All Saints gathered in the vast, echoing training grounds of the Sanctuary. The air was thick with curiosity and tension, signaling that the assembly was no ordinary session.
"What's going on?" Orin asked Lucen, squinting at the large crowd amassed before the central, consecrated training field.
"A special demonstration class is to be held today by a Knight of Wonder," Lucen replied, a hint of awe in his voice. "They called it a 'state of emergency class.'"
Solen rubbed his chin, his mind still reeling from the revelations of the Vice-ridden city. "Why would they call it that... and what could they possibly want to show this large congregation?"
"Hmm, I also heard that they said quick minds within the Sanctuary would grab a pattern from the demonstration," Senior Saint Maxi contributed, his gaze fixed on the secluded field.
"A pattern that would ease them into using the technique later in the future, when they've been officially taught," Senior Saint Kayla added, smoothing her robes. "I wonder what it is?"
"How come y'all know this much?" Lucen chuckled.
"We do our personal findings from time to time, hehe," Kayla replied. "Also... the Knight of Wonder that'll be leading the class would be the Knight of Grace."
"Caelius Infinitus," Maxi finished, his voice hushed.
"Knight of Grace? Is that a thing?!" Solen asked, confused by the new title.
"He's arguably one of the strongest Knights in the Sanctuary, you know?" Kayla whispered. "Intel says he has a really broken ability called Infinite Grace."
"Infinite Grace?" Orin asked.
"Well... not that I've seen it in combat, but those who have said it's the real deal. No one could come up with a proper explanation, though."
"Funny enough," Maxi interjected, "his primary and secondary abilities both share the same nature."
"He's here!" Lucen exclaimed as a dazzling white portal burst open in the sky. A Knight of Wonder and two heavily armored celestial guards emerged, descending slowly toward the wide, roped-off region of space where the demonstration would take place.
"What would a Knight of Wonder need guards for?" Orin scoffed.
"Pretty sure they're here to guard us in case his power goes beyond what we can handle," Maxi corrected.
As the Knight landed, murmurs burst through the congregation. They rarely saw the Knights, and when they did, they expected them to be grizzled veterans between their late 20s and early 30s. Instead, before them stood a young, elegant Knight of Grace who looked no older than nineteen.
He had short, neat grey hair and a handsome face that radiated an almost ethereal innocence. His magnificent white cape gracefully caressed the air as his deep blue eyes seemed to stare into the soul of the congregation.
FWSHH!
A single, effortless flicker of his Wondrous energy—a wave of power so vast it felt like the ocean settling—was enough to silence the whole crowd instantly. Their bodies gave way, not to force, but to the sheer magnanimity of the presence they had just felt.
Caelius spoke, his voice calm, clear, and resonant. "My name is Caelius Infinitus, The Knight of Grace. I've come here today under directions of the Almighty to demonstrate a divine technique to you. The good majority of you might see it as a mere power display, but those who shall awaken something from within still exist within your midst."
"Dark times are upon us, and there is a need for the learning of the Saints to be fast-tracked," Caelius added, his blue eyes sweeping over the crowd.
"Now, without any further delay, allow me to demonstrate the power of Angelic Divinations." Caelius offered a slight, peaceful smile.
The whole crowd went wild with hushed questions. "Angelic Divinations?! Sounds otherworldly!"
"Invocatio Lux Domini is a technique that lets you briefly don upon the power of an Angel," Caelius spoke, his voice effortlessly composing the crowd again. "Wondrous energy is very complex and can be synchronized with divine energy once an oath of commitment has been reached between the summoner and the divine. The technique lets you summon and use angelic powers for a period of about three minutes."
He continued: "While this doesn't make you invincible in any way, it can be a real game-changer if the timing and circumstance is right."
Caelius switched his stance, folding his hands together as though in prayer. A pulsing, holy sigil burst from underneath him, and an enormous, spectral aura emerged. A large, beautiful Angelic Avatar could be subtly seen forming behind him, veiled in pure light, as he chanted the sacred words.
"Invoco te, Clarividens Deciphera. Frange.
errores, solve arcana, et dirige gressus
meos in lucem."
(I summon you, Clarividens Deciphera. Break deception, unravel mysteries, and guide my steps in the light.)
His deep blue eyes instantly turned a brilliant, mystic yellow as the new, celestial power fell upon him. The congregation could feel it—he had become completely different, embodying a concept of divine clarity.
