Chapter 2: The Training
Saturday Afternoon - Ilog had asked thepoet to come with him to the Prontera Sanctuary since she needed to be acquainted by the basilica. Kushana hang around with the two as Feral went off to train himself once more. Kushana left her peco-peco over the knight's guild as it was along the way. From the other side of the city they reached the Sanctuary, standing up so high with marbles and cobblestone. Before they could enter, Ilog gently looked at Kushana and took her cigar and put it out. Kushana looked at the crushed cigar on the floor as her mouth open falling into a slight shock. "This is a holy place my friend, we need to be respectful." Ilog smiled and then turned to look at thepoet.
"That was my last one," she blurted out. Ilog only rolled up his eyes and pushed the two inside the church. "Don't worry, Kushana" Ilog exclaimed. "I'll get you the best cigar that was in the basilica." Kushana giggled at the same time they walked inside the church, there were a few pastors and priests lounging about and going on with their business. You can hear choirs practicing their gospel songs so pleasantly giving you warm feeling of one-ness. Further inside they entered the right hallway where a minister was reading some orthodox Holy Scriptures. Ilog walked over to the high priest as thepoet peered behind Kushana. It was a bit dark inside as only a few sun rays from the window lite over the room, hearing the footsteps from the other hall the area was almost completely isolated.
After a few seconds, the high priest called onto the young girl, who was looking so innocently at him. "Yes... uh Sir?" she approached fiddling her thumbs together. The other two sat by as they watched them have a chat with each other. Kushana looked at Ilog while he was opening an old violet box taking out one of the finest cigar that ever was. He gave it to Kushana and smiled, "As promised."
Thepoet walked back over the two, who were relaxing over a cup of 'holy red wine' she quickly said, "Where's father Rubalkabara?"
Kushana said, "I don't know, dear. I think he's doing something over the Saint Abbey Monastery. That's north east from here."
Thepoet peered behind her as the high priest stepped in. "Ilog", he said as Ilog quickly drank all up the wine and stood quickly. The high priest sighed as he knows how Ilog gets to be drunk. "I am holding you responsible for thepoet's first quest. Make sure she's well acquainted with the rules and regulation of how and who we are."
Ilog was surprised. He was surprised to hear that from Hawg - the high priest that he was appointed to such a task when usually he does not.
"Now go and god speed."
Kushana shrugged and got up. On the way out, she said to Ilog, "I'm coming along with you guys; I have nothing else to do. Anything's better than listen to the other swordsmen bantering on what skill is better to use. Bash or magnum break."
Thepoet held out a paper where Hawg has given to her, and Ilog snatched it. He read it and said, "this is going to be fun. It's been a long time since I ever stepped in that place, too long I'm afraid." He handed the paper back to thepoet as she stood there.
Ilog was about to resume speaking when thepoet said, "so are we going there now?"
Ilog laughed at her enthusiasm. Then he winked at thepoet and walked down the street. "Let's go." They strolled to the north exit gate of the city.
"Halt!" one of the guards quickly spoke. "No strangers allowed passage through the castle; you have to go the other way around."
Kushana and Ilog stopped and they looked at him. Kushana reached behind her and pulled out her deputy's badge. He showed it and said, "Young man, I believe that you are one of the newly hired guards, I'm glad that you show courage on doing your duty, but next time, know who you are pointing that spear at." Kushana pointed to the black ring that encircled the fragoris animi experience.
The guard felt a sweat of embarrassment as his face turned bright red. He squeaked a reply, "Forgive me."
Kushana patted him down as the guard looked at them with humiliation. Thepoet trotted between the two and snapped at them, "You guys are amazing!!! Can I be in your clan? Please? Oh Please?"
Kushana smiled at her. "It's nothing really. The guild doesn't care much about the authority thing like we just did but it does get pretty handy once in a while. As for the guild sanctions on accepting novices like you is questionable. I am not the Guild's Master neither is Ilog."
"Also the fact that right now the guild's allowed members are full." Ilog continued. "Sorry about that, thepoet but do not fret we might someday need someone like you."
They kept on walking, up and down the hills as thepoet watched the two talked to each other about their guild's gossips and updates. She didn't even say a word. Through the forest they went in still the two trotted down forgetting about her following them. Then all of a sudden she spoke, "are we there yet?"
The two paused and Ilog quickly said, "Yes." Then a figure of a man stepped out from a near by rusted gate and walked between the two. He was a feeble man, and his face was calming and fair as if you were looking at an angel. The man came towards thepoet, reaching into his pocket.
Thepoet stool still and waited, thepoet felt her mouth opening slowly. Then he stopped and said, in a voice that was alluring, "thepoet?"
Thepoet looked up to him. He took another step to let her see it closer and then she said, "Father Rubalkabara?"
