I snuck through the halls of the temple, listening closely for any patrolling paladins. In one hand, I carried a pack filled with food pilfered from the kitchen, and two others held leather sacks with water. In the last one, I held my bag, stuffed to the brim with wood.

I hope she isn't waiting at the door again, I thought.

It was two days since my talk with Rathica, and all I had been doing was practicing the hand gestures for the first spell I brought from the library. Eliandra had checked on my presence every few hours but still refused to talk with me. Every time she came, she looked at me with those accusing eyes, and I realized she was waiting for me to start the conversation and explain what had happened.

Sorry Eli-Sandra, I thought, purposefully butchering her name. I need a quiet spot to practice without people constantly walking in on me and me having to explain things…

I made it to the short hallway that held the door leading to the library and immediately saw that other people had been there. The two trails of dust I had left were unrecognizable between the dozens of other footsteps.

There wasn't anybody now, and I quickly ran to the doors, pulling them open.

"So it's true…"

I slowly turned around to find Eliandra standing at the end of the hall, staring at me. How had she followed me without me noticing or hearing?

Feeling panicky, I shook my head. "I can't explain-"

Eliandra cut me off with a raised hand. Then she blinked and frowned at me. "Did you say you can or can't explain?"

I shrugged, a half-smile playing on my lips. "I can not explain to you what is going on… there's too much risk that someone might hear."

"There is nobody here but us!" She said with a snarl.

"Nobody we can see," I countered, taking another step back until I was halfway through the door.

"This is the temple of Flowheart! If there were anybody in here, I would know!"

Thinking about Rathica, who had been here a few days ago, I shook my head sadly. "Not if it's a Prime follower."

I knew I had said too much when Eliandra's eyes widened, and she stared at me in shock.

"Shit," I said, stepping completely inside the library. "Eli, put food and drink here in two days so I can take it. I cannot go back out until I get strong enough to guard myself. In a month, I will explain everything I can."

Eliandra was still looking at me in disbelief, but to my astonishment, she nodded.

"I am sorry," I said, meaning it.

With everything happening, I could almost see the wedge that was driven between us.

"Be careful," Eliandra said. Then she turned and walked away, her head hanging down.

The image almost made me run after her. Almost. Instead, I gently closed the door and took a deep, shaking breath. After a minute, I put the bags down and pulled out the map. I had already memorized most of it, but I needed something to distract myself.

When I had gone over the whole path, I had regained my composure. Grabbing everything I had dropped, I set out to the center of the library. I wasn't going to return for food until I could at least chain two of the gestures!

Two days later, my tormented scream echoed through the library.

"Fucking, fuck-shit!"

I couldn't even come up with a good curse to express my mounting anger at my inability to perform what seemed so easy.

Staring at the book I had retrieved from the massive central bookcase, I resisted the urge to try and tear it in half. Instead, I got up and moved back to the rest of the books written by Halomiumani, who I now realized must be a torturer of some sort. The hand and finger gestures, at first looking simple enough, somehow made my fingers as clumsy as wooden sticks. I had switched my hands, using all four to try and stave off the pain. Now all four felt like they had been mangled.

While clenching and unclenching my hands, I walked along the lines of books, looking for something, anything that might help. I had circumvented it that morning and found it took me three hours to walk the pillar full-circle. The entire six-meter high set of shelves, all along the circumference, were filled with Halomiumani's works. With a single point in my knowledge, I didn't dare open one unless I was sure it would somehow help.

Scanning the lines of books, ranging from apparently simple fire books to something called the mysteries of the Margonian Halderan, whatever the hell that was, I searched for a solution to my problems.

Four and half hours later, I finally found something.

Hidden between two books called 'How to tame a succubus' and 'The Mysteries of the Mindscape,' stood a thin book. I had almost missed it due to how thin it was while of the same color as the other two, but there it stood. There was a tiny icon of an open book on the spine, with the words, 'Expanding one's knowledge- the hard way.' I didn't know what Halomiumani conceived as the hard way, but if he thought the introductory spells were easy, I might not even know what to do with it. Still- I had only been able to make the second hand gesture a few times and not even chained after the first. What choice did I have?

Bringing the book back to the table, I put it beside the other. One point left one chance. Taking a deep sigh, I opened the book.

