The excited murmurs of excited seven-year-old hopefuls filled the air as they waited their turn. The first child gingerly stepped up onto the stage, where Mages motioned them to stand in the middle of the circle of runes they etched onto the ground.
I swear I felt the nervousness emanating from the line of children. They were clearly anticipating the moment when they summoned their Spirits and was able to jump in the world of Essence.
But the excitement meshed with the tentativeness was palpable. Everyone here was eager to finally be able to learn how to control such mystical power.
Me? Well…
I dreaded my turn. I had an idea as to what the outcome of me trying to summon a Spirit would be, but nothing conclusive.
There's always a chance that they find out about Condemner of Sinners and then I'd probably be dead again.
Lorelai placed a hand on my arm, snapping me out of my thoughts. Her eyes were narrowed. "Are you nervous?" she asked.
I shook my head. "No. I'm just wondering what'll happen."
She smiled at that. "We'll both get good Spirits. And then we'll go to one of the academies when we're seventeen. So don't you worry."
"I'm not worried," I said.
"Good, because I am."
I sighed, shaking my head as I turned back to the stage.
The first child, a nervous boy, stood in the middle of the rune circle. The Mages all focused their Essence, causing the circle to glow white, enveloping the boy. Everyone remained silent, watching as the light waxed in intensity. A wave of power rippled through the town center, and one by one our spirits shuddered.
Lines of flames streaked straight through the pillar, wrapping around it until it melded with the light. From the bottom, a blast of fire erupted, swirling around the middle, where the boy once stood.
Eventually, the pillar of light dispersed, fading away until sparkles of white and orange were all that remained.
"Incredible!" my father explained, his voice amplified using Wind Essence. "The first Spirit summoning of the day and we're already seeing a spectacle!" He smiled at the boy, who looked shaken up from the sudden display. "A Spirit has answered your call. And from the looks of it, it has an affinity for Healing and Fire Essence."
The crowd cheered, and the boy seemed to be caught off-guard, embarrassed at the attention.
Enzo stepped forward, grinning at all of us. "And remember," he said, "the ceremony will only tell you the Essence types your Spirits possess, but not the actual species. It is up to the Mage to discover that."
"On to the next," my father declared, and the boy bowed and excitedly walked off of the stage. The next child immediately went up when prompted, and the ceremony began anew.
One by one, children stepped up and summoned their Spirits. Unlike the initial summon, not all of them were automatic. There were instances where the hopeful would wait a few moments before a Spirit answered their call. But for the most part, it never took more than ten seconds.
The actual summoning was interesting. While every summoner was enveloped in pillars, not all of them were made of light. Some were made of water or fire or other aspects of Essence. I even saw one made entirely of darkness.
Other types of Essence formed lines around the pillars, adding onto the already-present Essence types. I suspected that the pillars represented the main affinity and the lines represented the supplemental affinity.
But there were outliers. Some of the hopefuls had pillars made of more than one affinity. It was mostly two, but some rare cases had three or four, and others had multiple affinities and supplemental affinities.
How many combinations were there? Was it based on the individual Spirit? Their species? So many questions.
"The different colors mean different affinities, right?" Lorelai wondered.
I nodded. "I think so. It'd make more sense."
"I wonder what type of Essence I'll get…"
I shrugged. "We'll have to find out."
"How can you not be nervous?" Lorelai asked, staring at me with the same disbelief she always showed when I didn't care about something that was usually important. "I never understand that."
I sighed. "I have no reason to worry. Whatever happens, it can't be changed. I can fret all I want, but it won't help."
Lorelai did not respond, seemingly thinking about my words. Her nervousness remained, but her composure returned, albeit slightly.
I couldn't help but smile, ruffling her hair with my hand. "Come on. Leave being gloomy to me. Where's the cheerfulness you had?"
She closed her eyes, allowing her usual smile to slip out of her. "Jeez, you don't have to do all that," she said, slowly backing away from my touch. "I'm going to get the most amazing Spirit, okay? I'm just a bit worried, you know?"
I chuckled. "Of course."
With that, we continued waiting in line, watching in anticipation as, one by one, children summoned their Spirits, and the line dwindled.
In the corner of my eye, I spotted more children my age, watching the summons that were occurring. It was a much smaller group than the one lining up. I didn't think I remembered them participating in the ceremony. And no child would ever refuse summoning their Spirit. But they seemed anxious, so maybe they already went through it earlier.
I got my answered when I realized that figures were standing next to each child. They were mystical creatures, each a different shape and size. I saw a bird that looked to be made of lightning, a beast that looked vaguely draconic, and other, stranger creatures.
They were Spirits.
"I wonder how they managed to get those," I muttered, staring at them curiously.
"Oh, wow," Lorelai gasped in awe at the sight of such majestic Spirits. "Aren't you not able to manifest your Spirit until much later?"
"A Spirit that is summoned can't," I said, remembering the countless books on Spirits I'd read. Good thing I did nothing but read all these years—I had a lot of catching up to do in such an unfamiliar world. "But Spirits, like the Wolf King, sometimes cross over to our world. We call those Invasive Spirits. People can simply bond with them."
"Really?" Lorelai said, eyes wide. "I didn't know that."
"It's not as common as Summoned Spirits," I said. "Invasive Spirits barely bond, from what I've heard."
"Are they always manifested?"
I shook my head. "Mages with Summoned Spirits learn how to manifest them. But Mages with Invasive Spirits learn how to host them."
She frowned. "So we don't have to summon a Spirit?"
"We don't," I agreed. "But it's easier to summon a partner than find one willing to bond with us. Spirits want to come to our world, which Invasive Spirits have already accomplished.
