
From the letters he exchanged with Urdi throughout the years, Elland knew that Donna had become an excellent teacher, as well as a director managing orphanages under the Church of Eternal Darkness. Denton, on the other hand, had become an outstanding businessman, constantly making a name of his own. Even Elland wasn't spared from Urdi's constant bragging of his children in his letters.
“Nice to meet you again, Captain Elland,” greeted Denton, enthusiastically bowing with a smile. Donna echoed the greeting, curtsying with a cheerful air.
“I suppose you're excited for the journey?” Elland said with a smile.
“I hope we can feast on a murloc again,” Denton grinned.
Well, it was great to see them still retaining their childhood spirit.
Elland didn’t have any specific destination for his last voyage. He simply wished to revisit old memories and remember past adventures, so they decided to just tour the Sonia Sea.
Tonight's dinner was a small banquet. Old friends and acquaintances chatted joyously, enjoying the light breeze of the sea as they discussed their next destination.
Elland and the Branch family sat next to the table full of Loen citizens. Just like Urdi Branch, these people were businessmen who were mostly active in the northern mainland. They knew of each other through their journeys in White Agate many years ago.
Since the world war in 1351, many businessmen chose to abandon the sea routes and leave the southern counties, preferring to rebuild their roots in the mainland cities where it was far more stable. Though they stayed in touch with Elland through letters, it had been years since they went to the south and visited the sea.
As such, compared to Elland's other friends who frequented the sea, this group's excitement for this journey was understandably more visible.
“Our next destination is Blue Mountain Island?” Madam Harris, a successful businesswoman from Awwa County, asked with interest. Elland replied with a gentle nod.
“Blue Mountain Island? But isn't Bayam full of pirates?” a gentleman said with apprehension.
Another gentleman laughed. “Vickroy! How many years ago was that news of yours from? Today's Bayam is very prosperous and safe since they declared independence!”
“You should have known that I hardly left Midseashire these years,” grumbled the former gentleman.
“You really should thank Elland for inviting you this time. Otherwise you'd really become a hermit, none the wiser even if doomsday really arrived.” Madam Harris shook her head.
Elland chuckled behind his cup of coffee. The doomsday really had passed, though.
“Although, what I look forward to the most from Blue Mountain Island isn't the City of Generosity Bayam, but rather the New City of Silver,” a blond gentleman added from the side.
“New City of Silver? The City of Cuisine?”
This was a new city that had just been founded in the past dozen years.
People from the mainland didn't know much about the happenings in the sea. They only knew the general information, as the details would surely be conveniently hidden by the churches and upper echelons of the kingdom. The news that traveled to the mainland would be filtered. Without getting information from certain special sources or personally visiting, they had no way to understand the details.
They only knew about the Rorsted Archipelago's independence, as well as the emergence of new cities along with a new orthodox church, the Church of The Fool.
One of their most anticipated destinations was the New City of Silver, the headquarters of the Church of The Fool.
“Yes! I heard that the New City of Silver has many unique delicacies!”
“Apparently, their specialties are unique mushrooms. It is said that some of them taste just like beef, others produce all kinds of fruits, and some even produce milk!”
A lady asked incredulously, “What kind of mushroom would produce milk?”
To this, no one had a definite answer.
“But that is not all. They had brought back many dishes that were said to be from the ancient era, like dishes from ancient Elven culture or delicacies from the mysterious Western Continent.”
“I heard that their culture emphasized food and delicacies. So it's likely to be true.”
“You heard right. The Church of The Fool is famous for their rich Holy Communion. They even invented new ingredients just to ensure the quality of Holy Communion in other dioceses.”
The Branch family listened with interest. They seldom had the chance to know the details about other churches.
“Speaking of, isn't Gehrman Sparrow also a believer of The Fool?”
“He is.”
“Hmm. Just like what's written in the novels.”
Lady Fortron, a young business owner from Constant City, wondered loudly, “Do you think that his adventures in Madam Fors Wall's The Adventurer Series were all true?”
