“So, you’re the boy Darian sent? What is your level?”

“Yes, ma’am. I am level 55.”

“Don’t call me ma’am. I am to be your teacher and you will call me by that title. Level 55 you say. An unfortunate level.” Fayelin’s voice was strict and she seemed irritated, but her blue eyes betrayed a gentle character. “Are you aware of the reasons I accepted your father’s request to become your teacher?”

“No Teacher, I am not.”

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.”

“However, whatever the reasons are, I consider this a great honor.” Joseph slightly bowed.

“Please spare me. Empty words mean nothing to me. I was told that you don’t talk all that much. Let’s see that in action. Follow me.”

Joseph nodded and went after Fayelin. He was indeed clueless as to how father persuaded the high priestess to train him. But he knew that this was out of protocol. It made him uncomfortable when his father told him that he is to become a student of hers by his will.

People don’t become students under Fayelin easily. Levels and social status are not important to her. She chooses students based on the criteria only she knows. Her teachings are also a mystery. She taught for hundreds of years to this day, but no students ever talked about the time they spent learning under her. Not even under threats of torture and exile. Why?

All these things boggled Joseph. He also found it strange that no one had any objections about this whole matter. Breaking the protocol that stood ground for such a long time was sure to make some kind of an international tumult. Especially since being a student of Fayelin’s resulted with an universal acclaim that only a few had. But, in the end, no one said anything.

“Here is your room. Training starts tomorrow at dawn. Don’t be late.” With this said, Fayelin left.

Joseph’s room was in a part of a small dorm, usually used by priestess-in-training. I didn’t seem anyone else was in the building except him though.

A royal treatment, huh? Or a prison? What did father do exactly?

He shrugged and unpacked his things. He traveled light, despite the fact he would spend quite a bit of time here. A change of common clothes for each work day and a formal wear for special occasions. Couple of other personal necessities and that’s it.

After unpacking he lay on the comfortable large bed. He wanted to contemplate a bit longer about the reasons he was allowed to come here, but the exhaustion from the long trip took its toll and shortly he fell asleep.

“What do you think about the boy?” asked a young elf priestess which was helping Fayelin prepare for the evening ceremony.

“He seems… unlike his father. But time will tell.” Fayelin hesitated to bring out any other conclusions about the boy so soon. “Light brought him here. That’s all we know for now.”

“High priestess, the prophecy…”

“The prophecy means little to me in this matter. It is at points so vague that interpreting it could bring more harm than good. Let’s not depend on it.” Fayelin placed the last candle required for the ceremony. “Thank you Torrin. You are free to go.”

The young priestess nodded her head, bowed slightly and left. Left alone, Fayelin dove into a deep meditation, the first part of the evening ceremony. In a state of deep tranquility, she released the thoughts that were bothering her since Joseph arrived.

The boy is young. Fifteen years old. Far too young to have those sad eyes. His mind is already mature. Probably because he had no love growing up. Will he take after his father? Or is the prophecy… true? I dare not think it. I need to evaluate him myself. We have enough time. A year is ahead of us. I will know when the time for decision comes.

The morning came far too soon for Joseph. He could still feel travel fatigue when he woke up from his dreamless sleep. Getting up from the bed required both will and dedication, neither of which he particularly had. He was nervous and in an unfamiliar environment and a strange feeling of wistfulness came over him.

“Why am I even here?”

A gentle knock on the door made him snap out of his despondency.

“High priestess is waiting for you in her quarters. Your first training session will take place there.” he heard a female voice from the other side of the door. “I will lead you there when you are ready.”

“Th-thank you for coming. I am coming out.”

High priestess quarters? Why such a private place?

Joseph got out of the room and was greeted by a young elf priestess.

“Good morning prince Joseph. My name is Torrin, it is a pleasure to meet you.” she smiled warmly and bowed but kept her big grey-blue eyes locked with his. The strands of her silver hair swung freely under her delicate, white face. Her beauty was uncanny and Joseph felt that she was aware of this fact.

“Good morning Torrin. Likewise, it is a pleasure to meet you too.”

“Please come this way.”

