He straightened in his chair, his tone shifting into something more authoritative. "Alright, Oscar. Let's start with the basics. Given that we're in a church, it's fitting to discuss the biblical factions first."
I nodded, eager to absorb the information.
"There are three primary factions in the biblical pantheon: Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels," he began. "The angels are God's faction, as I'm sure you're aware. They serve Him directly, wielding light magic as their main power."
To emphasize his point, he extended his hand. A blade of pure light materialized, humming softly in the dim room. Its radiance cast gentle, golden shadows on the walls. "Angels are beings of order and righteousness, and their leadership includes the Archangels—Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and others. The Church, naturally, is an extension of this faction. People like me," he gestured to himself, "act as their earthly agents, armed with holy magic and artifacts."
I watched the blade flicker out of existence as he clasped his hands together.
"Now, devils," he continued, his voice taking on a slightly grimmer tone. "The devils are beings of sin and temptation. They once had a ruling hierarchy of 72 noble families, known as the Pillars. However, after centuries of war and infighting, only about 30 of those families remain today."
I leaned in, intrigued.
"The devils are led by Lucifer—though that title is both a position and a bloodline. The current Lucifer is not the original one who fell from Heaven but rather a descendant who carries on his legacy. Alongside the Lucifer bloodline, there are three other major houses: Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Asmodeus. Together, they form the leadership of the devils. However," he said with a faint smirk, "devils rarely agree on anything. The devil faction is split into two groups: the Old Satan Faction, who cling to the original ways, and the New Satan Faction, who seek modernization and reform."
"And the Fallen Angels?" I asked, my curiosity growing.
"The Fallen Angels," he said, "are a separate faction altogether. They're angels who succumbed to sin, abandoning their divine purpose. Lust, pride, greed—it doesn't matter. Once an angel sins, they're cast from Heaven and become Fallen. Their leader is Azazel, a...peculiar man," he added with a wry smile. "I've met him before. He's ambitious, clever, and oddly pragmatic for a fallen being. The Fallen Angels reside in the Underworld, like the devils, though they occupy separate territories."
"And the angels are still in Heaven?"
"Correct," Sinclair nodded. "The three factions have their domains: Heaven for the angels, the Underworld for devils and Fallen Angels. Long ago, the three waged a great war against one another—a war that saw the death of the original Four Satans. The balance between them has been tenuous ever since, but open conflict has largely subsided...for now."
I absorbed his words, the sheer weight of this world settling on my shoulders.
"Now," he said, leaning forward, "there's one more thing you need to know—something that affects humans like you more than anything else: Sacred Gears."
"Sacred...what?"
"Sacred Gears," he repeated, his tone serious. "They are divine artifacts granted to humans by God. Each one is unique, imbued with miraculous powers that can rival even the strongest supernatural beings. Some grant immense strength, others control time or summon mythical creatures. And then there's the Longinus."
"Longinus?"
"Yes," he said, nodding gravely. "Longinus are the most powerful Sacred Gears—artifacts so potent they can slay gods. There are thirteen of them in existence, each capable of reshaping the balance of the world. For example, the Boosted Gear allows its user to exponentially multiply their power, while the Divine Dividing lets its wielder halve the power of their opponents."
The weight of his words pressed down on me. Artifacts that could kill gods? And humans could wield them?
"Most humans are unaware of the supernatural world," he continued. "But those born with Sacred Gears often find themselves drawn into it, whether they want to be or not."
I sat back, the pieces of this vast, intricate world falling into place. Angels, devils, Fallen Angels, Sacred Gears—all of it.
Father Sinclair studied me for a moment, his gaze sharp. "You're diving headfirst into a dangerous world, Oscar. I suggest you tread carefully."
I stared at Father Sinclair, still reeling from what he'd just said. "What the hell... this is more than I expected. And this is just the biblical factions? My brain's on overload."
He chuckled, looking used to reactions like mine. "Yeah, it's a lot to take in. But welcome to the supernatural. It's vast, it's messy, and it's a lot more real than you might think. But hey, we've barely scratched the surface. There's more than just the biblical stuff going on."
