Chapter 65
After three days of intense study in the Mage Tower, the old man quietly slipped away, holding onto the materials Garrett had given him. Nearly half a month passed before he reappeared, tested Garrett once, confirmed his progress, and then briskly dragged him out.
"Hey, where are we going?" Garrett struggled while walking. "It's getting dark!"
"To the congregation of the guild!" The old man eased his grip, shifting to a supportive hold under Garrett's arm. Almost lifting him off the ground, they moved forward. "The guild gathers monthly, always on the night of the new moon. Did you study the book I gave you? Today happens to be a new moon, so I'll introduce you to them. It'll be helpful for everyone to assist each other in the future."
Meetings of the Nature God's congregation mostly took place on moderately elevated hills. Guided by Elder Elwin, Garrett arrived at sunset, just as the new moon ascended. Elwin finally said, "We're here!"
Releasing his hold, Garrett staggered, feet landing on the ground. He found himself halfway up the hill, surrounded by dense oak trees. Birds returned to their nests, chirping intermittently, their species unknown. The ground was layered with fallen leaves and delicate grass, as though no one had been here for centuries...
"Hey!" Garrett was anxious. "Where is here? There isn't even a proper path!"
"Up to the mountaintop! You walk by yourself!" Elder Elwin had already started climbing, agile and steady, without even needing his oak staff. Garrett had no choice but to follow, stumbling and struggling. Amidst his efforts, he conjured a few light spells to illuminate the way, finally reaching the mountaintop.
A clear space atop the hill was enclosed by waist-high stones in a large circle, about ten meters in diameter. Inside the circle, a pile of campfires burned, while several men and women in long robes leaned on oak staffs outside. As Garrett panted, following the Elder, everyone's curiosity was piqued, all eyes fixed on him.
However, Elder Elwin didn't introduce Garrett. He placed him at one end of the circle and entered it himself. In the firelight, the old man, with a flowing white beard and his staff firmly planted, spoke solemnly:
"Today, we gather here to worship the great Nature God..."
"Praise be to our God..." Everyone bowed their heads respectfully, echoing the Elder's words, praying together:
"You are the protector of nature, the guardian of forests and animals... You bestow life upon all things, enriching the world..."
Garrett had managed to memorize these prayers. Though he lacked an oak staff, he followed suit, murmuring the prayers. He recited them fairly well, with occasional stumbles but not enough to break the immersion.
Glancing around during the prayer, he noticed the closer individuals were younger, with fewer embroidered green leaves on their robes. Conversely, the more distant ones were older, their robes adorned with three, four, and even five leaves.
Oh, so I'm the youngest here... Garrett lowered his head, mechanically reciting the prayers, glancing at his own robe.
...I rushed out today without changing, still wearing my mage robes.
Perfect.
"Order! One at a time! - Garrett, you first!"
With a slight pause, Garrett took the chance, darting through the crowd, climbing atop a stone, and shouted:
"To practice bone setting? ... Practice on animals! Sheep! Dogs! Rabbits! Anything works!"
"But there aren't that many injured animals!"
"You won't break their bones, will you!"
Garrett responded matter-of-factly. The followers of the Nature God fell silent simultaneously, the Elder's oak staff deeply embedded in the earth.
Inside and outside the stone circle, there was only heavy breathing and the rustle of wind through the oak trees. After a while, the previously inquisitive beauty spoke up:
"Harming innocent animals?... But that contradicts our beliefs!"
What?
Beliefs?
What are your beliefs exactly?
You worship the Nature God, not Buddhism prohibiting killing, so why can't you even conduct animal experiments?
Does that mean no dissecting either?
With so many "can'ts," how do you gain surgical proficiency?
Did I choose the wrong affiliation? Perhaps joining the Temple of the War God would've been better...
Garrett Nordmark, the naturalist priest apprentice who stumbled in with rote memorization, was utterly baffled...
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