3 The Gathering (2)

"What's the rank after acolyte" Seth decided to get as much information as he could.

"It doesn't matter, but it's magus. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to leave." Pierce clearly didn't want to answer any questions.

Seth spent some time talking to Grace before he sent her away and decided to get some rest, he's still injured after all.

As he thought about being in a world of magic with excitement, he slowly drifted to sleep.

Like this a day went by, Seth spoke to Grace, rested, and meditated to kill his boredom. On the second day, it was time for the gathering.

His father called him to his study and gathered five of their strongest soldiers, including Pierce, before leaving with Seth to the church.

The church was massive, at least a thousand meters wide and covered in painted glass and the yin-yang symbol, the equivalent of the cross in this world. People here worshiped the path and priests are said to be closest to the path of healing.

Seth noticed a crowd gathering around the church, children of various families, poor and rich, were waiting outside the large doors. An apprentice priest quickly noticed them and shooed them to the line.

Time slowly passed as Seth spent his time in boredom, the kids around him either too nervous to talk to him or surrounded by guards. Eventually, it was his turn to go in.

Leaving his father and guards behind, Seth walked into the church and was quickly pushed into a room by an apprentice priest. Inside sat an old priest who radiated raw power.

"Quickly take a seat and place your hand on this orb."

Seth complied quickly, placing his hand on the orb when all went black. Slowly he began to find himself in another world once again.

"What's your name?" The hoarse voice of the priest said.

"Seth Morningstar." 'What's happening?'

"How old are you?"

"Nine years old today."

"Close your eyes and concentrate only on the space between your eyebrows. What do you see?"

Closing his eyes, Seth noticed a river of lava flowing through a dark plane with screaming spirits coming out of it with skeletons everywhere.

"Hell."

"Explain."

"I see a river of fire flowing through a dark void, there's spirits screaming and running out of it while bodies litter the floor."

"Excellent. This shows you have high talent in the spirit, fire, and darkness path."

As the priest finished his words the world began to shatter and Seth was awoken back in reality.

"Relax, you were just under an illusion. I find that it helps people tell the truth."

Seth internally wiped sweat off his head, thankfully he had accepted his new identity.

"We priests are excellent tutors for those who have talent in the spirit. If you're not willing to go down the path of spirit mastery, however, you can find a list of sects on your right."

Seth took a glance and found a neat stack of papers to his right. Grabbing one, Seth quickly said his thanks and walked out the door where he was redirected to a waiting area by an apprentice priest.

He began to wonder what path he should take. Darkness sounds cool, but fire sounds more practical. As for spirit, what would that even do?