Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve

It occurred to me that if I procrastinated any longer, I might miss the first scene of witnessing the reunion between my master and Joram.So I picked up the pace, and even let me go faster than I thought I could bear.When I reached the top, I was out of breath.By this time the twilight had fallen, and Joram's house was lit, so that I would not lose sight of it.Other buildings were plunged into a dark haze. I went through the door closest to the lights and down a dark corridor.In the glory days of the Holy Mountain, this was supposed to be where the young Catalyst Saints in training lived.I can make this judgment because there are countless small rooms on both sides of this corridor, and each room is simply furnished with a bed, desk, and washstand.The stone walls were chilled, and the rooms were filled with dust and darkness.The place seemed to be mourning her good old days, filled with the light of life.

In this corridor I could not see the lights of Joram's house.Fortunately, I saw them again when I entered an open hall that seemed to have been an auditorium.I heard voices coming from a door to my left.Finally, I got rid of the darkness and cold, and walked into the light and warmth.It was a kitchen, a kitchen that had once housed hundreds of people, but now it was the center of life for Joram's family. I can see at a glance why they chose this place.A huge stone fireplace gave off light and heat.Twenty years ago, when the Holy Mountain was densely populated, the mana collected by the Catalyst Saints would be used to light fires to cook food and keep warm.Joram, who has no magic, can only throw a lot of firewood into the fireplace to make a fire.The flames kept jumping and crackling, and the smoke and sparks floated up from the chimney.My body relaxes in the warmth.As the sun went down, it was getting colder outside.

Saryon and Gwen sat by the fire.Ge Wen was pale and stared at the fire without saying a word.Occasionally she would glance across the back of the room with eyes half expectant, half fearful.Saryon seemed restless, sometimes standing up suddenly, pacing aimlessly about the room, and then sitting down suddenly.Joram is away, and I am afraid that he has no intention of meeting Saryon at all, which would seriously hurt my master's heart.Alisha came in almost at the same time as me, but she walked through the door on the other side. "Father welcomes you, Father Saryon," she said, walking up to the Catalyst Saints.As soon as she appeared, Saryon stood up. "Sit down, please. Daddy is showering and changing and will be over soon."

I was relieved, I felt that Saryon was the same as me.He smiled, let out a long breath, and sat back in the chair.Gewen stood up, and she said we must be very hungry, and she was going to prepare dinner.Alisa had obviously washed her face vigorously, but I could still see that she had cried. Alisha said that I must also want to wash, and she is willing to show me the way.She was right.I walked up to her, and the teddy bear, with an orange silk scarf around its neck, was placed on a chair specially made for children, watching our every move.As we walked past it, it toppled over from its chair and hit its nose on the floor.

"Poor Teddy." Alisa said seriously, picked up the little bear, dusted it, kissed its old head, and put it more firmly on the chair it is good. "Be a cute teddy," she admonished the bear, still joking. "You have your supper of bread and honey." I glanced at Bear and saw Simkin giggling. Alisa led me into the bedroom area of ​​her home.She told me that these rooms once belonged to higher order catalyst saints.These rooms are larger and more comfortable than the small dormitories I have just passed.She led me into a room at the end of the corridor. "You can live in this room," she said as she opened the door.

There was a fire burning in the small fireplace, the bed was covered with clean, scented lavender-scented sheets, and the floor had just been mopped.My backpack was placed by the bed, and there was a pot of hot water and a washbasin on the small table next to the bed.Alisa also told me how to go to the bathroom. "Don't worry," she said. "Daddy's going to take a late swim after his bath. He won't be out for at least another half hour." Like her mother, Alisa was pale and restless.The only time I saw her smile was when she was playing with Teddy, and that smile faded away quickly.When she was about to leave, I stopped her.

Since we still have time, I'm typing on the tablet, tell me about Teddy. Alisa smiled again. "I told you how much I loved him in that old nursery school, I carried him everywhere. He used to shepherd the sheep with Dad, work in the garden with Mom, and do the laundry. "You'd think it was silly," she said, blushing slightly. "But I seem to remember Teddy telling me stories, all about goblins and giants and dragons and unicorns." She smiled shyly. "I think I must have made up those stories myself and told them to Teddy. But I always feel like he's actually telling me stories. That's weird. Don't you think?"

