It is under the brown, black and red soil cliffs, but it is not built against the mountain, but directly sunk into the mountain. But it is huge enough that it is still clear even from a distance.
The white exterior wall seems to be announcing something, and the simple, almost crude style also seems to indicate its stance.
It is, Pejols Monastery.
Anatole had returned to the monastery with Sullivan for three days.
In these three days, Anatole did not see Sullivan again. He seemed to have entered the depths of the monastery, a place that even he, a student who graduated here, had never entered until now.
Forbidden land, holy land... titles such as this were already circulated among the students when he was a student here.
Although it is known that most of this is just speculation among students, the old monks in the monastery do not seem to have a formal explanation. Therefore, after so many years, there has been such a legend.
‘Only those who have received favor from the Lord can enter’
Anatole was an orphan since he was a child and was abandoned near the monastery. Later, he was picked up by an old monk. It can be said that he grew up here since he was a child.
It seemed to be the time when the sun appeared at dawn, so the old monk named him: Anatole.
That means sunrise.
Life in the monastery is very simple, as simple as returning to primitive society. I grew up here from a young age, was baptized, and then officially became a monk. Finally, I won the title of dean with the best results in my class.
recognition, only twenty years have passed.
He is what others call a genius, but he knows that he just works harder than others.
"Anatole, are you there?"
Anatole was praying when there was a knock on the door. Basically, he would pray all the time when there was nothing else to do.
This made him feel that he could free his mind, and it also made him feel that he could truly hear the gospel of the Lord one day soon.
"The dean said, please come to auditorium 13."
That forbidden area?
…
Anatole met Mr. Sullivan. Of course, there was also the abbot who personally blessed him when he graduated...and the old monk who picked him up from the wilderness and raised him.
"Anatole, my child, come here." The old monk who adopted him smiled and waved.
Anatole walked up to a few people. He began to look at the 'Auditory Hall No. 13'. He found that this place seemed to be older, and it exuded a sacred atmosphere all the time, which made his heart calm.
...even more effective than prayer.
But in fact, this Auditorium No. 13...is not what it looks like.
To be precise, this place was actually just a stone room, with candlesticks hung on the walls on all four sides. And the center of the auditorium where he walked was actually a circular platform.
Sullivan was now in the center of the round platform, waiting for his arrival.
The dean and the old monk stood beside Sullivan, one on the left and the other on the right. When Anatole came completely in front of the three of them, the old monk suddenly stretched out his hand and whispered: "Anatole, I
My child, kneel down."
Anatole nodded, and without much hesitation, he knelt on the ground.
The old monk then continued: "Close your eyes, then pray in your heart and listen quietly."
Anatole slowly closed his eyes.
At the same time, the dean and the old monk slowly retreated to the edge of the round platform. They also lowered their heads and closed their eyes at the same time.
Because what follows is blasphemy for both of them, even if they open their eyes and see it.
On the round platform, a faint white light suddenly appeared, and Sullivan also approached Anatoly's front. His hands spread out, and his body slowly left the ground.
He is levitating.
Suddenly, a strong light burst out from Sullivan's body in Auditorium No. 13! For a moment, there seemed to be countless white feathers scattered in the sky above the auditorium.
A pair of white, soft feather coats of light were slowly opening behind Sullivan's back. Finally, Sullivan also opened his eyes.
Those are pale golden pupils.
Almost at the same time, a golden beam of light shot out from a sphere in the center of the auditorium and shone directly on Anatoly... making him seem to be bathed in a golden ocean.
Warm and compassionate.
Anatole was almost lost in this feeling that penetrated his soul, and gradually forgot the passage of time.
Right now!
He seemed to feel a surge of anger, and a... he couldn't tell. At this moment, the warm and compassionate feeling disappeared in an instant.
He seemed to be under heavy shackles. Instinctively, Anatole opened his eyes. He knew that there was some problem with his memory. Sullivan and the dean were so solemn to help him solve this problem.
But it seems that even after returning to the monastery, and even coming to this auditorium No. 13... he still hasn't remembered the so-called forgotten things at all.
"Mr. Sullivan?" Anatole was very calm and looked at the person in front of him with confusion.
The strange images around him had long since disappeared. At this moment, Sullivan just closed his eyes and stood there... looking a little pale.
