Captain – Chapter 628 – Like Yesterday, Yet Like Years Gone By

Roy truly couldn’t understand that word “waiting.”

She could calculate that the old man would still be awake and willing to officiate their wedding because of his old habits and the warmth he had shown her in the past.

But for him to guess that she would come, even without knowing her purpose, was prophetic.

This wasn’t something an ordinary person could do.

Yet whether through memory or carefully drawing upon her great power to sense the aura in the central hall, the young woman was one hundred percent certain that the old man possessed nothing extraordinary.

At least not in terms of his level of existence.

Knowing she could get no answers from the priest who wore an apologetic smile but refused to explain anything, Roy, driven by burning curiosity, wasted no more time and pushed open the door.

Just as she had seen aboard that gigantic warship, the Holy Church’s chapels were all generally the same—extremely simple and elegant. Apart from tables and chairs, there was only the “ice and fire” cross hanging behind the altar, its center radiating gentle warm light.

Of course, the current young woman was no longer so ignorant as to think that was simply a candle or light source placed behind it, just some fake trickery.

She understood that this was divine grace left behind by the Goddess herself.

Just like the cross pendant Bishop Daniel had given her, which could emit holy radiance.

She also now understood that the old man who persisted until late every night, sitting in the front row below the altar bathed in that light, wasn’t merely contemplating scripture or meditating on his own.

He was truly listening to divine words, though…

Roy truly couldn’t imagine what the Goddess, who had already departed, would have to say.

Could she really be giving lectures?

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However, while she couldn’t help muttering to herself inwardly, as she led Caine toward the old man, she still couldn’t help but take a deep breath and rarely straightened her expression.

She was even a bit nervous—though not the kind she felt when facing the Great Captain.

Rather, it was the nervousness of meeting a long-absent elder who had cherished her since childhood, with hints of unfamiliarity and timidity, and worry that he might be disappointed by her changes.

But even the longest road has an end.

Before she could sort out her emotions, Roy was already standing behind the first row with her first mate, while the venerable old bishop in his black and red robes sat less than a step away.

Tonight, he wasn’t quietly meditating as Roy remembered from when she used to spend nights here in the past. Instead, he was slightly bowing his head, leafing through the thick holy book in his lap.

Just as the priest had said, patiently waiting for someone.

Peeking over the old man’s shoulder, seeing that familiar snow-white beard trembling slightly with the turning of pages and the movement of his gaze, Roy felt much more at ease. She released her first mate’s hand, bent down, and leaned closer to call out softly.

“Grandpa Cappe.”

Hearing that careful yet barely suppressed affectionate call, the old man’s fingers paused, then slowly closed the book and turned to look at the two of them.

Compared to the young woman’s memories, his face bore many more wrinkles, and his gentle brown eyes showed hints of twilight, though the kindness in his expression and voice remained as before: “No need to lean so close.”

“I’m not hard of hearing yet.”

Hearing those warm words, Roy quickly straightened up, smiling as she agreed: “Of course, you’re like the Pope—one of those closest to the Goddess.”

“Receiving her teachings and baptism day and night, how could you possibly be hard of hearing?”

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After speaking, seeing the old man show a mix of helplessness and nostalgia at her flattering words, all of the young woman’s previous nervousness instantly dissipated like scattered clouds.

Only true relaxation remained, along with an unusual… slight sourness at the tip of her nose.

Perhaps it was because, from when she first arrived at the islands until today, she had discovered that one of the elders she had considered most important in the past didn’t actually love her enough, but another still waited patiently for her after that storm.

Just like many years ago, waiting for that youth to run through the door with grievances or expectations.

Only…

Whether the Great Captain or Bishop Cappe, though their positions and attitudes toward her had changed, one thing remained the same—they had both…

Grown old, very old, so old that no one knew when they might close their eyes.

And no longer feel hatred or love.

This was perhaps a more powerless and helpless situation than facing specters and devils.

Seeming to see through the young woman’s thoughts, the old man tremblingly reached out his hand and stroked her head as she instinctively lowered it in slight bewilderment, smiling kindly: “Birth, aging, illness, and death are natural laws—what is there to be sad about?”

“Moreover, for believers like us, that is also the Goddess’s calling.”

“Besides, you didn’t come tonight to cry, did you?”

When the stroking ended, Roy lifted her head again, unnaturally scratching at her face, feeling somewhat embarrassed at being comforted like a child and her unintended tears.

However, she was soon distracted by another matter.

“By the way, Grandpa Cappe, how did you know I would come tonight? And from your tone, it seems you even guessed… why I came.”

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“Should this count as a prophecy from the Goddess?”

Hearing this, the old bishop shook his head with an amused smile: “The Goddess departed long ago—how could she grant prophecies? Even what I listen to day and night are just more intuitive explanations of doctrine that she left behind in advance.”

“In fact, I don’t know why I felt you would come tonight either.”

At this point, the old man paused, as if even someone as knowledgeable as him could find no explanation for this, finally attributing it to cause and fate.

It was those invisible threads being plucked, their sounds reaching his ears from the void.

Fate again…

Seeming already weary of this word, the captain lowered her eyes slightly, her mood somewhat dejected: “Grandpa Cappe, do you think that day many years ago when I wandered into the church and met you, and everything that happened afterward, was all fate?”

“All arranged by the Goddess?”

That Goddess called the Mother of Humanity might truly be able to calculate things a thousand years in the future.

“You’ve always loved to overthink things.”

To this, the old man only shook his head with a bitter smile: “The Goddess has no mind for such things. In fact, even the Holy Church was only established during the Ancient Auran calendar.”

“The holy scriptures transcribe incomplete texts, the cross and religious artifacts were excavated from ancient ruins, and the churches mostly imitate past meditation halls—all established spontaneously by later generations.”

Looking at the young woman who showed some surprise and whose dark gold eyes had brightened considerably, the bishop said gently: “So rest assured, there was no arrangement at all.”

“If we must explain so-called fate, according to previous popes, it all stems from choice—you chose to approach the Holy Church, you chose that cross.”

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His gaze shifted slightly to fall on the pendant at the young woman’s neck, and the old man’s face showed more relief: “It seems now that the choice you made many years ago has been vindicated.”

Hearing once again the explanation that “fate is choice,” and all from followers of that Goddess, Roy let out a light breath and finally smiled with relief.

She felt that so-called cause and effect was truly coincidental beyond coincidence, wondrously mysterious.

“Well then, child, let’s leave such idle talk here—I’m afraid if we drag on much longer I’ll grow tired.”

Hearing this, Roy quickly nodded, knowing that at this hour the old man should have already finished listening and gone to wash and sleep. She put aside her overwhelming nostalgia for now.

Though the journey to the Cursed Sea was urgent, she could surely stay for a few days. She could visit the old man again then—for now, it was better to handle the important matter first.

“It’s like this, Grandpa Cappe. I came today hoping you would officiate our wedding, just simply complete those ceremonies. You know I don’t like complications.”

Hearing this, the bishop wasn’t surprised, as if he had guessed this scene before they arrived. However, contrary to their expectations, he didn’t immediately agree.

Instead, he quietly looked at the young woman for a while, his expression still kind but gradually losing its smile. Then he asked seriously: “Child, are you certain…”

“That you’ve seen clearly into your own heart?”

Though this question seemed somewhat out of nowhere, feeling the bishop’s gentle yet penetrating gaze that seemed able to see through all of time, Roy understood.

Because at this moment, though he was looking at her, what he saw wasn’t the present her.

But rather… that youth from many years ago.

Like yesterday, yet like years gone by.