Wildness and Masks

This is a story like those found in old tales.

Long ago, the Church of Dawn produced two outstanding Professionals.

They were the most excellent Knight and Priest in their branch at the time.

What was even rarer was their bond, as close as brothers, achieving one success after another when working together.

Until, a few years ago, during a siege.

The entire Divine Punishment Knights they belonged to fell into a trap while besieging a Vampire Duke, nearly all of them perished...

In the end, only the Priest and the Paladin were left.

Fueled by rage, with the Priest's cover, they broke through the trap and unleashed an incredible power, finally killing the fleeing Vampire Duke.

But unfortunately, they too reached the point of exhaustion, entangled by the final plague and curse, leaving them with no strength to return.

At that moment.

No one could save them.

If nothing unexpected happened, they would die in that blood-red swamp.

Then, the Priest made an unbelievable move—he willingly consumed the core of the Vampire Duke's body, pinned by the holy sword...

***

"I am the Knight from that story..." Yard stood up and said.

"Why... did you choose me?" Ogre didn't see any flaws in the story.

Perhaps this also explained why a Knight in his prime would come to this remote region a few years ago.

"It's simple, Ogre. Over the years, you're the only one who fits the criteria.

You're the only one who can endure learning the seemingly useless Apprentice basics and still bear the labor.

You're also the only one without the qualifications of a Knight or a Mage, yet as a victim of Demon Beast invasions, you can still maintain an objective judgment about the Foreign Race..."

Yard paused, then smiled: "You're pure, kind, intelligent, and most importantly—you're patient and keep your promises, making you the most suitable person to inherit my friend's legacy. He was an excellent Priest and an outstanding Imagist."

This unexpected joy made Ogre grip the stone bench tightly.

Though there were some misunderstandings, Ogre wouldn't explain this delightful misunderstanding.

"I am willing to accept." Ogre tried to calm himself.

"I can't guarantee he'll teach you, nor can I guarantee you'll be as excellent as him, but remember, no matter which gift you choose, it has nothing to do with the Church of Dawn. It's my personal help, do you understand? Ogre."

Even someone as steadfast as Yard.

Couldn't escape the influence of personal bias—choosing to shelter a Mutant.

This crime, if placed on any Dawn believer, would be enough to warrant a death sentence by fire.

This is probably why he didn't choose those with pure Dawn lineage but chose Ogre instead.

Perhaps, this is the complexity of human nature, neither black nor white.

"I understand, teacher..."

"No, don't call me teacher anymore, we have no relation from now on." Yard shook his head.

Then he placed two choices in front of Ogre again: "Make your choice, Ogre."

When the two choices were placed before Ogre, he unhesitatingly took the badge.

First, to broaden his path, and second, to live up to Yard's teachings.

"In a month, report to the clock tower. Remember, no matter what happens then, don't tell anyone, or no matter where you run, I'll find you and execute you."

Yard's tone was calm, but Ogre didn't doubt the truth in his words.

"I will follow your teachings." Ogre put away the badge, placed one arm over his shoulder, and bowed to Yard.

After leaving here, he would have no more ties with Yard or the Church of Dawn.

"Ogre, before you leave, let me tell you one last secret that isn't really a secret."

Yard asked Ogre with his hands behind his back: "Do you know why the Professionals of the Church of Dawn are so powerful among their peers, and why the Church of Dawn only accepts Knights and Imagists?"

"Because of the ancient Doctrine?" Ogre replied.

Of course, he knew it wasn't that simple.

"Yes, because of the Doctrine, and because of the precepts..." Yard explained:

"Among the various professions, only Knights and Imagists can gain more power through self-restraint.

Only these two professions can tap into the power of the mind, which changes under the influence of behavior, mind, and external imagery.

The so-called power of Holy Light we wield is born under the influence of precepts and the mind.

After a Knight completes the Circle of Life and activates Battle Qi to become a Professional, besides practicing Breathing Techniques, they need to continuously accumulate reputation.

This reputation gives birth to incredible magical powers in a Knight, which is why Knights often need to inherit a resounding title or fief to become strong.

Titles and positions are often the best way to transfer reputation.

Our Church of Dawn provides another way to gain the power of reputation—this is the origin of the Paladin's Holy Battle Qi.

It's not that the people need Paladins, but that Paladins need the people.

As for our Priests and Clerics, it's even simpler. I can tell you clearly, they are Imagists.

But unlike Knights who seek power externally, Imagists focus more on exploring power internally. Imagism is the manifestation of the mind—the stronger the mind, the stronger the Imagism it can create.

Precepts and self-restraint can greatly enhance this power. Although Imagists were first studied by the Church of Truth, our Church of Dawn is more suitable for the advancement of Imagists.

As for the additional content, I'm not very familiar with it, after all, I'm just a Knight, at most half a Martial Artist."

Different professions are like different mountains, and so are Transcendent professions. Professionals might know the strength and some abilities of other professions.

But without specialized research and inquiry.

The core abilities of their professions are different, making it difficult to discern, often leading to some misunderstandings.

Every profession has its core secrets.

For a Knight like Yard to specifically understand some secrets of Martial Artists and Imagists is quite rare.

"Thank you."

Yard's information was actually very important to Ogre.

He finally understood why some Demon Beasts were so powerful, to the point of being like a different species altogether.

Reputation among humans is useful, so naturally, it is among Demon Beasts too.

Those Ogre Wizards might not be practicing witchcraft or magic at all, but the power of Imagism...

This is also why the king leading a Demon Beast race is either a Shaman or a Knight.

The systems of Knights and Imagists seem to be born to make 'order' tend towards balance.

"Your Human Skin Mask needs some repair too. When pretending to be someone else, don't forget to be yourself."

Yard walked to Ogre's side and wiped a slight black mark on Ogre's face with his finger—a scorch mark from an electric current.

Ogre had told him long ago that it was due to a congenital facial defect that he wore the mask.

Whether it was true or not didn't matter, and Yard didn't care about that.

After all, he never truly considered Ogre as his heir.

He was merely reminding Ogre, in all aspects.

Ogre touched the spot Yard had wiped, feeling the slight scorch sensation from the fingers, realizing his oversight.

He had indeed been careless.

Luckily, the person who noticed was Yard.

"I'll be careful." Ogre wanted to say farewell as a student, but thinking about today's events, he swallowed the words.

"Stay safe, you don't need to come here anymore."

"Yes."

After Ogre left, Yard picked up the box and sighed deeply.

"Sigh..." The reason he didn't care about Ogre's secret.

Was because he had deceived Ogre too.

The Priest in the story didn't consume the Vampire's flesh for him.

It was him, in his guilt.

Trying to save his partner's life.

That mistakenly turned a holy Dawn believer into a Foreign Race...

This is also why he didn't personally seek out his Priest partner.

"I am guilty..."

Yard didn't tell Ogre—how long his partner hadn't eaten.

A fresh, pure, untainted young boy, who was also a Martial Artist Apprentice.

Such an unaltered body by Battle Qi, Mana, or Witchcraft.

Was the Vampire Duke's favorite food, importantly, weak enough... a great supplement, unable to resist.

That should, hopefully, stimulate his appetite.

"Forgive me, Abel, if you don't eat, you'll truly starve to death..." Yard took out a pocket watch with trembling hands.

Inside the watch was a photo of a young him with a blond man dressed as a Priest...

"Everything is fate."

No matter what the outcome for Ogre.

He could accept it.

This was his final struggle between conscience and selfishness.