School of Dawn.
"Alright! Son, I need you to create this exploding mixture using the crystals as I taught you. Here is a minute glass, and if you can do it within this time, I will consider your training over!"
"Yes, instructor!"
Woosh!
Bam!
"Done, sir!"
"Good bloody lord! That's a record, son! If you weren't so dull, then perhaps you'd be in the race to become a Guardian one day. As per the deal, I declare you graduated from Knight's school. Go ahead and report to your senior. Understood, Sir Zeke?"
Sylvester just arrived and saw the whole exchange between the always overzealous Sir Baldfreak and Zeke. It appeared Zeke had learnt how to make explosives using some crystals and alchemical substances.
"You haven't changed a bit, Sir Baldfreak," Sylvester commented.
"May the Holy Light Enlighten us!" Sir Baldfreak saluted Sylvester.
"Why are you saluting me? I'm not higher than you in the rank." Sylvester waved his hand, trying to calm down the man.
But Sir Baldfreak stayed the same. "No, my lord. After hearing about your achievements, how you defeated a Soul Eater, a Duke, stood against a Grand Wizard, and stopped the war; I know you deserved to become a Bishop. For me, you are a Bishop."
Sylvester internally chuckled. 'So Lady Aurora has already spread the word as I asked? Great!'
"Please, Sir Baldfreak. You were and will always be my mentor. Anyhow, how is Zeke doing?" Sylvester asked as he focused on his loyal soldiers, previously known as Dungface.
Sir Baldfreat was full of praise for Zeke. "He is one talented boy. His greatest disadvantage, as well as advantage, is the same thing. He's too linear and can't think outside the box. That means if I ordered him to practise sword swings, he'd keep doing it day and night until I tell him to stop. That usually ends up with him over-practising even the simplest of the moves—and that's his strength. He can't do complex manoeuvres, but even with the basics, he's utterly strong."
Sylvester looked at Zeke. The man had lost all his extra fat and now had a finely toned body. Since he had a naturally big frame, he looked like one fine warrior.
"I'm proud of you, Zeke."
Boom!
Zeke knelt on one knee and kept the sword in front, with his hands on the hilt and the blade's tip on the ground.
"Big Lord, I vow to be your knight!."
'He must've seen someone do this.'
"Rise, Sir Zeke. I accept your loyalty. From now onwards, you are to live in my house and be the guardian of Princess Isabella. She's like a sister to me, making her your sister too. So while you will study theoretical knowledge here, you will also guard her. Understood?" Sylvester formally passed his orders.
Zeke nodded his head excitedly, loving acting like a knight. "Understood, Big Lord! Zeke will protect sister!"
Sylvester then walked closer to him and patted Zeke's shoulder. "Thank you for protecting my mum, Zeke. I will never forget that help."
"Protecting the big lady boss is my duty," Zeke replied with a stern face. However, the simple man had a naturally smiling face. So it wasn't doing the job of making him look serious.
"Alright then. You may have graduated from Sir Baldfreak's classes, but you still need to clear the theory classes. I know it will be tough, but don't worry. I will teach you everything once you move to my home."
Sylvester then bid his farewell. "I have someplace to be. I will return later, Zeke. Take care, Sir Baldfreak. Maybe go a bit easier on the little new kids."
Sir Baldfreak scoffed while crossing his arms. "Hah, never! They need some tough love from me to get good."
Well, it worked all this time, so who was Sylvester to meddle now?
"Then I wish you luck. See you later, Zeke."
Sylvester mounted his horse and left. He went to the Guild Peninsula, into the market, as he wanted to buy a few things. The place was filled to the brim as the Season of Solis was the peak sale time for the peninsula. As a result, the revenue generated in the Guild Peninsula in the two months was higher than what they generated in the rest of the year.
But that also meant some scummy folks would come into the crowd and try to ruin all the blessed fun. There were now thieves in the crowd, trying to pickpocket and harass the poor who came to pray.
"Maxy! Look! That man stole her money!" Miraj suddenly alerted as he saw everything while sitting on Sylvester's head.
"Where? That one? Hmm… The woman seems old." Sylvester split the crowd easily and moved just behind the thieve, a scrawny man with a small build.
Bam!
Sylvester didn't do much other than 'gently' shoving him to the ground and shouting at the guards on the side, who were not doing much.
"Thief!" He shouted and continued on his path as if nothing had happened. Naturally, since he was in his church robes, the guards took his words seriously. But, before even the guards could arrive, the people had already planted a few kicks on the thief's face.
As for the old woman who lost her money pouch, Sylvester discreetly put it back in her bag. After that, he continued on his way and arrived at a fruit shop.
"Yes, give me some apples and guavas… Add three bananas too. Also, give me a few incense sticks and a holder for them," he asked the shopkeeper and passed on the money.
