《Requiem of the Perished One [Cultivation, Epic Progression Fantasy]》 Requiem of the Perished One Launch As the prophecy proclaims, 1000 years of desolation must pass before the Perished One is born in a great empire and journeys to salvage humanity at the cost of his own life. In a world where dragons soar over urban cities, where magical cards can summon ancient creatures, and where orthodox churches rule, lives Caelum; a young man aspiring to become a powerful Seer, who finds himself twisted in this age-old prophecy. It is said that the Perished One will perform miracles, bring the dead back to life, establish a great kingdom and unite lost souls with whom he will rise against the Gods before his prophesied end. However, unbeknownst to the prophecy, Caelum is born in a great empire... ...to rewrite destiny.
What to expect: If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. - A slow burn story that focuses on character development and consistency. - A long story. I spent over a year planning this series out from start to finish. Each volume will be longer as the story progresses. - Gods, churches, and mysticism. Be ready for a lot of mystic symbolism. - Meaningful progression: The MC makes mistakes and has to learn/study the magic system before mastery. - A different kind of card-based magic system that isn¡¯t explained all at once. - Detailed and complex lore/world building as you read through the story. - A lot of mysteries to uncover. - A meaningful cast. Side characters and antagonists matter. Everyone has their own story that will intertwine with the greater tale. For example, character motivations that will result in compelling dynamics.
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Chapter 1: The Shenanigan -(1902: West Ventoria)- Dozens of airships fled through the skies above the medieval-looking city, each with its own unique appearance, ranging sizes and structures. One of those ships contained two brothers. One was named Caelum; a bright-spirited young man dressed in a loose white shirt with slack black pants, wearing a good sum of vintage wristbands and two antique necklaces made of twine. He had a smooth olive complexion. Short white hair with light purple eyes which only further accentuated his unique appearance amongst the people of Ventoria. His older brother, Vaelen, wore a similar, yet more collected attire. He sported a loose white blouse with black, form-fitting pants. He, too, had quite a striking appearance. Curly long black hair which underscored his overall slender, androgynous frame. A more tanned complexion and dark brown eyes. His voice, as opposed to Caelum¡¯s, was deep. Within a narrow pathway, Vaelen watched Caelum climb up a ladder leading towards the deck of the ship they were in, sighing in annoyance as Caelum said, ¡°Keep an eye out for me, will ya?¡± ¡°For goodness¡¯ sake¡­¡± Not bothering to consider Vaelen¡¯s obvious opposition to his plan, Caelum let out a cheerful smile as he climbed, twisting the wheel of the iron hatch open. As he pushed it open, the outside breeze caused his hair to flutter. Caelum continued to climb, eventually standing on the deck. The beautiful view of the city spread out before his eyes once more, standing as tall as the ancient-looking buildings of stone, mixed with more modern, concrete-made structures. Chirping birds flew past him as he spread his arms wide in the air, chanting with a loud tone, ¡°This is what freedom must feel like! Ever thought of how unrestrained birds have to be, Vae?¡± Vaelen, still inside the moving ship, turned his head towards the left, widening his eyes in fright with a gasp, as he saw a robust, middle-aged man wearing a flat modest hat storming towards him, shouting his name with a thunderous tone. As he closed the distance between them, barely making his way through the narrow pathway, Vaelen was forced to climb up the ladder as quickly as he could, closing off the door behind him as his hair and attire fluttered in the wind. Caelum¡¯s face turned thoughtful, as he asked him, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Vaelen began, firmly shutting off the door with the outer wheel. ¡°Hank¡¯s on our trails!¡± Caelum clicked his tongue as both he and his brother looked around, trying to find a tall enough building they could latch onto. This was until Caelum noticed a stone parapet connected to a building coming closer. As Hank managed to steer open the door, he peeked his head out of the crevice and shouted for them to return, shaking his fist in the air. The two brothers then ran towards the extent of the deck as the ship came closer to the stone parapet. With a final turn towards the middle-aged man, Caelum exclaimed chucklingly, ¡°Sorry, Hanks!¡± and followed Vaelen as the both of them took a big leap towards the rampart. Caelum was the first to climb his way up the low wall, afterwards helping his brother get on the platform. They both looked at the ship passing them by, Caelum smilingly waving at the man with nervously closed eyes. He then turned around, discerning the large open central space surrounded by a U-shaped building, much reminiscent of a courtyard building. He soon realized that they found themselves standing in one of Ventoria¡¯s libraries, which meant that a certain person they would never wish to encounter at this moment could very much be present on that day. Nevertheless, Caelum shrugged and walked towards a wooden door to the right side, turning towards Vaelen as he held the door¡¯s knob. ¡°Let¡¯s get inside.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Vaelen said, reaching out his hand. ¡°What if she finds us?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s just go!¡± Vaelen let out an exasperated sigh as he followed his brother into the building. The both of them ran through myriads of Victorian-esque corridors comprising bust sculptures, paintings of important figures, and servants whose eyes followed the passing figures of the two shenanigans. They eventually made it to a large closed ornate wooden door, presumably leading towards their escape, however, right as Caelum stretched his hand towards the door¡¯s knob¡­ ¡­The both of them levitated in the air as if an invisible string suddenly pulled them upwards. ¡°Halt, the both of you.¡± ¡°Damnit,¡± Caelum said, clicking his tongue. Vaelen looked at him with a disappointed expression. ¡°See? I knew taking this route would be troublesome¡­¡± The one walking towards them was Helvega, now thirty-two years old. It seemed she ensured her health as she never lost the glamour on her smooth pale skin. Her monotone dark brown eyes were still bereft of illumination, and she kept her frequent sedated facial expression from her youth. She was dressed in a form-fitting white Victorian shirt with loose sleeves, sided with black pants that gracefully outlined her slender figure. Her snow-white hair never lost its grace, and she was now wearing a set of glasses. Her voice, as opposed to over a decade earlier, had a significant change. It was now deep but harmonious. The capability to entrance anyone listening to her if she wanted to. With a serious, but bothered tone, she spoke to them, crossing her arms. ¡°Let me guess. Got chased around by a ship owner for trespassing on their property?¡± Caelum let another nervous smile tug at the corners of his lips, closing his eyes. ¡°¡­We won¡¯t do it again¡­?¡± ¡°You can wipe that smirk off your face,¡± Helvega said, turning her back towards them as they both plummeted onto the ground. ¡°I needed some help with cleaning one of the rooms, anyway. Come with me.¡± They both wiped the dust from their clothes and struggled their way through a large hallway, following their older sister towards their destination. It was a regular librarian''s room, albeit quite dishevelled, with books scattered across the tables and ground, which prompted the two brothers to sigh disgracefully after Helvega shut the door behind them, leaving them to care for the chamber. As Vaelen proceeded to do as told, collecting books from the ground and tables, Caelum crashed on one of the wooden chairs, nonchalantly resting his feet on the table. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one on the chin, Vae,¡± he then yawned, stretching his arms wide in the air. ¡°I¡¯m wayyy too tired for this, though¡­¡± ¡°Too tired?¡± Vaelen said, raising his left eyebrow. ¡°You seemed quite energetic minutes ago.¡± ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s when I don¡¯t have to deal with crap like this!¡± Caelum then leaned forward, snatching a book from the table. It had an old, dark green facade and a weathered outline. With its title written in gold as the cover. ¡°The art of the Gaian Creed¡­¡± he began, turning to the first page. ¡°Saint Avarion, the Founding Father of the Gaian prominence¡­ Yada yada yada! How do people manage to memorize things they read about, anyway?!¡± ¡°Oh, come on, Caelum,¡± Vaelen sighed, looking at him over the shoulder as he carried a handful of books. ¡°The Inquisition happens tomorrow. You should at least know some aspects of our history and how one of the Gaian Saints managed to turn the temple into what it is today.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! He then placed the pile of books on the table, resting his right elbow on the little tower he made. Looking at Caelum with his left hand on his hip. ¡°He has become the prime example, not to mention the central pillar for anyone who wishes to become a part of the Creed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, smart face,¡± Caelum retorted, closing the book shut as it let out a thumping noise, and a gush of a pleasant aroma brushing against his face. ¡°I am surely prepared for what is to come!¡± He then jolted himself back to his feet, raising his arms in the air as he walked around the chamber in circles. ¡°We¡¯ll finally be getting our Grimoires! What do you think mine will look like? I am guessing a bow or something among the lines of anything resembling the armaments of my soul soaring the skies!¡± ¡°I can see you holding a bow,¡± Vaelen said, placing the books on the shelves. ¡°Whether or not you will actually manage to master one is the real question.¡± ¡°Oh, shoo! I¡¯m a quick learner! Besides, becoming an Awakener isn¡¯t my end goal, anyway. Becoming a Seer is.¡± ¡°A Seer, you say? Well, good luck reaching the summits being as airheaded as you currently are.¡± ¡°I am capable,¡± Caelum said with a ferocious tone. ¡°I will prove it right now!¡± He walked towards a corner, far right from Vaelen, and grabbed two wooden poles resembling swords. After denying several times, Vaelen had no choice but to accept his brother¡¯s duel. They stood adjacent to each other, firmly holding their weapons as dust particles gently floated in the air, with the sun¡¯s ray gracefully bathing the chamber in a delightful, soothing atmosphere. ¡°The battle of the Jinton brothers! The one who loses has to lick the winner¡¯s sole!¡± Vaelen sneered. ¡°Not in a thousand years!¡± as the both of them engaged in their friendly, but fierce battle. They were both considered complete amateurs when it came to swordsmanship as honing one¡¯s sword was never a norm in their homeland. However, this fact did not make the battle any less amusing. Despite having little to no experience, Vaelen¡¯s form seemed a lot sharper and composed in contrast to Caelum¡¯s loose approach. Vaelen leaned backwards, Caelum¡¯s pole narrowly soaring right in front of his face. He then graciously turned his body to the left with great speed and landed a clean backwards slash onto his brother, who could only barely defend himself with his arms to lessen the impact, yet not stopping him from crashing into the bookshelf to his right, the collision causing the many books to fall onto his defeated figure. Vaelen held his pole in front of Caelum, silently acknowledging his victory with a closed smile, as the door behind them burst open¡­ ¡­Revealing Helvega, visibly annoyed, walking into the chamber. ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been ten minutes¡­¡± she frowned, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°It¡¯s okay, sis,¡± Caelum said, standing up. ¡°We were just playing around.¡± ¡°You call that playing around?!¡± ¡°Well¡­ maybe you wouldn¡¯t understand because you probably never had a fun childhood!¡± Vaelen turned towards him, as if non-verbally telling him to apologize. ¡°¡­Sorry, sis.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± She let out a deep sigh and began to arrange some of the books by herself, prompting the two brothers to follow suit. After several minutes, Helvega broke the silence whilst continuing to actively placing the books on the shelves. ¡°And? Are the both of you prepared to become Awakened?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Vaelen responded, standing next to her. ¡°Not sure if Caelum is.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be that challenging,¡± Caelum, standing next to Vaelen said, turning his head towards Helvega. ¡°How was your experience?¡± ¡°Whether the Inquisition is challenging differs from person to person,¡± Helvega began. ¡°In my experience, it was quite the storm to pass through. Most, if not all odds were against me. Ranging from people I had to work with, as well as the ¡®adversaries¡¯ put against us for the quests.¡± ¡°It often stemmed from their resentment towards the Arcane temple. And I, as the daughter of someone who was a prominent member within the ranks of the Arcane Conjurers, was naturally frowned upon. However, a lot of things changed during the past decade. I can safely assume that your experiences won¡¯t be as ¡®confined¡¯ as mine was.¡± ¡°That makes me think, Hel,¡± Caelum began. ¡°You seem capable enough to join the Arcane temple, let alone become a part of the Zephyr Assembly. How come you have devoted yourself to the librarian life so much?¡± ¡°¡­Trust me, I have received a fair number of letters from the Zephyrs regarding their interest in my association. But, at some point in your lives, you will realize what your soul truly yearns for. For me, delving myself into books and the art of knowledge seemed like my place to be.¡± ¡°They sent you letters?¡± Vaelen asked. ¡°They have, but most of them were because of my former affiliation with the Luria Assembly. Since they work alongside Luria for the sake of manufacturing ships, the expertise of people like me is deemed necessary for all sorts of things. Think of compatible materials for, let¡¯s say, a ship¡¯s beak, or the types of blades a ship needs depending on its size.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Vaelen murmured. ¡°No wonder Mother is so proud of who you have become.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Caelum agreed. ¡°You have definitely proved yourself, Helvega, especially after becoming the caretaker of¡­ well, this library for what it is worth. However! It is our turn now!¡± ¡°I am sure you both will surpass me in one way or another, as long as you have each other. I never had the luxury of growing up with a sibling, let alone a sibling with the same age as mine,¡± she said, turning her head towards the two with a closed smile. ¡°Don¡¯t take this blessing for granted.¡± As soon as she ended her words, the door behind them opened once more. The one stepping inside was Miriam, visibly having fallen under the traversal of time. She was dressed in a long, dark brown coat that matched perfectly with her overall attire. She also wore a wide-brimmed hat of the same hue and held a brown suitcase in her right hand. ¡°Everything at bay here?¡± she said with a smile. Helvega turned towards the two brothers, telling them they were allowed to go as long as they wouldn¡¯t cause a ruckus again. With illuminated spirits, they both walked past Miriam whilst respectfully greeting her, closing the door afterwards, leaving the two esteemed figures alone within the modest chamber. ¡°They¡¯re surely filled with enthusiasm, aren¡¯t they?¡± Miriam began, placing her suitcase on the table. ¡°Especially Caelum,¡± Helvega responded. ¡°I don¡¯t know where he got it from, honestly. But, it is good to see two perfectly aligned young souls.¡± ¡°Really makes you think how well off the world would be if people simply aligned with each other¡­¡± Miriam murmured, leaving Helvega silent in response. She then took the word once more. ¡°It¡¯s already been five years since you took over the torch. You left most of your life behind to dedicate yourself to this role¡­ Knowing you¡¯re someone who knows what she wants, I¡¯ve always felt reassured that you will keep the library in good hands.¡± Helvega humblingly lowered her head in a closed smile. ¡°This wouldn¡¯t have been possible without your help, Miriam.¡± ¡°Surely, surely,¡± she chuckled. ¡°But don¡¯t discredit yourself. Having graduated from Ventoria University at nineteen, correspondingly taking the role of the library¡¯s Head at twenty-seven, all whilst having spent six years within Luria, before, at twenty-nine, deciding that it may just not be for you!¡± Helvega chuckled. ¡°¡­My younger self would fill buckets with tears if she knew I didn¡¯t want to work for the assembly anymore. I guess life can really be spontaneous sometimes.¡± ¡°True!¡± she said. ¡°Besides, how¡¯s Aurora doing? Isn¡¯t it challenging for her to take care of two young boys whilst dealing with sickness?¡± ¡°She is quite the persevering woman¡­¡± Helvega began, her voice turning solemn. ¡°On top of raising Caelum and Vaelen, she never really gave up searching for Emon. Even though I repeatedly told her to just¡­ give up and move on, she never considered it.¡± ¡°I know what kind of relationship she had with Emon, based on what you told me, but¡­ to be this consistent for almost two decades is just¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really get it either, Miriam,¡± she sighed. ¡°Well, she does deserve all of my respect for taking in his kids,¡± Miriam said. ¡°They would have definitely been put in worse life conditions, especially given the CA hasn¡¯t been quite ¡®welcoming¡¯ during the recent years.¡± Helvega sighed once more. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to visit her after I¡¯ve finished some tasks here.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t distract you any further. It¡¯s time for me to head off, too.¡± ¡°Surely. I¡¯ll see you at another time.¡± ¡°Take care, Helvega!¡± Miriam made her way out of the chamber, finding herself within a hallway comprising a myriad of bust statues, and dozens of ornate windows lined up across the walls, bathing the hall in the sun''s gentle glow. She slowly walked through the hallway, her footsteps echoing throughout the space, as she opened the door to her mind. I¡¯ve only met the man a few times¡­ During important discussions regarding the Monlay and Luria Assemblies. He seemed like a very¡­ charismatic and well-spoken man. For someone like him, Luria¡¯s First Administrator, to disappear, right after giving birth to his children, right after being given the throne of Luria, right after his life was facing a prominent change¡­ It simply seems unlikely. And I believe this may have been a strong motive for Aurora to continue her search for him¡­ Chapter 2: The Gaian Temple Later that day, Caelum and Vaelen sat together with Aurora at the dinner table after having nourished themselves. It now only comprised a teacup perched in Aurora¡¯s slightly wrinkled arms. The traversal of time, as well as other disturbances, seemed to have taken an effect on her physical appearance. The luminosity her face had once been embellished in was no more, all left a shell of the woman she once was. Her once beautiful brown hair appeared weathered, the hue of grey overtaking most of her tresses. Her face was wrinkled, shallow, with hollow cheekbones accentuating the state of her fragile body. She was dressed in a silk, loose robe-like coat of white hue over the brown shirt underneath. The space itself seemed to mirror the comfortable atmosphere. Dark, sturdy wooden surrounding walls carrying paintings of the three when they were younger. A crackling fireplace was also present, broiling calmly in the background before Aurora took the word, staring at her cup with a closed smile. ¡°Time goes so fast, don¡¯t you boys think? You were both so¡­ small and oblivious¡­ And now¡ªlook at you, starting your journeys at the Gaian temple.¡± ¡°Not only that,¡± Caelum chimed in from her right. ¡°But Seers!¡± ¡°There he goes again¡­¡± Vaelen sighed from her left, facepalming, to which Caelum responded, ¡°Mom, if you had to choose between one of us, who would you reckon to be the strongest?¡± Aurora let a bittersweet chuckle escape her lips. ¡°I always saw the both of you as the sun and moon. When you wanted to play outside and cause a ruckus, Vaelen always sought after staying inside with me reading a book or the sort.¡± ¡°Not¡­ quite the answer I was looking for¡­¡± Caelum sighed as Aurora continued. ¡°A good metaphor I can think of right now¡­ A wooden ship. I imagine you, Caelum, being the one rowing the vessel, whilst Vaelen is steering it. You may have the strength, but it will only go so far without proper guidance. The same goes for the wheel¡ªit serves no real purpose without any fuel.¡± ¡°I like that idea,¡± Vaelen smiled. ¡°Caelum could never survive without me.¡± ¡°Not a bad metaphor, indeed,¡± Caelum added. ¡°This world seems crazy enough as it is. You would definitely lose your mind if I wasn¡¯t by your side.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Vaelen began, looking at Aurora with his arms crossed. ¡°How are you doing besides, Mom? Are the medicals helping you well?¡± ¡°They are, yes¡­ Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Resigning from a position many could only dream of was always going to be your best choice, so if you still feel any regrets, don¡¯t. I genuinely think you would have been far worse off if you still had to deal with the Assembly.¡± Aurora¡¯s eyes turned even darker than they were before as if Vaelen¡¯s words struck a deep nerve within her. ¡°¡­Luria¡­ has deteriorated.¡± Both Caelum and Vaelen squinted their eyes in contemplation. The silence prompted Aurora to continue her anecdote. ¡°I can only tell you both since you are my sons¡­ It is the truth. Ever since a certain person rose to power, things changed drastically within the ranks.¡± She then took a deep sigh, preparing herself for her next words. ¡°Did I not tell you about a man who I considered a close friend?¡± ¡°Ah, what was his name again?¡± Caelum asked. ¡°Dark, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Vaelen added, to which Aurora slowly nodded, taking a sip from her tea as if gulping down the palpable emotions that tried to escape her body. ¡°¡­Yes, his name was Dark. Soon, after a man who went by the name Phineas Leander rose to prominence, Dark passed away. It was prior to Leander¡¯s knowledge that Dark wished to become the First Administrator of Luria. His death was labelled as a suicide, and Wilfred¡ªLeander¡¯s right hand¡ªwas given the role instead.