Alex expected the life in college to continue eventless until the midsummer, but there was a slight disturbance when the new season of classes began.

One morning in the kitchen he noticed most of the chosen for some reason were agitated and while the eldest quickly wolfed down their porridge and left, the younger kept whispering something with envious looks on their faces.

“What’s going on?” Alex asked.

Even though he stopped going to the beginner classes long time ago, Josh, Otto and Sandril insisted on joining him during the meals.

“I’m not completely sure, but I overheard one of ours last night. He said that they finally got to learn from the bishop again.” Otto answered in his stead.

“Are you also going?” Alex asked.

“We are not allowed yet. Only those who achieved adolescents can or rather – must go.” Otto said.

“Ye, I also heard one of the chosen say that those lessons are the best trade they could learn after becoming adults. Otherwise loosing the ability to absorb the holy power from the Lord’s seed would be too much of a loss.” Josh said.

“But why are they in the rush? We still have some time till lessons start after the breakfast.” Alex asked.

“Something is being delivered and it’s very important.” Sandril expertly said. Seeing the questioning gazes from others he explained, “What? I also hear things!”

Alex realized he wouldn’t get any further with these kids and went to see for himself. Actually, turned out there was nothing much to see. A large crowd of chosen were gathered at the southern side of the college grounds, kept whispering something and pointing at few houses on the outer ring. Since Alex’s height didn’t allow to see past them, he decided to patiently wait at the side.

“What’s the ruckus here?” Suddenly an angry shout silenced everyone and Alex recognized it belonged to one of the highpriests, “Those eligible to learn from his grace proceed to his class, the rest you – back to your studies!”

Chosen quickly complied and Alex also left with the eldest ones. First of all – he was curious and second – he was allowed to attend any lectures.

Apparently bishop was not in a rush and youths patiently waited in the largest hall of the college. There were around forty of them and most wore the black robes. Alex recognized two of them. One was the guy who tried to order him around in the kitchen, another – the oldest of the cardinal Francis’s chosen whom he cursed in front of everyone.

There was also a young boy, maybe two or three years older than him, who kept sending glances full of hate over, but Alex simply ignored him.

“What are you doing here?” The oldest chosen came over and asked, “Shouldn’t you be sweeping floors somewhere?”

While the rest of the crowd giggled, Alex put his two palms together, closed his eyes and prayed out loud, “Lord, guide us!”

There was no real response to a prayer and the youth was baffled once again after his intimidation failed, but another pulled his sleeve and said, “Leave it, Gillian. He’s sick in the head.”

Gillian snorted and turned his back to Alex on purpose blocking the view, but the latter didn’t mind. He was here to listen anyway.

When finally bishop Phelippe arrived, the class became dead silent and after bishop gestured, everyone sat. He stood on a small stage and glanced over the crowd with the same signature smile on his face.

“I’m glad to see so many faces here.” He said, “And so many in the black robes … I’m certain cardinal Francis’s expedition to the west will be a huge success.”

Happy murmurs and nods followed as an approval, but bishop continued, “But don’t get me wrong, the science of blessings is a difficult one to master. One could even say it is a true art!”

At this moment Gillian moved to the side and coughed at the same time, obviously trying to attract bishop’s attention, but then the old man noticed Alex, he only slightly raised his brows in surprise and didn’t say anything. In fact, he noticed the other chosen, the one who was hatefully staring at Alex earlier and asked, “Who are you?”

The chosen stood up, blushed all over and said, “I’m Vova, your grace. I also achieved adulthood.”

‘So that’s where I know you from! Why didn’t you come over and thank me for awakening you back then?’ Alex grinned to himself.

“Oh?” Bishop was surprised, “How old are you?”

“I’m nine!” Vova proudly said.

“Right, right.” Bishop nodded, “I remember you, your holy power is a bit peculiar. In fact, it is in a way similar to mine. But don’t become complacent just because of it! And that goes to all of you!”

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Bishop took a long theatrical pause to look around the room and then continued, “The fact that you became adults only means your duties have multiplied! You will have to work even harder and you won’t get the boon of the Lord’s seed anymore, in fact, from now on you’ll have to share your holy power with others!”

While it should’ve sounded like a warning, for some reason Alex saw how the whole class only got excited – most of the chosen even blushed and held their breaths while clenching their fists.

“But, similar to any other subject you learn in the college, you will have to start from the basics. Even those of you who had attended this class during previous years will have to go through the harsh training again!” Bishop said. “Alright! Silence now! From now on pay attention, I’ll demonstrate and explain the process of a blessing step by step! Figar!”

This time Alex also held his breath, but only because he was shocked. He saw bishop’s aide, Figar, bringing in a barefooted young woman dressed in a loose linen robe. Her eyes were red from crying and hair unkempt. While walking she lifelessly stared at the floor barely moving her feet.

