Grass that's all, A dirt road and grass maybe a few trees here and there, once I crossed the horizon for the first time I thought things might completely change, after all, I had never seen that far out before and neither had anyone I had known they had all heard it from someone who had heard it from someone else. For all I knew it could be an elaborate hoax, there was nothing behind that line where sky met land, maybe the world ended, or maybe I was part of some illusion a figment of some grand magus and his spell. . . 

Nope, just regular land everything as expected, just grass and trees.

I sit here in the wagon and watch the trees go by. I had never been away from home until now. Although I'd always been excited at the Thought of leaving and going on an adventure; often daydreaming about it. I'd never daydreamed of a scenario like this. Looking forward again, I barely miss the town entering my view. Damn, watching it peek over the horizon was something that I had been looking forward to. That features in all of my daydreams — watching as the peaks of foreign houses and buildings peak over the horizon, some new sight, sound, or smell waiting for me.

There's a church spire reaching above the rest of the roofs high above the rest, I wasn't expecting that, I'd always been told about the church but our town never had one, maybe it had, just not when I was born. I've never seen such a big town. It has a tall stone wall with towers surrounding it, before I would have wondered why they would need a wall like that.

  Before we cross through the gate we stop and I notice a guard at the front of our group talking to a man by the wall. After a short exchange, they let us in. Going under the gate, the world is suddenly drowning in sights smells, and sounds; the rumble of horses and carts mixed with the constant drone of people's chatter and the drumming of feet on the stone beneath, the occasional clang as a hammer hits hot metal makes a constant white noise that you can almost feel seeping into you as you walk into the town.  we take a big road down a few blocks. There are people all around us, talking, eating, and drinking, my mouth starts to water as I look at big mugs of liquid, tall against giant bowls of stew, or cuts of meat, steaming bread on the side. I could smell it from my spot on the cart, and I could only imagine what it would taste like, I had been living off of sparse rations of jerky and hardtack this past few days and my stomach was wanting for some real food. In my old home there was always lots of emphasis on food with a good harvest bringing lots of food and a bad one bringing hunger, either way, we had learned to cook with what we had and make it delicious, the good food of my home was not lost on me and I knew my way quite well around a table be it breakfast lunch or dinner, not only that but I was quite familiar with a barstool and likewise a bar.

It goes to say I was overwhelmed with all of the people's sounds and smells, at home I knew everyone, now, there are more people on this single street than in my entire town. Making such a racket that it felt like I was in the middle of a parade, and the sickly-sweet smell of BO, puke, and blood, mixed with BBQ, perfume, and bread. The buildings on the street are stores with big windows showing their wares: flowers, wooden toys, armor, and a bakery. Fancy restaurants with steaming food being brought to people sitting at tables inside and outside the building. People sit on balconies above the street sipping refreshing drinks and eating small pastries. I gape at all of this until we turn left into an alleyway, compared to the rest of the town it seems rather plain and empty, 

But upon arriving at the end, I look up to see a large stone chapel in front of us. It is surrounded by many matching stone brick buildings and courtyards. Actually, on further inspection, it's one very squat building with lots of branching wings, and at its very center is the same spire I had seen earlier from far away. Up close, I see that it has a bell at the top.  

"W-what!?" Glancing up at the top of the spire I see a man with a flaming sword fighting a witch? I stumble back crawling to the back of the cart

"What are you doing? Help him!"

All of the guards crouch down looking around as they hear my cry. When one of them stands up and chuckles and calls out.

"It's just the glass."  all of the guards stand up with relief and look at me and the other guard "The country boy's mistaking art for apparitions."

What? Glass? I look up and take a closer look, squinting up to see a giant colorful painting Depicting a man with feathery wings and a glowing sword fighting a dark witch holding a giant book with evil-looking ruins written within. It's beautiful art. So beautiful that I thought it was real. 

I look away from the guards ugh what an idiot. But at least I'm not the only one.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

I look up and find the guard who called me a country boy "It's beautiful art, but it isn't glass." He looks at me in amusement. Why? there's no way that it's glass.

"Oh yeah, and why is that" Trying and failing to hide a small smile

"That can't be glass you can't color glass and no glass I've ever seen was that small and precise," I say while his smile only grows as mine shrinks

"That is glass," he says with a laugh "You can mix in different materials to make it, but it's very hard and you must be very skillful, there is nobody near here that could make something like this that is why you've never seen it"

Trying to save what little pride I have left I look at a different guard. "Why are we here"

Didn't you know? We're part of the Confident Church," says the guard.

