I had a feeling that they were not here to help us or guide us, but to control us or manipulate us. I had a feeling that they were not here with love and peace, but with greed and power.
I remembered some of the stories that I had heard in my old life, in my old world. Stories about how the Church had persecuted and tortured people who had different beliefs or practices than them. Stories about how the Church had waged wars and crusades against other nations and religions. Stories about how the Church had corrupted and exploited the people who followed them.
But I also remembered some of the stories that I had heard in my new life, in my new world. Stories about how the Church had helped and healed people who were sick or injured. Stories about how the Church had spread and taught people about God and his will. Stories about how the Church had protected and defended people from evil and danger.
I didn't know what to believe, or what to expect. I didn't know if they were good or bad, if they were friends or foes.
I looked at my friends, who were also holding their parents' hands. They looked scared too. They looked at me with questions and confusion in their eyes.
"What is the Church?" One of them asked me.
"They are people who believe in God." I said.
"What is God?" Another one asked me.
"He is someone who created everything." I said.
"What is divine light?" Another one asked me.
"It is something that can do amazing things." I said.
I tried to answer their questions as simply and honestly as I could, without revealing too much or too little. I tried to calm them down and reassure them, without lying to them or misleading them.
But I wasn't sure if I was doing it right, or if it was enough.
I wasn't sure if we were safe, or if we were in danger.
After a few minutes of hesitation and discussion, the villagers decided to comply with the Church's request. They brought their children who were between the ages of five and ten to the strangers, who lined them up in front of them.
The Church members looked at the children with interest and curiosity. They scanned their faces, their eyes, their hands, their clothes. They whispered among themselves, making notes and comments.
The leader of the Church group stepped forward and addressed the children.
"Hello, my dear children. We are here to test you for the blessing of the light, a gift from God that allows you to use divine light. Divine light is a wonderful and powerful thing that can do many good things for you and others. But it is also a rare and precious thing that not everyone has. Only those who have faith in God and his will can receive it, and only those who have it can serve him in his holy mission."
He smiled and raised his hand.
"In my hand, I have a crystal that can detect the presence of divine light in you. It is a simple and painless test that will only take a few seconds. I will touch the crystal to your forehead, and it will glow if you have the blessing of the light. If it doesn't glow, it means you don't have it."
He looked at the first child in line, a boy with blond hair and blue eyes.
"Are you ready?" He asked him.
The boy nodded nervously.
"Yes." He said.
The leader touched the crystal to his forehead.
Nothing happened.
The leader shook his head.
"I'm sorry, my child. You don't have the blessing of the light. Please step aside."
The boy looked disappointed and sad. He moved away from the line and joined his parents, who hugged him and comforted him.
The leader moved on to the next child, a girl with brown hair and green eyes.
"Are you ready?" He asked her.
The girl nodded bravely.
"Yes." She said.
The leader touched the crystal to her forehead.
It glowed brightly.
The leader smiled.
"Congratulations, my child. You have the blessing of the light. Please follow me."
The girl looked surprised and happy. She followed the leader to another group of Church members, who welcomed her and praised her.
The leader moved on to the next child, and then the next one, and then the next one.
He repeated the same process for each child, touching the crystal to their forehead and seeing if it glowed or not.
Some of them had the blessing of the light, some of them didn't.
Some of them were happy, some of them were sad.
Some of them followed him, some of them stayed behind.
He reached me, the last child in line.
I looked at him with fear and suspicion. I looked at his white robe and his staff, his cross and his book. I looked at his crystal and his smile.
I didn't trust him or his words. I didn't want his blessing or his mission. I didn't want to go with him or stay here.
I wanted to run away from him and this situation. I wanted to go back to my old life, my old world.
But I knew I couldn't do that. I knew I had to face him and this test.
I knew I had no choice.
"Are you ready?" He asked me.
I nodded reluctantly.
"Yes." I said.