"Wait wait wait wait! Stop!" Eva thrusts her hand out and puts a hand on her forehead. Her sudden shouting even woke up Anna who now looks at her confused. "Teacher what you just described sounds like the priests of the temples of the six ways! A-are are you...are you a god, teacher?" She asks with her eyes swimming.
A god? How did she come to that conclusion? "No I'm a book as far as I'm aware?" I answer thruth fully. But when I do Eva starts looking at me doubtfully. Ugh Zwi, do you know what she is talking about? " Not enough data available for conclusive answer. Please acquire more for processing." Yeah good idea. "Well student how about you tell me about this six ways stuff and maybe I can answer your question better."
Eva nods and walks up to the chalkboard. "I don't know all that much but it was included in my studies as a dutchess." She starts by drawing the alchemical symbols for fire, water, earth and air. The one fire fire at the top and then going clockwise in a circle water, earth and air. "This is the four that cast law upon the world it is said. The temple of the fire spirit worships fire and it's creator the spirit of fire. And it goes the same for the three other branches."
I see. Pretty simplistic. But what are these spirits supposed to be? They can't be the same ones as the mana control units can they? Well doesn't matter right now I should keep listening.
"They say that the four spirits keep watch over theire respective elements and give their priests the power of holy miracles. Priests of fire can manifest fire and put it out just as easily. Priests of the water are said to be able to part rivers and create lakes. Earth priests are said to be able to build entire villages in a day and make the crops grow. And air priests are said to fell entire forests and guide fleets savely into ports." Now it's my time to be dumbfounded. That all just sounds like things sorcerers can do...
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"Uhm student all of that doesn't sound very impressive considering that you can do these things with magic." She looks flustered at that but catches herself quickly. "Well, yes theacher, but the thing is they can do that without the use of mana." Ah. So that is what she was getting at.
"And how do they do that?" I ask. I mean they can't all be warlocks right? But she shakes her head. "I'm sorry but I've never seen a priest myself before so I can't say." That's too bad but from what she's telling me I think I can make an educated guess who these so called spirits are.
I float besides her and draw the alchemical symbols for the sun and moon in the middle of the four. "And let me guess these are the ones for light spirit and darkness spirit?" Eva looks at me shocked and flustered. "Err uhm yes actually. But how do you know? I thought you haven't heard of this before?" I just wink at her. "An educated guess my student."
Anna has been watching this entire exchange listening intently. "So. Temple. Nothing special? Teacher can do same." Eva just nods at that. "Yes that why I asked if teacher was a god." Now both look at me expectantly.
I just shrug. "I wouldn't call myself a god. I'm not powerful enough to be called that just yet I'd say. Zwi and I are still not complete after all. Also the thing with your priests is something I will have to figure out just yet but I can tell you that you are different. Take out your phylactery." Eva looks at me confused and I roll my eyes. "The crystal flower student."
Her face goes "oh" at that and she carefully takes the flower from the table and holds it in both hands. "My student, my warlock. What you hold there is the physical manifestation of our contract. It is our souls combined. It is the promise of power and servitude. It is beautiful just like your soul. It is mighty just like our will. And it is unique in this world. The link between you and me is a million times more strong and a million times more sacred than whatever these priests have. You are special to me. Together we will grow. Together we will learn. And that rose. Is the promise of that."
As I finish my little speech I put my hand on her shoulder and smile. Eva face on the other hand goes through multiple stages of emotion. It ends with her eyes tearing up and a soft "Yes, my teacher."