An Invasive Spirit has no reason to bond with someone unless they really want to or have something to gain from it. A lot of times they desire a price or for their would-be Mage partners to prove themselves to be worthy. I've heard of instances where people raise Invasive Spirits and either bond with them or have someone close to them bond. I guess it depended more on circumstance than anything.
It made me wonder if Condemner of Sinners counted as an Invasive or Summoned Spirit. Maybe it was outside of the categories.
"You sure know a lot," Lorelai said, almost wistfully. "You're always so smart."
"I just like to be prepared," I admitted. "It makes me feel more in control."
She giggled. "Well, at least I can rely on you. If I ever need knowledge I don't feel learning, I know I can come to you."
I rolled my eyes. "I should purposely leave you in the dark and see how you like it."
Lorelai placed her hands on her small hips, giving me a childish glare. "So you're going to be mean to your little sister?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Stop being so indifferent!"
I chuckled at her expense, the sound rare from me. But I couldn't help it when Lorelai went through with her shenanigans. She sighed, muttering something about me being hopeless, and turned back to the stage.
We nearly at the front of the line, with only two children left.
I looked over to Lorelai, who's eyes were glued to the stage. "You ready?" I asked her.
She nodded, a smile forming on her lips. "I've been ready since we were born. We're going to do this together, right? Like we promised?" My sister looked at me expectantly.
Glancing at her, I felt my heart going cold. I saw my twin sister Mona. From another life. She always gave me that same look when I promised her something and she expected me to follow through.
Their similarities were uncanny. Lorelai, like Mona, had radiant blonde hair, similar to mine. But while Mona's eyes were blue like diamonds, Lorelai's were green like emeralds. They looked nearly the same. As children, they both had the signs that they'd grow beautiful. And they both had that infectious cheerfulness that always got to me.
Of course, I couldn't be fooled into thinking that they were the same person.
But they were my sisters. From different lives, sure, but my sisters nonetheless.
Seeing Lorelai now reminded me that I couldn't fail again…
"I already promised," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. "So I'm going through with it."
But I already knew I couldn't keep this promise. Condemner of Sinners wouldn't let me. We couldn't do this together.
I hated myself.
"Good," Lorelai said, smirking, and my heart clenched even more.
Finally, the last child stepped down the stage, smiling from ear to ear from beneath his locks of coffee-colored hair, lighter than my dad's or Enzo's, clearly satisfied from the Spirit he summoned. His head was down, and the tips of his ears were red, so it was obvious he did better than he thought.
As he stepped down, he bumped his shoulder with mine. He flinched and stepped backward, caught off guard.
"Sorry…" he said softly, averting his eyes in what I thought to be embarrassment. "I should have looked where as I going. That was my fault."
Lorelai gave me a worried, sidelong glance, as if silently thinking I would retaliate.
Jesus, she had no faith in me.
I patted the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry," I said calmly. "It's an exciting day, huh?"
His face lit up and grinned embarrassedly. "Yeah! I'm glad I did well, you know? I was nervous I wasn't going to do well." He held out his hand tentatively. "I'm Ambrose."
I clasped his hand tightly and shook it. "Vali." I motioned at Lorelai with my eyes. "That's my twin sister, Lorelai."
Ambrose glanced at my sister, his gaze suddenly turning nervous. His gaze sank lower. "I'm Ambrose…"
Lorelai, being the cheerful girl she was, smiled brightly. "I heard you the first time! Nice to meet you."
I almost felt bad for Ambrose; my sister could be intense, and her shining attitude was the bane of timid guys.
But he finally looked up, giving us both a shaky, albeit kind, smile. "Well, I wish you both luck." He waved slightly, the motion so faint my mind nearly glossed over it.
Lorelai and I waved back as he left the line, clearing the way for us.
"He seemed nice," Lorelai said brightly. Like always, she saw only the best in people. She didn't seem to notice Ambrose's tepidness, or maybe she didn't care.
"Now it's our turn," I said, shrugging off the previous conversation.
The two of us looked at each other, deciding which of us would be the first to summon their Spirit.
I motioned to the stage. "You go first."
"Really?" She glanced at the stage, then back to me. "Why don't we go together?"
I sighed. "You know we can't do that. Go," I urged encouragingly, "I'll be right behind you."
I wanted her to have her moment of glory before, not after, the disappointment—or outrage—I was about to inflict on everyone present.
"Fine," Lorelai said, flashing me a quick smile, before proudly walking onto the stage.
Our father's smile seemed to brighten at the sight of his daughter. "To those who don't know," he said, addressing the crowd, "my children are summoning their Spirits. This may be a little unprofessional, but I'm excited, as their father."
The crowd cheered, and Lorelai looked surprised at attention. But her smile returned in full bloom as she stepped into the center of the runic circle, waiting with a bated breath.
Enzo, as usual, was grinning as he watched Lorelai. "Always wanted to know if the Trixem kids are anything like their father. She's confident, that's for sure. I can't say I'm not intrigued."
His eyes slowly drifted away from her, resting on me. I internally shuddered as, for some reason, a strange sensation crawled up my perception as he beheld me. His amusement only seemed to grow. Something was definitely off about him.
Once he allowed his gaze to leave mine, the feeling had passed. But Enzo continued watching the procession. His stance was so casual it almost led me believe that I was merely imagining it.
What the hell was that?
"Step forward to the circle," Dad said to Lorelai, an anticipatory smirk on his face. "Show them what you're made of."
Lorelai took a deep breath, taking small steps toward the circle until she stood in the center, gazing back at our father with hesitant green eyes.
"You ready?" he asked her gently.
"Not at all," Lorelai admitted with a bright smile, tilting her head slightly. "But let's do this anyway."
She turned her eyes to peer at me, and I gave her an encouraging nod. I allowed myself a small smile, crossing my arms as if expecting her to excel.