I don't remember how I answered, maybe I said something to her about lonely children having rich imaginations or something.What can i say?I can't tell her that the bear is Simkin! She thought I must be right, so she got up and left.But she paused as she closed the door, "Now that I think about it, some of those stories were really horrible. The Duchess sneezed and her head fell into a soup bowl; the Earl was mistakenly buried alive; The Goblin Queen captures men and keeps them as slaves. What a horrible imp I was!" She smiled and left me.The door closed behind her. The chaotic Sim'jin is adept at drawing adults to destruction, and he might just do it for fun.I was horrified to think that Joram and Gwen (especially Joram, who knew exactly what Sim Jin was like) would allow such a character to be their children's playmates.But Simkin apparently didn't hurt Alisa, and gave her many happy (though weird) childhood memories.

So what happens when we bring the Jorams back to Earth?There is no doubt that Alisa will bring her "Teddy".The thought that Sim'jin would be taken to Earth gave me shivers.I made a mental note to discuss this with Saryon.He's worrying about more important issues now, maybe hasn't thought about it yet. I found the toilets - one for men and one for women.They must have existed in the very early days of the Holy Mountain.The toilet is very clean, but when I unwind in this open toilet, I think that the best invention of human beings should be the indoor flush toilet. Back in the room, I poured water into the washbasin, scrubbed it (I was envious of Joram who was swimming at this time), combed my hair, and changed my clothes.The clothes I wore during the day were all mutton-like.I put on clean blue jeans and a sweater I bought in Ireland, which is one of my favorite pieces of clothing.Then went back to the living room.

Alisa and her mother were busy in the kitchen.I offered to help and was offered the job of slicing bread that was sitting on the rack fresh out of the oven.Alisa brought out bowls of dried fruit and honeycombs that smelled of clover.Gwen is stirring a can of beans to cook with lamb.At this time, I knew that the flock of sheep was not only their clothes, but also the food on their table. Saryon looked at me uneasily.I knew from a young age that it was very bad to express my disapproval of meat when visiting other people's homes.I smiled at Saryon and shook my head.I even jumped at the task when Alisa asked me to taste the beans to see how they tasted.

