Greater Basilica, the Opal Palace, Kingdom of Nirva
48 Hours before Convergence/Confluence
“-and in the name of Nirva, the Deities it serves, the citizens it protects, do you, Prince Heremiel, First Prince of the Royal Family, the descendant of God-King Pravil the Deity of the Immemorial Accord and the Boundless Archives, descendant of Archon-Queen Razielle the Seeker of the Shards Beyond and – “
The echoes of the Archbishop's voice reverberating throughout the basilica, and in the boy’s annoyance, both of his ears.
“This is awfully dull, is it not? Is this ev- “, whispered by the boy with the emerald eyes, olive skin, and gleaming curly silver hair, before being shushed by the adults around him.
“-en necessary?”, the boy continued and whispered under the [Whisper III] spell to his assigned personal retainer, Knight-Guardian Leon. His Knight stood tall, black and straight hair populated his head, body covered in ceremonial armor with an enormous tower shield behind him standing almost as tall as the knight himself.
“-will shoulder the burden carried by your forefathers? Will you, in time of need, wield your Life-Blood, your Soul magic- “
“It is, my prince. Not that the fanfare of this Coronation entices me either. Tradition begets the respect of the Deities, especially a family whose traditions was bequeathed to by the Heavens’ themselves” the statuesque Knight-Guardian spoke but not spoken.
‘[Whisper XI], huh’ thought the young prince.
“Still, is it not more efficient to invite the Archbishop, Archwizard, the royal family, and those fundamental to the ceremony instead? I would rather be studying at the Arcaeneum or practicing my magic”, he huffed.
“Yes it is more 'efficient', my prince, however as you know, the Royal Family is not only responsible for keeping traditions, protecting the borders, governing the kingdom, and scribing all of history in its Arcaeneum, it is also, first and foremost, an institution that binds the populace and the Gods above. Your family, my prince, ‘leads by example’.”
Knight-Guardian Leon, glancing to the ever-so-curious Prince Sandalfon, sees him mulling over his word.
‘The young prince shows an inquisitive mind, if only he had manifested his Soul Insignia, he would have made a great ward in the future’ he thought.
Glancing at his own Insignia, a tower shield of a thousand refractions attached to his back. A shield capable of reflecting even 9th tier magic.
“-all such rights and privileges, as by the decrees of the deities do, or appertain to any of them?”
“All this, I solemnly and willingly promise to do and uphold, in the standards the Gods above has held for my forefathers and their descendants. So, peer thy soul, O’ Gods”, softly spoken by the man in the middle of it all, his eyes hard with certainty yet filled with sorrow.
Of rough almost-white curly hair, with deep forest green eyes, draped in the most common of garments, brown shirt and plain olive trousers, with only his Insignia by his side, a Scepter so out of place seemingly made of ever-flowing silver and platinum. Even whispered, the final vow was echoed through the building.
As the final words were uttered, a sudden atmosphere descended upon the Basilica, a bone-chilling aura with a blinding flash of heat was felt by all the coronation’s audience.
“What’s happening?” a slow crawl of panic rising from the prince. Gripping his seat in the sudden change of the air, the prince slowly starts breathing heavily as the chills and burns lick every pore of his skin.
“Calm down, my prince, it is just the connection between this realm and the heaven’s above. This happened in your father’s coronation as well, as I have heard. My prince, it is imperative that you show decorum lest you incur the present God’s wrath”, his knight said in an almost strained voice.
Suddenly, a chorus of thousands of creatures, big and small, freezing and sleeping, warm and shivering, etched themselves unto the ears of every living being within the vicinity.
“First Child of the Scribe King, it is by my great glee that I, Ymos,-”
The small breaths and gasps of men and women rocked the Basilica, as small mists of unknown temperature condensed into a middle-aged man with scars from burns and frostbites throughout his body.
“-shall grant upon you the blessing of the Gods. Congratulations, my child! May your term, terse and short-lived as it may be,” the God-like entity uttered. “Be as fruitful as your elders have had. I give unto you, our blessing.”
“Leon?! Who is that?!”, muttered the second prince under laboring breaths, painstakingly trying to sit up straight and show respect in this heavy atmosphere, each second sapping more and more from his strength.
“It is Ymos, my prince, God of the Hearth, Of Fear and Hope, Of Warmth and Chill,” said Knight-guardian Leon, under pained whispers. “I ask of your highness to maintain manners, my prince.”
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“In this, you have my utmost and absolute gratitude, my Lord,” said the only man unaffected by the god’s presence.
“Ah, King Khamael, it is pleasing to see you once again. I recall that it was Rarena who delivered your blessing, was it not? Ohh, how time flies.” the God smiled softly as it looked over the King.
Towering over his councilors and ministers, the King was the very definition of a warrior, yet his Insignia, a thick grimoire he kept by his side, told otherwise. As his short snow-white hair and beard encapsulated his wisdom, as did his greying cobalt blue eyes his insight and intuition.
“Before you ask, it cannot. It cannot be amended. As you are intimately familiar, it is already written in the Archives”, the God Ymos said, the god’s somber tone almost palpable amongst the cacophony of screams and lullabies.
“Then I shall inquire not, my Lord”, the King, the greatest Wizard of his century, father of the greatest Chronomancer in the kingdom, bowed with his whole upper body, a hint of sadness leaking into his voice. In deference, the whole audience of the ceremony also bowed from the waist.