Her smile seemed to widen, and she turned back to my dad and the other Mages. "Okay," she breathed, "I'm ready."
The Mages all held their hands out, wordlessly activating the runic circle. Once again, the circle flashed white, wisps of radiance swirling around her, catching her hair in a billowing pattern. Lorelai closed her eyes, letting the light embrace her.
Then pillars rained from the sky.
Everyone gasped at the sight, including me. I knew it took all of our willpower to remain silent in the face of such a grand spectacle.
One pillar, bigger than the rest, was formed of golden light, streaking toward Lorelai like a shooting star. Pinpricks of energy rotated around it, giving it an even grander ethereal feel. It felt like the heavens themselves were sending a personal star that would orbit around Lorelai, protecting her with its majesty.
Three more pillars pulsed diagonally through the sky, converging with the golden pillar. One was sculpted out of wind; another was made out of strange, rippling swirls of energy that resembled slashes; and the last one was similar to the golden light, but white, like the Healing Essence the first child was given.
The four pillars, with the golden pillar being in the center, merged into one as they met, forming a bar of multicolored light that slammed into her, covering her figure entirely, until I saw nothing but a display of heavenly radiance.
When everyone else summoned their Spirits, the light always originated from around them as they were called from other realms.
But this time the pillar came from above.
From the top of the pillar, it began to break apart, the multicolored beam dissolving into mere sparkles, a hollow dreg of its previous glory.
Lorelai emerged from within, her eyes closed as if in deep concentration. She was basked in multicolored light, her hair more like liquid gold than its usual lighter color.
Our father, who was watching this with wide eyes, suddenly broke out with a smile, one brimming with pride. "Well, would you look at that." He turned to the crowd, his delightful smile widening.
Enzo burst out laughing, nearly toppling over in his mirth. He patted his coat, as if trying to slap the humor out of him. "She really is your daughter, Darius!" he said, wrapping an arm around my father.
My father chuckled, pulling out of Enzo's grip, looking at Lorelai with a twinkle in is his eyes. "Hail Lorelai Trixem, Blessed by the Divines."
***
Lorelai opened her eyes, finding herself in a void of white, stones floating up from the endless abyss to sustain her feet. They were beige, with webs of white lines etched into them, flowing with uniform patterns that curved down to its underside.
Somehow, she did not feel lost. A feeling in her soul guided her through this realm, which felt so full. It was nothing but a white void with two conjoined slabs of stone lifting her up, but something about this strange dimension was fulfilling to her. She felt everything, not the emptiness she had expected to feel. It was warm and comforting and not at all cold.
She breathed out a hearty, calm sigh, stepping forward without fear of falling. As she suspected, more stones, each the same color and with the same patterns, rushed to meet her feet, making steps for her to cross the void.
And so Lorelai walked, more secure than a baby in a swaddle, stones following her every step, as if the universe itself adhered to her will. Without fear or tentativeness, she traversed the seemingly endless space.
Lorelai did not know how long she walked for, nor did she care. The warmth exuding from the dimension lulled her, as if a feeling of exuberance was being pushed onto her very soul in this space, grafted into her subconsciousness.
The next step she took summoned the same set of stones as usual, but when she looked in front of her, she spotted platforms floating to meet each other, forming a hovering circle. As she kept walking toward her, the construct became more complete. Pillars formed a half-circle, doming the center. A roof manifested overhead the spacious, obelisk-like circle, casting it in shadows.
That was ironic in her eyes. She did not cast a shadow since coming into this dimension; she assumed that it conceptually did not exist here. But here it was, materializing like an old friend she was reuniting with.
She stepped onto the platform, entering the obelisk-like building. She turned, watching as the steps she walked on crumbled into dust, releasing golden sparkles of light. Lorelai was strangely sad about that.
Lorelai took a tranquil breath, training her gaze at the pillars. Each had strange symbols, with wings like the ones on angels. But that wasn't what caught her eyes.
In the middle point of the half-circle, on the pillar that was the origin of the two curves, a glowing sigil was carved. The sigil displayed a pair of golden eyes, still but grand, watched her, six white wings curling around it. Its expression was peaceful and warm, like it was assuring her that everything would be okay.
Lorelai stepped forward one last time, until she found herself in the very center of the room, where a small, perfectly round crater was dug into the ground, about five inches deep. She noticed that it was perfectly aligned to the pillars around her. How peculiar.
Acting on instinct, Lorelai turned to face the pillar with the glowing symbol, her heart steady.
"I am ready," she uttered ceremoniously.
Golden runes, manifesting with lines, streaked through the pillar until it was completely covered with light of the same color. With a gentle hum, the pillar broke apart, scattering pinpricks of light that blanketed her vision for mere moments.
Lorelai heard the soft padding of feet as a woman emerged from where the pillar once stood. She caught the sight of golden hair that shone so brilliantly that she almost thought it was made out of light. Warm bi-colored eyes—one gold, one silver—met her green ones. The woman—no, the angel—strode forth until she stood in front of her.
The angel was of monstrous stature, nearly eight-feet tall, towering over her. Her brother was tall for his age, that much she knew, but there were few people who could compare to the angel.
Lorelai could not tell if the woman had clothes, for her six wings were obfuscating her figure, and golden light covered the small bits of skin that her wings could not reach. The woman's otherworldly hair seemed to billow around her, which Lorelai found odd, since she felt no breeze whatsoever—she did not recall feeling any physical sensation since entering this realm.
Somehow, the sight of the angel was more unnerving than being in a realm separate from reality.
The woman was perfect in every way, beautiful with features so immaculate it was if a hand sculpted her face with an ethereal touch. She was too perfect, her features so alien Lorelai could not think for a second the angel was human, despite her being humanoid.
