I Became The Pope, Now What?

‘What? What can tense him up?’ Sylvester was left in confusion. But sadly, the Pope didn’t elaborate any further and silently watched the road the whole way.

“Big brother, the song, please!” Daline nudged him continuously.

He sighed and relented. “Fine.”

He took out his violin from the luggage. It was something he always carried along in a hard case. It was small and didn’t take up too much space, and carrying it with a horse was easy.

“Alright, now close your eyes and just listen to the music.” He instructed her and held the instrument carefully. “The song’s name is ‘Where the two worlds meet’.”

a??So many names, it’s so hard to count.

Some lost, and some gloriously surmount.

Many clashing fates–impossible to account.

Yet it’s our responsibility to be history’s fount.a??

a??From here, from there, or across the ocean.

God built us all to feel the same emotion.

We’re yet to find the unity’s real notion.

To live, we all share the same devotion.a??

a??But a warm world is a creation yet to complete.

So work hard, count the days and dream sweet.

When love shall prevail and forms a crowded street.

Rejoice, for that will be where the two worlds meet.a??

Nobody disturbed Sylvester while he sang and played his violin slowly and melodiously. He kept the tone heavy as that was best to make the people feel emotions.

Sniff!

Sylvester handed a small handkerchief to Elaine as she cried silent tears. He could understand her feelings as his words likely resonated with her the most. The song was about joining the two worlds, after all.

“That was beautiful.” She spoke in praise.

“Indeed.” The Pope commented. “I reckon you talked about the two words? Us and Beastaria? True, we’re yet to find unity’s true notion.”

“That was a great song, Lord Bard.” Even Hendrix praised it. But the change was evident as the man called him the ‘Lord’ Bard instead of just Bard.

“Thank you. Now, I won’t sing anymore, but I will play the violin. It should make our short journey more calming.” Sylvester relaxed in his seat again and held the violin close.

Hendrix chuckled. “Thank god that Daline is asleep. Or else she’d have chewed your brains out, asking questions about anything she’d have seen.”

Sylvester glanced at the half-elf girl. Her cute chubby sleeping face was too adorable. She didn’t seem to be worried about anything, as she slept like a king, extending each limb as far as possible.

‘Poor girl. She has no idea her blood could cause her demise for no reason. I wish you luck, that you grow strong and smart, so you may get to live centuries.’

Sylvester was only soft with kids most of the time. Perhaps it was the guilt of being unable to protect his unborn child and wife in the past life or the simple fact that kids were too innocent to be good or evil.

Soon, he started playing an old classic from his past. It was something that always activated his mind, as the piece could be used for both happy and sad moments, and all resonated with it. It was called ‘Pachelbel’s Canon.’

[A/N: Search on Youtube – Pachelbel Canon – Stringspace – Solo Violin]

The whole way, they travelled on the busy Holy Road in the warm breeze and the light of the sun. The Pilgrims were still on their way to the Holy Land. But it was somewhat sad to see the Pope going past them, and they had no way of knowing it.

Still, as Sylvester played his music with closed eyes, he also fell deep into memory lane. But surprisingly, he didn’t reminisce about his past life much now. Instead, it was mostly about his mother, friends, hardships and future dreams. Chonky, too, as the boy was sleeping on his lap itself.

Even the birds seemed to like his music as many of them slowly came to sit near the edge of the carriage’s back. They tweeted along and sometimes just listened while waving their cute little feather tails.

The whole time, Elaine kept staring at his face and sometimes closed her eyes to enjoy the melody.

Though, to Sylvester’s amazement, he didn’t smell any lust from the woman anymore. Instead, it was just pure worship and love–Akin to love for a god.

It was clear from it that Elaine had accepted the fact that Sylvester was someone too different, too high level and perhaps, a man with a purpose far more significant than she or anyone could ever imagine. So, it was best not to hold lustful thoughts about him.

‘I wonder how long I will live.’ Sylvester wondered in silence while looking at the back, at the road and people. ‘I should be able to live for more than three hundred years once I reach Supreme Wizard rank. If I’m able to achieve that by the age of twenty-five and also become the Pope, then I’d have two hundred and seventy-five years to develop the world. Considering the stark difference between two centuries in my past world, I should be able to do much more here as long as I rule the world.

‘But Beastaria won’t ever submit to me. Is it even worth conquering? Can’t there be peace? Sure, I will likely eradicate the filthy rapist goblins to extinction, but the rest of the species should be reasonable in due cases. Hmm… I will have to make up my mind after attaining power. Perhaps, my fath… No, I shouldn’t even try looking in that direction. That man will probably live for thousands of years if he’s not already that old. A lovechild with a human is probably nothing in his eyes–A dead body, probably.’

Soon after, they reached the location Sylvester had bought the land. For now, there was nothing, but he hoped to start and complete the construction of the building in a month.

“Can you pass me the water pouch?” Sylvester asked Elaine.

