The High Priest walked over, looked at the pile and sighed in disgust.
"There is always one pair that doesn't listen, no matter how much you tell them. You see, those two don't like carrots, so they won't eat the stew. I wondered where it was going if they weren't eating it."
Karl was surprised at the revelation. "You know, they all think nobody is watching them at dinner."
All the clergy present began to laugh at that, and one of the rescue team members from the Inquisition winked at Karl.
"There are cameras in the room, we watch from the security station. It's the same in your Academy, all the public areas in both academies have cameras, in case of accidents or incidents." He explained.
Karl nodded. That was something that he already knew, and the Elite Academy didn't bother to hide. Of course, the Seminary Academy probably didn't hide it either, they just didn't go out of their way to tell anyone.
"Karl, was it? Can you ask this fine gentleman to kneel so you can put a bridle on him and then climb on his back for a short walk?" The elderly High Priestess asked with a head tilt toward the horse.
Karl picked up the mass of leather straps from the hook on the stall and tried to determine how it was used, while he was certain that the horse was laughing at him.
"Don't be like that. What way does it go on?" Karl asked, as he activated the training skill, with the question directed at the horse, who stuck his nose into the contraption and grabbed the bit between his teeth.
"You will want him to let to of the bit so you can tighten it properly, but that's the right way." The old woman explained, sounding shocked as Karl finished the work.
The horse didn't give him any trouble, and when Karl tapped his side and willed him to kneel so he could get on, the animal complied easily.
He hopped on top, and the horse stood back up, much to the surprise of everyone gathered.
"Alright, you said for a walk, right? Everyone else went out that door, should I follow?" Karl asked.
The horse was about to simply go, but the Inquisition team member held up a hand to stop them.
"How did you do that?" The man asked.
"Do what? I have an Awakened Physique, I could have hopped on his back without him kneeling, but this way was more gentle."
Karl's confused answer brought smiles to the faces of the two elderly clergy.
"I get it now, I get how the skill works. You use it, and they learn what you want them to know, but it's all up to their understanding. But the level of compliance is remarkable. It's like you're naturally attuned to animals." She exclaimed.
"It's a trained horse. I don't think it's all that impressive for it to know how to get its own bridle on." Karl replied.
She shook her head. "Not that one. They haven't started training it yet. It attacks its students every time that they try."
Now Karl was certain that the horse was laughing at them.
[I agree, he thinks that you're all idiots.] Thor joked.
[Do you speak horse?] Karl asked.
[Who needs to? You can see it in the body language. He's seen it all a thousand times before, he knows the whole routine, he just doesn't like the idiots that they keep sending to him.]
"My Cerro says that the horse probably learned all the routines ages ago and just doesn't like his handlers. I will take him for a walk, if you'd like, and then bring him back." Karl offered.
"Your Cerro? Who is Cerro?" The older priest asked.
"His Lightning Cerro, one of the three tamed beasts he has gained with his class abilities. Its name is Thor, I believe." The Inquisitor replied before Karl could find a polite way to answer.
"Interesting. Well, if your animals need a place to graze, we have an open field on the north side where they shouldn't spook any of the livestock." The old priest explained.
"They have a separate space to relax, thanks to my Class Skill. But I do appreciate your offer." Karl replied politely.
"Well then, enjoy your ride, and try not to let the cat get underfoot. He's been bothering us to let him out to see you all afternoon." The old man grumbled, while the Priestess and the Inquisitor hid their smirks.
Karl rode out into the training field, where the others were slowly walking with their horses. His dappled mount began to prance a little, and Karl laughed.
"Fine, but don't play too rough, we don't want to hurt anyone." He agreed, letting the horse trot around the field full of shocked students, many of whom were struggling to control their animals.
"That's cheating. It has to be cheating." The blonde from his table complained as Karl's horse walked past where she was standing, while her partner struggled to convince the horse that walking was more interesting than the grass along the fence line.
"I'm not giving any advice, I have no idea what I'm doing." Karl warned them, making the girls laugh as he kept moving around the field.
His mount didn't want to be outside for long, and soon it was looking back toward the stable, where Karl could see that the stable hands had put out fresh bedding and cleaned the stalls while the animals were out.
"Alright, let's go back." Karl agreed, riding back into the barn and hopping down at the gate.
He opened it, and the horse stepped inside, then pulled the door shut for Karl to latch.
"He's smart. For the record, I didn't teach him any of that last bit, he already knew."
"We guessed that. But if you would like to come with us, the church has a reward for the both of you, in recognition of your help finding the Holy Relic. The rest of your team is already there." The Elderly High Priestess explained.
"Of course, sorry to have kept you all."
The woman just shook her head. "It was good to see that one get out. We will have the animal handling teachers put the troublesome students in remedial classes. With so many students lately, it has been challenging to keep up with everything.
Back when I was a young Priestess, there were only thirty students in total here. Thirty. Now there are better than three hundred, with all the ones from the Serum."
Ten years ago, she would already have been counted as an old woman, moving toward retirement from active duties outside the compound. The development of the Serum must have come as a huge culture shock for someone her age, who had lived a lifetime without it.
They walked through the building toward an isolated building furthest from the student dorms and the mess hall while the Priestess told stories of her peaceful youth here, training scribes and healers, then stopped when they saw all the other students waiting for them to arrive.
"Good. Now we are all gathered, so we can discuss the important matters. Please come inside and have a seat. This won't take long, but there is no reason not to be comfortable." She informed the group, with a suddenly gentle smile.
It was obvious that she still saw everyone here, including the younger Priests and the Inquisitor, as children, but then compared to her, they were. If she hadn't devoted her life to the church, she would probably have great-grandchildren by now.