436 Open and Inclusive Faith
Lumian had seen a similar three-masted sailboat in the illustrations of The Adventurer series. It stood out amidst the bustling Lavigny Docks, a contrast to the inland steamboats, and drew the attention of passersby.
Simultaneously, Lumian felt a warmth in his right palm, which then subsided.
What’s happening? Has the lingering aura of the Blood Emperor experienced a change under stimulus? This… this feels like a kind of resonance… Lumian pondered in surprise and confusion.
Could there be a connection between this ancient three-masted sailboat and Blood Emperor Alista Tudor?
As Lumian stared at the sailboat, Jenna disembarked from the carriage and playfully remarked, “You didn’t bring me here just to show me this vintage pirate ship, did you?”
She had read the first two serialized volumes of The Adventurer series in the newspapers. Books had always been expensive in her family, and when her father’s work-related compensation didn’t arrive after his unfortunate death, her reading opportunities grew scarce. She’d occasionally find old newspapers used to paste on the wall or for other purposes and read until sunset.
With the presence of street bards and her mother’s bedtime stories, her spirit remained far from desolate.
Since arriving in the market district and becoming an underground singer, Jenna had found a means to earn a substantial income. She had even saved up to purchase a pirated copy of The Adventurer series from an underground bookseller to finally appreciate the intricate illustrations. This endeavor often made her feel remorseful for Madam Fors Wall. She planned to buy an authentic set once she had cleared all her debts.
To her surprise, her debts only seemed to accumulate.
Lumian withdrew his gaze and replied with a teasing grin, “Consider this a bonus.”
The two of them stood on the harbor’s edge, discussing the disparities between the ancient sailboat and the illustrations from The Adventurer series.
After a while, Lumian led Jenna to the unassuming The Fool’s cathedral.
Jenna looked up at the bell tower and steeple atop the four-story building, examining the silver symbol comprising an incomplete Pupil-less Eye and a section of Contorted Lines. Baffled, she inquired, “Is this a cathedral?”
Aren’t cathedrals supposed to be grander?
The cathedral of the Eternal Blazing Sun Church in the market district and Quartier du Jardin Botanique was far more magnificent and sacred in comparison.
“Yes,” Lumian affirmed, leading the way inside.
Jenna trailed closely behind, increasingly surprised by the cathedral’s simplicity.
The stained glass windows were scarce, and there was no ornate gilding to be found. The cathedral lacked intricate machinery. The only semblance of religion lay in the massive murals, which seemed to favor muted colors and subdued illumination.
The most striking feature of the cathedral was the large, numerous windows. Even on the ground floor, the interior was awash with natural light.
Jenna’s gaze flitted over the murals, and she instinctively felt that they symbolized guidance and redemption.
It was slightly past 10 a.m., and the cathedral’s attendance was sparse. It was silent, exuding a sense of serenity.
Lumian guided Jenna to the third row of pews facing the altar.
He surveyed their surroundings, his gaze resting on The Fool’s Sacred Emblem before him. In a solemn tone, he disclosed,
“You should be aware that Franca and I are keeping something from you. There are some secrets we haven’t shared with you.”
“Yeah,” Jenna nodded gently, awaiting Lumian’s explanation.
Lumian continued, “As you can tell, Franca and I aren’t related. She and my sister Aurore are close friends who share common interests. Loki and I Know Someone, whom we dealt with previously, are also part of this group, but they betrayed others, causing a disaster in Cordu and costing my sister her life.”
“I see…” Jenna replied, having refrained from delving too deeply previously but having a vague understanding.
Lumian’s gaze remained fixed on Mr. Fool’s altar.
“There’s another connection between Franca and me. We don’t believe in the Eternal Blazing Sun or the God of Steam and Machinery…”
Jenna couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I’ve already guessed it. When have any of you gone to church? I don’t usually see you praying at fixed times!
“At least you know which street église Saint-Robert is on. Franca might not even know where the cathedral’s door opens to.”
She, on the other hand, prayed, listened to the sermons, and attended Mass at least once a week. This was both a display of piety to the Purifiers and a habit of faith from all these years.
The only downside was that she often sang at Salle de Bal Brise until midnight before returning to Rue des Blouses Blanches to sleep. She couldn’t get up to welcome the morning sun and dawn, so she could only set a fixed prayer time for noon.
“No, I’m not going because I’m a wanted criminal. I can barely be considered a believer in the Eternal Blazing Sun,” Lumian replied with a smile. Then, he said solemnly, “Franca and I believe in this orthodox god, the great Mr. Fool.”
Lumian pressed his hand to his chest and whispered solemnly, “Praise The Fool!”
The Fool… Jenna found the deity’s name peculiar.
After a moment of thought, she asked, “The Fool from tarot cards?”
“Yes, you’ve guessed it correctly,” Lumian affirmed.
