Cerydra had gained another teacher.
This one looked rather unusual.
A pair of wing-like ornaments seemed to grow from the sides of his head, while a small white bird perched on his shoulder.
The bird would have looked like a dove if it were not so round that it resembled a little ball of feathers.
The mysterious young man introduced himself as Sunday.
He did not begin by teaching Cerydra complicated theories or obscure knowledge.
Instead, he first tried to understand her.
More specifically, he wanted to understand why she pursued Order in the first place.
"If I had to name the beginning of it..."
Cerydra thought for a moment.
"It was probably when I was starving and freezing in some dark alley, watching nobles live in unimaginable luxury."
"Some of them could even murder someone in the street and erase the entire crime by paying enough money."
"That inequality was where it started."
"The world often works that way."
Sunday's voice remained gentle.
"Those who possess more resources inevitably possess more privileges."
"That is difficult to eliminate completely."
"Intelligent beings have desires."
"They have greed."
"No matter how perfect a legal system may appear, there will always be someone willing to cross its boundaries."
"Some won't even do it for profit."
"They'll do it for amusement."
"For excitement."
"Or simply because breaking the rules makes them feel superior to everyone else."
As Sunday spoke, he resembled a priest delivering a sermon.
There was a quiet compassion in his expression.
It was as though he mourned the countless injustices of the world, yet also pitied those who could not master their own desires and ultimately allowed themselves to commit evil.
"You can establish a body of law accepted by most people."
"You can create institutions responsible for enforcing it."
"You can cultivate generations of scholars to study that law and continuously improve it as civilization advances."
"But ultimately, the law itself is lifeless."
"It is merely a set of rules created by people."
"In the beginning, people may obey those rules for many different reasons."
"But as desires change and temptations grow, some will inevitably try to trample over the law or exploit its loopholes for personal gain."
"Even those entrusted with protecting justice can be corrupted by money, power, and desire."
"So how do you guarantee absolute fairness?"
"You don't."
Cerydra answered immediately.
"Absolute fairness doesn't exist."
"People aren't even born equal."
"Some are born with extraordinary strength."
"Others are born unable to walk."
"The law cannot create perfect equality."
"Nor should it try."
"Because forcing absolute equality onto fundamentally different people would itself create another form of injustice."
And so, a former Pathstrider of Order and a woman who was gradually approaching that same Path began an intense discussion about law, government, and the meaning of Order itself.
...
"My, my."
"He really does remind me of that child."
A familiar voice sounded beside Caelus.
Caelus set down what he was holding and glanced toward Sunday and Cerydra, who were still deep in discussion.
"He reminds you of Jesus?"
"Doesn't he?"
The voice sounded amused.
"They share the same ideal."
"They both wish to sacrifice themselves to save people drowning in the suffering of the world."
"Even knowing that the world has never been perfect."
"Even knowing that some people seem evil and fallen by nature."
"And yet they still wish to save everyone."
"That's why you blessed him."
Caelus looked back toward Sunday.
"Unfortunately, that road is destined to be covered in thorns."
"Even in worlds without supernatural power, anyone walking such a path will face endless hardship."
"In a universe where extraordinary powers actually exist, it becomes even worse."
"It's a dream so distant that it almost seems impossible."
"And yet I believe humanity can eventually open a road to salvation through its own strength."
The voice remained warm.
"After all, who could have imagined in the distant past that an ape looking up at the sky would one day rise from the ground and travel among the stars?"
"I believe in humanity's limitless possibilities."
"I love them."
"Even the individuals who seem completely beyond salvation?"
"Even those who are exceptionally cruel and depraved?"
"Human evil is like the darkness between the stars."
"It appears endless."
"Deep."
"Terrifying."
"But human goodness shines within that darkness."
"And precisely because the darkness is so vast, every act of kindness becomes all the more brilliant."
"Does the existence of darkness mean I should deny the stars?"
The voice paused.
"You could have asked for my help before, child."
"You know that."
"I have always been here."
