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436 Open and Inclusive Faith
Lumian had seen a similar three-masted sailboat in the illustrations of The Adventurer series. It stood out amidst the bustling Lavigny Docks, a contrast to the inland steamboats, and drew the attention of passersby.
Simultaneously, Lumian felt a warmth in his right palm, which then subsided.
Whatâs happening? Has the lingering aura of the Blood Emperor experienced a change under stimulus? This⌠this feels like a kind of resonance⌠Lumian pondered in surprise and confusion.
Could there be a connection between this ancient three-masted sailboat and Blood Emperor Alista Tudor?
As Lumian stared at the sailboat, Jenna disembarked from the carriage and playfully remarked, âYou didnât bring me here just to show me this vintage pirate ship, did you?â
She had read the first two serialized volumes of The Adventurer series in the newspapers. Books had always been expensive in her family, and when her fatherâs work-related compensation didnât arrive after his unfortunate death, her reading opportunities grew scarce. Sheâd occasionally find old newspapers used to paste on the wall or for other purposes and read until sunset.
With the presence of street bards and her motherâs bedtime stories, her spirit remained far from desolate.
Since arriving in the market district and becoming an underground singer, Jenna had found a means to earn a substantial income. She had even saved up to purchase a pirated copy of The Adventurer series from an underground bookseller to finally appreciate the intricate illustrations. This endeavor often made her feel remorseful for Madam Fors Wall. She planned to buy an authentic set once she had cleared all her debts.
To her surprise, her debts only seemed to accumulate.
Lumian withdrew his gaze and replied with a teasing grin, âConsider this a bonus.â
The two of them stood on the harborâs edge, discussing the disparities between the ancient sailboat and the illustrations from The Adventurer series.
After a while, Lumian led Jenna to the unassuming The Foolâs cathedral.
Jenna looked up at the bell tower and steeple atop the four-story building, examining the silver symbol comprising an incomplete Pupil-less Eye and a section of Contorted Lines. Baffled, she inquired, âIs this a cathedral?â
Arenât cathedrals supposed to be grander?
The cathedral of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church in the market district and Quartier du Jardin Botanique was far more magnificent and sacred in comparison.
âYes,â Lumian affirmed, leading the way inside.
Jenna trailed closely behind, increasingly surprised by the cathedralâs simplicity.
The stained glass windows were scarce, and there was no ornate gilding to be found. The cathedral lacked intricate machinery. The only semblance of religion lay in the massive murals, which seemed to favor muted colors and subdued illumination.
The most striking feature of the cathedral was the large, numerous windows. Even on the ground floor, the interior was awash with natural light.
Jennaâs gaze flitted over the murals, and she instinctively felt that they symbolized guidance and redemption.
It was slightly past 10 a.m., and the cathedralâs attendance was sparse. It was silent, exuding a sense of serenity.
Lumian guided Jenna to the third row of pews facing the altar.
He surveyed their surroundings, his gaze resting on The Foolâs Sacred Emblem before him. In a solemn tone, he disclosed,
âYou should be aware that Franca and I are keeping something from you. There are some secrets we havenât shared with you.â
âYeah,â Jenna nodded gently, awaiting Lumianâs explanation.
Lumian continued, âAs you can tell, Franca and I arenât related. She and my sister Aurore are close friends who share common interests. Loki and I Know Someone, whom we dealt with previously, are also part of this group, but they betrayed others, causing a disaster in Cordu and costing my sister her life.â
âI seeâŚâ Jenna replied, having refrained from delving too deeply previously but having a vague understanding.
Lumianâs gaze remained fixed on Mr. Foolâs altar.
âThereâs another connection between Franca and me. We donât believe in the Eternal Blazing Sun or the God of Steam and MachineryâŚâ
Jenna couldnât help but chuckle.
âIâve already guessed it. When have any of you gone to church? I donât usually see you praying at fixed times!
âAt least you know which street ĂŠglise Saint-Robert is on. Franca might not even know where the cathedralâs door opens to.â
She, on the other hand, prayed, listened to the sermons, and attended Mass at least once a week. This was both a display of piety to the Purifiers and a habit of faith from all these years.
The only downside was that she often sang at Salle de Bal Brise until midnight before returning to Rue des Blouses Blanches to sleep. She couldnât get up to welcome the morning sun and dawn, so she could only set a fixed prayer time for noon.
âNo, Iâm not going because Iâm a wanted criminal. I can barely be considered a believer in the Eternal Blazing Sun,â Lumian replied with a smile. Then, he said solemnly, âFranca and I believe in this orthodox god, the great Mr. Fool.â
Lumian pressed his hand to his chest and whispered solemnly, âPraise The Fool!â
The Fool⌠Jenna found the deityâs name peculiar.
After a moment of thought, she asked, âThe Fool from tarot cards?â
âYes, youâve guessed it correctly,â Lumian affirmed.
