Chapter 8, The Bishop

The Bishop. (Apprentice Trisha)

" Please, join me in my private dining room." Ordered The Lady Bishop as she turned on her heels, her elegant robe swaying as she sauntered towards the back of the hall.

Trailing behind her, Trisha couldn't help but notice Lord Noah Smiling at the back of the bishop. Trisha stare, mesmerized, as the woman's white robe flowed gracefully around her. Trisha smiled, she wondered what sort of anniversary Lord Noah had forgotten?

"Eliya, can you believe it she is a Grand Master?" whispered Trisha.

" I know, I wonder if she will actually teach us how to use magic?" asked Eliya, her stony expression momentarily fading as her lips turned upward.

" Oh cool, I bet working as a guard for a bishop is a well-paying job." whispered Greg from behind them.

" Hush Greg nobody asked you." said Trisha grinning.

" Of course, do not mind me, just the well payed guard who is quiet and handsome." said Greg.

Trisha stepped into a candlelit room, a table set for one in the middle. Her mouth water at the assortment of meats and was that cheese? Sauntering gracefully, The lady Bishop crossed the room and stopped at the head of the table. Gesturing to the other seats, the Bishop sat. The Bishop waved Greg to the other end of the table. She then waved Trisha and Eliya to the seats on her left around the table.

" Please join me, we have much to discuss. You must be tired and hungry after your long absence." said The Bishop.

" Thank you. My lady, I dare say you look lovely and vibrant as the rising sun." said Lord Noah as he sat to her right.

A small smile graced the Bishop's face for a moment, before she brushed her long hair to the side. Trishas heart skipped a beat, her chest warming as the woman graced her with a stunning smile. The woman's straight black hair, framing intelligent brown eyes.

"Its nice to meet you, Noah, you said something about potential apprentices?" asked The Bishop.

The bishop turned her steely gaze to Eliya and asked, "What is your name and how many layers can you channel?"

"My name is Eliya and I can channel four layers." replied Eliya. Turning to Trisha, The bishop gestured for her to respond.

"I uh am Trisha, and um, well, I can channel five layers." Trisha mumbled, her face flushing. The bishop snapped her head back to Lord Noah.

" I talked to Her Majesty, she said you went to the city of Drent." asked The Bishop.

" Yes, I heard Rumours of a demon in the city. When I arrived, a demon attacked me. What is most concerning, the demon was at the head of the Darva." said Lord Noah.

" What? Are you sure, how did a demon join the Darva? they kill every race but their own." said The Bishop, her brows knitting together.

" The demon attacked and burned the church hall while I was there. It was young, but it used offensive runes." said Lord Noah.

" We left during the attack of the Darva. The demon led them. By know, the city must be in ruins." said Lord Noah, bowing his head. Trisha sat up in her seat, watching as the bishop cocked her head.

" My lady, are you going to send help to save the city?" asked Trisha, bowing. As bowing to nobility was always a good idea.

" Her majesty has been working on it. We received a message, of the attack days ago." slamming her fist on the table, the bishop took in a deep breath smoothing her robe.

" The nobles are tired of paying for this war. They have been fighting us at every turn. And now the city of Drent has fallen. From the nobles' perspective, the war is not hurting them. So why should they pay for it?" asked The Bishop.

" We will need to be careful. If the public learns of the demon at the head of the Darva, there will be panic." said Lord Noah.

" We may be able to use this? If we scare the nobles to act, then they might mobilize their own armies." said The Bishop..

" Why in the church not joining the fight?" asked Trisha. The bishop eyed her as if searching for something.

" We have been fighting the demons longer then the kingdom has been fighting the war against the Darva," Replied the Bishop.

" Then why doesn't everyone know about demons?" asked Trisha.

" That is because we force everyone who learns about demons into silence through a rune contract." said The Bishop coldly.

" Of course there are people who know, but who is going to believe them? Spouting nonsense about demons? Most people will think they are not right in the head." said The Bishop.

Trishas stomach grumbled, the soft chair lulling her to lean back and relax.

" Enough of that. Noah, are you sponsoring these two for the initiation?" asked The bishop.

Trisha couldn't help herself anymore and took a steaming loaf of bread. Biting into the warm bread, she sighed in relief. Trisha listened intently as she dug in, the meat and cheese perfect with the bread. Her nose wrinkled, the sweet aroma of wine drifting to her nose.

Trisha swallowed as The Bishop herself rose from her chair. The Bishop poured both Trisha and Eliya a tall glass of wine. Returning to her seat, the woman smiled at Trisha.

Trisha melted into the bold flavour and sweet taste that caressed her tongue. Trisha felt as though the deity of life themselves glorified her with the wine. How could any other wine compare? lost in the wine, unable to stop from sipping and even gulping the amazing strawberry wine.

