"What!" The three exclaimed together.

Lady Aurora kept healing Sylvester's face and responded with great respect for the man that the world feared. "Of course, not blood-related. He's a proper clergyman, after all. When I was little, just eight, my village was sold by the Baron of the region because he could not pay the money he borrowed from the Count.

"It happened even though it was all illegal. And then… the villagers were sold. Unfortunately, they sold my parents to someone else while I was sent to a different place because they realized I somehow had high magic talent. After the revelation, I became one of the prime goods, though the treatment got worse as they tried to subvert my mind and make me submissive to their demands.

"To me, back then, the days were filled with misery, and I knew the future would be no better. I was too young and did not understand why all that was even happening to me—why they would hit me for no reason and try to scare me with death threats. Then, when I was about to be sold in an auction for ten thousand gold, Lord Inquisitor came and bid one copper Mud. Everyone looked over and was shocked.

"Then, the Lord Inquisitor just said one thing. 'Let the child go, and nobody dies. Persist—and cease to exist.' My eyes widened back then. Even though I couldn't see his face, he looked amazing and strong. And since that moment, he became my role model." She revealed her background with much pride.

Sylvester wondered if she tells others these details just to boast about the Lord Inquisitor. "And? What did the enslavers reply?"

She grinned. "Lord inquisitor believes that unless they are children of heathens, all children slaves should be freed. So when the people in the auction hall refused, he just burned all of them to crisp. Even the spectators were not spared… yes, he gets furious too quickly. At that time, he didn't know about my talents, and it was only after he brought me to Holy Land that I was tested."

"What about the Baron who sold you?" Felix asked.

"Lord Inquisitor exterminated his entire bloodline and made it vanish, and all the villagers who were sold were freed and given the wealth of that Baron to resettle. Sadly, my parents were long dead because they were bought by a noble in the West to be fed to his pet Great Lion. I hope they die a quick death." She revealed, though there was not much sorrow in her voice, as she likely didn't even remember her parents' faces.

Gabriel sighed and made a quick prayer. "May their souls rest in peace."

"Done!" She stood up. "Go now, do whatever you want. Tell me when you're assigned another assignment. I shall go and train myself in the meantime."

Soon, they all got on their horses. But as they started to move out, they realized they were all going in the same direction, and so the awkwardness ensued. However, they didn't say anything and just rode towards the port of Pope's Peninsula.

"Where are you three going?" Lady Aurora asked.

"Guild Peninsula to buy some things," Felix replied.

"Bank, I need to see if my sister spent any money," Gabriel added.

"To meet the Pope."

"..."

They all stopped all of a sudden and stared at Sylvester's face. Even Lady Aurora was surprised. "I am so envious of you right now."

"Max! What are you doing here?" A voice came out of nowhere.

Suddenly, Xavia appeared on their way, likely going to work as Sylvester's training had taken place early in the morning.

"I just finished training. Aren't you late for work today?" Sylvester waited for her to reach them.

She showed her small bag. "We are having yearly check-ups for orphaned children at the sick bay today, and all Bright mothers must bring cookies or other treats for them. You want some?"

"Cookies?" Felix jumped from his horse, snatched some as she was offering, and ate it with no reservation. He loved the food Xavia made, no matter what it was. Following him, others also unmounted their horses.

"This is your mother?" Lady Aurora asked, looking at Xavia with interest.

Sylvester introduced them to each other. "Mum, this is Lady Aurora Foxtron, the Tenth Guardian of Light. She will be my mentor for this year."

"..."

Xavia's jaw fell. It was worth noting that at most, the highest ranked people Xavia met in her day-to-day life were Bishops at best. The last time she met anyone too high ranking was when the Lord Inquisitor saved them. In comparison, the Guardians were some of the highest-ranked people throughout the church.

So, being casually introduced to someone like this was overwhelming, to say the least, not to mention that Lady Aurora was famous for being one of the only women to reach this level in the clergy.

Lady Aurora shook Xavia by the shoulder. "Breath… Bright Mother… Breath!"

"Hmm? Ah! May the holy light enlighten us… Lady Guardian." Xavia saluted as she was taught in her early study days.

Lady Aurora chuckled and waved her hand. "No, just call me Lady Aurora. And my god, you are so pretty. It's unbelievable you're Priest Sylvester's mother."

'Does she mean I'm ugly?' Sylvester wondered.

Felix nodded with his arms crossed, "Indeed, Mother Xavia is very pretty and makes the best food too. You should try that sometime, Lady Aurora. Here, have some cookies."

