Chapter 236 - Arch Bishop Francis and High Priestess Verena

A low hymnic humming began declaring the start of the procession, roughly fifty priests and priestesses of Serra came walking out each wearing plain white but clean robes, clutching a lit golden lantern holding them with both hands. In the front two prominent figures lead the procession with Seraphine, Ezechiel, Laila and Pichard following closely behind in their very pristine silver regal armour, in the front a weird-looking man, his skin was a light grey tone like a stone, it was unlike anything I've ever seen before, and although being a little distant I could swear his eyes glowed with a light golden hue similar to Daisy. He donned a very regal looking robed lined with gold and red woven together intricately to create a very beautiful royal appearance but strangely having two pointed humps on each side of him rising above his shoulders. Around his neck was a solid golden thick large necklace with a pendant the shape of a robbed hooded angle.

The second was a tall Caucasian woman dressed in a similarly designed red white and gold regal dress, but unlike the man leading the procession, her appearance looked completely human. the staff she wielded look like it was carved from stone or marble with intricate golden etchings throughout and an identical solid golden hooded robed angle on the tip.

As they all made their way to the central ceremonial area, at each and every kindling a follower of Serra remained behind still chanting a hymn or prayer.

"Is that Arch Bishop Francis and High Priestess Verena?" I whispered to Paul.

"Yes, the grey-skinned one is Arch Bishop Francis, he's a Svargmar remember how I mentioned there's a race that is touched by celestials? It's like the opposite to Daisy." Paul whispered back making me look at the Arch Bishop in wonder. "So from what I heard his father is a Celestial one of Serra's trusted angels," Paul added.

"Woah so like Daisy he can talk to Serra and Angels?" I questioned in shock.

"Well I'm not sure about Daisy personally, maybe Serra does speak to her, but from what I understand Gods and Deities don't usually reveal or talk to their followers personally.

"So these Svargmar are opposite to Tiefaeni?" I carried on inquiring.

"Kinda, Tiefaeni does have some sort of Devil blood or related to a Devil in some way or another, but in no means does it make them evil by nature like how Svargmar aren't all good in nature." Paul tried to explain noticing my shocked reaction.

"Really?" I questioned.

"Yes, some Svargmar has turned their backs on their Celestial heritage looking at it more like a curse than a blessing and some just outright ignore it, choosing their own path in life. Like all mortal races we have our own free will to carve out our own paths." Paul smiled.

"And High Priestess Verena?" I questioned in wonder.

"She is what we call a high-level Cleric, access to spells and abilities what would make your jaw hang open." Paul chuckled.

"Like Daisy?" I questioned.

"Well Daisy still a beginner, but Daisy is also very unique, she is both a Cleric and a Paladin so Daisy has access to both Cleric and Paladins spells and abilities." Paul smiled.

"Of course the girl Paul personally trained is somehow stronger and unique." I answered sarcastically chuckling.

"Well, most people can learn to train in multiple roles, as long as you put in the time and hard work and training." He smiled.

What are the differences between Clerics and Paladins?" I asked in return.

"Clerics focus mainly on spells and banishment focusing mainly on staying at range, Paladins has access to fewer spells but are more offensively focused mainly on melee combat generally aiming to destroy and killing their enemies, and both have the abilities to heal wounds which is awesome," Paul answered.

"So you're a Cleric or Paladin also? I remember you healed us earlier." I questioned.

"Not exactly, sadly Paladin and Cleric spell need faith in a God or Deity to heal, being an unbeliever I can't really heal, no." He answered with a smile.

"But how did you heal us last time?" I carried on grilling him on his capabilities.

"It was a gift from a previous mentor of mine, he gifted me six spell books that were animated with a special spell even I don't know. One spellbook for each of the schools of magic, so technically I can't cast healing magic myself, but my animated spellbook which I command can." He smiled looking me directly into my eyes looking extremely overconfident.

"Animated?" I asked kinda unsure what that meant.

"Animated means, brought to life. So my spell books are awesome they are like living creatures." He smiled.

"Can I see them? Do they talk? Are they like pets?" I questioned curiously excitedly to hear more.

