Saturday morning, Chris woke up early. After a quick breakfast, he drove to the Dawn Church. Upon his arrival, Yordel greeted him with little fanfare and led him to an underground storage room.

On one wall stood a heavy wooden door, adorned with the emblem of the Dawn Sanctum. "Push the door open and keep walking. Someone will meet you inside," Yordel said. Without lingering, he quickly left the room, as if he couldn’t wait to be away.

Chris stood before the door, contemplating his future. "What's the world inside this door?" With a gentle push, the door, surprisingly light despite its appearance, swung open effortlessly.

Beyond the door stretched a brightly lit corridor. Chris saw no one, only the long passage ahead. He walked for what felt like ten minutes before reaching another door at the corridor's end. This door was framed with intricate runes, and above it, a large gem emitted a soothing light, wrapping him in a warm embrace.

The door seemed to blur and twist, obscuring any view of what lay beyond. Chris hesitated, wary of what might be on the other side.

"Name?" A soft female voice called from within.

"Chris Jamison," he answered.

"You’re our new member. Come in. This door is to ward off intruders, it won’t harm you."

Chris stepped through, and the world around him sharpened into focus. A young woman with a doll-like face and wide green eyes stood before him. She wore a loose blue checkered shirt and clutched a weathered book to her chest.

"Hi, I’m Elise Lewis, an investigator."

"Hello," Chris replied, turning to glance back at the corridor, now crystal clear from this side.

Elise noticed his confusion and explained, "This door is called the Soul-Cleansing Gate. From outside, you can’t see in, but from inside, you can see everything outside."

"You’re here for the Goddess’s blessing, right? Follow me."

"Thank you." Chris followed Elise through a winding corridor, emerging into a breathtaking hall. The expansive space was supported by towering columns that seemed to reach the sky. Stories of the Dawn Goddess were intricately carved into the dome overhead.

In the center stood a grand statue of the Dawn Goddess, almost touching the ceiling. Her veiled face was a reminder of her divine majesty, too sacred to behold directly.

"Praise the great Dawn Goddess!" Chris placed his right hand on his forehead and chest, his expression one of devout reverence, which earned him a smile from Elise.

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"Praise the Goddess!" Elise echoed, pointing to a hall to their right. "That’s our Duty Hall. Everyone should be inside now."

As they walked, Elise introduced the various sections of the Inquisition. "The Inquisition consists of six halls and a restricted area. We're currently in the central hall."

"The Meeting Hall is where we spend most of our time, discussing strategies to handle heretics and distributing tasks."

"The Training Hall is where we hone our skills."

"The Archives hold records of all our missions against heretics. It's also a great place to learn about the Inquisition and the Sanctum."

"The Ritual Hall is for receiving the Goddess’s blessings and undergoing significant transcendences."

"The Reliquary is exclusive to transcendents, housing relics that enhance our powers."

"Beyond the six halls, the restricted area is fortified with holy power, imprisoning the most malevolent heretics." Elise leaned in, lowering her voice, "Rhea just captured two powerful heretics recently!"

"Really?" Chris feigned surprise, recalling the three hooded figures in the abandoned church. The Profaner had been killed by his comrade, leaving two.

Elise lifted her chin proudly, "Of course! Rhea is the strongest in the Inquisition."

The door to the Meeting Hall was closed. Elise gently pushed it open, peeking inside. "Hey everyone, Chris is here."

"Let him in," Rhea’s cool voice answered.

With Rhea’s permission, Elise fully opened the door, revealing the room's interior. Five people, three men and two women, sat around a long stone table, all eyes on Chris as he entered.

"Hello, everyone," Chris greeted with a smile, walking into the room.

Rhea, seated at the head of the long table, glanced at a Lir beside her. "You’ve met Rhea and me, so no need for introductions," Lir began, gesturing to a disheveled, round man opposite him. "That scruffy guy is Shavin, a guardian."

Shavin grinned, "Nice to meet you, Chris."

"Likewise," Chris replied, recognizing Shavin as the ruthless figure from the abandoned church.

"This handsome fellow to my right is Kucci, another investigator like Elise, who joined us last year." Lir introduced.

"Come on, Lir, show some fairness," Shavin protested.

"Sorry, Shavin. If the truth hurts you, I’ll lie next time," Lier teased.

Chris exchanged a glance with Kucci, who simply nodded in acknowledgment.

"Don’t mind Kucci. We often treat him like a mute," Elise joked, standing beside Chris. "But on missions, he’s reliable."

Chris noticed a deep gaze from Kucci. He speculated about Kucci’s feelings for Elise.

"I’m sure you’re a reliable teammate too, Elise." Chris said to Elise.

"Thank you, Chris," Elise beamed.

As the gaze from Kucci intensified. Chris inwardly chuckled, confirming his speculation.

"Alright, you two, can’t you see Afya is getting impatient?" Lir interrupted.

The last of the five, a woman in a black gown, rolled her eyes at Lir. Her mature allure was captivating. She sauntered over to Chris, gently nudging Elise aside.

"Hello, Chris, I’m Afya, a Sanctifier."

"A Sanctifier?" Chris felt a little dazed by her enchanting presence.

"In the Inquisition, once you transcend into a true transcendent, you become a Sanctifier," Afya explained, her smile soft yet knowing. She unexpectedly pinched Chris's cheek. "Young man have such nice skin."

"Afya!" Rhea’s stern voice cut through.

"Don’t be so uptight, Rhea. It’s been ages since I’ve seen such a handsome young man," Afya teased, but retreated at Rhea’s glare.

"Afya, it seems you’re the one who’s in a hurry," Shavin teased, winking at her.

Chris felt a mix of embarrassment and amusement. His first day at the Inquisition and already being teased by Afya? How was he supposed to face everyone in the future? Though inwardly, he couldn’t help but relish the attention.

"Enough," Rhea commanded. "Chris is here. Let’s proceed with his blessing ceremony."