An acolyte was awaiting outside of the Cathedral for The Boy as he stepped out of the cathedral and into the Astarian Chapel Square. It was located on a hillock in the middle of the city of Astaire, and contained the chapels of the Three Patrons of Camareth: The Mother, The Father, and the Trickster: the Patron gods of the Elves and Nymphs, the Humans and Dwarfs, and the Beastkin and Halfings respectively. All of whom made up the population of the Kingdom of Camareth, and who settled the lands around Astaire in great numbers compared to the other God-touched Peoples that sometimes arrived to make their fortunes on Camareth's frontierlands.
"Mr. Unnamed." The acolyte said as he stepped in front of the young boy, "Please wait a moment."
"What for?"
Before the acolyte could respond, Jein felt the flow of air out from the cathedral and heard the clinking of metal chains jolting. The acolyte's eyes shot behind the boy. A triad of clergy members walked out. In the middle was an elderly man with a beard flowing down to the center of his chest, and on either side of him was a white-robed man-at-arms: one with a spear, and the other with a blade strapped to his waist. Both with a shield with the image of a blue eye engraved in the middle.
"For them."
"What's going on?" Jein stepped back.
The acolyte in front of him stepped to the side, and Jein collided with him.
"I did everything right!" Jein protested.
"Indeed, you did...Mr. Unnamed, was it?" The priest in the middle of the triad spoke. "Please do not take this as an act of aggression against you."
Jein's eyes traveled to the men beside him.
"This is for your protection."
"What did I do?"
The people in the Temple Square were watching the events unfold. Beastkin and elves whispered in hurried, hushed sentences with one another. Dwarfs that were awaiting their rides back to their villages in the nearby mountains watched, tapping their feet. Young children, mothers, and fathers. Strangers all watched as the men began to surround him.
"No, no, you did nothing." The bearded priest stepped forward. "Your Depth is exceptionally high, isn't it?" He spoke in a low whisper.
"I don't know."
"Three." He motioned for Jein to follow him back into the temple. "Is the typical Depth of someone your age. Some might approach 6 in their lifetime, if they're diligent. Now, follow."
The men crowding him at the request gave Jein the impression that he didn't have much choice in the matter.
"We wanted to approach you right after the ceremony, but the Basin is sacred. If someone other than the subject of the Ceremony steps into it, while they're still there, it could prove…" the man paused, and Jein nearly collided into him as he looked for the right word. "Disastrous."
He continued walking. Each step seemed deliberate. Jein had heard from certain adventurers that there were zones in the world where one had to be careful to follow a specific path, else you'll find yourself somewhere you ought not be. From the tops of mountains, one could find themselves in the middle of the ocean. Jein copied each awkward step the man took.
"So what's happening?"
"Well, we sent a message to The Conclave." The elderly priest stopped mid-step again, and Jein, once again, nearly collided with him. "Do you know what the Conclave is?"
"I don't," Jein answered.
The priest began walking again, and Jein traced his steps.
"They're the governing body of all the magical institutions the world over. All the Magical Towers, and all the academies, they're quite the…." The man paused mid-step again. Jein was ready for it this time. "Influential." He continued waking again.
"Why did you send a message?" Jein asked.
"Do you know what Depth represents?"
Jein shook his head.
"No, I don't."
"It is the measure of one's magical potential. How deep in the Gods' light one can cast themselves into." HE stopped mid-step again and turned his head. "What was your Destiny, boy?"
Revealing one's destiny was something that was only preserved when applying for one of the Guilds. He had heard it was a social taboo to talk openly about it. He looked to the men behind him.
"Pay them no mind. They are bound to secrecy."
"G…" Jein paused and began again. "Great Archmage."
"Marvelous." The priest said. His gray eyes washed over the young boy. Taking in his small frame and the swollen, reddish welts across his body, "From the Slums, no less, am I right?"
Jein nodded.
"You do understand that your life will change, right?'
"I do!"
The man's wrinkled face rose in a smile.
"I am High Priest of the Seven and One, Aurrior." The High Priest said. "What is yours?"
"Jein." The Boy answered.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jein, and I wish it were under better circumstances."
The man began to walk again.
He glanced behind him at the armed men. They stood a step behind him, spaced out in such a way that if he made a movement in either direction, he would be intercepted immediately. Additionally, he doubted he could remember the proper steps to avoid being sent God knows where.
