Frank sighed, highly a the situation. This was the third time this month that an emergency meeting had been called, and he was getting sick of the madhe High Priest of flict had been spouting. Today, it appeared that he wahose w in the mage spires to begin sabotaging them and trying to kill the mages who wouldn’t join the Church.

  “The damnable mages are the sole reason we don’t have full trol over humanity, the nobles have been vio follow us, but they still accept orders from the mages as well. While we ’t match their leaders, their trainees are easily dealt with! We must turn as many to our service as possible, and if that fails, we must kill them so they ot oppose us further! Infiltrators, your orders should be clear. Recruit any you , poison or assassihose who refuse, and cause chaos in a way that ot be traced back to you. In the few days, you will be provided with any tools you request that help with these goals. Everyone else, harass the mages you see and cim to the citizens that they have failed in proteg humanity. Do whatever it takes, and if you think of a way to improve this, share it,” the a man ranted. As he paused and rubbed his beard, he suddenly stopped, gripping his chest before falling.

  Immediately, one of the Padins behind him leapt forward, bo thudding against their armor as they nded on a knee beside the High Priest. Immediately, their hands blurred from the iy of the magic they formed to begin healing him. At the same time, the other moved between them and everyone who had arrived to ahe summons. A few seds ter, the first frowned, fog more ily before shaking their head and standing.

  “This is abnormal, and likely a sign from od. His heart stopped, and though I restarted it five times, it kept stopping again within a few beats. As such, all orders today are to be ignored, and the sele of a new High Priest shall begin. As has been the case before, if you attempt the trial, the only possible outes are success or death. You are now free to leave,” the man procimed before taking up a position at the ornate door at the rear of the cathedral, nodding as their partner passed within, bringing the fh Priest inside as well.

  **********

  Lisryn cocked her head to the side in fusion. She didn’t sider herself crazy, but perhaps she was, as suddenly she was hearing voices. Ensuring she still had a good view of the field below the wall, she sat down in the chair she had been provided with to ease her damaged leg, fog half her attention inwards.

  “You have been chosen,” the voice repeated, “travel to the capital and take the trial at the Church of flibsp; My former chosen strayed much too far from the path and has been removed, but you are in tuh the truth.”

  This all sounded like she was going crazy, even with it repeating itself. Shaking her head, she stood back up, usiaff to support herself, and walked across the gate to inform the uard, “I o talk to the elder, will you be fine on your own?”

  After getting an affirmative response, she nodded and headed dowairs and into the ter of the vilge. As expected, she found the elder roaming around cheg on how people were doing as opposed to remaining in their home.

  “Please, Elder, I am worried that I am starting to go crazy as I have begun hearing a voice tellio go to the capital for a trial at the Church of flibsp; It may be best to find someoo repce me as a guard,” Lisryn stated, clearly worried about it.

  The older aused for a moment before replying, “Hmm, that is most odd. You see, we just received a message that the Church of flict was holding a trial to find a new High Priest. We were told to share the news, as anyone is permitted to try. Perhaps you should go, Lisryn; after all, you knew before it was announced, so maybe that voice is real? Be aware, however, they directly stated you either succeed or you die, no exceptions.”

  “I must admit that is absolutely not what I expected to hear. Maybe you are right and I’m not going crazy after all… It is w hearing that warning, but I haven’t felt terribly useful since my leg was maimed. I was barely even able to help st time we had an incursion,” Lisryn mused before resolutely nodding.

  The elder shook her head, remarking, “You shouldn’t feel bad about that, Lisryn, you’ve done a great deal for us over the years, and yic helps signifitly with unicatioweees. While we repce you if you choose to leave, it will take several people, even with y slowing you down these days.”

  “Thank you for your kind words, ma’am, but I feel the same regardless of what anyone says. If you don’t mind, I think I will try this trial,” replied Lisryn, bowing her head.

  “Of course, you are free to do whatever you thi. We have a shipment leaving in two days if you would like to get a ride to town, and you should be able to find someone heading to the capital there. We will all hope for your success,” the elder responded, chug in adva what she knew was ing.

  Lisryn scowled and muttered, “Except for Mr. Karl, he wants everyoo fail at everything, the spiteful bastard…”

  **********

  Cyril shook his head at the priest stuttering before them before almost casually cutting him in half. Yet another who had an oversized ego, yet another waste.

  “It is as if none of them listen to the warnings… You would think that ‘You will have no ce of success without flict’s approval.’ would be simple enough to uand,” he muttered, ung that the others would clearly hear it—they all felt simirly, after all.

  Still, he thought, at least it did serve a purpose in weeding out some of the overly ambitious followers who had infted senses of self-importance.

  With a sigh, he stepped over the pool of blood and walked to the door as one of his fellows removed the corpse. Stepping into the main cathedral, he beed for the challeo enter.

  **********

  Lisryn looked about in awe as she entered Arrival, amazed at how much rger it was than the vilges and towns she had been to before. Getting inside had been easier than she expected, she had heard that mages had an easier time than most, but it was still surprising.

  As she wahe city, she came across The Temple of The Green aered to pay her respects to the gods revered within. While she did not follow them, she knew of their importao the world. Furthermore, unlike many who followed flict, she was aware that other aspects were important to maintain bance, without which, flict would falter and diminish.

