Sylvester's home on the top floor of the Bright Mother's residence building was far too small to accommodate so many people at once. But for that same reason, it was the perfect place to gather. No longer could they avoid talking to each other, a characteristic common among the faith's top members.

But instead of taking a seat at the table, Sylvester helped his mother with the cooking. Though his main intention was to take some quick bites of Xavia's cooking. Especially those honey-flavored cookies.

So what if he was a god? He still had nostalgia. Heck, he pondered if he should make honey cookies an official offering to the god so he could take it all.

"Grow up, Sylvester." Xavia swatted his hand away from taking another bite from the dry cake.

"Not possible." Sylvester pointed at Chonky, who was sitting atop Xavia's shoulder and constantly receiving treats. "And you don't scold him."

"Because he's a cat, dear. Cats have a short life, and I want him to—"

"Mom, Chonky is older than the Faith of Solis."

"..."

Xavia's head snapped towards the ball of fur on her shoulders, her brows raised in shock. "I-Is that true?"

"Heh, but I'm still a cat, big mom," Chonky replied, munching on his favorite cookies. "I don't know how old I am. Nobody even saw me or talked to me for thousands of years until Maxy found me."

"Oh, you poor soul." Xavia caressed the fur.

Sylvester eyed the cat with a knowing look. It appeared Miraj had understood the power of using emotions and his cuteness.

"Alright, I'll go back and sit at the table." Sylvester turned around since the kitchen had enough Bright Mothers helping them. "And I'll take him too."

"Nyooo!"

Sylvester just grabbed the chubby cat and squeezed him under his right arm like a stack of books. "Can't have him get fat now."

"Big Mom! Take me back."

Sylvester didn't allow that and entered the living hall. Two long tables were joined together to make space for almost 20 people to sit there.

"Your Holiness!"

"Holy Sovereign!"

Just as he walked into the hall, every single figure stood up stiffly and greeted him, as if some sort of military salute. They stared at him in silence, a little too silent even.

Heck, even Miraj stopped his tantrums, shocked and amused by the change in atmosphere. "Maxy, why are they looking at me?"

"Because you're too fat," Sylvester said with a chuckle, waving a hand. "At ease, all of you. We are no grand order of knights, nor am I the Pope any longer. See me as any priest."

That was easier said than done. Nobody sat down until Sylvester had taken a seat at the shorter end.

On his left side sat the Ten Guardians of Light, Gabriel, and Felix. On his right side sat the Demon Empress, Zenith, then his father, King Atrox, Queen Trinity, their son Rex, and daughter Athena, both Sylvester had named.

The left side of the table was connected to him by faith, and the right by personal life. Both were equally important to him and among the guiding forces that would shape the future.

Creak!

Gabriel suddenly stood up from his seat, sitting closest to Sylvester to his left. "Holy Sovereign, I have brought a summary of the past ten years of my work at the Pope's Palace. I have…"

Sylvester patted Gabriel's shoulder and smiled, urging him to take a seat again. "I am not your superior. You are the head of the faith, I'm just a guy who had some fortuitous encounters. Treat me like an advisor, no different from Guardians of Light."

Gabriel gulped, feeling conflicted. On one hand, as the Pope, and as someone who knew that Sylvester was Solis himself, that did make Sylvester his direct superior. But how could he disobey Solis' request?

Finally, he sat down and continued his report.

"With the help of Empress Zenith of the demons leading her species from the Sand Continent, King Rathagun leading Beastaria, and me as the leader of humanity, peace was established. I… I based the peace treaty not on faith but on common prosperity. Thanks to the Hive Project and your daughter Ella's work, the wonders of electricity have spread throughout the Sol Continent, and an expansion into two other major continents is underway.

"As per your instructions, I put the Church's focus on educating the populace and feeding the malnourished. The population growth has taken a steep upward turn, the current human population is standing at six hundred million, and within the next ten years, we'll reach one billion..."

Sylvester knew everything already. Past, present, and future, he was aware of everything all at once. But that didn't mean he needed to act like an all-knowing god. It was hard for others to comprehend what sort of an existence he had become.

"So you have done a better job as the Pope than I did," Sylvester joked and pushed the glass of water towards Gabriel. "I can't find anything to complain about, my friend. But do keep an eye on the population increase. Overpopulation can lead to ruin, but it's nothing to worry about right now—maybe in 50 years."

Gabriel earnestly wrote it down.

"Enough said, let's eat first. Leave the serious matters for later." Sylvester ordered as he saw Xavia and other Bright Mothers bringing in the plates and dishes.

Sylvester truly missed real, physical food, even if he didn't need to eat anymore. He simply didn't have any internal organs now. But the taste still could be felt, for he willed it. The latest chapters are uploaded first on M|V|LE3MPYR.