It was an eerie sight. And that, coupled with her mere presence that seemed to conceptually transcend causality and all comprehension, made Lorelai unsure whether to refer to her as holy or eldritch. Maybe it was a mix of both.
But either way, Lorelai found herself kneeling before the angel, pressing her chin to her knee in a revering bow.
"Rise," the angel said in a singsong voice, reverberating throughout the infinite dimension. Lorelai felt it in her very soul, even as the angel's mere voice warped time and space.
Lorelai slowly rose from her kneel. She knew she had to show respect to a Divine no matter what. Her family did believe in the Divine Eyes religion, but they did not go to church as much as other, more fanatical, families did. But yet Lorelai did not dare show any disrespect.
"Are you… an angel?" Lorelai asked softly, suddenly nervous. She did not know how to address her.
The angel gave Lorelai a tender smile, which seemed almost motherly in her eyes. "I am, my Mage. I am Archangel Valdava. Your Spirit."
Lorelai guessed as much, but hearing it from the angel still made her eyes widen in surprise. It was honestly funny how unprepared she was to have that confirmed, even if she thought she was prepared.
"So you are my Spirit," Lorelai said, her eyes sparkling with awe.
Valdava laughed gently, exuding a warmth that stretched out infinitely, blanketing Lorelai. "You are Blessed, Lorelai."
"Why?" Lorelai wondered. "Why did you choose me?"
"Because of you," Valdava said, her smile bright and genuine. "You are the solace of others, my Mage. I am the Embrace of All, the Guardian and the Protector. I destroy what threatens those I protect, but I also heal and cherish. You are what I've been looking for."
Lorelai still could not comprehend what was being asked of her. An archangel was trying to bond with her? Some random girl from a random town? That felt too much like wish fulfillment than anything else.
But if she was giving this gift… then she'd accept it.
To stand side-by-side with Vali, because she knew he'd get an amazing Spirit just like her.
"I want to be able to stand beside my brother," Lorelai said, mustering up all her courage. "Because he might not say it… but I know he wants to be better. I don't know what for. But I want to support him. I want to be better, too. I want to be a Mage. That's what we've dreamed of. And I want to live up to my parents too… I know they're amazing Mages."
Valdava's motherly smile seemed to brighten at the girl's sudden conviction. "Your father has shaken the world quite a few times. Your mother is a powerful Mage and healer. And your brother has a… peculiar fate. I do not know the exact details. That worries me."
"What? What do you mean peculiar? Is he going to end up like me?" Lorelai said, her enthusiasm replaced by urgent curiousness.
"I do not know," Valdava admitted. "Sometimes an individual's fate cannot be so easily read, especially Divines. So mayhap he will be Blessed, or some other circumstance will keep his fate hidden."
"That worries me," Lorelai admitted, narrowing her eyes.
"I know," the angel replied grimly. "But your goals are my goals; we will protect him and accomplish everything else."
"I want to be useful," Lorelai said. Her big green eyes knitted in determination. "He protected me all these years. Nothing ever went wrong, but he was still there for me and attentive as if something did. I want to be that way toward Vali, too. He promised us we'd be in this together, so I'm going to hold up my side."
"Naivety is the gift of a child," Valdava said, suddenly laughing soothingly. "You'll understand when you're older."
Lorelai pouted in a childish manner. "You're right, I am a child…"
"You will mature in time," Valdava promised. "We will be Guardians, gentle one."
Lorelai smiled at the archangel. "That's what I want."
The girl eyed the six other pillars, studying the symbols etched onto them, realizing how similar they were. They displayed eyes and wings, but they had different features that stood out from one another.
Valdava noticed her gaze, her countenance turning contemplative. "The other archangels," she explained. "Every god can create angels. But only one of their angels can become an archangel."
"Why haven't I heard about other Blessed?" Lorelai asked.
"The Blessed are considered holy," Valdava responded, the feathers of her wings fluttering as they shifted. But yet they did not reveal even an inch of her skin. "Word will be spread, and of course the people present will remember the event, but those records will not be available to the public. The Blessed can blend in with normal Mages seamlessly, so mentions of their existence are rare."
"Do people know that the Blessed summoned a Divine?"
"No," Valdava said, shaking her head. "It is scarce knowledge. The Blessed are urged not to, for their own safety. Most people believe that being Blessed merely means that they are more talented than others. That is not exactly the case. We choose the ones we believe are worthy of wielding us."
Lorelai's bright expression returned, and she gave the archangel a cheerful smile. "Thank you! I'm so happy. I don't want to fall behind."
Valdava smiled once more, laughing in a lifelike manner at the child's cheerfulness. "No, thank you." Her expression became serious for a moment. "My Mage, do not reveal my nature to anyone just yet. Not until you are older and can defend yourself. For your own safety."
"Not even to my family?" Lorelai asked, her expression grim for a child's.
Valdava shook her head gravely. "Especially not to them. It is dangerous knowledge. You bear a heavy responsibility as a Blessed. Remember that."
Lorelai took a deep, slow breath, mentally steeling herself. "I understand, Holy One."
Valdava's face eased into a soft smile once more. "Enjoy your life, child. We will take your growth slowly. And you are fortunate that your parents are who they are. Even as a Blessed, you will be in safe hands. When you reach the age where you are able to leave behind the fundamentals, that is when we will truly begin. You still have life to live."
Lorelai nodded, a small hint of pride bubbling up in her chest. "Okay. I trust you. But why is it dangerous to reveal to my family about your nature if they can protect me?"
Valdava shook her head grimly. "Most people will assume that being Blessed is just another way of saying that you are talented. But if other, particularly powerful people, have a reason to suspect that it is more than that—even the smallest reason—they will come after you. You do not understand the lengths people will go to for power. There is a reason that humans were the byproducts of all originary entities."
