For once, my calculations and assumptions turned out to be correct. Our small group reached the outskirts of Westphal, considered the easternmost city of the Rur area, in just a day. During the journey, we didn't waste time. I showed the group of earthlings that even while moving, one could train, for instance, in maintaining auras or practice basic spells until they became second nature. I also spoke almost constantly, explaining, answering questions, and dedicating quite some time to the mythology and religion of Ain. Most of my stories about the Echoes, holy scriptures, and priesthood were revelations to the earthlings. I made sure to point out the differences in social norms between this world and Earth. As far as I "remember," misunderstanding local rules and norms often led to the demise of many earthlings in the Last Cycle.

For example, the death of Flex, the healer of this group, at the altar of Elai was due to his ignorance of basic principles. As it turned out, before inflicting a fatal wound on himself, he shouted in the temple something like, "I give my life and death to Your Will, Elai!" It's no wonder that the priests didn't allow the earthlings to help Flex. Since he offered his life to their deity's will, any intervention or attempt to heal was perceived by the priests as blatant blasphemy. Perhaps if he hadn't shouted like that, the priests might not have been so categorical and might have allowed him to be saved. But with his words and such an appeal to the deity, he essentially cut off the possibility of external help.

Of course, I didn't forget to mention that Ain isn't as safe as it might seem. There are many monsters and beasts here. And although millions of people live on the continent, there are vast areas that locals tend to avoid. The Sidhe forests and the Tyberian Plateau are just a couple of examples of such dangerous places.

In general, I talked so much in those days, more than I usually do in a month. Meanwhile, I constantly filtered every word, careful not to get carried away and break the questers' prohibition. Sometimes, my words were literally on the edge of this ban, but it seemed I managed to tread the line without crossing it. For example, the theory that earthlings were not just transferred to Ain for no reason and that we are being prepared for something was discussed more than once in the Last Cycle. I think many now have similar thoughts, as such an assumption simply cannot fail to arise in light of all these tasks given to us by the questers.

This day-long journey with the group of earthlings proved beneficial for me as well. Not only did I learn the spell Cleave from the School of Earth Magic, but I also had a very productive training session with Arman, adopting several of his fencing techniques. Moreover, our sparring improved my control over distance.

In any case, the time spent with this group of four was by no means "wasted." In fact, I quite liked them. Since day one, they've been together without any conflicts despite their very different characters, from the calm and balanced Ged Ogion to the impulsive Kleber or the quick-to-judge Isabel. As for their leader, Arman, he seemed unduly harsh and hasty but made decisions quickly and didn't falter in challenging situations. This is not the worst trait for a commander. Additionally, Arman was attentive to the opinions of other group members, and the mage's calmness largely compensated for their leader's slight hot-headedness and fussiness.

We had barely crossed the low mountain range, more resembling a line of rocky hills stretching to the horizon, when we came upon a rather large village. In this settlement, with my help and status, the earthlings quickly agreed with a group of tunnelers to jointly clear three nearby bronze dungeons. It was in this village that I parted ways with the group of earthlings. They stayed to wait for the dungeon cooldowns, one of which was "resetting" the next day, while I, after inquiring with the locals, went on my way.

We parted warmly, and I didn't forget to hint that all roads lead to Pentapolis, and we were bound to meet there again. Thanks to my guidance, Arman's group formed their action and development plan. Specifically, to Elevate to the Precious Coil of the Spiral as quickly as possible and start exploring the Inverted Towers. Additionally, inspired by my stories, Kleber and Ged Ogion became keen on studying Runes, and Isabel showed a great interest in the history of Ain. Both of these facts greatly pleased me and showed that my teachings and training were definitely not in vain.

Geographically, the Rur area is a vast lowland surrounded by a low mountain range shaped like a horseshoe. This place is famous for its local blacksmiths due to the many dungeons at the range's foothills, varying from Bronze Rank to a couple of Precious Coil ones. From most of these dungeons, tunnelers bring out iron or ore. The Rur area is also rich in small sources of Magic and Spirit, which is why one can extract a bit of valirium or avalonium from the bosses of local dungeons. This is the reason why these places are so favored by blacksmiths.

