Chapter 12: Interlude 1: A Cleric's Training

It was the day after the escape of Gritzgaldr. Marsa had been doing some work in her cathedral, the usual. Cleaning clothes, steaming garbs, and practicing her magic. She was walking in the north wing her of cathedral, holding folded clothes as she tried to ignore the

light. Sometimes the light of the sun would be amplified by all the gold present.

She made her way to the storage room to put the spare clothes in their place. Amid opening the storage closet and closing it, she heard a familiar voice.

“Marssy!” they yelled loudly, startling Marsa.

“Goodness, you’d think warning me would be necessary at this point,” Marsa said.

It was Sister Cherrylyn. She had been overseeing the training of the newer Clerics, all under the order of Saint Excella.

“Incase you’re wondering, it was a good day on field today!” Cherrylyn said.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Marsa said. Cherrylyn has been doing field work with the Holy Knights stationed at their cathedral. Cathedral’s in Gritzgaldr functioned as the home and work, especially for those in the Cleric Class.

“Anything out of the ordinary?” she asked.

Cherrylyn pondered before responding, “Not since that chaotic display yesterday.”

“I see,” Marsa said.

“Well, we need to get going for training,” Cherrylyn said as she grabbed Marsa’s arm. She took her to the training grounds, not too far from the location of the cathedral. There she saw other clerics lined up in order. Ahead of them was Sister Hydr.

“Glad to see you made it in time,” Sister Hydr said. Her long blue hair contrasted with her blue and gold garbs in the best way.

“Thank you,” Marsa said. She quickly got in line and watched Cherrylyn assume her position in front of them.

Sister Hydr began to speak, “We gather here to bathe in the excellency that is Saint Excella!”

The clerics and company chanted along with her, “Excella! Excella!”

Marsa did too, although she felt horrible while doing it. Every syllable she pronounced felt like knives in her throat. She was cheering on the woman responsible for creating the division… The division that attacked and even harmed her friends. She transformed her anger into a manageable state, and continued her chanting.

The chanting stopped and Sister Hydr began to speak, “Now, we have all known of the threat undead pose to the sanctity of our nation,” she started as she walked to the left side of her speaking area.

“A scourge that trumps all others. In my day, we had no such issues, or so I thought. As it happens, the problem of the undead has existed for thousands of years. Does anyone know why?”

“The Necromancer King! Ma’am!” yelled one of the clerics, a young man.

Sister Hydr smiled, “Yes! The vermin were created using dark magic. The Necromancer King met with death itself, tainting it to bend the rules of nature. He made it go against its natural purpose. Today, I want you to think of that disease that has plagued Lacritia and her lands for too long. Think of it, and think of yourself as the restoration of its prior form!”

The clerics erupted in cheers, Marsa and Cherrylyn included. A few minutes after the speech, training dummies and targets were administered to the group.

Sister Hydr spoke, “Your job is to restore this training dummies to their prior form. You will train your mana and skill efficiency by doing so. I leave the rest to Sister Cherry and her attendants,” With those final words, Sister Hydr left the area. Marsa had guessed it was to attend to her other duties.

Marsa trained on the dummy in front of her. She dented it with her staff, before healing again. She did this routine for about twelve minutes, when she was met with a bright light.

“By Heila!” Sister Cherrylyn said. “You’ve become a Higher Cleric! How joyous!”

Before Marsa could respond, Cherrylyn grabbed her and yelled, “Attendants, see to it that the training goes smoothly!” before taking off to the cathedral. They went through the halls and straight to the office of Sister Hydr.

Cherrylyn knocked on the door and waited for a response.

“How can I help?” Sister Hydr asked after opening the door.

Cherrylyn explained what had happened, causing Sister Hydr to bring Marsa inside. “My child of light, you understand what this means, of course?”

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She nodded, “Yes.” Marsa knew that Higher Clerics were assigned to important divisions, one of which being the division of Captain Lancaster.

Sister Hydr smiled, “We will give you an audience with Captain Lancaster, seeing that his division is the only open one.”

With that news, Marsa was ushered out of the office, given new garbs, and given a staff. She spent the next few days training, until she was notified by Cherrylyn to come to the office. She went inside, and to her shock she saw Captain Lancaster.

“Greetings,” he started. She was already mesmerized by her golden hair and shining armor.

“Greetings to you as well,” Marsa said.

He reached out his hand, Marsa shook it. “As you know, I am the captain of the division you’ll be assigned to,” Lancaster said as he presented her his emblem.

She held it in her hand, before putting it on her garb.

“Let me help you,” he said as he helped her adjust it.

Marsa blushed before bowing and thanking him.

“There’s no need for that,” Lancaster said as he laughed and stood her on her feet. “My division is my 2nd family, you don’t bow to family.” he said.

“Of course sir,” Marsa said.

“Lancaster is fine when we aren’t on orders,” He said.

‘Yes, Lancaster,” she said.

The days passed as Marsa was assigned. She had gotten to sleep in the special quarters of the cathedral, becoming acquainted with Lancaster’s division. She had grown accustomed to two people in particular, a cleric named Tulip and an archer named Greyson.

“You awake in there?” Greyson asked as he stood outside the cleric sleeping quarters. His blackish-gray hair complimented his deep-set brown eyes.

