Xylus entered the pristine white Temple. Xylus had learned that Myst Crevice was one of the few places where you could go to pray to one of the five gods in the continent. Xylus followed Tyrian in, who lead the way through the large Temple. Temple goers, Priests, Priestesses, and the like all turned their attention to Xylus as he passed.

  "Isn't that the boy who's with Victor Cross?"

  "What is he doing here with a Templar?"

  Tyrian ignored their whispers and led him straight to he large doors. Templars stood at attention and greeted Tyrian with a salute, moving both of their arms across their chests, one over the other.

  "At ease, everyone." Tyrian saluted. Xylus felt awkward and decided he would salute, too. His Uncle and Victor always said to be respectful to others. "Are they all inside?"

  "Yes, High Templar. The Grand Magus awaits your return with your charge." A male Templar answered.

  "Charge? What charge?" Xylus asked.

  "I'm technically in charge of you. Well, I'm one of three people in charge of you." Tyrian gave a short answered and motioned for them to open the doors. The Templars raised their hands towards the door. White energy shimmered off of their hands and onto the doors, slowly opening the door.

  "When are they going to get here?" Grand Magus Romona complained. "We're cutting into the Hero's study!"

  "Grand Magus, it's fine." Niya told her. "We've been summoned before the Fathers and Head Priestesses. We can wait a little longer." Romona pulled her hand watch out and looked at it. Niya peeked at it and pointed. "They've got five minutes before it's time to meet."

  "Sorry to keep you all waiting." Tyrian saluted. Xylus followed his example and saluted, looking for Niya and Romona.

  "Finally! You're so late!" Grand Magus Romona complained. "You're cutting into our herbology studies! Let's hurry this up." Xylus followed Tyrian over to the right as the large doors closed. The Fathers all stood on the raised platform with the Head Priestesses next to them.

  "I'm sorry for the delay, Grand Magus." Tyrian gave her a small salute. "Xylus had just woken not too long ago and I wanted to be sure he was fit for travel."

  "How is his condition?" Father Westhall asked. Tyrian patted Xylus to step forward.

  "I-I'm fine, Father. Thank you for asking." Xylus bowed. Father Westhall smiled and nodded.

  "Let's get the meeting started, shall we?" Father Hope motioned. "Today we gather here to talk about the events that transpired three days ago. We will start with Xylus Silverfang first and then hear from the Grand Magus' side. Xylus Silverfang, you may step forward and speak." The Fathers all motioned at him in unison. Xylus took a nervous step forward and wandered over to the middle of the three groups.

  "Well," Xylus cleared his throat. "I was training with Mr. Victor. He dropped me off at the high cliff in the forest. I was instructed to hunt like normal and bring home some food. My routine usually consists of stamina and weapon training. That day I decided to do bow training, but thought I should practice magic. I haven't been able to train my magic properly and wanted a chance to do so.

  "I shot a wild boar with my Dark magic and that's when Grand Magus Romona found me and accused me of being a Dark Spawn. I panicked because I'm usually better at spotting and noticing when a person is around. I failed to spot the Grand Magus and her charge. Mr. Victor intercepted Grand Magus before she could… Kill me. He told me to run, so I ran." Xylus explained.

  "You leave out the most important part yet! You sabotaged the Hero!" Grand Magus howled.

  "Grand Magus!" Father Zachary's voice boomed. "Do not interrupt the boy!" Grand Magus sighed and folded her arms like she was going to throw a tantrum. "You may continue, Xylus."

  "I only temporarily stopped Niya from using magic with the Anti Glyph." Xylus explained. He watched as Father Zachary, Father Grevious, and the Priestesses all raised their eyebrows in surprise. "Mr. Victor had used it on Grand Magus so she couldn't hurt me. I did it on Niya so I could run. Other than that, I did not harm anyone. I only drew some blood from Niya."

  "Precious blood from the Hero!" Grand Magus blurted out.

  "Grand Magus! If we have to quiet you one more time, we will dismiss this absurd case and have your mouth sewn shut!" Father Westhall shouted.

  "Anything else you would like to tell us?" Father Hope asked. Xylus was about to continue the story when Nura's voice came to him.

