“This is it. I am going to fail.” Edwin bemoaned, burying his head in a messy pile of tomes. Torick laughed, looking over at a disgruntled Edwin.

“It might help if you study instead of whine, Ed,” Torick replied, cheekily. Edwin looked over at Torick who gave him a smirk.

“It’s not fair. I’m Sunblessed, I don’t need theory I can just…’ Edwin waved his hand nonchalantly and a pulsating sphere of light appeared in his palm.

“You can’t coast on talent, forever. Even if you are Sunblessed.” Torick chastised. Edwin clenched his fist together and the sphere exploded brilliantly into smaller fragments which dissipated soon after.

“Sure, but I don’t need Holy Theory. My light doesn’t come from The Church like the other Paladins.” Torick pursed his lips and glanced over at one tome Edwin had open.

“Here. What about this…” Torick pointed to a passage in the text. “A calm mind is synonymous with a strong spirit.” Edwin rolled his eyes.

“Right, because studying proverbs from old men is going to make me a better warrior.” Torick gave a soft chuckle at the witty response.

“Even so, Ed. There has never been a paladin who hasn’t graduated from this academy.” Torick held up his finger as if he were a professor giving a lecture. Edwin scoffed as he tried to return to reading. Torick followed Edwin’s finger as he traced along the pages of a worn book. As time went on Torick broke the silence.

“You’ve read that last paragraph three times.”

Without turning Edwin picked up the book by its spine and tossed it weakly at Torick. Torick laughed and did the same, picking up a book and throwing it back at Edwin. The two chuckled as they took turns battering each other until each was on the floor laughing, surrounded by thrown, mistreated books.

Suddenly a booming voice could be heard overhead. Torick and Edwin looked up to see Professor Morgan standing above them, so angry that even his beard was seething with rage. Torick was the first to speak.

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“Professor Morgan we were just…” Torick’s weak response only added to the professor’s intensity.

“You two, come with me.” The two boys jumped up frantically not wanting to cause the professor to grow even more angry. As they walked through the academy students seemed to curl as Professor Morgan strode past. His reputation was frightening, rumors even went so far as to say he’d killed a student once. After a moment the group reached Professor Morgan’s office, which stood ominously in front of them. “Inside. Now.”

Candles dimly lit up Professor Morgan’s office. Some hung from the ceiling, others precariously placed near loose parchment. The walls were made of books, shelves upon shelves so high that ladders were necessary to reach the top.

“If this wasn’t so important I would have you two casting novice holy spells until your hands fell off.” Professor Morgan sighed before continuing. “However, more pressing matters deem that I let it go just this once.” The professor turned back behind his desk groping around the drawers before pulling out a dust-covered tome. Professor Morgan blew off the dust with a quick breath and opened the tome. “Luxos Hicares” the professor muttered, and a small orb of light appeared floating above the tome, illuminating its contents.

Edwin was tired of guessing and finally asked bluntly, “What could be so important in this tome that you weren’t even angry about earlier?” The muscles in Professor Morgan’s face twinged before he answered.

“Believe me I wish I could put you boys through hell right now, unfortunately, one of you is a Sunblessed. I am told that the contents of this tome can only be read by a Sunblessed, so I need you to read it for me, Edwin. This passage here.” Professor Morgan points to a paragraph on an otherwise empty page. Edwin squinted, somewhat confused.

“It looks like gibberish.” Professor Morgan looked distraught. Edwin sighed and picked up the tome to get a closer look. As he did so the tome glowed with an orange light, completely unlike the bright yellow of Professor Morgan’s spell. The words on the page began to rearrange themselves until it read:

Disguised as divinity, the coming of the end, praise the sunblessed, renounce the blasphemous liar. A shadow that feigns light.

As Edwin and Torick pondered the phrase Professor Morgan shut the tome suddenly.

“Those words will mean something to you in time, Edwin, however for now return to your studies.” Thoughts raced through Edwin’s mind, open to all possibilities. He’d never heard of a book that could only be read by sunblessed. As he pondered more, Torick chimed in.

“Professor I understand why you needed Edwin, but why me?” After Torick spoke, something inexplicable happened. Something the two boys would otherwise find horrifying. Professor Morgan smiled.

“Because the bond between friends is more important than you know, Torick. Edwin is of great importance to our nation, but you must stand beside him.” In that moment Edwin felt like a true paladin.