Chapter 63
Garrett's smile froze imdiately.
Oh no, oh no, darn it!
Lies have their mont, but the truth cos to light!
Why did I even tell that lie?
Why did I bla it on the cult of the Nature God?
He carefully examined the old man's attire. Deep brown robe, oak staff, robust physique, and a kind deanor. In every aspect, he looked like a devotee of the God of Nature. The villagers even called him the elder...
He's the leader of the cult!
He stumbled into the hands of their big boss!
What should he do? Would he be considered blasphemous? Would he be burned? Or worse, not by fire but by bears, wild boars, leopards, or sothing, buried under an oak tree?
Garrett opened his mouth, trying to defend himself, but not a word ca out. The old man still looked at him with a smile, like a bear observing a beehive from a distance, seemingly harmless at first glancebut appearances could be deceiving.
Garrett broke into a cold sweat. Run away, justify, denycountless thoughts swirled in his mind, but finally, gritting his teeth, he decided to tell the truth outright:
"I was just boasting at the ti..."
He honestly recounted the situation. Uncle Karen was severely injured, and miraculously, he grasped a healing spell. To prevent his comrades from worrying, he pretended it was a divine revelation...
"I just... thought the God of Nature was more noble, and the cult was accommodating..."
The old man's eyes widened more and more as he looked at Garrett, as if witnessing sothing incredibly bizarreapparently, he hadn't expected soone's imagination to stretch that far. Suddenly, he threw his head back and burst into hearty laughter.
Hey, is it that funny? My tongue's almost visible!
Garrett nervously shifted his feet. Oh no, even though the elder seed to be in a good mood and might not necessarily pursue this to the end, it seed he was going to beco part of their dark history...
The old man was still looking down at him, laughing like a bear that had just had a bellyful of honey and heard that the bee colony was willing to provide regular offerings. Sunlight stread from behind him, casting a huge shadow over Garrett, rivaling the shadow of the nearby oak tree.
Garrett quietly took a step back, then another. Crack! He accidentally stepped on an acorn, crushing it...
"A few days ago, I heard about a young mage who claid to have received a divine revelation." The old man suddenly spoke. Garrett's heart skipped a beat, listening as the elder slowly continued:
"The way the news was spread seed peculiar, as if it was ant for
to hear but without letting
know who spread it. I inquired for a few days, intending to co to the Mage Tower to ask Gelman."
They're directly going to Gelman the mage... Well, indeed, the elder of the local branch of the Cult of Nature had the authority to directly approach the head of the Mage Tower. Garrett shuddered and asked softly:
"Then..."
A hand pressed on his shoulder, interrupting him. The elder stared into Garrett's eyes as if trying to peer into his soul, speaking in a deep voice:
"I saw you on the road. I saw your willingness to help the injured poor, giving your all without seeking fa or profit. Such character aligns with the teachings of our God. So, I ask you"
"Would you be willing to learn the doctrines of the God of Nature, to understand His grace?"
This...
Garrett was stunned. He stared wide-eyed at the old man opposite him, almost unable to believe his ears. Was this even possible? Instead of punishing or burning him, they wanted to welco him into their cult?
What about faith? Reverence for the gods?
Could this be a trick?
Instinctively, he responded, "I don't even know who you are..."
"Oh, haha, I forgot to introduce myself." The elder chuckled and raised his oak staff from the muddy ground. Garrett's eyelid twitched as he seed to see a blade of grass nearby grow a little taller
"I am Elwin Wilkinson, the elder of the local Cult of the God of Nature. You can call
Elwin. So, young man, would you like to learn from ?"
"ButBut why?"
"Because you're a good healer. You have the ability and the will to help the poor." Elder Elwin answered seriously, "Your actions align with the cult's purpose. In that sense, you're naturally our ally."
The elder spoke slowly and sincerely, every word seeming to co from his heart. Garrett still felt unsure and couldn't help but dig deeper:
"But what about faith?"
"Faith"
Elder Elwin couldn't help but smile. He uttered these two unusually serious and weighty words, scrutinizing Garrett up and down, growing more satisfied with each glance. After a mont of thought, he turned and walked a few steps, beckoning Garrett:
"Co."
Garrett hurried to catch up. Elder Elwin walked up the hill, gazing at the village's smoke not far away. Suddenly, he asked Garrett:
"What is your belief?"
"..."
"What gives you the power to concentrate your will and cast healing spells?"
Garrett fell silent for a mont. Standing beside Elder Elwin, he gazed at the children running around the village, the elderly bent over working, and the bustling life below, murmuring softly:
"Health is crucial, entrusted lives"
"What?"
"Those who taught us dicine told us." Garrett recounted slowly. In this distant realm, when all ntors and colleagues were separated by different planes, recalling the teachings and vows from years ago filled him with imnse emotion:
"They said our mission is to save lives and care for their health. Patients entrust their lives to us, their health depends on us. So, we must never fail this mission, no matter what..."
These teachings and vows were too solemn and serious. Elder Elwin carefully pondered them, a bit absentmindedly, silent for a long while:
What kind of people would make such vows and teach disciples with such principles?
After a long while, he ca back to himself and spoke softly:
"So, would you claim to have received a divine revelation from our God, to convey His prophecy?"
Convey a prophecy?! Garrett shuddered. In his mind flashed an image: acting like a possessed individual, convulsing on the ground, speaking in a weird voice, claiming to be possessed by so divine entity, speaking gibberish...
Absolutely not! Garrett vehently shook his head:
"I wouldn't! Absolutely not!"
Elder Elwin chuckled. Although he didn't know what Garrett was thinking, this kind of hair-raising reaction, aside from being resolute, was quite endearing. He extended a hand to pat Garrett gently, calming him down, and spoke seriously:
"Your beliefs and principles don't conflict with the cult's. So, if you're willing to understand the teachings and blessings of the God of Nature, and if you find them acceptable, would you join us, and let us also learn your healing thods?"
"I would love to!"
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