¡± She then continued, lowering her head slightly. ¡°¡­I knew Dark well. He never showed any suicidal tendencies. I was always sceptical about Leander for albeit shallow reasons, but I never forgot the words Dark told me about the man. He was never to be trusted¡­¡± ¡°Soon afterwards, key figures within the Assembly who publicly opposed Leander¡¯s ideals were all either disposed of or killed, much like how I believed Dark met his end. Especially after¡­¡± Aurora stopped herself from finishing her sentence, taking another deep sigh whilst staring into her warm cup. ¡°¡­Sorry, I got taken away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom,¡± Vaelen said calmly. ¡°I am sure he is in a far better place now, watching over you with a smile. You don¡¯t have to deal with the Assembly anymore, so just rest enough and be soon rejuvenated.¡± She remained silent in response, as Caelum added, his back now leaning against the chair¡¯s support, contemplatively staring into the distance. ¡°¡­If people like us could make a change¡­¡± ¡°Bringing a change to a theocracy?¡± Vaelen said, knowing what his brother had in mind. ¡°As democratic as Ventoria may seem, in reality, it could not be any further from that idea. The people in power will forever remain in power because that has already been preordained even before their birth. People are born to be successful, wealthy, adequate¡­ That is how the world works.¡± Caelum ticked his tongue in annoyance. ¡°What does a theocracy even mean?¡± Vaelen then responded, fully turned towards Caelum¡¯s direction. ¡°You know the temples and churches? Those are institutions that hold the greatest power and influence in this world. The Assemblies like Luria, Zephyr, and Monlay, are all acolytes of the central church, as well as the temples associated with a country. For us, Denevians, the church of Urdall is the central embodiment of the country¡¯s role and purpose within Livayae.¡± ¡°However, with the sheer amount of churches and their temples scattered across the world, they all serve as planets orbiting around the dominant sun, the greatest church of them all; the Golden church. It is the Golden church the entire world gravitates towards. Theoretically speaking, the entirety of Livayae could be considered a theocracy.¡± He then continued, his voice slowing down, sounding a lot more calm and collected as he lowered his head. ¡°Bringing a change to Ventoria is equivalent to plucking a single grass leaf in the hopes of stripping an entire field naked. Everything was already destined to be when All created this world.¡± Aurora could only stare aimlessly into the distance as she listened along. Caelum looked at Vaelen and began to speak in a rebellious tone. ¡°So? You think changing the world is impossible when people like me exist?¡± He then stood up, confidently looking at Vaelen, who, alongside Aurora, looked at him with silently surprised expressions. ¡°Remember this well, Vaelen. I will change the world. In one way or another!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Vaelen chuckled, crossing his arms. ¡°Well, you won¡¯t be able to do that alone, then.¡± ¡°Which is why I have you, Vaelen!¡± Aurora then finally chimed in, a closed smile forming on her face. ¡°As long as the two of you are together, nothing, not even the greatest powers in this world will be able to tear you apart. You should cherish this gift in your lives for having a sibling who loves you just as much as you love them.¡± ¡°Of course I do! Isn¡¯t that right, Vae?¡± Vaelen chuckled, closing his eyes. ¡°Right, right. It is getting late. We should be heading to bed now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even have to remind you two myself,¡± Aurora tittered. ¡°Since your sister will be picking you both up tomorrow, I won¡¯t be able to see you off, sadly. But¡­¡± She raised her head to meet Caelum¡¯s eyes and then turned towards Vaelen with a bittersweet smile. ¡°¡­Promise me that you will pay me visits every now and then.¡± ¡°No worries, Mom,¡± Vaelen said, patting her hand, as Caelum gently brushed her back with his hand. ¡°We will be sure to do so as often as we can!¡± ¡°Thank you¡­ Sleep well, loves.¡± The two brothers then made their way to the upper level after saying their goodbyes to their mother. Aurora¡¯s face turned contemplative once more, taking a sip from her now coldened tea. *** The next day arrived. The two brothers, as Aurora had foretold, never had the chance to be properly seen off, however, their new, eagerly anticipated journey awaited them. Alongside Helvega, who was dressed in a long black coat that blended seamlessly with the black shirt and pants she wore, stood before the main gates leading into the Gaian temple. The threshold was connected with towering, grandiose walls stretching from both directions, as well as a large bridge they traversed. Two guards wearing dark green leather armour opened the gates, unveiling a medieval-like town eagerly awaiting their first steps inside. ¡°Here we are,¡± Helvega said, taking a deep breath. ¡°Do you both have everything you need? If you tell me now, I can quickly make my way back home and bring the things you¡¯ve forgotten.¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks!¡± Caelum said as Vaelen added the same sentiment. ¡°Well then, let us go.¡± An ornately decorated room housed two important individuals conversing with each other. One was a young woman, Eunice, clad in a dark brown suit that sharply contrasted with her white hair. She had a carefree demeanour, standing in front of one of the large arched windows with her arms crossed behind her back. ¡°This year¡¯s Inquisition is bound to be quite the spectacle, don¡¯t you think, Simeon?¡± Behind her, a man, also dressed in a dark brown suit, sat on the centre wooden table. His demeanour appeared substantially more ¡®serious¡¯ than hers. Sharp eyes, short, well-groomed blond hair, and a semi-muscular frame. He sighed, closing his eyes, as he responded, ¡°While my hopes aren¡¯t high, it is bound to be a special one, indeed. This will be the fifth year of our service to the Gaian temple, and I can comfortably say that this will be the most anticipated one we¡¯ve been a part of to date¡­¡± ¡°It may have actually been a good idea to properly disperse the students for the sake of the family members to remain with each other. Flock of Veils houses members of the Yraemonde family, brought under my supervision, whilst you have been given the responsibility over Pale Fangs, the group comprising the Heamour family¡ªleaving the third group¡ªJormungandr¡ªin Vash¡¯s hands. The only group consisting of scattered individuals. Not to discredit them, though¡­¡± Simeon leaned over, resting his elbows on his lap. ¡°Luria¡¯s former First Administrator¡­ Emon was his name, no?¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Eunice responded, walking back towards the table. ¡°His two biological sons are participating, although under the Jinton family name. Quite ironic given we are dealing with both the Yraemonde and Haemour families, right?¡± Simeon chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t think much resentment will brew amongst these youngins. The people of Ventoria are very well known to be bohemians. Regardless of their shared history, I assume their elders wish for them to just focus on the Inquisition and that alone, rather than engaging in unnecessary conflicts. This is not Vayonne, nor is it Grudea.¡± The adjacent door in front of Simeon opened, followed by Vash, a young man appearing quite dishevelled, with unkempt long brown hair, a stubble, and a loose dark brown suit detailing his tall and slender frame. He smiled with closed eyes, waving at them both friendly. ¡°Sorry for being late, guys!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Eunice said, crossing her arms in front of her. ¡°The Head Master hasn¡¯t arrived yet. We were in the process of describing this year¡¯s Inquisition.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± Vash began, walking inside. ¡°I do have to thank the both of you again for your hospitality. This is my first time overseeing an Inquisition, so I will be doing my utter best in order to be up to standard.¡± ¡°No worries, Vash,¡± Simeon said. ¡°There have been quite a few adjustments to how the temple decided to hold the Inquisition. Given the status and role of the Head Master within Ventoria, both Eunice and I are confident in believing you were chosen for a good reason.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The door behind Vash opened the moment Simeon finished his words. It was followed by the appearance of a certain man. He was clad in an impeccable red and black suit, carrying his black overcoat in his arms. A tall, and well-defined man in his sixties. His short, blonde hair never diminished its splendour, and the same could be said for his charismatic demeanour and speech. ¡°A good reason it was, indeed,¡± he said with a smile, as Eunice looked at him with great fondness and admiration. ¡°Ah, there you are. We¡¯re glad to have you here.¡± ¡°Likewise,¡± he said. ¡°Let us prepare for the opening ceremony. There¡¯s not much time left.¡± Caelum, Vaelen, and Helvega eventually arrived at the medieval-esque ceremonial building, with green vines latching onto its facade. In front of the building, a long, stone-arched gateway was situated. Beneath the gateway, three other individuals stood in front of the wooden door, awaiting the arrival of the two brothers. They were a trio of late teenagers. The tallest, most commanding attention one was a young man named Declan. He was dressed in a dark brown leather, loose-fitting long coat over the black shirt he wore underneath. He had a handsome face, and his hair was short blonde. Next to him was an androgynous young man named Lunar. Someone noticeably shorter than the other two. He was dressed in a form-fitting hooded black tunic. His skin was smooth and pale, and his white tresses were short and curly. His face appeared charming. Not as chiselled as Declan¡¯s, but a lot more¡­ eloquent, in a way. Finally, there was Geneve. A well-built young lady almost as tall as Declan. She had long, crimson-red hair that fell over her shoulders. Her skin was tanned, and she was dressed in a white Victorian blouse with loose sleeves that matched well with her black pants. Her face often seemed serious, and unsocial. Caelum waved at them upon arrival, greeting them all with a joyous tone. Declan walked towards him with a wide smile, patting his back like a proud father. ¡°Look who it is!¡± ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Vaelen said behind Caelum, crossing his arms as he, too, smiled. ¡°Seems like the three of you got ahead of us.¡± ¡°We did,¡± Declan said. ¡°Not too long ago, though.¡± ¡°Let me guess, did Declan bring you both here?¡± Caelum asked, looking at the other two. Lunar stepped towards him with his arms crossed behind his back. ¡°He did. It wasn¡¯t necessary to bring guardian figures since we only needed to have our identities confirmed.¡± He then raised his head to meet Helvega¡¯s eyes. ¡°Though, it seems like your sister brought you here. It is a honour to meet the caretaker of Ventoria¡¯s greatest library here, within the clutches of the Gaian temple.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she smiled. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be able to locate the ceremonial room without my aid, anyway.