The group traveled through vast plains, hills, and forests as they chatted and learned about each other to pass time. Surprisingly enough they did not get attacked by any bandits, although they were besieged by some beasts Senior Priest Hayden was more than enough to ward them off easily. Virion finally raised a question to Hayden. "Senior Priest Hayden, I've heard from my parents that traveling is really perilous with many bandits and wild beasts everywhere. Why it is that we have yet to be attacked by a bandit group?" He was truly bewildered by this but Senior Priest Hayden simply laughed.
"Tell me, where I'm taking you to?" Virion tilted his head. "To the Holy Church in Aerus City right...?" Hayden nodded. "Am I on an official mission of escorting you children to Holy Church, yes?" Virion thought for few moments before slowly nodding. Hayden smiled "And there's your reason. The carriage bears Holy Church's crest. You should know this that when our crest is painted onto carriages, it is very easy to tell a fake apart from a real one. That is because the real one is painted with the essence of Light, so it glows! The moment anyone sees it, they will immediately know that we are from Holy Church, and on an official mission. They would not dare to offend the force behind us! They're just puny bandit group, nothing more than ants to us."
Hayden paused for a moment. "Of course, there are few blind fools who are stupid enough to ignore that, like the one coming at us right now." He shook his head. "We're only a day away from Aerus City. Truly daring!" He thought for a bit before asking the children. "Do you want to see what a Senior Priest of Holy Church can do?" All four of them nodded immediately. They really wanted to see! Hayden smiled. "Alright then. Come out." All of them stepped out of the carriage, the children were looking around curiously before suddenly being encased in a strange membrane of light. Hayden explained "This will protect you from arrows and anyone else sneaking up to you to use you as ransom against me. Bandits are unscrupulous people and can be considered as someone who bears sins but they aren't quite demons either. So we don't approve their actions but we don't chase them after it unless they conspire with demons or bear great sins, our focus is on demons and individuals with a great number of sins!" The young children once again nodded as they finally saw a small group of human bandits approaching fearlessly with the leader in front shouting "TAKE THEM DOWN ALL! LEAVE NO WITNESSES AND THEY WILL NEVER KNOW!"
Hayden let out sighed. "Truly group of morons who knows nothing about the mountain before them." He glanced at the children and silently thought 'I hope they don't get too shocked' before waving his hand as a beautiful metallic stave appeared. It had intrinsic rune design on it, giving off as if it was a holy artifact with a small cross at top emitting light yellow hue. Hayden with a cold look in his eyes. "Smite." Archos and Virion who had higher affinity than rest of the group suddenly 'felt' something swirling and before they knew what was even happening, fiery beams that appeared to be made from pure light shot down from sky, smashing into helpless bandits and reduced them into ashes -- no, not even ashes remained, only scorch marks to show there was a battle -- or more like one-sided slaughter here.
The children were stunned by the display, they could not even utter a word. This was the power of a Senior Priest Hayden. Then they were even more shocked when they heard the next few words of Senior Priest Hayden. "They couldn't even withstand most elementary spell, truly weak." Hayden glanced at flabbergasted kids. "This is the true power of the Holy Church. Mortals like them... are helpless before our spells and skills. You will soon learn to do the same here. Come, let us get to Aerus, we're already late." Archos and Virion glanced at the battle scene before re-entering the carriage and resumed their traveling. Sure enough, a day later, they arrived at Aerus City. Archos and Virion, along with other two kids was simply amazed by how huge the city and just how many people there were at the carriage passed the long line of people and was easily granted entry through the gates. Virion smiled at Archos as he watched Archos gazing at beautiful buildings and everything else. 'His smile...' before shaking his head helplessly before taking look around to take in the sight as well and before they knew it, they arrived at the Holy Church -- largest building in the city.
Senior Priest Hayden stepped out and said: "Welcome to the Holy Church of Aerus City." with a huge beaming smile. The children stepped out of the carriage, was utterly amazed by how large the Church is. Hayden laughed and guided them into the Church and quickly enough they were brought to someone. "Senior Brother, I've brought excellent candidates from my recruiting trip this time around!" He turned around and introduced each child; "This is Archos, he has Perfect Affinity with at least one of elements or more, I'm not sure what but I think one of them is Light affinity!" The nameless Senior Brother widened his eyes in shock. Hayden smiled smugly. "Next one, this is Virion, he has Superior affinity with at least one of affinity. Given with his eyes... I think it should be fire affinity!" Then he finally introduced the last two, introducing the brown-haired boy first, "They are Zaeus and Linna, both of them have Good Affinity to what, I think would be water and earth respectively." Hayden nodded to himself and placed his hands on his hip.
"So, didn't I bring a good batch this time around? You'll have to give me a lot of Merit points, Senior Brother!" the nameless Senior Brother sighed helplessly. "You sure have brought great batch today. Alright, for the Perfect Affinity kid, I'll give 5,000 Merit Points, for Superior Affinity kid, 1,000 Merit points, then for last two, 200 Merit Points for each. Totaling up 6,200 Merit Points. Congratulations on your windfall, Junior Brother!" Hayden grinned and nodding before turning around to speak with the children. "Alright now I have to leave you in his hand. His name is Kale, he's one of higher up in this church, so make sure to listen well! I'll see you around here perhaps." Then he turned around and left, leaving the children with Senior Brother Kale.
Kale let out a sigh. "Alright, first we'll get you settled in, let me show where your room, then explain will happen next. He then guided the children to their rooms. Virion and Archos glanced at each other before muttering "I hope we get to room together." at the same time before grinning at each other as they followed Kale.
Published the chapter a bit late today. Slowly incorporating BL elements into it. Also what you do think of "battle" scene here?
Oh and next chapter will have time skip! I'm not exactly fond of academy arcs. So don't worry!