Caelus raised one hand and touched the crown that normally remained hidden above his head.
"I know."
"But I can't keep relying on your power."
"If I do, I'll become dependent on it."
"And you don't want humanity to solve everything by relying on gods either, do you?"
"That would only make them lose the limitless possibilities they possess."
"Hahaha."
"You're right, child."
"I'm glad you think that way."
"And I'm glad you understand me."
"But what I said before still stands."
"I am always here."
"If the situation ever becomes truly impossible, call for me."
"After all..."
"I am the Father."
Caelus found himself temporarily at a loss for words.
Somehow, it felt as though he had acquired a father without ever agreeing to it.
Then again, God was literally regarded as the Heavenly Father of humanity.
So technically, there was nothing wrong with that description.
...
Sunday eventually finished that day's lesson and walked over to Caelus.
After sitting down beside him, he said,
"Miss Cerydra's understanding of law and Order is exceptionally deep."
"If the environment were more suitable and Ena had not disappeared, she might already have become a Pathstrider of Order."
"Good."
Caelus nodded.
"That's what I needed."
Sunday smiled faintly.
"Before I realized it, you're working for the sake of this universe again, Mr. Caelus."
"It seems I was right."
"If I remain trapped in one place forever, I'll never grow."
"And I'll never truly help anyone."
"Coming outside..."
"Seeing things with my own eyes."
"Experiencing them personally."
"Then helping with the suffering that occurs directly in front of me, whenever it lies within my ability..."
"That feels far more meaningful than remaining within the Family and merely listening to people's confessions."
Sunday felt lighter than he ever had before.
The road ahead was difficult.
Painful, even.
But for the first time, he could actually see it.
That was infinitely better than sitting helplessly inside a confessional, listening to the suffering of others while being unable to change anything.
At least now, he was moving forward.
What could be better than that?
"When you're traveling, it's useful to have something to defend yourself with."
Caelus held out the object he had been working on.
"Take this."
Sunday accepted it.
It was a golden cross about the size of his palm.
"The god who granted you that power is symbolized by the cross."
Caelus explained.
"I originally considered making you a Holy Grail."
"But after thinking about it, carrying a cup around doesn't exactly look practical in a fight."
"And it's inconvenient."
"So I made this instead."
"A Holy Grail?"
Sunday looked mildly surprised.
"That sounds rather similar to the new attraction Old Oti has been promoting recently."
Caelus's eyes shifted toward him.
"What attraction?"
"Because of everything surrounding the Eternal Dreamscape, Old Oti has been trying to push Penacony's popularity even higher."
"So he recently announced that he had obtained something called a Holy Grail."
"Supposedly, it can grant any wish."
"He has invited people from across the galaxy to enter the Dreamscape and participate in a ritual called the Holy Grail War."
"The final victor receives the Grail and may make a wish upon it."
"..."
"Most people in the universe don't actually believe this Holy Grail can grant wishes."
Sunday continued.
"They still place more faith in the Phantasmal Moon game held by the Paradise of Duality."
"After all, that game really is hosted by the Aeon of Elation."
"And previous winners genuinely had their wishes fulfilled."
"Although..."
"The way some of those wishes were granted was not exactly what the winners had hoped for."
Caelus narrowed his eyes slightly.
That did not sound like a coincidence.
Then he remembered something the System had told him long ago.
This universe was unusually close to the Type-Moon universe.
That was the very reason his first journey beyond his home universe had taken him there.
"Lygus."
Caelus spoke aloud.
"Adjust the time ratio between Amphoreus and the outside world."
"I'm leaving for a while."
"No problem, sir."
"Sunday."
Caelus turned toward him.
"I'll leave Cerydra's lessons to you for the next few days."
"I'll also leave enough money for both of you."
"Leave her to me, Mr. Caelus."
Caelus stood.
Then he took a single step.
In the next instant, he had already left Amphoreus.
His destination was the Eternal Dreamscape.
(To be continued.)
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◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)