Chapter Fifty-Three: The Radiance of Kindness

Watching Zhao Xu’s dazed expression, Ryan nodded in satisfaction.

“If you’d dared to say you already had it just now, then I really would have—”

“Mind your words, Ryan.” Archbishop Soss interrupted him directly.

Zhao Xu glanced over. As the Association’s liaison to the Church, Ryan was talkative, but not to the point of being loose-tongued in front of clergy. If he truly lacked basic discretion, those apprentices who failed on the path of wizardry would be driven to despair. The only explanation was that Ryan was so familiar with Archbishop Soss that he’d let down even his most basic guard.

However, Zhao Xu had no intention of putting on airs. No matter how great the divine favor he received, he was still just a Level 1 player. Forget about combat—any stray spell would send him straight to the Hall of Creation.

Demonstrating his value and making Archbishop Soss more willing to invest in him in the future was of extraordinary importance for his own prospects. To wager on an archbishop might not attract the attention of the highest echelons, but to bet on a future cardinal who would preside over a region was not something anyone could afford to ignore. Not to mention, the city of Winter—where Archbishop Soss was soon to be stationed—was precisely where most players from the academy first appeared in Arthur.

“I…” Zhao Xu was about to speak.

“You probably don’t know, Midsummer, but back when Soss failed on the path of wizardry, he was assigned to study at Sacred Heart. He turned out to have a knack for becoming a priest, and in just a few months, divine grace descended and he gained divine magic.

“But as for this ability to turn undead—when I learned zero-level spells, he hadn’t mastered it. When I learned first-level spells, he still hadn’t. In the end, when I was about to break through as a third-level wizard and master second-level arcana, even the goddess couldn’t bear to watch anymore and finally bestowed him with another blessing, granting him the power to turn undead.”

Ryan spoke to Zhao Xu with a storytelling air.

A priest’s divine magic, domains, and the ability to turn undead were all necessary prerequisites to become a Level 1 priest. Without them, one could not advance.

Hearing this, Zhao Xu hesitated to speak.

“So, the reason I brought you here after you awakened your domain with divine grace is because Soss is truly experienced. With his guidance, you’ll be able to avoid all sorts of pitfalls.”

Afraid Ryan would continue to boast, Zhao Xu quickly interjected, “I just obtained the power to turn undead.”

“What?” Ryan, who had been about to continue his bragging, was taken aback.

Archbishop Soss, who had remained calm despite being teased, now regarded Zhao Xu with solemnity, nearly leaving marks on the porcelain cup in his hand.

“In the goddess’s doctrine, though not as averse to lies as the God of Justice, still—”

Suddenly, a warm, gentle white light radiated outward, enveloping the area around the sofa. This energy, deadly poison to undead, merely soothed humans.

That familiar sensation—both Soss and Ryan instantly recognized it as the glow of positive energy.

This was the energy released when a priest used the “Turn Undead” ability.

As the radiance faded, Zhao Xu sat quietly, holding Archbishop Soss’s holy symbol, as if nothing had happened.

[Adventurer Midsummer attempts to turn undead: Turn Check 1D20 + Charisma modifier = 12 + 1 = 13, can turn undead up to 2 HD.]

[Adventurer Midsummer’s turn damage: 2D6 + priest level + Charisma modifier = 4 + 1 + 1 = 6, can turn undead totaling 6 HD.]

These two notifications instantly appeared on Zhao Xu’s character panel.

According to the information, if he encountered those skeleton warriors again, a single use of this ability would immobilize up to six of them.

This was precisely the power of the priest’s “Turn Undead” ability.

An evil priest could use this power, combined with spells, to command legions of skeletons with ease.

“How can this be?” Ryan looked at Soss in confusion, seeking an explanation.

Archbishop Soss simply sighed and shook his head.

Their silence lasted so long that Zhao Xu grew puzzled.

Suddenly, Archbishop Soss grasped the ritual tool beside the table and, raising his hand, began to chant a spell toward Zhao Xu.

Before Zhao Xu could react, he sensed a cone of light filling the parlor, enveloping both himself and Ryan.

In moments, Archbishop Soss, who had been concentrating intently, set aside his ritual tool and looked at Ryan with a grave expression.

“Ryan, he may not be as you described—just someone who seems especially talented.”

“You can’t be serious; what, is he my secret son?” Ryan joked boisterously, not minding in the least the implied connection to Zhao Xu.

“He possesses an aura,” said Soss, his eyes growing even more solemn.

Ryan hadn’t been in the liaison position long and lacked the shrewdness of his predecessor, who’d served in the church for decades. Only after a moment did he realize what Soss meant.

“I can’t believe I missed it. So your people’s unique ‘aura’ doesn’t require reaching Level 1 Priest. This is such obscure lore,” Ryan said, slapping his own forehead in frustration.

“But no, I’m too smart for that. Even if I didn’t think of it, out of caution I would have concealed his aura. The real issue is, I never expected him to awaken the ability to turn undead so soon,” Ryan went on, trying to console himself.

From the moment Archbishop Soss began casting until now, Zhao Xu had been utterly confused.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

Curiosity can be death’s fuse in dangerous situations, but in everyday life, it’s a warning bell against repeating mistakes.

Zhao Xu suspected that Archbishop Soss had already deduced he’d obtained divine magic as a priest. In theory, as soon as he completed weapons and armor training, he would be a full-fledged priest. Had he already undergone such standard training before coming here, he might have seen his character card list him as a Level 1 Priest.

He needed to know exactly where Ryan’s lapse had occurred.

“Priests’ alignments generally tend to be similar to their deity’s,” Ryan explained slowly.

Zhao Xu understood: a Lawful Good deity’s priests are usually Lawful Good. Only a few might be Lawful Neutral or Neutral Good, but never more than two steps removed.

“So, priests who serve chaotic, evil, good, or lawful deities possess an aura matching their god’s alignment,” Ryan continued. “That’s why you give off the same aura of goodness as the goddess.”

“At first, I thought only full Level 1 priests had such an aura. But it turns out, as soon as you possess most priestly abilities, you gain the aura.”

“Just now, Soss used a ‘Detect Good’ spell and saw the aura of goodness on you, so he knew you were already a quasi-priest.”