* Holy Land of Saint Lanus - The Holy of Holies *

The Lady of Grace, a miracle of the ages, the presence of the divine image of the Holy Mother, Agartha. The holy painting that can't be copied or faked.

It was fixed to the grand golden wall of the great hall of the Holy of Holies with many followers of the Holy Light faith gathered in its presence, wearing dignity and uttering worship. The men donned their best robes and the women wore the traditional gowns which covered them modestly from head to toe.

Among them were people who wore the animal skins above their robes, which resembled the skin of tigers, others wore the scales of great beasts like dragons, and others wore the feathers of the phoenix or the roc. Above that, there were those who wore crowns of gold that covered their heads, there were those who donned armor and carried shortswords on their hips, and there were those who stood at a stature above the rest of the people present with their skin giving off an aura of light.

Those men and women, who were taller than the rest and giving off light as they came, went, spoke, drank, and laughed; were treated with utmost respect and honor.

"Father! That's them, the Golden Saints." A young woman spoke with a bright look on her face.

"It is them indeed." Beside her was a man who looked a bit younger than his daughter but maintained the dignity of old. He pointed out, "Those are the Protector Saints of the Holy City and the Arch Ministers of the temple. This one over there is Master Ellenelle, my mentor."

"Holiness!" The young woman spoke, "And the man she's speaking to? That's an Arch Minister as well?"

"No. That's Lord Payne, Grandmaster of the Holy Inquisition Knights." The man replied.

"Uncle Luther's mentor?"

As soon as the young woman mentioned that name, a voice echoed in the hall.

"Alden, you smelly old bastard!" A tall muscular man with clear signs of age made his entrance carrying a big jug of wine and pushing people around without care, "Look who's here! If it is not our little Minnie!"

"For the sake of both Light and Darkness, you damn loud dog!" Alden, who was trying to ignore him just now, completely lost his reason and swore with his eyes shooting beams of rage.

"Uncle Luther. As they say, speak of the devil." The young woman ignored her father's tantrum and greeted the large bearded man who smiled at her, "And please, I am over 30 already. Call me Minerva in public."

"Bah! Can't an uncle spoil his niece? We have a few daughters in the family and that baby-faced father of yours had to drain his balls in order to squeeze out a daughter half his age." Luther said and made everyone around him laugh.

"I swear to the Light, I'm gonna kill you." Alden prayed to heaven that his brother would stop before an actual curse came out of his mouth.

"You run along now, niece. I'm gonna borrow your father for a bit." Luther said and watched Minerva say goodbye and leave, he then looked at the man who was fuming with anger beside him and smiled widely, "Come on, big bro. It has been years since we saw each other."

"I always send you birthday invitations." Alden retorted with cold eyes.

"And I always send gifts. You know my work always keeps me at places I don't want to be." Luther said, "And which birthday was the last? The 123rd."

"The 127th." Alden replied.

"You goddamn undead! Don't you age?" Luther said with a horrified face.

"Enough with your folly. Being a High Human has its perks. You, of all people, should have some dignity and keep a youthful look." Alden said.

"Nah! I look terrible when I become young and once I reverse it, I'll have to spend at least 5 years to age once again. This appearance keeps me friendly at the very least." Luther replied.

"And here I thought the fact that you are an elder in the Medjay would make you wiser."

"Hmph! The Medjay are far more active than whatever you might think. I have been traveling nonstop lately and barely had time to drink some wine or laugh even a little."

"Just don't let it all out on me." Alden said and he noticed the jug in Luther's hands, "That wine, it smells like spring and rain. You have been back to Amber?"

"Heh! I can't keep anything classified around you, can I?" Luther shook his head wryly.

"It is our home. We were born there." Alden said, "If only time would reverse itself, we wouldn't have even left."

"You are the High Minister of Internal Affairs of St. Lanus. Have some pride in what you achieved."

"I don't need you to tell me that judging that your achievements are either killing, stealing, or turning nations against each other." Alden criticized.

"Can't argue with that." Luther poured some wine in a goblet he snatched and offered it to Alden then started drinking himself.

"Woah!" Alden laughed, "Is it that bad?"

"A Child." Luther said before continuing to drink, "They want us to kill a Child."

"Oh!"

One may think that the internal politics of St. Lanus are as twisted as a Kraken's entrails but the outside work being done by the Medjay, the secret black ops origination of the Holy Temple, can be sickening to the core.

