July 1833, City of La Greza, Rovelia

It was already past seven in the evening when I arrived at La Greza's train station. Like the usual looks and sneers I was given when I showed my traveling papers, they shot me the same disgusted look when they saw sewer rats climbing out from the drains. But they aren't disgusted because I came crawling out of the sewer, but it's the fact that I'm a Trinitian. 

"Are you a Trinitian citizen or just a tourist whose last stop was there?" The officer asked. As if that would change the way he looked at me. 

"I am a Trinitian citizen," I smiled and he exchanged me with a fake smile too. He made scribbles on his clipboard and let me through.And when I thought I would be struggling looking for the temple, it appeared before me. The temple was just in front of the train station, so it took me a few minutes to walk down there. 

The temple's pathwalk was lined by lush bushes of fully bloomed white roses. At the end of the path stood a marble statue of whom I presumed, is the deity of justice, Ranos. He stood proudly holding a scale on his right hand, and on his left hand was a silver sword with a golden hilt. What piqued my curiosity is that his eyes were blindfolded by a black cloth. 

"Magnificent isn't it?" a man said, his shadow closing in proximity. I felt chills as soon as I saw his blue eyes. He isn't Rovelian. Most Rovelians either have a pair of green or hazelnut brown eyes. "I apologize, making you travel at this hour Mr. Stein."

"Oh no, rather it was a pleasure meeting you Mr.-"

"Orion," he retorted, smiling vaguely at me. "Please come inside, the nights in Rovelia are more chilling than in other places Mr. Stein."

We faintly made a sound as we stepped inside the temple. Moonlight serenely showered through its tainted glasses. And on the first row of the pew chairs sat a cloaked figure attended by a Rovelian royal guard. There's no doubt who I'm about to meet would be someone from royalty. And whoever that person is, they didn't intend to hide that they have authority. The royal guard's slinging rifle was the first one I noticed, and that was when my eyes set gaze on the guard's blue armband that was engraved with a line of silver laurel leaves. The guard belonged to the second prince of Rovelia. The rivalry between the Rovelian princes is widely known throughout its neighboring countries. Everyone knew quite well who was the bearer of those certain silver laurel leaves.

I inaudibly walked behind Orion as he approached the pair. The royal guard noticed our arrival and demanded to know why we were there. Trust me, I'm as confused as the guard was, I have no clue why I'm called here too.

"Father would be amused if he heard how I was treated," Orion replied, slightly grinning. "Have you heard of the tales of Lord Orion?"

"Lord Orion is the child of the Great Ranos," the cloaked figure replied, he gazed at our direction and his verdant eyes were revealed. "He punished those who committed injustice himself, escorting their souls straight to the fires of inferno without his father's consent. His appearance before an earthian was an assurance you'll go straight to hell."

"Please ask your guard to leave, I assure you I bring no harm," Orion interjected. 

"Your highness..." the guard protested but he was met by his master's hand. His master pulled down his cloak revealing his face. He glared at his guard until he surrendered and left the three of us alone. 

"That was much better, Elior," Orion replied, walking forward and stopping beneath the massive marble statue of Ranos. "I hate it how elves are the only ones capable of recognizing their gods' power. Except you, Damian, you're much better from all of your kind combined."

And with a rapid blink, the black haired man with blue eyes dressed in ordinary clothes was transformed into an ethereal figure. It took me a good whole moment to curse myself into reality that everything going on is not fatigue from my killing spree earlier that day.

The second prince Elior was now kneeling before him. He, the Lord Orion, was draped in a blue flowing chiton while holding on to a golden sword with a hilt adorned with blue gems. His arms were ornately decorated with gold engravings up to his shoulder. Orion wasn't the only one who seemed to have a change in appearance, Elior's ears seemed to be more elongated than earlier. 

"Damian, you still seemed to be in daze," Orion said. "There's no need for the formalities Elior, you may stand."

"It is an honor to meet you my lord," Elior replied, standing on his feet as he was told. "I came urgently the moment I felt your presence in La Greza."

"I will be needing your assistance together with Damian," Orion said. I noticed that as he blinked his ordinary looking blue eyes turned bejeweled. His eyes seemed to be blue gems intricately placed on his face. "Father has decided to conquer Trinitia. And for that to happen I will need both of your assisstance."

"And what would we get in return?" I retorted.

