There was a moment of silence. The air felt particularly heavier all of a sudden. In an instant, it increased Sylvester's mental burden.
Gabriel backed his steps slowly as he found no mercy or guilt in Sylvester's eyes. Those eyes didn't belong to a sane man, so all his mind told him was to leave—so he ran.
"Fuck!" Sylvester threw Romel's body aside and ordered Miraj. "Chonky, eat!"
Miraj hated eating flesh because it was one of the things that never came back out, but he didn't argue and quickly used his ability and vanished the dead body in his bottomless belly. Then he jumped on Sylvester's shoulder, who was already running behind Gabriel.
"I was working to sneak and change your blood sample in the arena, Maxy." Miraj clarified quickly.
Sylvester gritted his teeth. If that was the case, then he couldn't argue. "There won't be a test if Gabriel reaches the venue first."
"Ha!" He used the same technique as before and sent out an air blast as it was the least visually destructive and left no trace.
However, Gabriel turned to a side corridor just then and saved himself. Sylvester cursed and chased, soon reaching the door of the arena. Gabriel merely took a glance at him, seeing Sylvester's shaking head.
"Argh!" Sylvester also entered the arena and slowly walked through the crowd, making it look as natural as possible. However, the apprehension was building in his head because if Gabriel shouted, it would be game over.
'I need to catch him first.'
"Chonky, go and trip Gabriel," he ordered, since Miraj's small body let him cross the crowd fast.
'Don't do it, Gab, don't!' his eyes focused on the fleeing red-head.
"Ah!"
Sylvester rushed as soon as Gabriel's panicked shriek came as he fell. Sylvester was quick to reach him and extend his hand. "Are you okay, Gab?"
Gabriel looked him in the eyes and reached out to hold the hand, albeit shivering. He had no idea what Sylvester would do, but he knew that his calm friend was extremely dangerous.
"S-Sylvester, I d…"
Acting normal, Sylvester patted Gabriel's shoulder. "Go, they are calling you. Let's grab a bite later. I'm hungry."
No more words were exchanged, and Gabriel stiffly walked away. It wasn't that Sylvester was letting him go, but because he had his own headache of passing that examination. He walked to the side to an area where he could talk with Miraj.
"Chonky, did you make the preparation? You said you were planning it." He inquired.
"I did. I saw what they are doing. First, they cut your finger and take the blood to put it in the tiny bottle. Then they take it to the dark room and put it in a box full of crystals. Then the box rings once, and they destroy the blood. I have the bottle but need some blood."
Chonky took out the said little bottle, which was a potioneering glass tube. Sylvester took it and headed back to find Xavia as she was the only one who could help at this point.
He found her returning from the previous location, where she stupidly revealed her secret. He was in a rush, so he pulled her into an empty classroom, closed the doors, and checked all the tables and cupboards first. "Put your blood in this."
"Max, I didn't mean to… I had planned ever-"
"Quiet! I will talk to you about this later! You have ruined me, woman… you have no idea about the gravity of your idiocy! Now give me blood so we may see another day." He barked, clearly not tolerating her presence anymore.
He always tried to think of her happiness, but this was what he got in return—foolishness. He was just… disappointed at this point and needed some time to cool off, which won't happen unless he's done with Gabriel.
Xavia, however, instead of taking his glass tube, took out one from her own robes. "Here, I had planned this beforehand… I had planned it all…"
Sylvester's hand paused for a moment seeing her cry, but the frown again appeared as he took it. "Don't show your crying face outside."
He left her alone, returned to the arena, and waited for his name to be called. Meanwhile, he kept his eyes on Gabriel. This friend of his was getting his blood tested at the moment, making Sylvester anxious.
"Romel Riveria…!"
The announcement came. Sylvester's eyes darted towards the booth from where the call came. Gabriel was also looking in that direction.
"Hey, where is that friend of ours?"
Felix appeared and patted Sylvester's back. But instantly, he recoiled his hand, "Ugh, why is your back so sweaty?"
Sylvester kept a calm and collected face. He acted as if looking around genuinely. "Don't know, must be somewhere licking someone's feet."
"Uhh, I never liked that guy. Too much into becoming the best heir to his father." Markus sneered at the idea of Romel.
'There's this concern as well. How will King Riveria react?'
"Sylvester Maximilian...!"
His name was called. So he bid his friends a short goodbye and went to the testing booth at the front. However, when he arrived there, he understood why Xavia was so dumb to tell him the crucial details at such a last moment.
But that only angered him more because he saw how flawed her planning was. 'So healers for drawing blood are from the Bright Mothers?'
"Oh, Max. Come, sit here." The Bright Mother called him cheerfully.
Sylvester smiled and took a seat. "How are you, Mother Zartha."
"Dear, I'm going to need that shoulder massage again. Too much work at sick bay these days, those Guild adventurers are becoming very reckless. By the way, your mum was so excited to see you graduate today. Unfortunately, she was called back. Show me your right palm."
