Wellington is twelve years old and is the son of a carpenter.
He has no mother, his mother died in childbirth, and he is not blessed by the Holy Light.
There is only a very rare element of light in his body.
Most of his body is occupied by darkness. Although the concentration is far less than that of Anzu, the one-in-a-million "Son of the Curse", he is still derogatorily called the Son of Darkness.
Unlike Ansu, Little Wellington's childhood was not as lucky as the former's. Although the dark elements in the latter's body were far less concentrated than those in Ansu.
His father blamed him for his mother's death and kicked him out of the house when he was only six years old.
Little Wellington couldn't find a job either. No restaurant or grocery store was willing to hire a Son of Darkness.
Wellington made a living by begging and suffered discrimination and insults - this was also the childhood of many cursed children.
Although it was difficult, I gradually managed to survive in this city.
As usual, before the morning dew had soaked the entire morning, he got up, took his tattered little bowl, crawled out of the dark and damp sewer, and went to the morning market to beg for three meals a day.
If they go too late, the urban management will wake up and chase them out.
If he was lucky, he might be able to pick up one or two dead rotten fish, and together with the mushrooms he had picked, this would be enough for him to eat for a day.
Wellington's wish was to taste what the cake tasted like. His grandmother said that children who could taste the cake were loved by God, blessed children, and would go to heaven after death.
Unfortunately, his grandmother had died and he never got to taste the cake.
He will be thirteen years old this year and has been living by begging in this city for thirteen years, until today.
The uncle didn't look like a city management staff, he was wearing a hood and his face couldn't be seen clearly. He told Wellington that if he followed the uncle, he would have cake to eat.
Wellington followed him.
But I didn't taste the cake.
Wellington was put in a sack and driven into a carriage.
He shouted loudly. He knew that maybe some passers-by heard his voice, but who would care? Who would care about a little beggar, a son of darkness being kidnapped
The city would be cleaner without them.
In this city, people are kidnapped and missing every day.
Even the saints of the Vatican would not care if beggars were kidnapped.
What they want is to eradicate the cult's hideout to gain the goddess's faith points.
The more frequent the kidnapping incidents, the easier it is for the cult’s hideout to be exposed.
Wellington didn't know how far he had been transported, perhaps out of the city, to a deserted wilderness. He could feel that it was getting dark and the surroundings were eerily quiet.
After his blindfold was removed, Wellington saw an altar.
The altar was filled with white skulls, and the bright torches splashed blood-like light everywhere. Men wearing golden masks surrounded the altar, chanting something loudly.
The coachman took him to the altar.
"Any last words?"
Little Wellington didn't know what would happen next, he had no idea about sacrifice, but he understood that he was about to die, and incomparable fear descended on his mind.
"I haven't eaten cake yet." He stammered, "I haven't eaten cake yet"
He hasn't eaten the cake yet, so he can't go to heaven when he dies.
Wellington was not afraid of death, but he knew that his grandmother had been a good person all her life, so good people would definitely go to heaven.
But he is the son of darkness, he is not a good person, he has never eaten cake, he is not blessed by the holy light, and he cannot enter heaven.
Then I can’t be reunited with grandma.
Grandma has been waiting for him in heaven for six years.
During these six years, he has been trying to save money and stay alive. He wanted to buy a piece of cake to try. After eating it, he would be able to go to heaven to find his grandmother, and then he could die in peace.
But his money would always disappear, perhaps taken away by the urban management or by thieves.
He's dying before he's even had his cake.
He was going to break his appointment with his grandmother - this was what little Wellington feared most.
The priest smiled contemptuously at what Little Wellington said.
"Boring. The Mother Goddess won't like it. You'd better cry out loud, then the Mother Goddess will be happy."
Wellington's shoulders trembled and he closed his eyes.
The priest was about to hold a ceremony when he heard a noisy noise coming from outside.
He suddenly felt something was wrong. Could it be that the location of the stronghold was exposed
But one of his followers came running over and said to the priest with a strange look on his face, "It's just a teenager. There's no one else with him."
"A young boy?" The priest widened his eyes.
"Yes." The believer paused and said with a strange look, "He said he wanted to come to our silver party."
"Also, I can sense that he has a lot of dark elements in him."
The priest soon saw the young man:
He was escorted in by several secret believers. He was wearing a thick cotton coat and grey pants, which was quite bulky. He also had a hood on his head to protect him from the cold. He had a very intelligent face and eyes that revealed some clear wisdom. "Give me a ride."
He seemed very shy and polite. As soon as he entered the door, he rubbed his hands and smiled ingratiatingly, "One is also a gift, two is also a gift."
What kind of heroic attire is this
The priest was almost laughing out of anger.
This kid thinks this is fun and exciting, right
"What is your name?" asked the priest.
"Well, I like sacrifices. I think it's very interesting. My dream is to become the Pope of the Holy See when I grow up."
The boy thought for a moment and said, "Just call me Xianzong."
Xianzong
What a crazy name.
The priest thought the child was making a fool of himself.
He immediately became angry, "Okay, Xianzong, come here."
He has been doing this job for so many years, but this is the first time he has seen someone come to his door and be sacrificed on his own initiative!
You have no respect for your profession at all!
No matter if he has any tricks,
If he doesn't sacrifice you today, he will have lived in vain for all these years!
He asked his men to prepare the materials and drove him to Wellington's side.
Wellington stared at the newcomer. "Are you also a child of darkness? Have you ever eaten cake?"
"Cake?" The man was stunned.
"Because we are sinners," Wellington said, "We can only go to heaven if we eat cake."
"Have you ever stolen anything?" the man asked.
"No."
"Have you ever robbed money?"
"nor."
"Then why do you consider yourself a sinner?"
"Because... they said we were guilty."
"I don't think we are guilty,"
Xianzong turned around, his eyes hidden under his hood, reflecting the bright light.
"Little boy, you are not guilty. They are the ones who are guilty. You should live with more confidence."
He whispered,
"Now close your eyes and cover your ears, Enya, use secret magic to block his five senses - count to sixty seconds in your mind, yes, that's it, after you leave here, go to Morning Star Manor to find the butler to get a piece of cake, you know they will give it to you."
"Yes, just close your eyes and cover your ears. Be obedient and don't open your eyes."
— "I have come as a sacrifice for their sins."
For some reason, Wellington chose to believe him. He closed his eyes, covered his ears, and counted down silently in his heart.
"one."
"two."
"three."
“.”
Wellington didn't know what was happening around him. He faintly heard the boy's low moaning, but couldn't make out what he was saying clearly.
It was eerily quiet.
Wellington finally counted to sixty and opened his eyes.
I found that everything around me disappeared.
Those terrible men disappeared without a trace, and the cold moonlight shone on the altar, as if covering it with layer upon layer of silver frost.
The big brother next to him was gone, and instead there was a small bag of coins.
That sharp coat, those handsome cotton trousers, and that plain face that revealed a hint of clarity and wisdom, were all deeply imprinted in little Wellington's mind, as clear as a firefly in the dark night.
"Brother Xianzong?"
A dream quietly sprouted in the boy's heart.
Thanks to my good brother Xixi for the recommendation and help. Xixi's book was really awesome when we were there.
(End of this chapter)