Chapter 9: Epi and Faith

Klein strolled through the lively streets of Stormguard, the salty breeze from the sea mixing with the scent of freshly baked bread. He moved with ease, flanked by Claude and four of his knights, as they made their way to the city's main orphanage. It was a well-maintained estate, standing proudly under the long-standing patronage of the Storm family. The orphanage housed over a thousand children, all orphans from the territory, and had been a part of the family's legacy for generations.

The visit was unannounced, but neither Claude nor the knights found it odd. The Storm family had a tradition of adopting talented children, offering them opportunities for training and advancement. Claude and his sister Alice were both products of this system—orphans taken in and raised within the family, where they had honed their skills to become invaluable members of the household.

As Klein stepped inside, the children immediately stood at attention, their eyes wide with awe. Sister Marianne, the matron, approached with a warm but composed smile. "My lord, this is an unexpected honor," she greeted.

Klein gave a polite nod, scanning the rows of children with a sharp gaze. "I wanted to see if there are any promising talents among them."

That wasn't entirely a lie—Klein was genuinely looking for potential candidates. But more importantly, the visit provided him with the perfect opportunity to smuggle Epimethis out unnoticed.

The children were lined up one by one to show what they could do—some wielded wooden swords, others recited passages from books, while a few attempted simple elemental magic. It was basic, but Klein watched with genuine interest, pretending to be deeply engaged in the process.

A knock echoed from the door of the orphanage, and when it opened, there stood Epimethis—or "Epi," as Klein had taken to calling him. The young child, with his blue hair and strikingly innocent eyes, appeared harmless enough, but Klein knew better. Despite his cute appearance, Epi was an ancient being with immense strength.

"I heard there was a test for magical talent," Epi said with a polite tone, his eyes glinting with subtle mischief. "I'd like to try."

Klein barely acknowledged him, maintaining his act. "Very well. Take your place with the others."

Klein then handed out a basic meditation technique to all the children—nothing complex, just a foundation to help them sense magic. He watched as the children tried to connect with the energy around them, the process simple but essential for recognizing magical potential. As expected, out of the hundreds of children, only ten managed to show real talent in one form or another. These ten stood out from the rest, their skills ranging from natural aptitude in swordplay to raw magical ability.

Among the ten, three stood out with true magical potential, their auras faint but unmistakable. Epi, of course, was one of them.

Claude, observing the proceedings, simply nodded. He wasn't surprised. Unlike knights, where physical fitness and hard training were the primary requirements, mages were different. Magic was not a skill that could be learned by just anyone—it required innate talent. The odds were rough: only about one in a hundred children could even sense magic, let alone master it. And yet, here were three children who could actually use it.

"These ten have potential," Klein said, his voice steady and authoritative. He glanced at the three magical children with a calculating gaze. "I'll take them in for further training."

Claude didn't even bat an eye. This was standard practice. The Storm family had always taken in promising orphans, offering them opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise. He was one of them, as was his sister Alice. Watching Klein carry out this tradition filled him with a sense of nostalgia.

The three children with magical potential were carefully selected and promised a future in the Storm family's service. The other seven talented children—those with skills in various areas such as combat, intellect, and leadership—were also taken in, though they would be trained for different paths. Some would be sent to join the castle's forces, while others would become part of the army or serve as guards.

As for the remaining children who had potential but did not stand out as much, they would not be left without opportunity. These children would be given the chance to grow and contribute to the territory in their own way. They would become productive citizens of the territory, joining the workforce in various roles that helped to maintain and expand Stormguard and its surrounding lands.

Sister Marianne, though surprised by the quick decision, bowed respectfully. "Of course, my lord. I shall make the necessary arrangements."

Klein gave the children a few encouraging words, assuring them that the chosen ones would receive the best education and training, then signaled for his group to leave. As they stepped back outside into the streets of Stormguard, Klein couldn't help but glance at Epi, who wore a smug little smile. After this, Klein, the knights, and the talented kids were brought back to the castle.

Inside Storm Castle, there was a school dedicated to training knights and mages.

Those who excelled in magic or combat were given the best education, honing their skills to contribute to the Storm family's expanding influence.

Later that evening, Klein walked alone along the castle walls. He had appointment with Epi.

As the moonlight bathed the courtyard, Klein met with Epimethis in a secluded corner of the castle walls. Epi's form looked almost out of place in such a grand setting,

"Epi," Klein started, his voice low but curious. "I have questions. About faith… how does it work?"

Epimethis turned his bright blue eyes toward Klein, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Ah, so you've finally come to me for answers. Faith is the essence of belief—it's the power that mortal minds create, drawing on their hopes, fears, and desires. When enough people believe in something, that belief gains power, and it becomes tangible. The more concentrated the belief, the stronger the faith becomes."

Klein furrowed his brow. "And… how do I measure it?"

Epi chuckled softly, walking closer to Klein. "You've been using the Ring of Faith, haven't you? But you're not sure how to properly quantify the energy. I can help with that."

With a wave of his hand, Epimethis touched the ring, and Klein felt a surge of power coursing through him. A subtle shift happened, and the ring seemed to hum with energy.

"I've updated the ring," Epi explained. "Now, it can measure the faith energy around you. Not just the power you possess, but the faith of the people who are connected to you. You'll be able to track its growth,and the density of belief."

Klein marveled at the change. "So, could I increase my strength through faith?

Epimethis nodded. " Definitely, but you'll need to be careful. It's not just about amassing power—it's about controlling it. Untamed power will do more harm than good. But you can indeed strengthen your talent using faith indirectly increasing your strength. After all faith is an omnipotent power.

Klein's eyes gleamed with determination. "Then we'll need a plan to gather this faith. A way to make people believe."

Epi smiled, his mischievous glint never leaving his eyes. "We'll need to create a mysterious figure, someone who can inspire awe and wonder. A god, if you will—something that people can worship, something they can rely on. We'll craft the perfect image, one that will take root in their hearts and minds. And with it, we'll gather faith—lots of it."

Klein's mind raced. "A god… a mysterious god. Yes. That could work."