Chapter 524: Chapter 512: Contempt
[Realm: Uhorus]
[Location: Verdantis]
[Capital City]
Lucinda found herself becoming more curious than cautious.
That realization alone surprised her. Ordinarily, discovering an impossibly sealed tree in the center of a hidden garden belonging to the Archbishop of Verdantis would have made her considerably more wary.
Yet somehow that was not what occupied her thoughts. Not the seals, the mysterious mage supposedly trapped within them, or even the request for assistance. No, her mind had become fixated on something entirely different and considerably less important.
And perhaps because of that, considerably more interesting.
("So the Archbishop and Lady Guinevere actually have history?") The thought surfaced almost immediately. Percival’s refusal had simply been too quick to just ignore, it was the response someone who had already decided long ago that a particular option was off the table.
Lucinda found herself glancing sideways, Alyssia was already looking at her.
The two shared a brief look, one of understanding.
The same thought had clearly crossed both their minds.
"What kind of history do you think they have?" Alyssia’s voice dropped into a whisper; she sounded entirely too interested in the subject.
Lucinda blinked. "Maybe old friends?" The answer came uncertainly; even as she spoke it, she wasn’t fully convinced.
Alyssia immediately looked unconvinced as well, her brows furrowed. She pondered the possibility for all of three seconds, then shook her head.
"No." The response came with surprising confidence. "There would be no reason someone couldn’t ask old friends for favors." Her red eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Unless there was some big drama."
Lucinda immediately regretted asking her. "What kind of drama?"
Alyssia slowly turned toward her, then a grin appeared. It looked entirely wrong on such an otherwise serene face, one far too amused; she was enjoying this far too much.
"The very personal kind."
Lucinda stared.
("She seems weirdly into this.") Her gaze drifted toward Percival; the archbishop remained standing patiently beside the tree.
Waiting and not interrupting or even rushing them, merely allowing the conversation to unfold. Somehow that only made Lucinda feel more awkward.
"Personal?" She repeated weakly.
Alyssia cleared her throat, then leaned slightly closer. "You know..." Her voice dropped further. "That kind of personal."
Lucinda blinked once and then twice, then slowly turned toward Percival. Her brows furrowed, then she turned back toward Alyssia. Then back toward Percival, then back toward Alyssia again.
Her expression steadily became more horrified.
"There’s... there’s no way." The words escaped before she could stop them. "He’s the archbishop." Her voice lowered instinctively. "And with Lady Guinevere?" The very idea seemed impossible, completely absurd, and utterly ridiculous.
Alyssia failed spectacularly at hiding her amusement; a small laugh escaped her, then another. Soon she was forced to cover her mouth. "He’s still a man, right?" Alyssia said. Though even she sounded uncertain as her gaze shifted toward Percival.
The archbishop remained standing patiently. Completely unaware—or perhaps entirely aware—of the conversation taking place.
"Or I think he is." Alyssia tilted her head. "He looks..." She squinted. "...confusing."
Lucinda immediately felt guilty, mostly because Alyssia wasn’t entirely wrong. Percival possessed a very androgynous appearance. His features were soft and his demeanor gentle. Combined with the robes and veil, it often became difficult to immediately place him.
Yet despite Alyssia’s remark, the archbishop remained exactly as he had been since they arrived.
The realization struck Lucinda abruptly.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh."
Alyssia looked at her.
"Oh?"
Lucinda pointed toward Percival. "We’ve kept him waiting."
The realization made her wince, quite a lot, actually. Here the archbishop had brought them somewhere private to discuss an apparently important matter. And instead they had spent the last several minutes speculating about his personal history with Guinevere.
Lucinda cleared her throat rapidly and straightened herself. Trying to recover some measure of dignity.
"Oh right." She looked back toward Percival. "So Lady Guinevere is out." Curiosity still lingered, but Lucinda possessed enough manners to realize discussing someone’s personal affairs directly in front of them was perhaps not ideal.
Percival’s smile remained unchanged.
"Indeed." His answer came smoothly. "While she is an exceptional mage, it is best certain distances be maintained."
That answer somehow raised even more questions; Lucinda refused to pursue them.
Alyssia clearly did not share that restraint.
"So you say." Her voice still carried suspicion. Yet after a moment she released a quiet breath. ("Now I’m truly curious about what could have happened between them.") The thought crossed her mind immediately. ("But I suppose the present beckons.")
Eventually Alyssia redirected her attention toward the tree, toward the matter that actually mattered. Her expression settled once more as the amusement faded.
She loosely gestured toward the towering oak.
"If there is supposedly a powerful mage trapped within that." Her gaze shifted back toward Percival. "What reason do Lucinda and I have to assist?"
Lucinda opened her mouth immediately.
"Alyssia—"
"No." The white-haired spawn cut her off before she could finish, firmly. "Just a moment."
There was no teasing in Alyssia’s voice or attempt to provoke, but there was caution, reasonable caution. She stepped forward slightly, red eyes fixed entirely on Percival.
"I do not know you well enough." Her tone remained calm. "And judging by how Lucinda was acting, the sentiment is shared."
Lucinda immediately looked away because, unfortunately, that was true. She trusted Percival more than Alyssia did, but trust was not certainty, and certainty was what mattered.
Alyssia continued.
"You may be the archbishop." Her gaze turned toward the tree. "That does not automatically make you trustworthy."
Lucinda winced; the bluntness physically hurt.
Alyssia either failed to notice or simply didn’t care.
