Chapter 4 Chapter 2 Favor

There was a dead silence in the silent prison.The silence was bottomless, and for a moment, Saryon thought, or hoped, that Van Ya had cut off contact. Then the words rang in his mind again. "How did you come to this inference, Father Saryon?" The Catalyst Saint could feel the Bishop treading cautiously on soft, unknown ground. "Has the black lock ever—" "Emin, does he know?" Saryon was taken aback and said loudly again. "No." He continued somewhat incoherently. "No one told me, no one wanted to say, I just...know. How do I know?" He shrugged helplessly. "How do I know how much magic to infuse into a wood-shaper so that he can shape a chair? It's a calculation of sorts, adding all the factors together—the person's weight, height, age of ability, age of the work done. Difficulty... Do I deliberately consider these? No! I frequently do this kind of thing, and I get the answer without even thinking about how to calculate the result.

"That's it, Your Excellency, that's how I learned Joram's true identity." Saryon shook his head and closed his eyes. "My God, I held him once! That baby, born to be the living dead, was destined to die! I was the last one to hold him!" Tears oozed from his eyes. "On that unfortunate day, I took him to the nursery and sat on the edge of the crib and rocked him for hours. I knew that once I put him down, no one else could touch him until you Let him go...to the Holy Mountain." Saryon stood up emotionally, pacing in the narrow cell. "Maybe conjecture, but I have come to believe that I and he are related. When I saw Joram for the first time, the soul remembered him even if the eyes did not recognize him. Just when I began to listen to the voice of the soul , know the truth."

"You're so sure it's true?" That sounded tense. "You deny it?" Saryon asked awe-inspiringly.He stopped pacing and looked up at the beams of the cell, as if the bishop was hovering between the beams. "You deny that you sent me here purposefully, hoping to find out the truth?" After a long silence, Saryon seemed to see someone looking at a hand of tarot cards, not knowing which one to play. "Have you told Joram?" There was a very real fear in that question, and for Saryon it was palpable and well known. "No, of course not." The catalyst saint replied. "How could I tell him such a bizarre story? He wouldn't believe me. He wouldn't believe it without proof, and I had no proof."

"Even if you said that you have considered all the factors?" Van Ya asked. Saryon shook his head impatiently.He started pacing again, but stopped shortly before the window.Day has come full circle, and daylight pours into the cold cells, and the village of witchcraft artisans is waking up.The smoke from the kitchen rose slowly and was torn to pieces by the strong wind.A few early-rising villagers have set out to work in the snow, or otherwise inspect their homes for damage from last night's storm.Farther away, he also saw a guard of Heisuo rushing from house to house. Where is Joram?Why hasn't he come back yet?Saryon wondered.He immediately pushed the thought out of his mind and began pacing again, hoping that the physical activity would help him focus and warm himself up at the same time.

"All the factors?" he repeated thoughtfully. "Yes, and...others. The young man looked like his Empress Mother, er, not immediately. His face was hardened by the hard life he had lived, and his bushy eyebrows were always furrowed, Smiled seldom; but he had hair like hers, beautiful black hair that hung down to his shoulders. It was mentioned that his mother—I mean foster mother—would not cut his hair short. Sometimes at He'll see something in his eyes—respect, arrogance..." Saryon sighed.He felt his mouth was parched, and the tears that choked in his throat smelled like blood. "Of course there is another point, he is a living dead, Your Excellency Bishop—"

"There are many living dead in this world." The Bishop is trying to find out how much of the truth I really know.Saryon suddenly understood.Otherwise, he was looking for evidence.The catalyst saint's legs were weak, and he quickly supported the small wooden table next to the stove.He picked up the handmade clay pitcher and tried to take a deep sip, only to find that the water in it was frozen.Saryon cast a helpless glance at the cold ashes in the stove, and slammed the jug back on the table. "I know there are many living dead, Your Excellency the Bishop." The Catalyst Saint struggled to speak, but still spoke very loudly. "If you have any impression, I myself have seen enough at Merilon. A baby who fails two out of three tests of magic is considered a living dead; but, my lord, you and I understand that, Such undead still have some magical ability, if only a little bit." He swallowed painfully, his burning throat aching. "I've never met a baby who failed one of all three tests - except that one. Complete failure. That baby was Prince Merilon. And I've never met anyone - not even in And none of the so-called living dead where we live is completely devoid of magic—except for one, Joram, who is a living dead, Your Excellency. A real living dead. He has no life force in him at all. "

"Already everyone in this place knows about it?" The ensuing interrogation was quite merciless, and Saryon's head began to throb. He yearned for peace and to get rid of this prying voice; but he couldn't think of a way to do it. What to do, unless you're banging your head against a wall.He bit his lip and answered the question. "No, Joram has learned to hide his flaws skillfully. He is good at using illusions and stealing the day. Obviously, the mother who raised him, Anya, taught him. Joram knows what will happen to him if someone finds out the truth. Even if he is among the living dead and abandoned people here, he will be sentenced to death and slaughtered." The catalyst saint became more and more impatient. "However, Heisuo must have reported all these things—"

