Brother Aldric knelt before the altar of the Chapel of the Moon, his sermon notes spread before him, and pulled up his status with a thought.

  The familiar blue-white text appeared in the corner of his vision, expanding as he focused on it:

  **CHARACTER STATUS**```Name: Brother Aldric, Priest of the MoonLevel: 7Css: Cleric of the Lunar PathExperience: 8,420/10,000 to Level 8```

  **PRIMARY ATTRIBUTES:**```Wisdom: 16Charisma: 14Faith: 18Constitution: 11```

  **SKILLS:**```Preaching: Level 6 (2,840/3,000 XP)Blessing: Level 4 (890/1,500 XP)Healing Prayer: Level 3 (425/900 XP)Congregation Management: Level 5 (1,950/2,400 XP)```

  Three months. It had been three months since the Goddess had blessed him with this divine sight, and Aldric still marveled at it every single day.

  He remembered that morning with perfect crity—arriving for dawn prayers to find the book on the altar, pced there by divine hands. The leather-bound tome with the silver crescent moon on its cover. The strange script that had become clear in his mind as he read it. The activation phrase he'd spoken aloud, trembling with faith and wonder.

  *"By the light of the divine, I accept this blessing. Show me my truth."*

  And then the system had initialized. The text had appeared in his vision. The measurements, the numbers, the precise accounting of his spiritual growth—all of it revealed by the Goddess's grace.

  The book itself sat now on a shelf in his private quarters, carefully studied over these past months. He'd learned much from it—how to interpret the numbers, what the various skills meant, how to maximize his spiritual effectiveness. But the book was merely a guide. The true gift was the interface itself, the divine sight that let him see his progress with perfect crity.

  Aldric shifted his focus to the active quests dispyed below his stats:

  **ACTIVE QUESTS:**```Expand the Faithful: 49/50 congregation membersReward: +500 XP, Unlock Skill: Mass ConversionTime Remaining: Complete before month's end (8 days)

  Weekly Goal - Convert the Doubtful: 2/3 non-believers convertedReward: +200 XPTime Remaining: 4 days

  Daily Service: Deliver morning sermonReward: +180-250 XP (based on performance)```

  So close. He was so close to reaching fifty congregation members. Just one more soul brought to the Lunar Path, and the Goddess would grant him the Mass Conversion skill. He didn't fully understand what that would entail—some kind of enhanced ability to reach multiple hearts at once, perhaps—but he trusted in Her wisdom.

  Two converts this week already. Marcus the baker four days ago. Elena's cousin just yesterday. One more before the week ended and he'd complete that quest as well.

  *The Goddess is guiding me. Showing me exactly what She needs from me.*

  Aldric gnced at his Preaching skill. Level 6, with 2,840 experience out of 3,000 needed. He'd been tracking it carefully. Each sermon added experience depending on how well it went—how many people he reached, how deeply his words resonated. A poor sermon might give him 150 experience. A good one could give 250 or more.

  Today's sermon could push him to Level 7 in Preaching. He was certain of it.

  He looked down at his notes—scribbled thoughts about faith in difficult times, about trusting the Goddess's pn even when the path seemed dark. Good themes. Solid material.

  But the interface was telling him something else.

  He focused on the Daily Service quest, and additional information expanded in his vision:

  **SERMON PREPARATION ANALYSIS:**```Current Topic: Faith in adversityProjected Audience: 53 people (49 regurs + 4 visitors)Estimated Engagement: 72%Recommended Adjustment: Include personal testimony of divine blessingEstimated Engagement with Adjustment: 89%Projected XP Gain: 215-245 (with adjustment)```

  Aldric's breath caught. The Goddess was advising him directly. She was telling him that his current sermon approach was good, but that he could do better. That he should share personal testimony of Her blessing.

  *Of course.*

  He'd been hesitant to speak about the divine gift too openly. It felt private, sacred, something between him and the Goddess alone. But if She was telling him to share it—not the specifics, perhaps, but the fact that he'd been blessed with greater understanding—then who was he to refuse?

  He made a quick note in the margin of his sermon: *Share blessing testimony. Divine sight granted. Goddess shows the way.*

  The interface updated:

  **SERMON PREPARATION ANALYSIS:**```Estimated Engagement with Adjustment: 89%Projected XP Gain: 230-260Strong performance will advance Preaching to Level 7```

  Perfect.

