The clock was creeping toward 11:55, and the holy see was alive with activity. Most of the nobles had gathered; while only the dukes received the coveted trial invitations, all aristocrats were welcome at the post-ascension banquet.
"You nervous?" Irene asked as she smoothed John's pristine white suit, her hand resting on his shoulders.
"A bit, honestly. But I think you're the more anxious one," John replied with a chuckle.
"It's okay. As long as you're fine, I'll be okay too. No matter what happens, your mother will always trust you," Irene reassured him, her smile full of affection and support. They could discuss the details of John's recent actions later.
"Let's go. Your father and His Highness, the High King, are waiting," Irene suggested, taking a firm hold of John's left hand and looking at him with unwavering confidence.
"Yeah," John responded simply, nodding in agreement.
Stepping out of John's room, they found Eric and Gerrard deep in conversation just outside the door, apparently discussing something important.
"Took you long enough," Gerrard teased, a glint in his eyes as he glanced at John before acknowledging Eric with a nod.
"Shall we?" Eric gestured, a hint of concern briefly crossing his face.
With nods all around, they fell in line behind Eric. The journey to the cathedral, the sacred site of the upcoming trial, began.
A few minutes into the procession, Gerrard positioned himself next to John, his voice lowered, carrying a sense of solemnity. "John, my child, as we approach the cathedral, I want these words to stay with you."
John raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"Never, and I mean never, put complete trust in anyone, not even those closest to you. Life in the imperial palace and among the nobility is a labyrinth of facades and deceit. Question everything you hear or see. After today, you'll step into that world if you're to succeed," Gerrard cryptically advised, offering no further explanation as they arrived at their destination.
John looked at Gerrard, confusion evident on his face. Before he could ask for more clarity, their arrival diverted his attention. The grand gates of the cathedral swung open, revealing a scene that included two princes, five dukes, the grand duke, the dominion leaders of the faith, and at the center, Pope Lucius.
Among the gathering, Julius and his faction wore expressions of disdain as they locked eyes with John. In contrast, Alfred and his followers seemed nonchalant, as though their presence was insignificant. The grand duke and the Duke of Blackburn observed as John and his companions entered, their silence brimming with intrigue.
"Your Majesty, please escort Her Highness, the Queen Consort, and His Majesty, the High King, to a position on the side. It's time we begin the ceremony. John, my child, stand before the pedestal," Pope Lucius instructed, his gaze shifting between Eric and the rest.
With a subtle nod, Eric guided the others to the side, positioning themselves near Dante.
As John stood across from the pope, positioned by the pedestal, Pope Lucius locked eyes with him and spoke with gravity. "Child, listen carefully. Regardless of what happens, refrain from these two actions: a) Removing your hand from the podium, and b) Allowing yourself to lose consciousness. If you falter, whatever force lies within will take control, leading to your downfall. Do you understand?" As he spoke, the pope firmly placed John's right hand at the center of the pedestal.
"Got it, sir," John confirmed with a nod. Having experienced ascension in his previous life, he had a sense of what awaited him.
With John's affirmation, the pope exhaled uneasily, holding his intense gaze. Then, beginning the ritual, Pope Lucius recited a prayer that echoed through the holy sanctuary.
"Harken, O gods celestial, from realms on high,
Behold yon child, John Von Eldrin, nigh.
He yearns to summon forth his spirit's might,
And craves thy trial to prove his mettle's light.
This servant, lowly, bows with bended knee,
Beseeching thee for leniency's decree.
Grant him, O ancient powers, strength anew,
Bestow upon this youth thy virtues true."
The pope concluded his prayer with a voice quivering, and his words seemed to reverberate through the sanctum. Suddenly, the very podium upon which John's hand rested burst into a brilliant, towering golden flame that stretched toward the ceiling, leaving all witnesses astonished.
At the same time, as the flames roared and danced, John's eyes erupted with a flash of radiant golden brilliance, as if his very soul was being drawn into the heart of the flame.
