A little chat? That sounds a little menacing.
Adam didn't pry further. Instead, he asked, Adrian why do you have so many books here?
Oh, Adrian replied casually. "I am a beyonder of the white tower pathway whose sequence 9 just so happens to be reader, I have a constant craving for knowledge, though it's not as intense as that of the hermit or the hanged man pathway. Those two pathways are constantly chased that hordes of information that can cause them to lose control and go mad.
'The Hermit pathway in particular is troublesome. The hidden sage constantly fills their minds with unnecessary knowledge on mysticism which could cause the beyonder to lose control. Incidentally, it's also the only neighboring pathway of the savant.
Adam listened carefully, committing every detail to memory. He was certain that such information would either deepen later or had many details yet unknown.
Under the quiet and alluring gaze of the crimson moon, Adam and Adrian gradually grew weary and rested in their respective beds.
…
Bang!
At six in the morning, the cathedral bell rang.
Adam and Adrian rose, washed up and were getting dressed. The sun had yet to surface, but workers were already awake, moving briskly as they prepared for morning mass.
Adrian had prepared new clothes for Adam. Since Adam was a guest rather than a church worker, his attire was simpler yet clean. It was a white linen shirt tucked beneath a brown leather jacket couple with a pair of blue jeans and a black shoes.
Fully dressed, he set aside his clergyman robe on his bed. Before siting on the bed while waiting for Adrian.
Are you planning to join the choir? Adrian asked while adjusting his sleeves.
Can I easily do that? Adam replied. He wasn't sure. He was new not only to the church, but to churches in general. He couldn't even remember if he'd ever attended one before.
You can if you want. Adrian then continued I saw how you wanted to sing yesterday night. Just try to apply there's nothing to it.
After a moment of thought, he added, "I'll ask the deacon when I see him today. Thought I'm not sure I have a talent in that aspect.
Adrian smiled. "You should at least give it a try or find work somewhere in Trier. You'll need money eventually and I doubt you have any.
Adam nodded. "I will ask the deacon, but we shouldn't be late for the mass."
Adam was already prepared to leave while Adrian was still busy with tucking away his things.
"Go ahead," Adrian said "I will meet you there. Remember to stay at the new member section and request for the church bible if you like.
"Alright," Adam replied, leaving the room and heading towards the cathedral's hall.
Numerous believers were already seated inside while more were just entering. Some of these people had sadden faces, their clothes ruffled and tattered. Others appeared malnourished, as if they could collapse at any moment.
Adam carefully found a place to sit and waited calmly for the mass to begin.
The mass began just as the sun rose. When the choirs sang, the stiffness and gloom on the believer's faces gradually faded, replaced by warmth and comfort.
Adam was not too surprised by this as he had already suspected that some members of the church were beyonders of the Sun pathway.
He waited patiently and diligently listened to the doctrines of the church.
After the sermon was over, Adam felt noticeably uplifted. He walked towards one of the workers who was busy handing out church materials to the believers, copies of bibles included.
As he approached the young lady that was busy handling out materials suddenly noticed him, and gestured for him to come.
"I am Eva Wood,I believe you are the new person that was assigned to Adrian?". She said with a bright smile.
Eva was slightly darker than Adam with a bright blue eye and a brown hair, she wore a white robe, embroiled with golden thread and the eternal blazing sun sacred emblem embedded on her chest. She had a very alluring smile that seems as pure as the sun.
Yes I am, I'm actually new to the church, so I need someone to be my guide. Adam said almost awkwardly.
That makes sense, Eva replied as she handed as she handed Adam a copy of the church's bible. And a new note book and a pen.
Thanks.
Write down what you discover, you don't want to forget about things all over again. Eva said before calling for the next person in line.
Adam calmly left the area and sat back at one of chair.
Do all the workers know about my situation? No its top secret. it involves an evil god likely with powerful followers.
So they told a few people just to keep an eye out.
But why? What gives them the idea that I will be of some importance to receive such treatment?
Adam racked his brain seemingly tinking for some kind of explanation but his minds could not thing of anything. In his mind it is better to know why things are than moving blind.
Determined Adam stood up from the wooden chair at the hall, most of the believers had already left.
He walked towards the office of the deacon, where he had visited before with valentine.
Adam knocked and the closed door and waited patiently for a response.
Come in. a voice from behind the door said prompting Adam to enter.
Angoulome de Francois sat behind his desk,wearing his normal white attire with the eternal blazing sun sacred emblem, a strange mechanical device lay before him, he seemed to be struggling to get it to work.
Looking at the individual that entered, he quickly abandoned what he was doing and gestured for Adam to sit.
Angoulome body straightened as he asked "why did you want to see me?"
Adam said politely "sir, I wanted to ask whether I could join the choir."
Adam didn't want to immediately ask questions on important matters especially when they were confidential. If matters that concerned him be too dangerous its quite necessary the keep things from him and he would be closely observed.
Angoulome raised his eyebrow. "why?"
"I really need to find a way to earn money to sustain myself, I can't always be relying on the church for everything. Adam replied.
That true. Angoulome de Francois continued, but the choir group are not paid to work, most of them are beyonders of the sun pathway and this is their way to showcase their faith to "Him". If you want to join the choir that's fine. But if you really want to earn money. I can assign you a commission.
A Commission? Adam asked, his interest unmistakable.
Adam didn't know what sort of commission he would receive but it was better than nothing and most importantly there's payment.
Without hiding his excitement Adam asked. Sir what does this commission entail.
"It should be easily accomplished," Angoulome said evenly. "You will visit locations in trier and observe for any anomalies and strange occurrences, basically anything out of the ordinary or doesn't feel right with you."
But you've got to be careful, as a beyonder there is a law you must learn called, the law of beyonder characteristics convergence it means that you're more likely to encounter beyonders of the same and neighboring pathways as you.
Law of beyonder characteristics convergence? Sir you are saying that I could easily encounter beyonders of the same pathway?
Angoulome replied, yes and also the neighboring pathways.
Wait now that I think about it, I have already met beyonders from the sun and white-tower pathways in less than a day, valentine, Adrian, Eva. It makes sense since I am in the church of the eternal blazing sun. then it must be same for the other pathways.
After a moment of thought Adam asked, sir is it possible for me to become a beyonder of the savant pathway using potion ingredients?
Angoulome paused for a moment as he knew the repercussions of such a switch to a non-neighboring pathway and with valentine's theory it might lead to a loss of control, or perhaps their entire theory was wrong, maybe Adam is simply an ordinary person with a high spirituality.
Ordinary people with above normal godhood level could possess high spirituality causing them to develop abilities that a beyonder possesses.
You should already know the dangers of such a pathway switch to a non-neighboring one. But it's still too risky, so I will give it some thought and get back to you. Angoulome said calmly.
Yes I understand the dangers, but I thought that since I am a half beyonder of the spectator pathway, there should be a way to mitigate the danger, I can't just accept what I did not choose.
There's something I must tell you that we had suspicions that you are not only half- beyonder of the spectator pathway, but also part bard from my pathway.
When Adam heard the deacon words he was stunned for a moment. But he wasn't too stunned he had suspected that something was peculiar about him that interested the church and this was it being a half spectator and half bard.
is that the reason why I fell an urge to sing when I hear the choir, why I am so insistent on joining even though I want to leave the watchful eyes of the church. Adam thought silently.
Seeing Adam surprised expression Angoulome continued. When u came here and requested to join the choir this theory was confirmed only sun pathway beyonders will feel the urge to sing and praise the sun. but it still doesn't make sense.