Regarding the political structure, the entire area is divided into small patches among many barons and counts. There is no single king ruling over all, and in this, the Rur area reminded me of medieval German marches, where each city had its own ruler. However, in the event of external aggression, all the local lords would immediately unite and form joint militias. And because every city and castle in this area was well-defended, and taking them by a quick assault was very difficult, neighboring states had ceased attempts to take over this famous Ain zone for many years. Although minor border incidents occasionally occur, there hasn't been a major war here for over a century. However, this does not prevent the local rulers from constantly bickering among themselves and engaging in quite active "redistribution of property." Nevertheless, only the militias of the rulers participate in this redistribution. Frequent internal conflicts mainly bypass the common residents and hardly affect them.

Initially, I wanted to head straight to the large trading city of Lorik, located on the bank of a full-flowing river in the southwestern part of the area. Firstly, as far as I "remembered," it had the most humane prices for weapons and armor, and secondly, I was hoping to learn something about a young master named Kay. Perhaps, in this Cycle, Katashi Atsushi was initially thrown somewhere nearby, and he definitely wouldn't have passed by a place famed for its blacksmiths. Of course, such hope was, as they say, "grasping at straws," but I couldn't dismiss this possibility.

The person I wanted to meet as soon as possible was precisely Katashi. In the Last Cycle, he wasted a lot of time on dead-end experiments in the early stages, and if I could keep him from those, it would be great. And if I could have a proper conversation with him, maybe I could order new armor from him, which would even be excellent. However, these thoughts were nothing more than a shaky hope.

But, while negotiating with the local tunnelers to take the earthlings with them, I learned a detail that slightly adjusted my immediate plans. Not far from the village, just half a day's journey away, which translates to about thirty-five kilometers in my usual measures, there was a lesser Temple of Antares. This Temple was built near a natural Source of Spirit, and according to the locals, it contained a True Altar of Light. This prompted me to visit this temple and offer a prayer to Antares. There was a high probability that after my role in destroying a shard of Da'Nnan's altar, my prayer would be heard, and I would be granted some skill or spell from the arsenal of Light Magic. Passing up such an opportunity would be a real sacrilege and a waste of opportunities that, so to speak, come into my hands! So, after bidding farewell to the earthlings, I immediately headed in the direction indicated by the locals.

Since I was no longer held back by the relative slowness of the group standing at the Bronze Step of the Spiral, my pace increased significantly. Moreover, in this region, many trails and country roads connect nearby settlements like a web. Most of these roads, although not stone-paved, are still relatively maintained, and running on them is more comfortable than through forests and fields. After double-checking directions with peasants and woodcutters I encountered, I reached my destination in just over an hour and a half.

The lesser Temple of Antares stood on the slope of a low hill and was beautifully integrated into the local scenery, as if its location had been chosen by a skilled landscape designer. The Temple, as the locals had said, indeed turned out to be small, the size of a village church, with a spire about four stories high at its center. This spire rose above the surrounding area like a minaret in Earth's mosques, resembling a giant's hand reaching for the sky. The spectacle was unusual but admittedly not only beautiful but also very symbolic, especially considering that Antares is also the Sun God in local mythology. A winding path paved with white stone, yet narrow, led to the Temple, meandering through the hills. The approach to this sacred place was clearly designed deliberately. When, after another turn of the path, passing a tall hill, you see the temple in all its splendor, it makes you pause for a few seconds. Even I, accustomed to the architectural refinements of Earth, stopped and clicked my tongue in mild admiration.

In a narrow valley, squeezed between hills on the approach to the temple, there were quite a few pilgrims, at least thirty. At first glance, it was evident that most of them were residents of nearby villages. The mood among the people was upbeat; they were actively discussing something, and many clearly knew each other well. Only three pilgrims in dusty white clothes sat apart from everyone, immersed in meditation, by the shore of a small, well-maintained, regularly shaped pond.

As I approached the people, a gray-haired old man came up to me. Introducing himself as the elder of the nearest village, he informed me that the Temple of the Dawn Glimmer was closed to visitors today. Before I could ask why, he explained everything. It turned out that one of the locals had previously served in this Temple. His diligence was noticed by the abbot, who sent the young man for training in Sun City. Now, this young man had recently returned to his homeland, and today, a private consecration ceremony would take place in the Temple, where the novice would don priestly robes. The fact that someone from their village would soon become a priest of Antares, albeit of the lowest initial rank of consecration, filled both the elder and the other locals with pride. They had gathered here today to celebrate this consecration. As for receiving pilgrims and those wishing to offer prayers to Antares, the Temple would return to its regular activities tomorrow morning, after all the prescribed ceremonies were conducted. The elder also invited me to join their celebration, which he said would last all night. The appearance of a traveler following the path of Sundbad is often considered a good omen in many places in Ain, and the elder was almost grabbing my sleeve, insistently inviting me to share their festivity.

