East Road Quest

Chapter 47: Director Manoli

On the wooden desk of the director’s office, a few small books were neatly arranged, and only a candlestick capable of holding five candles was placed.

Director Manoli, holding an oil lamp, transferred the flame to only two of the five candles, then extinguished the lamp’s flame and sat down in his chair.

Jade sat on the narrow wooden chair opposite him, which was barely wide enough to perch on one side of his hips.

“Isn’t it Father Jade instead of Father Jayden?” Director Manoli asked.

His amiable face looked rather fierce under the candlelight. It was hard not to reveal a startled expression.

‘It seems one needs good stamina to lie.’

Instead of continuing with a hasty lie, Jade admitted the truth.

“How did you know?”

“I saw you once when I went to visit Father Daniel at Saint Vesta Cathedral. Father Daniel was quite proud of you, and I remembered you from that. Wasn’t there a significant incident three years ago? It left quite an impression on me. I heard you were excommunicated because of that incident…”

Jade just nodded without saying a word.

“You’re here now, and you’ve changed your name; there must be a reason for that. I won’t ask for details.”

The director continued as if he understood everything.

“This isolated monastery in the desert becomes a completely different space from Rome, Parens, or Glitten. Fugitive criminals hide here, and even heretics converted by the devil’s temptation stop by on their way east, but we all turn a blind eye.”

Jade suddenly remembered.

It was when he was a copyist at Saint Vesta Cathedral. There had been a doctrinal conference with monks and abbots from several monasteries. Daniel had stood Jade by his side, boasting to the people.

‘He’s so clever, absorbs everything I teach him. He’s currently learning three different languages, and I’m teaching him another. Of course, I speak six languages myself.’

At that time, Father Daniel was almost branded a heretic for his eccentric interpretations of doctrine, making him famous among the clergy. Such a prominent figure loudly boasting about his disciple was bound to be memorable.

Jade resented Daniel at the time, but now his resentment grew even stronger.

“Indeed, many brothers here have had rough pasts. If we were to dig into everyone’s past, there would be no one left.”

Manoli gestured towards the sky as he spoke.

“The one to pass judgment is elsewhere, isn’t it? We just have to accept it.”

Despite not wanting to remember, Jade thought of Brother Autis, who had attempted to assassinate Emperor Benclauss. He too was a murderer but had been forgiven and came to Saint Santirimo Monastery.

Jade wanted to ask about him immediately.

‘What did he say about the doctor couple, Lapis and Natyuli, called Teacher Lima? Did he repent for his sins, or did he boast about that moment?’

Manoli, unaware of Jade’s glaring, continued speaking while looking out the window.

“Everyone has their reasons, but if we were to concern ourselves with every detail, there would be no end to it. I, too, will overlook whatever circumstances Father Jade has, and I won’t ask where you plan to go after you leave this place. Rest easy tonight, and if the wind dies down, I’ll help you prepare to leave tomorrow. Of course, you’re welcome to stay longer if you wish.”

Manoli’s words were kind, but they sounded like he was forcing a confession. However, Jade couldn’t properly respond and just kept nodding.

He still felt feverish and couldn’t think straight. The bread he had forced down earlier seemed like it would come back up.

“Thank you. But I’m worried about Sister Sop… could I go see her for a moment?”

Jade hurriedly asked, both to escape the uncomfortable seat and out of concern.

“You mean the sister who came with you. If it’s about the meal, Father Puyol probably took care of it. She looked unwell; is she hurt somewhere?”

“Yes. She hurt her throat a little.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, tell Father Puyol.”

“He’s already seen her and said he would prepare some medicine.”

Manoli said with a pleased smile.

“Father Puyol is a reliable brother. In the past, he judged heretics and witches, but now he has become disillusioned with such work and lives in seclusion. He’s traveled to many countries alone, so he has a wealth of knowledge. If he’s seen her injury, you can rest assured.”

Jade realized that Director Manoli was lying, but he couldn’t pinpoint about what. This made him worry even more about Sop.

He had a mountain of things he wanted to talk to her about, and a hundred times more he wanted to hear. Why she came here, how they met in such a dramatic situation, how much she suffered on the way here, how hard it had been for her… And whether Father Daniel had truly passed away!

Jade was about to stand up when Manoli stopped him.

“Oh, just one more thing.”

“Yes, Director?”

“It’s just a rumor, but you know, as one gets older, it becomes harder to ignore such whispers.”

He paused for a moment before getting to the point.

“Is it true that you received the Fourth Scripture that Father Daniel had?”

‘That was the purpose of the long preamble?’

Jade laughed weakly and replied.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t even know if Father Daniel had it in the first place.”

Daniel enjoyed making statements that teetered on the edge of heresy, but he never mentioned the Fourth Scripture.

As far as Jade knew, only two people were aware of the book’s existence: himself and Sop.

“That’s understandable. Yes, of course.”

Jade had only meant to check. “If such a thing existed, wouldn’t any clergy want to see it?” she mused.

The director tried to smile, but couldn’t hide his disappointment. Jade hoped to be dismissed at this point, but the director, licking his lips, continued an awkward silence, as if about to speak.

“Is there something you wish to ask of me?” Jade inquired, breaking the tense quiet.

