One Silver Coin For a Pound of Demon

Chapter 34

Draft
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—— A. Say goodbye to Lemuel

You decide to say goodbye to Lemuel.

It won't be easy, but you're determined to see him and talk to him before you leave. As always, things related to Lemuel seem to be like sharp candy. You're no longer the child you once were, you already know that sweetness is more precious than pain and that it's worth swallowing them both together.

The bedroom door opens beneath your hand, Lemuel is asleep on the bed. Occasionally, you'll come back late because of some unexpected events. After all, you're the only priest here, Lemuel isn't be surprised by your late returns. You've already made an agreement: if you're not back after seven o'clock in the evening, he doesn't have to wait for you. You know there's dinner left in the pot, but you have no appetite right now, you should put it away in the fridge before you go.

This simple but irrelevant thought makes you feel a little uncomfortable for some reason.

You watch Lemuel quietly for a while, he's asleep, his chest heaves slightly. It makes you proud that your gaze doesn't suddenly wake him up, like a suspicious bird is willing to perch on your shoulders. From his arms hanging out of the quilt, you can see the soft curvature of his neck- Lemuel's body has nothing to do with slenderness, but when he lies relaxed all the lines appear so gentle. He's a python entrenched in the forest, a leopard resting on the branches, you've seen how these soft lines gp taut, it's the living strength and beauty.

Lemuel's so beautiful, you can already make such an attributive statement now. You find that "beauty" isn't an external criterion, it's an internal emotion. That's love. You love his strong body, his hideous claws, his broken horns and scars. You love his handsome face, his kindness and bad temper, and his shining soul. Even if a thousand people think he's ugly, even if ten thousand people think he's evil, in your heart he's still perfect.

This is your private paradise.

Lemuel's eyelashes flutter and he opens his eyes under your gaze. He gives you a half-awake smile, so you woke up too. Reality hit you once again.

"I'm leaving." You force yourself to speak, "His Majesty the Pope needs me, I have to go back to the Holy See."

Lemuel's lazy expression disappears in a second, along with his smile. He props up his body and blinks his eyes as if unable to respond.

"Why does the Pope need you to go back? How does he know that you're still alive? How do you know that he's looking for you?" Did an angel deliver you a message?"

"The Hymn of the Sons has sounded, I need to go back," You say.

"Just because of a song?!" Lemuel says in disbelief.

Yes, it rang, so you have to go back. You have to go back, there's no reason, you don't need to think about any reason, it's like pressing a switch to turn on a light bulb, like the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, isn't it instinctual? But when Lemuel stares at you, you realize that he couldn't understand the rules, and that he would never let you go.

You start thinking, trying to come up with a reason. why are you going back? Yes, the Pope, there's something wrong with His Majesty the Pope. The Holy Son there probably meet bad luck, only you can come in handy.

"His Majesty the Pope won't fail," You say, "His Majesty the Pope blesses us, His Majesty supports the expedition, he's a blessing for mankind..."

You repeat what they've told you a thousand times and what you've repeated thousand times. For the sake of all mankind, for the world, for all sentient beings, and for the saved souls. Clergymen are best at giving speeches like this, and your tongue works just fine even though his gaze makes you numb, but Lemuel doesn't look like he was persuaded at all. He purses his lips, and the anxiety on his face intensifies.