Almost as if the words summon them, priests rush forward and help unload the cart along with the guards while another undistinguishable from the rest goes up to the first guard I was arguing with earlier and they start talking in whispers

After a few minutes of talking back and forth, they finish at about the same time as the cart is fully unloaded the boxes being taken through a side door to who knows where. I sat in a corner by the entrance and after a very short time, I was left alone. With nowhere to go, I wait and wait and keep on waiting. As I sit, I watch, as many people walk by curiously. Everyone at the church seems to be a man, I wonder why that is. They take the horses and lead them down a small side alley, with that you could never tell anything disturbed the quiet of the ally. Eventually, somebody comes around; it is the guard I spoke to first outside the church.

"I know it's been a while, and I'm sorry I forgot about you. I'm going to help get you situated," says the guard.

"Why are you helping me? You don't—can't I just go back home?" I say in confusion and worry. Where even am I? I've never been outside of my village. I want to go home, I'd never even thought about joining the church.

"As part of the church, we must help you, especially because of what happened to your home. You saw, and I know you're not stupid; you know there's no place for you back there…"

I start to retort "No--"

"Do you have any family anywhere, anyone in town, anyone who can come pick you up from town? … I didn't think so. The only people who can take you in now are the church. You can be either an acolyte or you can be a beggar"

"Fine I'll --"

"This town doesn't allow Beggars, so it's tough luck for you. I know this is all very sudden, but frankly, we don’t have time to make you feel better. We are helping you even if it doesn't feel that way, and hopefully, when you get a little older you will see that. I know you are probably reeling from this, but you're an acolyte of the church now. You need to follow me because you will miss the seminar if you don't hurry, and trust me if you think I'm being rude and mean right now, you really don't want me to deal with you if you miss the seminar"

says the guard all in a rush.

He starts walking away without waiting for me to answer. I stand there for a moment not knowing what to do. It takes me a little bit longer than it should have to process. I run after him to catch up it occurs to me that he is right. As much as I hate to admit that, I have no other choice but to follow him. As I run after him, I try not to think too hard about what will happen in my future and where I will end up.

After way too many twists and turns for me to remember I am led to an indiscreet door in the hall the guard takes out a key, puts it in the door takes out some rough robes and basic sandals then locks it again then we go further into the church. At the end of a different hall is a door, opening it he hands me the robes and sandals.

“Shower and freshen I’ll be waiting here. Don’t take too long.”

Without a word, I take the garments handed to me and I head through the door. inside is a short hall with two doors, one straight ahead and one to the right the left wall has shelves covering it.

leaving my things on the shelves I strip, then enter the door on the right It's the toilets. After doing my business I head through the main door, it leads into a large L-shaped room bending to the left after a long corridor. From where I stand in the doorway small uncovered showers are lining the walls. A large bath takes up the entire short end of the L with heaps of steam coming off of it and on the opposite wall, there is another door. Ignoring the door and the giant bath I go to a shower at random and turn on the water It comes out in a strong stream of scalding water that burns to the touch.

I walk out of the showers bright red, as I go over to my new robes and sandals. I dress quickly and grab my old clothes and possessions in a hand then walk out the door. The guard is standing to the side of the hall waiting for me. With a grunt, he starts walking in a new direction, and I fall into step behind him.

After more seemingly random turns we arrive at another completely indistinguishable door Opening up the door the guard looks at me.

“I’m sorry things turned out this way for you. If I see you again I’ll try to help. And I’m sorry I was so rude earlier it’s not been a good day for anyone.”

“Thank you, for the apology, but you are right I have no choice, when they say jump I'll have to ask how high."

Even for how little I know him I appreciate the help with clothes and a shower he is the only one here that I know or that helped me.

“before you go what’s your name?”

“Antony…”

“My name is Dante.”

"I wish you the best Dante"

Antony turns around and walks away. 

With a sigh, I turn and walk to the door without hesitation stepping through. Inside the door is a large room with an aisle down the middle leading to a rough-hewn podium. On either side of the aisle are plain wooden benches half full of boys around my age wearing the same robes and sandals I have. I wonder if I should make small talk with some of them, but I notice it is dead silent so I turn back to the front and wait.