The Price of Knowledge

Life went on its merry way. All his life Sirius studied how to live in the forest, manage household and, in the last several years, basics of magic. Now he was living with Father Gregor in the village, interacted with people and made friends, so overall he liked the change of pace. He was also helping Gregor in the church and was learning the ways of the Twin Gods' teachings. Sometimes he would partake in rituals and pester Father Gregor with questions he had. Surprisingly, a lot of rituals carried a meaning hidden from non-initiated townsfolk, usually benefitting the church. In return the church allowed them to use magic at home, just by setting up a ritual and following some relatively simple steps.

Sirius was always told that to cast a spell he needed to know how to separate a hard spell into simple steps of altering the world, like he did with a snow spell. But now, he saw that people drew magic circles with some chalk, recited incantations and prayed for Gods' help in their ritual. While Sirius found this way strange and overly complicated for something like creating a fire in a stove, he was also incredibly intrigued and wanted to learn more. It allowed people with no mana organs to do magic, after all! So, it was a perfect reason to get access to church's library where he could learn more of these rituals.

Winter in Rivervale arrived early and was colder than usual. Fortunately, food preservation efforts lasted all summer, and once again the church provided for the village. Vast cellars stored grain, cheeses and enchanted barrels of vegetables and meat, that remained fresh all winter. Sirius once again noted why the church was so important for villagers. He never looked this way on this village, but magic was tightly woven into their daily life, allowing people to worry less about survival.

The winter was now in full blow, the blizzard raging outside the stone buildings of Rivervale, threatening to bring to their knees whomever dared to go outside. Sirius listened to the howls of the wind from the safety of the library, where he enthusiastically searched information on magic circles. As a village, the number of books in possession of church was extremely limited, so every diagram was researched to its very last detail.

"Whatcha doin'?" The sudden voice from behind almost scared Sirius to death.

"Oh Gods... It's you, Mark. Please knock next time, or you'll give me a heart attack."

"Actually, I knocked. You were so invested in... Whatever you are doing. I didn't know you could read."

"Of course I can... Don't you? I saw you in library before."

"I only read the sermon texts because we had to learn them by heart. Other than that I liked looking at pictures. So what is that, rituals?" Curly brown hair covered the Sirius' view of the books. Mark was sun-touched as always, his freckles surrounding sky blue eyes. He was just a year younger than Sirius so they would often hang out after doing chores at homes, eventually becoming friends.

"Well yeah, I was thinking..."

"You can do that too!?" Mark teased and they both laughed.

"But of course! Yeah, so, I looked at these circles and I think I am beginning to understand how they work."

"What?... does Father Gregor know that you are studying them?"

"I never told him, but he knows I like magic, so he might have guesses."

"But... Aren't these rituals bestowed to us by the Gods themselves? Aren't you gonna anger them by trying to uncover their secrets?"

Sirius thought for a moment. He would always forget that to average villager the magic was something of divine nature. A rare person would think of these miracles as some science, like he does.

"Then I will be smitten from this world. At least I got closer to the miracles during my short life!"

"Don't say that! It is no joking matter!" Mark tried covering Sirius' mouth lest he will really be struck by lightning along with this heretic.

"No-no wait! I can explain! Look here!" Sirius pulled a piece of wood he was using to experiment.

"If I will be damned along with you it's your fault. What is that?"

"So I tried different stuff... " Sirius took a compass and charted a circle using a black chalk covered in thin leather. "The ritual is a circle and some lines and arcs inside right? And I noticed that whenever the ritual is about fire it has this part..." He than picked a silvery-white chalk and began drawing different circles, lines and arcs, alternating between the two and commenting on his actions.

"I don't recognise this ritual... What is is going to do?"

"You'll see..." Said Sirius, while finishing the last small circle. He then looked at a rather complex diagram, more complex than any of the diagrams Mark have ever seen in the books. Under the astonished gaze of his friend Sirius took a yellow chalk and began adding symbols by hand, carefully charting mystical runes. In satisfaction he checked everything.

A knock to the door stopped his inspection. The door immediately opened and Father Gregor walked inside, with the Silver Inquisitor in his wake.