"So, a child killer now, brother?" Alden asked.

"Light forbids! No." Luther smiled in relief as he shook his head.

"Lucky child then." Alden said, "Some sort of a prodigy in a dangerous family, I assume?"

"Not at all. Just a cripple."

"By Agartha!" Alden frowned.

"Yeah. Didn't taste that good either. Hey, the ceremony is beginning."

"Oh, yes. At long last."

The Holy of Holies was indeed busy with the upper figures of the Light Temple but as some figures started ascending to some places, and music started to play, everyone started to quiet down and listen.

The unique music of an exotic instrument, that can't be heard anywhere in the continent, started soothing the crowd as a woman among the Golden Saints summoned many instruments that started playing In the air. She stood in the innermost area of the room, which was a platform isolated from the public that had eight thrones in equal distances from each other.

Once the music came to an end, the crowd stood in mixed emotions about it as it had that sense of deepness that kept touching their innermost fragile feelings.

"Liquor and Music… you can't find a better mix of both anywhere else in the world." Luther said.

"It is music played by a Saintess, of course you won't find something to rival it." Alden replied.

"Big Bro, ever thought about Sainthood?" Luther asked.

"Do I look like I am worthy?"

"You achieved the requirements."

"Doesn't mean I am worthy."

The Saintess who played the music then spoke in a voice so smooth and tranquil that it filled the room without a single hint of disturbance.

"Greetings, Friends and Allies who came from far away places. What you heard was a piece from the Great Hymn of Light written by the first Supreme Anchorite, one of the Fourteen Great Disciples of the Holy Mother and the founder of our Temple.

In honor and respect to our traditions, those who are not allowed to witness the Rite of Holiness will be asked to leave. This includes all the present Pilgrims, the Acolytes, the Trainees, the Clerics, the Temple Guards, the Ministers, and the Inquisition Knights.

Those who are to stay are those of the upper ranks; the High Ministers and the Inquisitor Judges, who will name today's candidates to pass the Rite of Holiness. The Arch Ministers and the Inquisitor Grandmaster as well as my brothers and sisters in Sainthood will review the nominees for the positions of Minister and Inquisition Knights."

The announcement was firm and it meant that all of the outsiders and the low-ranked members of the temple were to stay out.

As the Holy of Holies was a large part of the Grand Temple, the number of people it held was a large number and thus as they all started to walk out, the place became very spacious and very empty, save for almost a couple of hundred men and women, which wasn't anything big at all to fill this big place.

What remained of the hall was its vast space, its open roof which let in the sunlight, its walls and pillars which channeled the golden light through the white marble stone that were endowed with holy magic. The ground had pools that were filled with crystal-like water carrying on their surface various colored petals that fell from the flowering trees decorating the hall.

And to break the duality of colors, the hall was filled with rugs and pillows for whoever wants to sit in the shade or under the sun coming from the open roofs to feel the blessing of light straight from the source.

"The Arch Ministers and the Grandmaster of the Inquisition, may you all be present on the stage to evaluate this year's candidates." The female saint spoke.

"Here come the eight cardinals." Luther spoke as he drank again.

"You know they don't like the name." Alden said.

"Actually they do. They just like to believe that each and every one of them is the sole cardinal and the rest are just lesser beings. Even the higher-ups compete." Luther ranted, fully knowing that many people could hear him.

"Whoever hears you won't think you are an Inquisitor Judge and a leader of a hundred Holy Knights." Alden smirked.

"More like an Inquisitor Thug who leads a band of bandits." Luther retorted.

The lady saint on the platform watched the two and shook her head wryly before continuing.

"May the High Ministers and the Inquisitor Judges record the names of their prospects to take on the Rite of Holiness. Please remember that the prospect must be either an active Cleric or a Temple Guard who passed the prerequisites for the position of a Minister, have the willingness, and is present outside."

As she said so, a large plate started flying from the platform and passed by everyone present in the hall. Some would toss a tree leaves with a name written on it with luminous ink and some would just shake their heads indicating they have no prospects to sponsor this year.

When it came to Alden and Luther, the two of them tossed two leaves immediately.

"You're sponsoring someone?" Alden asked.

"Just Minerva."

"I am also sponsoring her."

"Double sponsorship then. That will make her feel more special to her uncle."