¡± She then took an uplifted breath as she looked at Geneve, who also stepped into their bubble. ¡°Do the three of you know about the upcoming procedures?¡± ¡°As far as I know¡­¡± Geneve began. ¡°We¡¯ll be given keys to our dorms at some point, as well as the Initiation Ritual that will take place soon after settling in.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Helvega nodded. ¡°It seems that the other groups have already gathered, given you are all the only ones outside the building. I will have to stand by the background, so this will be the last time we¡¯ll see each other for a little while.¡± ¡°Thank you for bringing us,¡± Vaelen responded. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to visit both you and Mother as soon as we can.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that for now,¡± Helvega smiled. ¡°You can think about visiting us after you¡¯ve done your necessities.¡± She then turned to the other side, passing a final wave before walking towards the adjacent building, where parents or guardian figures were to spectate the ceremony. Declan took the word after silence seeped into their bubble, folding his hands. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but eavesdrop on some people who apparently already knew about the other students. It seems like we¡¯ll be dealing with members from prominent families.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Caelum sounded, raising his eyebrows, as Lunar added, lowering his head. ¡°Apparently, people from both the Yraemonde and Haemour families are participating in this year¡¯s Inquisition.¡± His words caused Vaelen to squint his eyes. ¡°Yraemonde¡­¡± Lunar then turned towards him. ¡°Ah, you remember?¡± ¡°I do. I am quite well-versed in the history of our family, the Jinton family. For as long as the Jintons and Yraemondes were established, they, in essence, initiated many wars against each other for the sake of Grudea, the homeland of the Jinton family.¡± ¡°However,¡± he continued. ¡°It went far deeper than just that. The two then acknowledged Heads, during the fourth Age, were known to have a deep-seated hatred and resentment towards each other. For centuries, the Yraemonde sought after the destruction of Grudea so that it would correlate to the downfall of the Jinton family.¡± ¡°But, at a grander scale-wise, none of their plans ¡®really¡¯ succeeded mostly because of the alliance between the Jinton and Haemour families. This resulted in even more conflicts between Haemour and Yraemonde primarily within Vayonne, the homeland of the Yraemonde family.¡± Lunar then crossed his arms, adding to Vaelen¡¯s anecdote. ¡°Makes you quite curious as to how this Inquisition will play out, no?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out later,¡± Geneve said, opening the door. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡± *** The group was met with a small threshold with three different pathways leading towards different directions. Geneve took the lead, walking onto the left verge as the others followed suit. After several moments, she opened a second door which led right into the heart of the ceremonial room. It was a wide, empty vast space that only comprised wide, lengthy balconies for the guardians and parents to stand on. Helvega was to be seen alongside just two other individuals. A middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman, both dressed in dark, Victorian suits. The two other groups were indeed also present. Standing at the far right, and far middle of the space. Whilst most of them did not mind the arrival of the third group, one of them, a young man, dressed in a brown suit with a leather hat over his curly blonde hair turned his pupils towards them. The moment his eyes were met with Caelum¡¯s figure, he couldn¡¯t stop the corners of his lips from curling up in a closed smile. Caelum and the others respectively took their stance at the left, as their attention was lured towards the centre of the room, where another balcony stood, allowing for the Head Master to step inside¡­ ¡­Helvega, standing above, held a rather composed demeanour until it all shattered as soon as the Head Master stepped inside. Her eyes widened, her mouth left ajar, as sweat began to rise from beneath her skin. Phineas, dressed in an ancient, dark green layered robe that was engraved with intricate carvings, revealed himself from the shadows. Ph¡­ Phineas?! Helvega thought once more. ¡°Welcome to the Gaian Inquisition,¡± Phineas began, his deep voice echoing throughout the large, hollow space. ¡°My name is Roderick Clinton, the Head Master of the Inquisition. It is a pleasure to meet you all.¡± Vaelen squinted his eyes recalling Aurora¡¯s tale from the day before. He then cautiously turned his head to the left to see Caelum looking right back at him, silently mirroring his passive emotion. Phineas cast a quick glance at Helvega, as if he was aware of the tumultuous state of her mind. He then turned his attention back to the students, reaching his right hand in the air. ¡°The time has come for the worthy students of the city of Ventoria to gather and journey towards their Awakening. Given this period is considered a ¡®trial¡¯ procedure, meaning that your capabilities will first be tested, I advise you all to succeed your limits if you want to be someone acknowledged as one of the strongest individuals Ventoria has ever witnessed.¡± ¡°Officially, this is the 250th Gaian Inquisition. Our Saint Avarion¡¯s name shall be cherished, and held in high regard during this sacred period. Given the Gaian Administrative Office already predetermined the groupings, your assemblage shall be titled with a given name, followed by the arrival of your respective masters.¡± After uttering these words, he clicked his finger, commanding a large, arched hole to form on the wall beneath him. From within, the three Masters stepped outside and stood adjacent to each other, silently awaiting Phineas¡¯ guidance. Phineas then turned his head to the far left. ¡°Starting from the Haemour family. You will be given the name ¡®Flock of Veils¡¯, and will be put under the supervision of Eunice Wintermann.¡± Eunice then stepped towards the Pale Fangs and graciously greeted the five group members. ¡°The second group will be titled ¡®Pale Fangs¡¯, Phineas continued. ¡°And it will be held in collection by Simeon Carley.¡± Simeon then stepped towards the group comprising the Yraemonde family, greeting them all with a bright demeanour. ¡°And lastly¡­ we have Jormungandr, who will be taken care of by Vash Duncke.¡± Caelum turned his eyes towards Vash¡¯s approaching figure, who then gave everyone a firm handshake before turning back towards Phineas. ¡°Any possible queries you may have, your Master will be your main guiding point. They will be the ones explaining the upcoming procedures,¡± he said, as he continued, ¡°You will all be staying in three respective dorms. Each dorm consists of all the necessities you may need. Given your short arrival, let your Master guide you all towards your places of accommodation. Station your luggage and settle in before we begin the Initiation Ritual. I will see you all soon.¡± Vash then turned towards the others, speaking in a friendly, whispering tone. ¡°We¡¯ll be going first, follow me.¡± Helvega, still standing above the others, silently watched Caelum¡¯s group depart from the ceremonial room before turning towards an adjacent door leading towards the other building. The two other figures turned their heads towards her with little to no care for her actions. *** Meanwhile, Vash led the group through the town, with pedestrians, most dressed in dark green layered robes passing by. Ancient-looking buildings, their facades evidently eroded with time, serving to accentuate the mystical atmosphere that encapsulated the place. He then turned towards the others, speaking in his usual friendly tone. ¡°Is the place finding you all well?¡± ¡°It exceeded our expectations, truly,¡± Declan responded, to his left. ¡°We were already aware of how the Gaian temple was amongst few others one of the most aesthetically pleasing temples¡ªbut experiencing it firsthand is definitely a stark contrast to the tales we¡¯ve been told.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Vash began, smiling. ¡°We are currently close to the heart of the temple, where the Gaian Creed resides. The temple primarily consists of three separate locations: the threshold, where anyone interested in our culture and methodology is welcome to enter. Often visited by children or students under the age of eighteen.¡± ¡°Secondly, we have the Inquisition. This is where everything regarding one¡¯s Inquisition occurs, given its advantageous location, with a few gates leading straight towards the Great Eastern Forest, the place where most of your quests will happen.¡± ¡°Lastly, we have the Creed, the holiest of places, where those who succeeded the Inquisition and wish to delve deeper into the Gaian phenomenon are allowed to enter. It is there where the Creed, as well as the Ruler of the temple, reside. The only times when the Creed is open for outsiders is during special and honoured ceremonies, such as the Gaian Requiem, where fallen soldiers, who served the temple, are memorialized and sent to the eternal Continuum.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Lunar said, placing two fingers under his chin. ¡°So that was it. I always assumed the Gaian temple was just one massively-scaled place.¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Vash responded. ¡°Most temples are built this way. This is why, when people comment on the state or situation of a temple, they will most likely refer to the outer layer. In our case, it would be the threshold. As you may know, given the threshold is situated in Eastern Ventoria, it is not necessarily renowned¡­¡± ¡°¡­But! Let me properly introduce myself,¡± he continued, raising his pointer finger in the air. ¡°You can all just call me Vash. This will be my first time overseeing a group for an Inquisition, so I will be sure to do my best!¡± ¡°That¡¯s reassuring to hear, Vash!¡± Caelum smiled. ¡°Surely!¡± he responded, taking a few moments before continuing as he squinted his eyes at the two brothers. ¡°Caelum and Vaelen, wasn¡¯t it? I learned that both of you were adopted into the Jinton family. Your father, Emon Moreau, was someone widely considered to be one of Ventoria¡¯s most successful individuals. But you must have heard thousands of tales about his adventures at this point.¡± Caelum, still smiling with closed lips, lowered his head as he responded, ¡°We don¡¯t really know much about him. Most of what we¡¯ve been told was regarding his role within the Luria Assembly. At the peak of his career, it was said that he was picked to become Luria¡¯s new Head, but it was during that period when he suddenly vanished from existence¡­¡± ¡°The same goes for our biological mother,¡± Vaelen said, mirroring Caelum¡¯s bittersweet crestfallen demeanour. ¡°She died while giving birth to us, which resulted in Aurora taking us in as her own.¡± ¡°But, hey,¡± Declan joined in, patting Vaelen¡¯s back. ¡°That is not to say your current household is any less than Emon¡¯s heritage. Like, seriously, I should be jealous of how well-off the both of you are. Aurora was also a former member of the Assembly, and held an esteemed position as both Emon¡¯s right hand and the Head Overseer of Operations.¡± ¡°Not only that,¡± Lunar added, next to Caelum. ¡°But Helvega, Aurora¡¯s daughter, ended up becoming the Caretaker of Ventoria¡¯s greatest library.