While I was politely listening to all these persuasions, a new pair appeared around the corner. Two completely different people. The first, very young, still at the Wooden Rank of the Spiral and not of age. This youth strode along the stone path with such an arrogant air, as if everything around belonged personally to him. He looked at the peasants with obvious disdain and constantly puffed out his chest, on which a polished Noble's Brooch shone brightly. He even looked at me, a person with a Wootz Guild Sign, as if I were nobody. Passing by, he didn't bow, greet, or even nod, as if he considered it beneath his dignity. The mere expression on the boy's face and that disdainfully condescending smile made my fists itch. Taking a deep and slow breath, I forced myself not to do anything foolish.

The second traveler seemed to be the complete opposite of the arrogant youth. An older man, about fifty, dressed unobtrusively but in obviously expensive materials. Unlike the young man, his outfit wasn't embroidered with gold or adorned with stones, and he had no Nobility Brooch. The man's face bore a permanently indifferent, detached expression, and only in the depth of his eyes did I see tiredness and a longstanding irritation as if it had become a constant part of his life. Passing by me and the elder, unlike the youth, he nodded slightly, silently greeting us. He had no signs indicating his Rank, and his only weapon was a dagger in a sheath on his belt. Yet, the elder standing next to me bowed much deeper and with much greater respect to this man than he had to the noble youth. I understood the village head's behavior; thanks to my ability, I could see this older man's Rank – Emerald.

When the pair had walked about forty steps away from us, the elder whispered to me:

"That's our young lord Frense Om Reyuter and his mentor, the respected Om Rafer." He then added, "Our baron has four daughters and only one son, so he allows his heir a lot. My advice to you is not to get in the young lord's way; he has a very sharp and quite dastard... difficult character. We all hope the baron changes his mind and instead of the young lord, the old lord's eldest daughter, Lady Olimpa, inherits the Domain." The elder sighed heavily, looking at the strutting youth, "or else we'll suffer with this... young lord. In a couple of days, it's the young lord's birthday, and the Spiral of Elevation will open to him; probably, the baron sent his son to offer prayers to Antares before the celebration."

Stepping slightly away from me, the elder watched the pair walking along the white path toward the temple, sighed heavily, and continued very quietly:

"They say the young lord's previous mentor couldn't handle it, and our baron was very displeased with him. We all hope that Om Rafer, who is renowned for his honest and unyielding character, will instill at least a bit of sensibility in the young lord."

After finishing, the not-so-young man seemed to realize he had spoken too much, grimaced, waved his hand, once again inviting me to join their evening celebration, and hurried back to his people.

The fact that the Temple was closed today for services, sermons, and offerings didn't particularly concern me, as I knew how to circumvent such a ban. Adjusting my bags on my shoulder, I leisurely headed toward the sanctuary of Antares, just like the couple that had passed by. I walked unhurriedly about forty meters after the son of the local lord and his new mentor. It wasn't that I was interested in them, but since I was following behind, I couldn't help but observe them. The young lord strode as if everything around him personally belonged to him. His mentor, trailing half a step behind the boy and surrounding them with a Sound Barrier so that their conversation couldn't be overheard, looked tired as he patiently explained something to his charge. Even from behind, it was clear from the boy's movements and gait that he was ignoring his mentor's words.

From the young man's behavior, it seemed he was intent on ignoring the Temple's closure and insisting on being allowed to offer a prayer to Antares. His whole demeanor screamed that he wasn't some peasant to be made to wait. And the priests were bound to let him in and wouldn't dare contradict him. Sure, as if the priests of Antares would be scared of his status as the heir to local lands. Right… His naivety, or rather a profound misunderstanding of how the world works, brought a slight anticipatory smile to my face. It appeared this boy was allowed too much, spoiled to an incredible degree, losing touch with objective reality. As for the baron's son's mentor, although he tried to dissuade his charge from doing something foolish, he did it somewhat listlessly. It was as if he himself didn't believe that his words could influence the heir's opinion. It seemed he had tried to reason with the boy before, to no avail, simply being ignored.

