Still observing the surroundings, Arthur looked surprised and noticed that all that environment was empty and he questioned.
"Temple of the god of healing… are we in a city?"
Arthur asked as he remembered the presentation of gods by his village cleric, even though it was a small environment there was still a small chapel in his old village.
His mind wandered when the two were in the chapel of their village, Arthur and Chris were minors, being only 8 years old, both were sitting next to the village clergyman who read an aged papyrus, but with writings.
He clearly remembered the cleric's voice saying.
"You said you wanted to know what the gods were, right boys?"
The cleric looked to the side and saw the two looking curious, Arthur just nodded while Chris clasped his hands with a smile as he spoke.
"Of course, Cleric. You were the one who healed Ninna when she was sick, right? Can you show us how you did it?"
The boy's animosity made the cleric laugh quietly while the two remained looking curious, the cleric soon showed a smile and spoke.
"What I used, boys, was something called the blessing of the healing god."
"A blessing? What is that?"
It was Chris who questioned, already bringing his face close to the papyrus in an attempt to find out, but he couldn't find drawings and he didn't even know how to read, he ended up just looking at all those written letters and again the clergyman laughed at that attitude.
"A boon is like a gift given by a god, I received mine when I became just a novice and I have the ability to heal illness and injury, all power of the god Ciccar."
Arthur's eyes widened in surprise as he heard what the cleric said and Oliver grinned broadly, seeming interested in hearing the rest as the cleric continued.
"Listen up boys, when you serve a god, you can become a novice or an apprentice knight. As a novice, we receive this blessing that allows us to perform these wonders, while knight apprentices receive physical strength and sometimes even weapons to fight evil, incredible isn't it?"
The cleric's words came out with a little more spirit as if he wanted to impress the boys, Chris continued to look impressed while listening to the cleric's words who continued to smile, until he felt a slight tug on his robe that caught his attention.
Looking to the side he saw Arthur who looked curious.
"Hey, hey… can I become an apprentice knight?"
As he listened to the brown-haired boy, the cleric smiled and shook his head.
"No, no, no. You will only be able to become knights after your 15 years, you are still too young for that."
The words made the boys bow their heads slightly and the cleric laughed, until his laughter became more and more distant and then he heard a questioning voice.
"Arthur?"
The swordsman raised his head and returned to reality, realizing that it was Natan who called him with a confused look.
"Everything is fine?"
Arthur looked at the novice and sighed as he nodded.
"Okay... I've heard about it, but still haven't answered what happened to Chris and the other villagers, also talked about someone who brought us and I didn't see my equipment where I was..."
"Equipment? Does your sword say? She looked well used..."
Natan spoke with a slight smile on his face looking good-humored, but soon Arthur raised a sharp look and stared at the novice, who drew back a little surprised and spoke.
"A-Oh, sorry..."
But soon Arthur would lower his eyes and speak.
"I'm sorry, you helped me, but it's something I got from my parents, so I wanted to know where it is, please..."
Hearing the words in a calmer tone, the novice realized that and scratched the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable.
"Okay, I didn't know it was a family gift, we'll return it soon, they're already put away and the ones that could still be used have been washed."
"Right, thanks..."
Arthur still looked embarrassed by the posture he had taken, but soon Nathan continued.
"Well, about the villagers..."
The two headed towards what seemed to be the temple's exit, there were two windows that allowed them to see the street and the swordsman dazzled for the first time what a big city was.
Even if his old village wasn't poor, the difference was still big.
The houses on the site were larger and mostly made with the use of stone mixtures, leaving a more beautiful and yet more resistant aspect than simple wooden houses, the floor also had small rocks cut in a simpler way that left the track flat so they could walk.
Arthur soon saw that there were some iron supports for torches that were out because it was still daylight, the corners far from the stones had a green bush that adorned the view and made the environment more alive along with some trees near the houses where children played.
Through the other window it was possible to see something similar to a temple garden where there were people there with the same clothes as him, they were adults and other children who were doing simple activities, while his vision focused a little more, Arthur could see Kaila in that middle and he sighed in relief.
Nathan noticed that and looked curious.
"It's your friend?"
"Hm? No, actually I don't know... I met her in that situation and I got annoyed for a brief moment, maybe she doesn't like me... I'm glad she's okay, but... what about Chris?"
Arthur questioned and looked at the novice who was looking back at the garden, looking thoughtful as he spoke.
"Well, he seems to have gone through the biggest trauma, when he arrived he was between life and death, he was the only one who saw the rescue happen."
The words made the swordsman look doubtful and lower his head looking confused as he spoke to himself.
"Was he conscious?...so he's okay?..."
Again Arthur questioned and Natan looked at one of the windows, he noticed something that called his attention and then he spoke.
"Well, I think he better explain to you..."
Nathan would turn towards the door and Arthur remained confused, until he heard the sound of the door being opened and then he turned to see who was entering.
When he turned around he saw a boy his age, he was wearing light leather armor with protection up to his arms and had something sheathed around his waist.
His hair was short and blond now looking more combed and washed, along with a slightly more serious expression, but most notable were subtle burn marks on the left side of his face, instantly recognizable.
"Christopher?"
Arthur spoke, but before he could say more, he soon saw another person enter the door, recognizing a man with white hair and a gentle appearance, he had brown robes and also had a band going over his shoulders, but this time it had the color blue and with the same gold '+' across the band.
The gentle appearance soon made him recognize who that person was who looked at the swordsman's face looking serious, Arthur saw that and questioned.
"C-Cleric?"
The lord was recognized, he was the clergyman who had escaped the attack and upon hearing Arthur's sentence, he showed a slight smile and spoke.
"Hello Arthur."