Season 2 Chapter 10: The Divine Revelation of Meadowville

[2nd Week of April 2021 — Meadowville City — Day 12 — Morning]

Baron Welt von Hawkstree stood tall, wearing his newly embroidered black-and-gold uniform bearing the insignia of the 125th Dawnbreaker Squad. As he approached Raizah von Mondragon in the garden pathway leading to the Cathedral of the Ascending Dawn, he greeted her with a light smile."It's been a while, Raizah. How have you been?"

Raizah turned, smiling softly at the familiar voice. "You do realize it's only been three weeks since graduation, don't you?" she teased. "And congratulations, Baron. I heard you've officially established your household."

Welt gave a humble nod. "Thank you. It wasn't easy, especially with the issues back home, but I made it through. I'm also officially commissioned as Royal Squire now — commanding 500 Squires."

The two shared light laughter, a rare moment of calm between longtime friends. Unknown to them, several other nobles and officials were gathered nearby within one of the cathedral's reception halls. Count William von Mondragon sat at a round table with Marquess Charlotte Anne Davies, Countess Amelia Rose Brown, and Viscount Ishikawa Haruto Kazuyoshi. Their discussion, though civil, had an unmistakable undercurrent of tension.

"I didn't expect Count Accel to have ties to the Davies Household," William remarked, watching Charlotte with mild curiosity. "I thought your faction remained neutral, yet now you're part of the Dawnshire Alliance?"

Charlotte offered a courteous smile but shook her head. "No comment, Count William. Perhaps, once I learn to trust you more, we may revisit that question. For now…" she paused, folding her hands, "is it true that Count Accel is engaged to your daughter, Raizah?"

William straightened. "Yes, it's true. Why do you ask?"

From the opposite side of the table, Amelia leaned in, cheeks pink. "Well, I suppose I still have a chance then. I wouldn't mind being his second or third wife — as long as I could stay by his side," she said with a dreamy smile.

William blinked, watching her with growing concern. Before he could speak, Viscount Ishikawa cleared his throat. "If I may be honest… my daughter, too, seeks to be engaged to Count Accel. I received a letter from her this morning."

Silence. For a moment, even Charlotte's firm composure wavered. Amelia looked stunned before sighing with a mixture of admiration and frustration. "That man… his charm is dangerous," she said. "He doesn't try to gather people, but they're drawn to him. Like fireflies to a flame."

Meanwhile, a more personal reunion was unfolding across the hall. Aria, standing beside her husband Atlas and accompanied by their sons Axton and Asher, found herself embraced suddenly by an older woman in noble garments — Florence Adele Davies.

"Is that you, Aria?" Florence asked, tears already forming as she pulled her friend into a tight embrace.

"Florence?" Aria whispered, stunned. The two women clung to one another, the years of separation and grief dissolving in the warmth of familiarity.

"I can't believe it... You're alive. We thought you were lost forever," Florence said, overwhelmed.

Their shared past began to resurface. Aria revealed only fragments of her departure from nobility, but enough for the gathered nobles — including the parents of Amelia, Welt, and Charlotte — to understand the truth.

Florence nodded in solemn understanding. "Your son is beyond extraordinary, Aria. A Count at eighteen, a city-builder, a protector. Tell me… how did you raise such a man?"

Aria looked away, her expression both proud and mournful. "I didn't. He chose his own path… He never told us about his title, his name — not until he stood before us in full armor. What he became… was forged through his own merit."

She sighed. "That is why… once I reclaim the Valenwood family name, I will make my second son the heir."

The others nodded respectfully. Some were moved, others intrigued, but all of them recognized the magnitude of what Accel had done.

[Cathedral of the Ascending Dawn — Main Prayer Room — Late Morning]

A few hours later, a sacred silence blanketed the Cathedral's Main Prayer Room. Count Accel von Winchester stood before the grand altar, kneeling under the gaze of the highest spiritual authorities of the Luminescent Faith — the Supreme Matriarch herself, the Saintess of Luminescent Hope, and the High Radiants of the Luminous Council.

The chamber was heavy with divine pressure.

The Supreme Matriarch's voice was soft, but resonant. "Count Winchester… the blessing you carry… it must be verified. If the Goddess herself truly bestowed upon you a Level 5 Supreme Blessing… then you are no longer merely a knight. You are a vessel of providence."

She turned to her followers. "Begin the Status Invocation."

As sacred scripts circled around Accel, the entire cathedral dimmed — not with darkness, but with a soft, golden white veil. The Saintess whispered prayers in a tongue older than memory. As the ritual reached its peak, Accel's body shimmered with holy sigils — yet something was wrong.

His energy faltered.

"He lacks sufficient holy energy to activate the Supreme Blessing," the Saintess observed.

The Supreme Matriarch raised her staff. "High Radiants — assist him. Use the Rite of Holy Channeling."

A dozen divine women stepped forward, forming a perfect ring around Accel. They raised their palms as streams of radiant light flowed toward him, empowering his form.

Accel's body trembled.

Then —

BOOM.

A burst of divine light exploded from the altar, crashing against the multi-layered cathedral barrier, visible across all of Meadowville but silenced from within.

Outside, confused citizens stared skyward, seeing rays of celestial gold pierce the clouds.

Inside, the High Radiants stepped back in awe.

Accel's body had gone limp, collapsed from exhaustion. But above him…

Floating within the cascade of light was a vision of perfection. A divine vessel, shaped in the likeness of Primordial Goddess Aurelia Noctessa Lumina — her form majestic, her eyes closed in prayer.

Everyone dropped to their knees. Even the Supreme Matriarch lowered her head, whispering in divine tongues before activating an unrevealed power. A communion occurred — a silent exchange between mortal and divinity.

Moments later, the light receded.

The Supreme Matriarch stood. Her voice trembled ever so slightly. "It is confirmed… Count Accel von Winchester possesses the Supreme Blessing." She paused. "But even I do not yet understand why he was chosen."