Chapter 119: Childhood Friend – Mihaer Cardinal
At Daniel’s shout, Lena and Veronian sprang up and stood in a respectful manner.
The attitude towards the Cardinal was no different from that towards a priest, and a simple bow with a nod would have sufficed.
However, Cardinal Mihaer smiled graciously and extended his hand. “It’s fine. I simply found your stories so interesting that my ears perked up. It was more than enough not to anger the old man.”
He was dressed in a simple white worn-out priest’s robe with no decorations. Not wearing the purple shawl that symbolized a Cardinal, one would have had to experience wandering through the church office like Daniel to recognize him as a Cardinal, but fortunately, there were two Temple Knights standing behind the Cardinal, so even the common people would have recognized him as a high-ranking priest.
Lena observed him quietly. Cardinal Mihaer did not appear as elderly as he seemed at first glance. Despite his hands and face being full of wrinkles, his hair remained jet black and untouched by time.
However, if one were to hear his actual age, they would be astonished. He was the oldest among the four present in the Cathedral and perhaps the oldest among the ten Cardinals on the continent.
Veronian seemed a bit cautious at the mention of eavesdropping on their discussion, and the Cardinal reassured him as if understanding.
“Don’t worry. I’m not angry. It was a very interesting and constructive discussion. Having young people who study so diligently is a big blessing for the church.”
“…I apologize. Where did you hear from? There might have been some impolite… expressions.”
The Cardinal responded with another kind smile. “Well… I’ve been around long enough to be called the ‘Cardinal at the top of bureaucracy.’ You were so engrossed in the discussion that you didn’t even look back. Haha… I’m not blaming you. Yes, indeed, I am that Cardinal sitting at the top of bureaucracy. Just below the Saintess. As a reward for the interesting discussion… What do you want to ask?”
Veronian’s eyes sparkled momentarily. If there was something he wanted to ask, it was countless! Delighted once again to have come to the Cathedral, Veronian asked a question.
“Then… I’d like to ask about what you mentioned earlier. You said the Saintess does not answer well about ‘Shackles of Creatures’ and ‘Responsibilities of Creatures,’ why is that?”
“Actually, she does not refuse to answer entirely. She did answer somewhat.”
Cardinal Mihaer took a seat. He was carrying two books, perhaps from the library. Curious Lena noticed that they were all books about agriculture and animal husbandry, and the Cardinal asked his accompanying Temple Knights to bring four cups of water.
“Hmm, how should I explain… It’s probably better to just relay the words of the Saintess verbatim?” He said, reminiscing about the past.
+++
“Saintess, have you predetermined the fate of humans? Or have you given humans free will?”
At the moment of the ritual that determines whether one becomes a priest or a monk, a novice with just three sewn beads approached the Saintess to ask a question.
The Saintess, to call her that, was a very old woman. Usually, Priestesses maintained their youth for decades, exuding an inexplicable beauty, but she rapidly aged in the last few years facing death.
Also, Priestesses did not live long enough to average around thirty and left the world.
“Oh? Are you not curious about whether you will become a priest or a monk?”
“No, I am. But I thought I wouldn’t dare ask you such a question if I became a monk. That’s what scares me more.”
“Even if you become a monk, you’d be able to ask questions, wouldn’t you? The opportunity to meet me may slightly decrease, but if you are assigned to this Cathedral, somehow you will have the chance to meet me.”
“…I am ashamed to confess, but I don’t think I could bear the torment of not being chosen by God.”
The young man finally found words suitable for the crossroads and the Priestess smiled.
“I see. I’ll answer. However, not being able to efficiently accept divine power does not mean I have not received God’s choice. Don’t forget that.”
“…I will remember.”
The aged Priestess hesitated briefly on how to respond to the young man. At the moment of the ritual, it was surprising for a novice to ask a question, and since Mihaer was a novice, this question was very difficult to explain.
“It’s hard to explain in simple terms. But… it seems that believing that fate is predetermined is correct.”
“Why is that? Are we mere pawns in God’s game without resentment or mockery?”
“No, that’s not the case. God has given us countless opportunities. It’s entirely up to you what choices you make at those moments of opportunity.”
“But isn’t it also predetermined what kind of person I will be to make a choice? According to the ‘Shackles of Creatures’…”
“Yes, that’s right. That is why I mentioned that it is more appropriate to consider it as a decision made. However, I hope you don’t think that is all. In fact, there are more subtle differences… Oh? Hold on a moment.”
She paused in her speech. Rolling her eyes upward as if ‘hearing’ something, she chuckled softly.
“Oh, it seems it wasn’t just me who was interested in you. It seems Vinare requested me to tell you this. ‘Humans can make different choices in the same moment.’ That’s what the god said. Since the god mentioned it, I don’t need to add anything.”
Young Mihaer’s breath was taken away. The god responded to my question. With certainty about his future, he asked.
“…I am grateful to the extent that my heart is full, but it is difficult to understand. How can one make different choices in the same moment? Does the same moment mean a similar situation?”
“Well?”