She was a daughter of Elland's old friend, attending this invitation in the place of her father. As she was new to the sea and yet to truly step into the upper class, her knowledge of the Beyonder world was still lacking.
A gentleman nodded seriously. “Very likely. Didn't we read those shocking reports of pirates’ deaths every few weeks during the years he was the most active?”
Other people agreed solemnly.
Most people knew of Gehrman Sparrow through many novels depicting his adventures. His stories were so popular that he became an indisputable legend. Though because of ordinary people's ignorance towards mysticism, his tales were treated as a fantastical retelling of actual events instead of an honest biography. In reality, they only think of him as an exceptionally strong pirate hunter, a heroic adventurer, a madman. It was even more exaggerated in foreign countries, where they only knew of him as a fictional character.
Of course, people who understand the world of Beyonders would certainly know that the mystical adventures and fantastical battles told in the Adventurer Series were not far from the truth.
In the sea, especially, many adventurers had taken him as their ultimate role model. Elland had seen and heard many young people imitating the crazy adventurer in their manners or clothing.
“To think that we once sailed together with that legendary adventurer!” Richard Howkins exclaimed. He was one of White Agate's regular passengers in his younger years, and he was also present in that legendary voyage with Gehrman Sparrow.
His friend Henry slapped his shoulder in agreement. “I know, right?! Back then I thought he was just a polite and reserved gentleman. Who would've thought that the next time I heard his name was on the newspapers announcing the deaths of several pirate admirals?!”
“Elland, how did it feel like having Gehrman Sparrow on your ship?”
Elland paused before chuckling gently. “He wasn't yet famous at the time.”
“I remember that a pirate ship was going to hijack us that time, but they quickly retreated for no reason. It wasn't until my bodyguard explained to me that I understood they were scared witless by Gehrman Sparrow,” Richard mused.
To that, Elland couldn't help but laugh. Indeed! Who would've thought they could scare an entire pirate ship by hanging a more famous pirate outside their window?
“It was a pity we didn’t see him in action back then.”
“We witnessed him in action, though! He was very cool,” Denton Branch remarked, eyes sparkling like a teenager instead of a full-grown adult. “He fought monsters and evil creatures so easily!”
Urdi Branch nodded with nostalgia. “We were very fortunate to meet him. He was kind enough to escort us to safety through the horror of Bansy Town.”
Bansy Harbor was thoroughly leveled by the Church of The Storms just mere weeks after. Those who know would notice that this place was really wrought in horror, enough for an orthodox church to completely obliterate it instead of merely fixing the problem.
The others looked at the Branch family with a mix of pity and envy. Pity because they had to witness a true horror, envy because they personally saw Gehrman Sparrow in all his glory.
“You mean, those mystical adventures and all his powers written in the books were also real?” Lady Fortron pressed again, incredulous yet captivated by this fact that could shatter her entire worldview.
“You can think so, Madam. There are many mysteries that can't be explained in this world. Gehrman Sparrow is one of them,” Urdi Branch answered with a solemn smile.
Some people from the neighboring tables, clearly Beyonders, overheard their discussion and joined with enthusiasm.
“Are you talking about Gehrman Sparrow?”
“I've also heard of him. Though he was already less active by the time I first went to sea, his name was still feared everywhere.”
“Do you know the horror of that era? Pirates had to constantly remind each other to not walk alone in secluded alleys at night. If they ignored those warnings, they would certainly fall victim to Gehrman Sparrow. Tsk tsk, it was said that not even their corpses remained.”
“Some people said that he stopped a god's descent in his early years. He was just trying to catch a swindler, the stopping god part was just a side quest.”
“I heard he survived a freaking meteor unscathed!”
“Didn’t he sneak into the Chanis Gate of St. Samuel Cathedral in Backlund as a prank?”
“The Aurora Order experienced what Emperor Roselle called a ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’ because of repeatedly being hunted by Gehrman Sparrow.”
“It was said that he stopped a god from ascending just because he didn’t like him.”
“Ordinary people went to Desi Bay for vacation. He preferred to tour the Forsaken Land of Gods.”
