When the mind becomes occupied and focused on a single task, time vanishes in a blink of an eye.

For the small group study, a week had passed, lost in a multitude of books and explanations, all provided by Mars, who always had more to tell and teach.

The priest could declare it was a productive week for both of his students, especially with his friend, who had absorbed so much more knowledge than ever. Tahir in comparison was more educated, so the education gap between the two was noticeable, yet he was willing to help him reduce that gap as much as possible.

Mars placed a wooden mug with an iron handle on his desk so the other two could take a closer look. “Sharing a drink with a dwarf is a very important bonding exercise. However, do not assume that dwarfs are alcoholics just because they like to drink. That is their activity they reserve with friends and those they trust, especially if you share the same mug with them.”

“If they aren’t alcoholics, then why do they like to drink?” Konnor asked as his gaze shifted to his friend.

“Same reason we like to eat sweets and pastries, however, their small but stocky constitution has something to do with it, but I’m not a medic, so I know little in that specific regard.”

“Have you shared a drink with a dwarf yet?” Tahir asked.

The priest shook his head, but as soon as he stopped, his lips twisted into a bright smile. “I haven’t had the opportunity, but I would love to!”

Konnor instinctively turned to the young felis, “And you Tahir?”

The sun-kissed kid perked up for a second before tilting his head to the side, failing to register the meaning behind his words.

Mars appeared behind Konnor and didn’t hesitate to slap the back of his head with the book at hand, “Don’t put wrong ideas in him!”

The afflicted student rubbed the sore stop, sheepishly grinning as he was quick to understand his honest mistake.

The felis kid on the other covered his mouth with both hands, trying to stifle a laugh, completely forgetting what the other student asked him.

Mars returned to his desk and placed his improvised weapon filled with knowledge so he could pick another book. He checked the cover and his eyes shined, as it was about more famous church missions.

Opening the book and checking the index, he quickly skimmed through the pages until arriving at the desired page.

However, he didn’t start his next lesson and gave a quick glance to check on his two students; the initiate had his full attention on him patiently waiting while his friend was looking away with a downcast gaze, something he never saw through the week until now.

“Is there a problem?” He lowered the book.

Konnor’s gaze shifted and locked with his friends’ but quickly looked away, “It’s just that I have learned so much this last week and I don’t know if I will remember all of it.”

Mars closed the book at hand with a finger inside, marking the current page as he walked up to his friend.

“Is a valid concern, but what matters is that you learned the various differences each individual has and how important it is to understand them.We still have much more topics to cover, but at least you proved initiative, something many lack and prefer to remain in their small worlds.”

The priest brought a new perspective to his student; the world was a vast place, and it was wrong to remain in a capsule for eternity, “I guess you are right.”

“However, I can give you a brief summary to refresh your memory.” Mars returned to his desk and grabbed another book.

The felis kid didn’t complain and prepared himself for another long lecture. Revisiting the past was always important to maintain and increase the knowledge of oneself. Konnor, from his part, attentively heard his lecture starting from the Felis once again while Tahir confirmed each point or even clarified some of the ambiguous points.

It was a fantastic group effort experience.

Mars closed another book and placed it on his desk, “I think it is time for our dear Tahir to go to sleep. Tomorrow is a very important day.”

The initiate gasped and summed from his seat and gathered all his things in a small bag, “Almost forgot!” they put the strap over his head, “Tomorrow I must be early to pick my faith catalyst!”

“Faith catalyst?” Konnor asked.

Mars looked at his friend in surprise, “Didn’t you notice that whenever we use our magic, we have to ring a bell?”

He recalled the old men ringing their bells and his friend doing the same as he healed him, “I did, but never put much thought into it. Though I remember some sort of golden dust.”

The felis kid was practically jumping from excitement with a wide grin showing off his fangs, “The bells are our catalyst to channel the faith of our gods! Is the only way we can feel their warmth and love toward us and allow us to manifest their love in the material plane!”

His loud explanation left Konnor surprised by the kid’s enthusiasm for what he used to think of as a common bell.