When the pair reached the white marble steps of the temple, the mentor stopped, said something to his charge, then dispelled the Sound Barrier and, spreading his arms as if surrendering, stepped aside, indicating that he would go no further. The lad, in response, just lifted his nose even higher, his face taking on an even more pronounced expression of superiority. Saying something quietly to his mentor, the young man briskly reached the sacred twenty-five steps of the temple.

Approaching the mentor, I stood beside him, and when he looked at me, I conveyed a silent question with my gaze, a nod of my head, and the expression on my face: 'Is this young man completely out of his mind?' Either my face was surprisingly expressive, or we were on the same wavelength at that moment, but he responded in kind. That is, silently, only changing his facial expression, which seemed to say, 'What can I do about it?' At the same time, I thought I saw a hint of carefully concealed amusement deep in his tired eyes.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

The youth, straightening his back as if he had swallowed a rod, ascended the steps slowly and, as he probably thought, majestically. Two robust novices in beige clothes, standing by the temple gates, looked at the lad with mild surprise. When the young man was just five steps away from entering the temple, both novices simultaneously stepped forward, and the older one, who appeared to be about thirty, blocked the baron's son's path.

"Today, the Temple of the Dawning Gleam is closed to visitors. Please come back tomorrow."

Stopping in front of the two guards, each a head taller than him, the youngster waved his hand dismissively:

"I am Frense Om Reyuter, son and heir of Baron Reyuter, to whom all the land around belongs. The restrictions for common folk do not apply to me."

His hand repeated a dismissive gesture, ordering the temple servants to make way, but they didn't budge.

"Did I not make myself clear?" The boy raised his voice, his face turning red with anger. "Step aside and let me pass! Immediately! I cannot wait until tomorrow!"

Looking over the youth's head, the senior guard repeated in a completely calm and emotionless voice:

"Today, the Temple of the Dawning Gleam is closed to visitors. Please come back tomorrow."

Turning to his mentor, the boy looked at him, demanding help with his eyes, but the mentor just spread his arms as if to say, 'I warned you,' and didn't move from his spot. In response, the young man grimaced, turned back to the novices, and, apparently mimicking someone else's tone, which he thought was weighty and authoritative, commanded:

"Let me pass immediately!" Pointing his index finger forward, he added, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear who I am?!" After which he jabbed his finger into the chest of the novice blocking his way.

The very next moment, the boy's feet lifted off the ground, and like a felled tree, with his legs ending up higher than his head, he plummeted down. At the last second, the boy instinctively tried to land on his palms, but with a casual movement of his leg, the senior novice swept the youth's hands aside, and he landed face-first onto the stone platform with a thud, his nose bleeding. Before he could even twitch, his neck was firmly pinned down by the knee of the senior novice. Leaning towards the youth lying on the stone, the latter said:

"No one holds power over this land except the Light-Bearing Antares, before whose face all are equally insignificant: peasants, tunnellers, nobility, kings and guild heads."

I even recognized the page of the holy scripture of Light that the guard was quoting.

Having spoken, the novice in beige attire lifted the baron's son off the ground with one hand and, as if he were not a person but a bag of trash, threw him down with an outwardly casual motion, likely using a spell similar to "Bull's Strength." He didn't just drop him off the steps but hurled him, like a projectile, straight into the arms of the mentor standing at the temple's base. The mentor effortlessly caught the youth and immediately covered his mouth with his hand, then politely smiled, bowed respectfully to the novices, and with a barely concealed hint of amusement, said:

"We thank the servants of Light for the lesson."

Having unintentionally witnessed this scene, I suddenly understood why the mentor had tried so feebly and listlessly to dissuade his charge from possible folly. It was quite possible that, having despaired of changing the baron's son's character with mere words, he himself had orchestrated this spectacle, having learned in advance that the Temple was closed to outsiders today. He brought the haughty boy to the Temple's steps at this very time, foreseeing both the youth's behavior and the subsequent reaction of the temple guards.

Stepping forward, I respectfully nodded to the middle-aged man who had to deal with and teach such a spoiled youngster. My gaze clearly expressed full support for his methods. As for the boy's bloodied nose and possibly broken left hand, considering the local potions and magic, it was nothing serious. In fact, for the baron's son, it could have ended much worse, with a far greater number of broken bones, if the guard had not shown mercy and simply thrown him onto the steps. For the heir of the local baron, who had yet to embark on the Path of the Spiral of Elevation, such a fall could indeed have ended much more tragically.

