TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 22

The carriage rolled steadily forward, trading goods along the way. The drivers eventually brought Albin and Zeman to a bustling city.

Entering the city followed a process similar to that of the Reedgrass Kingdom. People and cargo were separated into different checkpoints, with only minor differences in fees and inspections.

They arranged to meet the drivers at the Honeysuckle Chamber of Commerce’s headquarters after lunch to officially conclude their contract.

After completing the inspection, the two entered through the ancient gates steeped in history, and the first thing they saw was a wide avenue running through the heart of the city.

Unlike the grape-scented, festive atmosphere of the Reedgrass Kingdom’s capital, this city felt more orderly, stable, and prosperous.

Near the city gates, markets catered to travelers and merchants. People from various countries, identifiable by their diverse clothing styles, bustled about. These markets allowed merchants to quickly sell or barter goods.

Looking straight down the central avenue, beyond a small bridge, they could see a grand building at the city center.

Albin surveyed the markets and tugged at Zeman’s sleeve, brimming with enthusiasm. “Dad, let’s buy gifts for the drivers!”

Though they had already paid the drivers, Albin wanted to give them small presents to express their gratitude for the care they’d received along the way.

Zeman nodded in agreement and accompanied him to explore the market.

They wandered along the avenue, buying both gifts and food, eating as they walked until they were fully satisfied.

Since cooking food required significant fuel, many residents opted to buy prepared meals. Staples like bread were often baked in public ovens or purchased from bakeries.

Clothing shops were also plentiful, and Zeman decided to buy Albin a few more outfits.

They were heading south next, where the weather would soon become warmer, so it was time to prepare lighter clothing.

“Dad needs new clothes too! We should match so everyone can see we’re father and son!” Albin said, glancing curiously at Zeman’s hooded cloak, which now concealed his hair and covered him more than usual.

The suggestion of matching outfits piqued Zeman’s interest. They found a clothing shop and began browsing.

Albin sat on a chair while the tailor measured him, his ears picking up the playful shouts of children outside.

“Who’s it? Who’s it?”

“Me! Me!”

“No way, it was you last time!”

“Let me do it this time!”

It sounded like some kind of game. Turning his head, Albin saw seven or eight children his age playing together, their faces lit with excitement and joy.

Hmm, without computers or phones, what do kids here play?

Having spent recent months traveling with merchant caravans and staying at inns or waystations, Albin hadn’t interacted much with peers. His curiosity was piqued, and his legs swung restlessly.

Noticing Albin’s eager gaze, Zeman offered, “Go play with them, but don’t wander too far.”

Albin’s eyes lit up, and he leapt up to hug Zeman. “You’re the best, Dad!”

He hurried over, afraid they wouldn’t let him join if the game started without him.

“Count me in!” he shouted, running up to the group. His fair cheeks flushed slightly from excitement and nerves, his ruby-red eyes shining as he looked at them expectantly. “I’m Albin. Can I play with you?”

The children exchanged glances before quickly welcoming him.

“Great!” Albin eagerly asked, “What are you playing?”

“It’s Vampire Chase. Have you played before?”

Albin shook his head. “I just arrived here with my dad.”

Seeing he didn’t know the game, the children enthusiastically explained.

“One person plays the vampire, and everyone else hides. If the vampire catches you, you also become a vampire. But just seeing you doesn’t count.”

“You can only hide in this square, no going into houses or alleys.”

Albin understood. It was basically hide-and-seek.

He nodded. “Got it! How do you win? Is there a time limit?”

“The vampire wins if they catch everyone. The humans win if they find the vampire’s lost heart and tag the original vampire with it.”

“Or if it’s time to go home for dinner!” one child added.

They showed Albin the “vampire’s heart,” a rough wooden apple painted red and slightly faded.

“I understand now. Let’s start!” Albin’s eyes darted around as he began scouting for hiding spots.

The game quickly began. First, the humans covered their eyes while the vampire hid the “heart.” Then the vampire closed their eyes and counted, giving the humans time to hide—or start searching for the heart.

