"Being too superstitious about gods is also a sin, this saying..."
Thales took a deep breath and asked this playful and irreverent joke appropriately:
"Prince Megan, does your goddess agree?"
However, Meghan smiled and her tone was relaxed and freehand:
"An excellent teacher will not like a student who respects him as the supreme teacher, only takes him as his life, and relies on his power to save him without realizing it or making any progress."
Megan glanced at Gilbert nonchalantly.
Gilbert, who was already numb, didn't even bother to change his expression.
Meghan spoke with sincerity:
"Believers in God should be more humble. This humility also covers how you should view God and faith."
Thales had a thought.
really weird.
That familiar feeling from before...is here again.
"So, magic, and mages."
Thales tried hard to recall his original intention, and also tried to bring the topic back to what he was interested in:
"What is the status of these things that have disappeared in history for a long time in your eyes?"
"Victim? Perpetrator? Puppet of the Way of the Young Son, or soil and cradle?"
"What drives the prohibition and taboo against magic?"
Megan thought for a moment.
"Historically, in the eyes of some traditional and conservative monk brothers, magic is the culprit. It is worthy of death."
Thales nodded "as expected".
But Meghan turned around and smiled:
"But in my opinion, that may not be the case."
Thales was curious again.
"Although they are rebellious and disrespectful to our God, and although their arrogance brings evil consequences, many mages - even unfortunate practitioners of the Way of the Young Son - are respectable warriors and pioneers, and their existence is also
Significance."
Megan nodded slowly and smiled:
"Their self-confidence, self-respect and persistence in researching things affects more than just themselves."
"I believe that the reason why magic appears must be God's intention and gift."
Thales was stunned for a moment.
He stared upward and blew his forehead hair.
Nia on the other side almost laughed out loud, but the clever little nun turned it into a cough in time.
"More importantly, they also influence us, the firstborn Son of God."
Meghan didn't care about the prince's expression. She looked around the main study room in Mindis Hall and sighed:
"Look at the name of our class: Theology."
"But you know what?"
"A long time ago, the church - no matter which church - had no so-called theology. In the eyes of many brothers and sisters at that time, God is omnipotent, and practice is all it takes. How can there be any learning?"
theology.
Thales suddenly realized something.
"Until the era when mages gained power and magic reigned supreme, countless questions from the Three Towers—several organizations among mages—began to threaten our existence: Why can God be trusted? Why is God a God? Why does God exist?"
Meghan's words were calm.
But Thales took a deep breath.
Three Towers.
really.
Megan said with great interest:
"Their doubts and refutations force us to no longer focus solely on practice and action, but only on faith and spirit. We must also go deep into the scope of theory and inquiry to improve ourselves."
Thales smiled and nodded to Megan.
He understood.
That familiar feeling just now... was not a coincidence.
Humility, reflection, vigilance...
That was exactly what Asheida felt when he was teaching.
At the same time, Meghan’s thoughts and opinions on the Sunset Temple were revealed in today’s conversation…
That is definitely not the result that a certain religion, a certain church, or some believers can achieve by working behind closed doors for thousands of years.
Rather, they have faced challenges from mages for thousands of years, and are the results and products of countless capable people with lofty ideals under the pressure and stimulation of magic.
Thales bit his lower lip lightly.
As the old crow said, just like Exeter and the stars influence and shape each other in their long-term confrontation.
magic.
For thousands of years, they have also been one of the contributors to shaping faith, church and temple into the status quo through struggle and opposition.
But this portends more than just that.
Just listen to Megan continue:
"This is just an example - because the way of the youngest son is not only born from magic, but also from the church, every rise of magic and mages, and every decline of faith and temples can prompt the knowledgeable people in the church to
We started to reflect."
"Encourage them to put aside their prejudices and obsessions, put aside conventions and formalities, and listen to the oracle truly and devoutly."
Priest Megan looked straight at Thales:
"Reflect on yourself"
"The Reformed Church."
"Seize the opportunity."
Megan said very profoundly:
"Just like the saint priestess Jade a thousand years ago, after being ravaged and raped by the army, she hanged herself in the dilapidated church. She saw clearly the mysterious message of Saint Gerald, allowing her to risk beheading and stop Kay.
The mount of King Ther VI, later the 'Poison Emperor'."
