Inside the Acropolis, chaos reigned.The nobility of the Province of Light, still reeling from the heavenly talent of the young princess, was barely regaining their composure when the God of Light himself appeared.Apollo, descending from the heavens for a mere little girl! What an honor! What magnificence!
From patricians to venerable matrons, the aristocracy turned into awestruck children, gazing hungrily at the divine silhouette of the most beautiful of men.The air was filled with gasps and whispered prayers.
The more ambitious ones were already preparing marriage proposals.The shrewd quickly dispatched their servants to sell the news.And the truly wise simply watched Katerina's reaction in silence.
The eyes of Fulvius, Eva, Adam, and his brothers shone in unison with the altar.The holy daughter of Apollo held her breath, desperately hoping to glimpse once more the divine face of her celestial father.
Mother and son stared unblinking into the radiant light, struggling to see.Through the glowing veil, only blurred silhouettes could be discerned.
Swept up by the collective excitement, little Gray seemed calm, secretly hoping he too would receive such a miraculous blessing.Meanwhile, Katerina fought down a gnawing fear.
Logic told her the God of Light would not harm her daughter — that Grace would surely benefit from this encounter.But her maternal instincts rebelled against reason, filling her with growing dread.
'It feels wrong — someone speaking to my child without my permission. Even if it's a god himself... Am I becoming a paranoid mother?' she wondered bitterly.
Among everyone present, she alone tried to pierce the radiance — not to catch a glimpse of the most beautiful being alive, but to find her daughter.
Gradually, the brilliance faded, revealing Cardinal Alaric leading little Grace down the altar steps.The girl, cheerful and unharmed, played with something in her hands — the bracelet gifted by the god.
Alaric exchanged a brief, meaningful look with Eva and Fulvius, subtly signaling with his fingers — a coded gesture that stunned the two clerics.There was no need for words. With Apollo's appearance, all their plans had changed.The will of the god was absolute.
Fulvius hurriedly issued new orders to his attendants, while Eva approached Adam to report.
Her words made the governor tremble inwardly.No emotion betrayed his cold face, but his mind raced.
'Ha... Of all things, the nonsense we invented to save face turned out to be true.Should I be glad or should I mourn?'For a moment, uncertainty gripped him — then hardened into ruthless resolve.
'Forgive me, Katerina. I have no choice — for the sake of the province... and all mankind.'
Before Katerina could even secure her daughter's safety, Alaric was already guiding her son toward the altar — the pyramid's light was not infinite, and time was short.Meanwhile, Adam took the stage once more.
"Citizens of the Roman Empire! Citizens of the Province of Light!" he declared."Rejoice! Today, we were honored by the appearance of the divine Apollo!"
"Please remain calm. We have received instructions from our patron to continue the ceremony.All is according to divine will. Phoebo!"
Katerina, gritting her teeth, pushed her rage and fear aside.There would be time to confront the nobility later — now, she focused solely on Gray.
Watching her son ascend the steps toward the altar filled her with a bittersweet ache.
"It's impossible for Prince Gray to have an S-class rainbow core too," the crowd whispered.
"But they're twins! Why not?"
"Two legendary S-cores at once? Unheard of!"
Gray ignored the murmuring "extras."(Where had he learned such a strange term?)Over the noise, he caught the familiar voice of his sister:
"YOU CAN DO IT, BROTHER!"
At her shout, a gentle smile bloomed on Gray's usually serious face.His thoughts shifted:
'I can't lose to my little older sister. I wonder what my core will be like?Whatever it is, even if it's only E-class, Mama will still love me.Besides... fulfilling Grace's wishes wouldn't be a punishment.'
'As for Father... what do I care?He shows up once a month and looks at me like I'm some cursed creature.Whatever. All that matters is Mama and Sister.'
At last, Gray reached the summit of the altar.The Sphere of Origins floated before him, swirling with cosmic patterns.
He barely listened to the priest's formal instructions — he already knew what to do, thanks to his mother.
He placed his small hand on the Sphere.
The altar was once again engulfed in a blinding pillar of light.
Gray closed his eyes, focusing.The tickling sensation near his navel was clear.He guided it upward — solar plexus, chest, arms, fingers — and into the sphere.
The moment his energy entered, the sphere turned black.A black so deep it seemed to devour all surrounding light.
'No, no, no!Wait, this isn't right!I did it correctly — I can still feel the tickling!'Gray panicked internally.
Before he could react, he felt a sharp pain from behind.
Lowering his gaze, he saw a blade protruding from his chest — staining his white tunic crimson.
[I've been stabbed? Seriously?]
His thoughts froze.
Slowly turning, he found Cardinal Alaric standing over him — a serene, fanatical smile on his lips, his hand gripping a bloodied white dagger.
Pain exploded through Gray's body.His breathing faltered.The world blurred.The crowd's screams grew distant, muffled.
Darkness swallowed him.
The last thing he saw was Alaric's glowing, mad eyes — and the cruel smile of a zealot.
Chaos erupted.
Screams. Roars. Shouts.Everything blurred into a chaotic storm as Gray's consciousness slipped away.
Katerina, seeing her son fall, almost lost her mind.Pure, blinding rage exploded within her.
Her magical core pulsed violently, her aura flaring like a sun about to go supernova.Without hesitation, she charged toward the altar.
Adam, Fulvius, and a dozen Light acolytes tried to block her.
They failed.
In her berserk fury, Katerina was unstoppable.
A sword of light materialized in her hand — and in a blink, Fulvius was struck down, coughing blood as he crashed into the crowd.
Katerina didn't even glance at Adam.She unleashed a torrent of fire at him — only barely deflected by his barrier.
"Forgive me, dear... all is according to divine will," Adam muttered under his breath, though his words meant nothing to her.
Katerina tore through the acolytes like a comet of vengeance.
"She... she's already ascended?She's a Celestial?! How?!"Adam realized with horror — but it was too late.
Three more heads rolled across the marble floor.
The final meters to the altar felt like an eternity.Every heartbeat thundered in Katerina's ears.
She reached the altar.
Gray lay motionless, bleeding out.
Katerina grabbed him, pulling him close, desperately channeling healing magic.
"GRAY! GRAY! DON'T DIE!MAMA'S HERE! MAMA'S HERE!"Her screams tore through the Acropolis like thunder.
Cassia materialized from her mistress's shadow, instantly joining the fight.
"WHY, ADAM? WHY?! GIVE ME A REASON!"Katerina shrieked, trying to stem her son's bleeding with one hand, hurling potions with the other.
Adam exhaled heavily.
"There's a prophecy," he said grimly."The Prophecy of Matthew, recorded 5,000 years ago — one of the Three Great Prophecies.Two have already come true."
"It says:'When day and night fall out of rhythm, HE will be born — the herald of humanity's twilight.'"
Katerina froze, her magic still desperately working.
"It is known only to the Senate and the High Pontiffs," Adam continued."Gray... is the Herald of the Night.Sealing his core during Awakening was the only way to ensure the safety of humanity."
The air thickened with dread.
Imperial guards were swarming toward the altar.
Gray's life hung by a thread.
Katerina slowly lifted her gaze — her eyes blazing with pain, fury, and betrayal.
"There's always a choice," she whispered.
Adam stepped forward — but stopped, seeing Cassia tense.
The situation teetered on the edge of catastrophe.
"Katerina," he began — but she cut him off:
"No.Don't you dare call me that!"