Before the first word of existence, the Divine Voice spoke into the infinite void, crafting order from chaos. The heavens and earth were born from this utterance, and alongside them, the foundations of light and darkness. The balance of these forces was integral to the fabric of creation, but with balance came rebellion—a rebellion that threatened to unravel the Creator's work.
Among the first beings shaped by divine light were the Cardinals, embodiments of the Creator's will, each forged to uphold an aspect of existence. These Cardinals were not merely beings but concepts, given form and purpose. The Creator, foreseeing the eventual corruption of free will and the fracture of harmony, devised a safeguard—the Lumen Divinitatis, a lantern that contained a fragment of the first light.
The lantern was conceived not as a weapon but as a repository for the fragments of divine authority, ensuring that even if the celestial and earthly realms fell to ruin, light could be restored. The Creator imbued it with relics forged from the essence of His truth, each relic symbolizing a pillar of divine grace:
The Holy Grail: A vessel of eternal sanctification, offering life and purification.
The Ark of the Covenant: A repository of divine law, capable of sealing away corruption.
The Crown of Thorns: A symbol of suffering and sacrifice, wielding power over the hearts of creation.
The Book of Life: A record of every soul, embodying the truth of existence.
Each relic bore a purpose, and the Lumen Divinitatis itself became the embodiment of restoration—a light that could pierce the deepest shadows. Yet, the Lumen was left unclaimed, for it was not a tool for domination but a burden, one that would require the purest of wills to bear it.
The Creator entrusted the cardinals to oversee the Lumen Divinitatis and ensure its readiness for the time when it would be needed most. These beings, each a reflection of divine authority, became the guardians of its mysteries.
Metatron, the Voice of Light: The Herald of the Creator, is tasked with interpreting the will of heaven. Metatron's radiance shielded the Lumen from the gaze of lesser beings.
The Gatekeeper (Chayot ha-Qodesh): A living barrier between the Lumen and all who sought it unworthily. Its form was a wheel of fire and eyes, spinning endlessly to ward off impurity.
Sophia, the Eternal Wisdom: The embodiment of Knowledge, guarding the Book of Life and guiding the balance of free will and divine intervention.
Azrael, the Keeper of Ends: The concept of Judgment and Death, wielding the Scythe that would one day be key to the Lumen's trials.
Even as the Cardinals stood watch, a rebellion brewed in the celestial realms. The greatest of the angels, now fallen, sought to claim the light for himself, believing the Lumen to be the key to unseating the Creator. The fallen one, who claimed the name of Lucifer, became the embodiment of pride and defiance.
Lucifer's assault upon the realms of light fractured the heavenly hosts, creating the first rift between creation and its intended harmony. In the chaos, the Cardinals clashed with the forces of darkness, their powers shaking the fabric of existence itself. Despite their strength, they knew the Lumen could not remain hidden forever. One day, it would need to be wielded—not by one of the Cardinals but by a mortal, one who could endure its trials and embody its burden.
The Lumen Divinitatis was not designed to choose lightly. Its trials were not only a test of strength but of endurance, faith, and unyielding resolve. The Creator designed these trials to break the unworthy, to sift through the multitudes for the one who could bear the suffering intended for all. These trials were meant for many, a group that could rely on one another's strengths. Yet, the Creator whispered a possibility into the void—a solitary bearer, one who would endure the weight of all creation's suffering alone.
The Cardinals, though eternal, debated the fairness of such a destiny. Sophia questioned if any mortal could withstand the trials, while Azrael remained silent, knowing that death would inevitably come for even the strongest. The Gatekeeper remained vigilant, ensuring no unworthy hand touched the Lumen. Metatron, however, prophesied the coming of the bearer—a being not of exceptional power but of unyielding will.
As the Cardinals stood sentinel over the Lumen, the Creator spoke once more, inscribing His words into the Book of Life: "In the hour of shadow, one shall rise from the dust. With the burden of many, they shall walk the valley of death, unbroken by despair, unyielding to the darkness. And in their hand, the light shall burn eternal."
The Cardinals did not know when this hour would come, only that the bearer would not arise by their choosing. Until then, the Lumen Divinitatis would remain hidden, a light waiting to pierce the endless night.