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  "You will be given an opportunity to train at one of the most prestigious schools in the whole continent. You'll need to keep an eye out for the Hero, alright? According to Palia, he should be going to the same school." Nura's voice reminded him.

  'She isn't the Hero then? Then what is she?' Xylus turned to look at Niya. Grand Magus shielded her and Xylus snapped out of his temporary curiosity and got back on topic.

  "I fled to the cavern not too far from the cliff. I followed the stream in and went inside even though I was explicitly told to never enter. I didn't want to be found so I broke the rule. Turns out their were goblins there and a Hobgoblin." Some gasps came from the Priestesses. He could hear the Grand Magus saying something under her breath. "I made a mistake in watching the Goblins. One of them came my way and I had no choice but to kill them all. I started past the large body of water in the cavern and killed the goblins with the rocks above. They pierced them all, but the Hobgoblin came to fight me." Xylus' face darkened. His body ached recalling the events.

  "I managed to kill the Hobgoblin, but I had to put my all into it. I passed out and woke up in my bed three days later." Xylus finished.

  "High Templar Tyrian's magic truthfully pulled the horrific scenes from that day. We do not doubt his magic as he is sworn to truth when it comes to these matters." Priestess Lillian spoke. She sighed and looked at the other Priestesses and Fathers. "If the boy does tell the truth, we have no choice but to accept it."

  "Let us listen, again, to the Grand Magus's explanation. It seems the stories from Xylus' side matched up." Father Hope looked straight at Grand Magus. "Xylus you may step back. Grand Magus Wells and Niya Belladonna, step forward." Xylus turned and returned to Tyrian's side. The Grand Magus and Niya stepped to the middle and looked up at the Fathers and Priestesses.

  "Father, Priestess," Romona started. "Niya and I were looking around the forest for herbs. I was teaching her what to look out for in specific parts of the forests as the herbs tend to grow in specific places. This is to train her to make potions and such when she is older and by herself. I want her to be ready for the time she needs to do such a thing.

  "We were nearing the cliff side when I felt an evil presence. We stumbled upon that Dark Spawn shooting magic in the open! How heinous! Does he not fear his own life? If he wanted to stay alive, he should've kept his magic hidden! Any mage with a skull could feel that magic oozing from him like nothing!

  "To top it all off, the Exiled One, Victor Cross got in the way when I did my duty as a mage and that Exiled decided to interrupt me and save the Spawn! He managed to get one ahead of me a use an Anti Glyph on me and then had the gull to let the boy do the same thing and run away! He drew blood from the Hero, herself! She's blessed with all five elements and you mean to tell me I was supposed to just watch in horror as the Dark Spawn did such a thing?!? I was furious!

  "I retaliated in defense but High Templar Crowley and Templar Farr got in the way! They told me I was making a mistake and had the gull to tell me that Spawn is a Shade of a forgotten god called Nura?!? What lies!" Grand Magus's voice boomed loudly. Xylus could feel her trying to get an emotion out of him.

  'Does she know she's lying about her being the Hero? The Hero is a boy.' Xylus thought. He folded his arms and sighed loudly. Grand Magus turned and pointed.

  "Show your Mark if you are truly a Shade! Then I will have no choice but to accept it!" Grand Magus declared.

  "Grand Magus," Priestess Hope's voice boomed over the large area. "Do not tell the boy what to do. You are in the the presence of Palia, herself. Do not declare anything. Our Light, shall declare what we shall do. Know your place, Retired One." Grand Magus began to move up when Father Grevious raised his hand.

  "Enough, enough. Let us not stray." Father Grevious spoke. He turned to look at Xylus and sighed. "Xylus Silverfang is a Shade but is too young to manifest his Mark. We cannot tell him to do such a thing if he cannot."

  "You would protect the Spawn? In Her holy place?" Grand Magus asked.

  "Grand Magus, watch your tongue!" Tyrian shouted. "You do not have any power to speak such a phrase!"

  "Enough, High Templar." Father Zachary raised his hand. Tyrian stepped back and gave Romona the stink eye. "We cannot show you what he cannot do. It's impossible for now. Rest assured we have many witnesses that saw the Hand turn pure black."