"Heisuo knows what he needs to know." Fan Ya replied. "I recognize that I have my own suspicions, and that he has taken the necessary steps to confirm or refute those suspicions, and I do not see the need to discuss the matter with him." The catalyst saint moved restlessly in his chair. "But it is necessary to discuss with me." He muttered. "Yes, Father." The bishop's voice was now cold and severe. "I sense that you have affection for this young man, some growing friendship. It is poisoning your soul like a deadly poison, Priest Saryon, and you must purify it. Yes, perhaps I did send you Up here, I want you to confirm what I've always suspected. Now you know the secret, Saryon, and it's an amazing secret! The fact that the real prince is still alive will open us up to the threat of the enemy. The extent of the danger Too big to imagine! What would happen, Saryon, if it were known, that the real prince was the living dead? Rebellion would be but the least of many worries! The ruling royal family would be expelled , will be humiliated. Merilon will be in chaos, and fall easily before the Saraken army! Surely you know what it will be like, Saryon!"

"Yes, Your Excellency." Saryon tried to moisten his mouth again, but his tongue was like a blanket. "I see." "Then you see why it is so urgent to bring Joram back—" "Why were you not in a hurry before?" Saryon asked, the cold and tiredness gave him courage unlike before. "You know that Joram is here, and so is Black Lock. He's a sorcerer, Dukexis! He can tear Joram apart and give it to you if you command! Why bother to bring Joram back intact Holy Mountain? If he is so dangerous, it is enough to get rid of him! It is easy to kill him, especially for Heisuo!" Saryon was in agony. "Why do you involve me—"

"Because you need to confirm the facts." Van Ya's words hit Saryon hard in the heart. "Before that, I only guessed that this Joram was the prince. Your 'various factors' were well integrated and consistent with my inference. As for assassinating him, the Church does not allow murder, Father." Saryon hung his head.Such reprimands hit the nail on the head.Although he had lost faith in both the Church and God, deep down he still did not believe that the Bishop of Simharon ordered the death penalty.Even the babies—those who were judged to be the living dead—were not put to death, but were taken to the waiting room, from which they were sent out into a world that had no place for them.As for the death of the young deacon, Heisuo was responsible for it alone. Saryon firmly believed that it would be difficult for the bishop to control the sorcerer, and Duke Xisi had his own principles of life.

