"Father Lucian seems to be in a good mood," a villager whispered, watching as the priest strode through the village streets, a faint smile on his lips.

  "He's been like that ever since the incident," another murmured in response. "I wonder what he's planning now."

  Unbothered by the whispers, Lucian approached the chapel. However, something caught his attention—or rather, the absence of something.

  The usual group of children who would run to greet him were nowhere to be seen.

  He entered the old chapel, once a quiet and sparsely visited place save for the sabbath.

  Now, it was teeming with activity. Rows of seats, which previously sat empty, were filled with children and their mothers.

  The soft hum of voices echoed in the air, punctuated by the occasional scratch of charcoal on slate.

  The holy altar, the sacred heart of the chapel, was obscured by a large chalkboard covered in scribbled letters.

  The scene was not of worship but of education.

  At the pulpit stood Leo, his lanky frame slightly stooped as he guided a group of children through a reading exercise. His voice, clear and patient, filled the space once reserved for sermons.

  Lucian lingered at the entrance, observing the scene. The children hung on every word Leo said, their mothers nodding along as they tried to learn the letters themselves. For a fleeting moment, Lucian felt a surge of satisfaction.

  Good. They're progressing faster than I expected.

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  Noticing him, Leo approached as he smiled. "Father, you're here."

  Lucian stepped forward, his staff lightly tapping the ground. "How are the lessons going?"

  "It's going great. The villagers learn fast, especially the children. They're eager to know more."

  Lucian's gaze shifted to the chalkboard, where rows of neatly written Roman alphabets were displayed. He raised an eyebrow.

  "I see you've started introducing my script."

  Leo nodded but hesitated. "Yes… but Father, may I ask? Why are we teaching them these foreign letters? The older villagers especially find it strange."

  "You'll see," Lucian replied cryptically. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a folded sheet of paper. "For now, make sure everyone learns it. And here—this is the next set of symbols to teach."

  Leo unfolded the paper and stared at the strange arrangement of dots and dashes. "This… is another alphabet?"

  "It's called Morse code," Lucian said.

  "Morse code?" Leo frowned. "Who's Morse?"

  Lucian grinned. "Just a friend."

  Leo's expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "This… are you trying to prepare for war, Father?"

  Lucian couldn't help but chuckle.

  Sharp, as always.

  "Maybe," he teased with a shrug, watching as Leo stiffened.

  "I-I see," Leo stammered nervously.

  Lucian's tone turned serious, though the smile never left his face. "Relax, Leo. Your job isn't to question. Remember our agreement?"

  Leo swallowed hard and nodded. "You will let me stay here, and keep the villagers from turning on me… as long as I contribute to the community."

  "And how do you contribute?" Lucian prompted, tilting his head slightly.

  "By teaching," Leo replied, almost mechanically.

  "Good. You're doing an excellent job so far." Lucian's voice softened, a rare hint of genuine praise. "But it's already sunset. Don't you think you've done enough for today?"

  Leo shook his head. "Oh, it's fine. Besides, the children still want to continue." He paused. "Also, Madam Agnes is preparing a community banquet for this evening."

  "Ah, Agnes is a blessing, as always," Lucian said, visibly relieved. "I suppose I won't have to cook tonight."

  As he turned to leave, Leo called out, "But where's Marcus? Isn't he your cook?."

  Lucian waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, he's in Barret's workshop, testing out the 'thing.'"

  Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "The thing? It's finished?"

  "It is."

  Leo's excitement was palpable as he hurried closer. "That's incredible! You mean we can start printing books now?"

  Lucian nodded, an amused smirk playing on his lips.

  Leo's expression softened, his eyes filled with hope. "Books… books that were once only for the wealthy… now everyone will have access to them. This could change everything."

  Lucian's smirk widened, his tone shifting into something darker, more calculating. "And not just books, Leo."

  Leo froze, a chill running down his spine as he caught the glint in Lucian's eyes. "W-what else are you planning, Father?"

  Lucian didn't answer. Instead, he turned on his heel and left the chapel, his robes trailing behind him like a shadow.

  Leo followed him, "Your plan worked, Father."

  "Worked better than I anticipated," Lucian replied, his smirk widening.