“The Path to Godhood is a long one. Only by staying true to oneself and faithful to Mana can one hope to reach its end.” - The First Preacher, teaching his disciples, in the year 06 A.C.

“Vaarim Lumen Ipsa’lis!” I shouted. Mana poured out of me, coalescing into a bright sphere of golden light before firing as a beam towards the stone

target I was aiming at. Hitting the target square in the center, the beam blackened and burned the stone before vanishing. Staring at the destruction I

had caused, I smiled, and prepared to cast the spell again before hearing the sounds of applause from behind me. Turning around, I saw a man with

graying hair dressed in red robes. “Impressive as always, Reina.” He said. “Father!” I exclaimed, before rushing to give him a hug. He returned my

embrace. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been around for the past couple of days. Things have been getting hectic up in the north, and I’ve been stuck in

meetings about how to deal with it.” He said apologetically. I nodded. “It’s fine. I know you have a lot of duties to attend to.” He smiled at my response.

“Thanks for being so understanding, Reina. Anyway, enough about me. How have you been doing?” I stiffened slightly, that horrid memory surfacing,

sending shivers down my spine, before I forcefully shoved it away. “I’ve been doing fine, father. I’ve ranked 2nd in the battle rankings and 14th in the

academic rankings.” He looked at me, pride and worry visible in his eyes. “I know about your accomplishments at the academy. That wasn’t what I was

asking about.” I took a deep breath. “I’m…fine. I didn’t betray my faith or your teachings. I didn’t bow my head.” He smiled, pride and approval etched

across his face. “Good! Very good! It is not easy to stay true to one's beliefs in front of someone like him. You’ve done me and the Church proud,

Reina.” I smiled at his praise. “Thank you, father. I won’t let you down.” He laughed. “I know you won’t.” His laughter died down, and a serious

expression appeared on his face. “I’m sorry that our reunion has been so short, but I really have to get going now. Keep up the good work with your

spellcasting, Reina.” I nodded. “I will.” He smiled one last time, and then turned around and walked out the large stone doors of our mansion's training

room. Closing my eyes, I focused on the two cores within me, each glowing with a golden light. Opening them, I then uttered the spell chant yet again,

and returned to my practice. Those cold silver eyes and the terrifying pressure that came with them haunted me. ‘Stronger. I must get stronger.’

Cardinal Foren Lusem walked down the exquisite stone halls of the Cathedral of Miracle, decorated with the finest paintings and statues within the Holy

Empire, and the rest of the world. A large fresco on the high ceiling depicted the First Preacher and his disciples. Foren gazed at it with admiration,

before continuing his walk. Reaching a pair of massive golden doors engraved with countless intricate carvings, he nodded to the two Paladins standing

guard, who opened the door deferentially as he approached. Entering, he found himself in a massive room, filled with countless benches on which sat

his fellow cardinals placed on the stone steps rising from the center. At the end of the room, placed on a raised stone dais, were several imposing

thrones. Foren stepped into the center of the room and bowed to the men and women sitting on those thrones with absolute worship in his eyes before

taking his seat at his normal bench. How could he not worship them? After all, sitting on those thrones were the strongest and most revered members

of the Church. The God of Magic, Irum Zolphis. The God of War, Ryla Tornum. The God of Fire, Rulmor Aetra. The God of Healing, Vitar Lusem. And

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sitting on the central throne was the former God of Dominion and the current Pope, Pope Articus I. But despite his reverence and respect for these

figures, a seed of doubt, born of countless hours of studying history and engaging with other members of the faith couldn't help but sprout. 'If Cin

Coperus was here, who would win? Him, or the Lords and His Holiness?' Once Foren was seated, Pope Articus I opened his mouth and began to

speak. “Foren will be the last one arriving today. Ryla, give us your report.” The woman sitting on the throne to his right nodded her head. “Yes, your

holiness.” The God of War, Ryla Tornum said, before beginning to deliver her report. “The situation in the north is growing increasingly chaotic, with the

Fulkam Kingdom having recently undergone a violent revolution. Although Cardinal Burun is currently being treated with utmost respect by the rebels,

he fears that heretics are a part of this movement and will soon be making a move against him. Lusia and Revum both seem to be preparing armies to

take advantage of the Fulkam Kingdom’s weakened state. In all three countries, bandit attacks have been on the rise, with even some attacks on

churches.” Cries of outrage sounded across the room, before the Pope raised his hand. The cardinals instantly quieted, and the God of War continued

her report. “Finally, and most worryingly, Cin Coperus is still on the continent. Although we don’t know where he is currently, we can assume that he

means us harm and may get involved with the situation in the north.” Looks of fear and anxiety filled the eyes of the cardinals in the room. If even Gods

and Popes stood no chance against the God of Death, then there was nothing to say about their chances of survival if he decided to attack. Foren

stroked his chin in thought. ‘Cin Coperus’ attacks on us in the past have weakened us considerably. If it weren’t for him, the Holy Empire would still rule

the entire continent, and we wouldn’t be having this problem.’ He was brought out of his thoughts when Yuen, one of his colleagues and fellow

cardinals, stood up and clasped his hands deferentially. “If I may, your holiness, I would like to ask a question.” Pope Articus I nodded his head. “Go

ahead.” Yuen opened his mouth and asked in a subservient voice, “What exactly was that heretic's purpose when he last came here?” Foren nodded in

appreciation at that question. He had been wondering what the God of Death’s purpose had been when he broke into the Cathedral and encountered

Reina and her two friends, but he hadn’t gotten a chance to ask, and his holiness had offered no explanation. “He broke into our most secure vaults

and stole artifacts from the Old World.” A collective gasp was heard as the eyes of the cardinals widened in shock. Knowledge of the Old World, before

the advent of Mana, was extremely restricted, even for them. If the God of Death began spreading these artifacts and information about the Old World

to the public, what would happen? As if reading the minds of the panicked cardinals, the Pope spoke and calmed their worries. “Do not worry. Cin

Coperus will not be spreading information about the Old World amongst the masses. His thievery was merely to satisfy his own curiosity.” His voice

calmed the cardinals. They didn't know how he knew this, but they trusted his words. After all, he was the Pope. But not just that. Pope Articus I was the

strongest Pope since the legendary Conqueror Pope, Pope Mars I. After that question was answered, the conversation was steered back into dealing

with the issues in the north. Countless questions were asked and considered. Should the Church send its Paladins to restore peace to the region and

risk the God of Death annihilating their armies and weakening the Church even more? Should they simply let the north deal with its problems on its own

and risk the rise of a heretical movement? Should they declare the Third Crusade and force the nations of the continent to support their cause? Should

they simply wait and see how the situation develops in the future? “We will lie in wait for now, while secretly making preparations to send our armies

north.” Pope Articus I declared. “If it becomes clear that heresy is involved in the revolution in Fulkam, or if any of our archbishops or cardinals are

harmed, then we will announce the start of the Third Crusade. The God of Death may try to stop us, but we will not cower before him forever! We will

wipe out heresy and demonstrate the power and authority of the Sacred Church of Mana and the Holy Empire to the world!” His voice was met with

cheers from the cardinals. Foren was naturally also cheering, but his thoughts were anything but excited. ‘These next few years will be trying times for

the Church.’ He had no idea just how right he was.