Laughter and shouts filled the square as children dashed about, hiding in haystacks, under carts, behind crates, or inside barrels. Some watched the chaos unfold while searching for the heart.

Nearby adults watched the game with smiles, some even sneaking hints to the vampire or helping kids hide.

The square buzzed with energy and joy.

Hearing the word “vampire,” Zeman raised an eyebrow. The term reminded him of stories about mythical humanoid creatures with black hair and violet eyes. He’d dismissed them as mere fantasy.

“Vampires are part of human folklore?” he asked the shopkeeper.

“Yes,” the tailor replied. “A traveling bard from the Temple of Love composed a story based on local rumors about a vampire boy and a human girl. It’s become quite popular, even inspiring theater adaptations. Tourists come specifically for it.”

“Rumors? About a real vampire sighting?”

“It’s said that a nearby village reported a humanoid creature with black hair and violet eyes. But it’s likely just gossip or mistaken identity. Villages sometimes ostracize someone by claiming they’re a monster.”

Zeman made a mental note.

After finishing in the shop, Zeman stepped outside to watch Albin running around the sunlit square.

Seeing Zeman, Albin sprinted over and dove under his cloak like a baby kangaroo, clinging tightly to him.

Zeman looked down at Albin’s flushed, cheerful face. It was the carefree smile of a child enjoying life.

Albin peeked out cautiously. “Dad, don’t move! Don’t let them see me.”

Zeman smirked faintly, standing still as though admiring the central statue of the Sun God, his calm presence shielding Albin.

Zeman slowly curved his lips into a faint smile and responded softly.

Albin was taken aback. Though he didn’t understand why Zeman suddenly smiled, it only made him feel happier.

He turned around, lifting the edge of his cloak carefully to observe the outside.

Zeman cooperated, pretending to examine a statue in the center of the square with a calm demeanor, as if engrossed in its details.

This city worshipped the Sun God, and at the square’s center stood a handsome and elegant statue of the deity. Nearby, a grand building was none other than the Sun Temple.

He had thought seeing a familiar divine figure would bring him deep pain. But feeling the warmth radiating from the person in his arms, he found his mind surprisingly clear.

He only felt that the sunshine was just right, and the laughter and chatter around him sounded like the heartbeat of this vibrant city. Even the turbulent waves of his inner consciousness seemed to quiet for a moment.

It turned out he could still enjoy sunlight.

“There they are!” A group of vampires began running toward them.

Albin panicked, scrambling out of the cloak in a hurry. After darting out, he realized the vampires had actually been chasing a child hiding nearby.

Damn it, he had exposed himself.

The children played gleefully until their parents called them home for dinner, forcing them to reluctantly disperse.

Albin ran for a long time, his body radiating heat, his hair messy from exertion, and his energy still high. He wanted to keep playing.

Naturally, he noticed the striking building beside him. At first, he thought it was a noble’s residence, but after seeing many residents entering, he realized it might be a public space.

“Dad, what’s that place?”

Zeman glanced in the direction he pointed.

“The Sun Temple.”

Albin nodded in realization. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Can we go inside? I’ve never seen a temple like this before. But… I don’t believe in the Sun God.”

Zeman smoothed his hair, dressing him in a shawl like the other parents calling their kids home, and replied calmly, “You can take a look. The temple is open to all, regardless of faith or lack thereof.”

“Are you not coming in, Dad?” Albin asked, puzzled.

Wasn’t his dad a believer in the Sun God? He even wore a Sunray pendant before.

Zeman shook his head lightly and pointed to a sign at the entrance. “I’ll wait for you here.”

Albin hesitated but eventually went in alone.

He wasn’t interested in the Sun God. He still remembered how Sun God followers discriminated against burn victims. His real aim was to ask whether the temple could test his attributes.

Since he aspired to become a Holy Child, confirming his attributes and talents was crucial.

Inside the inner hall of the Sun Temple, Albin passed through a narrow corridor adorned with exquisite reliefs, entering a grand and opulent circular hall. The space suddenly expanded, with a golden, sun-shaped hemispherical dome overhead and a massive statue of the Sun God before him.

