Swallowed light

Elyssia's vision blurred as she lay sprawled on the frozen ground, her body limp and unresponsive. Every muscle betrayed her, paralyzed by weakness.

Through the haze of pain, she caught the deliberate, unhurried steps of Cecilia's polished black boots approaching. Each step echoed like a countdown to her despair.

"No…"

The word slipped from her lips, barely a whisper—a futile plea lost in the cold air. Little by little, consciousness ebbed away, but not fast enough to spare her the sight unfolding before her eyes. Helpless, she could do nothing but watch as the predator closed in on her son.

Cecilia's lips curled into a slow, triumphant smile as she reached out and scooped the child into her arms. She cradled him with an almost reverent touch, her expression that of someone holding a priceless treasure.

Zal whimpered softly, his golden eyes glowing faintly with confusion and fear.

"Such a precious thing"

Cecilia murmured mockingly, glancing over her shoulder at Elyssia's desperate attempt to crawl closer. She held the infant as though he were a prized possession.

"And he's all mine."

Finally, Elyssia's trembling fingers twitched, a feeble attempt to reach for her child. Darkness crept into the edges of her vision, but her last thought burned with fury.

"Kaedryn… forgive me."

Above the Dragon Keep, the sky rumbled ominously, like a storm of darkness brewing in the heavens to cleanse the world. The atmosphere slowly shifted into a cold, chilling night. The tall, thick trees danced violently in the wind, accompanied by the desperate howls of beasts hidden beneath the pale light of the moon.

Lightning slashed across the sky in jagged streaks, illuminating the castle with flashes of blinding white.

Rain fell in torrents, a relentless cascade of nature's tears. The howls of beasts echoed in the distance, carried by the cold, biting wind. Trees bent and swayed under the weight of the storm, their branches twisting as though in agony.

In the taverns and marketplaces, all activity came to a halt. The unnatural tempest drove villagers to their homes, fear seeping into their bones as the rain soaked the earth.

Within Drakon Keep, silence reigned. All who remained were painfully aware of the carnage unfolding, but none dared to intervene. At the entrance of the Elysium Quarters, Cecilia emerged. Rain streamed down her face, soaking her hair and clothes, yet she seemed untouched—resolute, victorious. Behind her, the once-vibrant halls lay cloaked in shadow, reduced to black and gray ruins.

Far away, in the sacred halls of the Holy Temple of Zuryxal, the Oracle stirred awake from her meditative trance.

The Holy Temple of Zuryxal was a vast, ancient structure, carved from white marble that gleamed under the soft light of enchanted braziers. This ancient temple was built to worship the Divine God of Gods. Nearly every Apostolic Empire had one temple dedicated to the Divine Gods.

Statues of Zuryxal, the God of Gods, lined the hall. Each one was carved with painstaking detail, depicting the deity in various displays of power: raising fire, holding the sky, seated in judgment, and more.

The Oracle sat suspended before the central statue of Zuryxal himself—a towering figure carved from dark granite. The god sat on an ornate throne, one hand holding the sun, his gaze fierce and judgmental.

Her eyes snapped open, glowing with an ancient light, yet heavy with sorrow.

A deep sadness clouded her ageless features as she stared into the flickering candlelight. Shadows danced across the temple walls, cast by the soft glow of the flames.

"Human greed"

she murmured, her voice trembling under the weight of her words.

"A poison that spares no one."

She closed her eyes, her hands clasping the prayer beads dangling from her wrist.

"Oh, child of light,"

She whispered, her tone raw with despair.

"Your time has been stolen by cruel fate. Forgive this world its wickedness. May the threads of destiny hold, though they fray beneath such tragedy."

Back at Drakon Keep, in the altar chamber, Cecilia stood with Zal cradled in her arms. The storm raged around her, rain soaking through her clothes and running in rivulets down her pale skin. Yet, she remained motionless—a pillar of resolve amidst the chaos she had created.

For a brief moment, a flicker of something—pain, doubt—flashed in her eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold, unyielding determination. She glanced down at the child, her lips curling into a faint smile.

The heavens roared their discontent, thunder rolling across the sky as lightning illuminated Cecilia's triumphant figure.

"You even have her beauty—those cursed golden eyes, a mark of divinity wasted on you"

She whispered faintly, without remorse. Her gaze hardened for a moment, filled with contempt.

"Two soul-seeds… divine, they say. More powerful than the fabled Golden Soul-Ore born once every century. But you—"

She paused, her lips curling in derision

"You possess a new generation, one far more powerful and unseen in human history. Yet here you are, in my hands, a mere tool to elevate my children."

Zal blinked slowly, the light from the torches reflecting off his small, delicate features.

"Don't hate me"

Cecilia said coldly.

"This is the law of the jungle. Only the strong survive."

A guttural, inhuman voice interrupted from behind, startling her.

"Indeed."

Cecilia turned to see the towering figure of the shaman stepping forward. He stood as tall as half the pillar's height, his body built like a giant. Heavy muscles rippled beneath his skin, adorned with traditional rune markings etched across his face. He wore a crown made from feathers of an unknown beast and accessorized himself with bone skulls, animal hides, and loose cloth. In his hands, he carried a long staff adorned with dangling metals and rings.

With every step forward, the shrine trembled, accompanied by the clinking sound of the metallic rings on the shaman's staff. His dark eyes gleamed with twisted reverence as he approached.