  Aldric pulled up his full stat sheet again, reviewing his attributes. Wisdom at 16 governed his healing abilities and spiritual insight. Charisma at 14 affected how persuasive and inspiring he was to others. Faith at 18 was his highest attribute—the Goddess rewarded true devotion, and his had always been absolute.

  He'd earned three attribute points over the past three months—the interface called them "unspent points," rewards for leveling up and completing major quests. The system had recommended he put them into Wisdom and Charisma, and each time he'd done so, he'd felt the change immediately. Sharper thoughts. More compelling words. Better healing results.

  The Goddess knew exactly how to shape him into Her perfect instrument.

  **UNSPENT ATTRIBUTE POINTS: 0**```All points allocated to optimal buildNext points avaible at Level 8```

  Level 8. He needed 1,580 more experience to reach it. At his current rate—three to four sermons per week, plus blessings, plus healing prayers, plus successful conversions—he'd reach it in about two more weeks.

  And then what? What new abilities would the Goddess grant him? What new understanding would unfold?

  Footsteps sounded in the chapel—soft, familiar. Sister Elena arriving early as she often did.

  Aldric dismissed the interface with a thought. The glowing text vanished instantly, leaving just the quiet chapel, his sermon notes, and the approaching dawn light through the stained gss windows.

  "Brother Aldric," Elena said, smiling as she entered. "I've brought flowers for the altar. And I have wonderful news—my friend Marta said she'd like to attend this morning. She's been resistant to faith for so long, but your sermon st week... something you said touched her heart."

  Aldric felt a surge of hope and purpose. Marta. That could be the fiftieth member. The one who would complete his quest.

  *The Goddess is orchestrating this. She brings the people to me at exactly the right time.*

  "That's wonderful, Sister," he said warmly. "I'm honored that the Goddess used my words to reach her."

  "It wasn't just your words, Brother. It's something... different about you tely." Elena tilted her head, studying him. "You seem more focused. More certain. Like you can see something the rest of us can't."

  Aldric smiled gently. *If only you knew how true that is.*

  "The Goddess has blessed me with crity of purpose," he said, which was absolutely the truth. "She shows me the way forward."

  Elena nodded, satisfied with that answer, and began arranging flowers on the altar.

  Aldric pulled up his interface again, keeping it minimized in the corner of his vision while he helped her. Just a small dispy showing his key information:

  **LVL 7 | XP: 8,420/10,000****Congregation: 49/50****Sermon in 45 minutes**

  The congregation began arriving as the sun rose higher. Aldric greeted each person by name, shook hands, offered blessings. And with each interaction, a small notification would appear briefly in his vision:

  **+5 XP - Blessing given****+3 XP - Personal connection maintained****+5 XP - Spiritual counsel provided**

  Small amounts. But they added up. Every interaction mattered. Every moment of service was measured and rewarded by the Goddess.

  He spotted Marta entering with Elena—a middle-aged woman who looked nervous but determined. Their eyes met, and Aldric smiled warmly at her.

  **NEW CONGREGATION MEMBER DETECTED**```Marta, Friend of ElenaConversion Progress: 85% (High likelihood)```

  His heart raced. She was so close to joining the faith. So close to becoming the fiftieth member.

  *Today. It could happen today.*

  The chapel filled. Aldric counted heads out of habit—fifty-three people. Four visitors besides Marta. Good. More opportunities.

  He stood before the altar, and the interface updated automatically:

  **SERMON EVENT READY**```Audience: 53 peoplePotential New Members: 5Estimated XP Gain: 230-260Success Chance for Conversions: 71%RECOMMENDATION: Deliver with passion. This is an optimal moment.```

  Aldric took a deep breath, letting the Goddess's guidance fill him. He knew exactly what to say. Exactly how to structure his words. The divine sight showed him the path, and he needed only to walk it faithfully.

  "Brothers and sisters," he began, his voice strong and clear. "Today I want to speak to you about divine guidance. About how the Goddess, in Her infinite wisdom, shows us the way forward—even when we cannot see the full picture ourselves."