Sylvester did as asked and kept her busy in talks. He was thankful to himself at that moment for making friends with all Bright Mothers in their housing complex over the years. He talked with them, sang hymns, and did repairing work for them. He was their little teddy bear they spoiled over the years.
"Are we meeting at this month's end, Mother Zartha? I really want to have that open grill evening dinner with all the mothers." He proposed while the woman placed the collected blood in the glass tube and then in a small open holder beside her seat.
He kept her busy while Miraj carefully picked up his blood tube and placed the replacement. It was a slow process because Miraj didn't have fingers, and he had to lick his paws to make them sticky.
"Of course, who knows where you will be sent after graduation. You call us mothers, and I'm sure everyone will be delighted to celebrate with you." She took a little more time to make small talk with him.
Miraj soon jumped back to his shoulder.
"Thank you, Mother Zartha." He got up to leave as the job was done. One hurdle was cleared.
He then slowly walked to his friends; Gabriel was there too.
'Did he tell them?'
Felix, having already done with the test, boomed happily. "Max, they are looking for Romel. God knows which hole he has climbed in to die this time."
"Won't he be disqualified if he doesn't take this test?" Markus wondered.
Sylvester shrugged. "He must be around, like hell the Prince of Riveria will be disqualified."
He glanced at Gabriel while saying that. The man showed a simple smiling face, but he could taste the fear in him.
"Should we not look for him?" Gabriel asked.
Felix scoffed and shrugged off the disappearance. "Too much work. I'm tired from the fight with Max this morning. People are probably looking for him already."
Sylvester knew he could not do anything yet. So he waited for the graduation ceremony to be over.
And it seemed missing Romel did not stop the ceremony, and the following announcement was made as the blood testing booths were moved away. "All Deacons, your names shall be called alphabet-wise. First, you shall come here and take the Mitre from the Headmaster. Then you will return to your position and wear it. Once everyone has it, we shall have the ending oath ceremony."
Everyone stood back in their designated positions according to their name. Sylvester knew that Gabriel's turn would come first. So he whispered to the little buddy. "Chonky, go stand beside Gabriel. Follow him wherever he goes. If he hides somewhere, you come and inform me quickly."
Slowly, the roll call was made. Since his name started with 'S', he was to go pretty late. But when one name was called again, he couldn't help but feel his heart race a little.
"Romel Riveria?"
However, they did not wait and went to the next name. Sylvester noticed some people running behind the stage and whispering something in the Headmaster's ears. Then the ceremony proceeded as usual.
"Sylvester Maximilian!"
He quickly walked to the front and got the white Mitre with golden decorations on it from the Headmaster.
"I'm proud of you, Deacon Sylvester." said the man.
Sylvester kept a warm smile on his face and returned to his place. Then in no time, they were all made to say the oath.
They all crossed their arms on their chests and repeated after the Headmaster's old voice. "I am a son of Solis; in the embrace of light is my solace. His words I shall preach, even where his light can not reach. Forever I shall be his servant, towards injustice be observant, and when preaching cures no evil, I shall be lord's death merchant.
"May his light enlighten our paths—until our breath lasts—Amen!"
"Amen!"
There was silence in the arena as everyone felt a strange feeling in their chest. This was it, the last day of them being little students. From now on, true service to the faith would start. They all had new journeys to depart.
The Headmaster cheerfully roared. "I pronounce you all, from now—Priests of Solis!"
Of course, nobody threw their hats in the air. It was too sacred. But they hugged the nearest deacon beside them. Sylvester did the same with the random people. But his eyes constantly looked at Gabriel.
"Congratulations, Priest Sylvester…"
"Congratulation…"
He thanked and wished everyone back that came his way. Then, he smartly circumvented his friends and followed Gabriel as the young man drifted away through the crowd, heading towards the dorms.
Gabriel being near the beginning of the left side, got out of the crowd faster and made a run for it. Miraj was just a step behind. Sylvester also made his way while avoiding all the known faces.
Sylvester had no idea what he would do once he caught up. But he knew he would not die again, for this was one promise to certain someone he wished to keep.
The dorms on the top floor for the final year Deacons were empty as all were in the arena. So he found no problem in reaching the floor.
"Maxy! Here!"
Miraj's voice called him to the private room of Gabriel. Being in the final year had perks because the number of deacons thinned out a lot, and they all had individual rooms.
Sylvester walked forward with light feet and took a long breath as he clutched the doorknob in hand. 'I'm sorry, Gab. But never again—no matter what.'
He prepared needles made of hardened light magic, as thin as grass, and proceeded to twist the knob slowly.
"Brother?!"
But just then, he heard a different, panicked voice from inside.
"Brother! What happened? What's with the scared face?"
___________________
WHERE IS SUPREME JADE HEAVENLY BEAUTY STONE?
**669 Stones = Bonus Chapter!**
APE TOGETHER STRONG!