470 New Year Sermon (1/2)

In the afternoon, the snow stopped and weak sunlight filtered in from between the clouds. The cold wind was blocked by the high walls so the park did not feel cold. The evergreen trees poked out of the snow, stubbornly showing their color.

Unfortunately, no one was appreciating them.

Tomorrow was the Winter Festival. There was barely anyone on the streets. Charles and Abraham were the only ones in the vast park.

Abraham walked in the front and Charles followed. Just as how they walked on the streets in the past, if Abraham took a step, Charles would take a step. If Abraham stopped, Charles would stop. Charles had a rare break today, and had specially helped request permission for Abraham to come out. They strolled around the Sacred City.

”I remember when I was little, you always said that if I listened, you'd take me to the Sacred City when I'm older,” Charles said. ”I always thought you were lying but I can't believe we're really here now.”

”Oh, you realized?” Abraham scratched his head awkwardly. ”Actually…I was lying to you. After all, we were poor back then and the school didn't allow me to travel great distances. At that time, I actually thought that if there was no other way, I'd borrow some money and take you to the Sacred City Amusement Park in Avalon. Then I wouldn't be lying to you.”

Charles could not help but laugh. ”Actually, I think the amusement park is more fun than the Sacred City. Do you like the Sacred City?”

”I actually cannot tell.” Abraham shook his head. ”I've always been slow and less sensitive than others. I always thought that all cities are like this and everyone's faces are similar. There are only so many things that can go around.

”People just worry about eating and sleeping everywhere. Cities are all the same but the wildernesses are all different. To beasts, the wilderness of Anglo and the Sacred City are different… In the Avalonian wilderness, there is the sea. The Sacred City has rivers and mountains but all are beautiful.”

Charles remained silent but Abraham smiled.

”Being in the wilderness for so long, you can't wash away the habits of a beast. I've spent so many years learning the rules but I still don't understand. In the past, I told Yezi that the interpretation method is to understand some things. However, now I think that there are things I won't be able to understand this life but it's okay. This is okay, Charles. There is no reason to feel sad for me.”

Charles nodded. ”Professor, is there anything you are unaccustomed to here?”

”It's the same everywhere. Don't worry about me.” Abraham was walking in front and looked back at Charles. ”But you, Charles, are you really thinking of staying here?”

”Yeah, I think the Sacred City is nice.” Charles nodded. ”Mr. Constantine wants me to be his secretary. I'll have a job and a way to feed myself. Maybe I can enter the clergy in the future and try being a priest. You don't have to worry about me passing out drunk on the streets anymore.”

Abraham opened his mouth to speak but then he shook his head helplessly and sighed.

”In the past, I wished for you to become a scholar. Then you would not have to go hungry. But now you're doing better than I'd expected. I can't help you anymore.”

”Don't worry, Professor.” Charles hooked an arm around Abraham's shoulder as if they were the same age. They were as intimate as before. ”I'll come back to see you whenever I have time. After I work in the Sacred City for a few years, I'll help you get amnesty. Then you won't be a criminal anymore. You can go wherever you want and won't have to lie to your students because of the Sacred City anymore.”

Abraham smiled and stopped speaking. They walked forward silently in the snow.

After a long while, Abraham asked quietly, ”Do you still have nightmares?”

”Nope.” Charles laughed and shook his head.

The subtle pain in his head seemed to have gone far away.

Along with those nightmares.

-

The Winter Festival was the end of the year. This was the most festive holiday of the year. Beginning at dawn, the city began bustling. Lively parades and circuses were scattered throughout the city. Bards from Burgundy, circuses with all types of beasts, clowns with painted faces, and fire-dancers with bare muscular chests…

People from all over the world were joined in this city. Fireworks burst in the sky constantly with radiant glows. The entire city was deep in celebration.

Today, the hospitals and Choir musicians under the Church would go onto the streets to give believers free diagnosis and treatment. They would spread God's care to more people.

The central square had been jam-packed since morning. People crowded there and restricted the urge to cheer and yell, waiting quietly instead. Regardless of whether they were nobles, commoners, or beggars, they were all in one place now. They may be far apart but before God, there was no difference. They respectfully waited for the gospel to arrive.

At noon, holy light fell from the sky. A figure clad in pure white walked up to the high podium at the side of the square.

At the podium, the figure slightly raised a hand for the crowd to quiet down.

The noises suddenly vanished. The crowd stopped pushing and reverently obeyed the figure's wordless command. They waited quietly.