One Silver Coin For a Pound of Demon

Chapter 29

Draft
____

Lemuel looks at you blankly for a few seconds, as if to confirm whether the nod just now was an illusion.

"Holy Son?" He mutters.

"Yes," You say

"Only one is born every year, the Holy See's faceless living miracle? The chosen by the big man?" Lemuel points to the TV. "Like that Isaac?"

You nod and correct, "Seven."

"What?"

"Sons, seven are born every year," You say.

Lemuel blinks and frowns, seemingly beginning to wonder if he had been mistaken. After a moment he shakes his head heavily, refuting you fiercely.

"How is that possible? Seven?" He asks incredulously. "Every Christmas, the name of this year's Holy Son is announced. The television and radio report it every day during those times, it's spread all over the streets and alleys. Announcements are even posted in the backwards countrysides! If they weren't allowed to show up in public, I swear that the yearly Son would definitely be printed on mugs and clothes- and even though he doesn't show up, the names are plastered on all kinds of things. The Pope himself is one of the Sons, born in the year when the gates of hell opened, eighty-two years ago, it's written down in elementary school textbooks, even I know it! I'll never forget, that one year a little boy, the Holy Son passed by me. The town, the whole town was blocked off to greet him, he..."

Lemuel's voice stops abruptly, he looks at you in surprise and slowly finishes the second half of his sentence.

"...His name was Enoch," He says.

Names are limited, duplicate names mean nothing. There have been countless "Enochs" in this world, just like how there are countless "Adams", "Jacks" and "Marys". However, the name of the Holy Son, which is announced once a year, isn't allowed to be reused.

"I heard about him two or three years ago, the news of the Son of God routinely saving believers." Lemuel continues, "You said you came here five years ago, but 'Enoch' is still alive..."

"Actually," You explain, "The one who's still alive is called Enoch."

Only the winner gets a name.

Every Christmas, the Holy See announces the name of the Holy Son, but it's different from what the public thinks. It's not the name of the holy son born that year, but the one who leaves the chapel that year. At the age of eight, you outperformed all your siblings in the chapel in the test, so you were allowed to leave. Your name was known to the world, and so were the winners of every year. The Son of God, beloved by God, can only die gloriously, or live a long life. If an inappropriate accident occurs, it doesn't matter, there are many backups who can take his place. This name will surely live a hundred years and die in glory.

The Holy Son has never appeared in public.

Lemuel ruffles a handful of his hair and sits down on the sofa. His hand subconsciously gropes the table before finally falling, he covers his mouth. "If I smoke a cigarette every time you shock me, I'll die of lung cancer," He mutters.

You're sorry for scaring him, maybe everyone will get scared when their past opinions are proven false. You've never said that to anyone, no one asked you.

"What about the others?" Lemuel says. "Seven are born every year, and only one is announced every year. What about the other six?" 

The other six will stay and wait for future assessments. There they'll be praying for their brothers and sisters on the battlefield and wishing them the best of luck. Sons of different ages live in the chapels. The monastery called the Chapel was large enough to house hundreds of sons and the large group of priests who looks after them. Just leave the chapel and go to a better place. They never say where that better place is, only that it's bathed in the favour and glory of God.