Chapter 302 Complex Hierarchy
The next morning...
In Millfall's Awakening Temple, a strong blond man stood on top of the city's most famous building, sitting in the lotus position, meditating with his eyes closed.
From his position, one could see practically the entire city, especially the central square, where several families were already moving about in anticipation of another day of Awakening.
However, the blond man had no thoughts of the usual activities of this temple on his mind at the moment.
'Cesar... Are you really going to make me wait?' He thought as orange flames surrounded his body.
Meanwhile, some temple members were watching him from a distance, ready to serve him as he commanded.
"Hey, what do you think Sacred Devotee Reeves wants in our unit?" A man wearing a uniform very similar to those worn by all members of the Awakening Temple commented to one of his companions.
However, although their uniforms were generally very similar, they were not identical. Each had different hierarchies within the organization, which the symbols on their robes could easily distinguish.
Hearing the Novice's comment, a Prior of this unit clenched his fists in doubt as he looked at his superior. 'I hope he won't cause us any trouble.'
The Awakening Temple, or Congregation of Revelation, had a complex hierarchical chain that didn't just follow the level of its members.
From the bottom of this organization to the top were the respective titles: Novice, Monk, Prior, Assistant Temple Master, Sacred Devotee, and Temple Master.
It was a small but complex hierarchy. The Sacred Devotee, for example, was not necessarily the one closest to the Temple Master. Some Novices might even be considered stronger or superior to some Sacred Devotees.
How was this possible?
Basically, the hierarchies of the Congregation of Revelation didn't take into account the level of strength of its members but rather the services they performed.
A Novice was someone who merely performed basic activities in temples like this Millfall unit. In short, they were helpers to those who kept the temple records, the Monks, who were the actual administrators of these units.
Novices also did the work of cleaning, organizing, in short, simple activities in temples like this one.
But as simple as it was, some Novices could grow and reach higher positions, becoming Novices in more important temples.
Assistant Temple Masters were those who were in charge of leading the temples under the name of the Temple Master, the one who was the organization's leader, the strongest, the one behind the voice that could be heard in the Awakenings throughout Polaris Realm.
The position of Temple Master could only be held by one person, while all other hierarchies could have several members of the faith in such positions.
However, the hierarchy of this power followed the basic idea that the higher positions were superior to the lower ones.
Even though there could be a 3rd-stage Monk and a 2nd-stage Sacred Devotee, the Sacred Devotee would always be superior to the Monk, regardless of their stage.
In special situations, a low-level Sacred Devotee could even ordain an Assistant Temple Master, a Prior, a Monk, and a Novice of a higher level than himself!
In everyday situations, this would only happen between people of a similar or lower level.
In any case, Kohen Reeves not only had a much higher cultivation than all the members of this unit, whether they were Priors, Monks, Assistant Temple Master, or Novices.
As such, the members of the Millfall unit were concerned about the stay of this person, who could only be ordained by Sacred Devotees or the Temple Master.
The Assistant Temple Master heard the comments of some of his men and sighed as he walked over to Kohen.
"Sacred Devotee Reeves, has the Senior communicated with Nun Barber? Don't forget this post is under the supervision of Nun Barber's group. Any problems here could attract the nun's father." A bald but very muscular level 5 man said to the Low-level Mage.
Hearing the warning from the head of Millfall temple, Kohen opened his eyes and looked at the person.
"Don't worry, Assistant Temple Master Sim. I'm here on personal business. That is not something that will affect your temple." Kohen commented with some respect in his voice, for his higher rank and position as a Sacred Devotee was not everything in his faith.
The only people who could apply for the position of Temple Master were the Assistant Temple Masters. Aside from them, the Monks were the only people who could change their designation within the temple. Sacred Devotees, Priors, and Novices could not change their class once they had chosen their path.
So even though Priors and Sacred Devotees were more powerful than other members of the temple because they were born warriors, they had to respect people like Assistant Temple Master Sim because they had to consider bigger scenarios.
Jasmine was a Nun from a higher-level temple than Millfall temple's, so she worked as the supervisor of this unit.
On the other hand, since her father was a 4th-stage Sacred Devotee, her prospects within the Congregation of Revelation were immense.
In the future, she could become the Assistant Temple Master of a good unit and perhaps participate in the power struggle within their faith.
Using her name, Assistant Temple Master Sim warned Kohen he shouldn't abuse his position locally or he might get into trouble with someone quite influential.
'This bald bastard is trying to put pressure on me...' Kohen closed his eyes for a moment. 'Fortunately, Killian and Levi have found a way to come to this town. They'll be here in less than two days.' He thought of the head of the Ironcrest temple and the most powerful Prior in that unit.
Priors were members of the military units, i.e., the guards of the temples under the command of the Assistant Temple Masters. As for the Sacred Devotees, they were also members of military units, except that their direct leader was the Temple Master himself. They had no fixed posts and were free to move about the continent in the name of the temples.
Given these characteristics, the Sacred Devotees were the ones who had the most freedom of movement within the faith, but they were also the ones who had to be careful with whom they dealt with.
Unless they had a justification for circumventing the influence of Assistant Temple Masters, they had to avoid friction with such people, even considering their superior position in the hierarchy of the Congregation of Revelation.
Kohen then smiled and stood up. "In a few days, I'll be leaving your city, Assistant Temple Master Sim. I'm just waiting for someone."
"Okay. I won't bother you anymore if that's the case." As Sim said this, a Novice appeared on the spot, coming from the stairs that gave this place access to the rest of the temple.
"Sacred Devotee, I bring a message for the Senior!"
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