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I swallowed nervously, suddenly feeling very small in the grand hall. “H-Hello, High Priestess,” I stammered, bowing my head respectfully, although I didn’t know why. “My name is Oliver. I’ve come to join the Cleric Guild.” I held out the gold coin, my hand trembling slightly.

Elayra’s eyes twinkled as she took the coin, examining it closely. “Ah, a new member of the Royal Scouting Brigade. We’ve had a handful come through already.” She smiled warmly, instantly putting me at ease. “We’ve been expecting you. Come, let us begin your initiation.”

I was surprised by her immediate acceptance.

For some reason I expected to be questioned or put through a test to make sure I was right for the guild.

But that didn’t seem to be the case at all.

Instead, she led me through the hall and into a smaller, more intimate chamber.

Candles flickered around the room, casting dancing shadows on the walls.

In the center stood a simple stone altar.

“Place your hands on the altar,” Elayra instructed gently. As I did so, I felt a warm tingling sensation spread through my palms and up my arms. The feeling intensified, growing warmer and more vibrant until it felt like my entire body was humming with energy.

“Close your eyes and open your mind,” Elayra’s voice seemed to come from far away. “Let the divine light of the Twilight flow through you.”

I opened one eye. “The Twilight?”

“He’s the god of our order. The source of our divine magic.”

I knew absolutely nothing about the gods in Cindersea. “Oh. Okay.”

Although I didn’t truly understand what she was asking, I did as she instructed, allowing my consciousness to drift.

For a moment, nothing happened, and I figured I would be cast out of the guild, clearly a bad fit for such an important task.

Before I could say anything, I felt a sudden rush.

Images and sensations flooded my mind. I saw hands glowing with healing light, wounds closing before my eyes, and felt an overwhelming sense of compassion and purpose.

Then, just as quickly, I saw those same wounds fester, flesh turn black from necrosis, and the darkness of disease and malady flowing around me.

“Feel the power of the Twilight,” she said, her voice far away as my vision continued. “The power to heal and the power to destroy is contained within its balance.”

I gasped, my eyes flying open as the vision faded. My entire body tingled with residual energy, and I felt... different. More aware, somehow, as if my senses had been heightened. But how could that be possible? I must’ve been making it up.

“What... what was that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elayra smiled knowingly. “That, my dear Oliver, was your first communion with the god of the Twilight. You have been granted a glimpse of the power that flows through all clerics. The ability to heal... and to harm.”

I frowned, thinking back to the darker images I’d seen. “But I thought clerics were just healers. Why would we want to cause harm?”

“Balance, young one,” Elayra explained patiently. “The Twilight teaches us that life and death, health and sickness, are all part of a greater cycle. To truly understand healing, one must also understand the disease.”

I nodded slowly, trying to process this new information. It was a lot to take in, but something about it resonated deep within me. What Elayra said seemed true, despite its simplicity.

“However,” she added. “Our order strives to stay within the light. Mages can wield destructive magic for battle and Clerics can also use their darker powers to stay alive out in the wilds.” Her voice darkened.

“However, some magic, like necromancy, is strictly forbidden. Should any cleric be caught using necromancy, they would be put to death.”

My hand came off the altar as I took a step back. “D-Death?”

“Yes. But you don’t have to worry about that,” she added, her voice softening once more.

“Necromantic magic has been all but destroyed. There are no more spell books or skill stones in existence that contain that dark magic. Thanks to generations of hard work, that darkness has been expunged from our order.”

I stared at her for a long moment, wondering why the warning was necessary if the magic was gone. In the end, I figured it was just a warning she gave all new recruits. Maybe she was obligated to by the government or something, whatever that might consist of.

“So, what happens now?” I asked, looking up at Elayra.

“Now,” she said, her eyes twinkling, “we begin your training. You’ve been granted your first skill - Basic Healing. With practice, you’ll be able to mend minor wounds and ease pain. But that’s just the beginning.”

“I… I can do magic now?”

“No,” she said plainly. “But you have the capability should you study hard and practice even harder.” She led me to a nearby bookshelf, pulling out a thick tome bound in soft leather.

“This will be your guide for now. Study it well and return here each day for practical lessons. Your initial training to gain a basic understanding of this skill will take five days. Three if you show promise.”

I took the book, feeling its weight in my hands. The cover was embossed with the same symbol I’d seen on the coin - the emblem of the Cleric Guild.

“Thank you, High Priestess,” I said, my voice full of awe.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she grinned. “You have a lot of work to do before you’ll heal even the smallest wounds.” She gave me a gentle nudge toward the door. “Now go study.”

I nodded, practically running toward the door with excitement.

“And make sure you bring a staff or a wand with you tomorrow!”

Her words barely sank in as I raced out of the guild, the book clutched tight to my chest. I was so full of excitement at the prospect of doing real magic that I could barely think of anything else.

As I hurried down the steps of the Cleric Guild, my mind was buzzing with all the new information.

The weight of the tome in my arms felt like a promise of power and knowledge.

I was going to be a cleric.