High Bishop Ushi Thyston waited patiently in his study for his new initiate to arrive. Sylis Nicres, the name on the profile, the screen before him displayed. It contained a long and detailed description of the thirteen-year-old boy. The most surprising points for Ushi were first the boy’s age, it was extraordinarily rare to have someone so young get a god’s blessing. Most assumed it might be children’s inability to make a decision about the life commitment tied to the choice. Another explanation was that the gods could not influence someone without their consent, and young children could not give such consent.

When it happened, the outcomes were rarely good. It was much more likely for children to lose control of themselves and turn into a Syndas, a being of pure power that is little more than mindless monsters. It wasn’t long before these entities got removed from the mortal plane, but until that point they reeked massive amounts of destruction. All the instances of children making a pact with the gods, that Ushi knew of, had ended this way. In a trail of misery and carnage.

Second, the details about the abuse this boy had gone through for years. The extensive hospital records of ‘accidents’ was very telling. Sylis wasn’t documented to be involved in any sports or activities, so there was no direct cause for so many broken bones, bruises, and burns. It was no wonder Lord Valas felt compelled to help this child.

Third was his name, Nicres was a name known through the entire empire. They were once the ruling family of Antor, only a few still carried the family name and they were powerful and well connected in the government. Ushi wasn’t surprised that whatever happened to this boy was being covered up or ignored for so long. It would be suicide either for your career or for your life to oppose a member of the Nicres family in such a way.

“He should be here any moment now” he thought to himself sipping his tea. The heat fogged the thin silver framed glasses that sat upon his narrow nose.

“This one is special, Ushi, do not disappoint me!” the voice was powerful and filled Ushi’s mind with a forcefulness he wasn’t expecting. He had experienced this before when Valas had invaded his mind, but it hadn’t happened for many years.

“My Lord? What do you mean?” Ushi responded through his thoughts.

“He is unique, and you will be the one to train him.” the voice demanded.

“But my Lord, surely there’s someone better suited that should train him if he is this important.”

“I said you shall do it Ushi” the response was so intense he suffered as if his skull was about to split open. Ushi had to grip the table for support almost falling from his chair.

“Yes, my Lord.” his thoughts were weak and if he had spoken would have been but a whisper from his mouth.

“I will contact the Archbishop and your will shall be done.” He added gaining more of his composer.

“He knows my wishes, do not disappoint me, my son.”

“Yes, my Lord.” He responded.

Once there were no further assaults on his mind, Ushi attempted to stand. He was weak in the knees and could barely keep himself up, when he noticed something hot on his foot. It seemed he had seized during the ordeal and broken the teacup in his hand and a steady drip of tea mixed with his blood dripped to the floor.

In his old age and complacency he had never expected to experience the wrath of his lord in such a way again. But he should have known better than to question any commands he received from the god of fire.

—

“He is here, Your Holiness” the man said as he bowed his head by the door.

“Good, you can show him in.”

A few moments later a blond child dressed in a suit befitting of a high lord of Antor, his hands restrained and two guards on either side of him.

“Why would they do such a thing, it had to be painful with the boy’s arm,” Ushi thought.

“Release him at once!” the bishop screamed at the guards, fury behind his eyes.

In a flurry of hand movements, fumbling over themselves the guards hurried to free the boy, apologizing profusely to the bishop.

“Leave us, Now!” he said forcefully, putting a strong emphasis on the last word.

Sylis stood there, fear on his face as the two guards rushed from the room in a hurry.

Ushi immediately regretted his hostile tone upon seeing Sylis’s reaction. This boy had been through so much in such a short time and here he was being a new hostile force in his life.

“Are you okay my dear boy?” Ushi asked the boy, trying to soften his face as much as possible. Who did those guards think they were, having this poor boy bound in such a way? Not only because of the pain the boy must have been in. They had forced him into such a position with a broken arm. But, how dare they treat a chosen child of Valas in such a way? He would have strong words with their superiors as soon as the opportunity arose.

“You have nothing to fear here. you will be perfectly safe within these walls.” Ushi added as the boy stood there silently.

“Please have a seat” He continued as he ushered Sylis to the chair opposite his desk.

Sylis sat in the chair head hung low, refusing to meet Ushi’s eyes.

“Can I offer you something to drink Sylis?”

“Can I have some water, please?” He responded in a weak mousy voice.

Ushi at once summoned one of the temple servants fetch water for the boy. He had to just accept that Sylis would not be overly chatty and just explained things to him.

