Chương 23: Brief Conversation With A Priest
Chapter 23: Brief Conversation With A Priest
'No, running won't do anything against someone like that.' An instinctive thought popped into William's mind, and it terrified him.
The man who looked like a priest looked at him with eyes that seemed to be an inconsistent mix of innocence, calm, and wisdom. William hadn't met any High-Sequence Beyonders, but his instincts screamed at him that this priest was no mere demigod.
"Would you like to go for a walk?" These words puzzled William, and he could feel the same sentiment coming from Debris. "You don't have to worry, I just want to talk to you a little bit."
This seemed to give the young man, who had been paralyzed as a statue the whole time, a bit of confidence.
"Wha... no, who are you?" He evaded the first way he intended to ask the question because it might be disrespectful.
The priest laughed softly.
"I guess since I know your name, it's only fitting that I tell you mine. My name is Adam." He started to walk, and William followed hesitantly.
He didn't know that name but made a mental note to look up information about it if he managed to survive this day. He steeled himself to ask another question.
"So what do you want from me, Your Excellency?"
Adam smiled mysteriously, glancing at him sideways as he walked at a leisurely pace.
"I was curious because you and I share something in common. I wanted to talk to you to see what kind of person you are." His answer calmed William down. In fact, he had realized that the more he talked to Adam, the more relaxed he became, and he had stopped fearing for his life.
Still, he felt there was something wrong with the priest's response.
"How could you know that without talking to me?" He was genuinely curious about the answer. He too wanted to know what it was they shared but he was hesitant to ask.
"I could tell how you act by watching you from afar." Adam nodded, not bothered by the question. "However, it is easier to know the essence of a person when you talk face to face with them."
William sensed that this was probably a phrase Old Neil might say, and wondered how old the young-looking man next to him really was.
"Unfortunately for me, I can't stay long talking to you because a certain Goddess might be alerted." He said as he pointed to the sky.
'Goddess? 'She' really exists, and 'She' watches us? Do the other Gods also exist? And if so... are they truly just symbols as the Orthodox Churches claim?' With the last question, he forced himself to stop his train of thought, which was beginning to be considered blasphemous. This sudden piece of information shook William's soul. 'How does he know?'
At this point, he wondered what Adam's Sequence number was.
"Are you talking about Evernight Goddess?" He asked the question to make sure and received a nod from the priest.
"'She' also has noticed your special condition, although 'She' has been more interested in another person, if I'm not mistaken." He revealed.
William had a sudden epiphany as a familiar face flashed into his mind.
"Klein." He murmured the name unconsciously, and Adam just smiled again without confirming or denying anything. 'Klein has attracted the attention of Evernight Goddess? Wait, Klein, and I only share one thing.'
He stopped pacing the instant he concluded.
"You... you know what Klein and I are, the Goddess does too." This time it was not a question, but a statement.
Adam didn't answer, just stroked his beard.
"All questions you have will be answered eventually, William Hastur. Knowledge is power, but it can also be our greatest enemy." His tone and demeanor changed. He took on a solemn aura. "Climb the different levels of a Beyonder until you reach the top, but don't forget that you are human."
There was something else in those words, but William could not understand it.
"I won't bother you anymore. I know you have to deliver that report to your Captain." He reached into a pocket of his cloak and pulled out a silver cross very similar to the one he was wearing. "Take this. It will help you, though only three times. Due to its limited use, it doesn't have any downside other than you'll get hot if you keep it close to you."
William almost couldn't resist joking that him getting hotter wasn't really a downside, but he held back. He carefully took the cross in his hands.
"Thank you, but are you sure about giving me this? It seems like a very powerful Artifact." He wasn't going to refuse such a gift, but he still didn't understand Adam's intentions.
"Don't worry, I have a better one." He pointed to the cross hanging on his chest as he laughed mischievously. "Now, I have to go. We'll meet again."
Just like that, he disappeared from existence as if he had never been there. William stared into infinity for two seconds, wondering if he was finally going insane after surviving an assassination attempt.
"Oh right. Nice sword." Adam reappeared for a second, only to disappear again.
'Debris...'
"Yes, Darling?"
William's lower lip twitched in a strange mix of emotions.
"No, nothing."
Fortunately, it seemed that during their brief walk he had made it to Blackthorn Security Company. He reassured his sanity and began to wonder if telling the Captain all this was a good idea.
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William thinks of Adam as 'he', instead of 'He' because he doesn't yet know that angels should also be referred to in this way. In fact, he also doesn't know the difference between Sequence 4-3 (which would be a Saint) and Sequence 2-1 (which would be an Angel). Also, Adam has his reasons for meeting William. Of course, he is not yet powerful enough to know certain things.
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