“Ah, I wonder if it would be too impertinent of me to ask to glance at the Bible you possess now,” the director hesitated.

Anticipating such a request, Jade was prepared and responded without fluster, “Of course.”

She produced the book from her belongings and handed it over. The director, feigning reluctance, flipped through the pages.

“This binding is exquisite. The letters are clearer than any Bible we have in our monastery… It’s different, as expected of a book made in the city. May I read it overnight? It would bring me great joy to pray with such a fine scripture.”

It was a request difficult to refuse.

“Very well. Please return it before I depart tomorrow. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m quite tired,” Jade said.

“Oh! My apologies. Please, go and rest,” the director replied, finally sending Jade off with a pleased smile.

“The hallways are dark; take a candle with you.”

“Thank you.”

Holding the candlestick, Jade left the room and headed to her own. The monastery’s corridors twisted and turned in the darkness.

‘Where was my room again?’

She walked slowly, leaning against the wall. The sound of the wind still howled through the monastery, making it harder to find her way in the noise and darkness.

‘Saph must be more frightened in this wind. I’ll rest a bit in my room before checking on her.’

She finally found her room, but Ruby was nowhere to be seen.

“Ruby?”

She called out several times, hoping to see Ruby’s red eyes shining in the small room, but Ruby remained hidden.

‘This little one, so quiet for a moment, I hope she hasn’t caused any trouble.’

Jade considered calling Father Puyol but decided against it. Something felt ominous.

Unable to endure any longer, Jade collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion pouring over her.

“I shouldn’t sleep…”

With those words, she fell into a deep slumber, almost like fainting.

‘No, it was more like fainting than sleeping.’

‘I didn’t get to speak with the priest. There was so much to say.’

Saph walked along the dark corridor.

The annex was a simple structure with a narrow, straight hallway, stone walls on the left, and four rooms attached to the right.

Saph entered one of the rooms and carefully removed her dust-covered overcoat. The coat, torn by Beishufer, had lost its shape completely during her journey. Essentially, she was bare underneath.

‘I need to find clothes. But where?’

She discarded the torn clothes and, wearing only her overcoat, stepped into the hallway to look for a place to wash. As the bald monk had said, there was water inside the building, and next to it, a wooden bathtub.

‘A bathtub! Is the water clean enough to use?’

Saph dipped her hand into the water and sniffed it. It smelled slightly of earth but was clean.

‘I might need permission. Water must be precious in the desert.’

She paced back and forth in front of the bathtub like a cat wary of its newfound prey.

‘Was this prepared for someone’s bath? But this is a guest building. Perhaps guests are allowed to use the bathwater.’

A neatly placed towel caught her eye. For some reason, seeing the towel made Saph unable to resist any longer.

She undressed gracefully, laid her clothes aside, and submerged herself in the bathtub.

The pleasure of encountering water during her long journey made Saph shiver. But soon, worries crept into her mind.

‘I mustn’t let my guard down. It might not be luck that led me to Father Jade, but misfortune. If any trouble arises because of me, I must protect him.’

Saph sat in the bathtub, recalling the recent events.

‘Beishufer called me a demon. White horns… What does that mean?’

Her thoughts darkened, reaching the warning from Baifel in the black mirror, and her initial joy faded into gloom.

‘The journey has barely begun; I can’t be afraid. I must protect Father Jade.’

Saph was about to step out of the water when she heard a noise outside and quickly submerged herself again.

A deep male voice called out.

“Sister Saph, are you in there?” Father Puyol asked.

“Yes, I’m here,” Saph quickly replied before he could open the door.

It wasn’t the fear of being seen naked that frightened her, but the fear of revealing the horns on her head. When her wet hair clung to her head, the white horns became even more visible.

“Do not be alarmed. I brought a towel in case you needed one for your bath. And some food as well.”

Father Puyol called out loudly from outside the door.

Sapp also spoke up.

“If it’s a towel you need, we have some prepared here.”

“We always keep some ready for guests, but it seems we have some left. However, since we haven’t had guests recently, they might be old towels, so please use this new one here. I will leave your meal in the room. I’ll leave the candlestick here as well. Is it the fourth room?”

“It was the first room when I came in.”

“Then it must be the fourth room.”

After he spoke, the sound of his footsteps faded away.

Sapp let out a sigh of relief. Then, cautiously, he stepped out of the water and peeked through the gap in the door.

The dimly lit corridor, illuminated by the candles, was empty.

‘Could there be torn clothes in that room, and could they arouse unnecessary suspicion?’

Without time to dwell on his unease, Sapp put on his dusty overcoat again. The fact that he wore nothing underneath bothered him, but what concerned him more were his horns.

‘Has he gone? He must have. But just in case, I need to hide them.’

With his hair still wet, Sapp wrapped a towel around his head, using the excuse that he had no time to dry it.

Sapp picked up the candle Father Puyol had left behind and walked down the corridor. Like someone sneaking away, he silenced his footsteps and his breathing. The fourth room, which was open, was dark.

‘Luckily, he seems to have gone.’

Sapp opened the door to the room, illuminating it with the candle.

Inside, Father Puyol was sitting on a chair.