"Just stop mentioning that part about squeezing my balls every time you see her."

"Never!"

The names were gathered and everyone was done. Among the couple hundred present, only fifty of them made sponsorship this year, which was a very promising number.

"Call the candidates in." The female saint ordered and the flying plate started to fly across the hall to the gate leading outside before it was received by a Temple Knight who carried it outside and started calling names from the gathered crowd.

Luther and Alden kept drinking their hearts out as people with their constitutions won't get drunk unless what they drink is something so strong that it can kill a mythical beast. Due to the fact that they are High Humans, their intoxication tolerance can easily be described as out of the world.

"So! What happened to the child?" Alden whispered.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"What child?" Luther asked.

"The Crippled Child… the one you were sent to kill?"

"I told you about that? It was supposed to be classified."

"Don't act as if you got drunk."

"I may have had a few sips of the Basilisk Extract on the way here."

"Goodness! You'd sleep with a dragon just to get drunk?"

"Now that's a story I'd be proud to tell."

"Just tell me about the damn child." Alden laughed.

"Well, the prime minister of Amber had that child that didn't bloom any talent since birth." Luther started telling.

"Wait? The Darks?"

"That's them. The kid, however, had some deep connections. His mother is a Merlin, his wife-to-be is a Godfrey, and his last name is Dark."

"Goodness! I remember that Amber's founder was the only one with such a relationship with the dukes. That's being born with a golden spoon." Alden exclaimed.

"Well, instead of being in his mouth, the spoon was in his ass."

"Goodness!"

"He had the golden spoon but not the potential to at least make appearances for it. So, his father tossed him over to the Royal Family to keep as a bargaining chip in order to maintain the peace of the Kingdom."

"A father would do that?"

"He has five others. Word was that his youngest daughter is a true prodigy and wields the Light. However, she is from a different mother than the boy."

"That makes things rather complicated."

"Indeed. The youngest daughter hasn't come of age yet so we were thinking of giving her the title."

"The Title?"

"Yes, a Saint Candidate. Her talent is barely sufficient but that would drive a wedge in the family."

"But still, the boy has value for the sake of peace. Why would we want to eliminate him?"

"We don't want to eliminate him." Luther said, "We want someone else to eliminate him."

"Someone like?"

"Someone like an heir for the highest chair of power in Amber." Luther said.

Alden widened his eyes.

"The Temple wants to instigate a civil war in Amber?"

"You didn't hear it from me."

The older brother looked at his younger brother in disbelief while the younger brother kept a natural face to not draw attention.

"Why?" Alden asked.

"Why?" Luther replied, intriguing his brother to think.

Why would anyone want a civil war in a rich nation which is an ally that provides food to the Holy City?

Control, that's the obvious answer. But the hidden answers always hold more meaning.

"The Medjay are selling weapons of war?" Alden asked.

"…" Luther looked away.

"For the Empire? Of course, for the Empire. Who else would want to sell their weapons… and control Amber?" Aiden nodded, "The Medjay are doing the Empire's dirty business now."

"We will benefit from it."

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that." Alden said and cleared his voice which started to hurt from all the whispering, "At least tell me the poor child made it."

"You're too kind, brother." Luther said, "The child barely survived. He killed many guards and escaped when we were almost about to get to him. He escaped leaving a trail of dead bodies and then, a storm came out of nowhere and he fell in a river during the chase. That was two months ago."

"He defended himself."

"I am not blaming him. I, too, would root for the underdog in this situation. Either way, if he managed to survive, then he surely did some good job to hide from everyone. Even those who came to his rescue."

"And if he didn't make it."

"That's the likely option but I made sure to cover all the exits in and out of the city and the entire province. His people are mostly monitored and once they make a coordinated move, we will know they have him."

Alden felt that his heart became dark and his throat became bitter just by hearing that.

"You understand why I never want to become a Saint?" Alden asked.

"No, actually I am more convinced that you should. You are the best among us. The word Saint describes you the most." Luther said.

"I disagree. Being a Temple Saint means that you know what happens and you still get to sleep at night. Our belief is compromised, we call things not by their names but by what suits us best, cruelty and hypocrisy are what delves into the shadows of the Temple instead of mercy and truth. That's not who we are, that's not who we were supposed to be." Alden said.

"I am sorry, Alden."

Silence took over as the prospects entered the hall and stood against the platform where the Golden Saints were seated.

