It was morning, and the sun hung high in the sky. Yet something was profoundly different today, a change so significant that everyone in the Realm of Fate could see it.
The sky was a brilliant, uniform red instead of its usual tranquil blue. This was not a cause for alarm but a celebrated annual phenomenon that occurred during the Vow Ceremony. It was a sign that the Almighty God of Fate watched over his realm, his unseen presence confirmed by the crimson heavens. Though the deity remained invisible, the red sky was testament enough.
On this singular day, the ever-present fog that shrouded the realm never materialized, having been commanded by the God of Fate to recede, an order it dutifully obeyed. The cobblestone streets and timber-framed houses were adorned with colorful banners and garlands.
At the very heart of the realm stood a monumental platform, or more precisely, a gargantuan staircase. Its white marble steps ascended so high that their endpoint vanished into the red sky.
Seraphina, Azariel, Iris, Dómvalka, Lumine, and Seiichi stood together, all dressed in their finest attire. Seiichi wore the red kimono he had purchased the previous day, having been firmly instructed by Lumine to wear it for this, the most important day of his life—the day that would decide the course of his future.
"Are you ready, dear?" Seraphina asked softly, her voice calm and gentle. A small, encouraging smile graced her lips as her serene eyes settled on her youngest son.
"Yes," Seiichi replied, meeting her gaze directly. A quiet confidence shone in his expression.
Seraphina's smile widened slightly as she recognized the fierce determination burning in his eyes and deep within his soul. She said nothing more.
"Young master," Dómvalka said, stepping forward. "You do not need to worry about anything, nor should you feel stress. No matter what rank you achieve, we will all love you just the same." She offered a warm, reassuring smile.
Lumine moved beside him, placing her hands on his shoulders and leaning in close. "She's right. We'll love you no matter what," she whispered conspiratorially. "Well, maybe everyone except Azariel."
Seiichi remained silent.
"Let us go now. The ceremony is about to begin," Seraphina announced, turning to lead the way. The others fell into step behind her.
Seiichi lingered for a moment, and Iris stayed faithfully at his side.
"Master? Are you nervous?" Iris asked, a look of sincere concern on her face.
"Who said I would be concerned about something like this?" he replied. "Creation has already tested me. Whatever happens today will not change that." He started walking. "I will show them what the curse of the exis—"
"Seiichi, hurry up or you might get lost!" Lumine's shout cut through his declaration.
Seiichi shot a flat, unamused look at his sister, who was walking backward while waving at him. He left his sentence unfinished and began walking, with Iris falling in step behind him. They quickly caught up to the group.
---
After a few more minutes of walking, they arrived at the location of the Vow Ceremony. Seraphina wore a smile of deep nostalgia as she beheld the legendary stairs once more.
"Wow, the stairs haven't changed a single bit," Lumine said, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' as she stared up at the endless ascent.
"Well, no matter how much time passes, these stairs will remain like this for all eternity, unless the Almighty God of Fate himself decides to change them," Dómvalka explained.
"Well, I already knew that. I was just joking," Lumine said, puffing out her chest. Her nose grew slightly longer as she told the lie.
Seraphina laughed gently, walking over to Lumine and affectionately ruffling her hair.
"You are such a little tease. I bet the Almighty God of Mischief would adore you, my little demoness trickster," Seraphina joked.
"Don't say that! And I wasn't lying before," Lumine protested, her nose growing even longer. "And don't call me that, Mom. I'm already fourteen years old, almost fifteen!" Her nose shrank a little as she spoke the truth.
"That does not matter. A child is always their parents' little one, no matter how old they get," Seraphina said.
She moved to Azariel and ruffled his hair as well. "And you are my little prideful demon."
"Don't say that, Mom," Azariel retorted, trying to sound annoyed, though his tone lacked any real irritation.
Finally, Seraphina turned to Seiichi and gently mussed his hair. "You are my little magicless angel. Or should I say demon?" She pretended to think. "For the record, I will say it. You are my little magicless demon." Her gentle, soft smile was full of unconditional love.
While they were chatting, Seraphina and Dómvalka suddenly grew alert. Their eyes narrowed, senses attuned to a subtle shift in the atmosphere.
Without warning, an excruciating, overwhelming pressure exploded from nowhere. The force was so immense it rendered everyone momentarily deaf. Seraphina's reflexes were divine; she snapped a protective barrier around Seiichi in less than a second. Yet, even shielded, the residual pressure was so powerful it forced Seiichi to his knees.
His eyes were wide, his face sheened with sweat that dripped onto the stone below. He was not alone; the same pressure forced Lumine and Azariel to their knees as well, though they managed to brace themselves slightly better than their brother.
Then, the source appeared. The white-haired man with sharp lavender eyes whom Alexia had encountered the day before walked into the square. His posture was slightly slumped, as if he were tired or sleepy.
A brilliant light materialized in Seraphina's palm, and she fired a searing beam of pure energy directly at the lavender-eyed man. The attack struck him, and instantly, the crushing pressure vanished into nothingness.
"Control your power, you fool!" Seraphina shouted directly into the man's ear.
The man winced, rubbing his head where her attack had connected. "What happened?" he muttered to himself, dazed. He looked up and saw Seraphina and Dómvalka standing over him, their arms crossed in stern disapproval.
His lavender eyes widened in surprise. "I did not expect to see you both here," he said.