I raised an eyebrow. "More? Like what? This is already too much."
"Well, you've got your Norse pantheon," Father Sinclair began, leaning back in his chair. "The Norse gods are still around, mostly out of sight, but don't think for a second they're not dangerous. Thor's still got that hammer of his, and he's not shy about using it when he feels like it. Loki's just as troublesome as ever, but now he's got more tricks up his sleeve than before. They're all about the power of fate, destiny, and war."
"Thor... still alive?" I asked, trying to picture it.
"Yeah. He's not just a story. He's a god of thunder, and there are more of them like him. The Norse gods have their own agenda, and they don't care much for anyone else's business. They've got their own goals and rivalries, like all the other pantheons."
I blinked. "So, what about the Greek gods? You know, Zeus and his crew?"
Father Sinclair nodded. "Greek gods are very real. Zeus still controls the sky, and his lightning's just as deadly as ever. Poseidon still rules the seas, and Hades? He controls the Underworld. You can't forget Athena, the goddess of wisdom, or Ares, the god of war. They've got their own following, and while they don't show up as often, their influence is still everywhere. Hell, their bloodlines are still strong, and their legacies are far from over."
My head was spinning. "Wait, you're telling me these gods are walking around now? Just like that?"
Father Sinclair smiled, leaning in. "Well, not exactly. Most gods don't walk around in the open. They have their followers, their hidden temples, and sometimes they intervene when the time calls for it. But yeah, they still have power, and they still make waves in the supernatural world."
I ran a hand through my hair. "Okay, so, Norse gods, Greek gods, and... vampires? Vampires are real too?"
Father Sinclair nodded solemnly. "Vampires. Real. But not the glittering movie kind. They're ancient creatures, and some of them still rule powerful vampire clans. There's Dracula's bloodline, of course, but there are older families out there with even more power. These vampires? They're not just about feeding—they've got political power, mind control abilities, and they've been around since humanity first started writing history. Some vampires even have the ability to manipulate life force, not just blood."
I leaned forward. "You mean like... draining a person's life energy?"
"Exactly. That's how some vampires gain more power. They feed not just on blood but on mana, the life force that flows through every living thing. It makes them stronger, and if they're old enough, they can be near invincible. But they're not all bad. Some of the vampire factions, like the Vampire Queen's faction, they don't go around wreaking havoc—they've built their own society."
"Great," I muttered. "This world just gets weirder."
Father Sinclair chuckled again. "That's just the tip of the iceberg. Then there are the Youkai—the supernatural creatures from Japanese mythology. We've got everything from kitsune, the shape-shifting fox spirits, to tengu, the mountain-dwelling bird-men. They're not all evil, but they certainly know how to cause trouble when they want to. Some of them, like the Kyuubi no Kitsune, are extremely powerful."
I raised my eyebrows. "Kitsune? Those fox spirits are real, too?"
"Yep. And some of them are as ancient as the gods themselves. The Kitsune are shape-shifters, and they're known for their ability to influence people's minds. Some are aligned with the more powerful factions, like the gods or even demons, but others act on their own, manipulating things for their own purposes."
I let out a slow breath. "Okay... So, all these mythologies are real, and I'm supposed to... what? Learn about them all?"
"Exactly," Father Sinclair said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "And that's where you'll have to start. These factions, these creatures, they're all part of the supernatural world you're now a part of. Whether you like it or not, you've stepped into a world full of powerful beings and dangerous enemies. Some will want to help you, others will see you as a threat. But if you want to survive, you'll need to understand how these powers work."
I exhaled slowly, the weight of it all starting to sink in. "So, gods, vampires, yokai, and demons... that's just the beginning?"
Father Sinclair nodded. "Yep. And there are plenty more beings you haven't even heard of yet—some older than any pantheon or species you can name. If you want to live in this world, you need to learn the rules, learn who to trust, and who to stay away from. Because in the supernatural world, trust is in short supply."
I blinked, realizing how much deeper this world went. "Right. Well, I guess I've got a lot to learn then."