"By blood unbroken and fate unshaken, I awaken."
Neil echoed him quietly, the words strange on his tongue. "By blood unbroken and fate unshaken, I awaken."
"Let the hidden root rise. Let the sealed flame stir."
"Let the hidden root rise. Let the sealed flame stir."
"I offer no lies. I offer no fear. Only truth."
"I offer no lies. I offer no fear. Only truth."
The final line settled in the space between them like the weight of something ancient.
"Let what sleeps in me… rise as it must."
Neil hesitated just a beat. Then he spoke.
"Let what sleeps in me… rise as it must."
And then—
Light erupted from the basin, swallowing the chamber in blinding gold.
Wind whipped through the room from nowhere.
The symbols spun violently around Neil now, orbiting his body like a storm of divine language. His robe flared with the force of it, hair lifting as power rushed up through his arm, searing into his veins.
Neil clenched his jaw but didn't cry out.
The floor cracked beneath him.
A shockwave burst outward, slamming the doors shut behind them and knocking two priests to the ground.
The light dimmed… slowly.
When it faded, Neil stood alone in the center of the scorched markings.
The wound in his hand had closed completely.
His eyes were half-lidded, but they shimmered faintly like starlight trapped behind glass.
Verna, pale and sweating, stepped forward. "My lord…?"
Neil looked at his hand. Turned it palm up. Flexing his fingers.
"…Well.." he said finally. "That was fun."
The basin had cracked straight down the middle.
The holy water had turned to steam.
And the room, for a moment, was entirely silent.
Neil smiled what could be his divine skill?
He looked up and saw a short writing above the basin.
Divine skill: Theft
-_-
Is this some sick joke? Even as a saint I can't escape thievery!
Not that he minded, Neil smiled, laughing even. Which made the priests skin crawl.
What he could steal? A life? Money? Body parts? Where there any limitations or repercussions?
The thoughts came fast, half-joking but tinged with something far than just curiousity.
His laughter echoed in the vaulted chamber, even though there was nothing funny happening.
One of the priests took an involuntary step back.
Neil tilted his head. The words had appeared on the inside of his mind like a second voice, but now they shimmered faintly in the air above the broken basin.
A glowing script unraveled slowly, line by line.
> Skill: Divine Theft
[That which is grasped, known, or beheld may be taken.
Physical or not, object or essence.
Only that which is truly perceived can be stolen.
Theft for selfish gain bears weight.
Theft for evil begets consequence.
Karmic retribution will not be delayed.]
Neil's brow furrowed slightly. "Only what is truly perceived…" he thought to himself.
He could steal an object, a concept, ability, bonds, even a memory so long as he did it without malice.
But if he tried to take for malice alone…
Verna stepped forward cautiously, her hand curled around the hilt of the ceremonial staff. "My lord… the ability, what is it?"
Neil smiled as he turned to Verna, who looked expectant waiting for his reply.
"Mhm..I'm afraid that's a secret.."
-_-
Verna's eyebrows twitched. This bastard! He's taking me for a fool!
"We're done here right?" Neil asked, the place was already as suffocating as it could get. He didn't want to spend anymore time here.
"There's still the purification ritual. My lord it would only take—"
-_-
Neil sighed, it seemed as though his words only passed through Verna's ears but didn't stick.
"I'm going to say this only once Verna. There will be serious consequences if you repeat that word to my face again. Now if we're done here, I'll be taking my leave."
He turned, heading back to the antechamber, as some the priest followed him. Verna and a few others stayed behind.
"That boy is bad news. We have to get him to partake in the purification ritual soon, so we can have full control over him."
-_-
The priest sighed, how the heck were they supposed to do that? From the look of things, he wasn't exactly trusting of them.
Verna's eyes narrowed "All saints belong to us. It's their fate and he will not escape it. That's his 'Destiny' and if he doesn't obey. We'll take care of him. Just like the other disobedient ungrates.."
Neil stepped out into the hallway, the scent of incense and scorched stone still clinging to his skin.
The air outside the chamber was cooler, less oppressive. He rolled his shoulders, fingers still tingling faintly from the ritual's aftermath.
Carlos stood just to the side, posture straight, expression unreadable. He had clearly been waiting for some time, hands clasped behind his back, ever the image of practiced discipline.
"Done already?" Carlos asked.
Neil gave him a lazy smile. "If I stayed any longer, I'd have died from foul odor.."
Carlos blinked. Then gave a short huff of amusement, just barely. "You don't look like you just awakened divine power."
"That's the point. The more innocent I look, the more they'll think I'm a pushover.."
He fell into step beside Carlos, nodding toward the hallway ahead. "Walk with me. I want to know everything. Start with the kingdom. Name, structure, who's in charge. The whole gist."
Carlos raised a brow, but turned smoothly to lead the way.
"The kingdom is called Aetherialis.." he began. "A large realm bordered by the Halden Mountains to the west and the Sea of Serren to the east. Fertile land, stable trade routes, and a long-standing peace with neighboring powers."
"Boring.." Neil muttered, though not unkindly. "But go on."
"The monarchy is hereditary. King Rodaire sits on the throne, he's ruled for nearly three decades. Well-liked by the people. Feared by the court. He's pragmatic… and ruthless when needed. His son, Rohan is quite eccentric I'd say, let's just say you can't know everything about him. Then the king's daughter who have all married out but one, she's his Majesty favorite daughter and had made it clear he wouldn't let her go until she's 24."
-_-
"Sounds charming," Neil said dryly. "What's his relationship with the church?"
Carlos gave him a sidelong glance. "Delicate. The Church of Ascendance holds a great deal of influence. It was they who helped the crown quash the rebellion ten years ago. Since then, there's been a standing pact: the church may station its Saints in the royal castle, so long as they keep to their section and serve the kingdom's good."
Neil hummed, filing the information away. "So this castle isn't holy land, it's just… borrowed."
"More or less. The royal family keeps control over the structure. The church has control over you."
Neil scoffed. "We'll see how long that lasts."