"Ironcrest?" When Vicente heard the last words, he felt sweat form on his body as a drop dripped down his forehead.
His main thought was not about his passage through Ironcrest and how the people there knew about his yellow pentagram. Instead, his mind immediately turned to his situation with Jasmine and the man, Mark, who had yet to show up after their encounter weeks ago.
Vicente still didn't know about Layla's return to Millfall and his current situation with Jasmine and Casey. So when he heard the words of that Mage, he felt every fiber of his body tense.
That was a member of the Congregation of Revelations!
If that was why this blond man was standing before him, then the comfortable situation he had just reached in this city was about to get worse.
'Shit! Don't tell me that...'
While he was thinking the worst, Kohen said. "Cesar, you're impressive. Your accomplishments are extraordinary. With such unusual talents, I doubt that your future lies in this town.
I would like to invite you to join my group at the Congregation of Revelation. In our group, you will have countless opportunities and an open path to positions outside the kingdom where you can truly develop your full potential."
"Huh?" Vicente opened his mouth, immediately changing his expression as his mask protected him from revealing too much of his feelings to that man.
'Isn't he here for Jasmine? Or is this some kind of strange strategy to lure me into a trap?' He thought the worst, still slightly uncomfortable with Kohen's presence before him but less tense than a moment ago.
"That... I don't know what to say. I never thought I'd get a visit like this." Vicente said in a sincere, noticeable tone even though his voice was distorted by mana.
Kohen smiled when he heard it, but considering Cesar's talents, he wasn't the least bit shocked. "You're being modest, Cesar. Someone capable of absorbing a yellow pentagram after becoming an Acolyte would have a place in the greatest forces on the continent.
Of course, you would be studied by others and would have to prove yourself in order to receive opportunities. But someone like you can do very well anywhere.
Vicente took a few breaths to calm his heart. "Senior Reeves, I thought the Congregation of Revelation only accepted new members of the 1st stage, newly awakened people without much history and free of compromising relationships. But I'm already a level 3 Acolyte, and I'm involved with a dozen local powers.
Would you accept me even if I don't fit your expectations?"
The Congregation of Revelation only accepted 1st stage members.
As the monopolist of the Awakening in Polaris Realm, the Congregation of Revelation used its temples to monitor the emergence of talents throughout the continent.
Whenever someone with aptitudes and abilities desired by the faith appeared on the continent, the organization would try everything possible and impossible to bring them over to their side.
Often, these young people didn't even have a chance to leave the temple that awakened their powers before they were invited to join the organization.
Since one could rarely escape the norm and was bound by the limits of one's talents, the organization could usually attract the vast majority of the talents it wanted to its side. However, it was possible for some talents to go unnoticed or even to develop more than the temple thought possible.
Chance could affect the magical path, even though most of one's destiny was determined at the Awakening.
Kohen and his associates at the Ironcrest temple thought Cesar was one of those rare flukes!
When events like Vicente occurred, there were basically three alternatives for members of this faith. The first was to try to bring him over to their side, which would not be an easy process, as the temple did not normally accept new people above the 1st stage, as their indoctrination was less effective on stronger or more experienced people.
The second was to eliminate such individuals if their powers threatened the continuity of the temple. And the third was to ignore such cases since the existence of one person or another would not necessarily jeopardize the temple's future.
If someone's power wasn't too celestial, there was little chance it would reach its peak and become a threat.
Was it worth chasing someone who would probably die before becoming relevant? Was it worth the risk of attracting the attention of the entire continent for someone who, even if successful, would pose no threat to the temple's operations?
Thus, given the alternatives, there were no known cases among people outside this faith of members joining the organization outside the known rules.
Cases like Vicente's were either eliminated or ignored.
Kohen then said. "It's really not ideal for someone of your level and so compromised to join us. But there are cases of people similar to you who have been accepted into the temple in the past.
Of course, you won't be accepted right away. But if you join my faction, you can gradually gain the temple's trust. One day, when you become a Mage Sovereign, you can pass a test and be fully accepted, with all the rights of ordinary members who joined our faith after their Awakening.
Vicente was surprised to hear that there were cases of such people joining such a select group. But he wasn't so enthusiastic about this invitation and asked. "What kind of responsibilities and rights would I have until then, Senior Reeves? I don't want to seem like I'm refusing your invitation. Still, I have things to do that I wouldn't want to give up unless the benefits were really advantageous."
Kohen nodded, liking Cesar's style. As much as this young man questioned him, he was cautious with his words and seemed responsible.
Kohen had an adventurous personality and liked to fight. However, when it came to serious matters, he was cautious and liked to deal with more or less cautious people like himself.
"In the short term, you would only be a guest of our faith. As a guest, you would have some basic rights, such as assistance in the temples, asylum, access to information and spells, and missions and opportunities commensurate with your level.
In return, you would have some responsibilities, such as helping solve problems in designated temples, protecting towns, and completing missions. But you can choose for yourself. There are many options, and the temple doesn't tell its guests what to do.
That would be your responsibility to the temple. Until you become a full member, you will be a guest, especially a guest of my group. Then you would have responsibilities and rights with us, too.
For now, we offer you our support. And all you have to do for us is become stronger and fulfill your missions for the temple. Eventually, we'll charge you for the support when you become stronger."
Vicente listened to Kohen's entire offer and realized becoming a guest of this faith wasn't so bad.
