The 'Cult'

Alex had waited for a while before eventually giving up and returning to the library to keep reading. Quickly time passed as no customers were coming and the books helped pass the time as he quickly finished an entire bookshelf very quickly as he completely immersed himself in the pages...

"Here it is! Finally a more advanced version of creation magic!" After several days passed Alex had read an entire bookshelf a day due to his fast reading. This alone allowed him to finish all the books that contained knowledge about medium-level creation magic.

These books weren't like the ones being sold by him, as they held more basic concepts that allowed one to easily build upon them. As such Alex could create things like water and stones, but it wasn't convenient and hard to do on a large scale making it easier for him to create a large batch and process the material using the techniques on the first floor. The higher level books allowed for an easier thought process to create more things at a time as well as make them complex on a large scale.

It also allowed for some very simple things to be created using physical spell called a formation. Which is just a spell written down that allows it to work without a person needing to physically go through the process.

An example is how before if he wanted to create water, he could spend an hour to make single drop. But if he wanted a lot of water it would be easier to create a lot of hydrogen and oxygen then use basic chemistry to make water on a large scale. Now he would simply need a formation that created both hydrogen and oxygen before making it combine into water.

Based on the advancement Alex knew high level creation spells would allow him to more easily make complex items as well as be able to create formations that would be able to get to the result without working around to get the same results.

Obviously very happy with this new power Alex started on the project he had put on hold. Building a garden and farm to feed his guests or other things. He had so much knowledge about growing and cooking food. Taking care of animals and how to use what he gets from them. Now he can use a small portion of the knowledge he spent so long ardous learning.

***

"What do you think of these new skills?" Alma spoke with excitement as she swung around her spear.

Originally she wanted to read the books about growing her apple seeds and only focus on the trees for a while, but in the end, she heard of an incoming enemy wanting to attack her new church and she wasn't going to let it go.

Granted her 'church' was mostly just an area slowly being flattened. Not wanting her new tree to be destroyed she only read the books and understood how to grow them before focusing on mastering her new spear.

"You look great Alma. Would you like a sparing partner?" Olsen was extremely excited about this battle, especially after seeing the new special spear that was gifted to his Lady. He had seen it on her ear and thought it was a strange metal quill for writing, but he only realized how wrong he was after asking about it and seeing Alma grab it and focusing for a moment before the spear grew to a size that perfectly suited her.

"No, this technique focuses on piercing and hurting my enemy." Alma put on a cute serious face as she looked at the tip of her spear. "You said you were struggling to break up some rocks so I can help and practice at the same time."

"Thank you Lady." Olsen only bowed to her and led her to a section that had the building almost completely intact.

Alma on the other hand didn't hesitate as she prepared herself and attacked within seconds. The crete that held the stone together was only used by people who truly had money to burn and expected their house to last. Although the materials weren't expensive, only one company knew exactly how to create it making the manual labor nearly a hundred times the price of the materials themselves.

To Alma, this tough material that was layered in between the stone was perfect practice for both the precision of attacking weak points and splitting armor open. She specifically was targeting the gap between the stone and crete to separate them. The stone, although weaker, still couldn't be pierced by a child not even ten years of age making this technique the most efficient. The process was slow, but was faster the more precise she got.

Olsen on the other hand left the girl alone as he went back to guarding the church. Although everything was rubble, there was a stone box that held nothing but five books. It was sealed after Alma finished reading all the books she had received. Although no one could read the books, if an enemy is truly able to read it, all the great knowledge would be available to them. This knowledge had made Alma the greatest fighter in the village even with abysmal strength. Such strength bestowed upon an evil person would destroy the world! *According to Olsen*

**

On the other side of town, in the church of light, a woman and man stood face to face.

"Renee."

"Hello."

The man looked extremely uncomfortable as he tried to hint at something till the point he was making large strange movements.

Renee simply smiled politely only lowering her head, "Dario, although you have cared about me, you have done very little to help the people and have become fat. I only respect you as a priest of Prashka. Now I have seen the light. You don't truly communicate with Prashka. I realized that when I saw 'her' go to meet with Lord Alex."

Frowning Dario looked at Renee clearly confused and worried as a sinking feeling started to spread, "What do you mean Renee? You were sent to observe that upstart cult."

Renee only kept smiling politely, "Unfortunately, it is only now that I see you have lost your way along with many of the church." Taking out a small medallion she kept speaking, "So, now I will see the rise of a great new religion following the God Alex, God of Knowledge." Her smile became more brilliant as she spoke more clearly.

