This was a story like something out of a storybook.
A long time ago, the Church of Dawn saw the rise of two outstanding Professionals.
They were the most outstanding Knight and Cleric of the cathedral branch back then.
What was even more rare was that they were as close as biological brothers, achieving one feat after another whenever they joined forces.
Until a suppression mission several years ago.
The entire Divine Punishment Knight Regiment they belonged to fell into a trap while hunting down a Vampire Archduke, and almost the entire unit was wiped out...
By the end, almost only this Cleric and Paladin were left.
Fortunately, driven by rage and under the cover of the Cleric, the Paladin broke through the trap, unleashed incredible power, and ultimately slew that cunning Vampire Archduke.
Unfortunately, they eventually reached their absolute limit, out of resources and plagued by a final plague and curse that left them without even the strength to return.
At that moment, there was no one left who could save them.
Barring any miracle, they would have died in that blood-colored swamp.
But then... that Cleric did something unimaginable—he voluntarily consumed the flesh core of the Vampire Archduke that had been pinned down by the holy sword...
“And I was the Paladin in that story...” Yade stood up and said.
“Why... did you choose me?” Ogre could not find any flaws in this story.
Perhaps this also explained why an outstanding Grand Knight in his prime would come to this border region several years ago.
“It is very simple, Ogre. Over the past few years, you are the only one who met the criteria.
“Only you could endure learning the barely useful basics of an apprentice while patiently doing manual labor.
“Only you had neither the aptitude for a Knight nor a Mage, yet as a victim of a monster invasion, you could still maintain an objective judgment regarding non-human races...”
Yade paused here, and finally, a smile appeared on his face. “You are clean, kind, and smart. Most importantly, you are patient enough and keep your promises. You are the most suitable person to inherit my friend's legacy. He was an outstanding Cleric, and an excellent Mind-Imager.”
This sudden surprise made Ogre involuntarily grip the stone bench tightly.
Though there were some misunderstandings in this, Ogre was not about to clear up such a wonderful misunderstanding.
“I am willing to accept,” Ogre said, trying his best to calm down.
“I cannot guarantee he will teach you, nor can I guarantee you will be as outstanding as he was. But remember, whichever gift you choose, it has nothing to do with the Church of Dawn. It is my personal assistance. Do you understand, Ogre?”
Even someone as steadfast as Yade could not escape the influence of selfishness in the end—he had chosen to harbor a variant.
Such a crime, if committed by any follower of Dawn, would be enough to sentence them to burning at the stake.
This was probably why he did not choose one of those orthodox and devout believers of Dawn, but selected Ogre instead.
Perhaps this was the complexity of human nature—neither black nor white.
“I understand, Teacher...”
“No, do not call me teacher anymore. We will have nothing to do with each other from now on,” Yade said, shaking his head.
He then placed the two choices before Ogre once more. “Make your choice, Ogre.”
When the two choices were laid out before him, Ogre reached out and took the emblem without the slightest hesitation.
First, he hoped his path would be broader, and second, he wanted to be worthy of Yade, who had taught him.
“In one month, report to the bell tower. Remember, no matter what happens then, you are not allowed to speak of it to anyone else. Otherwise, no matter where you run, I will hunt you down and execute you.”
Yade's tone was very calm, but Ogre did not doubt the truth of his words.
“I will abide by your teachings,” Ogre said. He put away the emblem, placed his arm across his shoulder, and bowed to Yade.
Once he walked out of here, he would have no further association with Yade or the Church of Dawn.
“Ogre, before you leave, let me tell you one last secret that is not much of a secret.”
With his hands clasped behind his back, Yade asked Ogre, “Do you know why the Professionals of the Church of Dawn are so powerful compared to others of the same rank? Do you know why the Church of Dawn only accepts Knights and Mind-Imagers?”
“Because of the ancient doctrines?” Ogre answered.
Of course, he also knew it could not be that simple.
“Yes, because of the doctrines, and also because of the disciplines...” Yade immediately explained:
“Among the various professions, only Knights and Mind-Imagers can exchange self-constraint for greater power.
“Only these two professions can tap into the power of the soul, which changes under the influence of actions, the mind, and external projections.