"I'll give you what every earthian desires, power." Orion countered while wielding his sword. "Rovelia and Trinitia must join hand in hand to stop the influence of Kasis. But in exchange, the kings must be eternal guardians of their countries."

Guardians, as I have read in fairy tales when I was a kid, were sworn protectors of a land. They were animals or magical beings chosen by the gods to oversee their governing lands. But I've never heard of a mere earthian becoming one. Wait, did he just mention that we'll become guardians?

"No this is all a dream!" I blurted out. "Me a guardian? I'm just dreaming right now because I killed 27 people in one go earlier! Yes that's right I was hungry and didn't have lunch and dinner, and went straight home! Yes these are just hallucinations from hunger!"

Everything happened rapidly, but I could feel the right side of my face burning. I gazed up to see who it was, and it was Orion who brought me into senses, or so I thought. Maybe I fell down from the bed? But why am I still not awake if I fell down from the bed?

"Excuse me, my hand slipped. Was the slap real enough for you Prince Damian?" Orion marveled at me. "Would you want another slap at the other side? Or do you fancy a go with this sword sliding through you?"

"I think the earthian received enough beatings, Orion," a voice said, it belonged to a man with jet black hair whose eyes were crimson red. He was clad in black and gave off the same ethereal aura as Orion. "Have you told them of their fates?"

"Of course I did, didn't you see him doubting reality for a moment there?" Orion smiled. "And what is your business here, Alistair?"

"Father thought Mr. Stein here, oh no wait it's Mr. Heilzen, oh how do you want to be addressed Sir Damian?" Alistair paced in forward and stopped in front of me beside Orion. 

"And you are?" I blurted out. "Wow I still think it's the fatigue from earlier, I should have stopped at the bakery for a slice of cake."

"Just call him Damian, or you could have a go at reciting his whole name, which you are welcome to do," Orion said. 

"I'm sorry but I haven't been acquainted with Mr. Damian, is he also a prince from Trinitia? That's what I could conclude from your conversation," Elior who had been silent the whole time interjected. 

"Ah yes he is," Orion smiled. "The rightful heir to the throne of Trinitia, he's the son of the late Crown Prince Alphonse Elric Trisanti Stein Von Heilzen. He is the rightful Crown Prince Damian Xofererier Trisanti Stein Von Heilzen."

"And the only person capable of executing our plans to perfection," Alistair added, glancing and smiling over to Elior. "Of course you will also play a major role in our plans, thus we will be needing you, Elior Lorrel Von Roviel, the second elf prince of Rovelia, and the chosen ruler as decreed by the elven gods."

"An elf?" I said, gaping over Elior whose ears are still elongated and is also gawking at me. 

"He is the lost prince of Trinitia?" Elior blurted out. "Doesn't that mean he has the right to claim succession with the throne?"

"Yes, Elior," Orion replied. "But before we could proceed with that, the two of you must perform the oaths of allegiance to the two gods."

"Two gods? I thought it was only Ranos who wanted Trinitia!" I said, scrutinizing Orion. 

"Oh I almost forgot about father's request," Alistair bit the tip of his finger and proceeded on kneeling down to the ground, drawing a circle with engraved symbols with his blood. The circle was big enough to fit the god's statue on it. "Mr. Heilzen, my father thought of recruiting you as his temporary executioner to deliver some designated souls to the fires of Hellian. Now, kindly step in the circle Mr. Helizen for the executioner contract."

"And to think I've lived long enough to see a Hellian circle in the holy grounds of Ranos," Orion sighed. "Yes, in you go Mr. Heilzen, so that I could appoint you and Elior as guardians after it."

I stepped inside the magic circle that Alistair made, and as I did so, the magic circle furiously glowed bright red, it looked as if I stepped inside the gates of hell. Elior gaped at the scene, and the other two, Alistair and Orion, weren't as surprised as Elior. Orion even let out a yawn as he sat down at the first row of the pew. 

"Okay, now you have to do the oath. But, first you have to kneel," Alistair said, grinning at me as a sword with a blade and silver hilt appeared out of thin air beside him. He pointed the sword on my shoulder. I kneeled down on the fiery magic circle and held my chin high towards Alistair. I thought it would feel like I'd be kneeling on fire, but the ground was cold. This whole ceremony reminds me of accolades that kings do when they bestow knighthood to their knights. "I, recite your whole name since it's too long for me,"

"I, Damian Xoferier Stein Von Heilzen," I said. 

