Chapter 162 - 42: Face to Face (5)
The wind blew gently, and light snow began to fall outside the window once again.
The oppressive clouds, like a gigantic stone pressing down on the entire city, made it hard for people to breathe.
Gray and the Holy Father sat quietly, not facing each other but both gazing out the window. Oddly, this was the same balcony where he had met with Anthony III for the first time when he first came to Pearce Cathedral.
A year ago, standing here, Gray had been thrilled to set foot in such a grand cathedral for the first time. A year later, meeting the Holy Father again, his heart had become extraordinarily calm.
"Life has its ups and downs, and so does everything in this world," the Holy Father said, taking a deep breath. "A moment ago, it was sunny, and now, light snow has begun to fall. I once believed that sunlight could always shine upon the earth. Later, I realized that was just a beautiful dream."
"A dream is something we strive to achieve, isn’t it?" Gray asked.
"Yes, we can always pursue our dreams, but the doubt about whether the dream can be realized will always trouble you. *Gradually, as the noise becomes loud enough, as your lifespan approaches its end and the dream remains unfulfilled, you will become lost. You might even start to question your dream. Most people in this world are like that. Having a dream is simple, as long as you dare to imagine. Yet, having a dream is also difficult because nearly everyone, almost the entire world, persuades you to give up your dream. Including your own laziness, greed, and so on. Most people cannot persist. It’s not just a matter of strength. The worst part is, some dreams are not just one person’s dream but everyone’s dream.*"
"So, has the Holy Father given up on his dream?"
Turning his face sideways, the Holy Father spoke softly, "Not given up, but chosen another dream. A dream that, at least in my lifetime, seems achievable."
"But..." Gray asked softly, "Isn’t the greatness of the Church precisely because it has been passed down for ten thousand years, generation after generation, all towards one goal?"
The Holy Father smiled, lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and said softly, "Yesterday, I saw something interesting and brought it for the Holy Knight. I wonder if the Holy Knight has seen it."