"Just like the prophet Brother Mohasa seven hundred years ago, when he was dying on the battlefield after the disaster, he listened to the grace of the sunset goddess, extended his helping hand, and found the destined king of revival."
After hearing this, Thales noticed that Gilbert's expression started to look bad again.
"then……"
"Even when magic is popular, mages control the palace, monopolize knowledge, and despise the rest, even in the years when the way of the youngest son is the most respected, powerful and domineering..."
Meghan's expression was quite touched:
"Believers of God still stick to their faith and clean up the increasingly dilapidated churches and temples, leaving only one more option for human beings who are blind and impulsive because of their self-confidence."
"Therefore, there is the Holy Sun Church after the Myojin Catholic Church, and there is the Sunset Temple behind the Final Battle."
Not paying attention to the old priest's expression, Thales' eyes shifted to Sister Nia.
The prince raised the corners of his lips and gave her a bright smile.
The little nun noticed the prince's smile.
She trembled slightly and turned around subconsciously, revealing her red ears.
But that's enough.
Thales looked past Nia and landed on the luggage on the ground that was revealed after she turned around.
That's an ancient metal tablet belonging to the tomb of King Anset.
Thales raised the corners of his mouth, completely ignoring the fact that this made Nia even more panicked.
For thousands of years, it is not just the secrets of the kingdom that will leave traces of magic and mages after the purification plan.
Including their biggest rivals.
"So Thales, what is magic?"
Thales was distracted for a moment and didn't pay attention.
But luckily kind-hearted Megan didn’t ask him to answer::
"Magic is a mirror. Through the disasters caused by the path of the youngest son, it makes us realize its absurdity and the wrong path we may take, forcing us to face our own weaknesses, discover a better self, and return to the path of the eldest son.
Tao - as I said, the two Tao, the old and the young, depend on each other and prove each other's importance."
yes.
Just like Megan said.
Magic is like a mirror.
Likewise, faith and the church are also mirrors of magic.
Reflecting, showing, and retaining the marks of their thousand-year-old rivals.
Is not it?
Thinking of this, Thales looked at the luggage behind Nia and the outline of the ancient nameplate, and smiled more and more sincerely.
Nia avoided the prince's unscrupulous gaze, leaned down stiffly, tremblingly picked up the teapot, and went to add Megan's already full cup of tea.
Megan’s words rang out again:
"Even...the sorrow of magic is a trial that we must pass through. It is the bitter fruit that naturally arises when we indulge in our own sins for a long time without realizing it."
"It is the anger and punishment that the gods send down on us when we abandon the true meaning of faith, misinterpret the will of the gods, ignore our own glory, and fall into the trap of the way of the young."
"That's what it means to us and maybe to the world."
Speaking of this, Meghan couldn't help but sigh:
"The road to faith is not smooth sailing. Everyone will encounter setbacks, and every era has fallen into darkness. But we believe that every setback is just a test from God. In order to strengthen our faith and loyalty, they use the battle between elders and younger ones to
Show us the path humanity should follow.”
"For believers in God, faith is always in danger, doubts are always there, and the dispute between elder and younger is always present."
She looked out the window at the setting sun and said gratefully:
"But as long as the fire of the eldest son does not go out..."
"The misfortune of a young son will eventually come to an end."
Silence returned to the room.
The sky outside the window gradually darkens: dusk is approaching,
"Megan Sacrifice, I have to say."
Thales suddenly spoke, half sincerely and half deliberately:
"What you talked about today is indeed thought-provoking and has a long aftertaste."
Megan smiled and bowed politely to Thales:
"If I can inspire you even a little bit, it will be my luck, and it will be a gift from the goddess."
Thales nodded gratefully:
"So, if I have any doubts in the future, I can go to the Sunset Temple and ask you in person?"
Bang!
Everyone in the room was shocked.
It's Nia.
I saw that she had broken the tea cup at some point and was picking it up hurriedly on the ground. Her ears behind the veil were extremely red.
The people present all had unusual self-cultivation. The three of them only glanced at each other, then turned away and turned a blind eye.
"It's an honor, Your Highness. The Sunset Goddess accepts every believer who wants to get close to her."
Meghan looks in great spirits:
"You are welcome to visit me at any time. You don't even need to invite me in advance. I will ask Nia to greet you."
"ah!"
The three of them turned their gazes again.