A single word stood on the first page. 'Practice.'

All four of my fists cracked as I clenched them. Taking a shuddering breath, I flipped to the next page. Two words stood there, 'Practice, practice' and my head slumped. Flipping through the book, I found only the word practice, one extra on each page, the font smaller and smaller as more words were crammed onto the page. It continued until the last page, which I mechanically opened. Four words on it caused me to blink. 'And a little luck.'

Below the words was a set of four hand gestures that looked designed to destroy one's fingers. A ping came from my status as I looked at the first, followed by a beep I had not heard before. With a leaden feeling, I called up my status window.

> Knowledge is now at the 200 maximum

> Any further external knowledge will cause the least used previously learned knowledge to dissipate.

> Be careful.

I blinked at the last two words. Be careful? What the hell was that. Shaking my head, I looked at the other three gestures, and three pings came.

> Knowledge threshold crossed - knowledge lost.

> Knowledge threshold crossed - knowledge lost.

> Knowledge threshold crossed - knowledge lost.

Christ, that was going to be more than a little irritating. Shaking my head, I attempted one of the hand gestures. I barely got a single finger in the correct position while waving my hand in a semicircle and felt one of my tendons groan. Three minutes later, I put my head on the table. No shortcuts, none at all.

Taking a deep breath, I knew I had wasted too much time already. Waving my hands a bit, I resumed practicing the Soften Wood spell gestures. I stopped almost right away, as I looked in my hands in confusion. They didn't hurt as much! Trying again, I felt there was still a bit there, but not a lot. It took me only a second to realize what must be happening, and I quickly made another few attempts at the horrifying 'lucky gestures' as I dubbed them.

Five minutes later, I stopped and waved my hands a bit. The strain seemed to melt away, and starting with the Soften Wood spell, I felt barely any pain.

"Lucky indeed," I said with a grin. Now I could continue for a much, much longer time.

Many hours later, when I was so tired, my eyes were falling shut, I yawned as I made another attempt at the third gesture, and with a jarring motion, my fingers complied. A loud ping came from my status window as I gaped at my hand. I had done it! Three of the six gestures, individually at least. Zoning out, I finally thought to look at my status.

"Yeah!" I screamed, my hands in the air as I felt the weariness flow away.

My learning rate had increased to five, meaning I was now officially at the level that others would think of studying magic! That had to mean learning the gestures would become simpler! It just had to!

Getting up, I walked around the tables, suddenly feeling too hyped to sit. I needed to do something, and I suddenly missed my ax. I should get it in the morning. I didn't have any food and just a little water left. With some luck, Eliandra had put some ready for me, and I could try and sneak my ax back.

Walking back to the table below which lay my blanket, I lay down. Staring at the bottom of the table, I continued practicing the three gestures I knew with all four hands. My right ones did better than my left, and my top right one best of all, but before falling asleep, I had managed to form each of the three gestures with each of my hands at least once.

The next day I walked back to the entrance, the route memorized, but the scroll with me to be sure. I had left my sleeping things behind and continued practicing the three gestures. I would try the fourth one after I could do all three with each of my hands. What use was having four hands if you could only use one? If I got wounded or one got cut off?

When the double doors loomed before me, I was hungry- having had no breakfast and hoping Eliandra had left me something. Pushing them open, I stared at the armored back of one of the paladins. She stood a meter from the door, sword in hand, and turned, her eyes widening when she saw me look at her.

"You are back! Good - wait here! Do not go outside!"

I held back from stepping through the door and frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

The paladin didn't reply but sprinted around the corner. Getting a bad premonition, I waited, suppressing my desire to go out and find out.

Within five minutes, the footsteps of multiple running people came, and Eliandra jumped around the corner shortly after. She had a bloody gash on her cheek, filthy, matted hair, and a bloody sword in her hand. Marks covered her armor, but she smiled when she saw me.

"Didn't you say two days? This was three!"

From behind her, another woman came, carrying two torso sized bags. From the strain, I concluded they had to be incredibly heavy. Another woman carrying my ax followed.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked, staring at Eliandra.

"I had a chat with Flowheart, and she explained a little of what is going on. I am still annoyed that you didn't tell me, but I understand…"

The dangerous flicker in her eyes told me understanding and forgiving were going to be two different things entirely.

