POV Falyr Hrasnel

My time spent near Rich has really settled my nerves. It seems that I was worried for nothing, and he is not some sort of an evil mastermind. But something is still wrong. It's hard for me to understand what is wrong but I think it’s something to do with his strength as something just doesn't add up for me. Perhaps he has just found a way to use his strength better which would be quite beneficial for him in the long run, but it shouldn't affect the company badly.

I would still like to know more about his past as he is apparently quite good at making bows as well. That came as a surprise to us all, but it was a welcomed one. Thanks to that we had enough reasons to agree to his trade route idea.

I’m also starting to understand a little bit better about his planning methods. It seems that whenever he makes future plans, he tries to find a way so whatever happens, he would still benefit. If only we would be able to recruit him to our side but that would not work he is too independent for that.

I will just have to hope that I can convince the company to deem Rich a valuable ally for the future. He can offer us quite a lot in the future but for that to happen we need to keep a good relationship with him. I do not know what his future might be but if I had to guess he will be an important figure in the future.

Looking around I see that everyone has already prepared to leave. Only a few families will be left here. Of course, the people who lived here will be staying but a few other families wanted to stay here as well who enjoy a simpler life. Not everyone wants to live in a big city and I completely understand their feelings as even I sometimes get fed up with having too many people around me.

What surprised me was that the entire village seemed to have come out and was in the village square to send us off. I would have expected them all to start seeking the newly abandoned houses so they can get new living quarters.

The village already felt quite empty but now seeing all the people it felt full again. The portal opened like clockwork and a team of portal suppliers came through first. Next was supposed to come Michael for his deal but only one other person came through and that was the priest.

When I saw the priest, I let out an involuntary groan. His description didn't match at all to what I was sent which meant the person was someone I didn’t know. It looks like this day wants to test me. Perhaps it’s time to push back a bit.

Even before the portal closed, I yelled out loud. “Everyone get prepared we will be leaving as soon as the priest is done here.” I then looked at the priest. “Finish here as soon as possible.”

The priest didn’t seem happy about that, but I didn’t give a shit I was fed up with this day. Before the priest could say anything and I could see him wanting to start a lecture David approached the priest with one of the knights and one of the wizards.

“We welcome you to this village. As we understand you wish to inspect every person here to see if they are a necromancer and for that reason everyone is gathered in this square. This way you can be finished quickly and won't hold Falyr and the company people here for longer than they want to.”

That was a surprising development as I hadn’t expected that was the reason why there were so many people here. It seems that they want to get rid of the priest as fast as possible and I want to get back to the capital. The priest didn't like that to a certain degree, but he couldn't argue with the logic at least that’s what I thought.

“It’s a nice gesture and I appreciate the promptness of your actions but I cannot be certain that there isn’t a weasel hiding in one of the houses so I will still need to inspect the entire village.” After the priest finished addressing David, he looked towards me and continued. “And it will take however long it will take. We can't be too careful when it comes to necromancers and the undead that they can control.”

The priest picked a random direction and started to walk away expecting us all to follow him. But he didn’t get too far as suddenly Rich was ahead of him and blocked his way. The priest seemed annoyed and tried to push Rich’s extended arm away, but he couldn’t even budge it which came as a surprise to the priest as he was a gold rank, but obviously, he didn't match the physical strength of Rich. Again, the priest was interrupted before he could start his lecture when Rich addressed him.

“I can understand your need in finding necromancers and the undead, but you have no right to order us around. We have been accommodating and every person is in the square that you can inspect. Please don't make this more difficult than it has to be.” Said Rich in a low tone that indicated that he was not afraid for this disagreement to get violent.

The priest was a bit taken aback for a few moments and he stopped himself from spurting something out before he calmed himself and started to speak. “Very well, but don’t come crying to us when you are overrun with the undead. But remember you have not made any friends today and that is a wrong choice for you.” The priest turned around and started to head towards the square where everyone was waiting in smaller groups and talking to each other.

“Everyone listen here.” The priest yelled and then continued at a more reasonable volume, but one still meant to talk to a lot of people. “I will be performing a holy spell that was granted to us by Helier the God above all else. He is a fair and just God who gives his blessing so we can be rid of the dead that roams this land.”

“For that reason, we must also find the people that can create them and silence them for the safety of all. The spell will not harm any of you but will mark any who is a necromancer and even indicate anyone that has been in contact with the life force of the undead.”

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Everyone looked a bit confused about the priest's statement about God and it seemed that the priest wanted to start answering questions but before he could Rich interrupted with his voice that carry to all. “Can we please have quiet so the priest can begin. Go ahead start your spell priest.”

The priest looked annoyed again but started the spell. It was weird to see holy power used as it was different from other forms of magic. The prayer could be heard by all as the church called it and that was all they needed to do for the spell to work.

It seems that sometimes those can be quite long and would have limited utility in a battle. But I did read a report that explained that churches sometimes had specific people they call paladins that could use holy power extremely effective in combat.

My senses and abilities had a hard time registering holy power, but I could still feel it when it was used. Michael was next to me and poked me with his elbow and showed me something that was in his hand.

