13 Dangerous priest detected

I'm scared, I'm really scared right now.

I just picked up a little commision from the church, a repeatable one to kill beyklir, made by the lord of bacallu. It was just a little beginner hunt, to both get rid of an invasive species and initiate a member coming of age.

I and my Cannis Lupus pet, Ryder, went into the forest to hunt three of them, but Ryder suddenly ran away in a random direction, and then [Danger sense] started to flare up.

I ran after Ryder, scared for his life, and I found a 20 years old man sheathing his sword, [Danger sense] becoming louder and louder.

He spoke weirdly, him somehow knowing I was a 'New faithful' as he called it, and explained in a round about way that he was a priest.

The moment he said that, [Danger sense] flared up even more, which led me to recognize his posistion as a priest.

And a bit later, it ended up like this, me following him, [Danger sense] increasing exponentially over time, though after it came to the level where I couldn't stop myself from shivering in fear, and my legs fell from under me, that it started to lower.

I-It was obvious he could manage my [Danger sense] "That, little one, was a lesson on how [Danger sense], is not infallible. Don't always trust what your skill tells you."

"S-So I'm not in danger?" I asked, feeling as if a burden was about to lift from my shoulders.

The man, that wished to be refered to as 'Father', smiled "No," He said, as if my fear meant nothing.

"O-Oh..." I let out, as I felt even more nervous than before for a moment, his smile seemingly sneering proudly, though it dissapeared moments afterwards.

He was completely confident in himself, every movement seemingly without hesitation "You're here for initiation, right?"

"Y-Yes, father." Normally I would've asked why he wanted to know, but...

The man laughed and ruffled my head, me not resisting due to fear "Good, good, since I'm in a good mood I'll help you out."

"That-" I bit my lip, as [Danger sense] once again flared up.

The man's smile intesified, as if it replaced a scawl for him "Did you say something? I could not hear you, please, be not frightened by my presence, speak your mind." His last words seemingly filled with a feeling of disdain.

"T-That would be great father, h-how could I ever thank you?"

[Danger sense] once again calmed down, and the man laughed "No need for remuneration, I came to Bacallu for some rest. I live for the hunt, I have no need for coin. Though if you really wish to thank me, I am mighty interested in your denomination."

"W-What's a denomination?" I asked honestly, not having any clue what the word meant.

Keeping that smile, now becoming harrowing, he said "A denomination, child, is a sub-group within a church, every single one having a different understanding of scripture. Like the line; 'Man and beast shan't be enemies, rather, to work together to slay all evil', this line can be interperted in many ways. Causing some denominations to believe that humans and monsters are equal morally, or that monsters should be pets that work together with their human master, understand?"

"U-Uh, no..."

The man sighed, never getting rid of his smile "It just means what variant of the faith you believe in. A common one being; Do one should hunt for the thrill, sustanence, or honor?"

This, I knew "You should only hunt as much as you need, and not a single animal more!" Repeating what I had been told since I were a child.

I felt [Danger sense] calm down a bit more "Yes, and that is an aspect of your denomination. Mine, 'Wanderers' as we are usually called, believe that you should hunt merely for the thrill, with no intention to eat the prey you have slain needed."

"What? I-Is that the right one then?" I asked, confused as to why a priest would believe something so strange, wasn't it obvious that what she had said was the truth?

He smiled a bit less, [Danger sense] again calming down a bit "I wouldn't know, I honestly do not care for if my path is correct or not, I converted to this form of the faith due to my ambitions, goals, and inclinations. It is quite difficult to gain achievement if one basically relies on only one half of Xenxilir's dominion."

His statement was strange, unnerving even, why would one not want to be correct? Why did he not care about if he was right or wrong?! "-Why?" I blurted out accidentally.

[Danger sense] lessened even more "Answer me this; Does it really matter?"

"Eh? W-what do you mean?" I let slip, the fear caused by [Danger sense] slowly fading away.

The man's smile receded, leaving only a small, calm smile "My philosiphy, my way of dealing with things, is not to ponder wonder if something is 'Correct', but if it 'Works'. Since my path as a wanderer brings me skills, and my 'Priest' class acknowledges my achievements as one, does it matter if another group is correct and I'm wrong? It is proof enough that Xenxilir accept my actions as one of his folk."

"Uh, I-I don't really understand."

"Since my class accepts my denomination, Xenxilir probably does too." He stated, simplifying his words to a level I could understand, with an underlying tone that felt like he was looking down on me.

His conclusion was estranged from what I would have made myself, but... It is somewhat understandable, to be honest. The notion is still terrifying to me in and of itself though.

"What's your name kid?" The man, who I am pretty sure is a priest of Xenxilir, asked.

I answered to him truthfully "Seria, the name's Seria, father."

"Truly?" He asked, I nodded in response "A... wonderful name, the one who gave you it must've had unique tastes."

"You could say that again." I laughed slightly in response, not realizing that [Danger sense] had all but silenced.

The man stopped walking, smiling normally once more "You use a boy, yes?"

"Yes, I do, what does it matter to you?" I asked, fully back to normal.

He smiled a bit more intensely, [Danger sense] flaring up for a mere moment, almost softening my legs once more "First of all; Mind your manners, please. Second; I'll teach you how to easily defeat a Beyklir."

-What? Wasn't he just here to threaten me? He's actually going to teach me? I'm not sure whether I should be happy or afraid.

"If you're not sure whether to be happy or afraid, be happy, since it means I won't kill you, probably." He said, making a lot of sense. But is it me, or is he talking in simple terms now, just so I understand what he's saying?

"Think whatever you wish, child, but there," He looked a bit to the side from where we were walking towards, I followed his gaze and saw a Beyklir "Is the thing you would wish to subjugate.

If you wish to defeat it, then it is best to first sick 'Ryder' on it, to distract it, then circle around it, and then shoot it in the head or any other part of the body, as to interupt it, and give an opening to the Cannis in your possesion. Though, if you get lucky, and deal a fatal hit, that'd be good too."

-----

It- It actually worked, it was so much easier than I thought it'd be. The plan was so simple, but in spite of that, it worked like a charm. It was amazing, it felt great to, without any express help, hunt my own game.

"Do you feel it?" The man asked, just walking towards me, nothing to protect himself "That thrill that comes with every quarry, you don't feel the accomplishment when you just shoot a few sticks from the sidelines."

Huh, this is 'The thrill of the hunt'? Or is it not?

===

You have gone through the trial set before you by hunting a Beyklir with minimal guidance of a more experienced individual, you have proved yourself worthy of the class title; 'Novice palidin (Xenxilir)'.

===

I couldn't help but smile, I quickly picked up the carcass "Thank you so much father, for your help. It wouldn't be so easy to do this without your help."

The man kept a calm, though lackluster in all honesty, smile "No need for thanks, little cub, to help a fellow believer is my duty as a conduit of god's will. I wish you the greatest of hunts in your journey, may Xenxilir be with you child." He just walked forwards, past me, taking no note of me afterwards, as if this had been a small occurance that he'd probably forget in moments.

But now wasn't the time to contemplate whether or not he was cool or not, I had to haul this game back to the church, what was I forgetting...

-Ah yes, I had to enter through the side, it'd be terrible if normal believers found me dragging a Beyklir corpse through the cathedral!