But his friend chuckled and addressed the kid, “That’s an excellent summary, young Tahir.” then turned to the human and cleared his throat, “Each church initiate receives their own bell after their brief introduction to the vast knowledge of our libraries, and tomorrow Tahir’s time to receive his catalyst and begin his training in the beautiful divine arts of our faith.”

“Good luck then.” Konnor gave the kid a thumbs up.

“Thank you!” The felis kid waved his goodbye to the duo before closing the door and going his own way, leaving the duo inside.

The older priest returned to his desk and stacked the books together, giving him easier time to move them to a small box where he stored all of them since a servant would come later and return each book to their respective place on the shelves.

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Konnor instead sat on his desk and stared at nothing, his mind lost in thought as he waited for his friend. MInd swimming with ideas and possibilities of the future ahead, wondering how the other states and cities would look and the people living inside.

The priest released a very loud sigh and faced the farm boy.

“Konnor we won’t continue tomorrow,” Mars declared without hesitation in his voice, but a tint of regret.

“What?! Why?” Understandably, the last remaining student reacted not very well at the unfortunate news.

“I wished we could have studied together for 2 weeks more, but his excellency is demanding a report of progress.”

The very mention of that man sent shivers down his spine as the memories of his pain flooded his mind, instinctively touching his chest, feeling the ribs that were cracked by a single yet powerful attack.

“I...I will fight again?” He gulped.

Mars bit his lower lip and looked away for a moment, “I don’t know.”

“Can you at least come to see me?” His eyes pleaded with him.

Mars looked away, mulling over the request, yet his silence only caused more anxiety to his friend, who bit his thumb fingernails, trying to calm his growing anxiety.

“I cannot, this is something you must do alone.” Mars finally gave his disheartening reply, but his hand reached for back and pulled him closer, “But if you are in trouble, I will come to your aid.”

Konnor stopped his bad habits and smiled at his friend after feeling reassured, at least to a degree, and together they left the small library.

It was awkward for the duo, walking in utter silence through the maze until they reached Konnor’s room where they separated, leaving him all alone with his thoughts. But all revolved about the next day, growing restless as he still didn’t have any faith in his combat skills since all he gained was knowledge like a scholar and not like an adventurer or soldier.

Those thoughts ate him from the inside out as he undressed and changed into his sleepwear and dropped on the large bed, staring at the roof for a long while before his eyes closed on their own.

Just like a week ago, Konnor had the misfortune to find the deacons staring down at him as soon as he woke up giving them the signal to act and prepare him for whatever they had planned for him, but at least they had the decency to put him in different clothes than the last day. Helping him put on a bandage stand collar oatmeal shirt along with a pair of brown pants held by a leather belt, his shoes remained the same.

Then, as expected, the duo dragged him outside towards whatever place they had their destination in mind inside the labyrinth of rooms.

However, he paid a little more attention to his surprisings and started to notice a pattern with the illumination crystals, as in the hallway where his room was; those crystals were at the same height of the doorknobs.

And when they turned left, the crystals were almost reaching the roof.

Every hallway they passed, those crystals were at a different height.

It might not be important information, but it was an interesting discovery to occupy his mind with as he kept moving in utter silence since none of the two ever uttered a word to him unless it was instructions or to chastise him.

A couple of turns later, they stopped in front of a larger door and opened it with ease before pushing him inside.

The very first thing he noticed was the well-dressed archbishop Milko standing at the center with his entourage of divine shields behind him.

Recalling the lessons on common courtesy and his friend’s actions, he bowed to the archbishop. “Good morning, your excellency.”

The masked man leaned closer, taking a better look at the chosen boy face who could keep a straight face but his eyes followed the movements of the archbishop.

Milko nodded in approval as a faint smile formed on his lips while his free hand stroked his chin. “Your eyes are different. Those little priest’s words have some merit, after all.”

“Thank...you?” His reply left him scratching his head, failing to see the underlying tone or the meaning behind them.

The holy man tapped the floor with his scepter twice. “Jahir, please step forward.”

One of the huge holy knights stepped forward and kneeled on one knee with his head low; however, the large tower-shield he was carrying on his back covered most of his frame, only showing the long silver symbol of the trinity church engraved on the shield.

“Did you call for this humble servant, your excellency?” His voice echoed inside his helmet.