As I calmly ascended the temple steps, all eyes were on me. Even the baron's son, who had been whimpering, stopped and fell silent, apparently in surprise. After all, he had just been thrown down, and now someone of obviously non-noble origin dared to approach the temple gates.

The temple guards, unlike they did with the young man, greeted me with slightly tense faces. No wonder, as I did not conceal my rank, and both novices stood on the Steel Step of the Spiral. Nevertheless, they didn't lose their composure. The younger one stepped back, evidently ready to call for help, while the elder, as soon as I reached the platform at the entrance, gripped his staff firmly and stepped forward:

"Today, the Temple of the Dawning Gleam is closed to visitors. Please come back tomorrow."

In response, I smiled amiably and, without slowing my pace, conjuring the visualization of Affinity with Light on my chest, said:

"I may enter."

After which, in complete silence, I walked past the pair of novices who bowed deeply before me, feeling the silent astonishment of all the people gathered below who had not seen my visualization.

Unlike other types of Affinity, those chosen by the Light are very few. Even most priests of Antares, and certainly the novices, never acquire Affinity with Light in their lifetimes. Only the high priests of the celestial deity and those who join the corps of Paladins can boast of such. Moreover, on Ain, it is believed that one who has gained Affinity with Light is chosen by Antares himself. The one upon whom the Heavenly Chariot has cast its favorable gaze. This, of course, is not the status of a living saint, but still, no novice, upon seeing the visualization of this Affinity, would dare to obstruct my path.

Stepping through the gates, I immediately found myself in the temple's main hall. It was a not-so-big yet spacious room with very high and bright ceilings, well-lit by daylight softly streaming through numerous panoramic windows, which occupied almost half of all the walls. There was nothing superfluous here, no exquisite statues or massive incense burners. Just a space filled with light. Even the carved columns, so beloved in the temples of other gods, were absent here. The airy walls, seemingly weightless, floated as if without any support against the high sky, which peeked into the temple hall through the numerous, very clean, almost glare-free glasses. And in this ascetic but beautiful emptiness, the true altar rose half the height of a man. It was made from a massive piece of mountain crystal and seemed to glow from within due to the sunlight falling on it from all sides. In the center of this seemingly spacious hall was a long but deliberately simple, hastily assembled table made of fresh boards, around which, under the stern gaze of one of the priests, several young servants, not yet out of childhood, bustled.

Of course, my arrival did not go unnoticed. As soon as I appeared at the threshold, all eyes present immediately focused on me. Standing still, I ceremoniously bowed, showing the utmost respect. A priest in white garments frowned, took a step forward, but then, looking behind and slightly above me, immediately stopped and froze, folding his hands in a gesture of reverence.

I turned halfway around and observed a rather young lady, no older than thirty, descending an elegant, seemingly airborne spiral staircase. She, too, was dressed in white priestly garments, but her head was adorned with a golden circlet set with a small clear stone. Her hands were empty, but a carved rod, more resembling a battle scepter than a priestly attribute, swung from her belt in rhythm with her steps. Thanks to my ability, I easily identified the rank of the lady in white – Diamond. I bowed even deeper.

"Delighted to welcome a chosen of the Light to our temple," she said, approaching me and taking me by the shoulders, urging me to stand straight.

"Lady Abbess," I said respectfully, for she could be none other.

"Oh! For brothers in the Light, I am simply Gertrude."

From her words, I understood that she had seen everything that happened at the entrance to the Temple, including my demonstration of Affinity.

"As you command," I replied, looking directly into her eyes. Not challengingly, but simply intrigued by this woman.

Despite far more real gender equality in Ain than on Earth, for a woman to be the head of a Temple of Antares is exceedingly rare. In the temples of the Elements or Lesser Forces, women often hold high positions, but the servants of Antares are much more patriarchal. To achieve such a significant position as the head of even a small, provincial, but separate Temple, one must be truly an exceptional individual. This woman is beautiful in her own way. Although her facial features are too sharp for my taste, and her gaze too detached, as if she's looking not at you but somewhere far away.

"Raven Alexandrite, following the path of Sundbad," I introduced myself formally.

"And this path, illuminated by the Light of the Sky, has brought you here today," the abbess nodded as if she heard such stories a dozen times a day.

"I apologize if the Temple is indeed closed to all today, then I..."