The man nodded but didn't smile. "Hawg alerted me that you'd appear. It took you a while to get here. I might have known that you're accompanied by the two of the fragoris. Heh, I should have worn my robe."
"Can we just go on with this?" Ilog jolted beside thepoet. "We don't have all day you know. We need to train her before sun sets."
"Very well." Father Rubalkabara signed the piece of paper that thepoet was holding and walked back in through the gate. "You may go."
"I'm sorry if I bothered the two of you so much." Thepoet looked at the two looking so tired. "We could rest for a moment."
"Nah it's alright," Ilog smiled "You just stand there next to Kushana."
"Uh, what for?" she asked so unknowingly what's going to happen next. Kushana patted her head and said, "You'll see."
Ilog took out a blue colored gem from his pocket while thepoet still trying to think of what's going to happen. Ilog placed the gem between the two ladies' feet and stepped back a few feet from them. He raised his hand and closed his eyes while whispering some ancient spell. Within a few second the gem glowed significantly emitting a blue circle of light that surrounded them. As thepoet looked down, the light grew brighter and brighter and she smiled with astonishment until she was blinded by the light.
"Psst!" Kushana whispered, "You can open your eyes now."
Thepoet blinked several times before she could see clearly as the light changed fixing her gaze onto Ilog in the distance. There and then she realized it was a warp portal because they were back in Prontera City right next to the church yard. Thepoet veered off quickly and walled along the pavement, breathing in and out of her mouth, deeply and slowly. She started to think about her brother, her relatives, the clergy, and anything else that might distract her. She went directly to Hawg. Ilog and Kushana were standing behind the register. They looked content as thepoet stood next to them and fixed her hair.
Hawg said, "Well done! I guess I'm impressed; father Rubalkabara doesn’t sign these papers so easily on Novices. He could have seen your aura with great influence. I now grant you the first step of being a cleric. You will be Ilog's apprentice and be acolyte. You will only be wearing this kind of robe and with only these kinds of equipments. Ilog will explain the rest."
Through the empty aisle thepoet followed Ilog towards the front of the altar where a nun stood by. Thepoet took out some of her money and it wasn't enough to get all of the equipment she needed. "Is that all you got?" Ilog asked in dismay. "Ok wait here. I'll be back," Ilog ran outside the church as fast as he could. When he returned he was carrying a +6 dexterous chain and a berretta. "Here this will help you get started."
Thepoet couldn't thank him enough so without any hesitation she leaped over and embraced him. "Thank you."
"Now; now; poet," Ilog slowly pushed her aside. "Let's not get carried away here. You still need to be disciplined and a lot of training to do so we will start tomorrow bright and early."
Thepoet looked out the window onto the strip, and prayed.
"That was my last one," she blurted out. Ilog only rolled up his eyes and pushed the two inside the church. "Don't worry, Kushana" Ilog exclaimed. "I'll get you the best cigar that was in the basilica." Kushana giggled at the same time they walked inside the church, there were a few pastors and priests lounging about and going on with their business. You can hear choirs practicing their gospel songs so pleasantly giving you warm feeling of one-ness. Further inside they entered the right hallway where a minister was reading some orthodox Holy Scriptures. Ilog walked over to the high priest as thepoet peered behind Kushana. It was a bit dark inside as only a few sun rays from the window lite over the room, hearing the footsteps from the other hall the area was almost completely isolated.
After a few seconds, the high priest called onto the young girl, who was looking so innocently at him. "Yes... uh Sir?" she approached fiddling her thumbs together. The other two sat by as they watched them have a chat with each other. Kushana looked at Ilog while he was opening an old violet box taking out one of the finest cigar that ever was. He gave it to Kushana and smiled, "As promised."
Thepoet walked back over the two, who were relaxing over a cup of 'holy red wine' she quickly said, "Where's father Rubalkabara?"
Kushana said, "I don't know, dear. I think he's doing something over the Saint Abbey Monastery. That's north east from here."
Thepoet peered behind her as the high priest stepped in. "Ilog", he said as Ilog quickly drank all up the wine and stood quickly. The high priest sighed as he knows how Ilog gets to be drunk. "I am holding you responsible for thepoet's first quest. Make sure she's well acquainted with the rules and regulation of how and who we are."
Ilog was surprised. He was surprised to hear that from Hawg - the high priest that he was appointed to such a task when usually he does not.
"Now go and god speed."
Kushana shrugged and got up. On the way out, she said to Ilog, "I'm coming along with you guys; I have nothing else to do. Anything's better than listen to the other swordsmen bantering on what skill is better to use. Bash or magnum break."
Thepoet held out a paper where Hawg has given to her, and Ilog snatched it. He read it and said, "this is going to be fun. It's been a long time since I ever stepped in that place, too long I'm afraid." He handed the paper back to thepoet as she stood there.