"I'll pray for that child." Alden said.

"Me too." Luther patted his brother on the leg and nodded heavily.

While that was happening, the candidates for the Minister and Inquisitor Knight positions started to exchange words with the eight Golden Saints known as the Cardinals in what seemed to be an audition for some talent show.

The Minister position had an equal number of candidates to the position of the Inquisitor Knight while only one of the Cardinals, the Grandmaster of the Holy Inquisition, was in charge of that. Even more, most of the Knights were younger than the Ministers which proved the existence of Minerva, daughter of Alden, who was in her early 30s to be too young to become a Minister. Still, once her turn came, she showed a very firm faith and a peculiar attitude which was a mix of her father and uncle. It warmed their hearts and put a smile on many faces in the present crowd. Alden, of all the people of the Temple, was a good and a respected gentleman.

"Does the council of the eight have anything to say about any of the candidates?" The female saint asked in the finale.

As everyone heard that, the situation became tense all of a sudden. It is what they are all here for. Alden was the first to jump off the place he was seated in and race everyone else to take a spot at the front of the crowd.

As the council of eight cardinals refused to comment or criticize any of the candidates, the Saintess nodded and ran behind the stage. For half an hour or so, she finally returned and stood at the center of the stage. Seeing that, even the eight cardinals stood up down among the crowd.

"Her Holiness, Holder of the Second Holy Seat, Maiden of the Eternal Light, our Great Mentor. The Supreme Anchorite."

The Supreme Anchorite, Head of the Holy Light Temple. The one who resides near the Holy Mother and hears her words, the Prophetess of Light. The holiest existence in this world.

She walked out.

Her presence was… like none other before and after. No one dared to look up except for the saints whom she nurtured as disciples. They all bowed even though she ordered them not to bow, even the Kings bow to her then how can they not?

Those who raised their heads were only those who were able to. Alden was one of those, Luther was not.

If he looked hard enough he would see her face beneath the vile but his eyes were already moist as he was overtaken by her Holiness.

"Children…" She spoke.

Her words were carried by her strong presence to feed their souls and wash away the darkness within them. How dare they sin after they feel that?

She was in pure white, she wore none of the animal skin, not none that glimmering gold. Just a pure dress of whiteness that covered her from head to toe. Her platinum hair appeared on her shoulder and her skin wasn't pure white as all would assume but somewhat fair and tan.

She raised the scepter she was holding and clicked with its heel on the ground then spoke again.

"Children…"

Her words woke them up from their daze. The effect of Holiness she has would overpower their minds. Finally, those cries and worshiping moments were over.

It will be hard to keep that under control but she had to use the Specter of the Divine Light to keep those people together. Alden knew that since he experiences it once every few years without fail.

It is like a test for his faith.

The Specter of the Divine Light was something that felt rather odd to whoever sees it for the first time but it is a true artifact of magnificent power. Every Minister and Knight here should have studied it a few times before graduating as Clerics.

The lower part of the Specter is made of a long shaft of pure white metal that in its purity nothing was like. The upper part began with a human spine made of transparent holy metal. The spine has a ribcage on its top and above it was a neck and a skull all made from light and transparent metal. The rib cage had no shoulder bones or arms but it had two large folded wings coming from its back made of various colors that can't be imagined in any mundane material. Above the skull's head was a small crown made of eternal gold.

Such magnificence can't be made by any hands and this crafting is not just normal. Only the Spirits can achieve such a level of craft.

And the Supreme Anchorite spoke… more like singing. Her voice was youthful but she was older than many people here. Each word she said was in a language not knowable to the new Ministers and Knights.

Minerva couldn't understand the words but Alden, her father, was reciting them and figuring out new meanings for every word.

When it was over, everyone was breath-taken and lagging in their place willing to hear more but it was all over and the Supreme Anchorite turned to leave.

No one spoke, no one protested, or cried. For the coming year, everyone would contemplate the meaning of those words.

But that was then, this was now. The Saintess in charge took the lead again, thanked everyone for attending, and asked them to leave quietly and in a dignified fashion.

Luther kept hanging his head for the entire evening as the High Ministers and Judges gathered around the temple. He was joined by his brother.

"Father, father, here you are." Minerva came in a hurry and approached her father and uncle before looking at the latter's heavy mood and questioning with her eyes.

"He got too much to drink." Alden said.