She didn't let me finish. Putting a finger to her lips, Gertrude waved her hand:

"Please, follow me."

Obediently keeping quiet, I followed the woman in white. We crossed the entire hall and went out to a spacious balcony, which faced not the clearing in front of the entrance but the other side, offering a magnificent view of the majestic, though not very high, mountains.

"Brother Raven," said the abbess, surrounding us with a Sound Barrier, leaning on the thin, carved railings, and turning her head to me. "I am very sorry that you had to witness that absurd spectacle, although I must admit, your arrival was very timely," her gaze fell on my Guild Sign.

"The temple guards acted within their rights and were surprisingly indulgent," I replied, a bit puzzled but not wanting to be dishonest. "Such incidents do happen sometimes, as human folly is truly boundless."

"What wise words," the abbess smiled openly, turned her face to the breeze, and after a pause, continued, "As for coincidence..." She turned sharply to me. "There is only His Will!"

"As you say," I did not argue or cite examples from sacred texts when things happened quite the contrary. I had no desire to argue with this woman in any form.

"Do you really think that anything can happen near My Temple without my consent and permission?"

Someday, the pomp of Antares' servants might drive me to distraction, but for now, I replied neutrally, quoting scripture:

"The Light is straight as an arrow, but its reflection can refract in any direction."

This saying is akin to the earthly phrase, 'The Lord works in mysterious ways.'

"I would simply use anyone else, but you, a brother in the Light, I can only ask," she said, looking at me expectantly.

"Lady Abbess."

"Just Sister Gertrude," she interrupted me.

"Sister Gertrude," I obediently repeated, "I'm all ears."

"Politics..." the lady in white sighed theatrically and turned her face towards the fresh wind. "As much as I would like to distance myself from it, I can't."

"You are the abbess, and on your shoulders lies not only the responsibility for prayers to the Sky but also for the welfare of the Temple," I filled the pause with an understanding tone.

"Baron Reyuter is a sagacious and honorable man, devoutly adhering to the scripture of Light and generously donating to our Temple."

Naturally, I wondered if the abbess would have called the baron wise and honorable had he not been generous and so devoted to the scripture. I doubted it, but I kept my thoughts to myself, showing with my demeanor that I was listening attentively.

"Two decades ago, the baron's first wife died suddenly, and he married the noble Lady Francesca," the woman in white continued, looking at me attentively, "daughter of the Duke of Balkay, a very influential dignitary at the court of Lomar, our neighboring state. When the baron and Lady Francesca had a son, the duke insisted that the baron appoint him as his heir. Also, as per the marriage contract, the child was raised at the duke's court. And two years ago, what returned to us... well, returned," the abbess said with a sardonic gesture. "A pampered, spoiled creature, doted on by his grandparents, completely detached from reality, whom I hesitate to call a well-bred child."

I agreed with this description, though I had only seen the young heir for a few minutes.

"I understand," I replied somewhat evasively, still unsure of what was expected of me.

"It was only two months ago that the baron managed to dismiss the teachers and mentors sent by the ducal family and replace them with the much-respected Om Rafer. But even he privately admitted to me that he can't cope, and the heir's character, already formed, is beyond his ability to correct. The baron himself always saw his eldest daughter from his first marriage as the rightful heir," the abbess said with a genuinely warm smile. "A very commendable young woman, as virtuous as her father," which I interpreted as beneficial to the abbess and the Temple. "The trouble is that without a good reason, the baron cannot simply disinherit his wayward son without antagonizing not only the Duke of Balkay personally but also all the other nobles of Lomar. That would be undesirable and lead to many negative consequences. But even those consequences are a lesser evil than..." She left her sentence hanging and waved her hand dismissively, but it was clear whom she was referring to. "Still, we would like to avoid these negative consequences and keep everything as it is. And have the disrespectful brat return to his grandfather's court, no longer as the heir to the Reyuter barony, but merely as a wayward grandson."

In my previous world, this would be called discrediting, but of course, I kept silent about that, giving my face a puzzled look as if to silently ask, "What does this have to do with me?"

"For the servants of the Light, it is shameful to hide and lurk in Shadows," the abbess said pompously, her sincerity at this moment not convincing me in the slightest. "But for the sake of preserving the balance and wellbeing of the Temple entrusted to me, I am forced to resort to not the brightest methods." A slightly bitter smile flickered across her lips.

Then, the woman in white nodded towards the entrance gates, visible through the balcony doors.