“I’m awake, thank you for checking.” Marsa said. She was awake, but Tulip was still asleep. “Wake up, Tulip!” Marsa said while shaking her awake.

Tulip rolled in bed, her purple hair acting as a pseudo-second pillow. ‘Just a few more minutes? Okay? I don’t want to go to lesson mom!”

“Get up!” Marsa said as she pulled the blanket from under Tulip.

“I’m awake! I’m up! I swear!” Tulip[ yelled as she scrambled to get on her feet. “Thanks for the gentle awakening,’ She said as she nudged Marsa.

Marsa laughed a little. “Get dressed, we have an assignment to do.”

Marsa waited outside with Greyson as Tulip got ready. When she finished, as a group they made their way to the field.

“I’m surprised Duster-Head didn’t wake me up with his nagging first!” Tulip said. “Duster-Head” was what she called Greyson. She said the bits of grey in his hair were like dust in a duster.

“Uh, sure, Wilt-Hair!” Greyson tried to counter, he failed horrendously.

“That’s enough, both of you,” Marsa said. It felt awkward to be the one to call for seriousness, especially as a rookie to the division.

They made it to the field and commenced with their assignment. They were tasked with clearing out lower undead in the forest. They usually spent a good 30 minutes or a little more on assignments like that.

{-100]

Lancaster had finished off the last of them. “Arrive when you’re supposed to, next time,” He said. His glance was intimidating to the group.

“Captain sure is scary,” Greyson said.

“Understatement,” Tulip said.

“At least we can help with cleanup,” Marsa said.

“You’re right!” Lancaster said. He threw the undead boar he had killed to Marsa and crew, “Get to it.”

“Ew,” Tulip said. They began to clean as soon as they were given the order. After 20 minutes, they had taken care of all the undead in the area.

“This sucks,” Greyson said. He had liked to be in the assignments where they had the least bit of action.

“Hey, why don’t you take this to the cathedral!” Tulip said as she handed him the leftover purifying water the rest of the division had.

“But-”

“No buts!” Tulips said before hurrying him along. He reluctantly complied.

“What was that for?” Marsa asked after Greyson was out of distance.

Tulip chuckled, “I need advice, from none other than the Great Marsa, no less.”

Marsa blushed. She had never been one to give advice when asked. “Of what kind?”

Tulip blushed before holding her hands, “I’m in love with Greyson…”

Marsa froze for a second, “A-are you sure?” she asked.

“Tulip continued, “I think so, It’s just that… Knowing he does all this to support his family, it makes me feel like he would support me to! Not to mention, he’s pretty cute.”

Marsa giggled a bit, “And you want me to tell you if you should approach him?”

Tulip nodded.

Marsa cleared her throat, “I think you both have a lot in common, especially with how you joined the cathedral to help people. You help people in need and he helps his family!”

“So?” Tulip said as she leaned forward.

“I think you should give it a try!” Marsa said, her pink hair meshing with the blushing of her cheeks.

“Got it! Thanks! Bye Pinky!” Tulip said as she ran towards the cathedral.

While cleaning what was left, a voice called to Marsa.

“Hey! Pink Hair!” the voice said.

Marsa went to see where it was coming from. Deeper in the woods she saw them. They were wearing purpling mage attire, followed by a giant inventory sack and red hair.

“Millie!” Marsa said. The last time she had seen Millie was before the plan was ever conceived.

“I don’t have time, you probably know,” Millie said.

“Then, what have you come here for?” Marsa asked.

“The others escaped,” Millie said.

“I had figured that,” Marsa said.

“Starch is dead,” Millie said, looking down somberly and pulling down her hat.

Marsa was paralyzed. Her body refused to listen to her. She couldn’t move, think, or speak. “Who did it?” she asked. She beginning to regain feeling.

“Lancaster,” Millie said.

“Like-” Marsa started.

“I have to go now! Sorry!” Millie said before throwing something to Marsa. It was Starch’s dagger. He had his named engraved onto the blade.

She started to cry. She remembered the last time she cried was when Old Man died. Before that, she never really cried. Even in her prior life, she never saw reasons to cry. She was always happy with life. Her grades were decent, she had enough free time to play Goblet of Lacritia too. She wondered how she went from stressing over college tests, to stressing over how her friend could meet such a cruel end.

“He never even got answers…” She said, the tears clouding her vision as her spit clogged her throat. “This isn’t fair!” she yelled as she fell to the ground. After a few moments of crying, she heard another voice.

“You okay there?” the voice asked.

She looked up after wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her garbs, It was Lancaster.

“I-I’m okay,” Marsa said as she stood up on her own.

“You don’t seem okay,” Lancaster said.

Her mind started to flash. Every second she spent looking at Lancaster, there would be 2 seconds were she saw Starch’s face. “I-I just have a lot of things to deal with, personally.”

Lancaster came closer, she was expecting a handshake or shoulder pat. She stretched out her hand. Before she could say anything else, Lancaster pulled her in and hugged her. Her mind was beyond confused. For some reason, she felt… happy? She felt solace in his touch, even if she felt like she hated him.

“Why?” she asked him. “Just, why?”

Lancaster smiled, “Because my division is my 2nd family.”