33 Were-Hun (2/2)
In front of the window was an old man who stood with a stoop and leaned heavily on a red cane in his left hand.He was dressed in a red robe with a white cross on his chest; he also had a red cape behind his back.He wore a Truth Stone, tied by a red string, around his neck; the stone was a duplicate of the one held by the late town judge.The man looked at us and held out his right hand.
The officer immediately walked across the small room, knelt before the church official and kissed the brass ring on the old man's hand.When Captain Li stood up again, he turned toward me and motioned slightly with his head toward the bishop.
I immediately walked over to the apparently important man, knelt and kissed the ring.The ring felt cold to my lips.I got back to my feet and stood next to the Captain.
”I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Eminence.We were holding a public trial for a scoundrel named Ebenthal this morning.However, archers interrupted the execution and slew Judge Wachtel and a witness with poisoned arrows.Also, it turned out that Ebenthal was a wererat and he was freed by his wererat companions,” the officer reported.When he was finished, Li held out his hands, bowed his head, and passed the truth stone to the bishop; the relic had belonged to the now deceased town judge.
As Captain Li delivered his report, I quickly examined the captions of the two men.The old man's caption read: ”Name: Bishoop Zohan Canterbury, Level: ?, Disposition: Calm.” The young man's caption read: ”Name: Head Assistant Enab, Level: ?, Disposition: Respectful.”
However, while examining Enab, I saw a blinding black flash.When the light was gone, the young man was replaced by a most hideous looking monster!It looked similar to the mythical minotaur, with twin horns protruding from the sides of the head.It was covered in coarse, brown fur.The figure was very muscular but relatively small in stature and stood perhaps five feet tall on its hooves.Attached to its back was a pair of bat-like black wings.A long, pointy tail dangled on the ground.I felt a strong black aura emanating from this creature.Instinctively, I knew that it was a demon!
I rubbed my eyes in disbelief of the image; when I looked at Enab again I saw only a human being.Did I truly see a demon standing in this room?In the presence of a holy man?On the holy ground?It was impossible because Captain Li had said the grounds of the church were endowed with magic to repel non-humans.The fact that Enab stood in this room meant that my sight must have been a hallucination.Yeah, that must be it!
Bishop Canterbury sighed with a heavy heart as he reluctantly accepted his deceased colleague's cross.He turned toward me and asked, ”Why did you bring this young man here?”
When I noticed the bishop looking at me, I quickly dismissed the idea of a demon standing in this room.
The officer nodded.”Before the trial began, this man said he saw a red flash and somehow saw the wererat's true form.However, the judge arrived and I didn't have an opportunity to investigate this claim further.If only we had known that the prisoner was a wererat,” he lamented with anger.
Bishop Canterbury patted the crestfallen officer's left shoulder.”Our Lawful Gods work in mysterious ways.Do not blame yourself for the outcome.You did the best you could to save the lives of the commoners gathered in the Public Square; I praise you for your bravery in the face of such evil.Now, I need to question this young man privately.Please leave us,” he requested.
The officer bowed deeply and was escorted from the room by Enab.
When the assistant returned to the study and closed the door, Bishop Canterbury said, ”Lawrence, please form a party with Enab.”
I stared blankly at the bishop.How was I supposed to form a party?I had no idea.Uh-oh.”I have never started a party before,” I said with embarrassment.I never had the opportunity! ARGH!
The old man studied me for a moment and kindly taught me how to start a party.”If you recall your player status screen, you need to tap on your avatar to call up party functions including the ability to start your party.”
I called up my player screen, tapped on my avatar, and saw a function to ”Form a party.”I tapped it and a pop-up appeared listing Bishop Canterbury and Enab.I tapped both names and then clicked ”Enter” on the bottom of the pop-up.
Bishop Canterbury declined while Enab accepted.
”Enab, please transcribe what you see on Lawrence's player screen,” the bishop ordered.
The young man walked over to his desk next to the bookcase and started writing down my stats.When he was finished a few minutes later, he took the parchment over to the bishop's desk.
The bishop bent his head over his desk and read the information on the parchment.When he finished, he turned around to address me.”I see that you have the Spirit Sense ability.That was how you were able to see Ebenthal's true form.Unfortunately, it is a rare ability and only you and I have it in this small town.Since you are pursuing the crown, you will need to submit to the authority of the Church of Britannia in order to be officially recognized as such.I propose that you join the church on a temporary basis and agree to help the Watch in its Were-Hunt to find the wererats.Whenever were-creatures appear, there is usually a den nearby.We must find and destroy it before more people are bitten and turned into wererats.Will you join the Church and conduct the Were-Hunt?” he asked.
”If I join the Church, what would be my responsibilities?” I asked.
”Anything I ask you to do,” Bishop Canterbury replied with a slight smile.”If you seek to become the next King of Merlin, you MUST become a member of the church because we are the ones who will choose the next rightful King.The Church of Britannia is a Lawful religious and government entity whose authority encompasses the entire continent of Britannia.We give serious consideration to all pursuers of the crown and we weigh the morals, values, and achievements of each contender against the others.Your performance of services on behalf of the Church, such as the Were-Hunt, will be highly valued by the clergymen who will consider your candidacy for the crown.What is your answer?”
If joining the church was a prerequisite to becoming the King of Merlin, and thus leave this gaming world, then I had no choice but to join the church.”Yes, I will join the church and participate in the Were-Hunt,” I answered.
Bishop Canterbury nodded.”Enab, please bring a red string,” he ordered.
The page walked over to his superior's desk and opened the drawer.He took out a ball of red string and gave it to the bishop.
The bishop took hold of the open end of the string and looped it through a tiny hole at the top portion of the obsidian cross.He unwound the ball until the string was long enough for a necklace.”Enab, please cut here,” he requested.When the page did as ordered with a small knife, the bishop tied the ends of the string together.”Lawrence, please kneel.”
I knelt before the bishop.
”Lawrence Eugene Mulligan, do you swear to follow and uphold the Law, the Order, and the Teachings of the Church until the end of your days?” he asked.
”I do,” I replied.
”Then by my authority as Bishop, I appoint you an Initiate of the Church of Britannia,” the bishop said and placed the necklace over my head.
I felt the truth stone on my chest; it was slightly heavy and felt warm and soothing to the touch.Using my magic detection, I saw a gold aura emanating from the stone.I ignored the pop-up.
Bishop Canterbury continued with the ceremony.”Please rise.Your first duty as a member of our Church is to avenge the death of Judge Wachtel, the previous owner of the truth stone that you will now wear in his Honor.If your standing within the Church rises to a certain level in the future, I will help you unlock the powers of this stone.You must seek out and pursue the wererats inside Tregome until they are all eliminated!”
”I will,” I promised.I received two more pop-ups and ignored them.
”Please go now and ask Captain Li to accompany you in the Were-Hunt,” Canterbury ordered.
”Yes, Bishop,” I nodded and got back to my feet.
Enab opened the door and escorted me out.