章 55: Son of an old friend
Father Raphael stood beneath the veil of the night, with countless particles of light shimmering like stars around him.
The myriad of glowing swords had dissipated, transforming into tens of thousands of tiny lights that hovered gently beside him, emitting a soft glow that encircled him.
The stark contrast between darkness and light made Father Raphael's figure stand out even more.
His silhouette, bathed in the faint radiance, exuded strength and power.
Borne stood behind him, gazing dumbfounded at the scene before him, his eyes wide with shock.
He had never seen anything so divine.
Those particles of light, like countless tiny stars, floated around Father Raphael.
His heartbeat quickened, and his chest heaved with emotion, yet his feet were rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch.
As his eyes fixed on that awe-inspiring figure, an indescribable sense of reverence and admiration filled him.
Father Raphael seemed to merge with the night sky, becoming the sole balance between light and darkness.
Borne's heart swelled with awe, and he found himself utterly overwhelmed, unable to recover from the sheer magnificence of what he had witnessed.
The once powerful and imposing divine barrier gradually faded away.
The particles of light floated gently in the night breeze, like stardust, rising slowly with the wind's rhythm, blending into the endless sky, where they mingled with the stars above.
The patrolling soldiers were equally stunned by the scene before them.
They stared at Father Raphael, his figure like that of a deity, surrounded by countless particles of light, standing as if at the very center of the universe.
Each particle flickered faintly in the night sky, like a sea of stars swirling around him.
"Is this... a miracle?"
A soldier muttered under his breath, his voice filled with reverence and awe.
The entire patrol couldn't help but hold their breath, afraid to disturb the mystical glow.
The gentle light particles drifted, casting a soft glow on each of their faces.
Father Raphael slowly turned his head, his gentle gaze falling on Borne.
"Are you hurt?" he asked calmly.
Borne was taken aback for a moment, snapping back to reality.
"I... I'm fine," he replied, his voice trembling slightly.
He forced himself to remain composed, standing straight.
Father Raphael nodded slightly, then began walking toward the patrol unit.
The patrol soldiers, seeing him approach, looked nervous.
The scene they had just witnessed left them deeply shaken, and facing a priest with such immense power filled their hearts with awe.
The patrol captain immediately stepped forward, kneeling respectfully before Father Raphael.
They exchanged a few words, with Father Raphael's tone remaining calm, though carrying an unmistakable authority.
The patrol captain nodded repeatedly, then turned to his team and issued orders.
Several members of the patrol approached Borne, gently taking hold of his arm, indicating that they would escort him away.
"We'll take you to a safe place," one of the patrolmen said softly to Borne.
Borne nodded silently and followed their lead, slowly walking away.
However, just as he was about to leave, Father Raphael's voice called out from behind him.
"You know Leon Nemean?"
Borne heard the name but didn't understand why the priest would suddenly bring up this unfamiliar name.
He furrowed his brow, trying to search his mind for any memories related to that name, attempting to recall if he had ever heard of it.
No matter how hard he tried, the name remained utterly unfamiliar.
He stopped, his brow furrowed deeply, and turned back to look at Father Raphael, confusion evident in his eyes.
"No, Father, I've never heard of 'Leon Nemean,'" he answered honestly.
Borne hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"In my memory, there is only one person named Leon, but his surname isn't Nemean."
Father Raphael raised his right eyebrow slightly at Borne's words.
"Oh? Do you know another Leon?"
A subtle wave of emotion passed through Borne as he began to recall more clearly.
He instinctively took a deep breath, his tone tinged with sadness.
"He was my father. His name was Leon—Leon Matthews."
Father Raphael nodded, pressing further.
"Was he, like you, with blue eyes and golden hair?
Was he tall, and did he avoid smoking and drinking?"
Borne furrowed his brow, thinking over the questions.
Though distant, some memories remained sharp.
"Yes, he was tall, and I inherited his blue eyes and golden hair.
As for smoking, he didn't smoke.
But... he wasn't against drinking. In fact, he drank heavily."
Borne paused, his voice softening as he continued.
"I remember how he'd drink himself into oblivion, completely unconscious every time.
My grandfather used to scold him for it, standing by his side, telling him that all he did was drink, and warning me never to follow in his footsteps."
The scenes played out vividly in Borne's mind—his father drunk, his grandfather's angry words.
His father wasn't perfect, but he had been someone Borne had deeply relied upon.
"Father, do you have any other questions?"
Father Raphael silently gazed at Borne, without immediately responding.
The pause created a slight tension in the air.
Borne shifted slightly, his body leaning forward as if preparing to leave.
Just as he took a step, Father Raphael's voice cut through the silence once more.
"What is your name?"
Borne stopped in his tracks and turned back, looking at Father Raphael with slight confusion.
He thought he had already mentioned his father's name earlier, but he still answered honestly.
"My name is Borne, Borne Matthews."
"Borne Matthews," Father Raphael repeated softly, as if savoring the name.
There was something meaningful in his tone, and Borne couldn't help but feel a strange sense of mystery.
Why was Father Raphael asking these questions?
Did he know his father?
Or was he just trying to learn more about Borne himself?
Father Raphael slowly walked toward Borne.
Standing in front of him, he reached into his old, worn white robe and pulled out a small object.
"Hold out your hand," he said.
Borne, feeling a mixture of curiosity and confusion, did as he was told, extending both hands with his palms up.
Without offering any further explanation, Father Raphael placed an animal tooth into Borne's palm.
Borne stared at the tooth.
It was an ancient object, about the length of a middle finger, and its surface was rough, showing clear signs of weathering over many years.
The base of the tooth was yellowed, yet it still maintained a sharp, fierce edge.
Father Raphael's deep gaze shifted between Borne and the tooth, and he spoke in a soft voice.
"This tooth may save your life one day.
It all depends on whether it's destined for you."
Borne furrowed his brow, looking down at the tooth in his hand, confused by the priest's cryptic words.
"It?" he murmured, bewildered.
He couldn't grasp how an ordinary tooth could be tied to his fate or possibly save his life, let alone the idea of it having some kind of mystical "destiny."
He put the tooth in his waist bag.
Following the patrol, Borne walked away, still perplexed by the encounter.
As Borne's figure faded into the distance, Father Raphael quietly repeated the name, Leon Matthews.
"Leon, I never thought I'd meet your son.
He looks just like you. I'll give him this gift, as thanks for the favor you did for me back then."
A rare expression of nostalgia crossed Father Raphael's face.
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