“The gift mana has given us is not a God to put our faith in, but rather a path for us to become Gods ourselves.” - The First Preacher, teaching his disciples, in the year 01 A.C.

The silence of the night was shattered by my terrified screams. “Please no! Just let me go!” I shouted, desperately holding on to the dirty edge of the

abyss below me. Skeletal hands were clinging onto my legs, pulling me down to my doom. “Don’t leave me alone Cori, don’t leave me alone!” A terrible

voice sounded from below. I couldn’t look. I knew what was there, but I couldn’t look. The sight of his face would shatter me. “Just let go of me!” I

shouted, as my fingers slipped and I began to fall. “No..NO!” But it was too late. With a painful thud, I landed at the bottom. Bloody arms wrapped

around me, embracing me, leaving me no escape. “Help me, help me! Father!” I screamed desperately. And there he was. Standing over me, staring

down at us. “Please, father! Help me!” But he just stared at me silently, before grabbing a shovel. “It should have been you.” He said, as he began to

shovel dirt onto me. “It should have been you.” “No! Father! Help me! HELP ME!” The last thing I saw before being buried alive was my father staring

down at me, disappointment etched across his face. “It should have been you.” He said one last time, before throwing the last shovelful of dirt and

condemning me to my fate.

I awoke with a gasp. Heart pounding, I looked around my room in panic, before forcing myself to take a deep breath. ‘It was just a dream. It was just a

dream.’ I thought to myself, slowly calming down. Yes, it was just a dream. The same dream I’d been having ever since that day. The morning sun

shining through my window and the sounds of birds chirping outside soothed my panicked mind. Sighing, I collected myself and began the daily struggle

of getting out of bed.

After dressing myself, I left my dorm room and headed down to the cafeteria. Seeing Reina sitting at our usual table, I sat down next to her and began

helping myself to a couple of sausages stacked on a serving plate. “Morning Reina. Is Makus up yet?” Reina shook her head, taking a sip of her usual

tea before answering me. “He’s late as always. I wished that he’d be more punctual, considering what day it is.” I groaned, remembering the assembly

we had today. The Day of Red Cathedrals was a day of national mourning in the Holy Empire, and in some of its closest allies, like my home Kingdom of

Caerin. So it was always marked by ceremonies and a somber atmosphere. I always found the whole thing to be rather annoying. After all, it had been

almost 300 years since the- wait a moment. “Isn’t today the 300th anniversary of the Day of Red Cathedrals?” I asked Reina. She stared at me

deadpan. “Did you really forget about that Cori? Professor Yent has been talking about it all week.” I sighed, realizing that today’s ceremonies and such

were going to be even more annoying than usual. Especially since I was now in the Sacred City, where the Day of Red Cathedrals occurred. Pulling out

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my pocket watch, I saw that it was 8:10 am, leaving me fifty minutes to get ready for the assembly. Ignoring Reina’s disappointed look at my lack of

ability to pay attention in class, I began focusing on my breakfast. Giving me one last disapproving glare, Reina finished her tea in silence.

“Morning Corin, morning Reina.” Makus said, sitting down across from me. “You know you only have ten minutes before the assembly starts, right?”

Reina asked him. Makus shrugged, somehow managing to fit five whole bread rolls in his mouth at once. “That’s enough for me.” He said after

swallowing. Watching my friend annihilate enough food to feed a family in only a couple minutes, I was once again impressed by his appetite, as I would

say it, or gluttony, as Reina would say. Finishing six fried eggs in only a couple of seconds, Makus wiped his mouth with a napkin, took a gulp of water

from his cup, and stood up. “Let's get going.” He said. Reina and I followed. Walking through the majestic stone halls of the academy, I couldn’t help but

feel that familiar sinking feeling as I remembered what it had taken for me to come here. The crisp morning air greeted us as we stepped outside and

headed towards the assembly hall. Walking up the stone steps and through the massive bronze doors, we were greeted by the quiet whispers of most

of the two thousand students who had arrived before us. Hearing the bells sound out that it was nine o’clock, I nodded towards Reina and Makus and

walked towards my place as all of the students got into their proper spots. Discipline was rather strict here at the academy, and no one acted improperly

as all the students arranged themselves in the proper order. Looking up at the raised stands where the headmaster would give his speech, I felt yet

another familiar sinking feeling at my place in line. ‘1,997.’ Out of 2,000 students, I was ranked 1,997th. Nodding to my fellow low rankers, I watched in

silence as a man dressed in purple took the stand. The entire hall was silent. Everyone here knew what wearing purple robes like that meant. For the

first time since the entrance ceremony, the headmaster, Irum Zolphis, the God of Magic, had graced us with his presence. “Good morning, students.”

He said in a conversational tone. Despite the fact that he was so far away, I could still hear him just fine, like he was standing next to me. Taking a

breath, he then began his speech. “On this day, 300 years ago, in the year 463 A.C. the greatest criminal in human history made his first appearance.

On this day, 300 years ago, the God of Death, Cin Coperus, slaughtered Pope Eden II and hundreds of Cardinals. He then went on a rampage across

the city, staining every Cathedral, every church, red with the blood of innocents. This was the first encounter the Sacred Church of Mana had with Cin

Coperus, and it would not be the last. Over the next three centuries, he has killed not just Pope Eden II, but also Pope Mars IV, Pope Icarus IV, Pope

Ivory I, Pope Mars V, Pope Eden III, Pope Icarus V, and countless Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Paladins, Crusaders, Inquisitors,

and believers.” He took a breath. I couldn’t help but look at him in surprise. Although the extent of the God of Deaths’ killings was common knowledge,

the Church didn’t like mentioning everything he had done, as it directly challenged their power and authority. Clearing my head of these thoughts, I

focused my attention on the God of Magic as he began speaking again. “Today, we remember all the lives lost, all the blood spilled, by this heinous

criminal. We remember our darkest hours of loss and despair. But we also remember our strength. Despite everything the God of Death has done to

us, we are still here! We are still standing, firm in our belief! Our faith will never waver, our Church will never fall!” His declaration was met by screams of

jubilation as the students shouted in affirmation to his claims. ‘Fanatics.’ I thought scathingly, though I too shouted in false excitement. It would never do

to seem unfaithful in a school run by the Church. The God of Magic raised his hand, and the howls of exultation died down. “Before we leave here

today, I shall lead us all in prayer.” He said, before bowing his head and clasping his hands in front of his chest. Like everyone around me, I followed his

example, clasping my hands in front of my chest where my mana core was located. As I habitually recited the First Prayer in my mind, I couldn’t help but

have a blasphemous thought. ‘Isn’t the only reason why the Church still exists today simply because the God of Death couldn’t be bothered to finish it

off?'