Chapter 6: Test

Priest Michael's eyes sparkled with a sense of purpose as he gazed at Carl. "As a future priest, it's essential that you learn how to lead people and fulfill the responsibilities that come with serving our God."

He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "The church has a mission that requires attention. There's a nearby village that's been plagued by a series of mysterious illnesses. The villagers are in dire need of guidance, comfort, and healing."

Priest Michael's explained. "I want you to go to the village, Carl, and offer what aid you can. Use your abilities to help the villagers, and provide them with the spiritual guidance they need during this difficult time."

"I'm ready, Priest Michael," Carl said.

Priest Michael summoned two young men, both in their teens, to join Carl on his mission. They were introduced as Alex and Ryan, two orphaned boys who had been raised in the church's care and had recently become "fated," they both possessing a same single core - the Flesh Core.

Carl's eyes widened slightly as he took in the two young men. They looked eager and determined, but also a bit nervous. He knew that leading them on this mission would be a great responsibility, but he was confident in his abilities and the training he had received from Priest Michael.

The three of them stood outside the church, where a horse-drawn carriage was waiting to take them to the village. Carl estimated that the journey would take around two hours, but he couldn't help but think that with modern transportation, they could have arrived in a fraction of the time - just 30 to 45 minutes.

As they set off, Carl took a deep breath and turned to Alex and Ryan. "Alright, guys. Let's get to know each other a bit better. We're going to be working together to help the villagers, and I want to make sure we're all on the same page."

Alex and Ryan nodded, looking at Carl with a mix of curiosity and respect. As they rode along, Carl began to ask them questions, getting to know their strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. He knew that building trust and rapport with his team would be crucial to their success on this mission.

They power basically just regeneration. They fight with their body. They just Meat Shield. Just it.

After sometimes they finally reached the villages. Those 2 hours tortured Carl for good.

Carl stood in the center of the village, his voice ringing out as he preached to the gathered villagers. He spoke of hope, redemption, and the power of faith, his words weaving a sense of comfort and reassurance.

As he finished his sermon, Carl began to perform miracles, using his Faith Core to heal the sick and afflicted. He laid hands on the elderly woman with the crippled arm, and she felt a surge of energy as her limb was restored to full mobility. He touched the forehead of the young boy with the raging fever, and the child's temperature plummeted as the infection was purged from his body.

With the villagers' spirits lifted, Carl turned his attention to investigating the source of the sicknesses. He knew that in this era, hygiene was already a recognized concept, and the idea of microorganisms causing illness was beginning to take hold. However, Carl was determined to leave no stone unturned, to identify the root cause of the problem and address it directly.

He began by questioning the villagers, gathering information about their daily habits, their food and water sources, and any potential environmental factors that might be contributing to the illnesses. He examined the village's waste management systems, its water supply, and the local food markets, searching for any clues that might point to the source of the problem.

As he investigated, Carl's mind was racing with possibilities. Was it a contaminated water source? A faulty sewage system? A new disease-carrying insect in the area? He was determined to find the answer, to identify the underlying cause of the sicknesses and put an end to it once and for all.

As Carl continued his investigation, he decided to pay a visit to the village's water source, a nearby well that supplied the villagers with their daily water needs. He walked to the well, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of contamination.

Upon arriving at the well, Carl noticed that the water level was lower than expected, and the water itself had a slightly murky appearance. He dipped his hand into the water, feeling for any unusual textures or temperatures.

As he examined the water, Carl's Energy Core began to tingle, sensing something unusual. He focused his senses, using his Energy Core to scan the water for any hidden energies or contaminants.

After a few moments of concentration, Carl's Energy Core alerted him to the presence of a strange energy signature in the water. It was faint, but it seemed to be some sort of magical residue, left behind by an unknown source.

Carl's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What could be causing this magical residue? Was it a natural phenomenon, or was something more sinister at play? He knew he had to get to the bottom of this mystery if he was going to help the villagers.

Carl's eyes widened as he recognized the energy signature as belonging to a World Language Practitioner. He had learned about World Language in his studies as a member of the church, but he had never encountered it before. World Language was a power system that existed outside of the Fated ones, allowing its users to perform magic by harnessing the power of intricate runes.

As a Fated, Carl able to use World Language himself, but he knew that it was a powerful and complex system, his knowledge only limited to one runes. He recalled that World Language Practitioners could evoke various powers by knowing and using specific runes, such as shooting fireballs or manipulating the elements.

In this case, it seemed that someone had used World Language to cast a poison spell on the village's water source. Carl's Energy Core still detected the residual energy, but he knew he had to act quickly to purify the water.

Using his Faith Core, Carl performed a miracle, calling upon the power of purification to cleanse the water. The energy of the poison spell began to dissipate, replaced by a warm, golden light that seemed to wash away the impurities.

As the water began to clear, Carl knew that the problem was far from solved. He still needed to find the World Language Practitioner responsible for the poisoning and put a stop to their nefarious activities. He couldn't let the villagers continue to suffer at the hands of this mysterious foe.

Carl set out to investigate further, seeking any clues that might lead him to the World Language Practitioner and bring an end to the village's suffering.

Carl began to question the villagers, asking if they had seen or heard anything suspicious around the time the water source was poisoned. Some of the villagers mentioned seeing a stranger lurking around the well, but none of them got a good look at the person's face.

One of the villagers, an elderly woman, approached Carl and whispered, "I saw something strange last night, young priest. I was out gathering herbs in the forest, and I saw a figure in a black cloak, muttering to themselves near the old shack."

Carl's eyes lit up with interest. The shack on the outskirts of the village, a place where few people dared to venture. He thanked the elderly woman for her information and decided to investigate the ruins immediately.

As he walked towards the shack, Carl noticed that Alex and Ryan were following him. "What are you two doing?" he asked.

"We're coming with you, Carl," Alex replied. "We are you bodyguards, we need to protect you from any harm."

Carl smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with his two companions. "Alright, let's go. But stay alert and follow my lead. We don't know what we're up against."

Together, the three of them approached the old shack, ready to face whatever dangers lay within.