Gods and Divine Power II

Although Seraphine did hear about the Divine Bestowal before, she was yet to behold its stunning representation.

The empire worships several deities that are also known as celestial beings. The Divine Bestowal, for one, is similar to a well that is overflowing with divine power. It pours out endlessly, and it holds tons of mysteries.

Unless one can bear the overwhelming sensation that will ascend within them once they come into contact with its water, they will not be able to withstand the deleterious aftermath of that action.

'Okay, no touching, then...' Seraphine thought to herself as she walked around the cascade alongside Helios, still unable to peel her gaze away from it even then.

'Why do I feel like it's calling me, though? Like there's this... imperceptible force, I guess.'

Too transfixed by the sight and at whatever it was making her feel, she failed to realize one crucial thing.

Only when they arrived right in front of the altar where the blessed naming ceremony would be happening did she recall one of her biggest fears. Seeing the Head Priest and Maiden Priestess made her come to a still and turn numb all over. Her eyes bulges wide in horror while her lips quiver in fright - she is thoroughly terrified.

Traumatized.

Seraphine remembered that the temple was the one that figured out that she was a succubus.

'W-What if they f-find out again? W-Will it be alright if they don't do the same r-ritual that they did on me back then...?' she grimaced in fear and trepidation as she watched the Head Priest and Maiden Priestess make their way to her.

'P-Perhaps, it will be alright since this is only a naming ceremony? N-Nothing bad w-will happen, right?'

Right when Seraphine started begging that the past would not repeat itself again, something flashed before her eyes all of the sudden, hurdling her vision with its blinding brightness.

Thrown off guard, she tried to screech out loud but ended up realizing that the light was already gone before she knew it - and so was she. She opened her eyes to find herself no longer in the same place as she was earlier. What surrounds her now is nothing but silence and darkness.

And as if that was not enough to disconcert her, she felt like drowning out of nowhere.

'N-No...! H-Help! Anyone...! H-Help me!'

It's like falling deeper and deeper under water.

She can neither breathe nor talk. She can barely keep herself together, and she can only thrash about in vain. She feels like suffocating. She feels like crying. And once again, she is helpless.

"Oh, my... Isn't this interesting?"

At that moment, Seraphine suddenly heard a voice - a pleasantly serene one that somehow reminded her of the clear sky and calm sea.

That's when the water seems to disappear, allowing her to resurface and stand on her feet once again. Her surroundings then began to light up and get rid of the dark. There in the enveloping whiteness is this bursting world of water beads that appear like these perfect spheres soaking in the light and resembling spring-buds of a rainbow that were born to blossom in the sky.

Standing in the middle of them all is Seraphine who is thrown in utter shock and perplexity.

"You're quite the interesting one, child..." continued the mysterious, specter-like voice.

"I'd never seen someone like you."

"W-Who are you? W-Where am I?" she found the courage to ask even when she was still trembling uncontrollably.

"You must've been through a lot, little girl. Look how shaken you are~"

"W-Well, anyone would be if this happened to them!"

"Oh, now you're fine enough to retort? Good, good~!"

Seraphine had no idea what was going on, but for some reason, she could feel that she might have to get a stronger grip on her patience here. Whoever is talking with her now seems to be playing around with her - going by their light-hearted and easygoing tone, that is.

But then, that is probably what she needs in this situation. Distracting her like this makes it less difficult for her to cope up with whatever is happening.

"Say, you're not from this world, are you?"

At that uncalled-for question, Seraphine froze.

Them asking such a thing can only mean that they are one big deal. There is no need to be any more direct than that - she already gets that they are aware of her unspoken circumstances. And no one had ever done that before. This unseen entity is the first ever to know.

"Your soul, at least, is not of this world. But other than that, there is something more..." her imperceptible companion continued, putting her further on the edge.

"Child, you were also possessed."

"W-W-What?" she stammered and stiffened, thoroughly stunned.

"You hold more power than you can ever imagine. The entity within you was a powerful one - extremely powerful. I can only wonder how much you'd been through fighting it off. It's a miracle that you're still in control of your body - one that isn't even yours, to begin with."

"I-I... I d-don't... I don't recall fighting anything off."

"Oh, is that so?"

"J-Just who are you? W-Why do you know all of this?"

The vast emptiness responds with silence.

Whoever she is talking to has vanished - at least, their voice, that is. Though she was appalled at first, she won't do with this. This might be the one she'd been seeking for. She mustn't let this go.

But right when Seraphine is about to call out to them, she feels strangely heavy all of the sudden. She feels like she's carrying something more than she can lift, and she is having a hard time breathing because of it.

'W-What...? W-What's happening now?'

Excruciating pain then soon hammers her head, striking in like a bolt of lightning.

"Don't resist, child. It'll only hurt more for you..." was what she heard chiming in for the last time before she started to lose consciousness from how painful the sensation was.

"Your memories are being erased by force at this moment. The priests and priestesses of the temple are behind this."

"H-Huh...? W-W-Why...? My m-memories are...? Why are they... d-doing... such a thing?"

"Do come back here again. Your power is the least of your concerns now."

"I... can... come back?"

"You can, and you will - I am sure of that."

Though Seraphine still had a response in mind, she could no longer say it out loud at that point as she was already being pulled back to reality.

---

Seraphine woke up to learn that the blessed naming ceremony had already ended - and that some parts of her memories were taken away from her.

She is not certain what these memories are, but she can feel them missing. Even then, nobody there said a thing about it. The Head Priest and Maiden Priestess kept quiet. If it weren't for the feeling of losing something important and the memory of that mysterious entity telling her what's going on, she would've remained oblivious.

Seraphine woke up - in stupor, confusion, disbelief, and for some reason, dread.

"My dear, congratulations on getting your blessed name..." Helios said before pulling her in a warm and loving embrace.

"How is it? Do you feel lighter now? Is it such a comforting sensation?"

Of course, she doesn't feel anywhere near light nor comforted. That's an odd thing to ask, especially when he most probably knows what has been done to her. What's more, he's looking at her in a way that always ends up bringing in a premonition.

There's something seriously wrong here.

"From now on, you will grow up to be a worry-free and happy child. No more nightmares, no more sufferings, and no more secrets. You're just a normal little girl now."

That's when Seraphine finally realized it - Helios must be the one who wanted her memories gone.