More and more ridiculous rumors and gossip flew out, none of which could be claimed true but nonetheless stirred the fear and amazement in everyone's hearts still.
Most of the ordinary people around didn’t understand what these people were saying, but they enthusiastically listened regardless. It was rare to hear such fascinating rumors from the experienced!
Donna and Denton Branch, in particular, listened to the discussion with relish, as if savoring an extremely good tea.
Elland swallowed a sigh.
To most people, Gehrman Sparrow was known as the crazy adventurer, the cold-blooded bounty hunter, a fanatic believer of The Fool. His tales in the Adventurer Series pictured him as a hero, a mad protagonist with a golden heart.
But as a senior Beyonder who sailed Sonia Sea for years and had witnessed the rise of The Fool's faith, Elland Kag was aware that Gehrman Sparrow wasn't merely an adventurer. Not anymore.
Considering Gehrman Sparrow's current standing in the Church of The Fool, Elland was pretty sure that most of those rumors weren't just empty wind.
“I wonder where he is right now,” Donna exchanged smiles with her brother.
“Perhaps we could meet him in Blue Mountain Island!” Denton whispered fervently.
Seeing the two youngsters’ excited faces, Elland decided to not say anything. Let them find out by themselves.
Denton looked out to the approaching coast in anticipation. Donna was sitting on a soft chair, looking no less impatient.
They had long since been adults. They were way past the age of curiosity and longing for magical adventures. Yet sailing with White Agate and hearing so many tales at dinner last night brought back so many memories and fleeting dreams they had as children.
It brought back the amazement and thrill of a murloc hunt, the wonder and shock of seeing a towering skeleton, the horror of headless corpses and a mutated bishop, and of course, the admiration and fear towards a young adventurer.
It was as if they could still knock on Room 312 of White Agate, and Uncle Sparrow would open the door with a cold and stoic expression seemingly plastered permanently on his face, yet his eyes would betray his gentleness as he allowed them in and answered their curious questions.
Of course, they had also read the Adventurer Series and other tales of Gehrman Sparrow, but all of it paled in comparison to the real person.
It was a fleeting encounter, merely a couple of days. They didn’t even know that gentleman well, yet his words and actions had unknowingly shaped Donna and Denton into who they were today. Subtly, imperceptibly, he had influenced their decisions and way of life.
Power comes with a price. Protection needs a sacrifice. Yet in this world full of madness and cruelty, you can still choose to be kind, to help others, to be selfless. You don't need other people's compliments or approval, don't flaunt your power or indulge in vanity, no need to wait for gratitude or admiration, simply do what you deem to be right.
Since they first saw Uncle Sparrow's giant skeleton messenger many years ago, Donna and Denton had known that this world held such mystical wonders. With the rise of their standing into the upper-class, the Branch family now had access to the knowledge they weren't qualified to know before, including the existence of Beyonders and the underlying threats and madness in the world.
They understood better the responsibilities and sacrifice that young adventurer spoke of. It launched their respect and admiration towards him into a new height.
Although Donna and Denton didn't end up being Beyonders, they unconsciously still held the adventurer's principles dear to their hearts. Donna had taken into running an orphanage under their city's Eternal Darkness Church Diocese, and Denton had become an influential businessman, diligently pushing for free education for children in the slums.
If you want to help, just help. Even if the world is cruel and full of malice, someone still needs to do what is right.
Unknowingly, they had become guardians of their own.
Exchanging glances, the siblings thought of the same thing. It would be nice if we could see him again.
Due to the weather, they couldn’t dock in the City of Generosity, Bayam, and had to head to the other side of the Blue Mountain Island, to the Lovia Harbor of New City of Silver.
Donna and Denton were quite disappointed to miss the Cathedral of Dawn in Bayam, as it was one of the three main cathedrals of the Church of The Fool. It was said that this cathedral was actually the first Fool's Cathedral ever built, which was later renamed the Cathedral of Dawn following the relocation of the church's headquarters to the New City of Silver.