Lorelai nodded again, not wanting to ask more childish questions. This was a heavy conversation for a seven-year-old, but she thought that maybe she could grasp the severity—even if she couldn't fully understand it.
"Will we be able to talk again?" Lorelai asked, her bright eyes hopeful.
"Your soul is linked to me," Valdava said. "We will naturally be able to communicate with one another, though it will take some time for us to attune."
"Well, I'll see you later, Valdava!" Lorelai said, giggling in delight.
She had a path to the future and a goal. Now she need only wait for Vali to join her. And she would make him and their family proud.
Lorelai would be a Guardian. She would become a Mage.
"Goodbye, my Mage," Valdava said serenely. "We will bring light to this world."
***
Lorelai finally opened her eyes, glancing at our father, before training her gaze back at me.
I was staring at her in pure awe, unable to comprehend what had happened.
My sister was Blessed by the Divines. But what did really mean? Was she acknowledged by the Divines and given a special Spirit?
Maybe she summoned a Divine. But that sounded so ridiculous I could not believe it for a moment. Unless she told me herself. Then I'd believe it.
My parents mentioned the Divines many times, but I never really understood what their place in the cosmic hierarchy was. After seeing two Void Entities, a sight unknown to most people, I could not perceive things like a normal person. That, coupled with the fact that I came from a mundane world, made everything seem so strange to me. I couldn't tell what was normal and what was less normal.
The crowd boomed into an applause, realizing that great talent has emerged from under their noses. The cheer was loud and all directed at my sister, who looked like a deer caught in a headlight. But she suddenly broke out into a bright smile, serenely waving at everybody, yelling "Thank you!"
The cheers only got louder after that. Most of the people in Willsden knew Lorelai, anyway—she was so kind and bright that everyone couldn't help but like her. Seeing her succeed like this must have been a grand event for them.
To put it simply, I wouldn't have gotten so many cheers if I was Blessed.
"Well, I'd say that was a pleasant surprise," Dad said after everybody settled down, placing a gentle hand on Lorelai's shoulder. "I didn't expect a Blessed."
Enzo gave an easy grin. "Well, I expected your children to be interesting." He eyed me once more, and that feeling returned again. "Now I want to see how he'll do."
"Come on up, son," Dad beckoned, smiling at me mischievously. "You've been waiting for this moment, too."
Lorelai beamed at me as she stepped leaped from the stage, running at me with a full-blown smile. She tackled me into a hug, forcing me to catch her. "Did you see that! I'm Blessed!"
I couldn't help but chuckle at her childishness. "Yeah, I saw. I was watching very closely. I knew you'd do fine."
"Thank you for the confidence," she said as she looked up at me, smiling. "I'm really glad everything turned out okay. It's your turn now. I wanna see the amazing Spirit you'll summon!"
I gave her a wry smirk as I pulled away. "Well, guess I'm up." I began to walk toward the stage, my heartbeats slowly quickening its pace as anxiousness pervaded my psyche. I did my best to hide it—I couldn't show it, no matter what.
Condemner of Sinners had more freedom when I couldn't control myself.
Before I could walk up the steps, Lorelai called out. "Val."
I turned.
My sister smiled warmly at me. "Good luck."
I swallowed, stunned from the affection. Once again, I was reminded of Mona.
And it gave me the strength I needed.
"Right," I said, the corner of lips curling into a small smile, before turning once more, stepping forward.
I stepped up onto the stage, where the gaggle of Mages stood, waiting around the circle of runes that were used for summoning. I stopped when I was in the middle, and I steeled myself for when they activated the runes.
But movement caught my eyes, and I saw that everybody else also turned to look.
A carriage made out of black wood and reinforced with red-plated iron entered the town center. It was sleek but also looked sturdy, betraying its noble origin. Its wheels were black as well, showing an obvious color palette. A symbol of a blood-red sword with a black haze wrapped around it was etched onto its sides, on one of the red iron plates.
That was the symbol of the Zesal Kingdom. This was a royal carriage.
What were they doing here?
Instead of horses, as was orthodox in my world, there were Spirits pulling the carriage. They were quadrupedal, with an ethereal blue coat that shimmered like a wraith. Their eyes were the same black as onyx. And they didn't have only two eyes, but six, one where they'd usually be, with two on each side, curling to the side of their heads. They had two tails, tapering down their legs. The strangest thing was that they had short hands that jutted out of their front.
They all looked the same—there were no disparities in their appearances whatsoever, down to the smallest details—so I assumed they duplicated themselves and originated from one of them. I couldn't tell which one, though. But I knew it wasn't too far-fetched for Spirits to have weird abilities like that.
There was no coachman in the front. Since Mages and Spirits were bonded, they could communicate telepathically, too. I was sure they were conducting in the carriage, though.
But why were royals here? Wasn't that dangerous, when they could do whatever they were doing in Grandfront, where it was safer?
I turned toward my father, who was watching this with a grim. "Dad, what's going on?"
"I didn't think he was serious," he replied vaguely.
"Who? Who sent them?"
He sighed, but his gaze seemed distant. "They were brought because I'm here."
Enzo's perpetual smirk seemed to widen. "Well, it was obvious it wasn't a coincidence, anyway. The Windwalker overseeing a ceremony is a big deal, you know."
"Why would they do that?" I wondered, severely confused.
He didn't seem particularly worried, so I knew he wasn't in trouble with the Crown. If anything, it seemed like an annoyance more than anything.
What position was my dad in that he could do that so casually?
"It seems we have some special guests," Dad exclaimed, his charismatic smile returning. "They will be the main event, after my son here summons his Spirit."
"Don't we have to wait for them?" I asked, raising one eyebrow.
