——It was as if someone had obtained the Mystical Skills of the Path of Authority from a Codex Book of the Path of Authority or other types of mystical literature. Then, it's possible that a high-ranking Inspector might mistake him for one of their own, sensing the aura of the Path of Authority from this person. This could lead to the emergence of "false Inspectors," "false Priests."
There's also a more serious problem, which is that one can only set foot on the same Path once. As soon as someone gains an Extraordinary Profession from any Path, they can only "advance" and cannot turn back—if Aiwass had obtained a different profession from the Path of Devotion, he would absolutely be unable to become a Priest. According to the rules of the church, the "Sacred Arts" carefully selected by the church are not to be revealed casually.
If Aiwass had someone to introduce him to it, then he would definitely be able to understand Miss Maya's covert message.
And Aiwass's response with his gesture meant that he was just a "Prayer"—he had not received the Mitre, nor held a clerical position, and was currently not working for the church, only having been taught by someone.
This was of no consequence. Whether he worked for the church or not, Maya didn't care. As long as it was not another profession from the same Path.
Maya felt ashamed for her subconscious suspicions, so she said affectionately, "You can sit next to me, Mr. Aiwass. It's inconvenient to take the wheelchair up the stairs, isn't it?"
"Then I'll trouble you," he said softly.
"Miss Maya," Aiwass replied softly.
And while waiting for the other students, Maya sat in her own chair, chatting quietly with Aiwass, "I heard about the case you solved, and I thought you had stepped onto the Path of Wisdom... I didn't expect that you really are a Priest. Moreover, to have stepped into the second Energy Level at such a young age...
"May I ask which Bishop guided you?"
"Bishop Mathers," Aiwass answered.
Hearing this, Maya's eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. "Eh? Mathers?"
Aiwass caught the anomaly in her emotions.
"Samuel Mathers?" she asked in return.
Aware that Bishop Maya might know Mathers, Aiwass asked, "Do you know him?"
Maya hissed softly, her expression becoming somewhat subtle.
She sneakily glanced at the students and noticed they were all quietly looking over, closely watching the activity near the lectern—it seemed they had become used to following along with Aiwass for a juicy story.
So Maya lowered her voice and covered her mouth with her hand.
"My name is Maya Mathers. He's my brother."
...That was rather unfortunate.
Aiwass's expression also turned somewhat strange.
Although Maya didn't know, Aiwass was well aware that Mathers teaching him the Sacred Arts had actually just happened the previous Friday. The following day was the fifteenth, which meant that Aiwass had advanced immediately after progressing.
It was shockingly scandalous!
It wouldn't really be a problem, just too high-profile.
Although saying this might not be believed by many... Aiwass still preferred keeping a low profile.
But thankfully, Maya provided a response that allowed Aiwass to breathe a sigh of relief:
"——However, he and I had fallen out a long time ago, due to his romantic issues. It's been ten years since I've talked to him."
She said they had fallen out, but it was clear that because Aiwass was Samuel's apprentice, she became even closer to him.
This is hardly a falling out. It seems more like a fit of pique...
"...So, why?" Aiwass was somewhat curious.
He also felt a touch of gossiping desire: "Did the Bishop run into some emotional issues?"
"That day, Samuel brought back a girl who was eleven years his junior, claiming her to be his wife and that they were already married."
Maya frowned deeply, "At that time, Samuel was 29, and the girl was only 18."
"I remember Bishop Samuel is from Avalon, right?"
Aiwass counter-questioned, "An 18-year-old girl should be of age to marry, shouldn't she?"
"Yes, men and women can marry at eighteen. The problem is... don't most people date for several years before they get married? The girl was only eighteen when she married, so when exactly did Samuel meet her?"
At this point, Maya, agitated, gritted her teeth and slapped the table: "He even said that he had just met her not long ago and it was love at first sight! Do you think I would believe that? Should my parents believe it?"
"...It's not entirely impossible, is it?"
Aiwass's expression was a bit subtle. It seemed that the concept of a "flash marriage" didn't exist in this era.
However, this did make Samuel seem somewhat suspicious...
But soon, Maya's words turned Aiwass more serious: "Of course, love at first sight is possible, but the problem is, we later hired a detective to investigate — she's not from Avalon."
"She is one of the Irisflower People, ultimately from the Path of Beauty. Back then, Royal Law University's Sixth Faculty had not yet been established. An Irisflower Person, instead of studying in her own country at Western University, traveled all the way to Avalon to study theology and followed the Path of Beauty. Moreover, she married her tutor just as she reached first grade."
"——Do you think that's reasonable? You don't even have to think carefully; doesn't it look strange from every angle!"
"...Indeed, it doesn't seem very reasonable."
Aiwass frowned, also realizing that something was off: "But Bishop Samuel doesn't seem like such an impulsive person..."
"Exactly! That's what we all say."
Maya whispered, "So we kept talking to Samuel, asking him to calm down, to separate from that girl for a while! But he wouldn't listen. In the end, he moved out of the house and rented a place on his own. However, I heard he was recently elected as a Clergy Councilor, so at least there is no need to worry about his livelihood..."
"What's his wife's name?" Aiwass asked.
"Mina. I've forgotten her maiden name, but she should now be called Mina Mathers... If I calculate correctly, she should be thirty-five this year."
"She runs a Fortune Telling Shop, selling fortunetelling tools and doing divinations for others. But she's not a Prophet from the Path of Adaptation, so what fortunetelling ability can she have? Nothing but a fraud... I really don't understand why Samuel likes her so much."
"When you have time, you might as well go and see them. After all, you have a tutor-student relationship with him, and visiting your tutor is quite normal. Now that you've suddenly brought it up, I'm a bit curious about what that woman is like now..." Chapter Find:
Maya clasped her hands together and quietly pleaded with Aiwass: "Mr. Aiwass, please help! I have a Codex Book from the Path of Devotion that I really like, which I can give to you later... Of course, if you really can't find the opportunity, it's all right. As long as you try to ask my brother, I will give you the book——"
As Maya said this, Aiwass's pupils suddenly trembled.
It wasn't for the reward.
It was because, hearing that name, he suddenly thought of something.
——The game's store, called "Mrs. Mina's Fortune Telling Shop."
That name, Aiwass would definitely not forget. He believed that no player would forget it.
...Well, I have to say, if I get the chance, I do need to take a look.