The building was famous for its beautiful murals and unique architecture, built grandly and solemnly as if it was an ancient palace of the giants, starkly different from the buildings of other churches. Apparently, this was the Church of The Fool's signature style.
Needless to say, they were very excited to visit The Fool's Cathedral in the New City of Silver and St. Gehrman Cathedral in the neighboring New Moon City.
The Church of The Fool had become one of the orthodox churches officially recognized in Loen Kingdom. But because their city mostly believed in Eternal Darkness, they had very little encounter with The Fool's faith.
Yes. Although they knew very little, they were still curious about it precisely because one of their main cathedrals’ patron saint had the same name as Uncle Sparrow! And as people know, Gehrman Sparrow was known as a fanatic believer of The Fool!
Perhaps, they would find a delightful surprise.
When they arrived in the New City of Silver, the sun had peeked out of the thinning clouds, welcoming them to the holy land. Donna and Denton didn't waste any time after settling down in their accommodation. They dragged their parents around, as though they had reverted into little children, eager to explore the foreign city.
They were a little frightened at first, not used to the towering figures of the locals. It felt like walking into the kingdom of giants. The shortest individuals on the street stood around 1.9 m, and most of them were actually still teenagers! Occasionally, they would see gentlemen reaching the height of three or four meters, their canes resembling spears more than a walking stick.
Goddess, it was a bit terrifying.
But they quickly relaxed after noticing their hospitality and the genuine smiles that seemed to be present on everyone's face. Watching their smiles made them appreciate the little things they usually took for granted, giving them a deeper sense of gratitude towards the mundane world.
True to their reputation as the City of Cuisine, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and many food related businesses dominated the city. Mushrooms were constant ingredients, as well as milk. There were also a wide variation of unique and strange delicacies, some resembled Elvish in style, another said to originate from the mysterious Western Continent.
After some time, Donna and Denton left their exhausted parents in a restaurant while they continued their exploration. They haven't visited their main point of interest yet!
The city's most prominent landmarks were the Twin Towers and the Fool's Cathedral. From afar, the cathedral stood majestically like an ancient castle, overlooking the city.
The building didn't have tinted glasses or complicated structures. But it was very spacious, with many pillars made from enormous black stones, built into the likeness of a giant's palace. Massive windows and openings bathed the building in natural sunlight. The walls were full of murals and carvings, but instead of brightly colored, they were subdued in colors, blending harmoniously with the serene hall. Even though the church only emerged in the past decade or so, the building felt ancient, as if it didn’t belong to this era.
There were many stories told in the murals. The most important one depicted the redemption of the people from Forsaken Land of Gods.
Legend has it that this city was built by survivors from Forsaken Land of Gods, where humanity lived in darkness and horror for thousands of years, not one deity cared to answer their prayers and pleas, until The Fool sent ‘His’ angel to set them free. Thus, everyone in this city was a fiercely devout believer of The Fool.
Unfortunately, due to the secrecy exerted by the churches over matters concerning mysticism, only little details of the events were known to the public unless they were believers of The Fool.
Fortunately, it was different in the Rorsted Archipelago, where Beyonders and the mystical world were an open secret, and even more so, a common knowledge in the New Cities of Silver and Moon. And thus, during the hours the siblings spent exploring the city, they had obtained a detailed tale of the redemption from a very enthusiastic grilled mushroom ‘dumpling’ vendor.
In the Forsaken Land of Gods, they were said to live in darkness, with nothing but lightning and monsters surrounding them. There was no sun, there was no moon. The only thing they could safely eat was a strange plant called the Black-Faced Grass. They had to constantly battle against horrors and madness. They had to kill their own kin lest they mutated into something inhuman. No gods answered their prayers for thousands of years.
It was The Fool who sent ‘His’ angel to lead them out of the darkness and give them a new life under the sunlight.
The siblings examined the figures on the murals one by one. The most important ones were a beautiful woman with silver gray hair, a blond young man emitting holy light, a tall warrior wielding a silver sword, and a gentleman two heads shorter than the rest.
Denton's eyes were fixed on the shortest figure.
“Donna, is that… Uncle Sparrow?”
