Priest Chris was in complete shock at what had just occurred. The very idea that someone with only three mana circles could tear off his arm had never even crossed his mind. He himself possessed six mana circles, making him a formidable mage and priest. Losing his right arm to such a simple maneuver pushed the rage within him beyond all restraint.
His gaze shifted to Priest Martin's lifeless body lying on the ground. Cracks had spread across Martin's skin, his armor shattered beyond recognition, blood pouring relentlessly from his body. The mana gauges embedded in the back of the armor had frozen in a deep crimson hue, a clear sign of catastrophic system overload. Grinding his teeth, Chris roared, "Unacceptable!"
Technically, he had won the battle but that victory had cost him his right arm. Clicking his tongue in fury, he turned away. Glancing once more at Martin's corpse, he whispered coldly, "For today… you win."
He would have to report everything that happened here to His Holiness the Pope.
The escape of so many children was an unforgivable failure. Letting out a deep sigh, Chris slipped back into the church through its ruined walls as if nothing had happened. After settling matters one way or another, he would head to the Holy Temple to deliver his report though covering up this level of devastation would be no easy task.
A sly smile crept onto his face.
"Things are only just starting to get interesting."
Raising his hand into the air, he shouted with a manic tone,
"I'm looking forward to the future!"
His voice echoed through the empty corridors of the church like an ominous laugh.
...
Nathan Murphy was deep in thought. He had finally encountered the child he believed to be the hero spoken of in prophecy and he would train him personally. The excitement bubbling inside him was so intense that only his assistant Jacob's warning snapped him out of the strange, innocent grin spreading across his face.
Nathan slammed his hand against his finely carved wooden desk. What truly intrigued him was how Jacob had managed to find this hero so quickly. Though Jacob was his assistant, there were still many things about him Nathan didn't know. Trying not to sound overly suspicious, he gave in to his curiosity.
"Jacob… how did you know that child was the hero?"
Jacob fell silent, his eyes drifting uneasily toward a flowerpot by the window. Nathan sensed his reluctance and decided not to push further until Jacob suddenly spoke.
"When the child bumped into me… I felt mana and holy power."
The answer shocked Nathan even more. Mana was not something that could be perceived through physical contact regardless of how many mana circles one possessed, it was simply impossible. Though the questions swirling in his mind multiplied, Jacob casually crossed his legs and said,
"Don't worry. I'm definitely not your enemy."
Nathan wasn't entirely convinced, but he let the matter drop with a quiet,
"If you say so…"
Nathan picked up the newspaper resting on his desk. The headlines were explosive:
"The Betrayal and Death of Priest Martin"
"Priest Chris Loses an Arm"
"Seventeen Paladin Armors Destroyed"
And most importantly.
"The Escape of the Cursed Children."
All of it had happened within the church of Velmora City. Nathan smiled.
"Good news just keeps piling up."
The Holy Temple and the Magic Tower were ancient enemies. Many of the priests within the Holy Temple were former mages expelled from the Magic Tower long ago Priest Chris among them, a powerful exile with six mana circles. His removal from the field was a significant advantage for the Magic Tower.
Yet this conflict went far beyond two institutions. It was a struggle for the Kingdom of Khaelis to break free from feudalism. The Magic Tower stood with the crown, while the Holy Temple aligned itself with regional lords and nobles. These lords used religion to manipulate the masses, obstructing the kingdom's attempts at centralization.
Protected by massive fortress walls, the regional lords claimed to safeguard their cities and collected taxes from the populace. At first glance, it seemed acceptable but as technology advanced, those walls gradually lost their meaning. Still, by blinding the people with faith, the lords managed to keep the feudal system alive.
Leaning back in his chair, Nathan thought of Ryan. He wondered whether the boy was one of the so called "cursed children" who had escaped the church but for now, he chose not to dig deeper into that mystery.
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