He chuckled and shook his head, his grim demeanor long forgotten. "Summoning Ceremonies are sacred. Once a line is formed, everyone, even royals, are required to wait their turns. It is a royal decreed, after all. We don't want to mar the ceremonies with petty disputes."
"Well, let's get this over with," I said, aware of the carriages getting closer.
They would get a close-up view of my failure.
"Hopefully your excitement manifests when you summon your Spirit," Dad muttered wryly. "Let's begin."
I waited calmly in the circle, already knowing the possible outcomes. It was either death or ridicule. And I didn't want to die again. I doubted I could summon another Spirit, so I would cross that out.
The Mages all focused, closing their eyes as they pushed their power into the circle. I looked down, watching as it began to glow a faint white light, much weaker than every other hopeful.
Now that I was on the circle, I could clearly see the runes. They were intricate, interconnected patterns that were somehow arranged in a way that formed a circle. I could stare at it for hours, and I still wouldn't grasp the meaning of them.
The circle kept glowing, but nothing was occurring. There was no pillar of light from the ground or from above. There was no dramatic spectacle that brought forth awe from the crowd. No Spirit was summoned.
The Mages, except Enzo, were beginning to look worried. Clearly, this has never happened to them. Someone who cannot summon a Spirit is something that is very, very rare. Only a handful in history have been unable to do it.
That was a convenient cover for me, at least for now. I would have to come up with a convincing story later. From what I could tell, being unable to summon a Spirit doesn't necessarily mean you aren't able to bond with one. You could still bond with an Invasive Spirit, but the Essence-less are more likely to not grow as strong as one who is capable of both.
Maybe I could have been Blessed, or maybe I could have been completely talentless—either way, I would never know, not when Condemner of Sinners is in the picture.
I mean, I was reincarnated, so maybe my soul was stronger than most. Would I have gotten a strong Spirit if the Void didn't screw me over? I didn't know. And there was no point dwelling on it when that possibility was gone.
"Is something supposed to happen?" I asked them, raising one eyebrow to be convincing.
My dad didn't seem to know how to react. His wince gave that away. "I've never seen this happen before."
Enzo chuckled, not at all bothered by the disappointing display. "Out of everyone, I wouldn't expect this from your children," he said, turning to look at me, and once again I felt like my soul was being probed. "What an interesting ceremony this is shaping up to be."
The circle flickered out, and everything went silent. For a long moment, nobody spoke or shuffled. Corpses were louder than the crowd. It was as if they were never there in the first place.
I turned to Lorelai, who was frozen in place, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me. I saw the pain in her eyes—the pain she felt for me.
That hurt me more. She didn't care about me accidentally breaking the promise—what she was worried about were my own feelings. My sister put me before herself.
All I wanted to do was apologize. I couldn't stand to see her like that.
"We have an Essence-less," Dad said gravely, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. He looked like he wanted to apologize to me. I knew he wouldn't treat me differently for my supposed shortcomings. And I was thankful for that. Truly.
"I'm going to do everything in my power to help you," he promised in my ear, his voice warm. "We'll find you an Invasive Spirit. If we can't, then we'll keep trying the ceremony as many times as it takes."
His sincerity warmed my heart. He wanted to make amends even if he didn't do anything wrong. My father always made sure Lorelai and I had what was best for us. And we wouldn't give up until we succeeded.
I respected him because of that. He would give the world to his children. My mother was right to marry him.
I turned to him and gave him a ghost of a smile, letting out a fake sigh. "Thank you, Dad." Even if I was displaying faux sadness, my gratitude was still genuine.
Without another word, I walked off the stage, going back to my sister. I deliberately ignored the stares from the others.
Contrary to what they probably thought, I was actually relieved. Everyone knew I usually had an indifferent demeanor. But people like me would at least feel distraught at the news of being Essence-less. They most likely assumed I was just hiding it.
But I could use being Essence-less as a cover—nobody would suspect there was anything off about me. This was perfect.
All I had to do was ignore the mockery.
"I'm so sorry…" Lorelai said softly. "You deserve a Spirit more than anyone."
"It doesn't matter," I said dismissively. "It happened. There's no point in complaining."
"You don't have to act that way around me," she said, her gaze sad.
I allowed my expression to soften a degree. "I know," I said simply.
My sister placed a hand on my arm, staying close to me as we turned our attention back to the stage, where the Mages were waiting for the royals. My father still looked a bit shaken up, but he managed to regain his composure, vying to remain professional and strong for my sake.
Someone hugged me from behind. I turned and saw my mother with tears in her eyes.
"We'll find you an Invasive Spirit," she promised. "We'll do anything."
I almost let out an outburst. I didn't know whether it was from tears or joy.
Since my last life, all I've wanted was this love from my family. It didn't matter what, they'd still love me, and I was thankful for that.
I almost cried right then and there. But I had to control myself. I had to remind myself that I wasn't truly Essence-less.
"You know," I said, "Dad said nearly the same thing."
Mom gave me a tearful smile. "You're strong, Vali. I know you will find a way."
I sighed, complex feelings bubbling up inside of me.
I had to keep Condemner of Sinners under control. I couldn't ruin this family, too. Not when they've shown me so much love. I wanted to be worthy of that.
I didn't want to hurt them. I would hate myself even more if I did.
I was just a child. I had such a heavy burden crushing me underneath, and I couldn't tell anybody. Not even my family.
The carriage finally stopped, near the stage. I assumed they'd park somewhere else, but I guess royals could do whatever they wanted. Figures.
A door opened, gliding to the side instead of out. And a beautiful woman promptly stepped out.
She was slight, but her white armor gave her a powerful air about her, the black streaks exemplifying that. The armor perfectly covered her entire body, not showing any skin besides her neck, which had a red cape-like cloak clasped around it. A white-hilted sword was strapped onto her hip. On her breast was the same symbol on the carriage. She must have been the guard, then.