It turned out to be a device that showed how much holy power was being used around us. He indicated that the power used was higher than expected and as I looked at the priest it seemed that he was struggling a bit. A frown quickly followed that made the priest's face quite ugly.

The prayer finally ended, and the priest opened his eyes to look around. But there were no indications that there were any necromancers here. I was a bit puzzled about that, so I started to look around and I noticed that Rich’s apprentices weren’t here.

I looked towards Rich and had a double take as it seems that he had used a lot of energy and I now know why I felt that I missed something with Rich he had gotten access to the next tier of energy which would make him a proper gold rank.

So that’s why he hasn’t come to visit for so long he was hunting the entire time to get his stats up to get the first achievement. That's some incredible speed but I have seen it gotten faster. Still, he must be at least one in a million with that level of advancement and especially because his strength is not just skin deep. He is not just empty levels but can actually apply that strength. Fucking scary.

It seems that I wasn’t the only one to notice because after the priest finished inspecting the people in the crowd, he turned his ugly face towards Rich and somehow his face grew even uglier. “Explain yourself you country bumpkin. Why have you resisted the spell? How have you resisted the spell?”

“Are you the necromancer that I’m looking for because if you are no matter how high of a rank you hold or who your friends are we will kill you even if you strike me down here.”

The entire place went quiet but after a few moments, boisterous laughter could be heard. Rich’s laugh seemed to break the priest’s composure and he started to murmur something. But before he could finish Rich spoke.

“I am no necromancer and why I resisted your spell was because I didn’t want you rooting around my body. Quite a reasonable desire in my opinion. But before you finish that prayer know that I harbour no ill will towards you or your religion but if you attack me you will die.”

That last sentence was spoken so coldly that I thought we were back during the cold days of the winter. I believe the shock from that statement broke the priest out of his anger as he stopped his murmuring. He still looked angry, but he also didn’t talk anymore and just walked back towards the tree and started waiting there.

It seems that the priest does have some self-preservation and he didn’t let the situation grow out of hand. “Bert get ready to cast the spell everyone else prepares for immediate departure.” Everyone started to move, and I walked towards David and Rich to shake their hands and wish them well. Michael and Bert did the same and soon the two groups were separated leaving a smaller group surrounding the tree that was going to leave.

For the next few minutes nothing happened, and the portal came to life without any problems. Everyone started to move through the portal carrying everything they wanted to bring back. Before the priest went through, he looked towards Rich and spoke. “It's a nice village you have here perhaps it would be a nice base for my church.” And straight after that, he walked through the portal, but I did feel a spike of holy energy being used.

I felt that this might be quite troublesome as this was clearly a threat, but I saw Rich only shaking his head. The man was always too reasonable at least in my opinion. Next, Michael went through and then the portal suppliers. Only Bert and I were still here but before I could go through Rich spoke. “Does the church have some ways of teleporting or making portals?”

I looked back but it seems that Rich wasn’t speaking directly to me but just speaking as he was walking towards the spot where the priest previously waited in. Before I could answer Bert answered before me.

“Yes, they can make portals. The specifics are still unknown to the outside, but it seems that it takes quite a lot for them to open one, so they don't use them regularly.” I could hear the strain in Bert’s voice, but he was still standing tall and keeping the portal open.

I knew time was short, but I wanted to understand what Rich was talking about but then I felt it. Raw power and so much of it that I almost choked as my sensors were overwhelmed. It wasn't the strength that was the impressive thing although that was also incredible it was the pure amount of it. Looking towards Rich I could see waves of heat emanating from him, but I instantly knew what that meant.

“He is a burner.” I heard Bert speak in an awed voice. I could see the portal waver a bit, but Bert stabilized it quickly. “Falyr, we need to go I cannot hold it for long.” I started to reluctantly move towards it.

I needed to know how Rich was able to figure out the burning effect as it was one of the most desirable manipulations a gold rank can do. I only know a handful of people who had learned it and they kept the how close to their heart.

I was quite mesmerized by the sheer amount of energy that was being released. But I didn’t understand why he was doing this. Then I saw it. There seemed to be a ball of holy power that was now visible thanks to Rich enveloping everything with his energy.

It seems that the priest left something behind but what could it be? I didn’t have any time as the portal already started to shrink. I moved towards it but both Bert and I waited as long as possible. And we saw how Rich grabbed ahold of the holy power ball. Something that should not be possible and then squeezed and I could see every part of him straining to accomplish his task.

Only a moment later the pressure of energy got even stronger and the ball that was left by the priest shattered and quickly the remnants were eaten by energy. I only had time to see Rich look at us, smile and wave at us before we had to jump through so we could make it through the portal.

We tumbled on the ground a bit and it seems that Tom was quite worried as he moved towards us. But what was more interesting was how pale the priest looked. I could see him mutter a curse word and then start to quickly leave our compound.

“Holy fucking shit Rich was able to destroy a gold-rank holy spell.” I could hear Bert say as he was still on the ground completely spent from trying to keep the portal open. I was not in so bad of a condition so I could get up. Tom was looking at me with a questioning look and I just responded with a shit-eating grin. “We need to move Rich’s classification to S+” I could see Tom’s eyes widen.