Within the holy city of Taiyo the cathedral of the sun's domed roof glittered like diamonds in the sun as a large congregation of priests and priestess of the goddess Theia made their way to the grand house of worship to the sun goddess. Once the group numbering in the hundreds made their way within the holy marble walls of the cathedral they made their way through the pews and took a seat filling the entire nave. Though the cathedral was full to bursting not a sound could be heard as every eye was focused on the altar at the front. A Golden statue of a beautiful woman stretched from floor to ceiling as if holding the domed roof itself, in front of the statue was a large brazier of golden smokeless flame and in front of the flames stood the two figures that captivated the crowd before them. A woman in exquisite robes of solid gold runes of light swirling along its surface stood a gentle smile on her face her golden hair swaying as she spoke to the man kneeling before her. " Today we celebrate as our valiant hero is ready to receive the final mark of our beloved goddess, and to go out into the world and be her sword." the women's honey colored eyes grew predatory as her voice boomed throughout the room "He has trained in both sorcery and weapons, he has gone forth from the city and slayed the foul elves who stole our children from their beds. This hero saved Saintess Courtney from a horde of goblins and saved the farming villages outside our walls." the crowd began to cheer and the occasional "Death to the races of the false gods" could be heard from the crowd as the women whipped them into a frenzy as the man before her continue to kneel not moving an inch as the women put a hand upon his shoulder. "I Susana Prophet of Theia name you Damien Suns-blade Hero and sword of the goddess Theia and officially charge you with the duty of a hero." As Susana continued to speak an aura of golden light appeared around her and began to flow over Damien. "Damien Suns-blade do you swear to follow the commands of the goddess and slay all her foes?" she asked as Damien raised his head but still knelt and spoke his voice deep and sonorous. "Yes Mother I so swear." the light grew brighter and Susana kept speaking. "Do you swear by your soul and life to henceforth go forth and scour the lands of heretics at the churches direction and to represent our goddess on the physical realm?" Damien answered once more " Yes Mother I so swear on my life and soul." the light intensified until only Damien and Susana were able to see as Susana moved her hand from Damien's shoulder a single finger touching his forehead as a glowing rune in the shape of the sun appeared there remaining for a few seconds before vanishing. However Damien still felt the warmth of the rune and knew it still remained just no longer visible to the naked eye. Damien smiled as he felt power flow through him as he received the final divine rune officially becoming a hero of his goddess. He thought of the goddess as a surrogate mother even if a distant one and he didn't want to disappoint her. Damien barley remembered his parents or the day he was taken by the priests his first clear memory is of the goddess visiting him in his room at the church on his first night there. She told him he was special that he was destined for great things and she was so proud of him, that night she gave him his first mark a rune on each eyelid that let him see the evil in the hearts of both man and monster. when she left she smiled and for some reason all his worries vanished only serving his goddess mattered. His duty was to slay monsters and heretics who oppose his perfect goddess and he would do just that, a hero's duty may not be easy but it is what's right after all if his goddess gave him an order it must be right. with these thoughts in his head Damien looked up on the statue of his goddess and swore he would not fail her as the light completely faded and Susana began to speak once more " Rise Hero Damien Suns-blade and for the good of all life do as the goddess wills." this last she shouted and the crowd in turn shouted back "As the Sun wills, so shall it be". Today after fifteen years of forging and shaping the goddess Theia's hero was ready to descend upon the world hunting down those that displeased her.

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.