250 You Shall See Me (2/2)

The Westminster Church was not very far. Queen’s Avenue was vast and wide. The Musician’s Union was on the left side while the church was on the right. They were right across from each other and he just needed to cross the street. Not much time would be wasted.

But Ye Qingxuan was stopped right when he left the Musician’s Union’s door.

”Ye Qingxuan?” The man did not wear anything flashy but his accent was deep yet elegant. The retroflex consonant was playful yet clear. This was clearly an Avalonian accent with an aristocratic air. The foreign country bumpkins all felt proud if they could speak standard Avalonian. Of course, this did not include Ye Qingxuan.

The lofty and arrogant tone instantly dampened Ye Qingxuan’s mood. He glanced over and nodded. ”Yes.”

”Good.” The stranger looked up and down before stepping to the side to show the way. ”A sir would like to talk to you.”

”Who?” Seeing the showiness, Ye Qingxuan furrowed his brows and looked in his gesture’s direction. In the distance behind him, a black carriage was stopped under a tree. There was a familiar family emblem on the carriage.

Looking away, his expression turned cold. ”Sorry, I don’t have time.”

The stranger furrowed his brows and stopped the youth from leaving again. His voice was impatient as he said, ”His time is precious and he specially took time out to meet you. Please do not drag things out meaninglessly and waste this precious chance.”

He did not say the phrase ‘uppity’ but it was clear that was what he thought. When they saw this emblem, even the most successful musicians or scholars in Anglo would be polite and humble, or pleasantly shocked, or pretend to be calm. No one had dared to say this.

Hearing the man’s words, Ye Qingxuan laughed and gazed mockingly. ”Sorry, please tell that sir that I’m just a lowly orphan. I don’t dare interact with the Lancelot family. Please tell him to return.”

”You…” The man’s expression changed and wanted to manhandle him, but Ye Qingxuan just gazed at him coolly.

He said, ”You must be new, right? I advise you don’t do this. Otherwise, you’ll lose your job even if I go over there. This is for your own good.”

The man froze mid-movement.

”Indeed, like master like dog.” Ye Qingxuan sneered and left.

Seeing Ye Qingxuan walk away, expressions battled on the man’s face. Finally, he returned to the carriage and reported what happened. The person in the carriage nodded, telling him to leave.

After a long time, the steel knight in Galahad’s armor came over and stood beside the carriage. She took off her helmet, revealing her feminine features and gold hair. It was Christine.

”Father, did you see him?” she asked quietly.

In the carriage, Lord Lancelot was silent for a long time before he hung his head. ”Christine, that boy really hates me.”

-

The Westminster Church’s chapel was quiet. Dim afternoon sunlight shone through the long and narrow stained glass windows, falling onto the youth’s shoulders. Under the light, his white hair was not as obvious as before.

This was not an official meeting and Mephistopheles’s attire was casual as well. He did not wear his majestic robe or crown and only wore a simple robe.

”I heard what you said in the morning.” He studied the youth before him and nodded slightly. ”It seems that Bann has taught you well.”

”I did nothing but accept the Father’s teachings,” the youth replied modestly.

”How is he?”

”He was well when I left. He had aged but was still strong.”

”You often reminisce on youthful days when you age. It’s as if you’re living inside memories. But in the blink of an eye, Bann is still like before and yet I am old.” Mephistopheles sighed. ”What a pity. We should’ve switched back then. He would be a musician and I’d be in the Knights Templar.”

After a short pause, Ye Qingxuan said quietly, ”Father often told me that God has his plans. Please do not feel regret. This must be God’s plans.”

Mephistopheles was stunned and chuckled. ”I often use God’s words to comfort others, but it’s rare that I can be comforted by him one day. Bann wrote to me saying you don’t wish to be in the clergy. It’s a pity. Perhaps you are more talented than I had expected. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

”Both you and Father take care of me well.” Ye Qingxuan shook his head. ”But unfortunately, my passion is not here.”

After a pause, Mephistopheles nodded. ”Since that is the case, then alright. God has his plans, does he not?”

These were Ye Qingxuan’s words and he did not expect the Father to use them and comfort him.

”Come closer. Let me see you.” Mephistopheles waved toward the youth. Ye Qingxuan hesitated but stepped forward and finally saw Mephistopheles’s eyes.

Hidden in the shadows of his brow bone, the old man’s eyes were rheumy, blank, and lifeless—Ye Qingxuan finally realized that Mephistopheles was blind.

A wrinkled hand swept across the youth’s face. There seemed to be static on that palm. Crackles sounded as his hand moved in the air and invisible power flowed across the youth’s face.

And so Mephistopheles saw it. He studied it. As if meeting an old friend, he smiled in satisfaction after a long while.

”What a good child. That Bann is much luckier than me.” He rose and patted the youth’s shoulders. ”Go now. Come back when you have time. If you don’t wish to hear about the church, I won’t speak of it, but you might be interested in theories of the School of Choir.”

”I would be so grateful.” The youth nodded and bid farewell.

The old priest stood in the dark church, watching the youth leave with his lifeless eyes. He seemed to see the setting sun cast a gold halo around the youth.

”You will go forth to an unknown destination,” Mephistopheles quietly recited as he caressed the bible beside him. ”To the final destination of all beginnings, to the end of dreams, to the furthest point of the world. There, you shall see me.”