The scene unfolds with a solemn air, as the bated man, bound to the cloth, feverishly inscribes his last testament within the sacred tome. Each stroke of the pen echoes the weight of his impending demise.

The priest's movements, though human, seem eerily mechanical, as if driven by an unseen force. His hand moves across the parchment with a sense of urgency, as though compelled by a higher power to convey a dire message.

The words that spill forth onto the page bear the gravity of a revelation. Addressed to the one who will discover his mortal remains, they speak not of divine mercy, but of urgent supplication. It's a plea for those who have strayed from the path of righteousness to heed the call of repentance before it's too late.

"For those who question God and his teachings, I beg you to repent. For those who run from our lord's kindness, I beg you to halt.

For those who have strayed to far I beg of you: Pray, as the lord's apostle grasped you long ago, only the dead may witnessed such a visage."

Tears blur the priest's vision as he gazes upon the figure before him, a spectral entity cloaked in darkness. It strides purposefully through the blazing gates of the Academy, its presence ominous and foreboding. Tasked with the solemn duty of reaping souls, it stands as a harbinger of judgment for both humans and angels alike.

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As the priest's quill scratched fervently across the parchment, a figure lurking behind the clergyman read his writings, seemingly unnoticed by the man. Clad in robes of purest white, the mysterious woman observed the scene with silent intensity, her golden eyes shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

Though her presence went unnoticed by the priest engrossed in his task, the priestess watched with a mixture of concern and intrigue. As the priest's hand moved across the page with a sense of urgency, the priestess felt a pang of sympathy for the man bound to the cloth. His fervent scribblings spoke volumes of the weight he carried upon his shoulders, the burden of his impending demise pressing down upon him like a leaden shroud.

Her gaze now gravitated towards the being that strode, her brow furrowed but for a moment - then quickly returning to its' unfazed appearance. It seemed not even her eyes could forsee into this being's fate - something that had occurred only once in her life.

Through the towering gates strode this monstrous figure, its hulking form towering three times the height of the priestess. Its body was a mass of intertwining black tendrils, writhing and coiling with an unnatural fluidity.

Two thick horns protruded from its head, while each of its massive hands ended in three clawed fingers, sharp and menacing. As it lumbered forward, the air seemed to grow heavy with its oppressive presence, and the priestess could feel the weight of its malevolence bearing down upon her soul.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

image [https://i.imgur.com/flfmw48.jpeg]

By now, the edges of her vision had begun to blur while a sharp pain continued to strike within her mind. The vision was failing, but she had seen enough.

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Somewhere Within The Holly Kingdom’s Citadel –

The room is enclosed entity of smoothed stone, making the surroundings perfectly waterproof. Here, steam emerges in thick clouds that cannot be seen through.

This is done with water cascading onto an array of rocks nestled within a metal bowl, positioned above a crackling fire. As the vapor rises, it weaves a tapestry of tranquility throughout the space. To manage the resulting condensation, the room is equipped with drains such as those found on urban streets, ensuring that the floor does not become to slippery.

A woman could be seen sitting within a circle, inscribed with complex runes and symbols. The ceremonial dress she wore was far thinner than an average priestess, clinging to her bare skin due to the abundant sweat. Her otherwise jade skin showed the tattoos running along her arms, back and chest - far easier to see when the skin had this much sweat

What would be noted before all that however, was her beauty that could be considered a national treasure. Flushed cheeks, slightly rosey lips and an ever so slight panting only made her appear more tempting, to the point even a supermodel would feel attracted to her.

Her golden eyes, losing that previous glow, were what activated her Skill - that being the incredible gift of prophecy

To activate her eyes, a number of environmental decisions had to be met. These were for the room to be 80°c, with the intention of getting her internal body temperature to a minimum of 40°c. After 20 minutes in this state, her tattoos would begin to glow - those runes were made using a special blend of monster bloods.

This unusual ink had to be applied in the same way every year, but the effect was well worth the expenses and pain.

As the black runes began to glow a shimmering gold, she would feel her body release all tension and her mind wander into that meditative state, that her eyes needed to show a prophecy.

Without warning - a female paladin kicked open the chamber’s door with such incredible force, the circlet that her purple hair was tied in became undone. As her large chest heaved up and down in rapid succession, she spoke quickly to the priestess.

“I-I greet the great apostle of Solstice! May your light and voice reach th-”

The saintess held up her hand to the paladin, still having her eyes closed. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times Marie, there is no need for a childhood friend to greet me with honorifics”

The paladin, Marie, ignored this and asked her a question hurriedly. "Is it true that you had another vision?”

The saintess opened her eyes, who's colour shines a deep gold, pairing well with her black hair - looking akin to the night sky having lost all its stars. "I have always had visions since I was taken in by the church from the streets. Why are you this panicked I wonder?”

“But Jynx! I- I mean, great Apostle. What could be so important that you needed to have the Archbishops council gather?

The priestess, Jynx, stood up and strode to the wall’s clothes hook. This was where her less revealing, but still form fitting, robes were hung.

A memory of a great tapestry came to mind, one that she had always admired gazing at for hours on end as a child.

The academy's main building, crafted from white marble veined with shimmering silver, rises majestically with towering spires that seem to reach for the sky. The entrance was shown to be marked by a colossal arched doorway, adorned with intricate carvings depicting arcane symbols, hinting at the wisdom within.

That same scene of this academy on fire played in her mind, but that creature that she saw - it could not only resist her blessed eyes, but also see her during a vision? This was… disturbing to say the least.

“Oh, that?”

She finished fitting the robes and walked past her personal guard with that same emotionless face.

“I foresaw the appearance of our prophesied ‘Great calamity’ - named within the scriptures as the Demon King.”

Her personal paladin could only stare slack jawed at this world shattering news.

Jynx only walked past her friend, and towards the central cathedral. Her steps muffled by carpet, she had an irritating thought clinging to her - 'could the demon see me, just like those Transmigraters the Academy in Eastin house?'