Beliefs

[Zerrif]

Gerik felt his chest heaving, his lungs burning as he ran with all his might down the halls. Dear god, were they just going in circles? Every ant looked like the next, each turn just as dark and seemingly filled with danger. "Don't look back!" He heard over his shoulder, and he felt his muscles tighten and relax, as the Priest quickly sent his agility into overdrive once more.

He stumbled a little, feeling an arm curl around his stomach, the Blacksmith hoisting him up before he could hit the ground, running with him for a few steps. He was dangled low however, and his feet touched the ground, breaking into a run again. The Blacksmith nodded, and let go, and it was as if the Novice had never fallen. Everything had been going so well-- he was going to tell them what he was going to be, and now he was never going to become--

"Uuagh!" Came a muffled cry, sending the pair skidding to a halt. Looking back, they saw the Mage flying for a split second, before he hit the ground hard, face-first. The Priest skidded too, and instantly drew his staff. The smith charged from behind him, getting in the way of a mad dashing arclouse, taking the full hit without the Priest's Kyrie Eleison, or any real preparation.

"Heal!" The Priest chanted, apparently not worrying about the smith just yet. The Mage was circled by a green wall of light, and slowly got to his feet, looking around. "Don't tarry! Hurry up!" he called out, snapping Bascht into action, who began to run again. The Priest turned around to Gerik, turning his back on the fight. Wasn't that a bad, bad thing to do?

He just smiled softly, and pointed at the ground, where a transparent grey circle appeared, marked by magical lines, and symbols. "Warp Portal!" He chanted, as the same blue pillar of light opened like it did before. "Hurry, get out of here! I told you, I promised you if we met Maya, you wouldn't get hurt. So get out before I can't keep that promise any longer!" The Priest urged. He didn't even wait for an answer, turning back to the fight, offering the Smith some support. Supportive spells were soon chain-cast with battle-hardened precision, and Gerik blinked.

"B-but--!" He started. Everything was happening so fast, he could barely keep up. He drew his mace, before a hand fell on his shoulder. He turned to see Bascht, urging him towards the portal.

"Don't be a fool, you'll get yourself killed. If they can barely survive against Maya, what do you think you can do? We need to go, we'll just get in the way." The voice from behind the mask was scarily clear, and serious to boot. "We all have our jobs to do, right? That's been the whole lesson out here. Our job now, is to get out of the way, and retreat when it was called. We can go back, and get them some help, but for now, we can't tarry here any longer."

Gerik frowned at how right he was. He took one last look at the fight, seemingly terribly one-sided as the Blacksmith was continually assaulted from all sides, under the Priests hail of support. Even so, the Priest would run out of energy at some point... and at that point-- he only hoped that they could get them some sort of help to arrive before then. He allowed himself to be pulled into the portal, feeling his body wretch and churn.

The feeling didn't last as long this time, since his mind was racing with far more important things than his own well being. As soon as he felt his feet touch the paved streets of Prontera, he quickly stepped forward, and yelled aloud. No real words, just a mighty yell, of frustration, anger, and fear.

---

"Tell me, Gerik, why after all this time, did you choose to become an Acolyte?" Father Mareusis asked. Gerik blinked a little, looking up from his kneeling position on a small cushion that was in front of the Priest's lectern in the side room. "I mean, after your adventures, you could have become anything you wanted."

"... I..." He started, before Father Mareusis just sighed.

"I'm not condoning your decision. I'm very glad you chose to join the Holy Order. But you cannot blame yourself for the happenings in Ant Hell. That... is an unfortunate happening of adventuring. Things go awry, and--"

"I was inspired." Gerik interrupted. "He... They... in the face of danger, and certain death, they were not afraid to give their lives for those they were teaching. I want to be like them, Father. I want to be a teacher who is not afraid. Someone who will step into a fight without regrets, or holding back. It's just not my place on the front lines. I will do my best to support those that I trust, with this belief in mind. And I will not back down. For I owe my life to that belief."

"... I see. Very well put, young Acolyte. Rise, Acolyte Gerik. I hereby officially induct thee into the clergy. May you bring benevolence and light unto others around you."

---

"Hey hey! You're lookin' pretty spiffy there, aren'tcha?" Came a voice from outside the church. Gerik was just stepping out, dressed in his new Acolyte's robes-- a deep black, emblazoned and lined with a lining of silver, and accents of gold. "Congratulations, Gerik. I'm sure they'd be proud."

"Thank you, D." He said, politely, before he bowed. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, though. Father Mareusis wished to speak with me for a little while after the induction ceremony was finished. Where is Bascht?" He asked, looking around. The flower mage was nowhere in sight.

"Ah, he just remembered to get an Incubator for his pet. With the juice he's got, Pillow ain't gonna be hungry for a while." D replied, heaving up his cart. "You ready to go? We're heading out to Payon." Gerik replied with a silent nod, as the Mage came running back down the street, a small white ball hopping along beside him.

"Sorry." Bascht said, apologetically, adjusting his mask. "But look, we've got a fourth member again!" Gerik wasn't sure if he was meant to smile, but he did so regardless-- the kid was only trying to lighten the mood. The small Lunatic hopped his way over to the cart, and sat upon a couple bags of it, the Blacksmith barely even noticing he was there.

"So you have to make a delivery in Payon, right?" Gerik asked. "I suppose Bascht and I could investigate the dungeon while you do so. I heard from a Priest out in the Saint Capitolina Abbey that there's a small undead problem. I'm sure the two of us can help somehow."

"That's a great idea!" D replied, before he leaned down, and lifted the side of the mask slightly, before it was snapped back firmly into place. "Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's head to Izlude, and catch a boat to Alberta. We can walk to Payon from there, and I've gotta stop by the Merchant's Guild to drop off a couple receipts anyway. That okay with you, hon?" He asked, looking over at the smiling flower. Bascht nodded quickly, making Gerik smile at the sight.

"I... will never forget the both of you. My only regret at this point, was never learning the names of the two teachers who will have guided me upon this path. Goddess Freya, please watch over their souls, let them rest together, forever."