This was the ceremonial hall. At the statue’s base, devotees were silently praying.

Noon was when the sun was at its peak, so it was the most revered time for prayers.

It didn’t seem like the right time to ask questions. Albin slipped into the prayer line, mimicking others by clasping his hands and closing his eyes.

Though he didn’t believe in gods or plan to pray, his mind wandered.

Hi, Sun God! Have you eaten yet?

The weather is great today, thanks to you.

My dad bought me an apple pie today—it was stuffed with sweet, honeyed apples. Have you ever had one?

Could you maybe stop disliking burn victims? It’s totally unreasonable. If you keep it up, I might start disliking you too. Not that you’d care…

You know what? Every time I eat something delicious, I’ll tell you about it. Too bad you can’t taste it. Ha!

Today, I played a vampire game—it was so fun! Bet you can’t play games either…

Albin’s nonsensical thoughts carried him through the prayer session. When he opened his eyes, he saw the aged High Priest standing solemnly before the altar, chanting loudly.

“O my Lord, Star of the Sky, Holy Sun, hear our devout prayers. Grant us your glory and blessings, so we may feel your boundless mercy—”

As his words ended, countless points of light gathered beneath the dome, forming a brilliant sphere. The dazzling light reached its zenith before bursting apart, scattering star-like sparks over everyone present.

Even someone as irreverent as Albin received a share of the light.

Wow!

Albin was stunned.

He hadn’t expected a magical fireworks display here!

Magic was so cool!

His excitement reignited as he blinked at a knight in silver armor nearby. “Mister Knight, what’s this magic supposed to do? Is it just for show?”

The knight grinned, flashing bright teeth. “This Glory Magic helps you stay spirited and ready to face anything!”

Albin didn’t fully understand but noticed the radiant expressions on the other devotees’ faces. After a pause, he muttered to himself.

Was this… a one-time-use face mask?

“If I wanted to learn magic, how could I get tested?” he asked softly.

The knight studied the child’s sparkling ruby-like eyes and angelic, unfamiliar face. He was clearly not a local, perhaps a tourist.

“There’s a room on your left as you enter,” the knight explained, smiling. “It’s open to the public and contains testing crystals. Many parents bring their children here when they’re young.”

“Even if I don’t believe in the Sun God?” Albin asked hesitantly.

“Of course!” The knight ruffled his hair. “But if you have strong talent, you might consider staying to study here. The Sun God is one of the three supreme deities, after all.”

The knight inwardly marveled. Temples across the continent competed fiercely for magical talents. By welcoming non-believers for testing, they aimed to identify potential prodigies early and recruit them.

Albin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he peppered the knight with more questions about the crystals. When he left, he went straight into the testing room.

The room was empty except for twelve crystalline pillars in the center, glowing faintly.

It was said the light’s color revealed a person’s elemental affinity, and the number of illuminated pillars indicated their talent.

Since the God of Wine had once chosen him, his talent should be decent, right?

But then again, maybe not. The God of Wine didn’t test talents and probably had other motives. He didn’t seem like a by-the-book type.

Feeling increasingly nervous, Albin took a deep breath, clearing his mind before placing his hand on the crystal.

Instantly, blinding white light surged from the pillar, engulfing everything around him.

Albin’s vision went white, leaving him clueless about how many pillars lit up.

As the intense light finally receded, Albin’s sight returned.

Staring at the crystal, he frowned, recalling the knight’s explanation.

Gold meant light affinity, red was fire, blue was water… multiple colors meant multiple affinities.

But no one mentioned what white light signified.

He should have at least had water and fire, right? Why didn’t the red and blue appear?

Blinking in confusion, he wondered if the crystal was broken.

Or… did the Sun God just not care about him?

Meanwhile, in the far west, atop the Holy Mountain at the grand Sun Temple, a resonant bell suddenly rang out.

The priests, who were distraught over the death of the old pope and the disappearance of Holy Child Zeman, stopped their prayers in shock.

They all understood the bell’s meaning.

—A new Holy Child of the Sun God had been chosen.

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