General POV:
An older woman stood overlooking the entrance to the building. She was watching each individual walk in with anticipation. With her old age brought experience. From that experience, she could feel that change was due without the need of a revelation or seeing. In her very bones, she could tell that something was due to happen if not this year or the next. In this group initiates, there had to be a diamond in the rough.
"Priestess Joanne, I'm pleased to report...." One of her assistants begins to tell her but she cuts him off, holding a finger to her mouth.
"Shhhh." She quiets him, she didn't want to be interrupted.
Her eyes darted from initiate to initiate as her mana flowed, inspecting each one. Her pride, her eyes. Capable of seeing someone's true potential despite their attempts to hide their mana signature. It's what made her so renown among the church.
As the last of the initiates wonder in, her hopes begin to lessen. But then, her breath held for a second as she saw... him. He held her attention with each of his movements.
"Bring me that man." She commands.
Nameless POV:
As I entered the building, I instantly got the feeling that I was being watched. This was my first time doing anything like this, but if I was already under suspicion, it wasn't good news. I follow the other initiates towards the general area where they are all grouped for a speech. I never stop paying attention to my surroundings, so my breath catches as I notice one of the robed church members following me from the left.
Fearing my cover was already blown, I slightly change my direction to where I would avoid the encounter. I begin to panic a bit when I notice two more coming from behind me and on my right. I begin to weigh my options as I know a confrontation is unavoidable.
The purpose of this mission was to, first, identify where they keep their magical equipment. Once identified, I was to signal to Odin where the takeover operation would begin. Optionally, I was to uncover some secrets and learn their spells while I was here. If I engaged in a fight here, both options would fail my mission, and I would no doubt be exterminated by Lord Nidhogg. It was best if I bid my time and tried to make the situation go into my favor.
A blonde teen with white stripes on his shoulders steps in front of me, clearly the leader of the bunch. "You are being summoned by the Priestess. Come with us."
Having little choice in the matter, I follow along, pretending to remain calm but nervously clutching my weapon. They lead me up a flight of stairs and I don't fail to notice that the air becomes heavier the further we travel. Being so much in Lord Nidhogg's presence, I knew this was a strong person I was about to encounter. They, obviously, weren't at the same level as Lord Nidhogg, but they still outclassed me.
The blonde clergy boy pauses before a room, holding a door open and motioning for me to enter. After pausing for a second, I enter in. The first thing that hits me is the smell of old people. Then the smell of heavy incense that somehow doesn't mask the first smell. Before me is an older woman with gray curly hair and her back to me. Turning, her eyes remain closed as she smiles at me. Everything about her gave me bad vibes, making me clutch my weapon at my side harder, ready to defend myself at any point.
"Calm down young one. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have brought you here to see me. As soon as you came on the premises you'd disappear." She tells me, but I don't relax. In fact, it tenses me up more.
She sighs as she sees me do this. "Well, it makes sense for you to not trust me. In these days, betrayal is too common. So, I'll ask you this, what do you have your trust in?"
I think for a second on her question. Naturally, my answer should have been Lord Nidhogg, but even without him telling me, I had absolutely no trust in him. I had no trust in myself either as I was clearly a failure to not understand the blessing given to me by him. In fact, I would go as far as to say there wasn't anything that I trusted.
"You're really struggling to find something to trust in? Hmm. You are exactly what I need." The last part I could tell was said out loud, directed to no one. But, in my fear, I was paying attention to her every word. What sick experiment was I about to be subjected to?
"Give this old woman your ear for a second child. And know that I absolutely hate being interrupted." I clearly hear the warning in her tone, but I had no inclination on even saying in fear of angering her anyway.
"When I was younger, around your age, in fact, I was told something by my mentor. 'It's ok to put your trust in something or someone. But too much trust will blind you to the truth.' At the time, I dismissed this as the ramblings of an older man. Years later, he disappeared entirely from my life, but I paid it no mind as I was growing more successful and didn't need him anymore.
Eventually, later on in life, I met him again, but I didn't recognize him. He had grown insane, speaking incoherently or how the others defined it as heretical. One couldn't say things like, 'wrong god' and get away with it. Ignoring what happened to him, I continued on my successful career with the church.
It wasn't hard, with my ability I was seen as a prodigy. With these eyes, I've seen almost everything one could see in a lifetime. However, it wasn't until I got older that I started to realize something. I hadn't seen my own god. We, the church of Luminous, based our entire faith on our god but how come we could never accurately describe what they look like.
From that question, more began to follow. How did we know that what we were doing was within our god's interests? I began a journey, exploring the workings of the church. At that point, my eyes began to finally see the truth. What happens to those who don't accept our god. Those who aren't deemed fit to serve our lord. Things, I could no longer ignore. But, after years of serving something, I blindly put my trust into, what could I even do with the knowledge I gained?
I decided that what I've learned, couldn't be trusted with someone who shared the same faith as I once did. It would have to be with someone who didn't easily, or better yet, someone who didn't trust at all." She walks over to her desk and opens a drawer, pulling out a huge book.
"In this book, lies secrets so vile that the church deemed forbidden knowledge. Anyone caught with this will be instantly put to death along with anyone associated." She holds it out to me. I recoil from it, even though I know this is exactly what my mission was for. This didn't make any sense.
"Why are you doing this? Why give this to me? You don't even know me." I ask even though I know I should just accept the book and signal Odin immediately.
"Further proof of my point. I've confessed everything to you, and I'm holding the fall of the church in my hands to you, and you don't trust me." She replies, smiling.
"Lady. Who in their right mind would believe you." I reply in disbelief.
She laughs, "You'd be surprised. The moment that most people even hear that I'm a Priestess they instantly obey my commands. No matter how immoral they are. Trust me on that one, I've tested it."
On that one, he didn't even question her on that. "As far as why it's simple really. I'm dying. This old woman fought her fight, up until she realized it may have been for the wrong side. Consider this the wishes of a dying woman. But why you? You see the respect my title gives those standing outside the door. Even the common people kneel before me. However, you show fear, as though you're familiar of the atrocities I've spoken of.
Plus, with my Mana Sight, I can see that you possess a power that not only will you be capable of using the knowledge in this book, but you are capable of surviving what's to come. If anyone is to have this book, it's you." She holds it out once more.
Oh, damn it all. Despite my own misgivings, every situation says that I should grab the book. Slowly, I reach out for the book. Just as my fingers begin to wrap around it, she yoinks the book out of my grasp.
"On second thought, I'll keep the book safe. You should come back for it once you complete your attunement."
Theres a knock on the door, and she puts the book away. "Come in."
The blonde clergy boy enters in, bowing. "It is time."
She looks to me, who is dumbfounded at the moment. "That's your cue. Good luck."