"Maxy, is the banana for me?" Miraj asked from his head.
Sylvester chuckled and put the fruits in his bag. Then, he moved to the other shop while replying. "Do I know any other banana addicts? I don't think so."
"Hehe… You promised me extra bananas, so I'm not an addict. But greedy? Yes!"
"Well, at least you're self-conscious. Anyway, I will let you eat them at the Soul Peninsula. Just need to buy a canvas and some charcoal sticks for drawing first."
So, after manoeuvring through the crowd, Sylvester was finally able to buy everything. Then he took a small boat and headed to the Soul Tree. Since he had received permission from the old Grandpa Monk, he didn't need to ask anyone.
There, as always, his palm prints were taken, his name was registered, and then he was free to move as he pleased as long as he didn't harm the tree itself.
"Let's first get our things done and then check the old man's shack. He did leave it in my name, and I don't want to let it rot. Also, I wonder how that bear is doing?" Sylvester wondered and jumped from one branch to another to arrive near the top where the sunlight also reached.
The giant tree was, as always, soothing to the mind and heart as its fresh solarium-imbued air seeped into Sylvester's body. It was as green as always. But near the top, the view got much better as the sky was visible from larger gaps.
"This seems like a nice spot." Sylvester stopped on a thick branch and sat down near its limb.
"Chonky, sit beside me and eat this banana while I draw this."
Of course, Miraj didn't complain and ate his treat silently. But he kept watching what Sylvester was doing with curious eyes. Though he never interrupted.
Slowly, Sylvester drew on the canvas he had just bought. It was a charcoal drawing, lightly detailed but realistic. It was a face. In fact, the face of a person who was very important to Sylvester—the person who made him what he was.
"Chonky, you see this lady? If it weren't for her, I would have been a much more cold-blooded scheming murderer. Perhaps, I'd have already betrayed everyone I've come to cherish now if I had not changed." Sylvester spoke while finishing up the art.
Miraj looked at the portrait with his cute, big blue eyes and asked curiously. "Who is she, Maxy?"
Sylvester smiled and put the canvas at the front, so it remained standing. "Well, it's alright if I tell you. Her name was Diana, and she was very important to me, like how you and mum are."
[A/N: See Diana here.]
"Really?! She's so pretty. Where is she now? Can I see her? Will she hug me if she sees me? Does she like kitties?" Miraj launched a barrage of questions.
Sylvester continued to make preparations and placed a small cotton cloth in front of the portrait. Then, he put the fruits and burned the incense using fire manipulation. "She, I'm afraid, is no longer with us. Disappeared like the many lives lost in time."
Miraj's tail fell, and he sat very close to Sylvester. "Maxy is sad?"
Sylvester clapped his palms together, taking a praying position. "For a lot of years, yes. But now I've learned to live with the loss and have moved on. Still, on occasions like today, the day she died, the least I can do is remember her name.
"Come, Chonky. Pray with me. Sit on your hind legs and clap your paws together." Sylvester helped the cat sit like himself.
Then he spoke to the portrait he just drew. "Grandpa Monk used to say that every soul receives warmth and happiness in the afterlife. I hope it's true, Diana. Actually, I'm proud to say that i'm not as obsessed with your memory anymore. But still, I think you won't mind me brooding over you just for one day. And being an orphan, since you never knew when you were born, as per your wish, I'm treating your death as your birth. So, Happy Birthday, Diana."
"Maxy, won't you sing today?" Miraj asked suddenly.
Sylvester looked at the sky and realised he still had time. "Do you want me to? Fine, I will if you sing with me."
"Aye, aye! Anything for this missy."
"Haha, good then. Repeat after me as best as possible. Also, remember, keep your eyes closed." Sylvester prepared to sing, this time without a halo.
Lady with pretty eyes,
Heavenly was her voice.
A treasure of my heart.
Now, heavens apart.?
It's painful, sometimes rough.
Worry not; I'm eating enough.
Though—I can't really bluff.
Sometimes, it's hard staying tough.?
But, I know what I must.
So, rest easy; you can trust.
No, not tears; it's just some dust.
Yes, in this world, I've adjust.?
I hope you found some rest.
I hope you pass the afterlife test.
Me? Please don't be stressed.
I've made friends, and they're the best.?
"And Chonky always protects Maxy," Miraj added with his eyes closed.
Bam!
"Meowww!"
Miraj suddenly cried as a short branch fell on his head, creating a small bump. Angered, he stood up and started kicking the tree.
"Bad tree!… Evil tree!... I will end you! Wait…!"
Miraj looked at Sylvester suddenly in confusion. "Maxy, why do things fall down? Why can't they go up?"
Sylvester dumbly stared at Miraj and felt shocked as he realised that he was possibly witnessing history. 'D-Did Chonky just have a Newton moment?'
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