"They can talk, they all have different personalities and yes they are like pets but a little worse." Paul laughed.

"Lemme see them!" I begged to wish to see something so wonderful.

"Of course, I must warn you, once I tell them to show themselves to you. There's no going back." He chuckled.

"It's okay I'm ready." I smiled.

"It's your funeral." He laughed.

So can you cast spells yourself of does your spell books do all the work?" I questioned slightly confused.

"Ohh don't be mistaken we are unique as well, we are both a mix of a Sorceress and Wizard means we can innately cast many forms of magic if we studied and practised, but the spell books also allow me to cast spells that I wouldn't be able to normally, everyone has a limit of spells they can cast before needing rest, my spellbooks give me more ammunition." He smiled.

"What are the differences? between a Sorceress and Wizards?" I questioned a little confused.

"So Sorceresses are born with the ability to manipulate and use magic, they are born with specialised types like how your friend Jay is a Blue Flame caster. Wizards on the other hand aren't born with the ability to manipulate and use magic, but through intensive studying and practice and workarounds, they can use magic. Sorceresses have the innate ability to use magic but what they can use are a little limited like Jay will be, very week in water-based spells but also slightly weaker in spells outside the fire element, unless he begins to study the fundamentals of magic to boost his spell casting in the other elements. Wizards on the other hand require more work, study and practice but what they benefit from is a larger pool of spells they can learn and cast. You and I on the other hand are a mix of both, we can use almost any form of magic like wizards, but also casting spells comes innately like a sorceress." Paul tried to explain to me.#

"Okay..." I nodded at his very complicated explanation, "But you can do other things too....." I began to question.

"Yes, unlike almost all other casters, I also put time and effort in developing my prowess in close combat, so at any time where I'm maybe outnumbered where casters can nullify my magic or even magically suppressed, I'm still effective at defending myself." He smiled.

"Has anyone ever told you, that you're overpowered?" I chuckled.

"Yes many time." He chuckled back, "Wait a second." Paul added and began to look towards the procession.

All the priests of Serra began to set alight the surrounding kindling to cremate the bodies as the whole audience and all the praying fell to complete utter silence. A sudden gentle breeze began to blow past us lighting the fires a little stronger, everyone began to join in prayer as the fires slowly burned away the bodies and the sky began to fill with little bits of glowing ash and embers. suddenly everyone let out a gasp and everyone began to point into the sky.

The embers and glowing ash somehow began turning into lights, barely visible blue sparkles that glowed with more intensity as they rose into the sky. "Paul, what is that?" I questioned in wonder.

He remained silent looking up watching with the most genuine smile, slowly the blue lights stopped rising and began to coalesce into human figures slowly gaining very detailed human features, there were mothers, fathers, children, and soldiers all glowing with a spectral blue hue.

"What in the...." I uttered in shock, everyone began to erupt in chatter and cheer as many of the human figures were wearing the same armour guardsman were wearing the day we were all attacked. "Paul are they the ones that passed away?" I questioned still shocked at the whole spectacle.

"I believe so." He smiled staring up into the sky.

All the ghosts began waving at us smiling happily like bidding us their last farewell, "It's so beautiful." I gushed in absolute awe witnessing a miracle right in front of my eyes.

"It really is." Paul smiled as each and every ghost one by one waved one last time and one by one turned away walking into the distance slowly fading out of existence into the afterlife.

"Does this happen in all funeral procession?" I questioned Paul still in complete awe.

"No, not really, this would be the first time for me as well." He smiled back.

As the hymn and prayers continued and the procession seemed to come to an end, the followers of Serra all retreated back off the burial area. Arch Bishop Francis and High Priestess Verena stepped forward and began casting some sort of spell. Suddenly all the remaining ash began to glow golden and a gentle gust of wind scattered all the remains all over the area before slowly fading back to normal.

Paul closed his eye for twenty or so seconds looking down as if in prayer, and then stood up. "Time to be a hero." Paul smiled giving me a wink and began walking forward towards Arch Bishop Francis and High priestess Verena as they also began walking forward to meet him in the middle.