"Kaedryn's blood is truly remarkable"

The shaman said, his gravelly voice echoing in the chamber.

"And this child… this child is a marvel. Born with two soul-seeds—a first in the history of this world of Rankers. To make him even more extraordinary, he was born with the ability to cultivate direct divine mantra energy. Incredible. He possesses two Spirit Trinkets—a phenomenon unseen in any bloodline, not even among the Rankers of the Upper Realms. He would have grown to become a remarkable figure of light in this decayed world, a hero to fight the myths on behalf of humanity. No"

The shaman paused, his tone heavy with awe.

"Not even my Barbarian race has ever seen such a remarkable being. Just like his father… but how unfortunate."

Cecilia's breath caught. Every Drakon heir was born with the Trinket of Earth Draconic Might—a Spirit Trinket inherited from birth to fortify the Drakon lineage. This Trinket, a Legacy-grade treasure, was a mark of their bloodline. Yet none had ever possessed more than one Spirit Trinket.

"The first Trinket is the Trinket of Earth Draconic Might, as expected from a Drakon descendant"

The shaman continued.

"But the second…"

His voice dropped, almost reverent.

"An extreme Divine-grade Trinket of Light Fairy. A treasure among treasures. If another week had passed, extraction would have been impossible. But as it's only been a day since his birth, the soul-binding is not yet complete. It takes exactly forty-eight hours—two full days—for soul-binding to finalize after birth."

Hearing this brought a cruel smile to Cecilia's face. The shaman activated the blood-red magic circle beneath the altar, its intricate runes pulsing with a sinister glow. Below them lay Alexander and Amara Von Drakon, Cecilia's children, cast into an enchanted slumber.

"Now, all that is left is for the ritual to begin. From tomorrow, this child's destiny will become your children's destiny to claim... now, let us begin."

With a flourish, the shaman produced a jagged bone knife—white and sharp, its edges etched with intricate glowing runes shimmering with dark enchantments—and handed it to Cecilia.

"Carve out the boy's soul-seeds"

The shaman intoned, a disgusting smile spreading across his face. He lifted his staff high, slamming it onto the ground. A surge of red mantra energy erupted from the staff, activating the magical runes on the altar.

"Transfer them to your children. The Spirit Trinkets will follow wherever the soul-seeds go."

Cecilia stepped forward, placing Zal on the glowing circle. The infant squirmed weakly, his tiny cries muffled by the thick tension in the air. Her hand trembled as she gripped the knife, but the hunger for power in her eyes betrayed no hesitation.

"You were born with so much," she whispered to Zal.

"But it was wasted on you. My children will use it far better."

The blade descended, piercing the soft flesh of Zal's chest. His agonized screams filled the chamber, raw and harrowing. The sound reverberated through the stone walls, chilling even the assassins stationed outside.

Hours later, silence and darkness blanketed the altar chamber. Outside, the heavens raged, lightning illuminating the jagged spires of Drakon Keep. Within, two radiant beams of light pierced the stormy sky. Suspended in the glowing columns were Alexander and Amara, their forms bathed in divine energy.

Below them, Zal lay motionless, his tiny body broken and pale. His golden eyes, once filled with light, were now dull and unfocused. Each labored breath he drew was a battle against the pain tearing through his fractured soul.

"It's done"

Cecilia triumphantly declared as the brilliant energy took hold of her children, filling them with the power and destiny that rightfully belonged to someone else.

The light was stolen… swallowed before it even had the chance to shine.

"Congratulations, Cecilia. The Soul Renegade Faction will be proud of you. Your son now bears a Golden Soul-Ore, and your daughter wields twin Earth Draconic Might Spirit Trinkets. Though the Divine soul-seeds' full power cannot be accessed by their new vessels, this compromise is still a remarkable feat."

The shaman turned to the exit with an evil smirk.

"It really is funny how a Heretic Ranker like you has managed to fool everyone… not even the Holy Church knows their lands are being infiltrated by demonic followers. Damn Apostles… just wait."

These sudden words made the joy and pride in Cecilia's smile falter. Her gaze fell on her finger, and she brought her hand up to reveal a golden ring glinting under the moonlight.

A magical ring…

"The Concealment Ring of Purity works like a charm. They see me as an Apostle Ranker… even a Saint Lord like my husband, who is at the Imperium Rank, doesn't know my true path. Now—"

Her gaze shifted to Zal.

"Will he survive?"

The shaman studied the boy's broken form.

"Uncertain. His soul has been fractured beyond repair. Even if he clings to life, he'll be weak, incomplete. He won't live past twenty-five years."

Cecilia's cold gaze lingered on Zal for a moment before she turned away.

"Then he's of no concern. The deed is done. Now, all that's left is the commotion about to unfold… what a drag."

In the Holy Temple of Zuryxal, the Oracle stared into the storm-laden skies, her ancient heart heavy with sorrow.

"Zal, the Child of Light"

She murmured, her voice trembling with grief.

"Zal, the changer of fate who was meant to redeem this world of bloodshed… once again, Vitaria has been betrayed by mortals. What punishment has humanity unleashed now?"

She sighed, rolling the prayer beads between her fingers as her prayers became constant whispers. Closing her eyes, the weight of the world pressed against her weary soul.

"Now, what will become of this world…"

"These old bones… no longer know."