¡± He then smiled at the brothers. ¡°Quite the weight of responsibility that has fallen on your backs, no?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Caelum explained, raising his fist in the air. ¡°We will all pave our own paths and reach greatness! Your birth is and will never be an excuse for the dreams you have,¡± he then turned towards his brother. ¡°Is that not right, Vae?¡± ¡°Indeed it is,¡± he nodded, as Geneve from behind chimed in, her arms crossed and eyes closed. ¡°Funny how even our dreams are scattered around, perfectly mirroring our group as opposed to the other two.¡± ¡°The Inquisition was actually supposed to hold around thirty participants, but some prominent changes were made, and the ones left available to be invited just so happened to be you all, as well as the other two groups,¡± Vash said. ¡°The groupings often consist of people from various backgrounds, so this is most definitely a special occasion.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Declan responded. ¡°That, as well as the fact that this is the 250th Inquisition, officially. However, given the Gaian temple is one of the oldest out there, how did people become Awakened under the Gaian influence?¡± A doubtful expression washed over Vash¡¯s face. He, as a Master, was expected to be knowledgeable regarding Gaian history. It was a completely reasonable explanation with a reasonable answer, yet, Vash remained silent for a few moments, casting the question away as he said, ¡°¡­Good question. Perhaps you may find more about the history in one of our libraries.¡± ¡°You guys have libraries here?¡± Caelum sighed. ¡°What¡¯s up with Ventoria and its libraries, man? It¡¯s as if there has to be a library in any corner I turn towards¡­¡± ¡°The main city only has two libraries,¡± Vaelen retorted. ¡°As far as I am concerned, the libraries designated for temples aren¡¯t considered ¡®libraries¡¯, there¡¯s a specific term for that.¡± ¡°They are referred to as Divine Archives,¡± Lunar responded, his arms crossed behind his back. ¡°Places comprising old books and tales regarding any specific temple. However, fragments of their books aren¡¯t limited to the Archives alone. For example, a book containing the history of the Gaian temple can reasonably be found within any regular library due to Ventoria¡¯s alliance with the church of Urdall.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Vash nodded, confidence suddenly alighting his countenance. ¡°Ventoria solely houses the church of Urdall, the central point of the entirety of Deneve. Correspondingly, Urdall¡¯s church has two acolytes, which are the Gaian and Arcane temples. The distribution of the holy books throughout the country stems from the Convention Slate. Have any of you been taught about this specific event?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember,¡± Vaelen said, staring into the distance as a horse-powered carriage passed them, its driver waving his hand in the air in greeting. The group would then arrive at a long bridge that led straight towards their dorm which was now visible in the long distance. ¡°The Convention Slate, in essence, refers to the third Age when the church of Urdall signed a treaty with the two temples to further spread out their alliances. The Slate, currently held within the church, held various agreements stemming from Inquisitions, infrastructures, associations with foreign temples, and the distribution of materials, as well as intellectual resources, which I will assume the allocation of the holy books within the generic libraries stem from.¡± ¡°Seems like someone¡¯s well taught, huh?¡± Declan jested, as Caelum responded, ¡°He¡¯s always like this. It doesn¡¯t outweigh his lack of social skills, though.¡± ¡°Very impressive, young man!¡± Vash exclaimed. ¡°It seems that the Inquisition will be held in good hands!¡± *** Outside the temple, Helvega would have already crossed the bridge leading to the main parking lot. She sat in her car, contemplating Phineas¡¯ appearance. What¡­ is happening? Why is Leander here¡­? Is it not practically impossible to overtake the role of a Head Master at any given time? Why¡­ why is he here?! Urgh! ¡­ There was no mistaking it. That smile, that posture¡­ ¡­Mother has to know about this! Chapter 3: Assemblage The group eventually made their way inside their dorm; a large, expansive house, its interior a mix of medieval and fantastical mystique. The main living room was a vast space that had wooden-made balconies encapsulating the area, its walls embellished with ancient, folk-like carvings. The place was encumbered in a delightful wood mixed with vanilla-esque aroma that brushed against everyone¡¯s faces the moment Vash opened the front door. A few moments later, the group re-assembled within the living room. Each of them sitting in their place with Vash being the only one standing, his hands placed on his hips as he spoke, ¡°Have you all managed to take care of your luggage?¡± ¡°Seems like it!¡± Caelum said enthusiastically. ¡°I thought we¡¯d be placed in some massive school-like building alongside the other two groups. This would by far be the better alternative if we ever had a choice.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Vash nodded. ¡°There are three houses in total situated quite far from each other. We are currently occupying the Western house, whilst the others reside within the Northern and Eastern houses. Each house is grand enough for one to consider their quarters to be just like an entire modest house, so appreciate the privilege while you can.¡± ¡°Surely, surely!¡± Declan added. ¡°But, one question¡­ Are we allowed to bring booze in here?¡± ¡°As long as you keep it sedated, it is allowed,¡± Vash confirmed. ¡°We have taverns and vendors in both the threshold and the Inquisition, so everything regarding food or drinks should be reassured. The leader of your group will also be given a weekly allowance that should cover your daily needs.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Caelum sounded. ¡°Do we have to choose the leader ourselves?¡± ¡°Correct. Given we will not be rushing things, you can all take your time discussing who could be the best fit. In short, the leader will be your group¡¯s representative. They are the ones who will be granted any necessary letter or note from us first. Their role also affects the various quests you will all be doing during the Inquisition.¡± ¡°Regarding the foods and drinks, the storage rooms have already been filled for this week. Within those rooms are notes consisting of every item that has been ordered at that time. Additionally, every morning from eight to ten, afternoon from twelve to two, and evening from six to eight, you will be visited by chefs who will prepare your nourishment.¡± ¡°If you¡¯d like to have something different for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, then make sure to leave a note inside the storage rooms where the food is being kept since that is where they will take all the necessary ingredients from.¡± ¡°Quite fancy, I must say,¡± Lunar responded, his arms crossed. ¡°Are there any specific rules?¡± ¡°Well, there aren¡¯t concrete rules besides common sense as well as the oath you will all have to do again during the Initiation Ritual. The ritual will be your first and only main objective of the day, so if you¡¯d like to further explore the Inquisition, you¡¯re free to do so.¡± ¡°When does the ritual begin?¡± Declan asked. ¡°I will return here at midnight,¡± Vash began. ¡°The ritual itself will not take long, so you don¡¯t have to worry about sleeping too late. After the ritual, we will start a week¡¯s long training focused on mastering your Grimoires. After the training, the actual Inquisition will begin.¡± ¡°Do not fret if this seems like a lot of information. We will be taking the days of the week slowly, as you will learn more about the Inquisition and get a hold of what lies ahead of you.¡± He then walked towards the closed front door, where a small, square wooden bucket hung against the wall. Inside, a wooden flute resided. Upon picking it up, he turned back to the others and began speaking once more. ¡°If anyone has any query or wishes to send a report, you can do so by simply blowing on this flute. This will summon a guiding raven that will lead the way towards the Administrative Establishment, where you will find either me or people who can be of help. Alternatively, you can make the raven send your thoughts, as well.¡± ¡°With that said, are there any questions?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve made things quite clear,¡± Caelum responded. ¡°So you¡¯ll be here at midnight?¡± ¡°Twelve, to be exact. So be sure to occasionally check your clocks.¡± ¡°Is there any procedure we will have to do after the ritual?¡± Lunar asked. ¡°Or will we just return here once we¡¯re done?¡± ¡°The procedure will happen the next afternoon,¡± Vash responded, placing back the flute. ¡°So when you¡¯ve finished the ritual, you ought to return here and rest enough before we start training.¡± ¡°Once more, any other questions?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re good, chief,¡± Declan smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Very well¡­ Ah, I almost forgot¡­¡± Vash chuckled awkwardly. Fishing out a bush of five keys out of his pocket. ¡°Here are the five master keys for each of you. Take good care of them. There are other miscellaneous keys for rooms like the storage room, or bathrooms, all situated inside the chest you see there,¡± he said, pointing towards a wooden and gold chest against the wall behind the couch where Caelum and Vaelen sat. He then opened the door, stepping outside before looking at the others over his shoulder. ¡°Have a good rest of your days. See you all tonight.¡± As he handed his prompt goodbyes, the group was now left within the aesthetically pleasing house. Declan, seated on a singular chair, leaned backwards, his hands behind his head. ¡°Damn¡­ Look at us now, huh?¡± ¡°Took us a few years before we could finally fight to become Awakeners,¡± Lunar chuckled. ¡°But our time is now.¡± ¡°Really good-looking place, as well¡­¡± Caelum murmured, sightseeing the place. ¡°Don¡¯t you think, Vae?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it distract you from your true purpose here, Caelum,¡± Vaelen responded, closing his eyes whilst folding his arms. Caelum smiled as he frowned his eyebrows, responding to him, ¡°Of course, but there¡¯s no harm in having some fun every now and then, right?¡± ¡°Eeeeexactly!¡± Declan shouted, jumping from his chair. ¡°Which is why I think it¡¯d be a great idea to buy ourselves some booze before the shops close!¡± ¡°I would advise against that,¡± Geneve chimed in, also crossing her arms. ¡°At least stuff yourself after the ritual.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Lunar agreed. ¡°We don¡¯t want to have your stench distracting us when we¡¯ll be trying to focus.¡± ¡°Valid excuse,¡± Declan nodded. You may be afraid to get a little loose, but I will never know for sure, I guess.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll head outside, and explore the place a little,¡± Caelum said, standing up. ¡°Anyone tagging along?¡± ¡°Well, someone has to make sure you don¡¯t get lost,¡± Vaelen responded as he stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll close my eyes for a little. You guys have fun,¡± Geneve added, closing her eyes in a sigh as Declan stood up, wrapping his left arm around Caelum. ¡°I¡¯ll come along. What about you, Lunar?