"It's pretty simple. Starting with the school classes, we will always participate in exercises together, and we are expected to help each other to grow. On the other hand, it's normal for the school partners to end up as the group during their first missions since they already know each other's strength and weaknesses. This way, what would be a challenge for someone alone, it often dealt with by apprentice partners."
Shrugging her arms, Kaisha's face didn't show any hint of embarrassment, as if rather than this information being a secret, it was actually public knowledge. And to be fair, by thinking over what she said, Fen had to admit that it was actually reasonable.
It was obvious that newly formed arcanists that would only start to go on missions and deal with their job, wouldn't be as efficient as their fully grown colleagues. Additionally, this kind of slightly forced relationship would teach them how to cooperate with people they meet only recently.
But what puzzled the young man, was Kaisha's reason to be so happy with the situation. In their current position, they were expected to help each other out, but so far, it was Kaisha doing the heavy lifting for the two of them. Fen just couldn't understand what did she had in, in this relationship!
"That seems fair, but I just can't what's in this for you, to help me out so much. It's not like I know anything that I could use to help you out in exchange, nor can I pay you back for your help in any way…"
Uttering those words as if it was the most obvious truth in the universe, Fen only realised what was the underlying meaning of his sentences when he saw Kaisha's expression souring considerably.
"Ah, I don't mean it in a way as if I didn't appreciate your help, but I just feel bad for relying on you so much!"
Instantly starting to wildly gesticulate, Fen attempted to salvage the situation. After all, no one would like to have his good-will effort to be received as nothing more but a part of equal exchange business sort of thing!
Thankfully, by the time the young man was starting to panic, Kaisha's smile returned on her face as she stepped forward once again and grabbed Fen's arm.
"It's okay. This entire lifestyle has to be still very confusing for you. And you don't need to worry about anything. Helping you out will have a positive outcome for me too."
Instantly snuggling up under Fen's arm that she just grabbed, Kaisha pulled him right through the front door. Overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the bright light and the natural commotion of the street, the young man attempted to instinctively raise his right hand to shield his face for a moment from the blinding light, only to feel it wrestle around Kaisha's soft side.
"Don't struggle so much!"
With her head lowering down a bit in reaction to Fen's movements, his classmate looked as if she was trying to hide her face from him.
"It's not like I'm kidnapping you or anything…"
Raising her head ever so slightly, Kaisha looked at her classmate with her upturned eyes, while trying to hide the small blush on her cheeks.
"O-okay…"
There was something in this girl, that made her capable of always sweeping Fen with her moods. It wasn't the first nor the second time when that happened, yet she was just as successful as doing so as before.
Feeling the touch of her naked arms wrapped around his own, Fen attempted to ignore how their current position inevitably caused his elbow to almost continuously rub against her breast, barely covered by the thin material of her shirt.
Full in control of the young man, Keisha lead the two of them through the busy streets, all the way to the bridge that recently witnessed Fen's escape from the church district of the city. Yet, now, his hands lead him deeper into the area without even a single moment of hesitation.
"If I may ask, why have you decided to become a priest? Of course, if you don't want to answer…"
Appearing in this cursed place, Fen finally managed to use the dread of the possible consequences to clear his mind from the idle, bodily thoughts of his. Given the situation, if he were to attempt any form of an escape, it would only bring more attention to his person, gravely limiting his options. Given the fact that everyone on the street was giving way for their travel, the two of them had some minimal privacy of what they would talk about, encouraging the young man to at least attempt understanding the girl's reason for her action.
"Hehe… My reasons are not as lofty as you might think they are… While some of the other acolytes… I mean, church-affiliated arcanist apprentices, would skin me for saying that, I just found that joining them would offer the most benefits for me."
Skillfully guiding the two of them away from the main road towards a set of the smaller, inner paths, Kaisha spoke with a slightly muffled voice. After moving through a small gate, the girl lead the two of them to a small courtyard, around which a set of small houses were built.
"One of the benefits…"
Leading the two of them, Fen's classmate pushed open the doors towards one of the buildings, letting him go in first, before entering the house herself and closing the doors behind her.
"... is access to several techniques and rituals that only the dragon's archarity assets can rival."
Finishing her sentence with a sly smile, rather than returning to her position around Fen's arm, Kaisha grabbed his hand and ran towards the deeper part of the building, pulling the young man behind her.
"You see, the stronger you become, the easier our exercises and tests will become. Also, what I told you so far is common knowledge, so I can only benefit if, in the future, your understanding of arcana will surpass mine. And that's why I'm willing to take the risk of sharing one of the rituals of the church with you."
Suddenly stopping in her tracks as soon as the two of them entered a strange, round room, Kaisha turned around on her feet, standing now face to face with her classmate. With her hand finally freeing Fen's fingers from her hold, she now looked at him with a mysterious smile plastered on her face.
"Now it's my turn for asking questions. What do you even want to achieve by becoming an arcanist? Are you just after improving your status?"
As joyful as this girl was through the entire meeting, after asking this question her eyes turned serious. It was a clear indication that this question of her wasn't something to scoff at.
"I think…"
There was no way Fen could admit that in reality, he was just swept by the entire situation, and his current aim was to just survive. Taking the easy way out with the status option was also impossible after her remark. With that, only one option remained.
"I want to be free. Once I become an arcanist, I won't need to rely on anyone, I will be able to live the life the way I want it, rather than following the path that was created for me from the moment I became an orphan."
This statement wasn't that far from the truth. With how Fen spent his entire life in the village, knowing that one day his hunt might go wrong resulting in his premature death, the option to become someone who wasn't bound by the borders or the lack of money, was insanely appealing to him.
"That's good. You see that chair in the middle?"
Kaisha's face turned even brighter than before when she heard Fen's reply. Turning her head to the side, she pointed at what looked like a strange throne hidden in nearly complete darkness of this windowless, dark room.
"Take a seat there and give me some moments. I need to change and prepare for the ritual. While it's originally supposed to be held by the fully-fledged priestess, you will have to make do with me!"