Apon return to the temple Sorach immediately made his way to greet Chali. First entering the long hallway with paladins guarding old artefacts and codices. He made his way to the library for he knew he would find his friend there. The Sorach could see the holy energy moving through the temple walls as it channeled through the black and white marble. It was always wonderful to behold. It was due to millennia of light practitioners residing within its walls, that light has become one with this place. The temple is the temple of light for the light is one with its walls. As he approached the large Gold and Ebony door that Guards the library, Sorach greeted the oath bearers who guard this place.

Chali was indeed inside reading a codex. As were many other monks, priests and acolytes seeking wisdom from the saints of the past. Sorach too loved to read. He had learned a lot later because of his visual impairment. But for the longevity of the texts the words are engraved with light into the leather pages. Sorach could feel this mana and his sense ad become good enough to not only be able to distinguish its presence but its shape. This did however still require a great deal of focus from him. And when his mind tired he would ask Chali to read to him.

Seeing Chali reading on her own, recognizing her mana signature Sorach immediately knew she had some sort of ailment. He approached her and she did not say hello. Then she gave him a hug. And touched his neck. Only then did he understand. Chali had her ceremony whilst he was away with Bishop Martinez. This slightly disappointed him, but he did think it cause for celebration. He asked her how many days has it been and she starts tapping his arm. He counts the taps and it seems as though it was nine days, He asks and she confirms with a tap.

Now while one might think why it would take a young acolyte long to recover from the Selection. It is important to note the difficulty with healing ones own wounds. If we were to compare the human body with mana to a bucket of water. It is easy to pour out water onto other objects and whet them for growth. But how does one wet the bottom of the bucket with the bucket itself? The container itself acts as a instrument for the use of the vassal. Such is also true for mana. It is an intricate skill learned the hard way and is a very complex problem for any mage to overcome. Not overcoming this problem would make any light mage unsuitable for any role in battle for they would have to rely on external healing factors.

Furthermore an attempt to heal oneself incorrectly can result in deformities, and deformities would require you to re- cut the injury for proper healing to occur. But recutting in the case of the tongue can lead to risk of infection or suffocation. The therefore it is a risk. Like taking a leap. And if one does not build up the necessary courage and skillset to do it , one becomes a silent. Forever serving the temple as an act of submission.

Sorach left Chali on her own that she might find the strength to heal herself. There was nothing he could do but wait anxiously . Then he made his way to the hall of healing. He needed training if he wanted to succeed in his own Coming of age Ceremony. And there was less than a years time. He spent the next 8 months religiously visiting the hall of healing. Collecting Parchment and specifically focusing on human tongue.

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The hall of healing was a section of the temple that could partially be visited by the public. The hall of healing was where people stood in lines to receive healing. People from all over the continent came. The hall of healing was a huge hall 600 by 300 cubits. With towering statues of past Great Sages and in the back of the hall The walls were lines with the enchained. The enchained were ones who as an act of reparation offered up their bodies so that young healers could practice on humans without fear of repercussions .

The reason why the enchained exist is because execution is not permissible by law in all countries who follow the faith of light. If all sin can be repaid how is death a payment? Death is merely an escape. One might have heard of eye for an eye but this goes against the principle of the duality. One must oneself pay for your own transgressions, one cannot have others pay or it. And to commit another to sin for your own fault is sacrilege. No, your taint will stay with you and your body will be put to use in the temple, until the light in you has been snuffed out and the darkness equals the light.

One of the daily tasks of the silent was to harvest square pieces of leather from the chained so that the ever growing library of knowledge of the temple may be filled. These pieces are washed, stretched thin between 4 threads and soaked in lime. They are then cut and used inbound codices where they await new writing to be laid upon them.

4 months into his fervent practice Chali was healed. Sorach also had daily lessons with Guard on the way of the blade. And once he had finally been deemed worthy after the Ceremony he would start his journey with offensive light magic. He could sense the Battle Healers and Paladins training through some of the walls. Where he could make out hard light constructs and beams of fiery light. This Further fueled his passion, and he was so excited for the day of the ceremony. 3 days before the Ceremony Sorach decided it was time he had his last big practice session so he could save energy for the event. For his final trial he set himself the task of healing a self-incision on his chest. Taking a cleaver, he pressed the blade at the top of his sternum making sure not to cut too deep, slowly cutting down for a precise cut. He had done similar cuts on his hands many times. He felt the sinews of his pectoral muscle give way under the weight of the cleaver. He then immediately dropped the cleaver and lay down. Pressing down on the wound with a cloth so that he might not lose too much blood. The pain only fueling his resolve. The as healed himself he could feel the sear associated with light magic. Slowly fixing the damaged strands. The bleeding stopped and he was out of energy. It would require several more healing sessions for him to fully close the wound. He had cut slightly too deep.

Exhausted he mentioned for Chali that she could now help him. He could feel the warm glow of her mana envelope every part of his wound. His skin sucking up the lifeforce as if it was a dry flour sucking up moisture. Then he was healed. He knew Chali would not be able to help him when the day came. But he felt confident that he could survive the initial incision. He was excited.