Sylvester didn't know why King Highland wanted to see him, but he knew that the man could be worth a lot if he could somehow win his fondness, even more so as an ally since the King was also a Grand Wizard, along with his wife.

'As long as I can somehow manipulate this king to be kind to me, I will never have to worry about power… and maybe one day he can help me in the fight to become the Pope.' He planned to meet the man silently.

But, at the same time, he strongly reminded himself that other people are not fools. The man was a strong wizard and a king. There had to be a lot of mental and physical prowess involved there. 'I may be highly smart, but to think there can never be someone better than me will only bring my doom earlier.'

Sylvester readily agreed to meet the King as he felt well. "Then I should not keep the King waiting, Holy father."

"Good. You may leave with Sir Dolorem and return. I believe Sir Dolorem also needs some rest after staying up for five boring days and nights." The Pope ordered them in a usual formal tone.

Grandpa Monk rubbed his beard and walked closer to hand Sylvester a glass jar. "Take this, young bard. This is my recipe for the best sunshine nectar… but keep this away from the reach of your mother and friends, lest they suffer the same fate as your aide."

Sylvester glanced at Sir Dolorem and smelled some disappointment. He chuckled and took it. "Thank you, Grandpa Monk. I will come back again to play a new game with you, it's called Chess."

"I will be waiting for you then, young bard."

Sylvester saluted the two old men and walked away with Sir Dolorem. It had been five days, and he wondered how everything was going.

"Did you inform mum about my absence? I hope she didn't get anxious because of this." He asked.

"She was brought here by me on the same night to show you were fine. She may still be a bit anxious, however. That's how most mothers are."

Sylvester had to agree on that point. No matter what, Xavia would worry about him. Likely even if he becomes the Pope, she would worry about his safety.

Soon they were on a boat to Pope's Peninsula. It was nighttime, so there was nothing to see other than water all around them. Being alone, Sylvester asked Sir Dolorem. "Do you think Solis is real?"

Sir Dolorem wanted to shout back at Sylvester by now. He had seen the young man meditating for five days, looking like some god, and at the same time, he met a guardian angel. "Of course, he is real! You are the living proof for it."

"If that's the case, then why am I not pampered? Why must I go through all these things? Be treated like a common clergyman and face all this madness alone?" Sylvester asked, because, according to common customs, talented or important individuals are usually protected and spoiled. Yet here he was, going through every torment imaginable.

Sir Dolorem had an answer to that as well. "That's because it never works. You know how spoiled princes become the worst of kings and general humans. In the old days, God's Favored were genuinely treated like princes. They were never sent out of the Holy Land, were taught by the best teachers in special classes, and were trained with the best materials. But, in the end, in nearly all cases, none of those God's Favored became the Pope or even a Guardian of Light.

"This revealed the flaws, and since then, God's Favored are made to face all the hardships like any ordinary clergyman. Sure, you may get some small benefits, like how you can meet the Holy Father or how you can get some special resources. But other than that, you are expected to face all the hardships and grow.

"Because if you survive all that madness and still come out on top, then that would mean you were always meant to be the one true God's Favored. If you quit or die, then you were never even worthy.""So you mean the church would rather see talented young men die than spend precious resources on them to be spoiled," Sylvester commented.

Sir Dolorem shook his head. "The Church takes responsibility for the safety of those it considers important. Didn't Lord Inquisitor come to save you and me in that cave? Even Priest Felix has been saved by higher clergymen during his adventures. The Church merely tries to balance the special privileges they give you while ensuring you organically grow stronger.

"All the mental and physical hardships are meant to make you stronger—even more so after the great game has started."

"Great game?" Sylvester exclaimed.

"I don't know the details, but I heard this from the Lord Inquisitor in a joint Inquisitor-Administration meeting. It likely means that those vying for the Pope's position have started making their moves. The Holy Father is 216 years old as of now, and according to history, on average, a Pope lives for 300, ten years more or less on that. So, if they start playing the game right now, they will have enough support to ascend when the time comes."

'So I must start playing this game as well?' Sylvester thought about the future prospects. He reckoned that in most circumstances, he's only being seen as a possible Pope after the next Pope. Hence most people in the current race to ascend don't even take him seriously—and this ignorance could be his boon.

"It seems the times ahead are going to be very interesting," Sylvester muttered and looked towards the twin moons in the sky.

"And dangerous."