Jenna spotted a tall figure in a black trench coat and a half top hat approaching the altar. She instinctively lowered her head and said with a hint of smugness,
“I’ve discovered almost ten decks of tarot cards from Franca, and she doesn’t usually use them for divination.”
That fellow… Could it be that she thought it would be cool to toss a Two of Cups on the corpse after taking out a target, so she made preparations? The more Lumian considered it, the more he felt that this was Franca’s style.
Jenna paused for a moment and asked, “Does The Fool Pharmaceutical Company also belong to the Church of The Fool?”
“Uh…” Lumian was momentarily caught off guard.
He hadn’t given it much thought. Initially, he believed the pharmaceutical company was named after tarot cards.
Now, it appeared that The Fool from the tarot cards seemed to equal Mr. Fool!
Lumian hesitated before responding, “Maybe.”
He wasn’t entirely certain if The Fool Pharmaceutical Company was affiliated with the Church of The Fool or if it was simply a venture by a member of the Tarot Club.
Jenna demonstrated her keen insight as she inquired, “You brought me here not only because it’s a safe place for discussing your faith but also to show that the Church of The Fool is a recognized, mainstream church capable of constructing a cathedral in Trier.”
“You’re not as naive as you appear,” Lumian turned his head and smiled. “My third purpose is to ask if you’d consider converting to Mr. Fool?”
“Convert…” Jenna’s mind was in a whirl.
Lumian adopted a persuasive tone, saying, “This doesn’t conflict with your contract with the Purifiers. Mr. Fool is an orthodox god acknowledged by all the Churches. However, the propagation of this faith is concentrated on the maritime islands and certain regions of the Southern Continent. Most people in the Northern Continent are unaware of it.”
“But…” Jenna hesitated. “I’ve never thought about changing my faith…”
Her faith in the Eternal Blazing Sun couldn’t be described as devout or fanatical, but it was a habit she had cultivated since childhood. She had also accepted most of the teachings. Until today, the idea of conversion had never crossed her mind. She didn’t feel a strong urge to change her faith, nor did she harbor any deep dissatisfaction with the Church.
The only times she’d voiced discontent were during the most challenging years her family endured, especially after her mother’s passing. At those moments, she occasionally grumbled about the Eternal Blazing Sun, feeling that He didn’t protect true believers. However, these moments were far from sufficient to motivate a conversion.
Lumian glanced at Jenna’s face and offered a reassuring smile.
“It’s entirely fine if you don’t want to convert. I’m merely suggesting it. My main concern is ensuring that if you ever find yourself separated from us during the impending disaster, you know this place is a refuge. Don’t worry, even if you’re a believer of the Eternal Blazing Sun, Mr. Fool’s Church will welcome you and provide protection.”
Jenna seemed puzzled and asked, “Then why can’t I go to église Saint-Robert?”
Lumian collected his thoughts and explained, “Franca and I share the same faith and work for a secret organization. Two days ago, we received information from the organization.
“There’s a problem with the Eternal Blazing Sun Church’s Sacred Heart Cloister, similar to the issues with the Deep Valley Cloister of the God of Steam and Machinery Church.
“In such a situation, some cathedrals may not be trustworthy, and you might not be able to distinguish between the reliable and the unreliable. So, it’s better to choose those that are known to be reliable.”
Jenna had personally experienced the troubles at the Deep Valley Cloister, so she understood the significance of potential problems in the Sacred Heart Cloister.
She murmured to herself, “Could the catastrophe begin from within the Churches?”
“Perhaps,” Lumian replied, though he couldn’t provide a definitive answer.
At that moment, a towering figure, dressed in a custom-made black trench coat and a half top hat, approached Lumian and Jenna. He stood at a towering 2.56 meters, with golden hair and eyes.
He looked at Jenna and asked with a warm smile, “Sister, is this your first visit to my lord’s cathedral?”
“Yes, but I’m here with a friend,” Jenna replied. She instinctively resisted the idea of converting her faith and inquired, “And who are you?”
“I am the bishop here, Teslian,” the half-giant introduced himself with a confident smile.
Jenna observed his attire, which looked far from conventional clergy attire.
Teslian turned his gaze to Lumian and continued, “Would you be interested in hearing me introduce our beacon and savior, the great Mr. Fool?
“Don’t worry. Our lord doesn’t compel people to convert, and he doesn’t mind if they believe in him alongside other deities. In turn, believing in him can also coexist with other beliefs.”
“You… you can do that?” Jenna stammered.
This was completely beyond her understanding!
Which deity would allow their followers to have impure or multiple beliefs?
Additionally, why refer to this deity as ‘him’ instead of ‘Him’? The latter is the exclusive pronoun for deities! Why address this deity as ‘mister’?
Jenna’s mind was filled with questions, and her thoughts were in disarray.
“Yes, Mr. Fool is known for his compassion and benevolence,” the bishop responded, seeing that Jenna and Lumian didn’t object. He then opened the black Bible with silver patterns and began to preach.