Donna quickly turned to Denton, an inexplicable anticipation brewing in her heart.
There, at the very front of the pilgrims, was a familiar figure dressed in a black coat and a half top hat, with a prominent jaw and sharp brown eyes, holding a lantern and leading the way.
It was really Uncle Sparrow!
They gasped in shock.
The Fool sent ‘His’ angel. Did that mean Uncle Sparrow was an angel?
For the longest while, they had harbored this expectation. A guess. A hunch. Gehrman Sparrow surely held quite an important position in the Church of The Fool. All the Adventure Series depicted him as a Blessed of The Fool. The deity's gaze and protection were always present throughout his adventures.
Their belief strengthened when they heard the name of New Moon City's cathedral, St. Gehrman. They were pretty sure that he was among the upper echelons of the church.
But an angel?
That wasn't a rank of the clergy anymore.
That was a rank of divinity.
“Should… should we ask someone?” Denton croaked weakly.
A priest was preaching in a side hall. There were many believers listening piously, but also others who looked like tourists and travelers. They had heard that the Church of The Fool allowed in everybody who was willing to listen, believing their God's benevolence extends to Heaven and the Land.
“How about… we listen for a bit? Maybe… we could ask the priest once the sermon is over?” Denton deliberated.
Their family believed in Eternal Darkness, but the Goddess was said to share an amiable relationship with the Fool, and the two churches were quite friendly to each other. Hence, the siblings didn’t find it blasphemous to listen to the teaching of another god.
“Hmm,” Donna nodded absently.
Still in shock, Donna and Denton took seats and listened to the sermon.
“He resides above both reality and the Spirit World. His benevolence extends to Heaven and the land. Beside him stand eight angels,” the priest's voice echoed through the spacious hall, full of reverence and sanctity.
They had missed the beginning of the sermon, but as though arranged by fate, they arrived exactly when the priest started to introduce The Fool's angels.
“The first is the Angel of Mercury,” the priest started. “The Angel of Mercury is the embodiment of fate, ‘He’ is The Fool's most cherished Angel.”
“The second is the Angel of Death. ‘He’ has followed The Fool for the longest period of time and is the consul of the Underworld.
“The third is the Angel of Redemption. ‘He’ is The Fool's bugle, once taking on the form of Gehrman Sparrow to deliver his revelations.”
Despite already expecting it, Donna and Denton were still shocked by the blunt confirmation.
The other angels were introduced only by ‘Their’ titles, but the Angel of Redemption was directly named as Gehrman Sparrow. Or at least one of ‘His’ forms.
The siblings shared an astounded look.
So Uncle Sparrow was really an angel?
Was that why he easily saved them without hesitation? Even though they were strangers that had nothing to do with him?
But Gehrman Sparrow really didn't meet their previous imagination of an angel.
He didn't have wings, holy lights, benevolent faces, or ethereal voices.
He was ruthless, cold, crazy, and a madman.
Yet he was also gentle, kind and selfless.
He protected the ship in silence. He escorted them away from dangers without demanding gratitude.
He fought evil beings with a resolute decisiveness, unleashing powers beyond a mortal's imagination.
He gently guided them to not fear the skeleton messenger, for a terrifying form didn't always mean evil and malice. He harshly warned them with the ugly manifestation of madness, for a price was always exacted to what was bestowed.
He said that as long as you choose that path, you’ll constantly be accompanied by threats and madness. You can beat them a hundred times, a thousand times, but as long as you lose once, you’ll end up like that fallen bishop.
And yet, he still chose it.
Donna remembered deeply the answer she got when she asked why.
‘For my dream. And… to protect.’
She inhaled a deep breath.
A guardian.
At that moment, she understood.
The title of an angel… was very fitting for him.
While they drowned in their thoughts, the priest had unknowingly finished his sermon, and other people had begun to leave their seats. Donna and Denton jerked awake, following the rest of the people out to the previous hall.
Gathering their thoughts, the siblings wandered back to the previous murals, retrospectively gazing at Gehrman Sparrow leading the pilgrims out of the Forsaken Land.
