Despite the calming techniques she tried, Sara couldn't calm down as she read over the texts before her. Sitting at a desk in a small room inside her hometown's temple, Sara committed the sacred words to heart for tonight would be the night of selection for her. She still had a hard time finding the reality of the situation. The memory of the look on both Cleric Becken and Stanley's face nearly caused her to burst out laughing, but she clamped down on the feeling out of reverence to the gods. Still the memory played out in her mind all the same.
After the revelation of her parentage, Sara resolved to not remain idle during these summer months. She left her parents home after asking where the local cleric would be.
"Same place he always is at the end of the day, drinking at the Broken Tusk," Jacob answered. With that Sara left to meet the old cleric.
Entering the popular tavern, Sara spotted the cleric and unfortunately Stanley sitting together at a table. Taking a deep breath, Sara walked as confidently as she could towards the pair. As she approached Sara examined the aged priest. Though his hair had fallen out long ago and his face lined with both age and old scars, Cleric Becken was still able to cause almost anyone to wither under his stern gaze. As far as most clerics went he was much more lax than most.
He saw Sara's approach and waved to her, causing Stanley to glance in her direction. She tried to ignore the venomous gaze as she greeted the old cleric.
"Good evening Cleric Becken," Sara smiled and, as much as she didn't want to interact with Stanley, turned to him, "Stanley."
"Good evening Sara. Care to join us," Becken offered a spare seat.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I'll not be long." She noticed Stanley seem to relax slightly at this.
"Very well," he said with a smile. "When did you get back?"
"Not long actually. I just finished seeing my parents," Stanley snorted at this, "and I will be heading to bed in a little while."
"Well then, what brings you to me? You walk with a purpose about you," he observed then picked up his mug to take a drink. Sara wondered if he already knew what she was going to ask.
"I shall be in town for the summer and well... I want you to teach me to be a cleric," she blurted out her request quickly. His response told her he was definitely not expecting her request as both he and Stanley sputtered and coughed on their drinks.
"Excuse me," Stanley tried to yell but had another coughing fit.
"Ahem," Becken cleared his throat and breathed deeply, "well now, I was definitely not expecting this."
"What makes you think that-," Stanley's response was stopped abruptly under the stern gaze of the old cleric.
"She asked a sincere request. It is not our place to pass judgement on those that wish to learn," he turned his piercing gaze to Sara, "why do you want to learn the ways of the cleric? Do you even know under which god or goddess you wish to serve?"
Sara was prepared for these questions and spoke confidently. "I shall serve any of the gods if they shall let me, for I believe in all of them and hold many of them and their teachings dear to me and I don't think I could single a single one out. As to my reasons for wishing to learn; I have seen how clerics can heal and help the needful."
"You can help the needful without cleric training," Becken countered.
"Yes, but I can't heal the wounded, I can't cure diseases or support my friends beyond the use of an extra blade. I had to watch several times as one or more friends were at death's door and I was unable to help them. I hate feeling so powerless to help the ones I care about," her voice broke slightly at the end.
Cleric Becken pondered over her words for several minutes. Sara caught what looked almost like sympathy in Stanley's eyes, but it disappeared the instant he realized she was looking at him. Finally the old cleric spoke, "your words speak true, and I can understand your reasons. Are you certain about this path?"
"I wouldn't have bothered you if I wasn't."
"And this will be a very rapid training as we've only what? 4 to 5 months to fit a year of lessons."
"I know."
"Well...," He stroked the stubble on his chin, "I shall see you tomorrow morning for the beginning of the training. Until then, go get some rest."
Since then, Sara had been busy learning the preliminary lessons before she would begin the ritual of acceptance, the ritual where the gods would either accept her or deny her as a cleric. It was entirely up to them tonight, all she could do was prepare to read the words and hope for the best."