Sylvester chuckled. "Already is—So tell me something new."

…

Sylvester's home.

"Bwahaha… I never knew that young Sylvester had such feats under his belt. Such a talented young man. Unfortunately, I couldn't help in time."

Xavia was again baffled because so many strange things had happened in the past few days. First, she met the Tenth Guardian of Light, then she saw the Soul Peninsula and walked on the branches of the Soul tree, and right now, there sat in her house, in the living room, a mighty King.

"Why have you come here, old foggy! You shall not have me deceived again!" This voice was from the Tenth Guardian of Light, who had come to guide King Highland around because one, she was strong, and two, letting a man enter the Bright Mother's housing was not good.

King Highland laughed with no care. "Bwahahaha… are you still angry at me, Aurora? When you were little, I remember you came to my Palace with Lord Inquisitor. You wanted to marry me because I was handsome!"

Lady Aurora pouted and looked away. "I was a naive child back then—not my fault there. It was you, fiend, who tried to seduce me."

"Sorry, Aurora, but I have no liking for young kids. That's the specialty of some of your brethren heathens. Trinity is and was the only one for me, my beautiful love from childhood." King Highland mocked and then dreamily spoke.

Lady Aurora acted as if she didn't hear the first part, as she had no counter-argument regarding that. "How is Queen Trinity? If anything, she is the most sensible person in your Kingdom."

King Highland didn't mind Aurora's jibing remarks as he knew it was all being said in playfulness. He had known her since she was a little kid, after all. "Oh, she's fine and pretty as always. But… the mental burden of not being able to further our bloodline has been taking a toll on her now… the words spoken against her in mockery… even when it's not her or my fault is heartbreaking."

Just then, the door to the little house opened, and Sylvester walked in alone. However, he paused in the middle as he looked at the people inside. He expected the King to be there, but what was Lady Aurora doing there?

"Greetings…" He muttered.

The King stood up and walked to Sylvester. Without showing any reservations, he hugged the bard. "It's a pleasure meeting you, son. You are as handsome as the legends say."

'Gods, so much flattery.' Sylvester sighed internally and moved back from the hug.

"May the Holy light enlighten us, your majesty. The Holy Father told me that you wish to see me?" He asked, intentionally revealing that he was close to the Pope.

The King laughed it off and retook his seat. "I was in the Holy Land regarding the intense wave of refugees arriving in my Kingdom. I can not alone help them, for my coffers are not that full."

In silence, Sylvester tried to discern the man's character. From the various scenes, he saw that the man was cheerful and happy. But he refused to believe there was nothing hidden inside. So, to test the King, he spoke something that would usually anger any boastful noble.

Sylvester, in a scornful tone, replied. "Not that you helped your own citizens either."

The King Highland fell silent, and the smile disappeared from his face. He looked at Sylvester's face in his eyes and nodded. "I have indeed failed them, it seems. I was never told about the condition of Fallshoot village and the human hunting happening there by the noble. For that, I am utterly ashamed. As for the Bloodling, we normally let the church deal with them."

'What's this? Genuine spiciness of rage and foul smell of sadness? Did I just find the most honest King ever?' Sylvester wondered once he sensed the scents.

King Highland continued to speak. "I am thankful that you were able to defeat that vile creature."

"But in the end, it was too late," Sylvester exclaimed.

"It wasn't you who failed, Priest Sylvester, it was them—those vile dogs of the… It is one of the reasons why I came here, to ask for an explanation… and to apologize to you."

That raised his brows. "Apologize? For what?"

"For what happened to you when you were little. If not for Inquisitor High Lord, we would have lost a wonderful young man. My wife and I initially thought about adopting you after we heard what happened, but sadly we were denied because the Church was your custodian. However, now you're an adult and free to decide for yourself. So, priest Sylvester, would you like to become the Crown Prince of the Highland Kingdom?"

Sylvester glanced at Xavia, who appeared shaken by the proposal. So she looked at Sylvester to see what his response would be.

He, instead, looked into the King's eyes and smelled something that made everything clear for him—now, making a decision was easy.

'I can become a rich fat lord and never worry about money… or feeding Chonky? I can forever live in luxury?'

To Sylvester, the answer was as clear as day. "Your Majesty, I want to…"

_______________________

GT = 1 Bonus chapter.

Super Gift = 1 Bonus chapter.

APE TOGETHER STRONG!