I thought they were a bit bland - can't remember exactly.Only then, when the wooden spoon in Alisa's hand touched my lips, did I realize that I had fallen in love with her. Just then, Joram walked into the room. From where I was, I couldn't see Joram.But just seeing Saryon's bone-white face, I knew what was going on.Gwendelin and Alisa exchanged a meaningful glance.Actually they made me stay with them on the kitchen side on purpose, leaving only Saryon and Joram in the living room. Joram came into my sight.My heart sank. He was just as serious, indifferent, and as cold as ice when I saw him on the hillside.Saryon stood up straight, hands at his sides.The two of them looked at each other for a long time without speaking or moving.I don't know what I'm afraid of.Perhaps Joram would accuse his mentor to his face and order Saryon to leave the house.Anything is possible for this tough, arrogant man. Alisa and Gwen held hands tightly.I feel my hands are cold, and I worry about Saryon.His body was going limp and he looked terrible.I took a step towards him, intending to go to him anyway. Then Joram stretched out his arms and embraced Saryon, holding him tight. "My child!" Saryon muttered incoherently, patting the grown man on the back like lovingly patting a baby. "My dear child! It's great to see...you and Gwen..." Saryon cried. Ge Wen covered her face with her apron and sobbed.Alisa watched this scene, tears rolling down her cheeks.There was a sweet and sad smile on her lips.There were tears in my eyes too, but I wiped them dry immediately with the sleeve of my sweater. Joram straightened up.He is taller than my master now, for old Saryon is stooped.Joram laid a pair of rough, dark brown hands on Saryon's shoulders, and a vague, fleeting smile flashed across his face. "Welcome to my house, Father." His voice didn't match his friendly gesture, which was still cold and gloomy. "Gwen and I are so glad you came to see us." He turned to Ge Wen, and when he saw his wife, his gloomy face also glowed with brilliance, as if the sun broke through the clouds and shone on his face.His voice has also become much softer. "Our guest must be hungry. Is supper ready?" Ge Wen hurriedly wiped her eyes with her apron, and replied in a weak voice that dinner was ready and invited us to sit down.I was going to help bring the food to the table, but Alisa stopped me and made me sit at the table with the other men. Joram sat at one end of the long table.He seated Saryon at his right, and I at my master's. "I believe you have met Reuven." Saryon said gently. "He was my assistant and writer. Reuven wrote your story, Joram. Prince Jarod asked him to do so." , which helps to make us known to the people of Earth. His books are very popular, and I think you will like them too." "I'd love to read those books!" Alisa put the steaming bowl of beans on the table, clasped her hands on her chest, and looked at me admiringly. "You can write novels! You haven't told me. How amazing!" I think my cheeks must be hot enough to toast.Joram said nothing.Gwen said something politely, but I couldn't catch what she said.The sound of blood hitting my eardrums made it hard for me to hear anything, and my thoughts were in a mess.Alisa was so beautiful, she looked at me with respect and admiration. It's just a casual romance—I told myself sternly.I met her under unusual circumstances in a strange and strange place.Not only that, but I was the first man she ever met who was her age.And if I wanted to use this to my advantage, I would be dead wrong.In the brave new world she's heading to, she needs a friend.I will be that friend of hers.Only after she's met a thousand young men trying to woo her, should I start pursuing her if she still has me in her heart. Just a catalyst saint among the crowd... Saryon bumped me with his bony knee under the carved stone table.When I came back to my senses, I realized that Ge Wen and Alisha were about to take their seats.Alisa sat across from Saryon, and Gwen sat at the other end of the table, opposite her husband.Joram rose respectfully as his wife sat down.Saryon and I did the same. Finally, everyone sat down at the table. "Father," said Joram, "will you take us to prayer?" Saryon looked surprised.Of course he can.But never before had Joram been so devout.In fact, he even once resented Emin, blaming him for putting him in such a miserable life situation.Although such condemnation should fall on human greed and evil ambition. We put our heads down.I think I heard a snicker from Teddy next to me, but no one else seemed to hear it. "Emin," Saryon began to pray, "please bless us and protect us in this dark and dangerous time. Glory be to your creation. Help us to unite with those terrible enemies who only want to destroy and defile this glory Beat them. Amen." Alisha and Ge Wen responded in a low voice: "Amen." I also responded silently in my heart.Joram said nothing, and kept his head up, looking at Saryon with dark eyes.If Saryon saw this scene, his heart would be greatly shocked.Fortunately, he did not see that my host was looking at Alisa across the table. "You are very much like your grandmother, my dear." Saryon said to her, "She is Queen Merilon. Some say she is the most beautiful woman in Simharon. I don't think this evaluation is too much." His gaze turned to Ge Wen. "Of course, there is another person who is as beautiful as her, and that is your mother." Both Gwendelyn and Alisa blushed at Saryon's compliment.Alisa asks Saryon to tell her about Merilon's queen, her grandmother. "Papa never talked about the old days," said Alisa. "He said they were all over and it was useless to think about them. I'd read about Merillon and a lot of other things in books, but it was in general terms." And blunt. Momma told me something—” "Did she tell you how she rescued us from Dukexis when we first came to Merilon?" asked Saryon. "No! Have you ever done that, mother? Will you tell me the story?" Gwen smiled, but she also saw the look her husband had cast on Saryon just now.She said that she was very bad at telling stories, so she had better let the priest tell them.Saryon began to tell the story.Alisa listened intently.Ge Wen stared at her plate, barely pretending to be eating.Joram ate his food without saying a word, looking at nothing or letting anything go. "Simkin turned himself into a tulip," was the end of Saryon's story. "He tucked himself in the bouquet your mother was holding and asked her to tell the gatekeepers that my young friends and I were her father's guests! So they let us into Merilon. Actually we were just a gang A prisoner who evaded the law. Of course, your mother lied, but I'm sure Emin will forgive her, she did it out of love." Saryon smiled and nodded kindly to Joram.Gwendelyn looked up at her husband.Joram was also looking back at her.I saw the gloom that seemed to float forever in his eyes fade away again.The love that was ignited that day is still burning, and the warmth that fills the room blesses us. "Mom! You're a hero! So romantic. But tell me about Simkin!" Alisa said, laughing. Saryon seemed extremely troubled by this.I couldn't help but glance at the teddy bear, which seemed to be shivering, maybe in anticipation of Saryon, maybe trying not to laugh.Saryon opened his mouth.I'm not sure what his answer would be, but then Joram scowled again.He pushed the plate away and stood up. "Enough story for tonight. I know you must have a reason for being here, Father. Let's go back to the living room and tell us what you brought. Gwen, don't worry about those plates." He continued Said: "Father Saryon still has important things to go back to Earth to deal with, we shouldn't let him make unnecessary delays. Of course, you and Reuven will be my guests tonight." "Thank you," Saryon said weakly. "The table will be cleared soon, Joram." Gwendelin said nervously, "You and Father Saryon go first, Alisa, Reuven and I can..." A plate slipped from her cold, shaking hands.The plate smashed to pieces on the flagstone floor. We all stood up and watched the scene in silence. All understood the dire omen.