  Leaving the temple, she focused o crimson cathedral in the distand began making her way towards it. As she approached, several of the members of the chureered at her appearance, her unadorned robe and crippled leg appearing to offend them for some reason. She simply shrugged off the attention and tinued onward, eventually entering the church before being stopped by a guardian.

  They were surprisingly polite, given the reception outside, asking her, “What is your purpose in visiting the Church of flict, ma’am? I haven’t noticed you here before.”

  Smiling at the man, she replied, “I heard a voice tellio e take the trial here. I hope I am not too te?”

  Frowning slightly, the man answered, “It is still ongoing, but are you certain? Many have tried and died, as that is the only oute besides success.”

  Gesturing to her weak leg, she remarked, “It isn’t like I am in good dition anyway, and sidering I heard the voice before I evehere was a trial, I might have a bsp; Actually, one moment,” she then tilted her head to the side slightly, eyes closed.

  A moment ter, she focused on the man again and stated, “I was just told to tell you that you have served well, Normae what others may have said regarding your ideas. Now, how does one go about this trial?”

  The man’s eyes wide the mention of his name, and after shaking his head, he responded, “Well, I believe you now; I haven’t told anyone here my real name. You want to head towards the ornate door at the back, behind the altar. Wait for one of the Padins to e get you, they are the ones who hahe trial. I wish you luck, ma’am.”

  “Thank you for your help and well-wishes, Norman. Padins… Hmm… Ah, the most devoted, and highest skilled followers of od, I see,” she stated before turning to approach the door.

  **********

  Yurania rose from her chair, having heard the bell signifying another challenger arriving. She pced the mostly drained mana stone on the small table beside her before heading towards the door.

  Surprisingly enough, the person to challehe trial was not one of the priests, but rather appeared to be a vilger, only the third so far, and female, which was quite unon. With a mental shrug, she waved the woman in, closing the door behind her.

  Also unon was the ess the ossessed, simply taking a quick look around before following, only fog on the massive dried bloodstains for a sed or two. Momentarily, seven more individuals emerged from ected rooms, walking towards them before f a circle around the woman.

  **********

  Lisryn took a deep breath before slowly turning in a circle, bowing to each of the individuals around her. The voi her head spoke tinually as she did so, and she tried to focus on it as much as possible.

  Going around the circle, she procimed, “You are Lisa, mage of lightning, former member of Granitehill. Daniel, force mage, orphan raised by the churbsp; Narath, leader of the first cycle, healer and water mage. is Jasmine, follower of Magic as well as flict, mage of light and darkness. The one whht me here is Yurania, former bandit, leader of the sed cycle, mage of wind and healing.”

  As she hem, eae nodded, waiting as she took a breath before tinuing, “Luther, former priest, wind and fire mage, born to a thief here in Arrival. Otto, specialist with a crossbow, raised by mages before being recruited to the church, earth and force mage. Thorin, former explorer of the wilds, generalist mage, unknowage, found in a a by a priest.”

  Lisryn rexed, having listeo the voice bel each of the people arouhough she could not tell the differeween them herself. Acc to the voice, this was enough to keep them satisfied for a few moments as she caught her breath. Shifting her grip oaff, she asked if she could be seated, and the person she had called Otto waved, a chair sliding across the room to stop behind her. Smiling and bowing to the figure, she sat down on the provided chair.

  After settling herself in a fortable position, she resumed speaking, “Currently, Brigid, healer and pnt mage, born in Seagrave, is resting. So is Andrew, unique among you in not being a mage, raised by the church as well. Likewise, Cyril, leader of the third cycle, mage of fire and healing, formerly a warrior in the service of the king. Finally, Raelis, healer and wind mage, also joins them iing.”

  Stopping to catch her breath again, she spent a moment listening to the voice expining further. Nodding as it spoke, she begaing, “flict was one of the majods involved in this world’s creation. The world actually belongs to the god Atryna, who had to give up much of their trol in exge for assistan the creation and popution of the world. While many believe flict is focused on war, that is not true, as flict is aernal stant ahere is life.”

  Seeing them nod, she tinued, “The process of gaining trol causes flict, but trol itself reduces flibsp; To best serve od, we must not focus on the short-term, but rather on the long-term. To fall into short-term thinking is to fail to properly serve flict.”

  Listening once again, she tinued, “I have been informed that what you are looking for is a symbol rather than words, though those are important as well. May I have some paper to draw it for you? And actually, I’m supposed to e up with a new oerwards?”

  In respoo her request, Thorin pulled a small notepad and pen from a pouch at his waist and hahem to her. Fog carefully, she slowly drew out the plex sigil that had been imprinted into her mind. After each line, she pared the two, making small corres a handful of times when lines were too short. Several mier, she finished, shaking slightly with the stress to be perfe her motions, and hahe notepad back.

  Thorin nodded and passed the pad to Lisa. She nodded as well, passing the notepad along, each person nodding until it returo Thorin. As ohey spoke, “We aowledge you as the new High Priestess.”

  Following this, most of them returo their rooms, while Yurania remained, stating, “It will take a while to prepare everything, please follow me, you rest in your room while we get everything ready for you.”

  Shard