The gentlemen were about to start the next topic, but before anyone could say anything else, Wenzel had a question for the clergy. "Do you have any knowledge of magic? I mean, how it works and how you can or can't do different things with it?" At first, the gentlemen looked at each other a little puzzled. Then the patriarch himself replied: "The miracles of the Chosen Ones and saints over the centuries are recorded in history books, chronicles and legends. But I reckon that all of this has also been banished from the regime's schools." The lad confirmed this. However, this statement had led him to the next train of thought. "But the information does exist. It can be discovered, can’t it?" - "It can, yes. The great library of Melgarsbruck not only contains a vast collection of knowledge on every subject imaginable, but it also has restricted access sections created by the emperors of the old empire. I would stake my honour on the fact that top-secret knowledge on magic can also be found there."

  Wenzel was now satisfied with this information. For the time being, he would have to teach himself magic by trial and error. But he now knew that there was structured knowledge about it. Now the boy had one new goal for the future: to visit the library of Meglarsbruck and learn more about himself there. One of the reasons for this was that the accident that cost his brother his life was also due to Wenzel's lack of knowledge about his own powers. In order to master his own abilities, he would first have to learn to understand himself. However, he did not yet know how and when he would pursue this goal. Sneaking into the library would probably be extremely risky, given the current situation in the country.

  "The next point that absolutely must be clarified is the education of His Highness!" the head of the church now began to speak. Wenzel felt uncomfortable being addressed in this way. "It seems clear that he has neither reached adulthood nor received the religious education that would be necessary. According to our agreement, Armed Forces Leader Theodor, the commune will take over this task."

  This statement pierced through Wenzel like a sharp needle through the eye! He raised his voice and said that he already was eighteen years old, an adult. Everyone just looked at him and absolutely nobody believed him. Although the boy was relatively tall for his age, he still had quite the babyface. This was very bad. Wenzel definitely didn't want something like that to happen! But then Theodor intervened: "This was definitely our agreement, but I think that the Chosen One is a special case in every respect." Reluctantly, the clergy had to agree with him to a certain extent. "Why don't we ask him ourselves?" Then he turned to the boy: "What do you want, Wenzel?"

  A number of things came to his mind, but the first thing that felt right to him, that spoke to Wenzel from the soul, he said aloud, without having it thought through: "I want to go out into the world and go on adventures." August, who was sitting in an armchair, let his face sink into his hands once again. A very gentle smile could be seen on Theodor's serious face in response. Then he said, "If that's what you want, then surely the Martyrs’ Brigades can show you the world and have adventures with you by liberating the country!" - "That's completely irresponsible!" hissed one of the archbishops. Smugly, the leader replied: "Wasn't Melgar himself, blessed be his name, also a fighter and military leader of Camenia from a young age? Who are you to question the will of the Chosen One?" The archbishops were flabbergasted. They didn't know what to say in reply. Brahm could be seen in the background, holding back his laughter. He immediately regained his composure, though, when Isidor poked him in the side. "If he is real and true, then he will find God and the truth of his own accord!"

  All this was clearly to the disfavour of the Old Believers Church. One of the bishops began to argue with him: "But it would be much better if the future sovereign understood something about governance. This requires a basic stock of knowledge that the church can provide." The statement was addressed equally to Theodor and Wenzel. Of course, the shy Wenzel once again didn't answer without being prompted, but Theodor countered them. "As far as I know, the boy has been educated. And he probably won't be stupid enough to support an ideology that wants to eliminate him personally! The Chosen One is here with us because he needs us, and we need him. It's as simple as that." The old men were clearly not prepared for such a verbal confrontation. They had probably assumed that Theodor would simply comply with them.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Finally, he turned to Wenzel with the decisive question: "Do you want to stay with us or do you want to stay with the church?" Without hesitation, the boy answered in favour of the Martyrs' Brigades. Brahm, Isidor and August all three began to grin with joy. It wasn't gloating, but genuine joy that came from the heart. "Should you change your mind, the commune will always be there for you," added the offended patriarch. "God's blessing and have a good journey!" Everyone then said their goodbyes. The group went towards the front of the building and out the door. There they sat down together, gave the horses something to drink and ate the snacks they had brought with them.

  As Wenzel was eating his bread, Theodor, who was sitting opposite him, started speaking to him: "Don't worry. We'll make a man out of you!" He then addressed his two bodyguards: "Very well, men! From now on you’ll teach Wenzel how to fight. And by that, I mean sword and spear." - "Yes, sir!" they replied in unison. Then the boy, sounding a little timid, stuttered: "I.... don't know." - "Yes, you do! It's absolutely necessary. Otherwise our so-called adventure will only end in disaster," ordered the leader. "Spending some time like our down-to-earth lads will certainly have a good influence on the character of the Chosen One." Although Wenzel was unsettled, he also realised that Theodor was right. He was a weakling, as his brother alone had proven time and again.

  After the meal, it was time to mount up again. Before they rode off, they said farewell to one of the archbishops who had come out again to see them off. Then they travelled back to camp. As they passed the village entrance, another thing came to the leader’s mind. "Oh, and let's not forget it! You two will have to swear an oath of allegiance to Wenzel. After all, he is now officially the Chosen One." On the rest of the journey back, the men only talked about trivial matters. Wenzel was mostly quiet again. But there were all sorts of things going through his head, that he now had time to think about.

  The course of events had taken a suspicious turn, especially in relation to Theodor and his actions. So why had Theodor helped him? He had clearly prepared clever arguments and the right words to counter the clerics. That brought August's words back to his mind again. Could the leader of the Martyrs’ Brigades be planning something that he and the others didn’t know about? But then what could it be? Hmmmm. Whatever it was, the Supreme Leader of the Revolutionaries now had his hand over the Chosen One. Officially, he was his protector.

  By the time they got back to camp, evening had fallen again. The intense heat had made today's journey quite strenuous. However, all the companions still looked quite energetic and full of vigour when they returned. Only Wenzel was jaded. He was finished. His training wouldn't start until tomorrow anyway, but he helped out with a few simple tasks that had to be done before sunset. In the evening, he fell into bed dead tired.

  He hadn't really reflected on everything that had happened today. Only in the course of the next few days would the boy fully realise what role had been forced upon him that day and what responsibility had been placed on him for his future. Coming events would now gather momentum and develop a dynamic that even he could not resist. In any case, he had largely just been swept along by the current, but the rapids would now be getting wilder and all of them would end up in more dangerous waters. The day of the bestowal of God’s mandation to a new dynasty had passed.

  Then, at night, his visions returned. Wenzel was lying on his back, in a real bed, not a tent where he had actually gone to sleep. He reached for his pendant, only to realise that it was no longer hanging around his neck! Panic swept through him and he jumped up from the bed, causing the floorboards to squeak loudly under his feet. In the darkness, he saw a figure running out of the door. The boy gave chase! He stormed out of the door and down a corridor. At a certain distance, he could make out a person in front of him. He ran after him through the next door and out into the open. He ran as fast as his feet could carry him. But then he suddenly tripped over something he had failed to see in the darkness. He hit the ground and.............the dream ended.

  The boy abruptly woke up from his sleep. His two colleagues in the tent were also startled and asked him what was going on. But Wenzel didn't answer and just looked for his pendant. It was exactly where it always was, around his neck. The boy took a deep breath. Sitting on the relatively hard tent floor, he thought to himself: "Everything’s fine. It was just another dream." Then he went back to sleep.Then he went back to sleep. Only the next morning did he have a conversation with Isidor and Brahm about the importance of his pendant and they assured him that they would guard it and him well.