"Apostle of Etara?" Bishop Reynald repeated and looked at Priest Maleck with a raised brow.
"Yes, this is Asher, the Apostle of Etara."
"Even though I have spent most of my time in the library instead of attending gatherings within the Grand Cathedral, this is the first time that I have heard of this. Even I would have heard of something if a new title is bestowed to people. What is the meaning of this, Maleck?"
Lucius was glad that this revelation was met with suspicion instead of simply believing it in one go. It attested that there was truly some intelligence in the head of the Bishop.
"Well, my old friend, this is a new revelation to me, by Etara herself." Priest Maleck said.
"Etara has spoken to you?" Bishop Reynald blinked.
Priest Maleck turned reverentially to Asher. "I have brought the same appraisal crystals, Apostle Asher Would you allow us to demonstrate the test to Bishop Reynald?"
"Of course. Let us go to my designated area." Lucius said and allowed Kiana to lead them to the library.
Priest Maleck took out the same crystals and performed the same tests. Similar to before, the appraisal crystals shattered at first contact with Lucius's Aether before he casted the Veil of Terror on the third crystal.
A bright light emanated and covered the entire library, blinding everyone in the room.
'I could have simply casted the spell even without the appraisal crystal, but this will convince the Bishop even further than before.' Lucius thought, pleased with Priest Maleck's personal decision to bring the crystal.
It was time for another hallucination.
***
Bishop Reynald squinted his eyes and tried to shield them from the bright light, but suddenly he heard a warm and elegant voice that belonged to no simple woman but a goddess.
"Bishop Reynald, long have I watched you undertake the principles of my domain and you have pleased me well," she said.
"Etara?" Bishop Reynald called out uncertainly.
"Yes, it is I, the Goddess of Knowledge, Truth and Wisdom."
Bishop Reynald fell down on his knees and offered his hands up in supplication. "Goddess Etara, I implore you to show this servant of yours the truth of all things. Long have I wondered and searched for a chance to learn from you. I have looked for your truth in the books, and find them lacking."
"My humble seeker of knowledge, you have spent many decades of your life in pursuit of it—and now I listen to your pleas and give you the chance to reach another apex of knowledge. If you wish to seek the secrets of this world, look no longer in the books of the Grand Cathedral but turn to my chosen one. Asher Inanis, son of my lands. He will usher you into this new knowledge that you desire of."
Bishop Reynald couldn't believe it, but the divine presence that he felt wrap around him was a miraculous feeling that made him understand that this would have come from none other than the Goddess of Etara herself.
"Yes, my goddess." Bishop Reynald touched his forehead on the ground, before finally he raised his head and looked up towards the young lord Asher Inanis.
There was no crazed and frenzied look in Bishop Reynald's eyes compared to when Priest Maleck first heard Etara's voice, but it was probably because it was hidden deeply in those eyes of his.
It was a hunger and yearning that he tried to restrain in order to be supplicant and humble in the face of Etara's chosen one.
"My lord, Apostle of Etara, I pledge myself to you." Bishop Reynald said.
"Bishop Reynald, I only seek one thing from you. My knowledge is broad and vast, expanding far beyond things that you do not know… but I would like the experience and intimate knowledge that you have as a long-time artificer." Lucius said.
"I will impart my knowledge to you, Apostle Asher! Let there be nothing that separates a humble man from his teacher. You will need no other person in regards to artificing except for myself!" Bishop Reynald fervently said.
"Thank you. I understand that this will take some time and you are a busy man, Priest Maleck have told me that. I would like to arrange a payment for your time, as I expect you to reject other offers from people who desire to learn from you."
"There is no need for any monetary payment, Apostle Asher! All I ask is for the opportunity to follow you until the end, to hear the wisdom of Etara imparted from your own lips. That would be enough for me." Bishop Reynald said.
"Is that so? Then I will allow you the opportunity to do so." Lucius said and offered a hand. "Take my hand, Reynald. We are both learners and scholars in our own ways, the two of us will learn greatly from each other so no need for such displays."
"It humbles me greatly that Apostle Asher would think like that. But it is clear that Etara herself has selected you out of many and I am but one of her servants, granted the blessing and opportunity of meeting you in person." Bishop Reynald accepted Lucius' hand as an energy coursed between them.
It was only the mildest amount of pain, barely noticeable, but somehow, it strengthened the faith that Bishop Reynald had in Apostle Asher.
There was an even deeper obligation in Bishop Reynald's chest to serve the young man in front of him, several decades his junior to the best of his abilities.
"I am already at your service, Apostle Asher. Simply say the word and I will begin our lessons at once. I have already excused myself from the Grand Cathedral for my own personal reasons and so I am at your complete disposal."
Lucius nodded slowly.
The Mark of Obedience had worked perfectly and finalized the agreement between him and Bishop Reynald.
"If that is truly the case, then I would like to begin today at once. I have been searching for someone to teach me for some time and would like to get to it at once."
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