The people around them came and went, occasionally asking about the murals and carvings to a nearby priest.
Donna stared at them in wonder.
It felt like many things in the Church of The Fool didn't follow the common direction of other orthodox churches.
One of them was the outfit of the clergymen.
They wore a black crisp tailored coat, complete with a half top hat, just like an ordinary respected gentleman.
Some of them had yellow patterns on the edges of their pitch black trench coat, with a yellow emblem of The Fool pinned on their chests. They looked imposing, strong, and dangerous. Their attire looked more combat-oriented than clerical. And most importantly, they also carried weapons! Swords, axes, and even revolvers!
They don't look like clergymen, Donna thought.
“That’s because they technically are not in the ranks of the clergy.” A chuckle came from behind them. It was the priest who gave the previous sermon.
Donna felt a blush rising on her cheeks. She had said that out loud!
“They are the Mystery Seekers, the supernatural enforcement division of the church, serving directly under the Lord's Angel of Redemption. They protect our people and maintain peace, the hands and feet to carry the Lord's will.”
The siblings gasped. So they were Uncle Sparrow's subordinates!
Being an upper-class family, they knew of the enforcement organizations under each major church, such as the Nighthawks of the Eternal Darkness Church, or the Machinery Hivemind belonging to the Church of Steam and Machinery. But their identities were usually concealed, preferring to operate undercover as a part of the kingdom's police force. Ordinary people didn't know of their existence.
Here, in the New City of Silver, where the existence of Beyonders was common knowledge, it was normal for official Beyonders to wear their badges and weapons out in the open.
Donna's eyes sparkled.
Because the Fool's faith wasn’t that big in their city, she didn’t have the chance to know about their enforcement group. Now she knew that the Beyonder force belonging to the Church of The Fool were called the Mystery Seekers!
She felt that it was very reasonable that Uncle Sparrow became someone who led an organization whose duty was to protect and maintain peace.
He really is a guardian.
Seeing Donna staring wistfully at Gehrman Sparrow in the mural, the priest spoke, “Have you met ‘Him’, Miss?”
It was Denton who answered, “We were saved by ‘Him’ when we were children.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” The priest cheerfully added, “We were also saved by ‘Him’ and brought out of the Forsaken Land when I was still a child.”
“Is ‘He’ in this city, Sir?” Donna blurted. But then she caught herself, realizing that this question was too presumptuous. “I mean, we wish to meet ‘Him’ again. It has been over ten years, but we still sincerely wish to offer our gratitude for ‘His’ protection and guidance.”
Donna winced inwardly. Gehrman Sparrow was an angel, a high-ranked person who led an entire enforcement division. It was certain that he had endless matters to attend to. There was no way he would specially meet random people he saved on a whim a dozen years ago.
The priest smiled kindly, completely understanding her feelings. “If you walk around the city a few times, you might encounter Mr. Gehrman somewhere.”
Donna gasped, forgetting to focus on the priest's answer.
The priest had just called ‘Him’ Mr. so casually!
Even though all these years she always referred to that gentleman as ‘Uncle Sparrow’ in her heart, she wouldn't say that out loud now that ‘He’ had become an angel! And an angel beside a god's throne, at that!
“Isn’t it disrespectful to just call ‘Him’ like that?” Denton, who always had less tact than her, blurted out.
The priest just laughed. “‘He’ wouldn't mind. Actually, the angels under Mr. Fool are quite similar to our Lord in this respect. Rather than distant addresses such as ‘Your Eminence’ or ‘Your Excellency’, ‘They’ prefer down-to-earth honorifics such as Mr. or Madam. ‘They’ don't like to be overly venerated. Just like Mr. Fool.”
“Just like Mr. Fool?”
“Yes. Mr. Fool holds the might of divinity, but ‘He’ has never forgotten his humanity. He allows believers to be closer to him. One of which is to address Him as ‘he’, not ‘He’,” the priest explained with utmost reverence. “Mr. Gehrman is the Blessed of our Lord, the first who served as ‘His’ divine emissary, the first to spread ‘His’ faith. He follows the teaching of Mr. Fool the most faithfully.”