"I have summoned the power of Clarividens Deciphera ," Caelius announced, his voice now firm, authoritative, and utterly devoid of doubt. "An angelic power that lets me analyze a technique and come up with a bypass almost instantaneously. The bypass does not always ensure victory, but it could give me a significant edge in battle... and that is all about Invocatio Lux Domini."
"Don't let the chant scare you, hehe," Caelius added, his soft smile returning. "It will come to your soul naturally after the power has been donned upon you."
"I hope this sparks within you rising Saints a new sense of purpose and achievement. For those truly willing, the seed has already been planted!"
The Price of Pride
Just as Caelius was about to depart, a Senior Saint yelled out the Knight's name: "Caelius! Caelius!"
The Senior Saint ran up to the secluded stage. The celestial guards moved to stop him, but they were dismissed by a simple wave of Caelius's hand.
"That's Mikael Supremus," Kayla whispered. "A rather arrogant Senior Saint, known for his blinding speed. He's also one of the oldest Senior Saints around... I think he should be twenty."
"He's definitely up to no good!" Maxi added.
Mikael stood before the Knight, his Fiery Wonder energy burning violently. "A Knight of Wonder should be a beacon of hope, carrying the fate of the rising Saints with experience. Could we say the same about you?!"
"And how can we be sure that you're not just another rich young lad from a well-known family who has probably bought his way to the top?" Mikael sneered.
"Well, I have no idea..." Caelius chuckled, his hand brushing his grey hair.
"Then prove your worth!" Mikael demanded, drawing out his holy blade, Arondight.
The whole crowd gasped. They were about to witness a duel.
"I see your blood is hot with the eager of youth," Caelius said, his mystic yellow eyes focusing on Mikael's trembling form. "An uncontrolled pride that is the true nature of the heart of man... a rather weak limitation."
He finished with a big, underestimating smile. "I won't move a muscle. Give it your best!"
Feeling insulted, Mikael's energy burst violently. He dashed forward to face the Knight head-on. "Just watch me... I'll tear through your deception!" Mikael roared.
"Lux Incedia!"
Mikael moved with blinding, heat-shimmered speed. A wave of purifying flames burst out from his sword and aimed directly at Caelius. Mikael was absolutely sure of his aim, yet this technique missed Caelius badly, even with the Knight standing perfectly still.
Mikael closed the distance with another dash, tirelessly and speedily swinging his blade. Every single hit, despite his overwhelming speed, mysteriously missed Caelius.
"What the heck is going on!" Mikael wondered, sweat pouring from his face.
Dash!
Mikael tried a blind spot maneuver, but the result was still the same. His blade was once again poorly aimed by his own hand, causing it to ultimately miss the target.
After a long period of futile attacks, Mikael breathed heavily, gasping for air. "This will definitely finish you off!" Mikael said, firmly gripping his holy blade in a new, desperate stance. He was about to use his ultimate technique.
"Supreme Judex!" Mikael roared, releasing a beam of light that was meant to bypass defenses and hit the opponent with blinding speed. But of all the attacks he had missed, this was the worst—it was aimed squarely at the sky, a direction where there was absolutely no hope of it ever hitting the target who stood still beneath.
Out of sheer exhaustion, Mikael collapsed, struggling to let out his final, confused words: "What... are... you..."
"A Knight of Wonder," Caelius replied, his mystic eyes fading back to their calm blue. "And while I might not be able to be a beacon of light through experience... I'll let my strength ultimately serve that purpose as I claw through the forces of darkness."
Caelius departed into a white portal, along with the two celestial guards who followed him.
"In... all my days... I have never seen such power..." Lucen said, his jaw dropped.
"Was that an angelic power or something?" Solen questioned, still processing the impossible duel.
"That was just simply him being on the defensive," Maxi replied, his eyes reflecting a newfound fear and respect. "Through that whole duel... he never even raised his energy a bit. Neither did he even consider Mikael being worthy of his attacks or attention."
"Sometimes I remember the mess the world is becoming, and then I remember these Knights of Wonder," Orin said with a slight, hopeful smile. "A sudden hope reignites within me."
"Their light shines beyond the darkness, but also deep into our hearts," Solen added, staring at the blazing sun, his hand subconsciously gripping his chest. He now had a clearer understanding of the true summit of the power he needed to attain.