The saint shrugged irresponsibly. As an elderly woman facing death, she was far enough away from the saint’s attitude to shrug her shoulders.
“Vinare told me to tell you in this way. It’s different from what I think, so it’s hard for me to understand too. Vinare is always like this. He tends to be more talkative than other deities, but… Oh! I see. I’m sorry. I’ll stop. Ahem… Now that I’ve given an answer, shall we perform the ritual?”
The saint, who chattered for a moment, gently smiled and placed her hand on Mihaer’s head, and this happened seventy years ago.
+ + +
“That’s how it was.”
“…Is that all? Can humans really make different choices in the same moment?”
“That’s right. I still don’t understand that either. And I have served three saintesses. Including the current Saint Mariel. However, when I asked other saintesses, they only said ‘You have already received the answer.’ and didn’t say anything more.”
Veronian, who asked a question, and Daniel sitting politely beside him, exchanged puzzled looks.
But only Lena stiffened with a look that seemed to know something.
– Making different choices in the same moment.
That was an answer Lena could understand. When she asked Lev a question, she had experienced a subtle divergence in choices.
Perhaps on that night, if the hearth fire had been warmer or if the piece of meat in Lev’s trembling hand had not been burnt to a crisp, it might have been a subtle fork in the road that could have changed things.
But she did not share this fact. It was too trivial to explain, so Lena kept silent, and Veronian spoke.
“Then, I have another question I want to ask. Why did the god…”
“Ha ha, sorry, but I don’t have time to answer for so long now. Only one per person. Don’t be disappointed. But don’t you have two more questions left?”
Daniel and Lena glanced at each other.
“…I would like to ask about the goal our order of the Holy Cross is aiming for. I heard that we have nearly finished driving out the barbarians who believe in false gods.”
In the end, although Daniel asked first, his question was quite practical.
He had just missed the ritual this year by a hair, but he would definitely become a priest by next autumn.
“Ha ha, that’s a difficult question indeed. How should I answer… It’s awkward to answer because it is not officially decided yet, but,”
Cardinal Mihaer’s hand clenched.
“Let’s say the next goal is to build cities and towns that only worship the god. Not just building churches…”
“Without accepting a king?”
Veronian interjected abruptly.
Although he said he would accept only one question per person, his question contained sharp insight, so Mihaer Cardinal asked for his name.
“Veronian, good question. But I think it’s too early to answer that question. It’s still a personal opinion, and I need to discuss it with other Cardinals.”
Daniel, who was standing by, was envious that Mihaer Cardinal asked for Veronian’s name and wondered what question to pose.
Something that could attract his interest… ‘Won’t the the Cardinal’s argument be unconvincing? Didn’t the Cardinal refuse to pass the issue of expelling the barbarians who believe in false gods thirty years ago?’ – Although the question came to mind, Daniel swallowed it.
It was not a meaningful question, just a seemingly empty question to show off his knowledge, so he had no difficulty in swallowing it.
The Cardinal’s eyes turned to Lena for the last time. Lena hesitated for a moment and asked.
“Is there a way for a priest to marry without violating the rules of the church?”
Oh my-
Veronian and Daniel unknowingly clicked their tongues in unison. It was surprising that someone could ask such a question to a Cardinal.
But Lena was serious. It was a content she really wanted to know urgently, and there was someone in front of her who could provide a clear answer.
Is there really no way for me to marry Lev? Other than becoming a monk and going back to my hometown…
That’s not bad either, but becoming a priest was her long-cherished dream, and especially because she shouted that she would become a priest and come back while leaving, she wanted to achieve her dream and return as much as possible.
Cardinal Mihaer looked at Lena with a puzzled expression.
It was such a nonsensical question that he was about to reply, “None.” but his thoughts changed a little at her earnest gaze.
“…If there is a logic to change the rules, exceptions can also be made. Well, now I must go. It was nice meeting you. May the Lord guide the students’ future.”
The Cardinal abruptly stood up.
Although he was somewhat pleased to receive the unexpected question at the end, he thought the time spent meeting Veronian, the novice, was already valuable.
‘That novice should become a priest. That woman…’
It seemed that she had left even a lover in her hometown, but could someone who was captivated by someone else elsewhere receive the Lord’s choice?
It was an unthinkable situation.
Such a woman was enough to be a nun. ─ Thinking like that, Cardinal Mihaer hastened towards the meeting room, with Lena, who relied on him, following behind.
‘If there is logic to change the rules, it’s good enough, right?’
She accepted the absolute denial as a necessary condition.
Between dream and love, Lena did not want to give up either.
If she had to choose, it would probably be to become a priest with Lev’s hope in mind…
‘Lev must be doing well, right? Wait for me. I will definitely…’
With determination, clenching her fist, Lena turned towards the library. She had to look at the ancient meeting records that prohibited priests’ marriages.
And at that moment, Lev was walking along the walls of Nevis.
Wearing a thick robe with a hat, dripping light on the walls with his palm, he was no longer the virtuous young man Lena knew from the Demos village.
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