“So let us discuss what happens next.” he stated taking his seat across the desk.

“I am sure you have many questions, but I will start with the facts. The Lord of Flames has blessed you as a Padrin. Because of this, they have brought you to me. I am the Antori representative from the Temple of Valas, High Bishop Ushi Thyston. I am intended to explain things to you and prepare you for your move to the Temple. The Temple is where you will live and train for the foreseeable future.” Sylis made no real noticeable movements or acknowledgements. The water arrived with the servant handing Sylis a mug and placing another on the desk for Ushi. He bowed as he left the room as quickly and silently as he had arrived. Ushi got up and came around to Sylis and bent over to his level.

“Look at me please” Sylis lifted his head to meet Ushi’s kind eyes, he wasn’t crying but there was an unmistakable sadness in his eyes. The look on the boys face, compelled Ushi to hug the boy and hold him in a protective embrace, attempting to spare the boy’s arm.

“I’m sorry for everything that has happened to you but, things will be better now I promise.” Ushi had never had children of his own and had missed most of the lives of his sisters children he felt ill prepared to take care of this child. The boy’s mind and body sat broken before him, and Ushi hadn’t a clue how to help him.

“Could this have been why Lord Valas had insisted that I be this boy’s teacher.” Ushi thought to himself as he could hear a low sobbing coming from Sylis, and could feel his tears soaking into the fabric of his shirt.

“Now it just so happens that Valas has assigned me to be your teacher.” Ushi said through choked breath as he too started to tear up, while he extended out his arms to look Sylis in the face.

Sylis looked at him questioningly. For him this was the nicest anyone had ever been to him in a long time, and if this man was to be his teacher as well made him hopeful. Yet there was this nagging feeling that his hope was woefully misplaced. He had learned that trusting people usually ended in pain, suffering and disappointment. Seeing his tutors turn a blind eye to the bruises he often had, taught him not to seek the outside world for help. His sister being manipulative and only caring about herself, reinforced not believing in his family. The maids going around the house as if they couldn’t see what was happening, cemented in him that no one even cared what they saw. Not to even mention his parents, these people who were supposed to love him unconditionally, who treated him worse than a stray dog. No, he would have to be on his guard, this could easily be a trick, to gain his trust, only to betray him later.

“It is the will of our Lord Valas specifically for me to train you personally,” Ushi continued with a smile across his face.

“He has talked to you before, correct?” Ushi asked, getting a nod of affirmation.

“He can talk to all of hi Padrins, anyone that bares his mark, but his influence over you grows the more power you draw from him. You are only a first level Padrin, so his influence on you is weak, he can talk to you and suggest things but that is it. I am a second level Padrin, as you can see,” Ushi said displaying his hands to Sylis. “this gives him significantly more influence over my thoughts and actions.” Sylis took note of the orange, red and yellow flames on both sides of Ushi’s hands. The markings were so vivid and detailed that it appeared his hands were ablaze at that very moment.

“The danger is, first with each level comes the potential to lose control. If you lose control the odds of your turning in to a Syndas greatly increases. The second major issue is the more power the gods bestow on you more you lose your identity and your mind over to them. By the fourth and final level a constant fight between keeping your conscious mind and letting the gods take complete control. Most fourth level Padrins go mad, in a short time. To my knowledge there exists only one such Padrin even given the choice at a time by each god. You see how much power the gods give you isn’t just up to you. You need to prove to them you are worthy, and it rarely comes without a cost, either obvious or hidden.”

Ushi’s face took on a much more serious tone “Beware! My young apprentice, trust in yourself and know who you are and who you want to be before you give into such temptations of power.”

Sylis nodded his head yes, frightened by the man’s sudden change in demeanor. But considered his words. Who was he? He hadn’t been able to trust anyone in his life, and now he was even more alone. Was this the time to start fresh, to reinvent himself in the way he wanted, but he didn’t know what he wanted. The one thing he knew was that no one would ever treat him how those people, refusing to any longer consider them his family, had treated him ever again.

“Let us get you changed into your novice robes, then get you something to eat, I am sure you are hungry even though you refuse to show it.” Ushi smiled at him again kindly with a jovial tone. “In the meantime I need to call the Archbishop and see how soon they will be send a ship to retrieve us.” He then proceeded to the other side of the desk and summoned a servant to take Sylis to his temporary room.

“I doubt we will be here long, but perhaps I can arrange a tour of the city for you later today.” he called out to Sylis, as he was being ushered through the doorway.