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay behind here, as well,¡± Lunar said, standing up. ¡°Just be sure to return before six, got it?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± *** Left alone with Geneve, Lunar walked around the living room, gliding his hand over the furnishments as he spoke with a gentle tone, looking at Geneve, who was still seated comfortably in her chair over his shoulders. ¡°Seems like I wasn¡¯t the only one in need of some rest.¡± ¡°I just had to deal with my sister before heading out,¡± she sighed. ¡°She really has a knack for making you feel worried whether or not she will be fine without you.¡± ¡°Is she getting better?¡± ¡°¡­Kind of,¡± she responded, gazing at the high ceiling. ¡°I gave her instructions for her daily dose of meds. Something tells me she won¡¯t be able to follow it.¡± ¡°We can always head to the main city at any given time,¡± Lunar reassured. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Geneve yawned. ¡°What do you think about the other groups? I could tell you were feeling a little apprehensive when we stepped into that building.¡± ¡°I mean, it¡¯s a new avenue we have been thrown into. I will naturally feel a little tingly when I find myself in a curious space.¡± He then smiled as he walked towards her, his hands crossed behind his back. ¡°We always dreamed of becoming Awakeners, didn¡¯t we?¡± Geneve chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to what our Grimoires will look like. Perhaps a sword or some magical sledgehammer would fit me well.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t set your aspirations in stone,¡± Lunar responded. ¡°It is said that one¡¯s Grimoire is a perfect representation of one¡¯s soul. We are most likely going to be thrown off guard.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± she groaned as she stood up, walking towards the large staircase. ¡°Mind waking me up before dinner?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll see you soon.¡± As Geneve wandered to her chambers, Lunar plunged himself on the couch, resting his head on its cushion support, contemplatively gazing at the ceiling as he murmured, ¡°¡­A Seer, huh¡­¡± -Helvega- Soon after departing from the Gaian temple, I hurriedly drove past the picturesque mountainous freeways, and the narrow, busy medieval-like streets, with a handful of presumably young teenage students casting glances towards me in awe. Some of them waved at me, some of them smiled at me, while some simply stared at my passing car. Considering what their thoughts may be as soon as they saw me was not my priority for my own thoughts were filled on their own. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The Custody Agency was my current objective. It was there where my mother was currently residing for her daily physiotherapy. She was sadly not able to see the two boys off due to this, and my arrival would most likely let questions regarding them ascend her mind¡¯s sea of ponders. However, I was certain that Phineas¡¯ reveal would throw her off guard, and push her worries aside. Caelum and Vaelen were both eagerly awaiting their eighteenth birthday in order to become Awakeners. It reminded me much of how avidly I was looking forward to my Inquisition. Having known them both for their entire lives, I was determined to ensure that their experience wouldn¡¯t be as mine, may it be using my influence as the Caretaker of Ventoria¡¯s library, or measures falling outside that bubble, such as my previous association with Luria. Yet, seeing that man¡¯s pitiful face both disgusted and stunned me. My thought process had just now gradually faded back into my mind like a series of rain falling back onto the earth. And the first thing that came to mind was to visit her. Call it a child¡¯s instincts to retreat back to their parent if you will, but despite holding a large hold of influence within not only Ventoria but a major part of Deneve due to my association with the Monlay Assembly, I felt like my mother would know the best way to deal with that one individual¡­ I knew Phineas was now the most powerful man in at least the entirety of Ventoria. Seeing someone like him serving an Inquisition was simply confusing. It was like seeing the son of Urdall himself attend the library to congratulate the newly appointed Caretaker. Of course, the library, being a Monlay acolyte, has strong ties with the church of Urdall, but it would still feel extremely strange for such an esteemed figure to visit the institution. That was how I felt when I saw him. He was not supposed to be there. He knew that the Inquisition was not a place that required his presence, let alone requiring the owner of Luria himself to become a Head Master of a religious tradition. It was clear to me that something was at bay within the Gaian Administrative Office. Anyone above the age of twenty-five would recognize that face, not only because he currently owns Luria, but also because of his position within Terra Firma. Regardless, I would never, ever, let anyone dare to hurt my siblings, no matter how ¡®important¡¯ or ¡®powerful¡¯ they may seem. And thus, I knew my mother would have the right solution. All I needed to do was simply let her know about what happened. *** The Custody Agency consisted of various departments. Their most well-known department was the one concerning immigrants and the impoverished. Fortunately, that was not my place to go to. Their elderly department was situated quite close to the Luria Assembly, somewhat eastern from the Cyclone Cellar. It was a large, white-walled building with a large entrance in the middle. After parking my car, I went inside and stood before the main reception counter, holding both my hands in the pockets of my black coat, as I spoke to the lady dressed in a white, doctor-like dress. ¡°Excuse me, but could you lead me to Aurora Jinton¡¯s room?¡± ¡°Ah, yes,¡± she said, her pupils suddenly lighting up. ¡°You must be Helvega Jinton, correct?¡± ¡°Indeed I am.¡± ¡°Very well. If you follow the main hallway and take a turn to the left, there is a staircase leading towards the upper level. Aurora¡¯s room is situated at the very end of the hallway on the second level. Room thirty to be exact.¡± ¡°Thank you very much,¡± I responded, making my way towards the upper level. As soon as I got there, another lady, dressed in a black suit that matched her dark brown hair, stood right next to the door leading to my mother¡¯s room, carrying a plate filled with toasted breads and fruits. That was Ylena, mother¡¯s personal assistant. She immediately recognized me as I approached her. ¡°Oh, good afternoon, Helvega. You came at the right time. Your mother just finished with her physiotherapy.¡± ¡°Perfect. Is she in there right now?¡± ¡°She is. I was just about to bring her lunch¡­¡± she said, her tone evidently lowered. ¡°¡­She hasn¡¯t been eating quite well lately, Helvega¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can bring her the food,¡± I responded, taking the plate from the confused lady. ¡°Take some additional break time.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ well, okay!¡± she exclaimed, stepping away. ¡°Please let her know I will be waiting downstairs!¡± ¡°Will do.¡± With a sigh, I gave the door a few knocks and announced myself before stepping inside the simple room. She was sitting on the side of her dark brown bed, dressed in a loose, white patient-like dress. She slowly raised her eyes and smiled as they were met with my figure. I put the plate of food on a nearby counter and took my stance next to her. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you see Ylene in the hallway?¡± ¡°I did. She¡¯s waiting downstairs to bring you back home. How did your therapy go?¡± ¡°It went fine, but I¡¯ve been feeling quite lightheaded ever since the early mornings¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably not eating enough,¡± I responded, putting the plate next to her on the mattress. ¡°Have some of this. Ylene had taken care of providing you with your lunch.¡± She let out a deep sigh and didn¡¯t respond to my words, which prompted me to continue, muttering, ¡°You look like you lost some weight as well¡­ Is Ylene doing her job right?¡± ¡°She is, don¡¯t worry¡­ I¡¯ve¡­ just been a little contemplative lately.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± I said, taking a seat next to her on the mattress. As I looked at her, she aimlessly held her gaze forward. Her face suddenly turned depressing, as if an old but hurtful memory suddenly flashed through her mind. ¡°¡­Nothing. Just your usual daunting period. You should be no stranger to it, I assume.¡± ¡°Sadly not, no¡­ Today has been quite thoughtful for me, as well.¡± ¡°Ah, how did the ceremony go?¡± she asked with an uplifting tone, turning towards me. ¡°Did the boys arrive there safely?¡± ¡°¡­They did, but¡­ something happened.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± I mustered the courage and composure to clearly answer her query. ¡°After arriving at the temple and having the boys reunite with their friends¡­ you¡¯re not going to believe this, but, it seems that Phineas Leander is mastering this year¡¯s Inquisition.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Her mien turned befuddled. Her eyebrows narrowed, mouth left ajar, staring at me in silence, non-verbally telling me to continue. ¡°I know, it sounds awful, yet, it was really him. I saw him during the ceremony. He serves as the Head Master of the phenomenon¡­¡± I then hung my head, as I continued whilst staring into the distance. ¡°I was filled with questions the moment my eyes met his figure. An individual serving as Head Master for any temple requires years of study, teaching, and indoctrination into a Creed. In other words, that position is reserved for those who are committing their entire lives to the orthodoxy of their respective temple.¡± As I said this, I slowly raised my head to meet my mother¡¯s eyes of distress. ¡°We both know that Phineas could never have the time to possibly commit to both Luria and Terra Firma, and be able to spend years in the Gaian temple.¡± ¡°¡­Are you serious that it was him?¡± she asked, as though desperately hoping all of this was a lie or a joke. ¡°You could have mistak-¡± ¡°There was no mistaking it, mother¡­¡± I interjected. ¡°I instantly recognized that voice, not to mention his eerily distinctive face.¡± ¡°Did he see you?¡± ¡°We shared eye contact once,¡± I sighed. ¡°He was smiling at me as if he knew I was going to be there.¡± ¡°Something is going on, mother¡­ He couldn¡¯t have possibly become the Head Master of an Inquisition without having thrown a large bargain on the table. He must have used his large network to come into contact with the Creed and solve things out.¡± She took a few moments to marinate her mind in the newfound knowledge. Sitting with her head lowered silently until she finally opened her mouth once more. ¡°Is he¡­ really doing this?¡± ¡°Hm? What do you mean?