The armored woman's hair was a flowing blonde, draping just past her shoulders. Her chartreuse eyes were playful, a juxtaposition to the powerful figure she seemed to be. It made her seem conniving in a way.
The woman held her hand toward the open door, and someone took it, allowing themselves to be helped out of the carriage.
It was girl, about my age. Her hair was a red so rich it was like blood. Her eyes were amber, like honey. A masterfully spun red dress, the same color of her hair, flowed down to her knees. Despite being so young, she still exuded the same regal air I expected of royals. Her eyes fell to the stage, then her gaze drifted, meeting mine with an unreadable expression.
Instantly I knew they were watching my ceremony. It didn't matter, anyway. I was a nobody, so I'd be forgotten, especially considering the fact that I was from a small town. I'd just be an unfortunate commoner in her eyes.
Or so I thought, as Dad and Enzo walked to the edge to meet them.
"If it isn't the Sword Saint and Princess Erythrina," my father greeted them, a wry smirk on his lips. "What brings you two, here?"
"Come on, Darius, you know we're here because of you," the Sword Saint replied, her smile playful as she crossed her gauntlet-clad arms.
"Ah, so the King sent his only child to summon her Spirit here," Enzo said, his expression amused. "That's dangerous, no?"
The Sword Saint seemed to frown as she beheld Enzo. "He didn't send her because of you," she said.
"Of course I know that," Enzo said, shrugging dismissively. "But it's funny to think about."
"Well, the matter is, His Majesty feels safer when his daughter's ceremony is overseen by the Royal Protector himself," she said, brushing away Enzo's comment.
What? The Royal Protector? That was my dad's job?
Lorelai and I stared at each other with wide eyes.
"Did you know?" she asked.
"I'm as lost as you," I admitted.
I heard our mother sigh as she placed her hands on our back. "We didn't want to expose you to all of this so soon… But the King had other plans, it seems."
My father kneeled until he was at Princess Erythrina's level, a fond smile on his face. "I wonder how that fool reacted to you finally being old enough to summon you Spirit," he said jokingly.
The Princess smiled dryly. "Father was quite emotional to the point where it was exaggerated."
"I'm surprised he didn't send an entire squadron with you."
"Anyone with balls steeled enough to attack her while the Windwalker is on her side wouldn't be intimidated by even a hundred high-ranking Mages," Enzo pointed out wryly.
"Now you're exaggerating."
"You act like you didn't singlehandedly turn the tides in the deciding battle in the Zesal-Fasgan War. While protecting the King."
The Sword Saint rolled her eyes. "As much as I'd like to hear your banter, a certain Princess has to summon her Spirit."
"Right, of course," my father said with a sigh. "Come on up, then, Your Highness."
The Princess and the Sword Saint both stepped up the stage, turning to the crowd.
That was when I realized they were both bowing in reverence to the Princess and her guard. I didn't even notice my mother tugging my pants to get me to the kneel.
It was too late. The Princess was already looking at me, raising one eyebrow in what I assumed to be grudging respect.
"Rise," she ordered. One by one, every person watching stood. She did not speak out against me, as I assumed she was.
Without instruction, the Princess stood in the circle, looking prim and confident.
"For the first time in Willsden's history," my father began dramatically, "a member of the royal family will summon their Spirit here."
The crowd applauded in a show of respect. That prompted the Princess to wave her hand at the crowd with a bright smile.
The Mages once again focused their power on the runic circle as the ceremony began anew. The Princess closed her eyes as it glowed with white light, intensifying in the same manner it did for Lorelai.
We all looked up as a pillar of red light fell from the sky, the color of the Princess' hair. Two other pillars followed suit on each side: one that was made out of spiraling shards of metal; and one that seemed to be an intertwined mass of rippling slashes of crescent-shaped force.
The three pillars melded together, forming a red and black beam of light that fell on top of her, obfuscating her figure in its otherworldly radiance.
Moments later, the pillar dispersed as quickly as it manifested. But instead of breaking off into flakes of light, like it did with Lorelai, a rain of blood droplets fell over the stage. A barrier of wind protected every Mage but the Princess, which meant my father did not want to disturb the ceremony under any circumstance.
The Princess glowed with bloody light that slowly faced away, opening her eyes once more.
My father seemed to be at a lost for words. The Sword Saint did too. Enzo was laughing.
"Another one," Dad breathed, his eyes sparkling with awe. "Hail Erythrina van Zesal, Blessed by the Divines."
The crowd boomed in a cheer, clapping profusely at the godly display. Not only were they chanting her name, but they were chanting my sister's names.
"Two Blessed were chosen in this ceremony," Dad said, clapping alongside the crowd. "What an interesting turn of events."
"Who was the other one?" the Princess asked curiously. "We saw the pillars from last time."
My father motioned to Lorelai. "My own daughter."
"Ah." The Sword Saint snorted. "No wonder."
"That marks the end of today's Summoning Ceremony!" my father exclaimed. "We hope to see a new generation of wonderful Mages! All of you." He glanced at me with a smile.
That brought warmth to my heart. He did not give up on me. I knew he wouldn't.
It took a moment for the raucous cheers of the people to calm down. They all stayed, not wanting to missed a sighting of a royal. But they did not dare approach, beginning to mingle with one another; parents conversed and laughed, while children played. The new Mages asked each other about their Spirits, excitement visible on their faces.
Lorelai looked at me with a worried expression.
"I'm fine," I assured.
She did not respond, but I could tell she wanted to comfort me.
I looked up and spotted the Sword Saint and the Princess approaching us, my father on their heels. Enzo looked at us for another moment, before engaging in a conversation with the other Mages.
My mother stepped forward, her expression humorous, as if she thought of a joke she wouldn't share with anybody else.