Jenna spotted a tall figure in a black trench coat and a half top hat approaching the altar. She instinctively lowered her head and said with a hint of smugness,
âIâve discovered almost ten decks of tarot cards from Franca, and she doesnât usually use them for divination.â đŁđđ˘đ˘đ´đđđđŹđłđđŠ.đ đŹđ
That fellow⌠Could it be that she thought it would be cool to toss a Two of Cups on the corpse after taking out a target, so she made preparations? The more Lumian considered it, the more he felt that this was Francaâs style.
Jenna paused for a moment and asked, âDoes The Fool Pharmaceutical Company also belong to the Church of The Fool?â
âUhâŚâ Lumian was momentarily caught off guard.
He hadnât given it much thought. Initially, he believed the pharmaceutical company was named after tarot cards.
Now, it appeared that The Fool from the tarot cards seemed to equal Mr. Fool!
Lumian hesitated before responding, âMaybe.â
He wasnât entirely certain if The Fool Pharmaceutical Company was affiliated with the Church of The Fool or if it was simply a venture by a member of the Tarot Club.
Jenna demonstrated her keen insight as she inquired, âYou brought me here not only because itâs a safe place for discussing your faith but also to show that the Church of The Fool is a recognized, mainstream church capable of constructing a cathedral in Trier.â
âYouâre not as naive as you appear,â Lumian turned his head and smiled. âMy third purpose is to ask if youâd consider converting to Mr. Fool?â
âConvertâŚâ Jennaâs mind was in a whirl.
Lumian adopted a persuasive tone, saying, âThis doesnât conflict with your contract with the Purifiers. Mr. Fool is an orthodox god acknowledged by all the Churches. However, the propagation of this faith is concentrated on the maritime islands and certain regions of the Southern Continent. Most people in the Northern Continent are unaware of it.â
âButâŚâ Jenna hesitated. âIâve never thought about changing my faithâŚâ
Her faith in the Eternal Blazing Sun couldnât be described as devout or fanatical, but it was a habit she had cultivated since childhood. She had also accepted most of the teachings. Until today, the idea of conversion had never crossed her mind. She didnât feel a strong urge to change her faith, nor did she harbor any deep dissatisfaction with the Church.
The only times sheâd voiced discontent were during the most challenging years her family endured, especially after her motherâs passing. At those moments, she occasionally grumbled about the Eternal Blazing Sun, feeling that He didnât protect true believers. However, these moments were far from sufficient to motivate a conversion.
Lumian glanced at Jennaâs face and offered a reassuring smile.
âItâs entirely fine if you donât want to convert. Iâm merely suggesting it. My main concern is ensuring that if you ever find yourself separated from us during the impending disaster, you know this place is a refuge. Donât worry, even if youâre a believer of the Eternal Blazing Sun, Mr. Foolâs Church will welcome you and provide protection.â
Jenna seemed puzzled and asked, âThen why canât I go to ĂŠglise Saint-Robert?â
Lumian collected his thoughts and explained, âFranca and I share the same faith and work for a secret organization. Two days ago, we received information from the organization.
âThereâs a problem with the Eternal Blazing Sun Churchâs Sacred Heart Cloister, similar to the issues with the Deep Valley Cloister of the God of Steam and Machinery Church.
âIn such a situation, some cathedrals may not be trustworthy, and you might not be able to distinguish between the reliable and the unreliable. So, itâs better to choose those that are known to be reliable.â
Jenna had personally experienced the troubles at the Deep Valley Cloister, so she understood the significance of potential problems in the Sacred Heart Cloister.
She murmured to herself, âCould the catastrophe begin from within the Churches?â
âPerhaps,â Lumian replied, though he couldnât provide a definitive answer.
At that moment, a towering figure, dressed in a custom-made black trench coat and a half top hat, approached Lumian and Jenna. He stood at a towering 2.56 meters, with golden hair and eyes.
He looked at Jenna and asked with a warm smile, âSister, is this your first visit to my lordâs cathedral?â
âYes, but Iâm here with a friend,â Jenna replied. She instinctively resisted the idea of converting her faith and inquired, âAnd who are you?â
âI am the bishop here, Teslian,â the half-giant introduced himself with a confident smile.
Jenna observed his attire, which looked far from conventional clergy attire.
Teslian turned his gaze to Lumian and continued, âWould you be interested in hearing me introduce our beacon and savior, the great Mr. Fool?
âDonât worry. Our lord doesnât compel people to convert, and he doesnât mind if they believe in him alongside other deities. In turn, believing in him can also coexist with other beliefs.â
âYou⌠you can do that?â Jenna stammered.
This was completely beyond her understanding!
Which deity would allow their followers to have impure or multiple beliefs?
Additionally, why refer to this deity as âhimâ instead of âHimâ? The latter is the exclusive pronoun for deities! Why address this deity as âmisterâ?
Jennaâs mind was filled with questions, and her thoughts were in disarray.
âYes, Mr. Fool is known for his compassion and benevolence,â the bishop responded, seeing that Jenna and Lumian didnât object. He then opened the black Bible with silver patterns and began to preach.