Azura the youngest pope

I'm seven years old now, a seven year old without any friends, whoever said it's lonely at the top must've been talking about the sky palace, I haven't met someone close to my age in this place, all I see is a bunch of old man and holy knights who look more like statues than people.

Anyway today is a special day, not for me though, I know what a bummer. Today is talent testing day for those of age, children from noble households, from wealthy merchants and even high level officials of the church.

Now you might be thinking, aren't clergyman supposed to remain chaste as long as they serve the church, well that is the case for non-combatants and those with average magical talent but those with talent of the heavenly level and above are permitted to have a progeny as there is a high possibility of the child inheriting their talent. 

This is the churches way of creating and nurturing talents but let's get back to the talent testing event, it will be held in the monastery.

Those who wish to join the church have multiple choices depending on their talents, for warriors, fighters and mages with common talent they can join the holy army or become priests and deacons, those with superior talent can become holy knights while those with heavenly talents can become Paladins then there are those with saint level talent which is extremely rare only 1 in a 100 million can become a saint, that should tell you how rare they are. 

As for those with divine talent, they are myths written in ancient archives, a talent that appears in 1 out of a billion people it's a once in a millennial talent, legend says the first pope was one such talent and rumours say the current ruler of the elves is also such a talent but there's no way to confirm that at the moment. 

As I descended from the upper floor of the monastery, followed by Faith, I was lost in thought, day dreaming about my talent test coming up in three years, I was surely going to take the world by storm and can imagine them all kneeling, looking up to me, a god like figure.

'No Azura don't think like that, can't believe I'm being corrupted by power I don't even have yet'. 

As I reached the bottom floor, it was empty except for the bishop who will be handling the testing today. I came early purposely as I didn't want to attract too much attention on myself by descending when everyone was already here. 

I went to sit on the left side, this is where the spectators will be, the parents and guardians of those to be tested today, I sat on the first chair of the first row, with Faith next to me. We were almost 30 minutes early so we waited some time before the first batch of people entered. 

The people kept coming with all sorts of characters, In interesting colourful attires, some dressed in robes and some in simple trousers and white shirts and blouses , there was also a number of commoners and they stuck out like a sore thumb in a place like this filled with the wealthy. 

I'd estimate that only about 300 people are here, I say only 300 because this monastery is very big and could fit about 1200 people so it looks almost empty. Anyways the children all sat on the right side while spectators sat on the left. 

The bishop was standing on the stage, well it's actually just an elevated area nine stairs high, he stood before a podium, he's a bald old man with a mighty white beard draped in his white sacred robes with a long sky blue scarf, with gold linings in his hands was a golden book covered in jewels and crystals. 

"Please stand for Archbishop Mikel". The bishop spoke as he looked towards the door leading to the upper floor of the monastery, where an old man in a sky blue robe, with a white scarf with gold linings. 

As we all stood up, the old man walked slowly and took a sit on a throne like chair prepared for him and once he set, we also sat down, while the bishop opened the book in his hands, if I have to guess, I'd say it's this worlds version of the bible. 

The old man opened the book, skipped a couple of pages, he was moving so slow I almost yawned then he started reading. 

"The days go by, because the sun stands by

when seasons come, winter will vanish in due time 

The sun is proof of her love, the sky mirrors her eyes

she adores us, and serve her we must" 

The old bishop finished reading, I could tell he was speaking of the goddess as indeed the sky mirrors her eyes, this sounded like a poem, and it's beautiful, I didn't know we had such poetic people in this world, I wonder what else that book has. What more does it say about my goddess. 

"Let us begin" Those words brought me back to reality.