In Mintaka Village, the deep toll of the cathedral bell rumbled through the air, sending a flock of white pigeons soaring into the sky. Blue banners fluttered as townspeople raised them up the flagpoles. A young woman arrived before the cathedral steps, listening to the lively chatter around her—children playing, merchants calling out their wares. "Whew... man. That crowd at the plaza was insane. I almost got trampled. Good thing I managed to slip away."
Her name was Xurien Wrez. She noticed the weathered yellowing on the stone walls and breathed in the familiar, faint scent of aged incense. She had just come from Betelgeuse City, where she stood listening to the king's address. But instead of rushing to register as an auxiliary hunter, she chose to seek refuge inside the church.
Stepping inside, the cool atmosphere of the sanctuary wrapped around her. High above, angelic stone statues stared down like silent guardians from their perches on towering pillars. I admire King Zerceux's confidence, taking on this competition without hesitation, Xurien thought, her mind racing in the quiet space. It could definitely turn the country around if they succeed. But I just don't get it... why let the non-awakened join such a dangerous operation? The question weighed heavily on her heart.
At the far end of the sanctuary, a massive black cross dominated the main altar wall—a stark emblem of the religious influence of her homeland, Cypriox.
Xurien released a soft sigh, her eyes wandering past porcelain vases and decorative greenery scattered around the corners. Well, I suppose it was everyone's collective choice, she thought, holding back a faint huff as she looked toward the vaulted ceiling.
Suspended across the expansive hall, fluorescent lamps framed in floral relics cast a warm, gentle light. Tiny specks of dust glittered like gold where sunbeams pierced through the stained glass, slicing through the cool shadows of the nave.
Wait a minute... I've been walking through these pews for a while now. Where is everybody? Xurien paused, her steps growing heavy. No way... did they all head to the border for the commission? Unbelievable! They got blinded by the money that fast? They just abandoned their prayers for a quick payout?
Reaching the altar, she sank slowly to her knees. Raising her hands, she laced her fingers tightly together and closed her eyes. Fresh tears welled up like morning dew, trickling down her cheeks and dripping onto her chest as the intensity of her devotion took hold. Suddenly, an ethereal astral halo flared to life above her head, gleaming with a radiant inner cross. This iridescent crest manifested naturally in those of Cyprioxian blood—a physical projection of their deep faith in the Crux entity.
"Hallelujah... hallelujah..." she sang, her soft lips trembling slightly as her voice drifted into the quiet air.
The swirling incense smoke carried the rich fragrance of sweet cedar, wrapping her heavy heart in a soothing calm. The quiet flicker of candlelight stood as a silent witness to her unyielding posture before the cross.
As her eyes remained closed, sudden visions flashed violently behind her eyelids. Though the imagery blurred past in a fraction of a second, the visceral horror landed hard—warriors drenched in their own blood, groaning, screaming, and pleading for mercy before taking their final breath.
Xurien gasped, her eyes flying open in shock. "Is that... is that what awaits them after this mission? Was that a premonition from the Crux?" she whispered, her lips quivering. Kneeling before the altar, she poured her soul into prayer once more.
"O merciful Crux, I beseech thee, shower your glorious light upon the land of Thallerion," she prayed, her knees trembling on the hard stone as cold sweat mixed with fresh tears on her strain-weary hands. "Guide Thallerion's warriors. Grant them victory in this mission, and give strength to the non-awakened who are ready to lay down their lives. I pray, too, for the return of Thallerion's Celestial Guardian. His warrior people are marching out once more to face the cruelty of this world... please, watch over them."
Her voice resonated through the silent sanctuary like a solemn melody. "O Holy Crux..." She pressed her hands together with even greater fervor, causing her astral halo to burst with brilliant light. "Hear my plea—for my people, for my country, and for my race. Thallerion's ability to awaken its latent power grows weaker by the day, leaving this land defenseless. Please... we need your guidance. Amen."
The Phenomenon
As her prayer faded, a deafening silence settled over the cathedral.
Then, the candle flames bowed low.
The fluorescent lights flickered erratically overhead. The incense smoke twirled violently in the air, churning into a miniature storm within the nave. In a split second, a orb of blinding light materialized in midair as arcing electricity crawled across the stone walls.
Xurien felt a gentle, sacred warmth wash over the room, as if the buzzing energy were whispering her name. Opening her eyes, she was met by a dazzling, star-like glare accompanied by a hum like a swarm of angry bees. In the blink of an eye, the sphere plunged downward like a falling star, striking the floor right before her.
As the light subsided, the silhouette of a figure emerged—unmistakably a shirtless man.
"Who are you?" Xurien's eyes widened in sheer shock, her muscles locking up as her gaze landed on him. The sudden spike of fear shattered her celestial halo like fragile glass. "Identify yourself, stranger!" Her voice rasped and shook.
Outside, every trace of noise vanished. Looking down, she froze: a tear falling from her cheek was suspended motionless in midair. She glanced frantically at her holographic watch—the millisecond digits had stopped dead.
What is happening? Why has time stopped? Panic seized her chest. The smell of incense was gone, replaced entirely by the stranger's intoxicating aura—a rich blend of onyx and lotus, as sweet and deep as aged wood. That scent... it's like the traditional fragrance of Thallerion. Is he...?
The young woman's delicate face flushed like a rose blooming under the sun as the broad-shouldered man stepped fully out of the radiance. He possessed the sculpted build of a cosmic warrior. But before her eyes, dark sand materialized out of thin air, wrapping around his bare torso and hardening into an armor as solid and unyielding as adamantine. His posture radiated the undeniable majesty of a god.
I can't believe it... Am I truly witnessing a god? Xurien's voice caught in her throat, her heart racing like a trapped rabbit.
With every step he took, the cathedral felt smaller, dominated by his overwhelming presence. Five glowing crystal spheres—each representing an element: fire, water, lightning, earth, and wind—circled him low, orbiting like loyal planets.
With a soft hum, the five elemental spheres converged around his waist, locking together to form a ornate belt. The stranger's aura surged, sending a physical shockwave rolling through the sanctuary.
He really is a god! Xurien gasped as the pressure hit her, causing a trickle of blood to leak from her nose. The raw energy swirling around him felt like living electricity. I can't pass out now. I have to witness this miraculous moment with my own eyes!
Mustering her courage, Xurien looked closer at his cosmic attire. She took in the silk cape that seemed woven from the night sky itself. Diamond crests gleamed along every edge of his golden armor, while an ethereal pauldrons made of shimmering aquamarine galaxy-energy flowed behind his back, trimmed with gold detailing.
Is he a god of war? Daggers hovered and danced in the air around him, their blades shifting through various forms. A brilliant circlet rested upon his brow, glowing like a newborn sun. No... could he be...?
Hairline cracks spider-webbed across the cathedral's massive stone pillars. Dust motes hung frozen in the air, suspended in motionless space. Only one thought echoed in her mind: Wait... is he... a Constellar-God?
Overwhelmed by the awe of his heavenly transformation, she allowed her gaze to drift upward, boldly following the lines of his face until her eyes met his—eyes that gleamed with the depth of the infinite cosmos.
The sheer weight of his gaze shattered her resolve. Overpowered, Xurien dropped her eyes in terror. Her hands trembled violently as she threw herself face-down onto the cold stone floor for the first time in her life. Tears streamed down her face as she cowered before him like a servant begging for mercy.
"Forgive my insolence!" she cried out, her voice trembling against the floor. "I did not mean to look upon your face!"