Heading downstairs with his trusted companions at his side, Seth felt refreshed after having slept through the night with no interruptions or nightmares. Entering the main floor, where many patrons are awake and present, the bartender stood behind his counter, wiping his glasses clean, while serving drinks to those who requested them.
Everyone appeared content among themselves, with some being quite louder than others. It is a wonderful sight to behold, as it fills his heart with joy to witness people enjoying each other's company. He wished that he could stay here a little longer, but duty calls.
Frank quickly switched his attention to them, particularly the holy man. "Seth!" Smiling graciously at him with a wave of his hand, "May I speak with you alone? There is something I wish to talk about in private," indicating for the others to go somewhere else while he deals with the situation at hand.
Although hesitant, Seth nodded. "Very well," he said before turning to his friends. "Go, tell my brothers and fathers that I will return shortly," informing them that he'll be fine and not to worry about anything else except waiting for his arrival. They obeyed instantly, marching together towards the entrance.
Solomon, however, stopped on his tracks as the rest continued to leave the place, briefly turning his head over the shoulder to see his father figure heading to Frank. He was wondering if he should hear what they were planning on discussing.
"You coming?"
The boy swiftly turned back to see worried Bruno staring straight at him. "Yeah," was his simple answer. "Come on, we can't leave them waiting for too long." He moved past him as he opened the door, while the poet remained in his spot for a moment before sighing and following behind.
Frank was standing behind the countertop while polishing the glass cup with white cloth, looking up briefly with a slight smile tugging on the corners of his lips, when Seth came to sit on the empty bar stool in front of him. The holy man politely returned the gesture and gave his greetings to the owner of this establishment.
"So you are leaving, eh?" The bartender asked rhetorically, and his gaze traveled to the young man sitting across from him before settling onto Seth. "Not that it's a bad thing or anything," he quickly added to prevent misunderstandings between the two individuals.
Short laughter escaped from him. "I suppose you're correct about that," the holy man agreed, nodding slowly at the statement. "However, it still saddens my heart that I must depart so soon; meeting people is always a blessing in itself," he said, smiling happily while exploring new places.
A brief silence fell between them until Frank broke it: "Do you really want to do it?" Reciting a question that has been bugging on my mind for quite some time ever since they spoke a day or two ago, "Because honestly, if it were me, I'd rather stay than go somewhere I don't belong," he explained as best he could.
But Seth smiled out of sadness, shaking his head slowly. "I am one hundred percent sure," confirming once again despite knowing the consequences involved in choosing to follow through on the journey. "God has already set my course into motion, meaning that if I refuse, the entire plan will come to naught and people will continue to be dammed," he said, glancing upwards before returning his gaze back on the man.
The bartender narrowed his eyes at this, frowning disapprovingly. "I see," sighing in defeat, "then at least drink one last time before heading out, yeah? It's the least I can do for a good friend," he offered, grinning widely as he placed the cleaned glass on the table beside him.
"That would be lovely." Seth nodded enthusiastically at that proposition. "May I have wine?" He requested, with a smile still plastered on his face, "I pray that the Lord will bless this house, its land, and its family in all days to come for years beyond this moment," expressing gratitude and thanksgiving for all of his hospitality shown.
Frank raised a curious brow upon hearing prayer spoken aloud inside his tavern. "Heh," chuckling lightly, he went over to grab a bottle filled with red liquid and pour its contents into a smaller container. "Don't mention it, kid," pouring it evenly so that there isn't too much wasted when serving customers later on tonight.
Grabbing hold of the cup, he slid it over to Seth, who accepted it with the kindest smile possible from him before bringing it up closer to his lips and taking a sip, relishing its taste as flavors danced upon the tongue alongside a hint of bitterness along the way down the throat. "Delicious" were the only words uttered.
A feeling of pride swelled up in the bartender's chest at those words: "Hah! It's been awhile since anyone actually complimented on something other than beer." laughing lightly at this sight, "although I have a question in regards to your new movement," he spoke casually as his expression softened considerably.
"Yes, what is it that you wish to inquire about?" The holy man asked innocently while setting the cup back onto the table without hesitation, "Tell me and I will answer." A gentle voice spoke quietly as Seth waited patiently for a reply from his friend.
"Who is my neighbor?"
Seth felt his own heart skip a beat when that question came into existence, causing him to pause for a brief period of time as thoughts ran rampant within his brain before finally opening his mouth and saying, "Neighbor?" A sense of blissfulness washed over the whole being like waves crashing onto shore.
"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance, a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. In the same way, a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him."
