Priest of Fire

The glowing light blue particles of mana which slowly entered Zen's body through his pores were soon expelled outside.

This event caused Arthur's eyes to slightly widen in surprise while he watched.

'Wait, what…'

Arthur thought in his mind as he looked closer at Zen.

As he began to focus on his observation, he discovered something that was not normal.

'Mana particles are gathering towards his body… so it means that his affinity with mana wasn't the problem.'

'Mana particles could also enter his body… which means that mana doesn't reject his body.'

After a few more minutes of careful and detailed observations, Arthur came to a conclusion.

'It's like his body is the one rejecting mana…'

As it was the first time that he witnessed something like this, Arthur was quite surprised once again.

Other creatures with physiques or talents that rejected mana wouldn't have any affinity at all. It meant that the mana particles would not even bother to gather towards them.

But Zen was different, mana could enter his body. It was as if the mana wanted to enter Zen, but his body rejects it.

'Truly interesting…'

Then after a while, Arthur had a feeling.

'No… it's more like his body despises mana itself…'

After this thought appeared in his mind, Arthur couldn't help but come up with an absurd idea.

He stared at Zen, who had intrigued him over and over again.

'Maybe with him… it's possible…'

Arthur thought as he gazed at Zen in a different light.

Zen who was still trying to use his skill to absorb mana, did not notice this.

'Damn, what's happening?'

Thought Zen as he looked towards the section in his status panel where [Mana] was located.

As the status panel was something that appeared directly in the player's sight, they could look at it even while their eyes were closed.

The [Mana] section in his status panel seemed to be bugged.

[Mana: 1]

[Mana: 0]

[Mana: 1]

[Mana: 0]

The numbers 0 and 1 began alternating as soon as he started using the skill given by Arthur.

'What the… why isn't it working?'

Zen thought in annoyance.

He was unwilling to accept this outcome. Zen focused harder and tried absorbing mana over and over again. But alas, he didn't achieve anything despite doing everything he could.

After a few minutes of fruitless efforts, he heard Arthur's calm voice.

"Stop."

Confused as to why he was ordered to stop, Zen looked towards him.

Arthur stood up and looked at Zen in the eye.

"Stop trying for now."

Zen panicked internally. This was the first opportunity which has given him the chance to change his life. The chance to finally be able to end his suffering.

Faced with the unknown pressure from a possible calamity, the desire to become stronger further welled up in his body.

He had to become stronger no matter what. And thus he said with eyes brimming with determination.

"But sir, I want to become stronger!"

Zen's face was filled with an expression of endless surging perseverance.

Seeing his stubborn personality, Arthur became pleasantly surprised.

'Would you look at this…'

He soon grinned as he looked at Zen.

Arthur thought back to the first time he saw him entering his place.

He was surprised to find someone visiting such a deserted place as he would not even be able to see people coming close to his place usually.

What made him even more surprised was the fact that Zen started training with all his might after looking around the place for a while.

The patience, the perseverance, the determination of being able to punch for hours astounded Arthur.

Although he also witnessed some of Zen's embarrassing situations, he thought that it was normal for everyone to have some quirks that they would not show to other people.

Coupled with Zen's will and focus, Arthur became even more convinced of his decision.

It could also not be denied that Zen's powerful talent also convinced Arthur that he would be able to get far with the right training.

And so he made an offer while still looking at Zen.

"Well then, how about becoming my apprentice?"

It was now Zen's turn to be pleasantly surprised. He became excited but his remaining rationality prevented him from blindly accepting the offer.

After calming himself down, Zen asked in a careful voice.

"Although I really, really want to accept your offer, I can't help but be curious so please pardon me for asking; why are you so kind to me sir Arthur?"

Arthur was a little startled by the question that Zen presented.

He chuckled lightly after a short pause and said, "My bad, it seemed that I got ahead of myself and forgot to introduce myself properly."

Arthur cleared his throat and began talking about himself.

"Well as you know, my name is Arthur. I am the last priest of the Temple of Fire."

"Although I am the only remaining person in the Temple of Fire, I can confidently say that our inheritance isn't any inferior compared to the Temple of Light!"

Arthur boasted in a proud voice.

Then he looked up and sighed, as if reminiscing about his memories of the past.

Witnessing this, Zen could not help but become curious.

Even though Arthur was already prepared to tell this story the moment he decided to take Zen as his apprentice, he could not help but feel a little bit depressed.

Arthur soon started talking after a few minutes of silence.