Chapter 2: Barging in. (1)
"Let the Dictum Deus begin!" The regal voice of the emperor resounded throughout the entire temple, though he did not shout nor raised his voice his words were heard as if it was spoken near them.
What the emperor showed is a technique called Omnidirectional Projection, a technique only attained by Chosen Champions who reached the Saint level.
A testament that Emperor Kristoff Pontifixus Aurelius is feared as he reached the level of divinity.
When all of them heard the Emperor they were once again reminded who the man was, it seems that even after aging his strength as Zeus' Chosen Champion didn't changed.
He was still the feared Bloody Emperor.
With the Emperor's little show, the event begins.
The priests behind Kristoff stepped forward and walked in front of the children, they looked at them for a mere second and then their gaze lingered at the three prince before they removed their gaze.
They did not show any reaction, they turned their back against them and gestured at the servants to bring something in.
The servants nodded at the priests before getting something and soon they came back with a huge box filled with iron rods with a length of two meters.
They distributed the iron rods one by one to the children and once they were done the priest once again stepped forward.
"Children of Gods, today you will be claimed by divinity and be chosen by your Patron God step forward young ones and feel the divine warmth of the supreme beings." The priest said.
One by one the children of the nobility starting from the lowest to the highest stepped forward.
The first one to begin was a young man about seventeen years old, he had blue hair and green eyes with a fairly handsome face, though not as handsome as the three prince.
He was the heir of a small barony on the outskirt of the empire, the small nobility was the first to take their ceremony before the big nobility so that the best can be saved for last, it was a some sort of ploy to show superiority over the small nobility by the big nobilities.
"Climb the altar young man and present yourself to the gods."
The young barony heir climbed up to the altar and kneeled.
"Repeat after me young man,"
"Dei filius sum, his me offero, et meam vindicem aeternam do fidelitatem." The priest said.
And the young man followed.
"Dei filius sum, his me offero, et meam vindicem aeternam do fidelitatem." Once the young man finished his allegiance his entire body was engulfed by a golden light.
The young childrens who would undergo the ceremony looked at the golden light in amazement, they were amaze by such display while all of them was gawking the three prince remained unmoving.
Once the golden light subsided another light manifested above his head, a symbol of a small sickle and a wheat crossed against each other appeared and the iron rod he was holding transformed into a beautiful and sleek sickle. Then as if autumn came, leafs started to fall from the nothingness and the sweet and oaky smell of autumn permeated the air.
"Child you have been chosen by the Goddess Demeter as his champion, rejoice!" The priest said as he bowed to the altar.
Though the youbg man was still struck he composed himself quickly and bowed ro teh altar.
"I thank my Patron God for choosing me!"
The young ones gazed at the first one with awe, this was the first time they actually saw a mortal being claimed by the gods, though their parents would tell them about this many times in the past it was so different to experience it in person.
While the children were in awe the older nobility began analyzing, as they are the pillars that run the society they need to assess their successor.
The first one was claimed by The Goddes of Agriculture, Goddess Demeter which is a good first since the boy would have the blessing of fertility meaning his domain would hardly experience famine and starvation.
Though they are not combat oriented which is a shame since combat oriented Champion are the most sought after since war is ever present it was still good since if necessary the boy can provide food recources to the army which makes the boy already important.
Kristoff on the other hand only looked at them with a straight and stoic face. He did not show any emotion, neither impressed nor dissapointed he was just an unmoving statue.
Once the first one was done the second heir climbed the altar.
They repeated the same process as the first one but this time the symbol above his head was different. Above his head was a symbol of a wine cup surrounded by grape vine that was emmiting violet light. The entire temple was assaulted by the smell of strong grape wine and they started to feel giddy, as if they wanted to party.
The iron rod that he was holding turned into a liquid like state before it reshaped itself into a golden chalice.
"The God of Wine and Party Dionysus have claimed you young man." The priest said.
The young man stood up from his kneel and bowed right into the altar and shouted.
"I thank my Patron God for choosing me!"
With the second done the rest continued by the time it was the three prince's turn about twenty children have been claimed.
When it was their turn the whole place turned silent, the previous giddy children who finished their ceremony shutted their mouth and the older nobility sharpen their gaze.
It was finally the turn of the three prince, this would be the determining factor of what the noble man would give their support to.
Would it be the charming eldest prince? Perhaps the cunning and smart second prince? Maybe it would be the calm yet chaotic third prince?
Who knows but whoever god claimed them then it would be the determining factor of where they would lay their loyalty to.
The first one to step up from the three was the third prince, the youngest among the three. He was a prince known for his stoic attitude but when provoked then he is no better than a savage that was the kind of man Maximus Pontifixus Aurelius is.
When the third prince entered the altar the priest started the ceremony by making the prince repeat after him.
Once the allegiance was done like any children before him he was first engulfed by a golden light.
Tension can be felt from the air, they have seen children of dukes get claimed but this one is different they are looking at the potential emperor of their empire.
Once the light subsided another light formed above his head, the air started to smell like ocean the entire temple started to shake as if an earthquake was happening, the young children started to lose their balance some even stumbled on their behind but the older nobility remained unmoving. Followed by the earthquake was a blinding light, the entire temple was engulfed by a green light some winced their eye to cover some covered their eyes completely. Above Maximus' head a symbol of green trident formed, simultaneusly the iron rod he was holding shifted itself into a liquid like state before turning into a three pointed weapon, it was green trident, the symbol of the God of the Sea.
Once the blinding green light subsided the priest stepped forward and said.
"Rejoice Young Prince you have been claimed by one of the four Major Arcana of our Pantheon, you have been chosen by the Supreme God of the Sea, Poseidon!" The priest said with fervent loyalty and reverance to the word Poseidon.
When that was said the entire crown cheered.
For one of the four Major Arcana to claim someone it must mean that this god showed favor to this young man for the throne. Which is a big deal since it Poseidon itself who claimed him!
You can't deny it Maximus' personality is greatly similar to Poseidon's domain. Since Maximus is like a sea, calm but when provoked it was disaster.
"Good…" For the first time the emperor spoke, it didn't go under notice by the crowd as they looked at their emperor. Maximus on the other hand can't help but show a little smile, not only was he claimed by a Major Arcana he also recieved a compliment fron his dad.
The children who was alrrady done with their ceremony gaxed at the prince with envy, yes they were happy with the Gods that claimed them but it was still envious.
To be claimed by a Major Arcana, it was a dream that any young aspiring noble kid would want. In fact it was the wet dream of them.
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