¡± ¡°¡­I was always sceptical of him, even during the times when Emon was still around. But, my suspicions of him were set in stone as soon as I found out about Dark¡¯s death¡­¡± *** -The Cyclone Cellar: Seventeen Years Ago- Dressed in my then-usual long white coat over my black shirt, I stood before Zaccheus, who was dressed in a grey sweatshirt that blended well with his long, weathered, dark grey hair, and contrasted sharply against his dark brown pants. We were standing in Zaccheus¡¯ office room; a large, yet simple iron-walled space comprising a large table and dozens of chairs scattered across the place. A large window behind the table allowed for a gentle sun ray to bathe the room in a delicate atmosphere. We were in the middle of discussing our concerns regarding the recent occurrences of that time, more specifically Emon¡¯s disappearance. Zaccheus, seated on the edge of his table, continued his anecdote as I stood before him with crossed arms. ¡°Even though his claims seem albeit structured, it still, somehow, seems flawed to me. It¡¯s as if he knows there are hidden flaws, and is taunting me about it. He knows things we don¡¯t know¡­ but, let me set his claims on the table.¡± He then stood up, both his hands in his pockets, head lowered as I held my gaze at the faraway view of Ventoria on the window. ¡°Emon¡¯s house was entirely robbed, or, better said emptied after his disappearance and the death of his late wife. Phineas would have technically been the second last person to have seen him alive, based on his story. It still baffles me that the Zephyr Assembly never brought Phineas to further questioning, perhaps a trial based on the suspicion that he may be linked to Emon¡¯s sudden disappearance. It is a shame to them, because the truth is literally in front of our eyes¡­¡± ¡°He was brought for questioning once, and that was it,¡± I responded. ¡°They just scrapped the case and gave up as if they weren¡¯t dealing with Luria¡¯s First Administrator. It is like when the Head of the Luminary Bureau suddenly went missing and the Zephyrs didn¡¯t bother to pursue this obvious important case.¡± ¡°But, what can we do about it?¡± I continued. ¡°Phineas is the face of Terra Firma, the largest shareholder and producer of materials both the Luria and Zephyr Assemblies heavily depend on. It wouldn¡¯t be as easy as taking care of a regular citizen, right?¡± ¡°Not only that,¡± Zaccheus began. ¡°But he still holds an esteemed position within the Luminary Bureau. That alone could have been enough for him to get away with actual murder or assassination. That night when Emon was investigating in Eastern Ventoria, I saw Phineas leave the Cellar alongside an unidentifiable figure, clad in a long, black coat with a black hat.¡± He already told this to me. An individual exited the Cellar alongside him on that fateful night. Despite having spent days of frustration and brainstorming on how this could have possibly been tied to his disappearance, at that moment, I felt incensed, and couldn¡¯t help but voice out the annoyance I felt. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense to me, Zaccheus! We held a talk with one of the generals of the Zephyr Assembly, and had you retell exactly that particular part a month ago. Your details could not have possibly just gone over their heads!¡± ¡°¡­Be cautious, Aurora,¡± he said calmly. ¡°If Phineas actually manages to claim the throne of Luria, he will arguably be one of the most powerful people in the world. And that is putting it lightly.¡± ¡°He will have control over both Luria and Terra Firma, not only that but given his close relationship with the elites of the Luminary Bureau, it wouldn¡¯t be too bold to assume he may end up holding a prominent share in influence within that institution, as well.¡± ¡°Apart from Dark, only you and I know the truth. But, I plead to you, Aurora, to not display resentment against him publicly. Because right now, he is more powerful than all of us combined.¡± ¡°Then, what do you want us to do?¡± I asked aggressively, turning towards him. ¡°Do we just watch in silence as the world collapses?¡± ¡°¡­He will not let this world collapse. He once told me that it would only be a matter of time before Ventoria would be changed into a Utopia. Personally, I believe he will seek to not only make Ventoria, but also our country, the greatest land to have ever existed. However¡­ ¡­Anyone who opposes his ideologies will be destroyed because he is the most practical individual I have ever encountered.¡± *** Foreign to Aurora and Zaccheus¡¯ knowledge, a third individual behind the closed door was listening to their conversation. That person was Dark. After hearing Zaccheus¡¯ final words, he bawled his hands into a fist, gulped in fright, and walked off into the hallway. His intentions and thought process were unknown, as that moment would be the very last depicting him as a living man. *** -Helvega: Present Time- ¡°Mother, what will our plan be? I feel worried about the two boys¡­ Phineas knows they are both Emon¡¯s biological sons. That alone should be enough to assume he has something in mind in regards to them.¡± ¡°Be patient, Helvega. We will wait until the boys return home.¡± ¡­I failed to understand her sudden change in demeanour. She was now calm, and levelheaded. I leaned towards her, as I spoke, ¡°But, why? How can we be so sure nothing happens to them?¡± She then stood up and stepped towards the adjacent counter. After pulling its drawer open, she fished out an empty envelope from within and turned towards me. ¡°We will send them a letter in three days. Assuming the procedures have remained the same, it will only be one week until the actual Inquisition begins for the students. Phineas knows this. He is a calculating, cautious man. He knows you decided to come here and initiate this conversation with me. Do you really think he will act on his will and bring the boys to danger this hastily?¡± I remained silent in response, acknowledging her verdict. ¡°Of course not,¡± she continued. ¡°However, that does not mean we should remain still until things happen. Visit Zaccheus and tell him about your encounter, as well as our plan regarding the letter. He will definitely be of help to us. I think he should be at the Cellar right now.¡± ¡°¡­Fine,¡± I said, standing up. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°Rest, and think. I¡¯ll be heading home now, so I won¡¯t be here by the time you¡¯re done with Zaccheus.¡± With a heavy sigh, I responded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see you soon,¡± and opened the adjacent door. She bore a bittersweet smile as she handed her goodbyes. Chapter 4: Exploration -The Gaian Temple- Caelum, Vaelen, and Declan made their way through the vibrant town the Inquisition comprised. Much akin to Western Ventoria, the Inquisition, too, was made of medieval-like buildings, with vendors scattered across the entire area. At one corner, next to an open gate leading further into the town, Alex stood cooking up various different foods. Having caught Declan¡¯s attention, he joyfully waved at the group, prompting the three of them to take their stances in front of his little traversable shop. Vaelen was visibly disinterested in the encounter, as opposed to Caelum, who stood by with a closed smile, watching Declan engage in a friendly conversation with Alex. ¡°Good day!¡± he began. ¡°What may it be?¡± ¡°A pesco for me! The other two aren¡¯t feeling famished right now.¡± ¡°Comin¡¯ right up!¡± As Alex began assembling the Pesco, he threw a few glances towards the two brothers, asking them with a curious tone, ¡°Are you lot the new students here?¡± ¡°We are, yes,¡± Declan confirmed. ¡°We just had the ceremony and are awaiting the upcoming ritual. Are you familiar here? You don¡¯t seem like a Seer to me.¡± ¡°A little, yes. I wasn¡¯t born with Seer characteristics, but I own a small food business in the heart of Ventoria. Been servin¡¯ food for close to twenty-five years now.¡± Alex responded. ¡°I was requested to standby here with my team for a period of time in exchange for a fair bargain. Lucky for you, Pescos are in my field of expertise!¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t wait to try it out, then!¡± After a short giggle, Alex glanced at Caelum, who nervously looked back. ¡°What¡¯s your name, fella?¡± ¡°Caelum, sir.¡± ¡°Caelum? Interesting¡­¡± he murmured, finishing up the Pesco. ¡°You look awfully similar to someone who loved buying my Pescos.¡± ¡°Do you know his name?¡± Caelum asked, already knowing what he was going to respond with. ¡°Emon Moreau! A very handsome but well-reserved fella, I must say¡­¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Caelum smiled. ¡°I often get told this by people who knew him¡­ He is our father.¡± ¡°Oh? Like, the three of you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Declan responded. ¡°He¡¯s their father. I don¡¯t have parents.¡± Vaelen, his gaze wandering off the conversation with crossed arms, was pulled back into the bubble as Alex called out to him. ¡°What¡¯s your name, boy?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Vaelen¡­¡± ¡°I see, I see!¡± Alex exclaimed, handing out the Pesco to Declan, who immediately began indulging himself. ¡°Let me tell you; he was a very quiet man. Never enjoyed talking for a long period of time. The only times I saw him was whenever he would come by the store for some food. I would always try to have a nice talk with the guy, but he would never let me breach his gates!¡± The two brothers remained silent in response as Alex continued. ¡°But, I am assuming you both know about his background, no?¡± ¡°No?¡± Caelum responded. ¡°What background? Do you know anything?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Alex sighed. ¡°His background in relations to the Luria Assembly. Lots of things about him were revealed after his alleged passing. I always knew him as the well-loved teacher at the University, but I never thought he¡¯d be amongst the elites of this world! Surely the two of you must have been adopted into an esteemed family, no?¡± ¡°¡­Esteemed family¡­¡± Caelum murmured. Right before he could answer Alex¡¯s query, two other young gentlemen approached them from Vaelen¡¯s side. One was dressed noticeably more ¡°formerly¡± than the other. A tall, pale-skinned young man with short and curly blond hair. He was draped in a form-fitting dark gray waistcoat that matched well with the gray, wide brimmed hat he wore. Next to him, a shorter, slender gentleman. Dressed in a loose white blouse that contrasted nicely with his short trimmed white coloured hair. He wore a pair of loose, brown-hued medieval pants with no shoes, just his bare feet touching the stoney surface. The taller individual waved joyfully towards them with closed eyes and a wide smile, causing the three to turn towards them, with Declan still munching on his Pesco. ¡°Good day!¡± ¡°Greetings!¡± Declan said with a full mouth, confidently stepping in front of Vaelen. ¡°You must be the person from the second group¡­ Pale Fangs, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± the gentleman responded. ¡°The name¡¯s Qlint. Qlint Marshew. It is nice to meet you all.¡± ¡°Declan. Likewise,¡± he said, shaking his hand as he looked at the shorter individual. ¡°And you are?¡± With a short, firm, and emotionless tone, the young man responded, ¡°Bartholomew.¡± Whilst keeping his smile, Declan couldn¡¯t help but let his face slightly contort into a nervous frown, with both Caelum and Vaelen silently listening along behind him. ¡°Greetings¡­ Is it fine if we keep it to Barth?¡± Bartholomew didn¡¯t respond. He remained silent, aimlessly staring forwards, as Qlint took the initiative once more. ¡°He doesn¡¯t talk much, excuse him.¡± He then turned his head towards the two brothers, and asked kindly, ¡°Besides, what about the other two?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Caelum, and this is Vaelen.¡± ¡°Caelum and Vaelen¡­¡± he squinted his eyes. ¡°Are you brothers of each other?¡± ¡°We are,¡± Vaelen responded, nodding. ¡°How could you tell?