"His future will bring about fresh hope unto the Church of Light and to the rest of the world!"

The old man waved and exclaimed as though his life depended on it. Luckily, Maya quietly let Hannah go to bring the much-needed reinforcement into the room before saying anything. Soon, George and Byron entered the room.

"George..." Hummed the old priest.

Lo and behold, gone was the enthusiastic look from before.

"Archbishop Walter..." Greeted George back.

It was a cold interaction, different from how it had been with Maya. Neither were naive greenhorns that couldn't tell the implication behind their opponent's action, after all.

The Church wanted to take me, for whatever reason they may have, while George clearly had that look over my dead body plastered bare on his face.

It was a conundrum. Both sides were also stubborn as a mule too. Well, in this case, George being stubborn really worked in my favor. I didn't even know what and how many hidden agendas an organization as big as the Church of Light has. Some might be good, but some could be fatal for me. The risk was too much, especially weak as I was right now.

But enough talking, and let us watch the showdown between the two.

"This is an opportunity of a lifetime for the Dawson to serve the merciful Light and become His most loyal servant. He will not forsake those who uphold their duty, and blessings shall He give."

And the jab came flying from the red corner as soon as the bell rang.

"You put us on a pedestal far too much, my honored Archbishop. The Dawson will be honored to receive such high praise. But considering Alexander's weak constitution, I believe the time is not ripe."

Father cleverly parried the blow, and thus, the war of words began in earnest.

"Oh, worry not, Duke, for I will see that he will be taken care of to the best of our abilities, and if needed, I will also attend him. If even that can't rest your anxious heart, maybe the healers of the Church have been too out of touch lately..."

'Ooh...'

"Please banish such blasphemous thoughts, Archbishop. You know full well how we, the Dawson, believe in the teachings of the Light. The issue here lies not in the Church's abilities but in the mysterious way of the Light that we can't hope to fathom."

George was someone who was often short on his words and mainly expressed his affection through actions. This was the first time I ever saw him being all eloquent and chatty. You know those low-key masters who appeared only a couple of times but then kick some asses? He looked just like that.

"Then please do us a favor and elaborate on this Mysterious way you speak of that even I, the Archbishop of the church, isn't aware of." The priest might appear relaxed at a glance, but he couldn't hide the tiny twitches of his lips from my enhanced eyes. George was surely getting on the man's nerves.

"With all due respect, it was my honored Archbishop who helped my Duchess to give birth to Alexander safely, and for that, I have nothing but gratitude in my heart...But it was also the Archbishop who told us his fate, that he won't live for long."

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"Yes, that's what I'm trying to say. This is a miracle in the making, Duke!" Exclaimed the man.

"I fully concur. This is indeed a miracle, and I can't hope to find a better explanation other than that."

"And that is my point. He might be the one-" My father cut him off.

"But Archbishop. Can we really understand how this Miracle works? Aside from whether he is what you think he is, what if something happens to Alexander when you take him with you? You must know that I am not expressing my thoughts regarding the Church's capability to heal sickness. I am asking whether you understand what this miracle is about in its entirety."

"That is also the exact reason why the boy needed to be brought into the Church. We can study and maybe learn the deeper truth of the teachings."

"You wish to study it? Using my Alexander's life as leverage?" George's calm and polite tone disappeared like a morning fog.

"Ah! That's not what I meant, Duke." Even the old man got tongue-tied as a result.

Taking his gaze away from the flustered priest, George peered into the room.

"...Did you remember when he was born? This room has not always been like this. This turbulent state of the mana started a few days after he was born. Whereas you helped deliver him yourself, you surely know that I am not lying...I believe his massive and strange mana state is the reason why Alexander has to endure such a wretched fate."

He looked at me straight in the eyes. Unknown lights swirled deep in his pupils.

"But I can't help but also think that it is the reason why my son is still alive to this very day. Have you noticed the mana's movement now has been calmer ever since you first entered the room, Archbishop?"

The old man gaped in surprise. To be fair, I was not using any magic currently, so, of course, it would settle down, given enough time.

'Ooh...Hook, line, and sinker!' I was thoroughly impressed by George's performance. It seemed like the archbishop had almost bought it.

"Before I am a Duke, I am a father to my children. And I will never gamble on their life; that will never change for as long as I am still breathing."

'Damn...' The man was a chad, alright...

"I see...I have been too impatient, I assume...Then, I'll come back in the future to confirm whether he carries the Mark or not. Surely you won't object to that? I'd hate to bring the Pope's decree into this, but I will if I have to, George..."

'Man, this old dude is just relentless, ain't he?'

To the point that it kinda annoyed me a little.

His beard was annoying. His wrinkly face was annoying. And his grating voice was also freaking annoying. Then again, it was strange...He didn't do anything to me, but I was just straight-up annoyed with whatever he did. Things like this never happened before...Did I hit an early puberty or something...?

"By all means, I won't, but all I'm asking is to wait until he is strong enough and has become an adult. The Teachings said never preach on someone to force our beliefs, but rather sow respect to begets honor. I know the Church won't deny me of this humble request."

The old coot winced as if he was tasting shit on his tongue. It felt really satisfying.

"The Teachings must never be forced. You speak the truth, George...Very well, let us conclude this matter on that note. I shall go back to the Church in haste and trouble the Dawsons no longer."

He turned to look at me one last time. And I saw his expression melt before my very eyes.

"Glory to the Light...I thank thee, Lord, for your favor for this child. I am thankful to you, Alexander. Thank you for being alive...May you live well and strong. And may the Light shine kind on your face."

'What is this? Don't tell me he is somewhat of a kind old man in the first place...?'

The others also joined the priest in tandem as he solemnly prayed.

'Um, hello? what's with the sudden change of attitude, guys? What happens with spitting out daggers from your tongue just seconds ago? George? Anybody?'

So yeah, as it turned out, he was a respectable Archbishop for a reason. Other than the fact that he could get overly passionate to the point of bordering crazy, the old man was like a Gandhi or something. I guess I should've seen it coming when he, as an Archbishop, was willing to help someone deliver a baby...

'That's just great. So I'm the only jerk here...'

Ah, to hell with it. He was still annoying in my eyes...

It is what it is.