For the last hour or so they stood inside the Saint Jorge Maria church, right at the door waiting for their turn to meet the bishop. From what Alex gathered, the church was mostly similar to those Christian churches he saw in his first life, except the protocol of conduct was somewhat different. The main person, bishop Jorge Maria, sat on a small throne chair at the far end and met people like a monarch would meet their subjects.

There were quite a few people in the line in front of Alex’s trio and judging from their clothing they were some kind of aristocrats or government officials. From their whispers Alex guessed that the bishop has been away for almost two months and, while there was a ton of work piled up, everyone was afraid he would soon leave again. From context it seemed that the capital was in some kind of trouble or turmoil, but there was no way of telling what was going on.

Probably because bishop was already bored or just wanted to finish things quicker and he began to call people over one after another in a quick succession ordering them to give the ‘short versions’ of their reports and then immediately sent them away.

It still took some time till it was turn of the Alex’s group, but the moment bishop invited him beckoning to hurry, Gilbert dropped to his knees and exclaimed, “Your grace!”

Elsa immediately followed his example. Alex could tell how tense his mother was from the way she squeezed him, almost suffocating. In fact, it seemed she forgot how to breathe from the stress as well. In addition, before going to church, she was given a new robe, but since she didn’t have the appropriate undergarments currently she was trembling from cold.

“What?!” Bishop became irritated.

The previous people at least knew how to talk but these peasants just knelt and waited for God knows what.

“W … we are f … from Stone village.” Gilbert stuttered from axiety, “Y … your grace, you o … ordered me to bring the child …”

“Oh?” Bishop’s expression changed and he got up from his throne, “Of course, I remember. Come, let me see!”

Elsa half kneeling half crawling brought Alex over and he finally could see the bishop’s face. To his surprise bishop was only around the age of forty and, contrary to every other man he had seen in this world, was neatly shaved. Of course, the red robes embroidered with gold were probably also the local version of ‘Luis Vuitton’.

“So you are the one from the northern wilderness I heard about.” Bishop said with amicable smile leaning over so he could see better, “How old are you?”

“Your grace, he’s …” Elsa tried to respond, but was interrupted by bishop.

“I’m not talking to you!”

“Your grace, I’m about three months old.” Alex rushed to help his mother out.

“About?” Bishop asked. For some reason the infant talking didn’t surprise him one bit.

“Yes, at first I didn’t know how to count.” Alex said. Of course, he could, but if he had to be honest – with all the reincarnations he began to mix up the timelines. And more importantly, he felt that the bishop’s question was about something else.

“It’s fine.” Bishop had the kind smile plastered around his face again, “Can you show me your powers?”

It was finally time for Alex to blank out. Powers? Wtf? The strange part was that his mother and Gilbert also kept staring at him with expectant eyes.

“I’m sorry, your grace! I don’t understand.” Alex finally said, he really didn’t understand, but to his surprise Elsa’s expression turned somewhat ugly.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry.” Bishop consoled, “I believe, the fact that you can speak right after being born is already proof you have the holy power awoken within you. Anyway, I could try to verify that, but it’s better if the cardinal did that.”

“Cardinal?!” Elsa and Gilbert gasped in unison.

“Yes, cardinal!” Bishop nodded and then shouted out loud, “I’m off to see his excellency Francis! Follow me!”

The last part was obviously directed at Elsa who simply couldn’t believe her ears. Meeting bishop was already the highlight of her life, but to see cardinal was something she never dreamed of.

The other people in the church watched the events with mixed expressions, some were curious, some annoyed and few were desperate because the bishop stormed out ignoring them and their problems. It almost seemed that as soon as he found the slightest excuse to leave the place he immediately used it.

While Elsa rushed to follow the bishop’s carriage still not believing her luck, Alex was deep in thought.

‘Something is not right. That bishop guy obviously expected me to do something, but what? And how? And what exactly are ‘holy powers’? Damn, those village bumpkins! They probably assumed that me talking was already the representation of those ‘holy powers’ … well, to be honest if I was in their place I would as well. But what do I do now?’

From bishop’s reaction he realized that a newborn showing special abilities was something normal, maybe even expected. But to demonstrate some kind of a ‘holy power’? Wtf was he supposed to do? In the end Alex decided to not worry about the things he had no influence over and went back to his regular cultivation practice.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The problem was – Elsa was running behind the bishop’s carriage while carrying him. Not only it was impossible to concentrate, in a couple of minutes Alex became dizzy from all the shaking and swaying. Luckily they didn’t have to go far and soon Alex stared up at the towering spires of a white cathedral.

“I’m here to see his excellency!” Alex heard bishop saying, then a large door opened and Elsa carried him in. On the other hand Gilbert was ordered to wait outside.

Unfortunately once again Alex couldn’t see anything, except for the high ceiling of the cathedral that had something painted on it, but he couldn’t discern what.

‘I have to stop the habit of being reborn so often. Being a baby is way too inconvenient.’ Alex thought and felt his mother kneeling once again.

“Your excellency!” Bishop’s voice resonated around the cathedral walls, “This is an urgent matter.”

