The door opened again, and an elderly lady wearing bishop's clothes entered. She closed the door. She was very old; her skin had dried. She had a big hunchback, making her bend forward and reducing her original height by half. She had a long magic staff for support. The bones and nerves were clearly visible on her skin.
The robe was covering her body like an adult dress put on a one-year-old child.
"Looking at you young sweethearts, I remember my time when I was young like you cute, charming, full of strength, and lovable."
Voltira:"She is so old; why the hell is she still alive?"
Mariselle:"She should have been dead."
All: "Yes, you are right, sis."
Ignara: "She is acting kind today because we are going to summon heroes. Otherwise, we know very well how strict she is."
The archbishop, with a smile, said, "Do you have memorized the chanting I gave you?"
All the girls nodded. She kept one hand on her chin.
"All the girls, there is still one hour left for the ritual to begin. Let's prepare."
"Yes!"
"Very good. Now hear me clearly; you have to place the crystal according to the elemental symbols you have learned in church. Each color of the crystal represents an element. As you see at the edges of the main circle with the elemental symbols, you have to place the crystal on the particular element it belongs to and just stand 1 meter away from that area on the circle. Sky Blue for wind, Crimson Red for fire, Electric Yellow for thunder, Deep Ocean Blue for water, Emerald Green for earth, Radiant Gold for light, and Void Purple for darkness."
All the girls did the things they were instructed to do.
"There is still time so hear me out clearly. You have to keep chanting until the heroes are summoned. You will get a 2 minute break for drinking water so your throat doesn't go dry or you don't lose consciousness. If the chanting is stopped for too long, the ritual will fail. The ritual can be only performed once a year. We will have to wait an entire year for this day to appear again."
The archbishop closed her eyes and took a deep breath as if she were taking her last breath of life. There was a long silence.
Noctyra: "I think she is dead now."
Lumina: "Don't say it like that."
Mariselle: "If there is a woman as strict as her as the holy archbishop, it will not be great for the people of the church."
"Hear me out, girls. I want a rehearsal of the chanting. Right now, all of you say the chanting of the Grand Summoning Hymn of Astrael Luminary in unison."
All the girls joined hands and started chanting.
"O Astrael Luminary,
First Flame of Creation,
Crown of the Dawning Sky,
She whose radiance split the eternal night—
Mother of the First Horizon,
She who wove brilliance into the void,
She whose breath kindled suns,
And whose tears became the stars—
We kneel beneath Your endless glow.
O Astrael Luminary,
Golden Sovereign of the Celestial Choir,
Bearer of the Thousandfold Dawn,
Illuminate this sacred circle.
Let Your halo descend upon this mortal realm.
Let the pillars of light pierce heaven and earth.
Let the sealed gates tremble at Your name.
By the covenant of the First Sunrise,
By the oath sworn at the birth of time,
By the radiant throne above the firmament—
We call upon You.
She who banishes shadow with a single whisper,
She whose gaze is judgment and mercy alike,
She who stands as the eternal beacon
Against the swallowing abyss—
Hear us.
Across veils unseen,
Beyond the rivers of stars,
Through the silent corridors between worlds—
Shine Your path.
Gather the wandering souls of valor.
Seek the hearts unbroken by despair.
Choose the spirits forged in unseen trials.
By Your luminous decree,
By Your sovereign brilliance,
By Your undying, undimmed flame—
Open the Gates of Transcendence.
Let the circle blaze with celestial fire.
Let space fracture like shattered glass.
Let destiny bend beneath Your will.
From distant realms unknown,
From lands untouched by our sky,
From worlds where different suns rise—
Summon the Heroes.
Bind them not in chains,
But in purpose.
Crown them not with gold,
But with fate.
O Astrael Luminary,
Guide their descent in pillars of light.
Wrap them in Your sacred radiance.
Mark them with Your blessing.
Let their steps echo with prophecy.
Let their blades shimmer with dawnfire.
Let their hearts burn with Your eternal glow.
As the darkness gathers at the edge of this age,
As shadows conspire beneath dying stars,
As hope flickers in trembling hands—
Be our salvation.
O Astrael Luminary,
Eternal Empress of Illumination,
Mother of Heroes,
Beacon Beyond Worlds—
Descend.
Descend.
Descend.
And let the Light choose its champions."
There was a smile on archbishop face.
"Good, you have memorized the chanting. Now wait for the time for the ritual."
"Holy Archbishop, I have a question."
"Yes, ask Princess Aeris."
"When does the ritual start, and when should it end?"
The archbishop's face turned sour, as if she didn't like the question asked by Aeris.
"It's simple, Princess Aeris Astrael Luminary is the goddess of light. The ritual starts at dawn and should end before dusk."
All the princesses showed puzzled looks.
"It's simple; you all have to start when the sun begins to rise and continue until the sun sets. If heroes appear before the sun sets, it's a success; otherwise, it's a failure."
The archbishop put her hand in her pocket and removed her pocket watch. It read 5:55 AM.
"Get ready; it's almost time for the ritual."
Time: 6:00 AM
"Start."
All the princesses joined their hands and started chanting.
"O Astrael Luminary,
First Flame of Creation,
Crown of the Dawning Sky,
She whose radiance split the eternal night—
Mother of the First Horizon,
She who wove brilliance into the void,
She whose breath kindled suns,
And whose tears became the stars—
We kneel beneath Your endless glow.
O Astrael Luminary,
Golden Sovereign of the Celestial Choir,
Bearer of the Thousandfold Dawn,
Illuminate this sacred circle.
Let Your halo descend upon this mortal realm.
Let the pillars of light pierce heaven and earth.
Let the sealed gates tremble at Your name.
By the covenant of the First Sunrise,
By the oath sworn at the birth of time,
By the radiant throne above the firmament—
We call upon You.
She who banishes shadow with a single whisper,
She whose gaze is judgment and mercy alike,
She who stands as the eternal beacon
Against the swallowing abyss—
Hear us.
Across veils unseen,
Beyond the rivers of stars,
Through the silent corridors between worlds—
Shine Your path.
Gather the wandering souls of valor.
Seek the hearts unbroken by despair.
Choose the spirits forged in unseen trials.
By Your luminous decree,
By Your sovereign brilliance,
By Your undying, undimmed flame—
Open the Gates of Transcendence.
Let the circle blaze with celestial fire.
Let space fracture like shattered glass.
Let destiny bend beneath Your will.
From distant realms unknown,
From lands untouched by our sky,
From worlds where different suns rise—
Summon the Heroes.
Bind them not in chains,
But in purpose.
Crown them not with gold,
But with fate.
O Astrael Luminary,
Guide their descent in pillars of light.
Wrap them in Your sacred radiance.
Mark them with Your blessing.
Let their steps echo with prophecy.
Let their blades shimmer with dawnfire.
Let their hearts burn with Your eternal glow.
As the darkness gathers at the edge of this age,
As shadows conspire beneath dying stars,
As hope flickers in trembling hands—
Be our salvation.
O Astrael Luminary,
Eternal Empress of Illumination,
Mother of Heroes,
Beacon Beyond Worlds—
Descend.
Descend.
Descend.
And let the Light choose its champions."