The relic

"Good evening, High Priest. You look tired. Need some water?"

"No, no, I'm fine. Have you warned our brothers around the city?" Julius glanced at the book on the table.

"Yes, I did as you asked," Rafael replied.

"Were you reading this?" Julius asked, picking up the book.

"Yes, sir. I managed to learn new words while trying to read it. It has some poems in it, right?" Rafael said, pulling up another chair to sit.

"By my Creator! You learned Latin in two days?!" Julius exclaimed, astonished. He couldn't believe how someone could learn something as difficult as a new language in just two days. Most people would take months to learn how to write and read. What's happening here? Has this man been blessed in another way?… Maybe it's a sign… I must complete my mission!

"Cleric Robert, you're a blessed man, you know that, don't you?"

"Y-Yes. I have a mission given by the Lord, and I will do anything to complete it..."

"Let's polish your knowl—" Julius began, but Rafael cut him off.

"And whoever stands in my path will be struck with God's judgment. I received a divine mission, and I will execute it," Rafael declared with certainty and solemnity.

Julius blinked a few times, taken aback by Rafael's words. "I understand you, Robert, and believe me when I say that you're special, and I'm going to help you on your journey. Now, as I was saying, let's polish your knowledge of Latin, and then we can start the runic lessons. You agree?"

Runic? Am I going to cast some magic on a sword or something? Rafael thought. For him, runic alphabets were used for magic in novels and games. "I'm fine with that. Let's not waste time."

The day ended with Rafael becoming proficient in reading Latin and learning a bit of runic. Contrary to his expectations, runic was just the alphabet of the kingdom's main language.

Before the High Priest could sleep, Rafael asked him about the printing press and how they could mass-produce cement without the knowledge leaking.

"As I said the other day, everything will be ready in two weeks, so we just have to be patient. About the cement... We could build a large workplace outside the city. Most of the workers should be clerics and people we trust."

"I think we should build a wall to block the view from outside. That way, people won't be able to copy our methods just by watching how we work," Rafael suggested.

"Hmm, that's a good idea. Tomorrow we can discuss more about all this. Now, I really need some sleep. Good night."

In another room filled with beds and sleeping clerics, one man remained awake. Please, my Lord! Answer my call! Why is this happening? I was supposed to be his apprentice and become a priest! Who is he compared to me? Since I was a child, I devoted myself to all this... And for what?!

Also, in a small village, recent events had changed the lives of everyone present. Many guards and soldiers were stationed in improvised camps. A knight was talking with two other soldiers inside the best house there.

"We managed to move it a bit, but at this rate, it'll take a year to get it to Lumbergh," one of the men said.

"The people are also afraid of the relic. They refuse to go near it, even when we tell them it's safe," the other soldier added.

Lothar sat on a chair while the others remained standing. "I don't care what they think. Try to convince them, offer money or food, and if nothing works, use force," he said, annoyed by the peasants' unwillingness.

"Understood, sir." Both soldiers left to relay the orders to the troops and the few clerics.

This thing... If only the events here hadn't spread to other villages and cities... Lothar sighed. Who leaked everything? Of course, it was him. Who else could it be? Fucking traitor. I'll piss on your grave tomorrow.

The night grew colder as it progressed. The townsfolk had gone to sleep, exhausted from the day's manual labor, preparing for another hard day. Few guards were patrolling the city. At this moment, three men were gathered inside a small house on the outskirts.

One of them pulled a letter from his pouch and handed it to the other. No words were necessary; they simply nodded to each other. The two men exited the house, mounted their horses, and departed towards the west.

----------------

The day started like any other. Rafael was woken by the noise the old man made. "Good morning, sir."

"Oh, good morning, my dear apprentice. Today, we have lots of things to do, as always," Julius said. They drank some water from a jar while discussing the day's tasks.

Rafael was assigned to clean the church's interior and was then told to go study in the clerics' chamber inside the mansion.

"Sir, with all respect, but I think there are more important things I could do instead of studying. I already know how to read, and I have faith that I will learn how to write quickly. So you could leave me to plan how we could build a place to produce cement," Rafael suggested.

Julius looked at him for a few seconds. "Fine, but if you falter tonight when I teach you..." He raised his finger in warning.

"Don't worry, High Priest. Believe me when I say I'm a fast learner," Rafael replied confidently.

The old man walked to the door, but before he could exit, Rafael called him back.

"Sir, I have something to ask you. About the priest meeting to choose a cleric to rise in rank, is there a way to do it sooner?"

"Sooner? But why? You know there's still a lot you have to learn before becoming a priest, right?"

"I know, but..." How else will I be able to introduce new inventions and knowledge? Rafael thought.

"I'm sorry, Robert, but I can't change it. Remember, patience is an important value every cleric learns. Now I have to go. I'm visiting the churches to see how the search is going."

After Julius left, Rafael went to the mansion kitchen to grab something for breakfast. Now that he knew the way, he walked without getting lost. In the kitchen, he found the chef and two other people. They wore a mix of dark grey, white, and yellow clothes. One was a man, and the other was the same girl who had shown him the way earlier.

"Who are you? This isn't a place you can just enter! Get out, or I'll call the guards!" the man said threateningly.

"Sorry, sir, I'm leaving right away." Rafael grabbed a fruit from a basket and quickly walked away under the watchful gaze of the others. Goddamn, where will I find free food again? Ah, I just have to ask Julius to talk with the staff and give me permission.