In early winter, the city of Teruo was shrouded in dark clouds. The streets were gloomy and not a ray of sunshine could be seen. Walking on the streets, one could only feel a chill that seeped into one's bones.
A huge wooden platform was erected in the center of the Papal Square, with firewood and straw piled up below and a cross standing on top.
At 8:00 a.m. sharp, people from different parts of the city and from different industries gathered in the square, all with the same purpose—to watch a church deacon be burned at the stake.
In the vast square, people excitedly discussed the details of the punishment, while vendors weaved through the crowd. All sorts of voices mingled together, revealing the myriad aspects of human life.
A butcher, still wearing only a thin shirt in the cold wind, stood on a stack of wooden crates and said to his friend with a smile, "I've seen the church send many people to the stake, but a church deacon... this is the first time I've heard of it."
Several scantily clad prostitutes gathered together, laughing and talking about the identity of the prisoner. One of the women said mysteriously, "Do you know what? I've seen that Vatican deacon. He's handsome and has a naturally sexy voice!"
Her companions burst into laughter upon hearing this, mocking her for her romantic feelings.
A farming couple who arrived in the city early in the morning found the servant in charge of cleaning up the corpses, slipped him a small bag of copper coins, and whispered, "Our child is seriously ill, and a witch doctor told us that only the ashes of someone who serves God can cure our child's illness."
The servant took the money bag, weighed it in his hand, then took the wooden bottle from the farmer and his wife, tucked it into his sleeve, and nodded slightly.
The crowd waiting in the square had been standing in the cold wind for almost two hours. Just as everyone was getting anxious and talking amongst themselves, a line of people walked out of the main hall of the Vatican.
Two Inquisitors from the Inquisition, one on each side, carried a creature that was still vaguely recognizable as human on their shoulders, and walked towards the high platform of the pyre.
To the visitors' surprise, the person in charge of reading the crimes today was Cardinal Jacob.
It was unprecedented in the history of burning at the stake that such a high-ranking official would come specifically to read out the crimes of a criminal.
Dressed in holy robes, Jacob stepped onto the reading platform and proclaimed: "Tristan Ingvar Bradford, formerly the chief deacon under Cardinal Abel, was tempted by the devil on his path of serving God, willingly falling into the trap of becoming an accomplice of evil heretics. His crimes include blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, betrayal of the Papacy, and the study of sorcery..."
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Jacob read out the charges for a full five minutes, and even the executioners by the woodpile yawned with exhaustion.
Just as Jacob was about to launch into a long speech, a church staff member ran up to him and whispered, "The Pope has ordered that these things no longer be discussed; it's not something to be proud of..."
Jacob opened his mouth, then waved his hand dejectedly: "Then carry out the execution."
As Jacob passed by the executioner, he whispered again, "Don't make the fire too big, slowly roast this guy!"
Jacob nodded in satisfaction as he watched the executioner leave, having received his orders.
Amid cheers and applause, the pyre was quickly set ablaze.
The blazing flames scorched the tortured man, and the crackling sound of burning firewood could be heard from a hundred meters away.
Tristan, ravaged beyond recognition, slowly opened his remaining eye. The rotting wounds all over his body regained a trace of sensation due to the intense heat.
Looking at the sea of people below the pyre, he suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, "You who live in lies! Do you feel happy?!"
People were stunned by Tristan's shouts. The noise in the crowd gradually subsided, and everyone wanted to hear what the dying man had to say.
"Do you feel happy when you are treated like livestock, offering up your hair, flesh, and freedom?!"
Jacob, who had just stepped onto the viewing platform, turned around in surprise upon hearing Tristan's shout.
"Living your life in a daze, without even the courage to take a step forward! Do you think you're happy like that?!"
Enduring the burning heat emanating from his lower limbs, Tristan raised his neck and shouted, "You place all your hopes on a cold statue, abandoning your dignity and your dreams, just to enjoy this meaningless pleasure in a bubble of illusion!"
A church member rushed to Jacob's side and said anxiously, "The Pope has ordered that the bastard on the burnt-out rack be shut up immediately!"
As if waking from a dream, Jacob scrambled off the reviewing stand and ran towards the stake in the center of the square, shouting as he ran, "Increase the fire! Burn him! Burn him now!"
Knowing his life was nearing its end, Tristan, with the last of his strength, roared at the crowd in the square: "If the sky is dark, then live in the dark; if speaking out is dangerous, then remain silent; if you feel powerless to shine, then cower in a corner. But! Do not defend darkness because you are accustomed to it; do not be smug because of your own cowardice; do not mock those who are braver and more passionate than yourselves! Before so-called gods, humanity may be as insignificant as dust, but it must never be as twisted as maggots!"
The raging flames engulfed the entire wooden platform, and the body was nowhere to be seen, but the sounds echoed in people's ears forever.
The square fell silent as everyone stared at the flickering flame.
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