Imperial Calendar, November 5th, 1444.
Holy Seat City.
The fishy sea breeze fluttered the silken curtains, with the air infused with the scent of peppers and flowers, and interspersed with distant chanting and bell ringing.
Pope Johnny VIII stood barefoot on the carpet, dressed in a wide robe with large sleeves of snow-white sleepwear, leaning against the window sill gazing into the blue-gray haze at the sea and sky.
His limbs were slender and long, yet his head and torso appeared stout, like a poor snowman with four sticks inserted into a snowball.
The sea breeze swept in, causing him to lose his balance a bit, and he took a step back, immediately supported by the attendant behind him.
"Thank you, Xie Li." Turning around, supporting himself on the shoulders of the attendant priest, Johnny VIII staggered to the dressing table and sat down.
Even such a short walk made Johnny VIII somewhat breathless.