" I was hoping you would sponsor them, my lady? Your sponsorship holds much more weight if they are potential candidates." said Noah. Trisha snapped back to her senses at those words.

At the head of the table, the Bishop's eyes twinkled in mirth at Trisha. Trishas cheeks flushed, and she set down the emptied goblet. Her body vibrated and warmed, the wine relaxing and exhilarating. Something prodded her mind, unusual indeed.

" Are you enjoying the wine, Trisha?" asked The Bishop.

"Yes, I love it. Its amazing, where on Laurentia did you fine such a magnificent wine?" asked Trisha, licking her lips..

" Oh, you love wine, do you? This is a very special vintage indeed. It is not from Laurentia, it's from the forbidden lands of the elementals. The King of Pentir sold our queen a few casks of their prized wine. You would not believe the favours I had to trade to get two barrels off of her majesty." said The bishop, grinning like she had won a significant victory.

" That sounds expensive?" asked Trisha, swallowing hard.

" Even I cannot get another barrel. Her majesty would require a massive favor for such a thing." said The Bishop.

" It tastes unlike any wine I have ever tried. But why is it so expensive?" asked Trisha, her hands shaking as she reached again for the empty goblet, tipping it back for the last drop.

" My dear, have you not heard of the elementals in the forbidden lands?" asked The Bishop.

"Yes, Lady Bishop, I have heard rumours of them." said Trisha, her heart skipping a beat. What did the elementals have to do with this?

" Well, the elementals make this wine and it is only rarely gifted to the king of Pentir for favours. No matter how much I try, I cannot figure out what His majesty of Pent trades them to get it." said The Bishop grimacing.

" My lady, when will you give up on your fancy of their wine? Im sure we can find another from somewhere else of equal flavour and power." said Lord Noah sheepishly.

" Im sure if we offer them enough gold they will hand over the fancy grape juice." said Greg grinning. Trisha sputtered, how dare he? She rose to her feet in defence, her veins feeling alive as though she was channeling mana.

" Fancy grape juice? Have you no class. I feel as though I could run all day after a cup full." said Trisha, her body vibrating. The bishop held up a hand gesturing towards Trisha chuckling. The Bishop gestured to Eliya. The woman passed out as though asleep in her chair. Trish gaped, heart racing as she rushed over to the unconscious Eliya.

" What is wrong with her? Is she alright?" asked Trisha, her shaking fingers fumbling, finding a pulse at her friend's neck.

" To answer your question, this is a test. The wine, the elementals make it. If drank by a regular human its poison, if drank by a mage it is a challenge both physically, magically and mentally to stay conscious." said The bishop, smiling kindly.

" What does it do? Why did you give it to us?" asked Trisha, heart racing and body pumping with energy.

" Noah, My love. Would you be a dear and fetch Trisha a jug for the wine?" asked The Bishop.

" Im not drinking more until you tell me what it does." said Trisha backing away.

" Alright, I will tell you. The wine is the perfect tool to test your capacity for mana. Once your body has reached its limit, you will pass out." said The Bishop, crossing her arms and leaning into her soft chair. Trisha's hand shook as she pointed at the Bishop.

" You knew we were coming?" asked Trisha, turning from Noah to The Bishop.

" No, I did not know Noah would bring new students. But I'm excited to see how far you can go." said The Bishop. There was a clanking of metal as something clattered behind Trisha. She whirled.

" Will Eliya be alright, and what about Greg?" asked Trisha, eying Greg as he slumped against his chair.

" Eliya failed, but she will make a great candidate for the initiation exam. You, I'm unsure, who knows? If you keep drinking the Wine, I might sponsor you. Take this chance, Drink, I put Greg to sleep, he is fine." said the Bishop. Trisha stagger back. How did the bishop do that? She had put Greg to sleep, and Trisha hadn't even felt the use of mana.

Noah placed a jug of the delicious wine on the table. The scent of strawberry filling the room. The tall jug of wine, enough to make her drunk if it were regular alcohol.

" Here is your choice, my dear. Drink the whole jug of wine without passing out and I will sponsor you. This means more than you think, it means I'm declaring you and my apprentice." said The Bishop seriously.

" And why would I want to be your apprentice?" asked Trisha, unsure.

" That is because I'm the highest ranking member of the church. Many seek to be my students. It takes a unique person to become a grandmaster." said The Bishop

Trisha swallowed, her body shaking in excitement. Her mouth water as she eyed the wine. Her mind was muddled, but the faint pressure of something prodding at her senses was unsettling. Trisha nodded her head, taking a seat as she eyed the wine. She reached for the jug pouring her goblet full.