Chapter 39: Midnight Conversation
Late at night, inside the church.
Corleon was engaged in evening prayer.
He held the Holy Scriptures in his hands, reciting in a low voice.
George knelt behind him, bowing his head and praying silently in his heart.
He was illiterate, only holding the Holy Scriptures that Corleon had transcribed for him.
Deception and lies were original sins, so he did not pretend to understand the words.
Cicero listened to Corleon's prayer, flipping through his own scriptures to find the corresponding sentences.
The two children sat on beast hides left behind by Terry.
Ando was a bit restless, his eyes frequently glancing at Agamnon beside him.
Agamnon held a quill in his hand, writing on a piece of parchnt propped against a wooden stump.
His recording speed was quick, and under Corleon’s deliberately slowed prayer, he barely managed to keep pace.
Evening prayer concluded.
George asked Corleon, “When the Lord’s sanctuary is established here, will our Flower Church still exist?”
Corleon said, “The Flower Church is a na on earth, but the sanctuary is the Lord’s gospel in the present world, a sacred place blessed by the Lord.”
“This is where the Lord’s miracles and revelations manifest, bricks forged of fire and stone, built by the devout with their hands. It shall be blessed by the Lord—a sacred place unshaken by wind and rain, indestructible by swords and blades, impenetrable by evil.”
“Pilgrims shall pray to the Lord here. The devout shall hear the gospel of the Heavenly Kingdom, their ailnts shall be erased, and they shall taste sweetness and happiness like honey.”
“Sinners shall be purified by the flas here. Their souls shall be burned, their sins dispersed, and the sinners shall repent and ultimately return to purity.”
Cicero asked Corleon, “Priest, I listened to your prayer, but found your words different from the scriptures.”
Corleon said, “The scriptures record my conversation with the Lord—this is the truth shown to by the Lord.”
“The Lord is the Lord of the past, present, and future, and every person born in the world has their destined mission.”
“To fulfill one’s destiny is goodness, perfection, and rit.”
“Yet on the path of life, there is sin—either original or great—that leads one astray like a lost lamb, uncertain of the road ahead.”
“So the Lord bestows the truth, which is His gospel and His protection.”
“This truth allows devout listeners to find their direction amid the worldly maze and fulfill their destiny under the Lord’s protection.”
“The Lord said, ‘You shall listen to My teachings, but do not follow blindly, for that is the sin of sloth.’”
“The Lord said, ‘You shall reflect upon My truth, for this is the virtue of wisdom.’”
Agamnon asked Corleon, “Priest, danger follows , and lies are my armor—they protect my life. But the Lord says lies are evil. Then should I show the virtue of honesty and embrace death; or fall into the hell of lies and cling to life?”
Corleon said, “The Lord loves the world. He brought forth life in the cradle of the world and then set the world’s workings in motion.”
“The Lord said, ‘Birth, aging, sickness, and death—these are the laws of the world.’”
“Moving toward life is instinct, but all life shall eventually end in death.”
“Death is not terrifying. What is terrifying is dying with regret, before one’s destiny is fulfilled.”
“As you said, crisis follows, threatening your life, and lies protect you. Then this is goodness, for it preserves life.”
“You still have a destiny to fulfill. You must not sleep eternally with regret. You must accept lies—they are sin, but also the goodness that protects your life, paving your way to fulfill your destiny.”
“When your destiny is fulfilled, and you have no regrets, you must uphold virtue. Then death is the Lord’s guidance. You will have fulfilled your destiny. You are good, perfect, and ritorious. You shall follow the Lord’s guidance to the Heavenly Kingdom, eternally happy, eternally in the Lord’s embrace.”
The church fell into silence, and the four turned to look at Ando.
Ando felt a little uneasy, but thinking about the conversation, he hesitated and asked, “Can the Lord make grow up faster, beco stronger, and beco a knight?”
Corleon remained silent, while Agamnon looked at Ando with concern.
“The Lord is a benevolent Lord, and also the Lord of Hosts,” Corleon said.
“The Lord will bless the resolute—they shall beco guardians; He will bless the brave—they shall beco judges.”
“Those blessed by the Lord must uphold the Commandnts. This is the Lord’s teaching, and this practice shall make them stronger.”
“The Lord shall bestow trials—either to uphold virtue or to purify evil. This spreads the Lord’s goodness and shall earn His favor.”
“Thus, there are Guardian Knights—they shall protect the Lord’s Honor; Punishing Knights—they shall purify evil; Holy Knights—they are the Lord’s ssengers, His extension on earth.”
“And when the world is shrouded in sin, the Lord shall send forth the Four Horsen of Revelation to purify the world. This is the Lord’s wrath.”
“Of course, you are still young, a pure child. You should grow up healthy. Your future is not yet set.”
“And growth is the gift the Lord gives to every life. You should enjoy this gift. This is also the Lord’s Blessing to you.”
“When you are sixteen, you will receive a trial. If you pass, you shall receive a new Baptism and beco a Temple Warrior.”
“How does a Temple Warrior compare to a Knight’s Squire?” Ando sat up, eyes filled with longing.
Corleon said, “After enduring the trials, a Temple Warrior may beco a Guardian Knight, a Punishing Knight, or even a Holy Knight.”
“That sounds amazing, but sixteen is so far away.” Ando sounded disappointed. “Can it be sooner?”
“The guards at ho can’t even beat anymore.” He clenched his fist and patted his chest, showing off his strength.
“Heh.” Agamnon couldn’t help but laugh.
“Impressive!” Cicero exclaid in awe.
“Haha, but every day before you turn sixteen is a gift from the Lord—perhaps joy, perhaps sothing that makes you stronger.” Corleon smiled. “So, to beco a knight faster after becoming a Temple Warrior, you should enjoy your childhood well.”
“All right, that’s it for today.” Corleon stood up and said.
“Everyone get so rest early. Tomorrow, you need to cleanse your bodies before the Morning Star rises.”
This was sothing George had voluntarily done during his Baptism, and Corleon had since accepted this practice.
…
The next day, before the Morning Star rose.
George woke the three, taking them to the stream where he once cleansed his body.
anwhile, Corleon prepared the Sacrant, Holy Water, and the Sacred Cross, and collected saffron to lay inside the church.
When George brought the three over, Corleon baptized them.
“This Sacrant shall strengthen your bodies. This Holy Water shall wash away your original sin. From now on, you are clean.”
Corleon fed them small pieces of bread with icing sugar, and flicked Holy Water onto them with his fingers.
Unlike the Sacrant given to other believers, this one was not plain bread, nor was it without icing sugar.
“From now on, you must maintain your purity. You must uphold the Lord’s Commandnts.”
“You must pray to the Lord every day, and deliver His words to the lost, teach His doctrines, and spread His gospel.”
“I bestow upon you this Sacred Cross. This is the Lord’s Blessing to you.”
With that, he placed the crosses around their necks, and also gave them the Commandnt · Toward Life.
Corleon could feel the Commandnts on the two children gradually falling into dormancy, while Cicero’s Commandnt, on the contrary, began slowly taking effect.
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