"I have to confess something to you, Father." Van Yar's thought filled with pain entered Saryon's mind.The Catalyst Saint realized that he was in the same pain, and couldn't help but flinch. "I'm telling you this so that you can understand better. If this young man hadn't discovered the Dark Stone, I would have been happy to have him hide among the Witchcrafters for the rest of his life—at least until we were ready to kill them all. Until the move away. Don't you understand, Saryon? It would have been easy for Joram to mingle with them, and one blast would have removed all threat to the whole world, and the men would not have suffered. Punish Saraken, Punish the apostate saints, destroy the demon artisans who mastered dark crafts, and get rid of the prince of the living dead, everything could have been dealt with so easily, Saryon." Again, silence breeds silence.Saryon sighed and buried his head in his hands.The voice came back again, soft as a whisper in his heart. "Things are still very simple, Father. What you hold in your hands is, if not the fate of the world, the fate of Merilon." Frightened, Saryon raised his head and argued, "No, Your Excellency! I don't want to—" "You don't want to take responsibility?" Van Ya asked sharply. "I'm afraid you have no choice. You made a mistake, Father, and now you must pay back. You know, I know something about the Dark Stone. I know that Joram could not have learned it without the help of a Catalyst Saint. how to use it." "Your Excellency, I don't understand—" Saryon begged. "Is it not you, Saryon? Your reason may have forgiven your actions, but your soul knows your crimes! I feel your sins, my child, that have destroyed your faith. Duty done , and you will be spared. Bring that young man to me, and bring him back to the Church, and you will find the peace you once had in a tormented conscience." "What about Jo--Joram?" Saryon asked hesitantly. "That should have nothing to do with you, Father." Van Ya replied mercilessly. "This young man has twice broken our most sacred law - he has committed murder and brought deadly evil back into the world. Think more of your own blackened soul, Saryon, and find a way to atone !" If only I could.Saryon thought feebly. "Father Saryon." Van Ya was obviously angry. "You should be expressing repentance and humility, but I feel doubt and confusion!" "Forgive me, Your Excellency!" Saryon pressed his hands to his temples. "It's all so sudden! I can't understand it—I must have time to think...and consider what to do—" Sudden suspicion flitted through his mind. "Your Excellency, why is Joram still alive? How could Anya—" "What's that, Father? More questions?" Bishop Vanya interrupted him abruptly.The sound stopped, followed by a heavy wait. Saryon tried to swallow, but there was only blood in his mouth.He tried to sort out his thoughts, but the questions stuck in place, unrelenting and chattering.The Bishop must have noticed, for the thoughts that followed to Saryon were as warm as a blanket. "Perhaps you are right, Father." Vanya said gently. "You need time. I admit I'm a little impatient, this matter is so important to me, and the danger we face is so real, that I just became inconsiderate. Waiting another day will make no difference, I will Contacting you tonight to make final arrangements. The Prudential Room function allows me to find you anytime, anywhere, as the saying goes, you will always be in my heart." Saryon shuddered.This is an unpleasant statement. "It is a great honor, His Excellency," he murmured in response. "May Emin be with you and guide your steps." "Thank you, Your Excellency." The surroundings fell silent again, and Saryon knew that this time the bishop had left.The catalyst saint stood up slowly, walked through the cell, and lay down on the bed again.He pulled the flimsy blanket over his shoulders, his body shivering with cold and fear.The morning sun came in from the prison window, casting pale and dim light, which did not bring any warmth, but made the surroundings even colder.Saryon stared mournfully at the shadows flickering in this deceptive light, trying to make sense of what had just happened. But the horror and revulsion had exhausted him, and he could barely concentrate, and he struggled angrily to shake off the lingering feeling. "I should understand His Excellency the Bishop with a humble attitude. He cares about the believers very much, so he conceived this way to take care of them. As he said, if my soul is pure and pure, I will not resent such intrusion." Saryon tried to persuade himself. "It's my crime that makes me tremble with fear, thinking he's going to rummage through my mind like a thief! Anyway, even my life belongs to the church, and I shouldn't hide anything from it." He rolled over on his back on the bed and watched the shadows move over the beams. "Ah, peace again! Maybe what His Excellency said is true, maybe I have lost my faith because of my own sins, sins I refuse to admit? Repent of the crimes and accept the punishment, and I will be free! Tormented by these doubts! Free from this inner turmoil!" As the Catalyst Saint thought this, a sense of peace surged through him.It felt tender and warm and comforting, filling a cold void in his heart that was terrifying and dark.If Vanya were there now, Saryon would have rushed over and prostrated himself at his feet. But... Joram... Yes, what will happen to Joram?The memory of that young man punctured the bubble of tranquility, and the warmth slowly dissipated.don't go!Saryon fought to keep it. "Admit it." He argued to himself. "Joran scares you! Vanya is right, the young man is indeed a rather dangerous man. It will be a relief to get rid of him and take responsibility for that wicked sword, especially now, I The truth has been ascertained. After all, what did the ancients say - 'truth sets free'?" great.Saryon's cynical dark soul retorted.But what is sincerity?Van Yake ever answered your question?What happened seventeen years ago?If Joram is the prince, how did he survive and why is he still alive? The Catalyst Saint closed his eyes, trying to avoid the sun and the darkness.He seemed to be holding that little baby in his arms again, shaking it gently, his tears rolled down that little face that was still unknown.He seemed to feel Joram's touch again—the young man's hand on his shoulder, as he had done in all the horrors of the furnace last night.Saryon saw a look of longing in those dark, cold eyes—a longing for love that Joram had always refused to admit.Joram sees love in Saryon.This is bondage!That's right.If Saryon still believed in Emin's existence, he would almost say that it was God's will that brought them together.Could he sever it, betray it? What will happen to Joram?The words he had asked the bishop echoed in his mind at this moment.And he knew the answer, Bishop Fanya had taken the baby away and let him die, so it was impossible for the bishop to treat him well as an adult. Saryon opened his eyes to the dim morning light, which had no warmth but was the truth—even if it was cold and unforgiving. If I take Joram back, I will send him to die. The false peace gradually leaked from the hearts of the catalyst saints, leaving only the same cold and dark emptiness as before.There are too many unsolved mysteries, too many deceitful lies; Bishop Vanya deceived the emperor and queen, making them think their children were dead; he tricked Saryon to track Joram, if Saryon did not find out the truth The Bishop must go on deceiving him, and the Catalyst Saint was sure he would.He can't trust Fanya, he can't trust anyone, the truth he must insist on is in his heart.He sighed heavily.He will follow the truth, hoping it will guide him out of the woods. Where is Joram?He should have been back long ago.Something must have happened... The sunlight was blocked by two shadows that materialized in the very center of the room, and Saryon's conscience was also cast a shadow.The Catalyst Saints stared at them both in horror, with a heart in their throat, when one of them spoke. "I said." The voice was as bright and full of deceit as the sun. "Look, Joram. You and I are out fighting against the dangers of the moor, and here lies the bald priest sleeping like a dead man, as before Lord Dunstable, who was later mistakenly buried for dead." Sample."