It was Nia who pricked her finger while picking up the pieces on the carpet. She was seen covering the wound, raising her head and looking at Megan aggrievedly, with tears in her eyes.
Megan glanced at the little nun displeasedly, and the latter quickly stood up nervously.
"So……"
The elder priest coughed, stood up, and returned to his amiable state:
"Let's call it a day."
Thales also stood up with the same smile:
"So fast?"
Very good.
Megan smiled and pointed at the sky:
"The setting sun has passed, and the dark night is coming."
Her tone was somewhat profound:
"Yet the stars are shining brightly, and they foreshadow a myriad of things."
"Inconceivable."
Thales blinked:
"Is this a prophecy?"
The kind that flatters you?
“No one can predict except God’s prophets and messengers,” Megan smiled softly:
"But even if it's a prophecy, it's just a prophecy."
Thales didn't understand the babbling logic and simply continued to smile.
"Besides, Ms. Jinni told me to give you more time to rest."
This actually made Thales move slightly:
"Do you know Ms. Jinnie?"
“I know a lot of people,” Meghan lamented, “and I’ve seen a lot of things.”
“But what God knows and has seen is only more.”
"However, they just remained silent and protected the living beings."
Thales could only smile politely again.
Will God... bless living beings?
The young man pinched the scar in the center of his left palm.
The scar was cut open many times due to the use of magic energy and is difficult to remove.
All right.
If there really is a God.
Thales thought sarcastically.
Then it definitely doesn't recognize me.
After watching Megan and Nia go away, Gilbert slowly walked up.
He looked at the broken teacup on the ground and sighed slowly.
"It seems that respected Priest Megan really had a great harvest today."
Gilbert's words were polite and his tone was appropriate.
It just sounds a bit...
Sour?
Thales smiled slightly:
"Guess, if I had said earlier that I would go to the temple to visit them often, would she have ended get out of class early?"
Thales raised his eyebrows.
"so……"
Gilbert looked at Thales intriguingly: "Did you understand her lessons?"
Thales shrugged, raised his right hand, and rubbed the gap between his thumb and index finger:
"A little bit."
Gilbert's eyes lit up.
"That's good."
Gilbert nodded understandingly, and the sourness in his tone finally became less intense.
The Foreign Secretary glanced sideways at the door:
"Excuse me, Your Highness."
He stared there, not looking at Thales:
"I still have to catch up and have a not-so-pleasant conversation with Priest Megan."
Gilbert chased the guest away with a bad look on his face.
Thales smiled.
He sat down again and thought about what he had learned from today's class.
"Uh, Your Highness?"
"What did you do to that little nun?"
Thales raised his eyes and realized that it was Doyle, not the ordinary servants, who had come in to help him light the eternal lamp after dark.
(Watchman Marius, who squinted his eyes and folded his arms, lectured afterward: "So you said that because the servants didn't come, you were forced to go in and help His Highness light the lamps... and the reason why the servants didn't come was because you sent them to light the lamps -
—d.d, don’t you think there’s something wrong with your explanation?”)
Doyle said puzzledly:
"That's what I noticed...she kept looking back at you when she left, looking very scared..."
Thales frowned:
"What didn't I do?"
Doyle lit a lamp, thoughtfully, and his expression gradually changed:
"Oh well."
"But that scary old lady..."
Thales raised his head again.
As the lights came on, Doyle murmured:
"I was very close... I couldn't help but listen. You know, the eldest son and the youngest son are interdependent and so on... What she said makes sense, isn't it?"
Thales stretched his arms and raised the corners of his mouth:
"That makes sense?"
Seeing that the Duke's interest was aroused, Doyle quickly turned around and spoke:
"Yeah... She was very tolerant towards that Lao Shizi magic. She was neither hostile nor discriminatory. She was very gentle. She spoke much better than the old monk my family hired at the beginning. He could only talk about 'the ancient mages...
They are followers of the devil, summoning disasters to destroy the world, and so on..."
Thales thought for a moment, then snorted:
"Except for her tone, I don't see any softening in her stance."
Doyle was startled:
"ah?"
"But she did not completely deny magic. She also reflected on the church's own mistakes and said that magic and mages are the driving force for their progress..."
Listening to d.d's words, Thales' expression changed several times.
A few seconds later, after Doyle's voice gradually weakened, Thales spoke again.