When the dean and the old monk heard Anatole's voice, they opened their eyes in surprise.
Next, Sullivan said something that shocked everyone: "Anatole, you are a heretic, you need to wash away the sins on your body. Dean, confine the holy power in his body. After three days, I will
He will personally purify his soul that is contaminated with sin."
Anatole moved his lips.
Apparently, his calm mind, which he had maintained for twenty years, began to fluctuate violently.
He doesn't understand.
And... what about restoring the memory that was promised?
…
…
"A long time ago, there was a kind but ugly monster in the forest."
On the train to St. Petersburg, a young mother was telling a story to a troubled little girl.
"Later, the monster met a little girl. The little girl was not afraid of it, but because of the monster's kindness, she and the monster became good friends. Every day, the monster would pick the sweetest fruits from the forest and put them in clear
Spring water, give it to the little girl. However, the little girl must promise not to tell others."
The little girl in her arms was gradually attracted by this story, and her mother's voice continued to sound, "Many days passed, and the little girl lived very happily in the company of the monster. Suddenly one day, the little girl innocently said, "Wait for her."
The day I grow up to be eighteen, I will marry this monster."
"The little girl later moved away with her family and didn't have time to tell the monster about it. The monster didn't know, but it still picked the best fruits and brought the sweetest spring water. But, it never came back.
Wait until the little girl appears."
The little girl in her arms showed a sad expression when she heard this.
The mother patted her face comfortingly, but continued to whisper: "It counts the days day by day. It carved marks with its nails on the tree stump it made with the little girl. After one day,
It carved a stroke, just like that, day by day. Suddenly one day, the monster discovered that it was the little girl's eighteenth birthday. But on this day, it still did not wait for the little girl's arrival."
Hearing this, the little girl pouted and said, "Mom, this monster is so pitiful! Will it never see that little girl again?"
The mother said softly: "I met him later. This Mr. Monster finally plucked up the courage and walked out of the forest. He mixed in with the crowd and searched all the way. Finally, he found the little girl. Of course,
When the little girl reaches the age of eighteen, she has become a very beautiful girl."
"So, is Mr. Monster married to the little girl?"
The mother was about to speak, responding to the child's expectations.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, the father sitting next to him suddenly said: "Not married! The little girl fell in love with someone else. So the monster was angry and ate the little girl in one bite, and then turned into a very handsome man.
Man, I found another true love all of a sudden!"
While saying this, the father opened his hands and came towards his daughter like a claw, "If I eat you, I will become a handsome person! Wow!"
"ah!"
At this moment, the little girl was so frightened that she ran away from her mother's arms, but soon she seemed to have hit something. She became unstable and was about to fall to the ground.
"Be careful."
In fact, she did not fall down, but stood up steadily. The little girl raised her head, tilted her head, and saw a young brother who was very different from her parents.
Black hair and black eyes are not very common for little girls.
"I'm sorry, sir!" When the mother saw this, she quickly stood up from her seat and said apologetically: "My husband was playing with this child, and he didn't expect to scare her into this state. When he met you,
I'm so sorry."
As she said this, her mother glared at her husband with a reproachful look.
"It doesn't matter." The young elder brother smiled. He touched the little girl's head and suddenly said: "Madam, the ending your husband said is quite interesting."
"Ah?" The little girl's father was stunned... He couldn't figure out how to continue what this young man with an oriental face was saying.
He could only smile awkwardly.
"By the way, is this story original?" the young elder brother suddenly asked curiously.
The little girl's father hurriedly waved his hands and said: "That's not the case, anyway, it's a story I heard from the old man when I was a child. That ending is just a lie on my part, don't take it seriously."
"Really...I won't bother you anymore."
Watching the young eldest brother walk back, the little girl climbed onto her father's lap, poked her head out of the seat, and saw her eldest brother sitting five or six rows away from the back.
Pouting, he suddenly looked down at his mother and said, "Mom! There is a very beautiful big sister over there!"
"Okay, okay, we're almost at the station, sit tighter! We'll be at your grandmother's house soon!"
The mother said seriously, and at the same time she twisted her husband's ears, forcing his head back to look back.
The train finally stopped.
St. Petersburg Station, arriving. (To be continued.)
