Just outside the tall walls of the Gull Barony, a dozing guard was alerted by the sight of two strangers walking towards him.
It wasn't uncommon for merchant caravans, traveling bands, or adventurer parties to come to and fro, but this pair seemed like none of the mentioned options.
"Who are you?" asked the guard as they approached.
"We've come to stay in the city for a bit" Replied the blond lady.
He had noticed the sword sheathed on her side, so it could be evinced that they were not just some regular commoners who were lucky enough to walk all the way here.
"5 silvers," he said, demanding.
"5? Hasn't the cost of entry always been 3?" Syme asked, confused as that had been the standard price for as long as she could remember.
"The nearby coast is growing restless with sea-beasts, and the baron wants to rally up as many troops and mercenaries as possible. 5 silvers, no more, no less," he said with finality.
"Fine…" Syme resigned, taking out 5 silver coins stamped with a blazing sun with three stars within–the symbol of the Goddess of light who was the patron god of the empire.
See, I told you the money would come in handy, said Rain telepathically, causing her face to look nauseous.
These coins were pillaged from the family they had brutally killed and tortured. It had brought back unsavory memories to Syme who still couldn't remedy the mental aftermath it left on her.
The guard quickly took the money and led them through a side door into the bustling city within the walls.
It was like nothing else within.
Merchants were everywhere, selling, advertising, shouting angry insults at their competitors and friends. The hearty smell of seafood, streetfood, wafted up into their noses.
"Grilled octopus, grilled octopus, 5 coppers each!"
"First grade swords and spears, great for beginners, 50 coppers each! Get them before its too late!"
There were lights hanging from lines between houses, neatly painted signs on every wall, and a compact style of architecture that made everything seem cozy despite its tightness.
Walking down the cobblestone streets, they took in all the warmth and view of this new environment.
But despite this, they weren't moving without a purpose.
"You know where the church of light is right?" Rain asked Syme.
"It's near the Baron's mansion, you can't miss it," Syme replied.
As they continued to strut along the street, Rain asked "is it always so lively here? You seemed surprised too."
"No, there's usually never this many people here. I think it's because the Baron is recruiting mercenaries for the beast wave. Every few years we can assume that one will arrive based on the amount of sea beasts that come up shore–and we believe this one will be especially devastating, which is why the baron is spending so much."
"Mm" Rain nodded.
He wanted to ask a few more questions but those could wait as they turned the corner, their eyes meeting head on against a sun-ray reflected off a massive, golden version of the light goddess' symbol.
It was seated comfortably atop a marble pantheon with ionian style columns and that held up a heavy roof of the same material.
From outside, they could see the first room filled with a handful of worshippers–regular people–and a scattering of white-robed priests with the church's sigil on the back.
They approached, and a bald priest with a goatee, looking to be old–about 50 with white hairs–greeted them.
"May blessings be upon you stranger, do you wish to pray in the church?"
"Not right now, I was wondering, we came from Caprice, and the old priest at the church there gave us his token, saying that someone may be of help here at the church." Syme took out the silver pendant from her pocket and handed it to the priest.
"Hmm…" he said, holding it up to the sun, "ah, it's that old fellow from the Spring Goddess' church. I can't believe he's still alive," laughed the priest.
"Well, that person would be me then," he continued, "come in with me."
Rain and Syme followed him into the church, quietly passing the worshippers and heading deeper into the church.
"My name is Khine by the way, how about you?" asked the goateed priest.
"Syme, and this is Rain," she gestured at the child on the floor.
"Good name… hmm… you know, for that old man to send you here means he sees something in you, so I'm taking you to test your affinity with holy light. It's the key affinity for us priests that determines your ability to handle the goddess Ariel's powers."
"Here," he continued as he took the two into an isolated room with a lectern shaped stone in the middle, "you just have to put your hand on it and channel start circulating your mana. The stone will automatically draw a little bit of your mana, testing your aptitude."
Rain, for a child his age, if he was actually human, wouldn't have been able to utilize mana, so the priest paid him no mind.
So, Syme walked up the stone first, placing her left hand on it.
Immediately, circuits on the stone lit up with a golden color and revealed themselves.
And before long, it kept lighting up, going through the floor, extending to the pillars that surrounded the stone; and eventually when it could spread no further, the circuit lines began to expand, crack, then eventually it burst in a flash of white light, destroying the stone, the pillars and knocking Syme back in a wave of dust.
"!" The priest coughed a little and looked on at the settling debris in complete shock and terror.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry…" Syme apologized profusely but was cut short by the priest.
"Stop, you don't have to. This… I've never seen this before. The setup was overloaded; it had clearly been working fine which means you have unprecedented levels of affinity for our church's magic."
As the revelation began to dawn on the goateed priest, he laughed a bellied laugh, "HA HA HAHAA! The goddess has blessed us once more!"
"Young lady, you have great potential… no, the greatest potential for her grace's blessings. I beseech you, join the church of light," pleaded the priest.
Syme was hesitant.
"What does joining the church mean…?" she questioned reluctantly. This was not going to be the second time she fell for any schemes if it was one.
"Ah, yes, of course, how could I forget myself, my apologies. The church of light operates all across the country as the main protectors against the devil-races' invasion. With your aptitude, we would grant you all the resources at hand to become the most powerful people on the continent; you could even be the next saintess."
"Saintess?" That was a word she never thought anyone would describe her as. The saintess was the most powerful figure of the church, the most blessed by the goddess Ariel.
She had heard that the current saintness of the church was at the 8th tier, able to contend with the world's strongest beings. Now he said she could be the next? It was all surreal, like a dream.
"So, what do I have to do then?" She asked.
"Mm, that is a good question," the priest pondered, "Well, other than the responsibilities of extinguishing the devilish forces that come out of Hell, you will have to respond to bring offerings to her grace Ariel ever so often as a high-ranking prospect. You will also have to train, as your chances of becoming the next saintness I would say are extremely high."
She couldn't get that thought out of her head
'The next saintness of the church of light. Me!' she thought.
But then her daydream was interrupted as she remembered…
She looked at Rain, seeing how he felt about it, but he only smiled at her."
Join them, he told her telepathically.
Even if she became the saintess, would she be able to escape his control? She didn't know, but only time would tell.
"I'll join," she said with a smile.
"Great!" exclaimed the old priest.
"Um… if it's not too much to ask, is there a place we can stay here? We don't have a lot of money…" Syme asked shyly.
"Well, of course! All the best will be provided for the future saintess."
He led them down further into the church to the clergy's living quarters, strutting with satisfaction.
"Just ask and you shall receive," he left, leaving them with one final smile.