Lark Meets The Supreme Pontiff

The guards and Kaguya bowed at the sound of his voice, their heads so low they didn't notice the purple butterfly on his finger. It flapped its wings, slowly lifting up into the air before falling to the ground, split in half. Its two halves continued to twitch, not even aware of what had happened.

The robed man stretched out his arms and spun around gracefully. A chilling breeze passed through the courtyard. At that moment, the butterfly ceased moving, and the accursed gem flashed.

An overly joyous smile was plastered on the face of the man who seemed to be about our age. He had medium-length pale blue hair poking out from the white and gold hood that glistened in the sunlight. His robes looked large on him, as his sleeves were baggy and obscured his arms when they dropped.

He slowly opened his eyes, which were a warm golden colour.

“Oh my, what is Sir Branwell and one of the great Otherworlders doing here?” he asked, covering his mouth with his sleeve.

“We have an audience with the king, your holiness,” Sir Branwell responded.

“Ah, so you were his important next appointment. He mentioned he had a very important visitor after our meeting.”

“Did it seem like the king was in a good mood? I wouldn’t mind asking for a pardon,” I joked.

“Susami, I know you are a pirate, but please show some respect. He is none other than the Supreme Pontiff of the Church of Luminous,” Kaguya whispered to me.

The Supreme Pontiff laughed.

“To think a pirate would be in the king's castle.” His golden eyes pierced me as they glanced in my direction. “A Pirate with such an interesting curse. I must admit this has piqued my curiosity.”

“You do not need to worry about him, your holiness. He is restrained and won’t be escaping as long as I am here,” Sir Branwell commented.

“Oh, I was not worried, just amused by the fact that a pirate of all people was here in the royal palace?” he said this playfully rather than as a genuine question.

“We don’t know why the king wants to meet with him, but this pirate is Susami Kaito, our classmate and an Otherworlder like us,” Kaguya added.

“To think an Otherworlder, one of your close allies, turned to piracy. What a truly tragic sequence of events.” He pretended to wipe imaginary tears with his sleeves. “I’m so very sorry for you.”

Kaguya looked flustered by his comments. “That’s not an issue you need to concern yourself with, your holiness.”

“If only I prayed more, perhaps the Goddess would have saved his poor soul.”

“You know, you can speak to me and not at me,” I teased.

“Should someone who is in handcuffs and about to be given a lengthy sentence be as chipper as you?”

“Well, I guess I’m in a stellar mood, since today I have met the Supreme Pontiff and am about to meet the king.”

The Supreme Pontiff covered his mouth with his sleeve and laughed.

“You certainly know how to entertain me. How about a deal? If you leave your sinful pirate way, I would be more than happy to take you under my wing. What do you say?”

He extended his hand out to me.

“Sorry, but that’s not going to happen.”

He sighed and shrugged.

“That’s a real shame.”

Kaguya was watching on in horror as we chatted back and forth. Even Sir Branwell looked uncomfortable by our exchange. The plain guard looked like he was about to have an aneurysm.

“If you would excuse us, your holiness, we mustn’t keep the king waiting,” Sir Branwell apologised.

“No, I am at fault for taking up your time.”

The Pontiff brushed his finger against my face. His touch was icy cold, and it felt like a snake was wrapping around my neck.

“Well then, pirate, I hope you can make peace with your soul. May fortune be on your side.”

He turned in a single, silent motion and walked out of the courtyard. As soon as he left, the plain armoured guard looked like he wanted to say something, but gritted his teeth to hold himself back.

Kaguya elbowed me.

“Why did you turn down his offer?”

A mental image of my crew came into my mind.

“Because I have a family I have to return to.”

“If things don’t go well with the king, you may not be given a chance to see them.”

“I have faith I’ll see them again.”

We entered a foyer and ascended a red-carpeted stairway to a large red door, which was decorated with brilliant golden joinings.

Two guards, one in red armour and the other in blue, were stationed in front of the door. Both were wielding spears.

“Sir Branwell!” They saluted the captain.

“At ease.” They dropped their hands.

“What business do you have here, sir?” the one in the red asked.

“Following the king's instructions, we have brought the Accursed Captain Lark to meet with him,” Sir Branwell replied.

They glanced over at me. The look on their faces mirrored everyone else’s when they learned that a pirate had an audience with the king.

“There is also an urgent matter regarding the south that he must be notified of.”

“Very well, you may enter.”

The guards simultaneously stepped aside. We took one step before the two guards crossed their spears.

“We are deeply sorry. Only Sir Branwell and the pirate may enter.”

“I shall return to my post,” the plain-armoured guard commented before leaving.

“Please, the pirate is an Otherworlder, like me. It would mean a lot if you’d let me pass as well.”

“Sorry, but there are no exceptions.”

She looked over at me with a concerned look. I shot her a smile to reassure her it would be fine. I think she got the message because she took a step back and noted she would wait for me outside the room.

The red and blue guards nodded at each other and slowly began to open the large red doors.

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End of chapter 36