Milko looked at the heavily armored knight, “Raise your head, please help young Konnor.”

The holy knight practically jumped and hit his chest to reaffirm the archbishop.

“As you wish!” The holy knight Jahir showed an unprecedented agility despite wearing a full set of heavy armor, even if the armor made loud noises he didn’t show any form of exhaustion or effort as he walked towards Konnor who watched in shock as the knight got closer and closer.

The short distance made him realize the glaring difference in height between the two. Jahir was towering over him, making him feel like a toddler at his side.

The giant knight unlocked the leather straps of his shields, realizing it from his back. Allowing it to land on the floor with a resounding crash and slowly tilt to its respective front, but Jahir was quicker and grabbed the grip with his left arm alone, stopping it from falling.

Konnor’s mouth hanged open with wide-open eyes. The tower-shield stopped by the strength of a single arm, a shield whose weight would crush a person with ease. But his shock didn’t stop as the knight used his other hand to take the second grip and lifted the shield, putting it in front of him.

It almost hid his body behind the shield, but Jahir leaned to the right, showing his helmet.

“Grab your weapon, boy.” He ordered.

Konnor was caught off guard as he didn’t see any weapon rack or brought a weapon with him, frantically checking his surroundings but that effort was for naught as the same deacons appeared next to him carrying the iron spear, presenting it to him.

It was unnerving for him to see such discrete movement of the old men, but he pushed those thoughts aside and grabbed the spear, the same energy channeling through his body the second his hand touched the weapon and felt the invasion of more martial knowledge.

“Strike!” The shout of the holy knight broke him from the stupor and watched how the giant prepared his shield for defense.

Konnor didn’t need to be told twice.

The blade of his iron spear clashed with the hard surface of the tower shield and the strength bounced back on him, causing him to lose balance and take several steps back before correcting his footing and returning to his original stance.

“Again!”

And he struck the shield again, only to get the same results, but his balance was as badly affected as before.

“Your attack is correct but your posture is lacking.” The archbishop commented out loud.

Konnor lowered his head in embarrassment and wanted to object, as it was the very first time he was training with a weapon, but he didn’t dare to question the holy man.

“Attack again.” The giant holy knight Jahir ordered once again.

And Konnor obeyed, rushing towards his target and delivering a thrust with all the strength he could muster from his arms.

The holy knight exerted some strength to his arms to meet Konnor’s thrust, causing the spear blade to slip from the intended target and attack the empty space, causing Konnor to be pulled by the inertia of his own attack and crash directly onto the shield.

Thankfully, his mind quickly acted and pushed his arms to cushion the unavoidable collision, his arms felt the brunt of the impact but it didn’t hurt as much as if it would have been his nose that met the hard metal surface, his body then slightly bounced from the shield and fell onto the floor along with his spear that landed in front of his feet.

Konnor immediately turned to see the archbishop's group staring at him, with an unmoving stare that indicated nothing to him.

They only watched, making it more unnerving to him, who was feeling more embarrassed from falling on his rear.

But his attention shifted when he heard the approaching sound of clanking armor and saw the large armored hand of the knight extended to him, offering him help.

Help that Konnor took without hesitation, feeling the cold hard surface of the metal gauntlet as he got up into his feet.

With that same hand, he carefully moved Konnor’s body and adjusted his stance, one foot in front of the other and his legs slightly spread apart.

“Everything begins and ends at your feet, no matter how strong you are or how beautiful your strikes may be. Without proper foundation all is doomed to fail.” The giant knight explained as he slightly kneeled to pick up the blessed boy’s weapon and handed it to him.

Konnor, with the weapon at hand, noticed the difference almost immediately as there was a small but growing confidence within him, his mind flashed with a new series of movements screaming at him to repeat them as soon as possible however he took deep breaths to calm his mind.

The holy knight stepped back and placed his shield at the front once again.

“Attack.” His voice resounded through his helmet.

Konnor took one more breath and thrusted the spear towards the shield, taking one step forward to increase the strength of his attack. The blade clashing against the hard surface however, it remained in place; the recoil going through his arms and ending at his feet that remained in place like a plant with strong roots.

“As you can see, you didn’t fall this time.”