"You ask for assistance." She folded her arms. "You ask us to tamper with seals that apparently even Lyra could not unravel." Her gaze sharpened. "You ask us to release someone neither of us knows." A pause followed, and the garden grew silent. Only the distant rustling of leaves disturbed the silence. "You may have ulterior motives as far as we know."
Lucinda slowly turned toward Percival, part of her expected irritation and another part expected disappointment. Perhaps even anger; most people did not enjoy having their motives questioned so openly.
Especially by someone they were asking for help from, and especially someone as blunt as Alyssia. Yet despite everything, Percival remained exactly as he had been since the conversation began.
"I will not ask for your trust now." Percival’s response came immediately, without even the slightest trace of offense. Neither Lucinda nor Alyssia had expected that answer. The archbishop’s gaze remained steady as he stood beneath the shadow of the oak tree. "Nor do I want you to tend to these seals here and now."
That only deepened their confusion; Lucinda blinked, and Alyssia’s brows immediately furrowed. The entire conversation had been leading toward a request; at least that was what both of them assumed. Yet now Percival seemed to be stepping away from the very thing he brought them here to discuss.
"Then why bring us here?" Alyssia questioned; there was no hostility in her voice, but there was genuine confusion. Even suspicion had momentarily given way to curiosity, because if he wasn’t asking them to act now, then what exactly was his goal?
Percival folded his hands together loosely before him.
"To merely set the request." His answer was simple as his gaze shifted briefly toward the sealed tree, then back toward them. "For I intend to earn your trust." Silence followed because of how naturally he said it. As though it were the most obvious thing in the world and trust was not something to demand.
Lucinda found herself staring as Alyssia frowned, deeply. Words like those should have sounded hollow. The sort of pleasant phrases politicians used or what nobles employed when attempting to win favor. The rehearsed language of desperate people seeking assistance, yet somehow it did not feel that way.
Alyssia hated that; she hated it because she could not immediately find fault in it. His tone remained unchanged, his posture relaxed and his expression patient. There was no desperation or urgency, but there was certainty.
As though he had already decided the outcome long ago and was merely waiting for time to catch up.
"You honestly think you can?" Alyssia pressed, her arms folded tighter as her red eyes locked onto him. "Earn trust." She tilted her head slightly. "Words are much different from actions."
That much she knew better than most, words promised and actions proved. Words comforted, and actions remained.
Lucinda glanced sideways; the edge in Alyssia’s voice had returned, barely noticeable, but it was there.
Percival simply nodded.
"Very true." There was immediate agreement and no attempt to convince her otherwise. "Which is precisely why I ask you not to give in easily." That answer caught both girls off guard; Alyssia visibly paused; most people sought trust. Few actively encouraged skepticism as Percival continued. "Trust given freely is often fragile."
His gaze drifted briefly toward the tree, toward whatever old friend slept beyond those countless seals.
"Trust built over time is far more enduring." For the first time since the conversation began, his smile softened. Not the polite smile of an archbishop or a practiced smile of a diplomat, it seemed more genuine. "Rest assured, I have no ill intentions."
Alyssia released a quiet breath through her nose. "You can say that." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Sure." The word carried obvious doubt. "But—" She stopped herself. For a moment, her expression shifted, only slightly.
Yet Lucinda noticed the tension there, a familiar kind.
Lucinda had noticed it repeatedly throughout their conversations.
Alyssia opened up.
Then retreated.
("This doesn’t seem like simple mistrust.") Lucinda found herself studying her fellow spawn quietly. ("It must have something to do with her past.") Lucinda slowly turned her attention back toward Percival. "In my case..." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully.
The Archbishop immediately shifted his attention toward her.
"I mean no disrespect." Lucinda straightened slightly. "But I do not know you well, Archbishop." That much was simply true; she knew of him. Everyone did; the Archbishop of Verdantis was not an obscure figure. Yet reputation and familiarity were entirely different things. "And with this calamity..." Her voice quieted, the words coming more naturally than she expected. "...one cannot afford to be too carefree."
Images surfaced immediately: the Abyssal Tears and the Wardens, entire cities preparing for disaster. Mikoto disappearing, the uncertainty hanging over everything. Every day seemed to bring another revelation, another crisis or an impossible truth.
Trusting blindly felt foolish; Percival nodded, not once interrupting or dismissing her concerns.
"I understand." The answer came gently. "Please do not feel pressured."
Lucinda blinked; the sincerity in his voice made it difficult to respond immediately. Many adults spoke kindly; few actually sounded sincere.
Percival continued.
"Trust is not something that should be forced." His gaze moved between both girls. "You are entirely justified in your caution."
Alyssia remained silent, watching him and searching for cracks. Lucinda suspected she would continue doing so for quite some time. Then Percival’s expression brightened slightly, as though another idea had occurred to him.
"I think perhaps I can ease your concerns somewhat."
Lucinda tilted her head. "How?"
A small smile returned to the archbishop’s face.
"If you see how Lyra and I converse."
Both girls stared, then blinked.
Alyssia looked openly confused, Lucinda perhaps even more so.
"That’s your plan?" Alyssia asked flatly.
Percival nodded. "It is."
Alyssia looked completely unconvinced; Percival appeared entirely unbothered by that.
Lucinda looked toward her fellow spawn; Alyssia seemed lost in thought. Perhaps trying to decide whether this was another mystery. Or simply a bizarre man being genuine. After a moment, she looked back at Percival.
"Alright." The word left her quietly.
