No rats were encountered on the way to the Cathedral. Gillium quickly found his way to the more well-trodden paths of the tunnels: the one that ran under the Trove, and they were quickly back within the safety of the Cathedral’s stone walls. Gillium hastened his pace every step along the way, until the two of them were running as fast as their feet could carry them. Several times during this desperate jaunt, he could hear Gillium mutter a prayer to The Father:

  “Please let Leith be safe…”

  “High Priest Aurrior!” Gillium called as soon as they rose into the Hexagonal room.

  The High Priest was there, knelt in prayer in front of an altar set against one of the walls within that room. The old man rose with a surprising level of dexterity for one of his age.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We were attacked by Carrolins,” Gillium said. His chest was rising and falling as he fought to catch his breath. “Leith and the others are fighting them in the Crafter’s District.”

  “Rally the others,” Aurrior said. “Drive them out of the city and bring our boys back. Hurry.”

  Gillium nodded and sprinted out of the room.

  “Are you injured, Jein?”

  The boy shook his head.

  “I have to go and read the infirmary.”

  “They had a Warlock,” Jein said, and Aurrior paused. “And he summoned a demon. I’m scared for the others.”

  “That’s understandable.” The Old Man said. “But there’s nothing you can do at the moment. Go to your room. Take a bath. Eat a meal, and wait.”

  “I want to go back there,” Jein said. “I want to help Leith and the others.”

  “Of course you do.” The High Priest said, “Because you are Good; you don’t like seeing others suffer on your behalf.”

  Of course, he didn’t. Who would? The reason they were there in the first place was to

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “But, because of your unique Destiny, it would be a liability if you were captured here. Not just for the Church but for all of the world. It would be like having another Demon King rise.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ah…that is not for me to tell. Once the Conclave finds you, they could reveal that to you, if they so desire. For now…if you were to go with them, you would be a liability.”

  “A liability? I’m meant to be a Great Archmage.”

  “Meant to, and currently are, are two different things. You do not know a single spell, do you?”

  Jein shook his head.

  “You’ve never been in a life-or-death struggle, have you?”

  Jein curled his knuckles into a fist and shook his head.

  “What good would you do against a demon?”

  “Then I should learn!” Jein demanded.

  Aurrior rose his brow for a moment, as if he were considering the proposal.

  “I am in no position to teach an Archmage,” Aurrior said as he lingered near the exit of the hexagonal room. “Only an Archmage can rise to that occasion. But if you learn a spell on your own, I might be inclined to teach you a thing or two about enchanting.”

  Jein knew that an enchanted gear was necessary for the adventure ring, and it would sell for a whole lot. If he fou

  “Then I’ll learn Candlelight!”

  Aurrior scoffed.

  “It takes a talented acolyte five months to learn it; but by all means, if you learn it, I’ll even allow one of the Advents to teach you alchemy.”

  “I need candles.”

  Aurrior clapped, and Jein’s attendant entered the room.

  “Can I help you, High Priest?”

  “Bring a crate of candles to Jein’s room. Along with a bit of food.”

  “Yes, High Priest.”

  The Attendant left.

  “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go gather the healers.”

  The High Priest hurried out of the room and left Jein alone, and it was only then that he allowed himself to begin to tremble. He had encountered a Demon. One of those Creatures of the Void that stood against all of creation that contained the Father’s light. How close had he been to death that day? Why couldn’t he do anything? Because he was weak. He was so incredibly weak. All he could do was watch as The Impatient Guard was thrown against the wall, and then was dragged out of the danger by Gillium.

  Right now, he needed to focus on getting stronger. To protect those whom he loved. If something like that happened while he was with his brother and siblings in the future, what then? What would become of them? Would he be strong enough to hold a demon and its summoner back so that they could escape? Would he be strong enough to do anything but run? No…he had to get stronger, as quickly as possible. Enchanted gear and potions were the shortcuts to that end.

  He retraced the steps that he was led through that morning, and up to his room. The light of the oncoming evening bled through the stained glass window, and a crate of candles was waiting for him on top of the table, along with a plate of roasted chicken and soft, baked bread. Jein picked up the crate, set it, and the plate to the side, and picked up one of the candles and a matchstick of a book that was left for him. He lit it in the middle of the round table in the middle of his room, and he sat in front of it, watching the undulating flame.