Seeing Through the Mortal World Devoting Ones Heart to The All-Giver
"That's all I have."
Cade Sterling stared at her sleeve, his eyes narrowed. He didn't believe her for a second. Seeing the suspicion on his face, Cassidy gave her sleeve a good, theatrical shake.
"Seriously, I'm all out. How could I ever lie to my favorite nephew?"
When he saw that nothing else fell out, Cade's eyes instantly welled with tears. This was somehow even more devastating than when she'd threatened to toss him into the pond.
He pointed a trembling finger at the candy in Miles Sterling's hand. "Where in all of Argent did you even get that?"
*Just as I thought,* Cassidy mused. *No kid can resist a lollipop.*
She leaned in, her voice a mysterious whisper. "You can't buy it in Argent. This was a gift from The All-Giver."
The children just stared at her, unimpressed. Who did she think she was fooling? They weren't three years old.
"You don't believe me?"
The kids desperately wanted to shake their heads, but they were terrified the infamous Cassidy Sterling would actually make good on her promise and throw them into the pond. She had a reputation, after all.
Cassidy had them stand in a line. They didn't dare refuse, shuffling into a surprisingly straight row.
She shook her empty sleeve again. "Nothing up my sleeve, right?"
The children nodded obediently.
Cassidy pressed her palms together, looked up at the sky, and chanted, "By the stars and sky, grant my wish!"
As the words left her lips, a half-dozen lollipops tumbled out of her sleeve and onto the grass.
The children's eyes went wide.
"Was it... was it really a gift from The All-Giver?" one of them stammered.
Cassidy picked up the lollipops, her expression dead serious.
"I just had a word with The All-Giver. They said if you're truly sorry for what you've done, these are for you. But if you keep doing bad things, you'll be sent down to the Nine Hells, tossed into a giant frying pan, kicked into a fire, and whipped for all eternity."
The children shuddered at the thought and nodded frantically. "We know we were wrong! We won't bully anyone ever again!"
Cassidy shook her head. "Words aren't enough. You have to show The All-Giver you're serious."
The kids glanced over at Miles, who was happily enjoying a lollipop in one hand and a cheese stick in the other. They had never seen food like that before, and their stomachs rumbled with a fierce, sudden envy. It looked so good.
Cade's voice was small and pitiful. "Then... how do we show them we're serious?"
"Do you know why The All-Giver gives me all these delicious treats, but not you?" Cassidy asked, holding up a lollipop.
Cade's eyes were glued to it, and he swallowed hard. "W-Why?"
Cassidy's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Since you've all sincerely repented, I'll let you in on a secret. Not long ago, I found a powerful master known as The Vagabond Saint."
"My master told me that as long as I let go of worldly things and open my heart to The All-Giver, I can earn their favor. As my spiritual power grows, I'll be able to conjure any food I want."
As she spoke, she produced several packs of cookies from her other sleeve. "Once I've fully mastered the teachings and shave my head to become a nun, I can go to The Elysian Fields. You wouldn't believe the amazing things they have there."
She leaned in closer, her voice full of wonder. "There's fragrant fried chicken that's crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, sizzling kebabs, bubbling cheese fondue, and even bottles of ice-cold cola. It's just... so good."
"Oh, and the best part?" she added. "You don't have to wake up early to study, and there are no tutors breathing down your neck. Every day, you just chant, meditate, and chat with The All-Giver. It's so chill."
Cassidy got more and more animated as she spoke, and the children's eyes grew wider and brighter with every word. They couldn't hold back any longer.
"Is it true you don't have to study there? And no tutors?"
"If we sincerely repent, will The All-Giver notice us, too?"
"Can I have your master as my teacher?"
"If we get The All-Giver's favor, can we conjure up any food we want?"
"Where is your master? Is he still accepting students?"
Seeing their wide-eyed, hopeful faces, Cassidy smiled and gave each of them a lollipop. "The All-Giver heard you. They told me you have a special connection to the divine, so they wanted me to share these with you."
Cade tore the wrapper off and took a tentative lick. A pure, intense sweetness exploded on his tongue, a flavor better than any candy he had ever tasted.
"Aunt Cassidy, where is your master? Can I become his student?"
She patted his head. "My master is at St. Jude's Abbey, just outside the city. But he moves like a shadow; ordinary people can't see him. Only when you let go of worldly things and open your heart will you be able to meet him."
The lollipop must have been magic, because Cade immediately declared, "I've already turned over a new leaf! I'm a new person! Can you ask your master to take me as his student now?"
Cassidy just shook her head. "Right now, you're too focused on worldly junk. When you finally see past all that, he'll appear to you."
Her work here was done. Cassidy started to walk away but paused to give the kids one last instruction. "What I told you today is a cosmic secret. You can't tell anyone, understand?"
The children promised over and over that they would never tell a soul. They swore they would work hard to earn the favor of The Vagabond Saint so he could take them to paradise to eat barbecue, fondue, and fried chicken.
Seeing how cooperative they were, Cassidy handed each of them a pack of cookies. "Once you've trained to my level, you'll be able to conjure up this much delicious food, too."
Their faces flushed with excitement as they tore open the cookies. A satisfying crunch was followed by a thick, sweet fragrance that filled their mouths. It wasn't sickly sweet like candied fruit or bland like sugar water; it was a rich, creamy sweetness that got better with every chew.
Their eyes widened. Food this delicious really existed.
*The All-Giver is awesome,* they thought in unison.
The Fourth Princess, who had been watching from the sidelines, might have actually fallen for Cassidy's act if it weren't for that ridiculous line about "letting go of worldly things." Looking at the huddle of children now completely under Cassidy's spell, her mouth twitched.
When it came to being a menace, nobody did it better than Cassidy.
She nervously glanced around and, seeing no maids or guards, breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Cade was an experienced bully; he'd specifically picked a deserted spot and sent all the servants away.
"Cassidy, are you trying to get yourself killed?" she hissed.
Cassidy, however, looked completely unbothered. "I'm just an aunt looking out for the kids, giving them some snacks. What's wrong with that?"
The Fourth Princess wanted to scream. *Is this just about giving them snacks? You've practically convinced the imperial grandsons to become monks!*
"If Consort De finds out you tricked Cade into dedicating his life to The All-Giver, she'll kill you," she whispered frantically.
Cassidy gave her a strange look. "I'm doing a good deed. Why would she be angry with me?"
The princess was stunned. "Persuading people to become monks is a *good deed*?"
Cassidy pressed her palms together and gave a pious little nod. "Praise be."
"How is it not a good deed?" Cassidy continued, her voice full of mock sincerity.
"A brat like him was only going to bully more people. Now that he's turning over a new leaf and becoming a new person, it's a huge act of merit. I am sacrificing myself for the good of others and helping Consort De guide her grandson toward a better path. She should be thanking me."
The Fourth Princess was speechless. For a terrifying second, it almost made sense.
*Like hell it made sense!* she thought, shaking her head to clear it. *I almost fell for it myself.*
"Anyway, I've warned you," she said, resigned. "When Cade tells Consort De about this, you're on your own. She'll deal with you."
Consort De was infamous for her wicked schemes; even the Empress struggled to handle her. Cassidy, for all her clever little tricks, had no idea who she was messing with.