"Why can't I leave?"
"It would not be wise to leave you alone." The elderly man said. "During your Ceremony, we became aware that one of the initiates attending the ritual escaped and sent a message to his real masters, killing one of the other initiates on his way out."
"His real masters?"
"Do you know of Carrolins?"
"I've heard of it."
Only briefly. He had heard an adventurer telling a story of him and his group facing a Carrolins group before.
"They're a Human cult dedicated to the Demon Lord Carro: the Demon King's spymaster." He said. "They're a…" He stopped again. "...troublesome group."
"Why would they care?" Jein asked.
"Your potential is great…" The man said as he continued walking. "Too great for them to just leave you alone. They'd try to recruit you or…" He stopped. "Get rid of you."
Jein swallowed.
"So what? You're going to ship me out of the city?"
"No, no...we're going to hide you, until the Conclave is able to come and take you into their service."
Thoughts raced through his mind. It was good that he would be safe: even if it meant his destiny would be delayed a bit, there were more important things, though.
"I have a brother and sister…."
The elderly man stopped again.
"Do you now?" He glanced at the men behind the Boy.
"And I can't leave them with my mother and father." He said. He drew his slightly swollen elbow in. "They're…" Now it was Jein's turn to search for the right worlds. "They're not good people."
"What are you saying, boy? That is of no concern to us."
Anger flashed through his body.
"I was going to find a job and pull them out of the slums as quickly as I could."
"Boy…" The priest stopped again and turned around. "If we allowed you to do that, you would be dead by the end of the month…"
Well, he wouldn't want that, would he?
"Without me, my parents won't have anywhere else to redirect their wrath…"
The boy said solemnly. He heard the grip of a hand around a leather wrap behind him, and the elderly man stopped for a moment.
"I will send word to some of our own agents to bring them in. If we move them in with you, though, their identities will, without a doubt, be revealed to our enemies, and they'd…" He stopped in his steps once more and scoured his mind for the best words to use. "Use them as leverage."
Jein swallowed loudly. Even from the vagaries present in the man's speech, he could ascertain its meaning.
"We would remove them from the city. Send them to Koralin."
"To the capital? That far?"
"They will be safe there."
"When will I be able to see them?"
"When the agent of the conclave comes. He will take you to the capital as well."
The priest turned down a hall, and they began to walk up a set of stairs.
"What are your first Goals?" The High Priest asked.
Goals were the way that the Slate guided you along your destiny. He thought of the word: "Goals," and the black screen appeared before him again. A triad of sentences was contained within them.
[CAST YOUR FIRST SPELL
+50 EXPERIENCE.]
And
[JOIN THE ADVENTURER'S GUILD
+50 EXPERIENCE.]
And finally
[JOIN THE CONCLAVE AS A NOVICE
+50 EXPERIENCE.]
Jein read both of them out loud.
"We will provide you with new clothes and provide you with an escort to the Adventurer's Guild hall. One only has a limited time after their Ceremony to find employment, afterall, or…" The man stopped near the top of the stairs, and Jein once more nearly ran into him. "It could be seen as apostasy."
Just in front of The Priest was a door. It was made of wood, with black iron hinges bolted to the wooden frame, wedged within the slatted stone wall. The Priest took a step forward and pushed the door inward. Within, there was \a small, simple room with a bed, a desk, a table in the middle of the floor with a candle upon it, and a red rug beneath it, and a single, stained-glass window on the far wall. On the
"This will be your home from now on. There's a bathroom and a lavatory at the bottom of the stairs. First door to the right...these two gentlemen will stand guard, to ensure nothing…" he paused again after motioning to the two armed men who had escorted The Priest out into the square earlier. "Unfortunate happens while you're here."
The two bowed their heads.
"And this young man," his open hand swept over to the acolyte who had met Jein out by the temple doors, "Will be your attendant for the duration of your stay."
The acolyte stepped forward through the two much larger men. He was about the same age as Jein: a few months, to a year older, maybe.
"I'm Aster." The Young Man said.
"Acolyte, get him some fresh clothing and some food. Jein: I'm sure you're exhausted, go ahead and get some rest…" The Priest stopped just as he stepped down the first step, and looked to the ceiling as if he was looking for something else to say. "And perhaps take a bath."