# Moths, Mysteries, and Holy Lamps

After many wonderful weeks exploring the Emerald and British Isles, this one and family once again set sail.

Where to next?

This one did not know.

The sea itself, however, apparently had ideas.

Several days into the voyage, strange mists surrounded the ship and the familiar portal appeared once more upon the waves.

The children were delighted.

This one was concerned.

Before this one could suggest turning around, the ship sailed onward.

Then, without warning, we were lost.

For days.

No stars.

No landmarks.

Only endless sea.

Until one evening, just as the setting sun painted the ocean gold, something enormous emerged beside the ship.

A single gigantic tentacle.

Silence fell across the deck.

The son pointed excitedly.

"Kraken!"

The daughter tilted her head.

"Sea spirit."

This one's wife simply smiled.

"Perhaps."

This one chose another option.

"This one saw nothing and wishes to continue sailing."

The tentacle disappeared beneath the waves.

No one spoke of it again.

Mostly because the portal reappeared shortly afterwards and deposited us, somewhat unexpectedly, near the shores of the https://app.warera.io/country/69614d0e5d798a861630c58e.

Apparently this is simply how travel works now.

The https://app.warera.io/country/69614d0e5d798a861630c58e itself proved beautiful.

Weeks at sea had left us weary, and the sight of gardens, towers, and grand churches was most welcome.

More surprising still was the warm welcome we received.

For this one had the honor of meeting https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c themself.

The Pope.

Or more accurately…

The Archmoth.

When this one asked how one becomes an Archmoth, https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c explained that the title arrives unexpectedly during one's journey.

Their own had been bestowed by the Czech Vice President.

This one decided not to ask further questions.

Some mysteries are sacred.

Others are merely amusing.

"Moths are the best," proclaimed their Holiness.

This one found it difficult to disagree.

https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c proved to be wise, kind, and wonderfully eccentric.

"Ten percent of my work as Pope is entertaining silly questions," they explained.

"And it's the best part of the job."

Thus began many evenings of conversation.

This one learned that every building in the Vatican possesses a Holy Lamp Room.

https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c themself spends much time there.

Half the day during work weeks.

Eighteen hours on weekends.

Moonlight, they explained, is beloved among moths.

This delighted our daughter immensely.

The two spent many evenings beneath the stars discussing fairy stories and moonlight while giant moths danced around the gardens.

When she asked if https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c could fly, they answered:

"Flight is a skill unlocked through dedication to one's faith. I have yet to reach that point, but I know I'll soon get there."

This one admired such optimism.

Meanwhile, this one's son developed approximately seventeen new obsessions.

Giant moths.

Dragons beneath the Vatican.

Sewer monsters.

The Thieves Guild.

Ancient relics.

And whatever happened to be interesting every fifteen minutes.

https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c informed him that giant moths truly existed.

Ancient books even spoke of one that continued growing until it became one with its surroundings.

This only encouraged the child.

When asked if dragons hid beneath the https://app.warera.io/country/69614d0e5d798a861630c58e, the https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c admitted: "I haven't seen any myself, but https://app.warera.io/user/69bf2acf8dffabe5f79e36dc seems sure there are."

This answer raised many concerns.

Speaking of concerns.

One afternoon this one observed a suspicious little man named https://app.warera.io/user/69bf2acf8dffabe5f79e36dc disappearing into the sewers carrying several sacks.

Upon being questioned, he loudly denied any involvement in anything while standing beside what this one was fairly certain was a stolen relic.

This behavior struck this one as suspicious.

https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c agreed.

Ancient relics had recently gone missing.

They suspected https://app.warera.io/user/69bf2acf8dffabe5f79e36dc.

They also explained that only the mysterious Ratican existed within the holy sewers.

This explanation explained nothing.

Apparently many problems had simply been swept beneath the city instead of properly addressed.

This one wisely decided not to investigate.

The son, however, declared this "the greatest place ever."

He now wishes to join the Thieves Guild.

https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c informed him that he would first have to find https://app.warera.io/user/69bf2acf8dffabe5f79e36dc and prove himself.

This one sincerely hopes this was a joke.

This one's wife meanwhile became fascinated by the archives.

The public archives.

The secret archives.

And, most importantly…

The secret-secret archives hidden inside the secret archives.

This one repeatedly found her examining old maps and fairy stories while suspiciously studying locked doors.

Several times she was caught attempting to "accidentally" wander into restricted sections.

Her defense remained consistent.

"This one is simply browsing."

No one believed her.

Least of all https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c, who appeared greatly entertained by the entire situation.

One evening this one asked whether anyone had confused Their Holiness with an ordinary moth.

"Yes," answered https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c.

"They are not walking upon this earth anymore."

This one laughed.

Then noticed the https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c had not.

This one decided the joke was sufficiently funny and asked no further questions.

Eventually our stay came to an end.

Our daughter had learned many fairy stories.

Our son had acquired enough obsessions to sustain several lifetimes.

This one's wife still maintains that the super secret archives absolutely exist and that one day she shall find them.

And this one had gained a friend.

As we prepared to depart, https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c stood beneath the evening lamps and waved farewell.

This one thanked them for their kindness, their wisdom, and their remarkable patience regarding silly questions.

"Come back anytime," said the https://app.warera.io/user/69ce63dd1870cabf4a5c4b8c.

"This place gets stranger every year."

As our ship sailed away, this one glanced toward the shore.

For a brief moment this one swears he saw https://app.warera.io/user/69bf2acf8dffabe5f79e36dc once again slipping into a sewer grate carrying a suspiciously familiar statue.

But perhaps this one imagined it.

After all…

This one had also seen a giant tentacle.

May the winds remain favorable.

May the lamps remain holy.

And may nobody ever discover what truly lies beneath the Vatican.

-https://app.warera.io/user/68e538c09c4aafa6f1a0bd5c