Every year, the Church would open its doors to let the faithfuls become its direct members.

But as all powerful and all good God was, His emissaries on Earth were just ordinary people. Faithful enough to hold God's infinite love and be appointed by Himself, yes, but ordinary people nonetheless.

So a selection was held in every region's Cathedral and a pilgrimage would start for it.

Raphael too was happily boarding a carriage that would lead to the nearest Cathedral of St. Mary of the Marina.

In truth, even if Raphael didn't want to join the Church, father Jonio would have found a way to persuade him, seeing as first it was his duty as a faithful and second as a priest it would bring him the favor of God.

Along the way, the carriage picked a total of ten children all packed tightly and sticking their light luggage as close to their bodies as possible to have space to move.

On the sides of Raphael was an unremarkable boy that he later found out also had an unremarkable name, John, and a girl that wouldn't have piqued his interest if not for his changing body and the closeness of their body, Beatrice.

What was interesting though, was the boy in front of him, the youngest and most elegantly dressed of all the children, and both of it by much.

Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately for the most tired looking ones, the boy couldn't wait to brag and clear all doubts about his superiority so now, a good two hours into his tirade, the unfortunate boy who innocently asked the first question and started it all was receiving harsh looks from every child who could move their luggage enough to make eye contact with him.

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"Only the most noble of families have the privilege to get their progeny to join the Church before they turn ten, gaining great favor from God both for the family and the child who joins, continuing the prosperity both internally and externally.

All of you peasants have no idea how lucky you are to be graced by my presence, merely knowing low ranking priest that used all their connections to let you enter from official channels hoping you will avoid enough being a disgrace that they will be treated that little bit better.

When I become a bishop you won't even be able to look at me, as I will appear in public only in special occasions and far from your sight."

And then again.

"Only the ones that prove to be the most suitable will actually become official members, all the others will become servants at most, grateful that you can spend the rest of your life inside whatever facility you will help maintain for official members to use.

If you are That inept, you won't even be accepted as servants and the most you will come close to God is if you construct and manage a small unofficial church on your own from scratch."

Obviously there was something wrong with his words as his presence between these lowly ones, even if it was an official carriage, was enough to open giant fallacies in his boasts.

But still, it was true these lowly children didn't know and needed all these informations to help them navigate the prestigious and complicated world of the Church.

After extracting every bit of useful information he could from the ramblings of the noble child, unlike the uselessly worried or frightened children all around him, Raphael didn't dwell much on them, but instantly redirected his gaze to something more useful to himself at the moment, the barely plump thighs of Beatrice next to him.

Truly, he was a dedicated child, the Church needed someone like him and he knew it.