Donna nodded. That adventurer indeed did not look like the type to enjoy excessive worship. Even when bullying—ahem, ordering around the pirate Blazing Danitz back then, he did it with the nonchalance of an equal, unlike the might of a master to his servant.
For a second, Donna wondered if the gentleman she had once met would prefer to be addressed as ‘Uncle Sparrow’ instead of ‘Your Eminence the Angel of Redemption’.
Silence enveloped the siblings on the way back to their accommodation.
They still tried to wrap their heads around the fact that the man they silently called Uncle Sparrow all these years was actually an angel.
Now that they were calmer, they started to think about the significance of this title outside of the religious context.
In mystical terms, Angel is a title for the most powerful of the Beyonders. On this earth, they were the ceiling of power.
Although the siblings lack a thorough understanding of the matter, they could still draw a conclusion that an angel could, quite literally, destroy a kingdom with ease.
It was terrifying to think about.
“Actually, I feel like I should've known this,” Denton started with a chuckle.
Donna threw a questioning glance.
“You know, we have been idolizing him for so long. We know of Beyonders. We know he is a follower of the Fool. If we wished, it would have been pretty easy to find out who he is. Yet we never tried.”
Indeed. His name was quite literally printed in the Fool's Bible.
“But I think this is fate,” Donna whispered.
“You think so too?”
“Hmm.” Donna exhaled a breath, smiling wryly. “If we knew about him as an angel from the start, we would still respect and idolize him, but we would undoubtedly create a sense of distance from him, subtly aligning him with his identity as an angel. We would feel like he was a ceiling we mortals could never reach. We might even forget his nonchalance, his love for fine food, his fondness to bully that one pirate, his quiet gentleness as he eased us into the mystical world, his harshness as he warned us against madness, his humanity.”
Denton chuckled. “You're right. Perhaps fate had decided it would be best like this.”
After all, how would a mortal take after an angel?
“Though I still wonder if we could meet him again,” Denton huffed self-consciously. “What do you think—why did you stop?”
As they walked with linked arms, Donna's abrupt stop caught Denton off guard. He turned to see her pausing with wide eyes, her mouth dropped open just slightly as she froze on her tracks.
Following her sight, Denton's whole body also turned rigid in surprise.
Across from them, a gentleman in a black and yellow Mystery Seeker trench coat stood under a tree, a golden brooch in the shape of a lantern pinned on his right lapel. A cat was draped on his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek with a purr. It was evident that he just saved the cat from the towering tree.
The gentleman had neatly slicked back hair under his half-top hat. His piercing brown eyes were hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses. His thin face and chiseled jaw sharpened his looks.
Denton nearly doubted his eyes.
“...Uncle Sparrow?”
The gentleman looked not a day older than the last time they saw him.
Having known about the world of mysticism, the siblings understood that Beyonders would basically stop aging once they reach a certain sequence. They could still die of old age, of course, but their lifespan would stretch so indescribably long that they would appear unaging to ordinary people.
It was just a bit awkward to be visually the same age as a person you considered an elder.
The gentleman coldly turned at them, frowning. But after a second, realization flashed in his eyes.
“Donna and Denton Branch?”
Still in disbelief, Denton exclaimed. “You actually still remember us!”
The gentleman chuckled. The cat on his shoulder leaped away as he approached the siblings.
“There are only two people who called me ‘Uncle Sparrow’.”
Donna and Denton coughed sheepishly. Donna's hand pinched Denton's arm in nervousness. What if they anger the angel?
“We apologize, Mr. Sparrow.”
The gentleman raised a brow. “If I minded, I would've said so from the start.”
Ah. So he did prefer ‘Uncle Sparrow’.
The siblings smiled in relief. Suddenly, the distance abruptly vanished, as if they were back in Room 312 of White Agate, two curious children and a friendly yet mysterious uncle.
“We… We have been wishing to see you again all these years. We have never properly thanked you for your protection and guidance,” Donna bowed respectfully, followed by her brother. “I apologize for our rudeness the last time we met. We didn't know better back then, but now that we've become adults, we understand what you tried to convey. We sincerely thank you for your kindness.”
