15 years earlier.
In a dimly lit office, a man with black hair sits pouring himself a drink. The man picks up the glass and takes a long, thoughtful sip. Alcohol drips from the man's black and grey beard. Three knocks interrupt his thoughts. The man swallows his drink and lets out a deep sigh. "Come in."
A young man with short blue hair enters the room. "Grand Inquisitor Castle, I have brought the two files on the candidates for knighthood."
Castle leans forward in his chair, propping his head up with his left hand. "Slater Winchester was it?"
Slater stands still, almost as if he was a solider at the position of attention. "Yes, Grand Inquisitor. However, my friends call me Zero."
Castle opens his desk drawer to reveal a mess of papers and random knick knacks. He reaches in rustling around, searching for something with almost unnecessary desperation. Castle's face lights up as he pulls out a small brown box. "Would you like a cigar, son?"
Slater respectfully shakes his head no. "No thank you, sir. Smoking kills."
Castle chuckles. "We are all dying, son. I just choose to die doing what I want. Now tell me about those candidates."
Slater somehow sits even further up right. "The first candidate is Inquisitor Gold rank Bishop Sable from squad 5. He has seventy-eight successful missions under his belt in only two years of being an inquisitor. The most impressive part is he's done these missions solo."
Castle lights his cigar. "Solo?"
Slater's face winces at the smell of the cigar. "Yes, sir. Many, if not all, of his squad mates say his personality is... umm... twisted."
Castle chuckles slightly. "So he's an asshole."
Slater coughs as if to stop a laugh. "That's one way of putting it, sir."
Castle blows several small smoke circles into the air. "And what of the second one?"
Slater watches the circles made of smoke dissipate. "Inquisitor bronze rank Loid Asher from squad 13."
Castle chokes on his smoke. "What, a bronze rank? How does a bronze rank get on the candidate's list for knighthood?"
Slater looks distressed as he explains. "He has 0ne-hundred and thirty-four successful solo missions."
Castle flicks off the ash from his cigar. "If he has accomplished that many missions solo, then why is he a bronze rank?"
Slater looks around the room nervously. "The High Bishops refused to promote him."
Castle leans back in his chair, intrigued. "What did that kid do to piss them off?"
Slater lets out a heavy sigh as if to release the building pressure he felt. "Loid Asher isn't a miracle user."
Castle turns his head curiously. "So, is a master of soul control?"
Slater falls silent for a moment before answering. "No sir, he's an omen user."
Castle silently stands up from the chair and thoughtfully walks toward his office window. "I see two inquisitors who are at the top of their field, yet no one wants them. Slater, I do not care what your background is, or if god or the devil gave your gifts. What I care about is results, and those two can provide.The fight against darkness has no bias, so neither will I. Those two will be our sword and shield."
Slater stands from his chair as he thinks. 'Miracle users are just as dark as those you fight.' He then walks toward the exit. "I'll let them know that starting tomorrow that they are officially knights."
Castel looks out his window and smiles. "Those two will be fun to watch."
"Bishop Sable and Loid Asher."