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"Hmmmmmm." A resonant voice echoed in John's ears as he found himself amidst a sea of stars, a singular point the origin of the sound amid the cosmic expanse.
"Shit," John cursed, his gaze fixing upon two colossal entities seemingly made of the very fabric of space and stars. Their presence towered even over that of Kostas and Pallas, beings almost akin to gods.
"What might you be, young one?" one of these celestial entities inquired, a sense of curiosity coloring its voice as it leaned closer, its features concealed within the cosmic tumult.
"Brother, it's rather rude to demand an introduction before we've even introduced our existence. Mortals follow such customs, do they not?" the other being interjected, its attention shifting toward John.
"Uhhhhh," John was utterly bewildered by the surreal conversation these godlike beings engaged in. The term 'godlike' hardly did justice to their overwhelming essence.
"My apologies, mortal. Let me introduce myself. I am Kronos, the primordial of time, a presence that has spanned the birth of the universe itself," one of the celestial beings introduced, its voice heavy with the weight of ages.
"I am Khaos, the primordial of space and the elder brother to Kronos," the other being added, offering a subtle bow of acknowledgment.
"Now, it's your turn to introduce yourself. Also, why is your essence tinged with distortion, from your soul to the time and space around you?" Kronos inquired, his tone both inquisitive and commanding.
"Ah, yes. A pleasure to meet you both. I'm John von Eldrin, the third prince of the Eternium Empire. I'm here for the ascension trial, a task you seem to know about since I've been summoned here. As for the 'twisted' aspect you mentioned... I'm afraid I don't quite grasp what you mean," John replied earnestly, though the essence of their question remained elusive to him.
"He speaks the truth... Do you think the others within him are maybe aware of the answer?" Kronos pondered, directing his question to Khaos.
"I'm not sure. Where is Thanatos? He should be able to awaken them from their slumber and shed light," Lord Khaos replied, his voice resonating with an otherworldly quality. As his words echoed, a dark cloud materialized before John, forming into an entity that, much like Kronos and Khaos, exuded an imposing presence. The most noticeable difference lay in the scythe he held and the cloak enshrouding his form.
"Why have you summoned me, brother?" a chilling, deep voice emanated from Thanatos, its mere sound sending shivers down John's spine.
"This mortal is here for his ascension trial. However, before that, we've noticed some intriguing aspects. Ones that might pique your interest as well," Kronos replied, prompting Thanatos to shift his gaze towards John.
"I am Thanatos, the primordial of souls and death. For the moment, I'll delve into your essence, mortal. My apologies in advance," Thanatos declared, his intense blue eyes ablaze as he fixed his gaze on John for several tense moments.
"ARHGHHHHHHH!" John's agonized scream reverberated through the void as he felt his very soul, being torn apart under the scrutiny of Thanatos's soul-penetrating gaze.
"Hmmm, indeed, intriguing. There are three, no, four entwined souls here in total. Identifying the fourth was somewhat challenging, even for me. Well, let's awaken the elder ones for now," Thanatos mused, his hand stroking his chin as he sought approval from Kronos and Khaos.
With their confirming nods, he turned his attention back to John, adding, "Get ready for some pain. Just don't let it claim your life." His words were abrupt, leaving no room for John to respond as Thanatos's scythe cut through him, splitting his soul into three distinct parts almost simultaneously.
"GAHGAUAHAGGAAG!" A chorus of agonized cries burst forth as John's soul was divided, the sensation centered within his soul rather than his physical body. Though not fatal, the torment he experienced resembled death itself.
"Brother Kronos, expedite the adaptation process a bit. I can only access the other two fragments once he stops this uproar," Thanatos directed towards Kronos, his focus on John's ordeal. Beside him, Khaos observed the spectacle with an air of fascination.
Amidst this excruciating ordeal, if John had retained his full mental faculties, he might have contemplated the insignificance of mortal existence in the face of beings like Kronos, Khaos, and Thanatos—deities capable of manipulating souls with such casual ease.