“Yes, Lord Bard.” She stiffly handed it over, with respect now.

Sylvester suddenly didn’t feel very good, so he felt like drinking water to clear his throat. But, even after emptying half the pouch, he felt no change in the taste.

He closed his eyes and tried to isolate everything he felt. ‘Hmm… There is hatred, anger, and… Fuck! Death!’

Woosh!

He abruptly stood up, poked his head out of the top of the carriage and looked left and right. For as far as he could see, there was nothing. In the north was a treeline, and in the south was the river. In front and the back was just a road full of people.

But he could tell that the smell was not coming from there. ‘Good god! It’s continuously increasing so fast!’

He had to act. He knew it. He tried to look everywhere, but there was no way to confirm it visually. So, he decided to rely on his senses. ‘Alright… Let’s see… Wait… Wait… Wait… There!”

“QUICK! The attack is coming from above!” Sylvester roared louder than he had ever before in his life. .

The Pope was startled, but in less than a second, the man kicked his feet so hard that it broke the part keeping the horses joined together. The Pope was launched into the air, however.

Woosh!

Sylvester stared at the sky, shocked and wondering who and what it was. But, all he saw next was a show of power–A power that every being in the world coveted.

Boom!

The explosion was so loud that even Sylvester had to cover his ears, and the light was so bright that he even had to close his eyes. It was as if two equally powerful forces struck each other and cancelled out each other. A giant, black-and-white shockwave spread out in a disc shape and went as far as Sylvester could see in all directions.

Woosh!

A few seconds later, winds erupted, so strong that the trees in the vicinity started getting uprooted, and the water in the nearby river birthed a few vortexes. The Pilgrims nearby were washed away by the wind, away from the spot. Everything turned hellish in a few seconds.

Sylvester glanced down and saw Hendrix keeping his wife and daughter safe, holding them in his arms. The carriage was a destroyed mess by then, so they couldn’t move either. Even the horses had run away.

‘Who the hell attacked? To be this strong… Is this the Supreme Wizard that ranked up a few years ago that day? When the golden rain fell?’

Boom!

Woosh!

As if multiple punches were exchanged in the air, many more giant disk-like shockwaves appeared, along with the blasting sound and wind.

The sky had no clouds for miles, and the sun shined brighter than ever. At that point, Sylvester noticed two figures hovering in the sky. One was, of course, the Pope, and the second figure was a man with dark grey hair, a tall body, and all-black robes. The face was not visible, however, but the man’s skin was too pale–Like Bishop Lazark’s.

“Healer Hendrix, do you know who it could be?” Sylvester inquired.

“No idea, Lord Bard. But stay down–This isn’t normal. Even a wave of their hand can crush us!” Hendrix warned Sylvester.

But Sylvester kept staring in more amusement. ‘Who could have the confidence to strike the Pope merely a few hundred metres away from the Holy Land? Such audacity, it’s either someone powerful or too stupid.’

Boom!

Grrr…!

Yet again, a crazy strong blast echoed. But this time, it was not in the air. Instead, the Pope landed just beside Sylvester. But the attacker landed on the plot Sylvester owned and turned it into a deep crater.

“Sylvester, keep your head down!” The Pope ordered and raised both his arms to the sky. Instantly, a red light emitted out of it, creating a translucent dome around it. It covered Sylvester, Hendrix and his family, with the Pope in the middle.

“Who is he, your holiness?” Sylvester asked the Pope, as the man didn’t even appear to break a sweat.

The Pope gritted his teeth. “A man the Holy Land has been hunting for decades–But it seems we’re too late.”

“Correct, Axel Tar Kreed, you are late.” The person outside the dome spoke in a ridiculing manner.

“What do you want? Why have you come here? Do you want me dead? If so, then I will surrender myself, but don’t harm the people. If we fight here, the entire Kingdom of Gracia and the Holy Land will be uprooted!” The Pope bargained.

The person on the other side shook his head. But the face was not clearly visible as the shield was translucent. “Axel, my battle is not with you nor the people, for the sins against me were committed by the man before you. No–My war is with the faith of Solis–The false god–The sham!

“Nearly three hundred years ago, I vowed to erase the faith of Solis, and today I have come to declare it openly!”

Boom!

Just then, multiple figures appeared from the Holy Land and reached behind the shield the Pope had made.

“Stop!” The Pope roared. “Guardians! You can’t battle him. He’s a Supreme Wizard!”

“Haha, a wise decision, Axel.” The man chuckled menacingly. “As I was saying, this is my declaration of official war against you, your church, and everything you stand for.”

He roared louder, so loud that his voice perhaps echoed for miles. “Remember my words today–I, Julius Aurelius Alexander, will bring your god to heel! Your faith shall fail!–And only Anti-Light shall prevail!”

Boom!

And, the man vanished the same way he appeared, bullishly, mockingly, right at the gates of the Holy Land–Leaving behind minds to bear the despair.

________________________

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