“The so-called power of the Holy Light we wield is born under the influence of disciplines and the soul.
“After a Knight completes the Life Circle, activates battle qi, and becomes a Professional, besides practicing breathing methods, they also need to continuously accumulate prestige.
“Prestige allows a Knight to give rise to an incredibly miraculous power, which is why a Knight needs to inherit resounding titles and fiefs to grow powerful.
“Official titles are the best way to transfer prestige.
“And our Church of Dawn provides another way to obtain the power of prestige—this is the origin of the Paladin's holy battle qi.
“It is not that the people need Paladins, but rather that Paladins need the people...
“As for our Clerics and Priests—I can tell you directly and clearly, they are Mind-Imagers.
“However, unlike how Knights seek power externally, Mind-Imagers focus more on exploring power internally. A Mind-Image is the manifestation of the soul... the stronger the soul, the stronger the Mind-Image it can shape.
“Disciplines and self-constraint can both effectively enhance this power. Although the Mind-Imager profession was originally researched by the Church of Truth, only our Church of Dawn truly brought the power of the Mind-Imager to its full potential.
“As for more detailed information, I do not know much. After all, I am only a Knight—or at most, half a Martial Artist.”
Different professions are like different worlds, and the same goes for transcendent professions. A Professional might know of the strength and some abilities of other professions, but if they do not specifically study and seek advice, it is difficult to discern the core differences of those abilities, often leading to misunderstandings.
Every profession has its core secrets.
For a Knight like Yade to specifically know some secrets of Martial Artists and Mind-Imagers was actually quite rare.
“Thank you,” Ogre said.
Yade's information was actually extremely important to Ogre.
He finally understood why some monsters were so exceptionally powerful that they seemed like an entirely different species.
If prestige among humans was useful, then naturally, it was also useful among monsters.
Those ogre spellcasters probably did not practice any sorcery or magic at all, but rather the power of Mind-Images...
This was also why the king leading a monster tribe was always either a Shaman or a Knight.
The systems of the Knight and the Mind-Imager were almost naturally born to bring 'order' toward a state of equilibrium.
“Your human skin mask could also use some repair. When you are acting as someone else, do not forget to be yourself.”
Yade walked up to Ogre and gently wiped a tiny black mark on Ogre's face with his finger—it was a singed spot caused by an electrical discharge.
Ogre had told him long ago that the mask was made because of a congenital facial defect.
Whether it was true or false did not matter, nor did Yade care.
In any case, he had never truly regarded Ogre as his successor from the very beginning.
He was merely warning Ogre, in various aspects.
Ogre touched the spot Yade had wiped, feeling the slight singed texture against his fingers, and finally realized his oversight. It turned out he had still been careless. He truly had not been careful enough.
Fortunately, the one who noticed something was amiss was Yade.
“I will be careful,” Ogre said. He had wanted to say “your disciple takes his leave,” but remembering what had transpired today, he swallowed those words.
“Stay safe. You do not have to come here anymore in the future.”
“Yes.”
Only after Ogre had left did Yade pick up the box and sigh deeply.
“Sigh...”
The reason he did not care about Ogre's secrets was because he had also deceived Ogre.
The Cleric in the story had not consumed the vampire's flesh for his sake.
It was Yade who, out of guilt and in a desperate bid to save his companion's life, had mistakenly turned a holy follower of Dawn into a variant...
This was also why Yade did not personally go to find his Cleric companion—because of his shame.
“I am guilty...”
Yade had not told Ogre just how long his companion had gone without feeding.
A fresh, pure youth untainted by any bloodline, who was also a Martial Apprentice himself.
Such an underage body, completely unaltered by battle qi, mana, or sorcerous power, was the favorite food of a vampire. Crucially, it was weak enough... highly nourishing, yet completely unable to resist.
That should, perhaps, stimulate his appetite.
“Forgive me, Abel. If you do not eat any longer, you will truly starve to death...” With his slightly trembling hand, Yade pulled out a pocket watch.
The photograph inside the watch showed a younger version of him alongside a blonde man dressed as a Cleric...
“Everything is fate.”
No matter what the outcome would be after Ogre went there, Yade could accept it.
This was also the final struggle he made between his conscience and his selfishness.
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