“From now on, if we catch any prey, let me handle it.” Robert Miller said.

Night had already deepened. The three of them chatted idly for a while, then all went home together.

It was already dark, and the town was empty inside.

Unconsciously, he found himself in front of the Earth Goddess’s altar. Gazing at the stone altar, with its mottled colors showing ancient traces, he strolled into the sanctuary. On the high platform stood a statue—this was the Earth Goddess, Isidis.

On the walls, bas-reliefs of bulls, trees, and flowers were carved. The goddess’s statue was not standing alone, but was a three-foot-tall marble sculpture on the altar. She wore a crown made of flowers and plants, dressed in a green gown. Her face was beautiful, her feminine curves faintly visible, exuding great feminine charm, but her eyes were especially expressive.

In the past, Robert Miller habitually came here to pray, especially after he aspired to become a druid.

Previously, whenever Robert Miller had free time, he would help clean the temple, so he was allowed to read the thick “Sacred Text of the Goddess of Agriculture” kept there.

It was this devotion, in an environment where most townsfolk muddled through their days, that attracted Ellen Miller’s attention. She greatly appreciated it, and often, after evening prayers, would spend the whole night teaching him to read, and allowed him to come and go freely in the temple of the Goddess of Agriculture, including the garden behind it.

As the temple of the Goddess of Agriculture, it usually had a granary and an impressive garden.

The granary was where the temple bought and stored grain, while the garden was where the priests taught others how to properly plant crops, identify plant and animal diseases, and gather herbs.

So inside, there were not only everyday crops, but also a large number of medicinal herbs.

More importantly, the temple possessed a wealth of books unimaginable to commoners—luxuries enjoyed only by clergy and nobles.

The moon shone on the temple, which was quiet and empty inside. Moonlight poured through the large stained-glass windows, making it look both magnificent and mysterious.

Inside the temple, countless green lights flickered—this too was the power of nature, but it belonged only to the goddess, and could only be bestowed when druids worshipped her.

Robert Miller silently assumed a prayerful posture. In the past, Robert Miller would always come here to pray at night after finishing his work; at the very least, he had to keep up this habit on the surface.

Just as he left the prayer hall, he couldn’t help but shiver.

“Ah, it’s cold. Child, you’re dressed too thinly.” A voice said, “In this situation, you still come to pray to the goddess?”

“Pastor Dennis, I just wanted to tell the goddess what’s in my heart.” Robert Miller replied humbly.

To his words, Robert Miller didn’t want to answer or argue at all, because he knew very well that Ellen Miller greatly appreciated him, but Pastor Dennis was quite displeased because of this.

Seeing he had nothing more to say, Robert Miller took his leave.

Chapter 9: The Barracks (Part 1)

Robert Miller, Faye Carter, and Nick Carter had originally agreed to go on an adventure together three days later, but because Nick Carter was unprepared, it kept getting delayed.

Since they were going on an adventure, they had to prepare weapons. The next day, Robert Miller went to the blacksmith. Actually, this town was very small—it only took five minutes to walk there.

Arriving at the blacksmith’s door, Robert Miller hadn’t gone in yet, but his eyes swept over a young boy.

“Roland Carter!” he called, waving.

Roland Carter, with a bruised face, hesitated for a moment, then slowly came over. “Robert Miller, you look pretty good.”

Although he tried to stay calm, his tone and his eyes revealed an uncontrollable jealousy.

Robert Miller smiled without speaking. In his memory, Roland Carter had once been considered a friend of Robert Miller’s in town. The two looked very similar, not just in appearance, but in expression and the way they were treated.

Roland Carter was fifteen, the son of the town blacksmith Old William. He looked thin and frail, with delicate, somewhat pale features, and deep, dark eyes. If he wore better clothes, even if he didn’t look like a noble, he’d at least look like someone raised in the city.

The thin and weak Roland Carter was clearly not suited for the blacksmith’s trade.

The former Robert Miller hadn’t noticed, but now, with his memories analyzed, Robert Miller could clearly understand many things.

Old William instinctively disliked this son—not only because Roland Carter was a burden to the family, but also because, being strong, rough, and illiterate himself, he found Roland Carter’s handsomeness, gentleness, and innate elegance especially intolerable. He was even more unable to stand Roland Carter’s secret love of learning to read and study.

This was, in fact, naked jealousy and hatred. The oppression he suffered in life was unconsciously vented on this son.

The former Robert Miller had the same traits, so both of them were bullied by other kids of similar age in town—those boys worked hard to pick on these two misfits.

And now, Robert Miller had become a druid apprentice. Even as a friend, Roland Carter couldn’t help but feel jealous and frustrated!

Robert Miller smiled, “Roland Carter, I saw some introductory magic books in the temple. If I get to work there in the future, I’ll borrow them for you. Do you want to read them?”

Roland Carter was stunned for a moment, hesitated, then said, “Yes!”