"YOU WOULD DARE GO AGAINST THE CHURCH! TO GO AGAINST THE WILL OF THE GODS!" Dario's face turned bright red in an instant as his furious roars covered far and wide, "YOU BLASPHEMER!" Like a broken record, he kept repeating blasphemer, only a step away from hitting Renee.

Still, Renee seemed unfazed as she spoke in a calm voice, "I didn't betray any god. I only realized where my faith lies." She calmly put the medallion on the ground and turned to leave.

"DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE!" Just as she took one step out the church, Dario grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back.

"AHH!"

The screaming of before had already drawn a small crowd as they had gathered around the church wondering what was happening. Now that they had seen Renee being dragged back inside several people in rags rushed in hoping to stop what was happening.

Soon the church had almost fifteen people all scrambling to stop the situation. Very quickly Dario was stopped from his actions as he was separated from Renee.

"Don't stop me! I need to teach that blasphemer a lesson!"

Despite being dragged by her hair only moments ago Renee spoke with a calm tone, "As I told you before. I haven't lost faith. I only stopped believing in the priest who claimed to be able to speak with Prashka." Immediately after speaking she left before she could be stopped by the people watching.

Everyone there knew that Renee was a devout believer in the God of Light Prashka. To hear she would leave the church because of the priest made everyone question what the priest had done. Soon Dario was receiving looks of absolute disgust as people were already whispering about having a public hanging.

"No wait why do you all look at me like this?! She is the Blasphemer! She is the one who said she would follow the cult god Alex! She even claimed I couldn't communicate with Prashka!" Suddenly Dario had an idea as he quickly got the crowd to his side, "Wait that is it! She is clearly being brainwashed! She is being controlled by those crazy cultists! That is likely why they were able to get 7 followers the day they were established!"

Suddenly the talks about killing Dario turned into talks of worry for Renee who seemed to be controlled by the new cult that popped up. Many had heard about the cult, but left it alone when Dario said he would do something about it.

Soon the small group of people all started walking to where the supposed cult was being set up.

**

Olsen was practicing his swordsmanship as he waited for Alma to come back from her training.

"Sir Olsen? May I know where the Lady is?"

Stopping Olsen wiped off his sweat as he looked at Renee seriously, "Have you finished your relinquishment of your position in the church of light?"

"Yes."

"Good, then you can find her at building 4. She is currently practicing her spear techniques."

"Thank you." As she bowed and prepared to leave she was stopped.

"Are you certain this will be your only church? From what I hear you were a very firm advocate to the god Prashka. Giving all that away is very difficult. How can I even trust you will be loyal."

"Well after seeing Lady Alma, I realized my faith had always been misplaced. It was then that I gave all the plans to attack you away and begged for forgiveness. I promised to relinquish all ties to Prashka besides my belief in her existence and light. I hoped that would be enough, but if it truly isn't enough... What do you wish me to do?"

"Just be wary. Saying you will join us with your large reputation will cause some type of problem. I hope you can deal with it on your own."

"I hope I can deal with it on my own as well."

After that Renee quickly made her way to the abandoned house that was being destroyed. As it wasn't far she quickly saw the progress Alma had made. The house was still standing but had all the stones pushed out of place leaving the crete to support the entire structure making for a wondrous sight.

Alma was on the last wall that needed the stones pushed out. She had become very precise as she was able to take a stone out within a few seconds. She worked fast and as Renee watched she was able to finish within ten minutes.

Renee quickly walked to her side as she kneeled down, "Lady Alma, I have done it. I will no longer hold any connection to the church of light... I apologize for lying before this..."

"You don't have to worry about that. I always knew you were sent by that cranky man Dario. I also knew you only wanted the best for the people in this village that has grown enough to call it a true town."

"Thank you for your con-"

"There she is!"

Suddenly a voice interrupted her as a group of nearly fifteen people all walked together led by Dario. "Miss Renee! We have come to help! We can't let you be brainwashed!"

"Yeah!" x10

"We will make sure you can leave the evil grasps of this corrupt cult!"

"Yeah!" x10

Renee got up from her knee as she turned to the crowd and bowed, "I am thankful for your concern, but it appears you have been led astray. Dario. I only respect you as a priest of light. You are not a great person and have lied many times. Now you lie and make these poor people and make them follow you to what? Try and kill me for leaving your grasp under the guise of brainwashing? Please, as people we should not do such things."

"Shut up! You will be helped even if you don't realize you are sick!" Soon everyone got ready to catch Renee even if it meant hurting her.