By the time the High Priest finished explaining everything, Cherion felt like he had just unlocked an extremely depressing bonus Chapter of his own biography. Though, of course, it wasn’t his. It belonged to OG Cherion

He hadn’t lived through those moments himself, but listening to the old man recount the scene painted a stark, vivid picture in his mind. He could practically see it, a frantic noble couple kneeling on the floor, a bleeding finger flawlessly knit back together by a brilliant golden light, and a desperate father pleading to have his child’s miraculous power permanently snuffed out for his own survival.

Oh, okay... wow. A bitter, quiet realization washed over him as he listened. He had to admit, the OG Cherion’s parents had been entirely right. In this kind of setting, having an absolute cheat-code ability like a healing power would have eventually caused the OG Cherion to meet his own demise.

The second bad people found out about it, they would have locked him away in the deepest dungeons of the royal palace, using him as a human potion until he withered into nothing. It was a terrifying reality, one that aligned perfectly with his own current survival instincts.

Throughout the heavy explanation, Cherion felt a steady, comforting anchor keeping him grounded. Zarius had not let go of his hand. Not even for a single second. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Zarius, noticing every subtle shift in Cherion’s posture as he listened to the priest, leaned slightly closer. "Cherion," Zarius called. "Are you okay?"

Cherion swallowed hard, squeezing Zarius’s hand back to reassure him. He offered the Duke a small, comforting smile. "Yeah," Cherion replied. "I’m fine. Really. It’s just... a lot of information my brain needs to process. Or, well, reprocess."

Zarius didn’t press further, but his grip tightened just a fraction.

The High Priest broke the silence, looking at Cherion with a soft gaze. "Your father used to tell me that he never intended to raise you as a swordsman or a knight like himself and your older brother. He wanted you to have a peaceful, quiet life far away from the front lines and the political vipers of the capital. But when this power manifested, it certainly threw their plans a bit."

Cherion remained quiet, letting the old man speak as he absorbed the historical weight of OG Cherion’s identity through the priest’s words.

"Your parents still brought you to the Temple on a few occasions over the following years, just so I could monitor the power as it grew stronger," the High Priest continued, his voice softening with sadness. "We kept the secret perfectly... until, well, your mother tragically passed away in that carriage accident. And then, not long after, your father and brother fell during the rebellion."

The High Priest let out a long, heavy sigh, his white robes shifting with the movement. "After that chaos, we never saw each other again. When King Alderon suddenly took you under his wing and showed such immense care for you, I was part happy and part worried. I desperately wanted to see you myself, to check on you, but I was terrified that any sudden interaction between us would draw dangerous suspicion."

Cherion processed the words carefully. He needed to establish his boundary now, demonstrating to the religious authority that he was no longer that helpless six-year-old boy who needed to be hidden away or managed. He was the master of his own fate. I mean, OG Cherion is already gone at this point.

"So..." Cherion muttered, rubbing his temples with his free hand while his other remained safely locked in Zarius’s grasp. "That’s a whole lot of information to take in under half an hour, huh."

The High Priest pieced together Cherion’s current posture, studying his calm demeanor. He looked down at the tightly joined hands between the Duke and the young noble, a look of profound understanding crossing his face. "I must ask, Lord Cherion... have you been using that power all along?"

Cherion looked directly into the High Priest’s eyes.

"Ys," Cherion admitted bluntly. "I decided that I needed to use that power to help some people. Good, decent people who actually deserve to live." He paused, his eyes briefly softening as he looked over at Zarius, whose thumb was gently rubbing the back of Cherion’s hand. "Of course, I know I broke the promise I made to my parents all those years ago... but I like to think they would understand. I needed to save the people I love. Besides, I am an adult now. I can decide what to do with my own life and my own power."

The High Priest stared at him, a look of profound respect and relief washing over his ancient features. He didn’t lecture him or accuse him of this and that. He simply nodded, accepting that the little boy who had once been brought to him in secret had grown into a formidable man capable of charting his own destiny.

"I see," the High Priest said, a smile touching his lips. "Then I shall respect your choices. You have grown into someone your parents would be immensely proud of, Cherion."

Cherion nodded, acknowledging the praise but quickly shifting the topic back to the immediate, dangerous crisis looming right outside the door. They were still in the heart of the imperial palace, and the lockdown was active. Every second they spent lingering in this room was a risk.

"So... about Princess Iryna," Cherion said, leaning forward slightly. "Are you really going to lie directly to King Alderon? If they press you for answers on how she was miraculously cured from this deadly poison, what exactly will you say?"

A glint flashed within the High Priest’s eyes. The old man proudly adjusted his sacred white robes, a confident smile breaking through his solemn demeanor. He was, after all, a man who had navigated the corrupt waters for decades.

"I have been keeping my mouth perfectly silent for over a decade to protect you, Lord Cherion," the High Priest stated, his voice full of absolute certainty. "I can easily keep doing it now. Do not worry about the King or others. Leave everything to me."