¡± ¡°How could I tell? Well, how could I not tell?¡± Qlint responded, causing Alex to smile nervously, turning back to his deeds. ¡°The Cowright Family just had their third-ever foreign individual take control over one of their greatest aspects. Knowing the brothers of Helvega Jinton isn¡¯t that hard.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Vaelen began. ¡°I am assuming the both of you stem from the same family, as well?¡± ¡°Oh, come on, speak more proudly!¡± Qlint jested. ¡°We are blood allies! Well, perhaps you wouldn¡¯t immediately recognize the gravity of this very encounter. It may be our first time meeting each other, but it is a honour.¡± ¡°Likewise. May we have a great time shared together,¡± Vaelen responded. Qlint, together with Bartholomew, walked past them towards the open gate. Qlint then took a stop, looking at the three over his shoulder. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°We will see you all at the academy soon. Take care for now.¡± ¡°Well, let us head back,¡± Declan said, tossing three coins rounding up to five Quills on the counter. ¡°Thank you for the Pescos!¡± ¡°All well!¡± Alex waved. ¡°Good luck on your journeys!¡± As the three walked off, Alex contemplatively stared at the coins in his palms, reminiscing about Emon¡¯s face close to two decades ago. The short but friendly conversation they shared stuck with him deeply after he learned about his supposed passing. Emon¡¯s sons, huh? He turned his head towards the group; Declan walking in the middle, stretching his arms over Vaelen and Caelum as they slowly faded away into the distance. His face turned neutral, feeling as if he should have said a lot more to them despite having only known Emon on a surface-level. ¡°Hm¡­¡± *** [Several minutes later] The three were now traversing the main bridge leading towards their abode. The moment felt particularly tranquil, as none of them were speaking, with only the distant chirping of birds breaking the silence. Caelum¡¯s eyes seemed less illuminative than usual, which Vaelen noticed, compelling him to ask, ¡°Are you well, Caelum?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± he stammered awake. ¡°I am, yeah. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°You just seem a little sedated right now. It¡¯s unlike you.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± he smiled with closed lips. ¡°You¡¯ve always seen me like this. It¡¯s not as if I am running on full energy twenty-four-seven, right?¡± ¡°He just needs to have some good food,¡± Declan yawned. ¡°I don¡¯t know what we¡¯ll be having, but let¡¯s hope it¡¯ll be filling.¡± *** Back within the abode, Lunar stood before the now opened front door with crossed arms, smiling as the three stepped inside. ¡°Right on time, boys.¡± Geneve, sitting on the couch with her arms stretching along the back support, added with a loud tone. ¡°Did y¡¯all have some fun?¡± ¡°We survived. The Inquisition doesn¡¯t seem that different from the usual city,¡± Declan responded. ¡°Has the chef arrived?¡± ¡°She did,¡± Geneve said, standing up while groaning. ¡°We were just waiting for you lot before we can eat.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the dining room?¡± Caelum asked, as Lunar closed his eyes and walked off towards the other end of the living room, a large, open threshold leading towards the other quarters of the building. ¡°Follow me. It¡¯s surprisingly hard to find.¡± They all followed Lunar¡¯s trail until the dinner room materialized before their sights. It was a spacious room with wooden walls on which a number of ornately-carved light bulbs hung upon. The large wooden table in the midst was flanked by a beautiful lady, presumably in her thirties. She was dressed in a white suit that contrasted sharply against her tanned complexion and long, curly dark brown hair. She bore a magnificent smile the moment her eyes were met with the assembled group as she placed the final plate on the table. ¡°Ah, has the group finally reunited?¡± Her beauty was understandably noticeable, however, Declan seemed to have been the most entranced by her appearance. His mouth was slightly left ajar as he watched her approaching them. ¡°Hello! I am Kasey Hungman. I will be the chef serving you your foods for the duration of the Inquisition.¡± Declan took a confident step forward, and stretched his hand out. As Kasey received his greeting, he properly introduced himself, forcing his voice to sound deeper. ¡°I¡¯m Declan, nice to meet you.¡± Whilst Lunar smilingly shook his head, Kasey¡¯s eyes were seemingly just as fond of Declan as he was of her, seemingly acknowledging Declan¡¯s handsome features. ¡°Declan¡­ Likewise!¡± she said, turning towards the two brothers. ¡°And you two must be Caelum and Vaelen, correct?¡± ¡°Indeed we are,¡± Caelum said, nodding with a smile. Following this, Kasey turned towards the table comprising their dinner, stretching out her right arm towards it. ¡°Well, take a seat! I¡¯ve prepared you all some succulent goat skewers marinated in a blend of exotic spices. Additionally, please enjoy some grilled flatbread, and golden rice with yoghurt sauce!¡± ¡°Mesmerizing¡­¡± Declan muttered while the others were taking their seats, standing right next to Kasey, to whom he turned his head to. ¡°You made this all by yourself?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± she chuckled. ¡°Has your Master already inclined you about the storage rooms? I was able to make all of this from the currently stored ingredients. If you want me to make something unique to your liking, just leave a note behind.¡± ¡°Surely, surely!¡± Declan responded. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner? You didn¡¯t make all of this just for us, right?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± she smiled nervously, as Declan gently tapped her left shoulder, causing her to look up to him in delight. ¡°No need to stumble. You made this, so you should be able to enjoy it yourself, too. I¡¯ll get you a plate and a glass.¡± Lunar, seated at the head of the table, looked at Declan with his head slightly tilted to the left. ¡°Do you know where the kitchen is?¡± ¡°Ah, right¡­¡± Declan laughed nervously as Kasey responded, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll accompany him, if you all don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Totally,¡± Geneve said. ¡°There¡¯s enough space for you to join.¡± Kasey then led Declan back into the path he and the others came from, their mingled conversations slowly fading away in the background. Lunar, left with the other three, watched Caelum not partaking in the meal. His voice turned worrying, as he asked him if he was feeling well. Caelum reciprocated with the same response he threw at Vaelen earlier, prompting Lunar to squint his eyes, continuing, ¡°If necessary, get some sleep before we begin the ritual. That¡¯ll help you get out of your hazy state of mind.¡± ¡°Maybe I do need some sleep after this, yeah¡­¡± Declan then walked inside the dining room alongside Kasey, holding her plate and its utilities, whilst Kasey held her glass. ¡°The plate¡¯s been secured!¡± The proceeding evening seemed quite ardent. Kasey appeared to blend well with the students, sharing introductory and miscellaneous conversations, and even Caelum, who appeared tired, was able to let out a few hearty laughs alongside his brother. Their first evening at the Gaian temple went as placid as one could imagine. *** [Several hours later] After Vash¡¯s appearance, the group was led into a special section within the academy. A far-stretching corridor that was dimly lit by ornate light bulbs hanging onto the walls. The five of them were lined up, each standing in front of their own respective closed door. Vash stood at the very end of the corridor with his arms crossed, waiting for his students to marinate their mind into the current occurrence before speaking with a proper, and calming tone, ¡°You may open your doors.¡± Caelum quickly turned his head to the right, exchanging a prompt nod with Vaelen before he opened his door that led towards a spacious, mystical room that was encumbered in a vanilla-like smell emitting from various candles. In the middle of the surface, a large golden eye was painted, its pupil heading upward, pointing towards a second figure standing at the very end of the chamber. An old man, presumably in his fifties, draped in a long, ancient, dark green robe. He held a weathered-looking book in his right hand as he greeted Caelum with a calm demeanour. ¡°Good evening, young man. Are you prepared for the ritual?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Caelum nodded. ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Perfect. Please take a seat with folded legs on the symbol you see on the ground.¡± After Caelum followed suit, the man continued, stepping towards him. ¡°Now, close your eyes, and put yourself into a deep concentration. Attempt to step inside your own mind as you hear my recitations, and surrender yourself to your soul¡­¡± A few moments of struggle passed, and it seemed that Caelum finally stepped foot into the realm of introspection. The religious and melodic recitations of the man walking in circles around him seemed to slowly fade into silence as Caelum¡¯s mind was taken into a different world. Right before he was fully submerged in his dazed mind, he could feel a small object floating beside him. It was a bronze, antique-looking glass vessel that poured out golden words that suspended in the air. Inauguration for Caelum Jinton¡­ -Awakened- Seer characteristics: Holy Spirit: ??? Rank: ??? The floating glass vessel strangely disappeared after displaying the contents. As though having been freed from the vessel¡¯s presence, Caelum unconsciousness became more prevalent. The world around him was nothing but utter and complete darkness. He was now a formless entity, his once human body now an amorphous frame.The concept of thought or procession seemed to not exist within this realm, which resulted in Caelum aimlessly taking slow steps forwards, until a large, towering iron gate suddenly formed right before him. The gate¡¯s facade was engraved with an intricate carving depicting a young woman in a loose robe holding a formless child in her arms with closed eyes, portrayed in a renaissance, dramatic style. Caelum¡¯s hand began to move on its own, gravitating itself towards the gate as if it called for him as an ominous, diabolical surge of atmosphere washed over his entire body. Foreign to Caelum¡¯s knowledge, the carving of the young woman came to life, and her eyes opened, staring deeply into Caelum¡¯s soul as her eyes widened the closer his hand got to the gate, silently luring him to open the gate, as if it would unleash a legion of demonic spirits onto the physical world. The man, outside this realm, continued his chants, yet he too could feel an ominous aura emanating from within Caelum. It was at this moment when he felt confounded since a student would have had their Grimoires already realized. Nevertheless, he continued, intensifying his tone, as Caelum, within this mysterious realm, finally placed his hand on the cold surface of the gate. The woman¡¯s eyes remained widened, non-verbally telling him to push the gate open. Without thinking, Caelum mindlessly followed her command, causing the gate to gradually open¡­ ¡­The man who was once vocal in his recitations abruptly ceased. Shocked, he widened his eyes and trembled as a loud thud echoed through the chamber. Caelum had collapsed right before his feet.