Ilog was about to resume speaking when thepoet said, "so are we going there now?"
Ilog laughed at her enthusiasm. Then he winked at thepoet and walked down the street. "Let's go." They strolled to the north exit gate of the city.
"Halt!" one of the guards quickly spoke. "No strangers allowed passage through the castle; you have to go the other way around."
Kushana and Ilog stopped and they looked at him. Kushana reached behind her and pulled out her deputy's badge. He showed it and said, "Young man, I believe that you are one of the newly hired guards, I'm glad that you show courage on doing your duty, but next time, know who you are pointing that spear at." Kushana pointed to the black ring that encircled the fragoris animi experience.
The guard felt a sweat of embarrassment as his face turned bright red. He squeaked a reply, "Forgive me."
Kushana patted him down as the guard looked at them with humiliation. Thepoet trotted between the two and snapped at them, "You guys are amazing!!! Can I be in your clan? Please? Oh Please?"
Kushana smiled at her. "It's nothing really. The guild doesn't care much about the authority thing like we just did but it does get pretty handy once in a while. As for the guild sanctions on accepting novices like you is questionable. I am not the Guild's Master neither is Ilog."
"Also the fact that right now the guild's allowed members are full." Ilog continued. "Sorry about that, thepoet but do not fret we might someday need someone like you."
They kept on walking, up and down the hills as thepoet watched the two talked to each other about their guild's gossips and updates. She didn't even say a word. Through the forest they went in still the two trotted down forgetting about her following them. Then all of a sudden she spoke, "are we there yet?"
The two paused and Ilog quickly said, "Yes." Then a figure of a man stepped out from a near by rusted gate and walked between the two. He was a feeble man, and his face was calming and fair as if you were looking at an angel. The man came towards thepoet, reaching into his pocket.
Thepoet stool still and waited, thepoet felt her mouth opening slowly. Then he stopped and said, in a voice that was alluring, "thepoet?"
Thepoet looked up to him. He took another step to let her see it closer and then she said, "Father Rubalkabara?"
The man nodded but didn't smile. "Hawg alerted me that you'd appear. It took you a while to get here. I might have known that you're accompanied by the two of the fragoris. Heh, I should have worn my robe."
"Can we just go on with this?" Ilog jolted beside thepoet. "We don't have all day you know. We need to train her before sun sets."
"Very well." Father Rubalkabara signed the piece of paper that thepoet was holding and walked back in through the gate. "You may go."
"I'm sorry if I bothered the two of you so much." Thepoet looked at the two looking so tired. "We could rest for a moment."
"Nah it's alright," Ilog smiled "You just stand there next to Kushana."
"Uh, what for?" she asked so unknowingly what's going to happen next. Kushana patted her head and said, "You'll see."
Ilog took out a blue colored gem from his pocket while thepoet still trying to think of what's going to happen. Ilog placed the gem between the two ladies' feet and stepped back a few feet from them. He raised his hand and closed his eyes while whispering some ancient spell. Within a few second the gem glowed significantly emitting a blue circle of light that surrounded them. As thepoet looked down, the light grew brighter and brighter and she smiled with astonishment until she was blinded by the light.
"Psst!" Kushana whispered, "You can open your eyes now."
Thepoet blinked several times before she could see clearly as the light changed fixing her gaze onto Ilog in the distance. There and then she realized it was a warp portal because they were back in Prontera City right next to the church yard. Thepoet veered off quickly and walled along the pavement, breathing in and out of her mouth, deeply and slowly. She started to think about her brother, her relatives, the clergy, and anything else that might distract her. She went directly to Hawg. Ilog and Kushana were standing behind the register. They looked content as thepoet stood next to them and fixed her hair.
Hawg said, "Well done! I guess I'm impressed; father Rubalkabara doesn’t sign these papers so easily on Novices. He could have seen your aura with great influence. I now grant you the first step of being a cleric. You will be Ilog's apprentice and be acolyte. You will only be wearing this kind of robe and with only these kinds of equipments. Ilog will explain the rest."
Through the empty aisle thepoet followed Ilog towards the front of the altar where a nun stood by. Thepoet took out some of her money and it wasn't enough to get all of the equipment she needed. "Is that all you got?" Ilog asked in dismay. "Ok wait here. I'll be back," Ilog ran outside the church as fast as he could. When he returned he was carrying a +6 dexterous chain and a berretta. "Here this will help you get started."
Thepoet couldn't thank him enough so without any hesitation she leaped over and embraced him. "Thank you."
"Now; now; poet," Ilog slowly pushed her aside. "Let's not get carried away here. You still need to be disciplined and a lot of training to do so we will start tomorrow bright and early."
Thepoet looked out the window onto the strip, and prayed.
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