Gehrman Sparrow looked at them quietly.
The feelings of being scrutinized by an angel was not exactly pleasant. Something deep within them was trembling, telling them the crushing difference between their natural orders.
Yet all of that instantly evaporated when Gehrman Sparrow's eyes melted into a gentle, genuine smile.
“You've grown up very well.”
“It's thanks to your guidance,” Denton fumbled.
“I didn't do anything.”
“You did! Your actions and words have taught us plenty about the world and guided us in making important decisions! We sincerely respect you!” the nervous young man continuously blurted out. “We always tried to delve deeper into the meanings of your words. We even read all the Adventurer Series to find out more about you!”
Denton's last words echoed loudly. If Donna didn't hallucinate, she would say that Gehrman Sparrow's expression cracked.
The three of them stood there in silence.
Fortunately, before Donna could think whether Gehrman Sparrow would spare them now that they were no longer children, a greeting came from behind them, instantly shattering the awkward atmosphere.
“Mr. Gehrman, there you are!”
A blond man more than two meters tall approached them cheerfully. His smile was so bright that Donna and Denton felt like staring straight at the sun.
“Mr. Danitz and I have been looking for you!”
He then lowered his head to Gehrman Sparrow, as if waiting for something. The stoic-faced man paused for a bit, sighing secretly before he brought his hand to pat the other's head.
The sight of the crazy adventurer patting the head of a man two heads taller than him was perplexing, if not a bit comical, yet Donna could sense a familiar warmth in the gesture, one that was present whenever her parents hugged her or when she ruffled the hair of her younger brother.
Gehrman Sparrow coughed. “Is it time?”
“Not yet, Mr. Alger is still inside the Gate of Illiad, and Ma'am Edwina's ship has just anchored.”
“Hmm.”
Her social manners told Donna that their time was over. Tactfully, she curtsied, “Then we bid you a goodbye, Uncle Sparrow. May we meet again should fate arrange us.”
Gehrman Sparrow nodded gently.
As they walked away, they could hear the blond man's curious voice, ‘Uncle Sparrow?’
Donna and Denton were relieved they were already too far away to hear the answer.
Elland Kag amused himself with the thought that his mainland friends would shock themselves silly after finding out Gehrman Sparrow's current title in the Church of The Fool.
It was a wonder, to be honest, that so many people hadn't connected the dots when the clues were literally laid bare in front of them.
But then again, not every orthodox church would allow their believers to read the bibles of other gods.
Sipping his Zarhar, Elland leisurely looked around the establishment.
In a secluded corner, a certain group noisily chatted and laughed, the atmosphere chaotic yet comfortable. From where he sat, Elland could recognize some crews of Golden Dream and Blue Avenger.
For an ordinary passerby, this would seem like a regular pirate gathering, but for those who were familiar with the Church of The Fool, they would be astonished by the true standing of these people. Pope Derrick Berg was enthusiastically chatting with Pontiff Wilson of the Sea God Church. The one who talked the loudest seemed to be the Oracle Danitz.
Among them sat a young gentleman with neatly slicked back hair, sharp brown eyes, chiseled jaw and gold-rimmed glasses. He didn’t join in the laughter, but it was certain that he enjoyed the company. This was a face that Elland Kag would never forget in a lifetime, for it was the face that once greatly terrorized the Five Seas.
It was amusing to think that this very young gentleman had once hung the future Oracle Danitz outside the window of White Agate as a threat.
The young gentleman suddenly locked eyes with Elland, paused for a second before nodding slightly, a subtle smile hidden behind a glass of Southville Beer.
The young gentleman still looked no different from when Elland first met him more than ten years ago. He was still that polite and calm adventurer, with an impeccable manner and flawless courtesy. Yet something about him felt different, commanding respect and reverence.
Oh, right. He is a ‘He’ now.
Elland returned the nod, tipping his hat with a smile.
‘Nice to see you again, Old Friend.’