"However, this is my sin, and I in no way impose it on you."

Perhaps I'm cynical, but what I heard was more like, 'Whether it's a sin or not is for Antares to decide.'

"But as soon as I saw the Sign of the Sky on your chest, I immediately knew that you didn't end up here by chance but were led by His will."

In other words, she meant, 'Fate itself sent you to me!'

"As you said, Sister Gertrude, my Path is illuminated by the Sky."

I would deflect later; for now, I needed to understand what I was being drawn into. Turning back, the lady in white gave me a kind, almost motherly look.

"Brother Raven, I won't ask much of you. Knowing the natural modesty and reticence of those marked by the Sky's favor," we have already moved on to flattery, a bit too early for my liking. "All I ask of you is not to remain silent about what you witnessed today. No, Light forbid, there's no need to fabricate or exaggerate!" She waved her hands in feigned indignation. "Just the truth, unembellished. But also without downplaying. By doing this, you would greatly oblige me, Brother Raven. And significantly reduce the Path of Shadows I must tread."

So, the picture becomes clearer. It was no coincidence that the mentor brought his wayward student to the Temple today when it was closed to outsiders. And the feast celebrating the acceptance of a novice into the order was clearly timed by the abbess to coincide with the unruly heir's coming of age. Apparently, I had witnessed the first step in discrediting this lad. Perhaps it wasn't the first step, as the peasants' opinions had already been skillfully shaped by someone, and I doubt these rumors emerged spontaneously. Though with rumors, that often happens, so maybe I'm reading too much into it.

This conversation feels like a mix of mismatched ingredients. Instead of using me in the dark and implanting the necessary thoughts in my head, the abbess speaks to me so directly, as if she's known me all my life. But such straightforwardness would only seem odd to someone unfamiliar with the Light within their soul. Due to her faith, she can't use me without my knowledge, as it might cast a shadow on the Light of my soul. She doesn't know that this Shadow lives quite comfortably there, almost "fraternizing" with the Light so revered by the abbess. And in the sacred scripture of Antares itself, it's stated that Shadow cannot exist without Light. Because of these contradictions, this conversation seems strange from an earthling's perspective. But to Sister Gertrude, all this is perfectly normal, and she even feels a bit guilty for involving me in this story. Meanwhile, I have no doubt that if I didn't have an Affinity with Light, she wouldn't even glance at me, except maybe to wipe her snow-white boots on me.

"Just don't stay silent, don't hide this story, share it," the abbess continued in a soft voice.

Something clicked in my troubled mind. She keeps her eyes on my Guild Sign, clearly understanding the significance of the Ishid scroll engraved on it. It's one thing for peasants to tell the story of the future Baron Reyuter's heir's disrespect for holy places and quite another for a Sheriff of the Book to do so. The impact would be as different as a firecracker's pop is from an aerial bomb explosion. Now I understand why the abbess is so fixated on me. Indeed, I can significantly ease her situation, perhaps to the extent that no further discrediting of the young brat will be necessary. Especially if a bard hears my words – they love to create offensive songs and poems based on such incidents, which quickly become popular gossip. Moreover, if people learn about what happened from me, a Sheriff of the Book, then the old baron and the abbess of the Temple of the Dawning Gleam would seem completely uninvolved. So, Sister Gertrude interprets my arrival as nothing less than a blessing of the Sky.

"As you said, I won't embellish, but I also won't remain silent," I nodded in understanding.

This time, the woman in white smiled genuinely, without any hidden motives or underlying meanings.

"Brother Raven, you came to our Temple to offer a prayer to the Sky, didn't you?" She stepped towards the balcony door and flung it wide open. "I dare not keep a brother in the Light from his purpose."

Following her inviting gesture, I stepped first into the Temple's main hall. All eyes of the servants, novices, and priests immediately focused on us. But this attention was fleeting. The abbess, apparently, signaled behind my back, and everyone abruptly abandoned their tasks and vanished from the hall within seconds, as if they had never been there.

"I leave you alone with the Light, Brother Raven," said the woman in white, and she, too, departed, leaving me in solitude at the altar.

The preparations for the celebration, the general bustle, the temple's closure to outsiders today – all of it seemed as if it never happened. A single eyebrow movement from the abbess - and the entire temple was at the disposal of the one who agreed to fulfill the request of the servant of Light.

Why does this not surprise me at all?