Turi : Mysteries Unfold

Chapter - 3

Evan awakens in a warm bed next to a fireplace. He notices that he is in a large room full of beds and side-tables. He sits up straight and finds fresh food and water set by his table.

His starving body begs him to satisfy his hunger, he gives no second thought and digs right in. Berries, bread, cakes and fruits galore he thought to himself as he hogs it all up. To conclude his lavish meal, he chugs down the entire tall glass of water, what feels like ambrosia to his parched throat.

He gets up, fully satisfied, and looks around the room. He finds a knapsack and a rather dull dagger, his only belongings, safely kept in one corner of the room. He grabs them both and marches out of the room.

He sees a sign hing outside his room "RoR" it reads. He recognises it to be the second floor of the cathedral. The halls are filled with people of different ages, from teens of his own age to the elders who seemed to be as old his father, about a century, which is a common sight among religious classes. As his father had taught him.

A priestess was sat outside the room, seemingly awaiting Evan's awakening. As he steps out of the room, she greets him.

"Hello child, I am Priestess Leona. I have worked with Herschel on many occasions. Today however, I am to guide you around the chapel."

"Guide me? Just take me to my father, that should do." he replies stubbornly.

"I cannot do as such child, your father is discussing important matters with the elders and I have been instructed to keep you busy. So be a good child and follow me."

Evan is malcontent with the lady's tone and bossy attitude. Being new to such an environment, he has no choice but to follow her. He nods and she begins leading him to the upper floor.

"I hope the food sumptuous, I had it specially made." she asks formally, as if she had to hold conversation with him.

"It was alright." lies Evan, it had been the best meal he had had in months.

They move up the same spiral stairs to the third floor.

"This cathedral has many purposes to it. It is a place for many rituals, spiritual enhancement and things of the sort. It is one of the Defence Fortresses among many in the grand region of Turi. One of it's most important functions is training young children into becoming fine paladins, priests and clerics." she explains with distinctive pride.

The priestess leads Evan into a courtyard on the third floor. Evan sees kids around his age practicing all sorts of mantras and chants.

"This is where trainees are transformed into capable clerics. Your father was trained here, decades ago. You must already know about the field of clergies, healing and restoration." she tells the boy as he observes the class in awe.

"Yes, my father has taught me all about the classes and sub-classes. Personally I was never fascinated by my father and his clerical skills." he replies.

"Pity, we could use more clerics in the field nowadays. Come let us further explore."

Leona takes him to a second room on the same floor, this one being a dome shaped room where the walls are reinforced with a tough fiber-like material. Only two figures are seen as they enter, a girl and possibly a priest thinks Evan.

"This is where you train priests I suppose, but what's with the layering on the walls?" Evan asks out loud, interrupting the two strangers.

"Priests and Priestesses mind you!" yells the girl. "And this, is what the reinforcement is for." says she as she casts a minor destruction spell upon a part of the dome, leaving a scar on the wall.

Evan barely acknowledges her demonstration and keeps himself from expressing any sign of amusement. Being as arrogant as his father states him to be.

"Not even a wall of paper would be necessary to stop a spell as weak as that." snaps Evan.

"Your father tells me you've got your own way with spells. How would you like to showcase your talent then? A one versus one duel perhaps?" suggests Priestess Leona.

"I'd like to see what you've got kid." says the girl.

"Let's have at it then!" Evan readies himself.

Leona quickly withdraws her statement embarrassingly "I'm sorry but this will have to wait, your father insisted that I take you around the whole cathed-"

Evan interrupts mannerlessly "Forget what the old man said, I wanna fight. Besides what's left to see? A place where you train 'mighty paladins'? That'd bore me.".

"What do you say Master Broq?" Leona asks the senior Priest.

"Should be an interesting challenge for my pupil." he says contently smiling at his student.

"Okay then, we shall have a one versus one fight. I shall be the regulator." says the woman sternly.

"The rules are simple. First, it is a knockdown match, meaning whoever falls down and cannot get back up within 10 seconds loses. Second, use of magic is restricted to simple level of spells. Third, each person is allowed a single weapon, not including a cross or an amulet." she states looking at Evan and the pupil alternatively.

"Begin!"

Evan the the girl approach and shake each other's hands, just for the sake of formality.

"I am Natalya, soon-to-be high priestess." she says with a mighty grin.

"I am Evan, soon-to-be victor of this fight." he says condescendingly.

Natalya hastily grabs the cross hung by her neck and blasts minor fire spell in the direction of Evan, too quick for him to react to. He takes direct damage from it and shudders but soon regains balance.

Evan drew his dagger, always knew he was good with his blade. He not only had the speed, but also had practiced his technique quite well.

The spell had drawn out a little energy from his opponent, so he decided to make an agile strike with the hilt if his blade to her gut. He effortlessly pulls off the move, causing her to fall on one knee and flinch with pain.

Evan cockily laughs, thinking the fight is over. Natalya meanwhile charges up a cold spell and successfully freezes Evan's right hand up to his elbow.

She quickly restores herself, while Evan cries in pain from the frigidity, and fires off another cold spell with all her remaining energy. Evan's helpless upper body begins to freeze up. His lungs get cold, he feels  his whole body becoming frostbitten.

His dagger drops the ground, followed by his heavy body. Natalya breathing loudly, exhausted from overworking her body, looks over at his cold body.

The priestess begins her count "1..2..3..4..5..6..7".

***