‘Don’t tell me …’ It took few moments for Alex to regain ability to think. He finally realized what class he was attending and what bishop was actually going to teach, ‘He’s not a pedophile! He’s a f*cking rapist! And he seriously teaches his ‘craft’ to a bunch of morons so they could spread his legacy!’

“Gillian, come here!” Bishop interrupted Alex’s thoughts and called the eldest chosen over.

Gillian, beaming with pride, under the envious eyes of the rest of the chosen proudly walked over to the stage.

“Now then, Gillian. Tell the rest how to proceed.” Bishop Phelippe said.

“First, we have to properly prepare the beneficiary …” Gillian began to explain with a serious expression and raised his right palm that suddenly shone with a golden halo.

The rest of the class gasped at the sight, but bishop interrupted him, “Incorrect! You are too rash, like always!”

Gillian blushed with shame, but bishop turned to the class and continued, “First of all we have to understand whom are we blessing. Is this person a doted believer? Or a lost soul we have to save? May be she’s a vile sinner who harbors evil thoughts against you! Remember, you belong to the Lord and can’t risk your lives in a moment of carelessness! But at the same time you must be merciful and bless everyone with the same devotion.”

Bishop took another long pause and asked the class, “Who can tell me what is the number one priority?”

Several hands instantly rose, but many at the same time shouted, “Our safety!”

“Correct!” Bishop smiled in satisfaction, “During the current demonstration, just like in any other situation, Gillian first had to assess the risks. Let’s see – he doesn’t know the beneficiary, but judging from her expression he can tell she is not thankful at all for the honor she is about to receive.”

Every single chosen in the class giggled, but Alex stared at the bishop with wide eyes in disbelief.

‘Wake up! Wake up!’ He kept pinching himself, but all he felt was a stinging pain.

“Let’s start over again, Gillian. How are you going to proceed?” Bishop asked.

Happy he was given another chance, Gillian didn’t intend to make more mistakes.

“After we concluded the beneficiary is not welcoming, we judge if she might become aggressive or stay obedient.” He explained, “In the first case scenario we use the technique called ‘Lord’s dreamworld’. Like this ...”

This time only the tip of his fingers shone with the golden halo and after he touched the woman’s forehead, she became a living statue. Alex recognized the technique since it was used on him by both pope and bishop.

“Afterwards we have to properly prepare the beneficiary. Otherwise there is a high chance the blessing might be in wain.” Gillian continued, “The technique we use is called ‘Lord’s ocean’.”

He put his hand in the woman’s abdomen and held it there for a few seconds. Then he moved her over and put on the desk at the side of the stage, facing away from the class.

“The technique was successful if the beneficiary is becoming exceedingly wet, right here.” He pulled her robe up exposing her naked buttocks.

Then he slid two fingers in her vagina and then showed them to the class for everyone to see how wet they were, “You can see where the name of the technique comes from.”

“Mhm. Very good.” Bishop nodded, “Continue!”

At this point Gillian was already blushed with excitement.

“But from here on begins the difficult part. We need to use technique called ‘Lord’s strength’ and infuse our genitalia with the holy power, like this.” He pulled up his robe and his thing, already erected, was shining in the same golden halo like the palm earlier, “Only then we can begin to bless the beneficiary.”

He entered the unconscious woman barely holding back an ecstatic moan while the rest of the class gulped loudly.

Gillian seemed to be concentrating on his trusts, therefore bishop spoke, “This part the most challenging. We need to perform exactly hundred thrusts before sharing the power of the Lord’s seeds we accumulated. The technique is called ‘Lord’s gift’.”

Chosen patiently waited holding their breaths until Gillian finally stopped moving after few convulsions. Then he turned back to the class and said, “Afterwards we can perform the technique ‘Lord’s forgiveness’ and wake the beneficiary up.”

“Thank you, Gillian for the demonstration.” Bishop said and waved for Gillian to take his seat again. The latter proudly went back, once again under the envious eyes of the others, “As you saw, during the blessing procedure, Gillian used four basic techniques. But actually there are over hundred different techniques to learn and each next is more difficult than the previous. We will begin our journey with the easiest one …”

Bishop continued his lecture for two more hours during which several other lucky chosen got to demonstrate what they have learned during past years. The chosen were full of excitement and passion to learn, except Alex who didn’t share those feelings at all. After his world finally stopped spinning and he managed to suppress the nauseating feeling, there was only one thought in his mind.

‘I need to find a way to kill these bastards, at least a part of them!’

The next day Alex didn’t go the bishop’s class again and when asked why, he explained he was too young and his proficiency with the holy power was not advanced enough. Obviously he would definitely join the class in the future, when the right time came.

Of course, that time would be never and because of that lesson Alex already had a clue what kind of distraction he intended to create for the night of the heist two years later.