“Speak, Jorge!” Alex heard an elderly voice commanding, obviously the cardinal, but he couldn’t see anything yet since his mother was bending over him.

“I discovered an infant who is already speaking few weeks after being born. But for some reason he couldn’t display any powers, therefore I came directly to you.” Bishop reported.

‘Right … you discovered.’ Alex smirked.

“Show me!” Cardinal commanded and bishop immediately grabbed Alex from Elsa’s hands.

“Put him over there, yes.” Cardinal instructed and Alex found himself lying on some kind of an altar. It felt cold and probably was made of the same white marble everything else was around here.

Just in case he was expected to leave a good impression, he put his palms together and said, “Your excellency!”

“Hmm. How interesting.” Cardinal said and put his wrinkled palm on Alex’s head.

In his previous life Alex would’ve instantly bitten it, but now he had to patiently wait.

“I feel vague Holy power within him … he might be one of the chosen.” Cardinal said and finally retracted his palm and Alex could finally see the old wrinkled man in a golden robe holding his chin as if deep in thought. Similar to the bishop this one was also cleanly shaved, except his hair was completely gray.

Hearing cardinal’s words, Elsa exclaimed in delight, “Your excellency!”

“Oh? You’re the mother?” Cardinal asked and when Elsa excitedly nodded, he said, “Good job, child. You have done a great service to the Holy church. We thank you.”

“Thank you, thank you, your excellency! It is my honor!” Elsa whispered, but thanks to acoustics the words resonated in the cathedral and it sounded as it several Elsas were thanking him.

“Good, you can leave.” Cardinal plainly said while his stare didn’t leave Alex.

Both Alex and Elsa were shocked. That’s it?

But before Alex could say anything, Elsa whispered blushing all over, “Your excellency, may I ask for a blessing?”

Silence filled the cathedral for a minute. For some reason the old man’s stare crept him out and Alex already had a thought, ‘Just bless us and we’ll leave!’ But then he had to bite his tongue.

“Alright, you earned it. Jorge, go, bless her.” Cardinal said and Alex heard his mother excitedly walking somewhere.

But when he turned his head to take a look, he saw her and bishop entering a room not too far away. They didn’t even close the door when Elsa directly pulled her robe up, bent over and bishop began doing her from behind.

Alex felt the world spinning around him, ‘Wtf? What is this nightmare?’

Forcefully expelling a wave of suicidal thoughts again, he realized that his mother hoped for this ‘blessing’ from the start and that was the reason she didn’t wear anything under her robe! Turns out this was the grand prize for bringing Alex to the capital!

While Alex was still in shock, cardinal ‘unpacked’ him and only feeling the altar’s cold marble directly touching his skin, Alex woke up from stupor.

‘Alright, you can do my mother, after all I already had several! But don’t you dare to try funny stuff with me!’ He screamed inside, ‘And don’t you dare to cut off anything! Humans don’t have unnecessary parts on their bodies!’

Luckily cardinal didn’t have anything evil in mind. He inspected Alex from all sides, then lied him down on the altar again and placed one hand on his chest and another on his head. Suddenly Alex felt a wave of warmth washing over him. At first he began to practice one of the force of nature cultivation techniques purely out of reflex, but since cardinal kept going, Alex continued as well.

Few minutes later cardinal stopped and said, “Interesting.”

“Your excellency?” Bishop asked from somewhere nearby, apparently a bit out of breath.

“This child … he has a lot of Holy power within him, but for some reason it doesn’t manifest. On the other hand, one can become chosen if their power manifests before age of three, so he still has time to prove himself.” Cardinal explained and then turned to Elsa who was covered in perspiration and beamed with joy, “You can say your goodbyes. From now on your child belongs to the church.”

Elsa froze for a second, but then rushed over to Alex, “Alfons! I’m so happy for you! This is such an honor!”

‘Aren’t you happy for yourself?’ Alex felt nauseated by her, especially by her kissing him since he didn’t know if her mouth has also been ‘blessed’ by bishop.

“Listen, we will never forget you, but mommy now has to go! Lord, guide us!” She said and kissed him once more and then hurriedly left.

For Alex this all felt too bizarre. Starting from the Holy power, then the peculiar way of blessings and finally the abrupt way his mother left, nothing seemed real. Except for the cold he felt from the altar he lied on.

“Your excellency Francis, I must say – while he can’t show any powers, he definitely behaves like one the chosen.” Bishop said.

“Stop it, Jorge Maria.” Cardinal snorted, “I already acknowledged your achievement – you don’t have to suck up to me. You’ll get your reward. Alright, I don’t have time for this – call me if he shows any progress. That is, if it happens within three years.”

Alex tried to process everything when he realized he was left alone and naked lying on the altar in the middle of the huge cathedral. Luckily he was not forgotten and soon was picked up by a nun who packed him back up and brought to some kind of a nursery.

It was part of a convent belonging to cardinal Francis and shared the similar ascetic style with the previous convent that Alex visited. It was still made of similar stone and had similar rooms as well.

But from here his luck ended.