Priest Mog

"Go on, everyone, go on! I've told you, our church isn't accepting any new members right now, and there's nothing for you to do here. If you don't leave, I'll have to ask you to go!"

In the middle of the crowd stood a young man in a priest's robe, black with red trim, clearly a Ritual Priest of the Candle Sun Church. He stood with his arms spread wide, blocking the entrance to the church, preventing anyone from entering.

"But, Priest..." a middle-aged woman pushed through the noisy crowd. "I want to go in and ask for Holy Water for my son. He suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea this morning. My poor Little John, I don't know what sin he committed."

"May the Radiance bless your son. I will personally deliver the Holy Water later."

"Priest, Priest, my husband..."

"Reverend Father, please..."

After persuading each of the believers to leave one by one, the young priest turned his gaze back to the outsiders. These outsiders remained silent and didn't leave, just stared at him expectantly, which made the priest feel quite bewildered.

"Yes?"

"I already said the church isn't accepting anyone right now..."

"I wanted to ask..." a black-haired girl stepped out from the crowd, her expression calm. "Is Priest Mog here? My teacher, Siswell, asked me to give him a message."

*

"I am Mog, the current Priest stationed in Ake Town by the Holy Church."

In the church's reception room, the young priest looked at the girl before him with suspicion in his eyes.

"You know Siswell?"

"Siswell is my mentor."

Li Wen spoke a lie without changing her expression in the slightest.

In reality, she didn't know Siswell at all. She had only vaguely heard of his great name in her past life. That elderly elf, known as the greatest Mage in the Kingdom of Arthur after Merlin, had served as the Kingdom's Court Mage for decades. He had only retired in the last ten years or so and then became an honorary professor at the Mage Society's Sunday Secret College.

"Are you a student from the Sunday Secret College?" Priest Mog didn't believe her easily, as the girl before him didn't look like a Mage at all. "Then prove to me that what you're saying is true. As far as I know, everyone who comes out of the Sunday Secret College is a Mage of the Origin Essence or Aether Spectrum."

As the most prominent magical society in Arthur, the Sunday Secret College was a sanctuary for all scholars of mystery, historians, mathematicians, and artists. Anyone who emerged from it was undoubtedly an Archmage with profound Mana, not some immature little girl like the one in front of him.

"That's just your prejudice," Li Wen said calmly. "Besides, I never said I was from the College. My mentor Siswell often admonishes me: 'How can one know the Radiance's brilliance without acknowledging the Darkness beneath?'"

As she spoke, Li Wen's figure gradually faded, as if merging with the darkness in the room.

Priest Mog's pupils contracted. This was the power of the Umbral Lineage.

As a nation that believed in the Radiance, the Umbral Lineage's supernaturals had always been strictly forbidden by the Kingdom of Arthur. Those who wished to tread this path could only do so through clandestine, illegal societies.

For example, the "Dark Dawn," which advocated for the shared origin of Radiance and Darkness.

Mog stood up and lit a black candle in each of the four corners of the room. The dim candlelight flickered, sealing all light and darkness within the room.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Even though he had confirmed her identity, Mog still spoke with extreme caution.

"You don't need to be wary of me, Priest Mog... or should I say, Tilroggzak. My mentor has told me everything and given me his revelation: you only need to follow my instructions."

Having his true name revealed, Mog's expression relaxed. He was no longer on edge and didn't even bother to ask about Li Wen's identity.

"Siswell! My respected master, sage, and mentor, what are his instructions? If it's to transfer me out, that would be great. I've had enough of this godforsaken place!"

Mog's expression was cold and stiff, but the fervor in his eyes did not diminish.

Li Wen sighed inwardly. No one would have imagined that the Kingdom of Arthur's greatest Mage, former Court Mage, and beloved professor of the College, Siswell, would be the country's greatest traitor.

The secret society he founded, "Dark Dawn," was a formidable enemy that kept the Kingdom Investigation Bureau on its toes. The forbidden knowledge and rituals it spread throughout Arthur had poisoned countless people.

Moreover, Li Wen even knew that many years in the future, Siswell would be the mastermind behind the destruction of the Kingdom of Arthur, plunging the vast land into ruin.

After that catastrophe, the expeditionary force, following the Red Knight Legion of the Holy Candle Sun Church, had stormed the headquarters of Dark Dawn and seized the complete list of its members.

Among them was Mog, the unremarkable Ritual Priest stationed in the border town of Ake Town.

"Currently, there is nothing in the society that requires you to leave. I need to stay in the Black Dragon Territory for a while and require a safe and stable residence and identity. I trust this matter is within your capabilities."

"I can do it, but I need to know why."

"That's not your concern, demon!" Li Wen reprimanded coldly. "Do you want to disrupt our great mentor's plan?"

Priest Mog's face showed a look of apprehension. "I just want to share the burden with my mentor."

"Hmph, then you should especially not speak out of turn," Li Wen continued. "I also need a path within the Radiance Spectrum, either Sacrifice or Judgment. Choose one."

"That's impossible!"

Mog suddenly became agitated. He just wanted Li Wen to leave quickly. As for the great mentor's plan, whoever wanted to do it could do it.

"I'm just a priest stationed in a small town. How could the church possibly entrust me with something like that!"

"I'm not asking you to get it now. The Candle Sun Church is already observing those outsiders, and I expect they will soon select the first batch of candidates. You just need to secure a spot for me in advance."

Mog stared at the girl hidden in the shadows, his expression shifting between indecision and anger. Finally, he took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, "I have neither Sacrifice nor Judgment."

"Then what do you have?" Li Wen smiled slightly.

*

Priest Mog temporarily arranged for Li Wen to stay at the church, sharing quarters with the nuns. Her identity was to be presented as his niece, who had come to seek refuge after her village was raided by bandits and her parents were killed.

"The nunnery is just ahead. You know this is a small church, and there aren't many nuns, so don't complain about the rooms being too small or dilapidated. You can familiarize yourself with the rest. Remember, absolutely do not reveal any clues to those nuns, especially your Umbral Lineage powers!"

"Of course, Mentor Siswell will remember your contributions."

Li Wen responded with a smile.

Priest Mog left with a cold expression, not even looking back. He still had to provide Holy Water or healing to those damned commoners.