"Sylia," the Sword Saint said with a laugh. "You still look as graceful as always."
"Sister," my mother replied, laughing too. "There's less stress here. So maybe that's why."
"Sister?!" I exclaimed, eyes wide and dumbfounded. Lorelai had the same expression.
"You didn't tell them?" the Sword Saint asked. Then she sighed. "I see why you wouldn't. The Felhara family is too much for them. Especially with talent like Lorelai."
"You see, kids," Dad said, "your mother comes from a noble family. I was allowed to marry her because of my employment to the Crown. That gave me the necessary status."
"We wanted to tell you when you were older," Mom said cautiously. "We didn't want you to be involved in all of this, especially so soon."
"Is that why you taught us all those random skills?" I asked her. I was shocked of course, but thinking about it now, my mom was always so graceful. Even how she walked and talked was more apparent than the average person in Willsden.
Our mother had drilled into us manners and habits that was suspiciously more refined than most residents of Willsden, who did not need these skills. We weren't hosting important guests, but everytime I asked my mother what the point was, she would simply say, "You might need it one day."
Even as children, she taught us table manners, polite speech, being aware of our surroundings in social settings, and other, similar skills. Honestly, I respected my mother's foresight. She wanted us to live the life we wanted, but she knew we might not have a choice, no matter what she did.
"Wow…" Lorelai said, her expression a mix of surprise and nervousness. "We're nobles?"
"That sounds like more effort than it's worth," I said.
"It does," the Sword Saint admitted. "Nobility is a fickle thing."
She stepped forward and kneeled until she was at our levels, affixing us an easy smile. "I've been looking forward to meeting you, niece and nephew. I am your Aunt Fela, the Sword Saint. I work with your father in the Royal Guard. He's the Royal Protector, the person bodyguard to the King."
"Why weren't we told?" Lorelai asked, turning to our father.
Surprisingly, the Princess was the one that answered her. "He wouldn't be able to tell you much, anyway," she said, her voice silky smooth and soft, without the haughtiness I'd come to expect from royals. "His work is mostly done in secret. Not even I know what he does, other than the fact that he protects my father and me. Uncle Darius is one of the most trusted in my father's circle."
"I guess that makes sense," I said, sighing.
"I still don't really understand," Lorelai said with a shaky smile. "But I know my dad's awesome."
I gave her a sidelong glance, smiling at her bubbly naivety.
The Princess, to my surprise, giggled a little bit. "My name is Erythrina van Zesal," she said, smiling. "It's good to finally meet Uncle Darius' children."
"I'm Vali Trixem," I said, nodding to her.
"I'm Lorelai Trixem!" Lorelai said with a wave.
"So not Felhara," Erythrina mused. "Well, that's to be expected.
"Why don't you all run along and play with the Princess," my mother suggested to my sister and I. "Your father and I will speak to your aunt."
"Doesn't Dad have to protect her, though?" I wondered.
"Don't worry, son," she replied assuredly, twirling a strand of blonde hair with her finger. "If anything happens, your father will be there. But you'll have to protect the Princess in the meantime." She winked at me.
Goddamnit, Mom. I was branded as an Essence-less and the Void Entity I had was dormant. What could I do?
Before I could retort, she went with my father and Aunt Fela to the stage. My father gave us a grin as he walked away.
I sighed, looking to my sister and Erythrina. When I noticed the latter staring at me thoughtfully, I raised one eyebrow questioningly.
"You're surprisingly calm for being Essence-less," Erythrina said, narrowing her eyes in what I assumed to be curiousness.
"Because there's nothing I can do about it," I said, shrugging. "It's either I accept it or I despair."
"That won't do," she said, shaking her head.
Lorelai tilted her head inquisitively. "What are you going to do?"
The Princess pointed her finger at me. "If you're to be my Protector when I ascend the throne, then you will need a Spirit."
"What?" I said, my eyes widening as my thoughts came to a halt. "Princess, I don't—"
She interrupted me, "Call me Eri. I don't like being referred to as my title if I don't need to."
I ignored her. "Princess, I don't think I can. Anyone else would be more suited to. Like my sister. She's a Blessed like you."
"I don't really know what being Blessed really means," Lorelai said, frowning.
The Princess laughed. "Me neither. I just know that it's useful."
"But why does Vali have to be the Royal Protector?" my sister wondered.
"As the elder child of the current Royal Protector," Erythrina explained, "he is eligible to be trained as such, when he's older. If he doesn't, you could take over as well. But your talent could be used in other areas, too. The Church will consider us holy and will support us. The Inquisitors, our military strength, are made up of people sent by the Church and people who volunteer. As a Blessed, we could be high-ranking members if we choose to be. But since I'm the Princess, being Blessed could strengthen my hold to the throne. You have other options to explore, too."
That's what I feared: being involved in pointless politics. With Condemner of Sinners inside of me, that made my position even more precarious. God-fearing people discovering an eldritch horror like my own Spirit could have grave consequences in the future. I would be facing pressure on both sides of my family.
In that day alone, my life became even more complicated. And with Condemner of Sinners being so uncooperative, things would be much worse.
"I have to be prepared, then," Lorelai mused, her expression grimmer than I've ever seen her.
The Princess nodded in sympathy. "I know it's hard. But you don't have to worry about that until much later, when you can enroll in an academy."
"So where do I come in," I asked, dreading the answer. "From what I've heard, Lorelai is a better choice."
Erythrina suddenly smirked. "Do you know the forest next to Willsden?" she asked, pointing her finger west, where I spotted canopies peeking from the roofs of buildings.
"The Dormant Woods," Lorelai said. "Of course we know about that."
"How about we go explore and see if we can find a Spirit for Vali?" the Princess said, her smirk turning sly.