“Come again?”

“Unfortunately This is more of an all day thing,” Marco explained. “You’ll need to wait in the yard before we can come get you, there they’ll teach you the basics of your abilities.”

“Are there other people as well?” he asked.

“Right you don’t know what day it is,” said Marco. “It’s the 30th, that’s when the Novitiate arrive. THis church is sort of like the training grounds for them. You’ll have to stick around with them for a while. A lot of them come from out of the city which means they also need to be taught about how to control their power so you’ll fit in.”

“I see,” said Maxwell. He didn’t like the idea of not going home yet but it seemed that would have to wait.

“To be honest I’ve never been a fan of holy place, seems shady in some way but it’s something you’re just going to have to deal with,” said Marco.

He splashed his face with water. Maybe he was hoping it would rid him of the recent experience. He looked down at his hand. It still felt like some weird nightmare.

He stared at himself in the mirror. He watched a water droplet run down his face before splashing into the sink. Loud knocking on the stall door disturbed his silence. “Hey, hurry up in there, you’re not the only one who needs the restroom !”

“I’m almost done!” he shouted back. Maxwell quickly retrieved the black band from his pocket and tied it over his eyes. He adjusted it once in the mirror before stepping out into the yard. There wasn’t much free space as it was covered in people wearing light blue tunics. They all wore a band of black fabric around their eyes. He sat down at a random table. Nobody really seemed to be talking to each other. There was a nervous energy among all of them.

“Hey, what’s your name?” He turned to the side. He was greeted by a smiling face. They had deep dimples and dirty blonde hair that ran past the length of fabric band that covered their eyes.

“Oh um, Maxwell,” he said without a second thought. Maxwell winced. That was stupid of me, how could I use my real name!

“Maxwell huh?” he said. “I haven’t really heard of that one before

“I gotta wonder who that guy was right?” said WIlbur excitedly. “There’s no way you missed it, the entire yard was shaking like crazy. “It’s a shame we can’t know who it was!”

“Yeah… “said Maxwell. I’m glad nobody knows.

“Having that sort of power must be incredible, I could only dream of that, I can only imagine how happy that person is!” He went on. Maxwell wanted to say how he felt but he couldn’t there wasn’t anyone he could really trust in this world.

I don’t think they’re as happy as you think they are.

“My family’s from a little town called Worrenwich,” He said. “You’ve probably never heard of it. The Carbury RIver runs not far from it at least one of its offshoots. The river’s been drying up and we’re having trouble getting enough water for our crops and animals,” he went on.

“We’d be lucky of course to catch any fish,” he chimed. He stretched out his hands “Once a long time ago My father once caught one this-” He paused before lowering his head. “Sorry for blabbering on like that, you're probably not interested in any of that. I can’t help it when I’m in the city like this, It’s just so overwhelming…”

“No, no It’s alright,” said Maxwell waving his hands. “I’m sorry I just got caught up in my thoughts!”

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“Wilbur nodded. “I know what you mean, My entire town celebrated when I was picked to work for the church. We could finally receive the help we needed.”

That’s not what I meant. Maxwell caught himself looking at his knuckles again. The sensation of his fist driving into the jelly-like substance wouldn’t leave him.

Man these masks really itch!” he said while flexing his fingers above them. He gave an exasperated sigh before putting his fingers firmly against his lap. “I guess it’s just a matter of getting used to it.”

“Why is it that we have these things anyway,” said Maxwell gesturing to the bad around his eyes. It was messing up his vision as if he was looking through a wire mesh.

“Since you seemed to have missed the previous seminars I’ll tell you,” said Wilbur smugly. “Eyes are the most important symbol within the church. When our eyes are seen, it says in the holy texts that we instinctively judge each other on their magical prowess. To prevent any prejudice based on magical level they are therefore obscured. Only those of high authority like the High Priest are able to reveal their eyes as a sign of their credibility.”

“Let me go, get off off me!”

Maxwell along with all the other heads turned there. A boy wearing a fine salmon colored tunic was being held down by armour clad men. The boy managed to break free and ran through the yard. They ran after him, their armour clanking with their steps.

As he ran past Maxwell he was tackled into the grass. “PLease help me!” he shouted to the people around him. They only looked on aimlessly.

Why is nobody helping him?

He locked eyes with Maxwell. He reached out a hand, a bejewelled bangle on his wrist wobbled loosely.. “Please!”

Maxwell’s hand twitched. Who knows what will happen if I do it.

“Stop this at once!”

A woman no older than him stood up from among the crowd. Her clothing had black markings along it and her eye-band had gold swirls along it.

She crouched down by the kids' side. “Stop holding him so tight!”

The guard reluctantly loosen his grip. She gestured at the guards who gathered around them to back down. She turned back to the cowering boy. “Are you alright,” she said. She grasped his hand. “My name is Adelaide, what’s your name?” She spoke calmly and warmly. It brought a sense of peace in Maxwell. There wasn’t an ounce of malice in that, like the warm rays of a later summer sun.

“My name’s James Thoreson,” said the boy.

“You don’t need to be afraid, James,” said Adelaide. She reached out with her delicate fingers. His hands were covered in dirt and grass from resisting but she grabbed it firmly without judgement.

“Why don’t you desire to be a part of this church?” she asked gently.

“But, I heard terrible things about those here, I heard they treat them worse than dogs,” he replied.

“I’m so sorry you heard those things,” she said reassuring him. “I’m sorry these guards who were meant to protect you are treating you like this.” She glanced at them angrily. “WHile they enforce god’s will it does not permit them to use unnecessary force.”

She squeezed his hand. “You have my word that nobody will hurt you or mistreat you. Do you trust me?”

He looked into her eyes. “I do.”

The girl Adelaide smiled. As James stood up, the guards stepped forward. but Adelaide waved them away. The guards escorted him out this time walking by his side. She waved at him as he left. He waved back. The tension in the room left as the boy did.

“I say that was mighty disrespectful,” said Wilbur after a while. It’s such an honor yet they had the gall to put up such a display, I guess some people just don’t know any better.”The atmosphere returned to normal once more.

“I guess..” says Maxwell. The church was so confusing to him. Who was he to trust? More importantly, who is that girl that could order those guards like that?

He locked eyes with Adelaide. He felt a shock go through his body. Although her eyes were obscured he was certain they had locked eyes.

“Hey, who is that girl?” he asked.

“Didn't you hear the exchange, that’s Adelaide, the high priestess in training. It's like it's your first time here!”

She’s gonna be replacing the priest in charge of the ceremony? She has a completely different vibe from him Maxwell narrowed his eyes. But there was something unmistakable in her that made it somewhat believable. There was something different about her. While he couldn’t explain why he was certain of it. When he locked eyes with her he knew.

She has golden eyes too.