"Uncle? Too much?"

"It is possible." Alden smiled, "What do you want?"

"The assignment, father!" Minerva said with a smile.

"Oh! The assignment, right!" Alden said.

"Assignment? Minnie! The assignment." Even Luther woke up from his daze immediately.

Alden and Luther remembered that each Minister is sent to some Administrative position after their ascendance. Acolytes serve the Temples, Clerics guide the people and serve the higher-ups, Ministers serve the Temple's affairs and guide the Clerics, High Ministers oversee the departments, Arch Ministers lead the Temple, and the Supreme Anchorite hears the holy words and serves the servants of the Light.

Minerva is now a Minister (equals Bishop in Catholic Churches) and a very young one at that. Her assignment will pave her future.

Surely she will be picked for the internal affairs as her father to keep the balance between the forces of the Temple.

"I was assigned in the Amber Kingdom as a Chief Educator in the Regional Temple." Minerva said.

"Education?" Alden said in shock.

"Amber?" Luther followed with a frown.

Alden surely hoped that his daughter would work in the Internal Affairs so that she never travels, but from all the damn places in the world… Amber.

"I know, father." She smiled, "You wanted me to stay by your side."

"I…" Alden wanted to say something but Luther jumped in.

"Don't!" He said, "Don't stay by that old man's side. Just get out there in the world and get married already."

"I am a servant of the Light." Minerva replied.

"Your uncle is right." Alden said, "You're not a shrine servant. You can do a whole lot of good out there." He smiled.

"Thank you, father." She smiled happily, "Just so you know, the Inquisition, the Medical, and the Administration departments fought over for me but I had my eyes on the Education Department from the start."

"Actually, it is the best choice." Luther said, "You're firm and strong. Something both I and your father have and lack. I'm proud of you, niece."

The heartwarming moment continued for a while but Minerva had to ask one last question.

"Father, the Prayer of the Supreme Anchorite. What did it say?" She asked.

"You don't want to research it yourself?" Alden asked.

"I don't know the language." She said.

"It is a very ancient tongue which was spoken in the Holy Mother's days. As the Supreme Anchorite daily communes with the Holy Mother, she feels most comfortable using that language. Our most recent interpretation of that language goes back to 500 years ago to the language of the Ancient Kingdoms. My interpretation may be lacking but it is the best you may find." He said in pride.

"Nerd." Luther laughed.

"So… what does it say?" Minerva asked.

"It's a story, quite common actually. It says…

(First Verse)

O sole Sun, like whom there is no other!

You did warm the world by your fire,

While they were alone, your children,

On Earth, undersea, or with wings in the sky,

All crave the one on every land, rising for them,

The Sun of the day, Jewel of majesty.

(Second Verse)

There is no other who knows you,

Only your children, many like the Stars,

Whom you have taught your ways of war and magic,

Like their sun you are on Earth but they wane when you don't,

When you have dawned they live,

When you set, they die.

(Third Verse)

They are of that moon, enemies of malice,

Cutting flesh from bone, slaves of the old creed,

Fallen the second sun, and the children whom lost,

The mother must hear, for them she cries,

And beasts they become, for there is no sun to shield them,

Darkness grim, from deep malice and the enemy's name is… forbidden."

Alden said and cleared his voice.

"Sounds like praises to the sun in the first verse…" Minerva said, "Then it became like something bad happened and humanity had to fight for its survival yet it sounded like a threat in the second… while the third spoke about the enemy that comes from the moon… Demons?"

Alden nodded.

"But what is the forbidden name? Why are we not supposed to know the name of the enemy?" She asked.

Alden didn't know what to reply with but he looked at his brother and nodded.

"I'll say this only once to satisfy your curiosity but promise me, never look into it." He said.

"You have my word." Minerva smiled as her curiosity was exposed immediately.

"The Supreme Anchorite never really says the forbidden name in the Hymn, which made me curious as well. I did a lot of digging in my youth and let's say, some rules shouldn't have been broken. Your uncle here helped a little but we were in a bucket load of troubles ourselves." He said.

"And?"

"The rest of the text spoke of the true enemy… or enemies of the temple. And there was one word of his identity that I couldn't translate for many decades." Alden looked around and lowered his voice.

"The enemy of the Temple and our Religion, his name is…"

Alden paused and then really made sure no one was spying on them.

"… God."