“This ceremony has been a welcome tradition we enjoy, I was hoping to have more in the future, alas Mutir and the rest of the Gods have spoken. Once again, congratulations young prince. I shall take my leave now then.”, before immediately looking over the audience, stopping at the small young sweating child almost stooped a bit too low in a bow.
Noticing the God's attention on him, the young Prince Sandalfon stilled as best as he can, despite the heavy influence a god's stare has on his body.
Before slowly turning ephemeral then altogether disappearing like smoke blown in the wind, the god said, “Hmm, good luck to you too, I guess. See you later, Prophesized Witness.”, pity and sadness staining the god's very core, visible not to all but a few, the King, Queen, and the Crowned Prince all closing their eyes. As the God left so did the heavy presence staining the very air, and a collective gasp was heard in the basilica.
As if a house made of cards, the small prince collapsed. He would have fallen if not for the timely catch of his Knight-Guardian. Still slightly shaken by the gaze of Ymos, a god most closely associated with Mutir, the god of Eternal Slumber, the Knight-Guardian slowly carried the young prince back to the Royal Palace.
'An intense encounter with a powerful being without an Insignia is never good', the Knight thought. Briskly walking, avoiding the crowd and carefully carrying the boy, he sauntered unto the nearest exit of the Basilica.
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King Khamael watched as Leon carried and brought his son to safety. Sighing heavily with emotions, he coughed and brought everyone's attention to him.
"As the Deities we worship now pronounce my son, Prince Heremel as the Crown Prince, I shall now pronounce my retirement as King. In the coming-", 'days', he thought somberly. "years, I shall guide the crown prince in his duty, serving as his Advisor, as did my father and my grandfather, until the Crown Prince has made his choice from the select candidates for Advisor." He gazed upon his subjects, as a King.
The crown prince looked to the King one last time before he became the Sovereign and he himself the King. Clenching his fist, he looked around the basilica looking for anyone else that sees through this farce. He then caught the sight of his mother's birds perched around the basilica each black and muted, as if the Divine Birds were not of once the greatest beauty found in the Palace. Tightening his fists even more and drawing blood, he slowly prayed to his Forefather, Pravil, strength to not break down.
"And now," the King clearing his throat declared, "I shall now decree that my Son, Heremiel, be now known as King Heremiel, and I, the Sovereign." Khamael watched as the greater basilica's occupants stood and bowed one last time to their Former King, and for the first time to their new King. He looked at the crowd now not as King Khamael, but as the Sovereign and a father of two children. He stood valiantly, as his mind slowly wondered if he could extend Nirva's downfall for a few more days.
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Grunting himself awake from the headache, Prince Sandalfon slowly opened his eyes.
"Where- where am I? Leon?", glancing around his surroundings, he seemed to relax as his eyes slowly focused on his surroundings: he was in his own room. Next to his bed was Knight-Guardian Leon, looking satisfied with the prince.
"I brought you into your room, my prince. It was uneventful after the divine visit, and you did not miss any news aside from your father and brother now officially Sovereign and King."
"I wish I could have seen it, but either way, there wasn't really much that happened it seems. Could I ask for a glass of water please, Leon?"
"Yes, my prince."
"Also, please stop with the formalities in the meanwhile, it's only us here. Formality is not really aiding me with my headache."
"Yes, prince Sands."
"Anyways, do you have any idea why I fainted? I felt confident, that I wouldn't at least soil my pants, but faint? It was as if all the world crumbled around me and I just suddenly fell unconscious."
"I'm afraid, I can only provide theories, Prince Sands. Your father, the Ki- the Sovereign, may know what happened."
Ignoring the slight slip of the tongue from Leon, the young prince said, "Maybe. However, with everything that's happening, I'm afraid father won't be able to entertain any of my curiosities for a while, especially when the King's Gala is this whole week. I can't even stand those vicious nobles' mother and father regale in the ballroom. So, I would very much like to attend and just sit later in the Gala."
Leon sighs, "Prince Sands, please speak accordingly, it is rude to speak of those nobles that way. Perhaps the Queen Mother may know what you seek."
"Hmmm..", the young prince mulls. "If my mother allows it, maybe I could visit her today at the Grand Aviary."
Smiling softly, "A Divine Bird dropped by while you were asleep and mentioned that your mother will be available for you when you wake up." Leon states.
"Ah, yes, mother, ever the insightful one", said the young prince in an unsurprised voice. Getting up and dressed for a more casual visit, the prince chose lighter and simpler clothes. The prince announced, "Then let us go, I feel my headache subsiding and the earlier we obtain the answers, the earlier I can practice magic. I need to confirm my theory about my fainting and the god's influence, I dare not assume my internal magic just yet. Also, maybe, inquire with mother the path I can take for years to come, with Herem being King and all."
Opening the solid Yggdrasil Wood doors, "Then shall we be off then, my prince? Years will pass by if we do not move with haste."
"Yes, yes, enough with the 'years will pass by quick'. I've had enough of those from Herem, I don't need that from you too. I have all the time in the world. I am old enough, yet young enough to do what I want without causing too much friction or colossal responsibilities bearing down on me. I can take my time." the prince said, from annoyed to gloating.
Leon sighs, realizing it was more than his tenth today, says, "I Just hope you don't regret the time wasted, my prince."
"Worry not, Leon. I won't. You can trust me on this." said the prince as he laughs brightly.