They left the dorms and went across a big green open field. Joseph was curiously observing his surroundings as they walked in silence. He heard stories about the Elvish kingdom but this was his first time visiting. Although everything was new to him, he expected something a bit more extravagant, especially from a place that was so renowned. However, true to elvish tradition, all buildings were rather simple and incorporated into a part of the environment. The dorms he was staying at were built from white stone, but the whole structure was enveloped with multiple big, lush trees that at times penetrated the walls with their thick branches, entering and leaving the building, creating a unique architectural creation. This kind of architecture was possible only in Eliphia, as the flora and fauna here was unique and unlike any other. Most of the other structures were created in a similar way to dorms, except for a couple of houses nested on the trees themselves.

Among all this weird wonder, one thing stood out in particular. The main temple, located in the middle of the whole compound. Compared to other structures, it looked somewhat sterile and even simpler. There was no greenery protruding from it, no incorporation with the environment. Just a round, domed structure, built in white stone, not tall, but compact. The only reason it stood out was because it seemed that every path in the compound led to it.

Joseph didn’t mind the simplicity of his surroundings. It filled him with a sense of peace which loosened some of the tension he was feeling. While he was enjoying the newfound tranquility, they arrived in front of a house built around a wide tree.

“Here we are. I wish you luck on your first lesson.” Torrin moved a bit to the side and showed him towards the door, then left. Joseph approached the door and reluctantly knocked.

“Come in.” Joseph entered into a spacious one bedroom home. If he didn’t know better, he would think it belonged to someone insignificant. As expected, the middle part was occupied by a large tree trunk. Rest of the space was organized around it and in no way deviated from any other common household.

“Good morning, Teacher.”

“Good morning Joseph. Take a seat.” Fayelin pointed to a chair in front of her. They both sat facing each other.

“This is probably not the luxury you are used to, but you will hopefully learn that the value of things and people is not only decided by material worth.”

Joseph couldn’t deny. “I must admit that I was surprised at first, but I really don’t mind it. I was never particularly attached to the luxurious lifestyle my father leads.”

Fayelin raised one of her brows. “Well, now I am surprised. Rarely did I hear something like that from the mouths of spoiled royal children that passed through here. Of course part of the training is to let go of all pretentious worldviews, so if you are lying I will know soon enough.”

Joseph nodded.

“Now, I will explain the basic structure of the training you will be underta...”

“I want to know.” Joseph interrupted.

Fayelin tilted her head to the side. Her gentle eyes carefully observed the boy. “...and why is that?”

“I can see that I am not welcome here. I haven’t tried yet but I assume I can’t leave the dorms by myself. Instead of practicing at the training grounds we are practicing here, in your home, probably to keep me away from other students and priestesses in training. You are trying to isolate me and I just wanted to know why. Why am I even here? Is that a weird thing to want to know?”

Priestess continued observing the boy silently for a long time after he finished. Joseph felt that he went over the line and just when he wanted to apologize Fayelin spoke.

“You are an interesting boy. That is why you are here.” Joseph looked at her in confusion as she continued speaking. “However, your conclusions couldn’t be farther away from the truth.” she averted her eyes from Joseph and looked through the window. “I can’t really tell you what you want to know but there is something else that i can tell you, to hopefully calm your spirit. Tell me, do you know how many students I have taught throughout the years?”

“A-ah, I don’t know the exact number but I have come across at least ten people claiming to have studied under you. I haven’t met them personally, but they made a name for themselves across the world based on just that fact. I know the number of students is not very great though.”

“True, the number isn’t very great. I have been teaching for the last 300 years, but only in the last 100 years have my teachings gained a lot of fame and renown, especially among the upper echelons of the society. You see, Prince Joseph, most of the people claiming to have trained under me are frauds.”

Joseph’s eyes opened wide. “Wha-”

“In all my years I have taught only a handful of students. You are the fifth one.”

The boy shaked his head in disbelief. “How is that even possible?”

“It’s the truth. So, I can’t tell you what your father did, but I can assure you that you wouldn’t be sitting here in front of me if The Light didn’t deem it to happen. And that is enough for me to accept you as my student.”

Joseph sat in his chair with a pale, bewildered face. He just learned something about a secret that is capable of ruining people’s lives or even starting wars.

“You are alone here because you are my only student. Also, you are free to explore the premises and interact with other people. And if you try, you will find out that you can indeed leave the dorms. My acceptance however, you will if you prove to be worthy of it. Being my student and having my acceptance are two different things. Light doesn’t dictate our fates to such details. Contrary to the stories about me I am highly irritable and unpleasant. That’s all there is to it and nothing more. Understood?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Also, it would be for the best if the information you learned today never leave this compound.” Fayelin smiled.

“I-I understand.”

“Now then, let's start with the training.”