"Sure enough, Gilbert is right."
Thales sighed:
"Grammar class is really important."
Doyle's smile froze:
"What?"
Thales leaned back in his chair, looked at the confused Doyle in front of him, smiled and said:
"According to Priest Megan, this is no longer a question of whether magic is good or bad..."
As Thales spoke, he showed a thoughtful expression:
"If the church and the faith are corrupted, it must be that they have gone astray and fallen into the ways of the young."
He mused:
"Similarly, if magic is beneficial, it must be the person who uses magic who has found the right path and followed the way of the firstborn."
Doyle rolled his eyes.
"mild?"
Thales repeated it again, humming intriguingly:
"In fact, I couldn't have asked for a tougher attitude."
Doyle first tried hard to understand, and then made a surprised expression of "Oh, I see."
"That's right, Priest Megan is neither hostile nor discriminatory towards magic."
Thales didn't pay attention to Doyle's expression, but said in a trance:
"on the contrary."
"She wants to use the name of the gods..."
"Dominate magic."
Thales looked out the window with deep eyes:
At dusk, the setting sun is about to disappear on the horizon.
and……
[What drives the prohibition and taboo on magic?]
Thales thought about this and asked himself the question twice from the beginning to the end of the class.
Meghan didn't even answer.
Is it because I’m older and my memory is bad?
Or...a coincidence?
Doyle blinked in confusion, wondering how to flatter him next.
But Thales ignored him and just snorted softly. He packed up his desk and found "The Acts of the Sunset" which he had found for class but never used.
It seems that the self-cultivation of church believers is not that simple...
"And I have reason to believe that some people would be very dissatisfied if they heard these words - Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!"
Thales's soliloquy suddenly turned into a loud exclamation!
This aroused alertness around him, and Doyle was also startled.
"Your Highness?"
The figures of Glover and Zonevide rushed into the study, looking wary.
"Are you okay?"
Doyle even ran up to His Highness in a few steps, glared angrily, and made a loyal sword gesture.
"What happened?"
Thales took a deep breath to calm down his emotions, but his face turned blue and his eyes opened angrily.
"fine."
Thales raised his head, sitting in a very unnatural posture.
"You guys go out."
He finished this sentence with a gloomy look.
Glover and Zonevide breathed a sigh of relief.
They glanced around the study and then checked the windows and bookcases, including the outrageously large eternal oil clock, and then prepared to leave with vigilance.
"Are you sure?"
But Doyle's attention was always on Thales, with a nervous expression on his face: "Your Highness, you don't look good."
"How can I help you?"
Thales took another breath.
"Yes," Thales said through gritted teeth with a face full of pain:
"A certain hair in my pants was strangled by an important organ."
"It hurts."
Thales glared angrily and hissed at the top of his lungs:
"Can you help me?"
The room was quiet for a second.
"No problem at all--"
He was so anxious to ask for credit that he didn't even pay attention to what the prince said or the low pressure around him. He walked forward with a proud look on his face, but was suddenly dragged back by Glover.
Glover hesitated for a few seconds and said hesitantly:
"Then...we won't disturb you."
Even though the "zombie" has the same expression that has remained unchanged for thousands of years, he is also a little embarrassed at this moment:
"Let's withdraw and give His Highness some...private space."
Thales smiled stiffly and waved his hand stiffly.
Only then did Doyle react. He was equally embarrassed and smiled sheepishly. He couldn't help but glance at Thales's body below the desk:
"Oh, okay, then... just be careful when handling it by yourself. If necessary, you can still..."
Before the reluctant D.D could finish his words, Glover and Zornevide each took an arm and lifted their feet off the ground, facing Thales, and were carried out of the study.
A few seconds later.
After watching the door close, listening to Doyle's struggling voice fading, and confirming that no one was in the study, Thales relaxed his tense shoulders.
The low pressure around the prince gradually dissipated.
Duke Xinghu sighed, but his expression was still painful.
He lowered his head and reached under the desk, between his tightly squeezed legs.
But he didn't want to rub a certain part, but pulled it out...
a book.
Thales looked unhappy, silently looking at the book "Acts of the Sunset" in a daze, snorting from time to time.
After a few seconds, the young prince opened it with a depressed look.
Then, he took out a damn, luxurious, brand new, sky blue, made of Leyland cardboard from a certain page...