"This… I missed." He took a bite and just melted into his seat, eyes closed. "By the way, what's the status of that shop I opened years ago? Bard's."

"It's expanded across the world." Felix nonchalantly answered, wolfing down food. He was a fan of Xavia's cooking, too. "I made them open a store right inside Isabella's palace."

Nodding, Sylvester looked at Emperor Raz, the first Guardian of Light, and also an undead. The man was the strangest existence inside the Holy Land.

"What new hobby are you trying now, Raz?"

"I have surrendered myself to Lady Ella. I aid her in her experiments."

"So you're the guinea pig?" Sylvester chuckled and glanced at his daughter. "What are you making these days?"

"Medicine! Father, I read how you solved the plague in the South once. I studied it, and I think we can cure all diseases in the world. We can save all the babies and mothers from Solarium deficiencies! We can…"

Ella went on to talk for the whole duration of dinner. As the second top scorer in the Hive Project, her contribution to the world was no less than Sylvester's. Perhaps her contribution was even greater, for it could be seen and felt. His, on the other hand, was more hidden, spiritual, and fundamental.

"And you, Xylena?"

Xylena stopped stabbing the food on her plate and looked up. "I helped the South and kept an eye on corruption. You outlawed nobility, but I'm still a queen."

And the anchor who saved this world.

To this day, he doesn't know why his and Xylena's fates were combined. Even after becoming a god, he couldn't see through it. It just… happened.

Nearing the end of the meal, Sylvester looked at Empress Zenith. Her world was destroyed, erased from existence.

"Zenith, I will be making changes to the ecosystem of the planet so it becomes habitable for all." Sylvester offered, and then gave a look to all the leaders. "Let's seek greater unity among all species. It won't be easy, likely impossible, but we must not return to the old ways."

"We will follow your order, Holy Sovereign."

"Understood, Holy Sovereign."

Sylvester sighed, disliking their stiff behavior. At that point, even if he were to suggest something outrageous, they'd accept it and fulfill. That type of blind faith was dangerous, no matter who it was focused on.

He ate quietly, feeding Miraj with one hand, letting the minutes stretch out. After finishing, he waited for others, and soon the table was cleaned. His return was a joyous moment for them, and their gathering was akin to a blessing. But the unease in the room was palpable, each glance heavy with doubt.

Almost all members at that table were known across the world, among the strongest in their respective magic or authority. They had sensed something different; it was expected.

It's worthless to tell them that I am Solis—Always have been.

"I have decided to retire from the Church. I will be around, accessible, and available. But I won't remain an official member of the faith anymore. I won't hold any seat or office, nor any court or gathering."

Gabriel's face tightened with concern. "But why? You're still strong. We need you."

"You don't," Sylvester replied calmly. "You've managed the Church of Solis well in my absence. The Holy Land cannot depend on one man. It must grow on its own, free from the perception of power. The faith must be seen as something more than a military force."

"But it is a military power," Felix added from his seat. "You're the anchor that keeps the world united."

"I'm not disappearing, only stepping away from public life. I want to experience the world—live among the people, not like a king. That chapter has passed." Sylvester turned his gaze toward the kitchen, where Xavia moved about. "And I'd like to spend some time with Mum and Miraj. Faith is eternal, but none of you are—Cherish this life, for you never know what you'll meet the fated knife."

All the members at the table tried to digest his words. They were indirect, but they were clear. Their lives were limited, while Sylvester's was long and unfamiliarly lasting.

"Not often do we see the mighty lower themselves below their high seat," Inquisitor High Lord spoke then, his deep faith and reverence spilling. "Holy Sovereign was never a rank, nor a position, and to discard it is nothing but the cycle complete—The faith shall resume its flow as it has like a beat following a music sheet."

Sylvester nodded, smiling. The Inquisitor High Lord had said it well. He, Solis, was no god of light, but the very medium upon which the existence itself existed.

He had no business being the Pope, the Holy Sovereign.

He was no different from dirt on the ground, a leaf on a tree, or the very air inhaled.

"Then let me end this feast with a short hymn, but this one's not for Solis, but for our kind." Sylvester gently put his palms together to pray, and then he closed his eyes. He no longer needed any special reason to create that ethereal halo behind his head. Now, he knew why he had it in the first place.

♫Born of the soil, we are but a seed,

Shaped by breath, and bound to need.

Greed is natural, yet sin we fight—

Such is life, such is its light.♫

♫Recall your lives, your memories wide,

We are many, as those who died.

Not we alone, but our path is rare,

To serve, to judge, to rise in prayer.♫

♫So hold to faith, to vows once sworn,

Though doubt may rise, though hearts be torn.

I trust in you, as does Solis bright—

Shine, shine forth through endless night.♫