Sacred Realm, Continent of the Holy Order
A group of young men and women, all around 16 years old, stood with a mix of seriousness and apprehension etched on their faces. They stood facing a shimmering gold portal while knights in golden armor formed a protective circle around the portal.
None of the children spoke to one another and that alone spoke volumes of the discipline that had been instilled in them. They were the Nameless, children born and raised in the Holy Order and trained from birth to be Knights of the Holy Order.
Among the students, stood a striking young man, his silver white hair flowing effortlessly, catching the eye with every movement. His eyes, the color of twilight sky gleamed with otherworldly intensity and were focused on the sacred geometries carved on the shimmering portal. He and the rest of the children knew that what they were about to undertake were the Seven Trials of Awakening. These trials were vital as they were the only way the Nameless could awaken their divine energy. They would then receive a name and thus begin their journey towards transcendence. The names they were bestowed depicted the power they would come to possess.
"I wonder what Name I am worthy of?" the striking young man with silver white hair wondered, with a silent smirk.
He was sixteen now, and for his entire life, he had been prepared for this moment. While other children in the surface world might dream of first loves or grand adventures, his dreams were filled with the weight of cosmic duty. He had no friends in the traditional sense; his companions were other Nameless like himself—No.2, stern and disciplined; No.3, sharp-witted and intuitive; and No. 5, whose calm demeanor hid a fierce resolve. They were not friends, for friendship implied a casual bond that could become a distraction. They were companions in purpose, fellow pieces on a divine chessboard. Their relationship was one of deep, respectful rivalry and unwavering mutual support, forged in the relentless fires of their training.
And yet, no matter how much they had tried to catch up to him, he had always surpassed them. He was the only one to decipher the Canticles of Containment and was granted the innate ability to easily experience the Revelation of all things. The revelation was akin to his cheat code. It allowed him to perceive and understand mysteries. To make matters unfair for the others, he was born a genius. His mind was a placid lake reflecting only purpose. He could do what his companions could not. He could meditate for three days without a single stray thought while others battled inner demons of doubt and fear. His body, honed by a regimen that would break a chieftain, was a perfect instrument, resilient and strong. He was the embodiment of the Holy Order, and the weight of that expectation was a mantle he wore without arrogance, but with solemn responsibility.
"Nameless!"
An ancient voice, dry as forgotten leaves and yet as sharp as a blade echoed before them. It was Scrivener Malachi – The overlord of their training. They have never met him in person and yet his presence always loomed over them when they trained. They only knew him by his voice.
"Nameless of the Holy Order, this shall be the beginning of your journey within the Order. You have been trained and prepared for this day. You are to become vessels for the Divine. This path is not granted. It is earned.
You will now undertake the Seven Trials of Awakening. They are not merely tests of strength or cunning. They are the sacred embodiment of the Armor of the Divine itself. You will not simply wear this armor; you will become it. Piece by piece. Trial by trial. You enter these Trials as Nameless Acolytes.
You will emerge… or you will not emerge at all. All those who fail to reach the third Trial will go back to the embrace of the Divine.
But if you do, if you withstand the forging… you will arise. With a name, one cleansed of its ego, purified by trial, and dedicated to a truth greater than any single life. You will arise as vessels of divine energy.
The armor awaits. Go now, and be forged."