"And Flowheart decided to spar with you in return for this knowledge?" I said, pointing at her.

"Don't belittle her!" Eliandra snapped before taking a deep breath. "No. The chat was after an army stormed Dursic, slaughtering many.

"They what?" I couldn't believe someone would send an army to one of the largest temples of a battle goddess. That seemed a good way to get killed.

The light in the room began to flicker a bit, and I heard something that sounded like hammers slamming into stone. The paladins in the hall moved to the side until they formed two lines, only Eliandra still there. She looked across her shoulder, and the frown quickly disappeared.

A few seconds later, a massive figure moved inside the hall. Long black hair curved back along a chiseled face, and a tight-fitting, black armor covered a well-rounded body. Blood, soot, and small dents marred the armor but did little to undo its well-crafted feel of sturdiness. Two intense blue eyes looked at me.

"So, you are the Prime follower of the new one?" She scanned me up and down for a moment before frowning.

"Well, I don't see what the fuss is about, but I am glad you are still alive."

I looked at her for a moment before turning to Eliandra. "Who's this?"

The paladins around the room hissed and glared at me, but I ignored it. I saw the corner of Eliandra's mouth curve up slightly before she coughed and frowned at me.

"This is Bala Demonstrangler, Prime follower of Flowheart."

I blinked and looked at the massive armored behemoth, who was looking back with an uninterested look. She looked like she could strangle demons, alright. Not seeing a weapon anymore, I wondered if that was what she actually did.

"Well - enough, pleasantries. We need to get back defending against those zealots of Preyatar."

Nodding at me, Bala turned and moved away, her thudding footsteps hearable long after she turned around the corner. Most of the paladins followed her, the ones carrying the bags and my ax placing them in front of the door before running after her.

When only Eliandra and one guard were left, I shook my head.

"Preyatar?" I asked questioningly. I knew it was one of the evil gods, but why were his followers attacking Dursic?

Eliandra sighed before shoving the bags and the ax closer to the door.

"Someone apparently put the word out that slaying you within a month would grant them their god's favor. It's a good thing you are here, and not in some random town, or you would be dead by now, and a whole lot of innocent farmers along with you."

What? The followers of some god were out for my blood now?

Eliandra laughed, not a thing I had expected in this situation.

"Don't worry, Est. With Bala here, they won't get through. I know you, and she will be leaving in a month. I don't know the details, or at least not anymore…" her words trailed off as she looked at the floor, seemingly trying hard to remember something. I knew the feeling and how useless it was.

"So, what am I supposed to do now?" I asked. I had planned to stay in the library for a while, to learn the basics, but not for a whole month.

She shrugged and grinned at me. "I'm afraid you will have to stay inside and play with yourself for a while."

A loud snort came from the paladin guard, and looking over, I saw the woman was blushing, trying hard to cover it. Great, these people got flustered just by this?

With a sigh, I dragged the two bags inside. Each was heavier than I liked, and I wondered if I could even carry them back together. Opening them, I found rations and water, enough to last me for a year.

"I need wood," I said, sighing at the second snort from the guard. Seriously?

Eliandra just smiled and shook her head. "What kind?"

Thinking for a while, I shrugged. "Doesn't matter. But a lot, and preferably different types. Unprocessed," I added as an afterthought.

Eliandra thought for a moment. "Do you need it now?"

"No. I'll return in two days to get it. You can tell me how the defense is going then, alright?"

A loud horn came from outside, and she looked up.

"They are attacking again! I'll get you the wood if I can - Now get inside and start training. From what I remember, you need to get stronger… for something…" Obviously annoyed at her inability to remember, Eliandra turned around and moved away. At the end of the short corridor, she turned and looked at me.

"Stay safe, Est!" She said before turning.

"You stay safe!" I yelled after her, wondering what I had to fear inside a library. She was the one with the blood on her face and sword.

Sighing, I stared at the guard. "I don't know why you are here, but do me a favor. Keep an eye on her, alright? She has a tendency for unwanted heroics!"

The guard's smile disappeared, and she just looked at me for a moment. "If she falls in the service of Flowheart, she will be rewarded!"

I felt uncomfortable, and with a quick nod, I closed the door. Great… who were the zealots again? Shaking my head, I looked at the bags. It was going to be a hassle bringing them back.