A cloud of fog swirled within the crystal ball that lay upon a gold-encrusted pedestal. Intricate patterns covered the pedestal, with golden swirls dancing across the surface, weaving up until they reached the cushion on which a singular ball lay.
The ball itself was plain, merely a transparent crystal with a faint tint of blue. Yet the mist swirling inside was imbued with power—pure raw power. The mesmerizing slow-flowing fog trapped inside this unpretentious spherical gave it it's extraordinary powers. So much so that even when currently laying still, perched perfectly upon a cushion, the ball radiated enormous energy. Anyone that came near the pedestal would feel the compelling intensity of the ball.
However, only one had access to the room where the pedestal lay. He remains the sole person to enter the room even on this fateful day. He was the renowned priest, Zekiel, of Nova. His power and status were notable to everyone. He was the chief advisor of the Kingdom, the right hand of the King, and the highest-ranking member of the Nova Kingdom's Church of Apotheosis.
Those titles were all fragments of what made Zekiel. Though none of them held a flame to Zekiel's reputation. Instead, Zekiel was most notorious across the Kingdom for another name.
Seer Zekiel. The man of prophecy who led the Nova Kingdom past multiple catastrophic disasters.
For Zekiel could glimpse into the future, and ever since he was determined to have aptitude with the Sphere of Apotheosis, he had been giving the kingdom prophecies. Prophecies that the royal family followed closely, for the sake of their Kingdom.
The Sphere of Apotheosis held untold power. Stories tell that of might in which could save a kingdom and force that could destroy it. It was one of the holy artifacts that the Church of Apotheosis had, which was currently in possession of the Nova Kingdom.
The Church had many artifacts. Luckily, in present times Nova's royal family respected Apotheosis. After all, the royals had been cursed before.
Since the day of that dreadful cursing, the future generations of the imperial house of Crepitus vowed to respect the Sphere of Apotheosis. The 4th generation Crepitus had used the sphere for greed and brought the Kingdom to near destruction. Due to that, the Crepitus family was cursed to end in the 7th generation. The imperial line of the Nova Kingdom destined never to breathe again.
It was the 7th generation now, and King Grant Crepitus was heading it. Grant Crepitus loved his wife Queen Anastasia, yet they couldn't birth a child.
The curse struck them painfully, as they were unable to birth a child no matter what they tried. After a couple of futile attempts, they finally faced the reality of the curse.
An heir to the Kingdom was needed, and so they turned towards the Church of Apotheosis for guidance. The Church was just as lost and turned to Zekiel for answers.
Disasters such as the Flood of Mana-Rats or countless assassination attempts against the King have been avoided thanks to Zekiel, and so the Kingdom trusted him. Whenever a prophecy was coming, Zekiel would sense it. It was an intense warmth that brought Zekiel immense joy.
A prophecy was coming now. Zekiel could feel its intensity calling him. It was the most potent atmosphere Zekiel had felt in years. With an intense air filled with euphoria, Zekiel rushed to the tower within the castle where the sphere was kept.
After having the guards open the door using their respective magic, Zekiel ran up the stairs and approached the Sphere of Apotheosis. He lifted his fingers, gracing the sphere with the tips, it glowed eerie yet warm… and Zekiel's mind was crowded with words.
The voice of the sphere, faint, raspy and deep, spoke,
"A queen shall rule next and prosper this land.
One decade from now shall see the imperial's conquest end.
A myriad of challengers shall vie for the throne.
Together or alone, the crown sits with no head to call its own.
The last one standing shall point towards the sky.
Believe and breathe, the final queen's might shall fly."
Hearing this prophecy, Zekiel immediately thought of the possibilities. The prophecies always gave Zekiel a general idea of what they meant yet, despite his exterior, Zekiel was quite a shrewd man. He often at times used his prophecies to his own will. During the Great Mana-rat flood, he had purposely let the rats destroy the part of the Kingdom where one of his enemies lived.
This time, however, Zekiel saw an immense opportunity.
"Yes! Yes! Finally answers!" He yells, his pale eyes bulging in excitement.
Within a day, news traveled throughout Nova. The news of a new prophecy.
"The great seer Zekiel has declared through his powers of prophecy that the new ruler shall be a queen!" yelled the heralds throughout the Kingdom. "A tournament shall be held in a decade where many shall compete for the right to be queen!"
With that, Zekiel felt work was done. He already had some potential "chosen" ones set in mind that he could nominate to suit his goals. If anyone could decipher a prophecy like this, it'd be Zekiel.
So, left in the hands of Zekiel, a prophecy. The one, a true queen, would be born from. Nova will rest happily for the decade, knowing a future awaits.
But within a far away manor, high up in the mountains, sat a little girl in her grass-filled courtyard. She lived where winds blew, and the breath ran free. She looked up at her mother, tears in her eyes.
"But what if the gods above turned on us? In a world where good and evil are united, what should we believe? So, Mother, I'm afraid of this prophecy. I do not know the world as you do, but what if the gods we know... are no longer kind?"
Her mother pushed back the little girl's blonde hair. The little girl's golden eyes were wet with tears. She was one of the few nobles born without magic.
Anura Soma.
"Anura, don't be afraid. Mama's here."