Chapter 65: The First Meeting
Lulunaka sat on a bench with an open book on her lap. This is a book about the church, which contains the origin and creation story of the God of Light, as well as the deeds of saints of different eras, according to the chronology. It's not too complicated, it's an entry-level theological book, and if it's not written so seriously, it might be used as a children's book.
For Lulunaka, the book didn't even kill time, she had already gone through this boring collection of hymns several times, and there was nothing of value except to boast about the deeds of the ancients and exaggerate them as miracles. It's a boring book, but in a place like a church, if you take out a book like this and pretend to read it, you can easily blend in with the atmosphere and not be looked at by other people with strange eyes.
Lulunaka flipped a page, her head bowed, but her mind wasn't in the book. She looked up at the ornate altar again. Some knelt down and prayed before the altar where the cross was erected, and others, like Lulunaka, just sat on the bench, facing the altar, bowing their heads and closing their eyes.
Lulunaka didn't look at the altar, but at the secret door under the altar, but no matter how much she looked, she couldn't see the mechanism of the secret door. The mechanism vanished, or was altered, hidden, or more likely destroyedβif anyone could alter their masterpiece, Lulunaka would love to see him, but that was probably not possible. Regardless of whether that person exists or not, by now, he should not be in this world. Unless it's a dwarf, or an elf.
Thinking about it this way, Lulunaka realizes that words can't be said to death, and there is indeed such a possibility. Then she laughed again, for no reason, just wanting to laugh.
"It is not polite to laugh in this solemn and sacred place. A deep male voice came from behind Lulunaka. Lulunaka turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a monk's robe. The middle-aged man was dressed in loose robes, and his bare arms showed that he had a strong physique, but he could also see the ravages of time on his body - in Lulunaka's opinion, this man was not one of those pure martial artists, he was more like someone else, and was born for it. He had no hair on the top of his head, and he did look like a traditional monk, but it was unknown if the hair had been shaved or had fallen out naturally...... To Lulunaka, although he seems to be quite energetic, he feels like a toiler to her.
Lulunaka turned away, clasped her hands together at the middle-aged man, and bowed to him, "I'm sorry, Mr. Monk, did I disturb your meditation? Lulunaka's eyes were still glistening with tears, and she looked completely pitiful.
When the middle-aged man saw Lulunaka's appearance, his body stiffened a little for a moment, and the expression on his face froze, although there was no expression in the first place, making it impossible to see through what he was thinking in his heart. The pause was only for a moment, and the middle-aged man quickly recovered. "You...... You don't have to be too nervous, girl. No one is going to whip you just for some trivial faux pas. β
Lulunaka blinked, "Really, sir...... It's my first time in the cathedral and I don't really know the rules here. β
"This place was opened to the public hundreds of years ago, and it belongs to everyone in the King's Castle. The middle-aged man smiled, "As long as it's not blasphemous words and deeds, then here, there are not so many cumbersome rules." Of course, there are still some rules when it comes to holy festival ceremonies and processions. But the only people who need these rules are nobles and royalty, and in that case, you don't need to approach here. The middle-aged man also added in his heart that he couldn't get close.
"Holy Day...... Lulunaka said with a yearning look on her face, "I've just heard about it, what would it be like?"
The middle-aged man shook his head, "I don't know either." Moreover, the formal festival has not been able to be held for several years. β
"Why?" asked Lulunaka.
"The most important person is missing. The middle-aged man replied, "That old man is now far away in the West and doesn't want to come back, so he has become what he is now." β
Lulunaka looked curious and continued to stare at the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man had a wry smile on his face, "Although there is no sacrifice, you can still feel the brilliance of God in the cathedral, as long as you are sincere and send prayers to God, then God will definitely hear it." β
"Will the gods punish me for my rudeness?" Lulunaka asked cautiously.
The middle-aged man couldn't help but laugh too, but he immediately stopped laughing, but the smile remained on his face. "Look, I'm laughing too, just like you...... But God will not punish God for this. If God were watching us, then God would not be angry at such a trivial matterβan act that only mortal beings do. β
"Wouldn't God be angry?" asked Lulunaka.
Of course, God will be angry, but he will not be angry at some small thing. The middle-aged man said, "In that case, what is the difference between a god and a mortal?"
Lulunaka shook her head slightly as she looked aware, "I've never heard of that...... So what would God be angry about?"
The middle-aged man didn't answer immediately, probably thinking about what to say, which made him silent for a while. If God is angry, it is probably because there is no longer integrity and goodwill in people's hearts, and they have degenerated into hypocrisy and evil. β
Lulunaka looked unincomprehensible. The middle-aged man smiled, "It doesn't matter if you don't understand, it's just my nonsense, and if you let other monks hear it, you won't have to be scolded." Don't take the words of a stranger like me as a holy text. The middle-aged man pointed to the book that Luluna had placed on her lap, "What you want to learn and remember, it's better to be in a book." β
Lulunaka nodded vigorously, closed the book on her lap, held the book, and walked over to the middle-aged man and sat down, "Mr. Monk, it's okay for me to sit here, right?" Lulunaka asked the middle-aged man by looking up.
"Of course, this is not my place, and no one will have an opinion on where you sit. The middle-aged man said, "And I'm not a monk, and I can't afford the title of sir." β
"I'm Lulunaka, sir. Lulunaka introduced herself.
The middle-aged man paused, only for a few seconds, and quickly replied to Lulunaka's words, "Just call me Pario." β
"Mr. Pario, can I read a book next to you?" asked Lulunaka, "I feel more calm." β
"Why my side?" asked Paglio.
Lulunaka touched her face and lowered her head in shame, "Because you seem to be friendly, Mr. Pario. The sad faces of the monks and gentlemen, the faces of the nuns and the ladies, and the parishioners were also like this, made me feel very nervous...... But Mr. Pario's words felt completely different. β
When she talked to a nun passing by, it wasn't like this, but I'm afraid that Pario wouldn't know about it later.
"If you think that's better, of course you can. Pario laughed, "There are ...... like you With my children around me, I also feel a lot more relaxed. Some things can always be exhausting. For some reason, Paglio paused slightly as he spoke.
"Mr. Pario, are you tired right now?" asked Lulunaka.
Pario didn't answer right away, and looked at the cross on the altar. The cross glistened in the sunlight shining through the dome and the glass paintings behind it, "just a little tired, just rest for a while." β
Lulunaka sat next to Pario and continued to read. Pario sat next to her, doing nothing but looking at the altar or casually looking at people passing by. When the midday bell rang, Lulunaka closed the book.
"I have to go home, or I won't be able to get home before the deadline. Lulunaka said to Palio, "My uncle was always sensitive to this kind of thing. β
"That's a good thing, girl like you, don't be so out there that you forget how to get home. Pario laughed.
Before leaving, Lulunaka asked Pario, "Mr. Pario, can I see you here in the future?"
Pario nodded, "If there's a chance like that, maybe we'll see each other again." β
Lulunaka smiled and waved at Lulunaka, "See you next time." Goodbye, Mr. Pario. β