Eight years into the subtle cosmic manoeuvrings, Helen and Phrera found themselves entirely swayed by the Pope of The Church of The Way, becoming unwavering adherents to its profound teachings. The other pilgrimage-bound religious leaders, observing this significant shift of allegiance within the powerful Roseblade Duchy, continued their journeys but maintained a watchful gaze. Yet, in truth, there was no one to fault. Even without their direct intervention, Helen and Phrera were, by a deeper design, fated to embrace The Church of The Way. The entire sequence of events—from the founding of the Velmunth Kingdom and its peculiar circumstances, to the emergence of The Hunters, the hunt in Sith, Duke Jonathan's demise, and all subsequent occurrences—would have transpired precisely as they did. The only difference without their influence would have been the eventual obsolescence of the holy continents' strategic hold on the world's strongest nation, as Velmunth would have independently resolved its agricultural and economic vulnerabilities.
As the three-century war against The Hunters progressed, Helen and Phrera's commitment to The Way only intensified. Following the victorious return of Matthew and his Army of Order, Helen, with dedicated zeal, brought them into the fold, and they, too, became devout followers.
With the arrival of Phrera and Helen's first twin daughters, the Pope, having made the Velmunth Kingdom his permanent residence, personally performed their blessing and baptism. He thoughtfully assigned them middle names from the sacred texts of The Way: Leah for the elder, and Rachel for the younger. They were thus officially recognised as Lyra Leah McKellen and Selene Rachel McKellen.
The Pope's unique privilege of naming and blessing extended to every child born to Helen and Phrera. The dryad twin sons, Rowan and Ashen, were named Rowan Levi McKellen and Ashen Simeon McKellen, their middle names chosen from the sacred lineage. Jonathan, the fifth child, a human son, was given the middle name John, honouring both his great-grandfather and a significant prophet. For the Drakosylvan miracle, Annabeth, the Pope insisted on the middle name Ruth, a decision that subtly defied Helen and Phrera's unvoiced preferences. Unbeknownst to them, the Pope, with his complete understanding of the prophecy which he knew off-hand, meticulously assigned each child a middle name directly referenced within its ancient verses.
The Pope's involvement didn't stop at ceremonial rites. He assumed the roles of godfather, master, and a de facto second father to all the children. His presence in their daily lives was profound, often eclipsing that of their biological father, Marquess Phrera McKellen, who, despite his noble title, found himself in a secondary position in the children's upbringing.
The figure known as Pope Luke Timothy John was, in truth, a being whose race stood as the universe's direct counterpoint to the 182 primordials brought forth by the Dragon God. This astonishing fact remained a closely guarded secret, privy only to the highest echelons of The Faith of the Cosmic Weave. Even within his own Church of The Way, his true nature was unknown, as he meticulously maintained his disguised form.
This disguised form belonged to the Xenograft race, a people with an origin unlike any other in this universe. They were not creations of the universe or the Dragon God, but were instead transmigrated here by the 8th universe itself, brought from their original world after their death. The Xenografts were not always as they appeared. In their original world, they were once humans, but a catastrophic event forced them to undergo a radical and desperate transformation. To evolve beyond their inherent human limitations, they were compelled to graft the very essence of existence into their beings: the blood, DNA, RNA, and essence of existential beings and extraterrestrial monsters. This harrowing process gave them their name—"Xeno" for alien, and "graft" for the forced integration. As a result of this profound metamorphosis, their hair turned a striking silvery white, and their eyes became a piercing, otherworldly red, lending them an appearance that was both beautiful and unsettlingly alien.
Due to the Xenografts still retaining a degree of their original human essence, they underwent the same evolutionary process as the ten races created from the Universal Tree, with their Xeno factor giving them a distinct advantage over those of the same evolutionary realm. This unique nature, unfortunately, also defined their precarious standing with the highly racist religion, The Church of Creation. This faith, which viewed all transmigrators as second-class citizens, regarded the Xenografts as third to fourth class, bordering on outcast status and even slavery, due to their "Xeno factor."
Luke Timothy John, acutely aware of these societal prejudices and the Xenografts' unique characteristics, saw it as the perfect disguise. His choice was further solidified by the fact that, alongside the Crimson-White lineage of the Yokarion, the Xenografts were also widely pitied and protected across the universe, making them an unlikely target for deep scrutiny or aggression from most factions.
Luke Timothy John meticulously thought and raised all six children of the McKellen household, though his primary focus remained fixed on Annabeth. For two centuries, he imparted upon her every piece of knowledge she could absorb, subtly shaping her personality. His goal was to mold her into the likeness of the Silvery-White Dragon Primordial, Aurevails, a being consumed by pride, honor, and power—all by the Dragon God's insidious design.
A primordial's color, in this universe, represents something fundamental to their very being. This fundamentality can manifest as a positive aspect, a negative aspect, or a complex blend of both. Each primordial embodies one of these three facets. Luke Timothy John, in his composite identity, had diligently attempted to steer Annabeth towards the negative aspect of the Silvery-White lineage. However, due to the countless stories of war she absorbed from her uncles and aunts, combined with Luke's (their) pervasive influence, Annabeth ultimately gravitated towards a representation of both aspects, embodying a complex duality within the Silvery-White spectrum.