Initium novum [Completed - being edited/rewritten]

CHAPTER 23

While walking to the train station, Valeria talked with "the doorkeeper" and I talked with Cladius, I was curious from what he knows High Healer, Imhotepos.

"Can I ask you on something captain?" I asked. "Of course you can, what is the matter?" "From where do you know the High Healer? You acted like old friends, and if I heard correctly, he is from the House of Medici."

"Yes, he is the elder of the House of Medici. And yes, we are old friends. Houses of de Sanctus and Medici are in an unbreakable bond and loyalty to each other thanks to Imhotepos and my father, Robert de Sanctus, the Grand Master of the Black Knights. Fifty years ago, when they both were only no more than twenty years old, they were already heads if their Houses. Relationships between the two Houses were bad and were on an edge of city-wide war. But there was a solution, both Houses had other children, so they arranged marriages between them to find a family bond and prevent a war between Houses. It worked and they have achieved peace and unbreakable alliance."

I was amazed by what he was saying. It was very interesting to hear how places like Templarion work.

"It must be a beautiful city, I wish I could see it, " I thought. "So, do I understand it correctly that you were born into this two-bloodline marriage?" I asked.

"Yes, that is right. My mother was Maria Medici, a sister of Imhotepos. She was a great scholar, she loved books and was great at their illuminating. And also loved children, she was doing a public reading for children and also was teaching them."

I was a bit confused, because Templarion and its inhabitants were, from what I was told before, only Knights of the Gods. But now, what I was hearing was that there were also military healers - medics - and also that they were teaching their children other things that only military doctrines and undying faith in the gods. So I asked.

"I am sorry Cladius, I am confused now. Before, you said that Temparion is dedicated to raise, train and then deploy Black Knights but now I have realized that you alone said that there are the "medics" and also that your mother is tracing the children to another thing that only military doctrines. How is that possible?"

"You are right, it can be confusing, let me explain then. As I told you there are different Houses in Templarion. There are de Sanctus - we are the main House which is recruited to become members of the Order of Black Knights and the elder of the House has a title of "Grand Master of the Black Knights", then there are Medici - their House is well known for their mastery in the knowledge of the battlefield wounds, it's healing and dedication to helping others; then there is House Ferrarius - they are master blacksmiths and makers of our holy weapons and armors. So, each House is doing something for the other ones and each of them has a specific rule in the Templarion's social structure. But there are of course normal citizens of the city, there are working wherever they want, they can become even members of any of the Houses by working for them and by the eventual adaptation into a House. I know that it may seem very confusing, but if you would like to, we could visit Templarion and you could see the city by yourself. For my House, it would be an honor to welcome you to the city and show it to you."

"I would love to visit the city and I would love to meet each of the Houses, especially I would like to meet your mother captain, she could give me some advice how to take care of the little one." I said and looked on Octavia, who was holding my hand and still was very sad.