Frank listened carefully, his eyes not straying away from Seth's own, who continued speaking out the passage without even looking at a single book once. "On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"
"He who showed mercy on him."
The holy man was overjoyed to receive the answer correctly, "Go and do likewise." He stood up from his seat and walked away, leaving Frank dumbfounded and speechless with his jaw hanging agape in shock at his sudden departure, as if nothing happened between them at all. The few coins left behind in place of payment for wine served much to his confusion about how he never had seen them in the first place.
As he exited the tavern, the early morning sun greeted Seth like an old friend as rays shone upon his skin, warming it almost immediately. His robe swayed gently in the wind while light reflected off the surface, making it appear radiant. A gust blew through leaves hanging overhead before the presence of a wagon stopped in front of him.
"Hey!" A man in a gray cloak called out from his horse, pulling reins harshly enough for the beast to whinny loudly at the action performed upon it, "You finished?" He yelled impatiently, holding the reins tightly with one hand while waving at him to get in.
A nod was given as a response as Seth approached and went aboard the carriage without trouble whatsoever, taking his seat at the rear right corner with his hands folded neatly over his lap where his three friends had already occupied space along either side of him.
"Alright!" The carriage driver shouted out through cupped hands, "Onwards!" Flicking leather straps sharply onto horses' rumps as they neighed indignantly in turn, hooves trotted down hard stone paths towards the town gate in the direction of where other wagons were going.
Eventually, they left the town together in a group as many wagons followed close behind their lead. The wind blew around them gently, and birds on the horizon sang songs overhead, creating a sweet melody that filled ears with serenity and calmness throughout the journey.
The ride was bumpy and uncomfortable at best, but at least they knew where they were supposed to go as silence consumed them all while listening intently to what was happening around them, with the sound of hoofs clapping against the dry earth below and wheels rattling over uneven terrain.
"Seth," Bruno suddenly said quietly after a few minutes passed since they left, "what if I don't want to be in heaven? What if I want to be reborn?" He asked curiously, glancing over at the holy man, whose expression had remained stoic throughout their journey so far.
Looking at each other, Seth pondered for a moment whether he should explain in detail why Heaven is the right choice compared to rebirth. "Heaven is paradise," he told as calmly as possible. "It's where all the righteous and redeemed souls reside together, forever basking in the glory of our maker and creator. Those who reside there will get what they want," he said, speaking slowly with a smile forming across his lips.
Frowning, "But people are different, wouldn't it be unfair?" Bruno argued gently, "Some may desire eternal happiness while others want to live again as newborns, free from evil influences around them. Why are those people not allowed to—"
Chuckle escaped from the holy man, cutting off the poet who grew confused by such behavior. "There are many things to consider before making such a choice, Bruno," Seth stated kindly yet firmly. "God is generous, so ask him once you go up there, and he will give you what you want as long as it is reasonable, good, and righteous," ending the explanation abruptly.
Bruno sighed with relief. "Ah, I see!" Finally letting out the tension held in my chest for so long while grinning slightly at the thought of having some control over what happens once they arrive in heaven itself rather than being controlled like slaves under a tyrant, "perhaps I might not ask him to reincarnate me again; I am just glad I can choose."
"Do not be afraid of our father once we go up there, because once we do, you will feel nothing but love and acceptance as always. He is a benevolent God who never gives false hopes or expectations, so believe me when I say that from my mouth," Seth reassured him confidently.
The poet nodded, thinking of himself and wondering if he would want to reincarnate again or stay in heaven. After all, whats the point of relieving this world all over again when Bruno could just enjoy his afterlife without having to suffer or struggle again?
Genno decisively joined their discussion, "regardless of our beliefs, what mattered most is the remembrance of our deeds in this life so others would not forget us after death," causing the other two wise men to nod in acceptance, "a person's life fades with time but not their accomplishments."
Seth, who sat silently while listening intently to the conversation unfold, decided to contribute more on the matter: "You are absolutely correct, Genno," smiling approvingly, "let us treasure our time here while we can then," giving suggestions to be remembered after passing on rather than simply fading away completely with no trace of their existence left behind.
Solomon shifted uncomfortably at the topic, "What about me?" He looked up to the three and said, "My accomplishments are filled with bloodshed and pain," asking innocently, as if he shouldn't be included in these conversations at all, "Am I destined to be remembered as nothing more than a vengeful child?"
Hearing this, Seth completely disagreed with it. "Make new memories and achievements," he encouraged the young boy who became like a son to him, "every waking moment of our lives, we change ourselves one way or another as time passes," being honest in his opinion, "smile and know the Lord is always at your side," flashing a bright smile that lit up the entire carriage like no tomorrow.