"Solemnly swear to serve the God of Pandemonium, Ida of Hellian, as his blessed executioner who shall deliver the immoral souls to the fires of pandemonium," Alistair continued.

"Solemnly swear to serve the God of Pandemonium, Ida of Hellian, as his blessed executioner who shall deliver the immoral souls to the fires of pandemonium," I repeated the words with unwavering resolve.

"Aid the weak and shield those who are in need, and when in need, I shall seek and call forth the name of the god who blessed me to wield the fires of Hellian, and in valor shall I not abuse the power I am blessed with," Alistair recited while placing the sword on my head.

"Aid the weak and shield those who are in need, and when in need, I shall seek and call forth the name of the god who blessed me to wield the fires of Hellian, and in valor shall I not abuse the power I am blessed with," I echoed after him. 

"I, Alistair Von Hellian, child of the God of Pandemonium and Lord of Alchymia, acting commissary of The God of Pandemonium, hereby extend the blessings of my father to commission you as his executioner. You shall act by command from his and my orders for your tasks."

"I, Damian Xoferier Stein Von Heilzen, shall act by command from my deity, The God of Pandemonium and Lord Alistair Von Hellian, child of the God of Pandemonium and Lord of Alchymia." I proclaimed. As I did so, the magic circle's light intensified to the point of blinding my vision. 

"Now where do you want to have the mark?" Alistair asked.

"On my hand's back," I replied, raising my left hand. "It would only appear when I wield the power, right?" From what I've read, those bestowed upon with blessings have a mark which glows when they are using their power. Paladins and priests have their marks on their hands. 

"Yes you're right," Alistair replied. "Can you please face the back of your hand to me? Hold it high as if you're covering your face."

I stood up and did as I was told and held it up. Alistair pointed out the tip of the sword's blade on my hand. Its tip glowed bright crimson and my hand felt it was being etched. I held in the agony I felt, time passed by quickly and the pain disappeared. I pulled out my arm and scrutinized the back of my hand. My hairs raised as I saw the Trident of Pandemonium glowing bright crimson on my hand's skin.

"You and Elior, in the magic circles now," Orion demanded in a brusque tone. "We can't stay for long, I could sense people coming."

I was astonished to see there were already two bright blue magic circles beside me. Elior hurriedly went to the farthest magic circle and kneeled. I walked to the magic circle next to me and also kneeled. I was waiting for Orion to instruct us what to say, but he just held out both of his palms to our direction and began chanting.

"Here and now under the orders of the Great God of Judgment I grant these two earthians of noble blood the appointments to be guardians of their lands, kings as seen by their men, but humbled upon by the great sage, on the authority vested on me by the the God of Judgment, I bless them immortality and great insight, and it shall branch to their first generation of kin. May Ranos watch over you with benevolence."

The light before us was blinding than the first magic circle. As I opened my eyes, Alistair and Orion were no longer with us, they disappeared into thin air. But what surprised me more was the glowing glass scepter in front of me. It's head was adorned with a massive blue gem, large enough to fit my whole palm. 

Not far from me, I could hear Elior's panting. His face was plastered with confusion and shock. I observed him as he steadily reached out to the scepter. As he touched it, the scepter grew bigger and turned into a golden bow. Its body was ornately adorned with swirls and its bowstring glistened silver as the moon radiated on it. Elior noticed I was observing him, and we exchanged glances. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as it gazed upon my untouched scepter.

"Well here goes nothing," I sighed and reached out to the scepter's body. Just like Elior's scepter, mine also grew bigger. But it wasn't a bow just like his. Mine was a scythe with a silver blade and a black wooden handle.

"It's just like the one in the stories!" Elior exclaimed after seeing my scythe. My hand was trembling as I held onto it, just like him, I'm also shocked and confused. 

"What stories?" I said. 

"The scythe of the Judgment Harbinger!" Elior screamed. "It's the scythe the elves revere!"

"The scythe that the elves revere," I chuckled nervously. "You should tell me more about…"

I could hear the scythe's handle hitting the ground. Elior's distressed screams were the last thing I heard as my sight slowly blurred and darkened. My fatigue from the killing spree earlier this day is finally taking a toll on me.