55 Compromise

"Malcolm!"
"You despicable noble!"
"I knew I shouldn't have trusted your word!!!"
The Bishop of Thorns roared with tragic indignation, his voice filled with fierce anger and heart-wrenching sorrow, sounding precisely like a betrayed husband who just caught his wife nearly running off with the golden-boy hunk.
It was a scene of utter wretchedness and grief.
The Bishop of Thorns was furious!
I was such a fool.
Truly.
Why on earth did I believe the empty words of this damn noble, actually thinking he wouldn't secretly come to snatch people away?
Damn it, coming right over to poach from under my nose, weren't you?
His robust frame completely shielded Herbert behind him, acting like a mother hen protecting its chick against the greedy gaze of his rival.
"Hmph, you arrived quite quickly..."
Upon seeing his colleague appear, the Bishop of Rusty Nails knew the matter could not be accomplished today. He let out a cold snort and said indifferently, "Stop making such a loud fuss here."
"Oh, so I'm the one making a loud fuss?"
The Bishop of Thorns was so angry he laughed, his eyes rolling incessantly behind his ceremonial crown, though the intimidating effect was virtually zero.
"I know what you're trying to do. You just want Herbert to join your Knight Order, don't you? In your dreams! I will never agree to it!"
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
The Knight Commander replied calmly, "You know well in your heart that he isn't suited for the Inquisitorial Court. Keeping him trapped in the Third Code-House will only waste his talent. You are violating the code."
You are committing a crime!
"I am violating the code? Fine!"
The Inquisitorial Head was thoroughly angered by this remark, nodding repeatedly as he gritted his teeth. "I can't be bothered to argue with a noble like you anymore. Let us go straight to His Lordship the Archbishop! Let him be the judge!"
"Let's see how His Lordship rejects you!"
With that, he kicked open the already swaying heavy door he had nearly broken earlier and hurried back along the path toward the monastery.
"Hmph, a brute with nothing but muscles in his head... Why would His Lordship the Archbishop bother with you over a trivial matter like this?"
The Bishop of Rusty Nails snorted, then turned his gaze toward the people gathered in the training ground, whispering with a sinister undertone: "What are you laughing at? What is so funny?"
Gasp!
In an instant, the smiles vanished from everyone's faces. They immediately straightened their gazes and plunged into their workouts with fierce passion.
Their movements were even more precise than before, their expressions even more serious!
Swish, swish, swish!
Thump, thump, thump!
Boom, boom, boom!
Stabbing the ones who needed stabbing, kicking the groins of those who needed kicking, and for the ones taking the beating... hey, be careful out there, don't actually beat them to death!
Taking in every bit of their performance, the Bishop of Rusty Nails let out an angry huff before melting into the shadows beneath his feet, vanishing in a flash.

Herbert blinked, looking down at his own shadow and then around at the others who had already resumed their solemn training.
Nothing happened.
He scratched his head, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"Wait, I... I haven't even gotten on board yet!"
Weren't you two fighting over me?
How could you just leave the main character standing here?

"What are... the two of you doing?"
Before the Sealed Sanctuary, a figure clad in red robes and holding a sword stood before the entrance, blocking the two bishops who wished to enter and seek the Archbishop.
The voluminous red robe concealed her physical traits, and only through subtle movements could one discern her female identity.
Her face was completely hidden beneath the shadow of her cowl, leaving not a single patch of skin exposed.
She was none other than the third cardinal of the Misty Monastery, known as the [Guardian], the Bishop of Ashes.
"You two, do you even know what you're doing?"
The voice of the Bishop of Ashes was exceptionally gentle, her tone almost sounding kind and affectionate.
Yet, falling into the ears of the two bishops, it felt as terrifying as a lamentation echoing from the depths of hell.
"Your Eminence."
"My Lady..."
The two men, who had previously been hot-headed, suddenly became exceptionally well-behaved, respectfully lowering their heads.
Damn it!
They had no choice but to lower their heads.
This entity was far more mysterious than the two of them combined, having guarded the Misty Monastery for centuries.
There were even rumors that she was a contemporary of the Archbishop himself!
In a way, she had watched these two bishops grow step by step from a destitute noble and a poor monk.
It carried the terrifying psychological trauma of running into the headmaster long after graduating and still feeling a sudden jolt in your heart.
"I am not surprised that the two of you are quarreling, but you must mind the occasion and your status."
The emotions of the Bishop of Ashes remained completely level, gentle as water, as though she were gently admonishing two unruly children:
"This is the Sealed Sanctuary, the most vital place in the entire monastery. Have you forgotten the rule that no more than two people may enter at the same time?"
"The power of the Blasphemous Prayer Statue has been quite active lately, which is why the Archbishop called me here to keep watch together. Whatever business you have, I can relay it for you."
The Inquisitorial Head moved his lips, coughed awkwardly a couple of times, and muttered, "Uh, we don't really have anything to ask, nothing at all..."
"Hmm?"
The Bishop of Ashes raised her head slightly, looking at the burly man who towered a full head above her even with his head lowered, and asked indifferently, "Then what are the two of you here for?"

Oh, no!
The Inquisitorial Head instantly realized things had gone wrong, but fortunately, the Knight Commander stepped in, speaking respectfully: "Your Eminence, the situation is like this..."
Without any exaggeration or embellishment, he recounted the entire event from beginning to end.
He included Herbert's request for "fresh air" and his own stated aspirations, laying everything out without reservation.
"Your Eminence, we truly cannot let his talent go to waste."
After listening, the Bishop of Ashes nodded, and upon confirming that the Knight Commander had nothing further to add, she stepped through the door.
Moments later, she reappeared before the two men and announced:
"The Archbishop has given his reply."
"Herbert may join the Knight Order, but it must not interfere with his original duties in the Third Code-House."
"He shall simultaneously belong to the Inquisitorial Court and the Knight Order."
The Bishop of Rusty Nails' eyes lit up as he respectfully lowered his head.
In truth, he had guessed this outcome all along, and this was precisely what he had hoped for.
On the other side, the expression of the Bishop of Thorns was far more subtle. He had many arguments he wished to make, but in the end, he said nothing and likewise lowered his head.
Things had reached this point; compromise was the only option.
The Bishop of Ashes looked at the two of them, nodded, and continued:
"Furthermore, regarding Herbert's report that the heretics have been well-behaved... the Archbishop has also agreed to grant a certain reward."
"However, venturing out into the outside world is temporarily out of the question; the risk is simply too high."
.
.
Opening his eyes, he was met with utter darkness.
"No, you cannot kill me!!!"
A weak and frantic voice rang out extraordinarily close, startling Herbert, who was still feeling somewhat dazed.
Herbert wanted to find out who was screaming, but quickly realized that the voice was actually coming from his own mouth.
It was *he* who was screaming in shrill supplication, desperately trying to escape the terrifying entity pursuing him from behind.
Am I the victim this time?
Just as Herbert was pondering this, "he" let out another pathetic wail:
"I am your father!"
Imbued with hatred and terror, "he" shrieked that name—
"Eliza!!!"