Sylvester looked back at his friend in disgust and annoyance. He was not planning to invite any woman to his home. It's best people of Aurora's rank stay away from that building, for the touching that happens there on some nights and the moans that leak. He'd rather not have all those poor women be chopped to pieces.

Aurora took the cookie and ate it. And instantly, her eyes sparkled. She held Xavia's hand in hers and asked, "What did you add to it? It's so good."

Xavia, a bit stunned, replied monotonously as if she was a machine. "Honey! Max loves... honey... since he was young… add honey to anything, and he eats it like holy water."

Lady Aurora suddenly glanced at Sylvester with a changed look on her face. Gone was the condescending tone and expression. Now there were emotions of comradeship. Sylvester smelled pleasantness from her. "So you're a fellow honey enjoyer? Let me guess. You tasted it when you were little?"

'Oh! Is she also…?' Sylvester realized he needed to thank his mother later for this blessing.

He nodded. "That was the first non-milk thing I tasted."

Lady Aurora bobbed her head as if she expected this much. "It's good to meet those with the same taste as you. Ah, honey… the texture, the taste, and the pure natural sweetening… there is nothing like it elsewhere. Mother Xavia, I would love to try more cuisine with honey from you."

She said while holding Xavia's hands, making her flustered.

But Xavia was as kind as they came. "Sure, I will tell Max from now on to bring you food with him."

"Marvelous! So this venture will not be wasteful, it seems. But I must leave for my own training. You three boys, meet me here in the morning, same time." She quickly took some more cookies from the metal box in Felix's hand and left.

Gabriel was just speechless seeing her attitude. "She is so beautiful and yet… does not seem womanly at all."

Felix nodded. "Yeah, there is a man hidden in her somewhere."

"Mum, come with me. I will drop you at the port so you can go to the Guild Peninsula; I also need to go to Pope's Palace. I've been summoned." Sylvester offered her a ride on the horse. Frost was a well-trained boy at this point.

"The Pope has summoned you? Max… why are there so many important people all around you? You're just a priest." Xavia asked him because, deep down, him being half-blooded was fearsome to her.

Sylvester honestly had no idea. "I guess I am meant for greater things. I did play on the Pope's lap for years, after all. Don't worry now, this isn't my first time."

"Look at your face." Xavia suddenly moved closer to him and used her scarf to clean dirt off of his face. He grunted and moved back.

"Mum, I'm not a kid anymore."

'Seriously, woman… I'm a century-old man. I have some self-respect.' He muttered silently.

Xavia scoffed and continued to wipe his face. "For a mother, her child is always a child, no matter if he's ten or a hundred. And I suggest you cherish this while it lasts because once I'm gone, you will only have these memories to remember the past."

That did remind him somewhat that she was not as strong as him. Her magic rank was, at best, initial Adept level, which meant she would not live for as long as him.

"Fine." He stood silently and ignored Felix and Gabriel's chuckles. Though Sylvester was more annoyed by Miraj, who was now licking his face.

Eventually, they headed their ways. Sylvester got Xavia to sit on his horse in front of him with her legs swaying to one side and gave her a ride. Normally, if a man was seen going somewhere with a Bright Mother like this, it would be instant heresy, but he was famously known to be her son.

A while later, he dropped her at the port from where she headed to work, and he went to the Pope's Palace alone. He had to leave the horse at the bottom of a thousand stairs and slowly head up. He rarely comes to this place, and whenever he does, he can't help but awe at the palace's beauty.

It was mighty tall, and white marble was used in abundance. The pointy tips at the top were all gold, and beautiful engravings were everywhere. Even inside, he was in awe of the beauty after he entered.

The entire ceiling was painted with scenes of various historic moments and some tales. The walls were covered with portraits of people from over five thousand years of history. Various flower vases and other plants were placed evenly at a distance. And gold was the usual theme to show royalty.

The guards were strategically placed to ensure nothing was harmed since every inch of the palace had some important history in it.

He was soon informed of where to find the Pope. The man was supposed to be in the East Wing, leading to the main office. But, as Sylvester reached the place, he found the Pope standing outside his office and looking at the corridor's ceiling as if in deep thought.

"May the holy light enlighten us, holy father." Sylvester greeted the man.

The Pope just nodded and kept staring at the ceiling. "Come here, young bard… look up there. I don't know why the 24th Pope got these strange murals made on the ceiling. They are beautiful, but why are so many of them in such a questionable position?"

"Maybe he loved them, your holiness."

"What? Cocks? No, I don't think he was into them."

"..."

[A/N: See the ceiling in the para comment.]

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[A/N: I put the wrong timer for upload. (●__●)]

GT = 1 Bonus chapter.

Super Gift = 1 Bonus chapter.

APE TOGETHER STRONG!