SnakeQuennSS

Alastor Von had everything a noble heir could ask for—wealth, prestige, and two loving parents who doted on him. Yet, beneath the grandeur of his life, an emptiness gnawed at him. He had no memories beyond the past few months, no recollection of childhood laughter or the warmth of family traditions. His parents told him it was due to an accident—one so severe it had erased his past completely.
Still, doubts plagued him. The people of the kingdom whispered behind his back, questioning his legitimacy. Servants exchanged glances when they thought he wasn’t looking. And then there was his own reflection—too perfect, too unnatural. He looked nothing like his parents. The sharp contrast between their features and his made the rumors even harder to ignore.
But Alastor refused to let uncertainty dictate his fate. He threw himself into training, learning everything he could about the world he was supposedly part of. His parents praised his intelligence, his refinement, his perseverance. And yet, none of that mattered when he stepped into the sacred chamber of Awakening.
The moment had come to prove himself worthy of his lineage. Every noble child was granted a moment to shine, to awaken the power sleeping within their blood.
Alastor took a deep breath, stepping forward into the sacred circle. The air crackled with energy, the weight of destiny pressing upon his chest. As the ritual began, the entire kingdom seemed to hold its breath, waiting to witness his ascension. Yet, deep in his heart, an unshakable unease took root, whispering that something was not as it seemed.
And in that instant, everything changed.

Veil Of Judgement

Cedric leaned back on the velvet couch, a playful smirk on his face as he twirled a golden goblet between his fingers. "Alastor, my dear friend, I actually have another reason for visiting today."

Alastor, who had been absentmindedly flipping through a book, glanced up. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Cedric leaned forward dramatically, his amber eyes glinting with excitement. "Have you heard about the powerful priest who's been gaining attention lately? Apparently, he's tall, absurdly handsome, and has half the women in the kingdom fawning over him."

Alastor frowned slightly, setting the book aside. "A man?"

Cedric chuckled. "Right? I thought the same! It's always been maidens serving as priestesses of the Holy Church, so this is definitely strange. But here's the real kicker—this guy awakened a purple-grade talent in holy magic. The highest tier possible! No wonder the church is treasuring him like their most prized relic."

Alastor leaned back in thought, arms crossed. "Purple-grade? I keep hearing about these talent rankings, but I don't fully understand them. Remind me again."

Cedric blinked, then groaned dramatically. "Ah, right! You lost your memories. How could I forget? Well then, allow me, the great and knowledgeable Cedric, to educate you!" He sat up straight and cleared his throat, suddenly looking smug.

"In our world, talents are categorized into several attributes—Light, Dark, Elemental, Arcane, and so on. Each person is born with an affinity toward one or more of these, but the strength of that affinity is further divided into six talent grades." He raised a hand and started counting them off.

"At the bottom, we have gray, the weakest and nearly useless. Then comes green, which is still pretty mediocre but at least functional. Yellow is decent, a common talent level among knights and mages. Orange is impressive—people with this talent usually end up as great warriors or high-ranking officials. Red is exceptional, seen only in prodigies or noble bloodlines." He paused, grinning.

"And then... there's purple—the absolute highest, the rarest of the rare. People with a purple-grade talent are destined for greatness, no matter their background. Their potential surpasses even the most gifted red-ranked individuals. Some even say that a purple talent is a sign of divine favor."

Alastor absorbed the explanation, nodding slowly. "And Holy Magic?"

Cedric snapped his fingers. "Ah! That's part of Light Magic—one of the purest and most sacred elements. It's primarily used for healing, purification, and divine miracles. That's why priests and priestesses are almost always light magic users. But this guy—the male priest—he's something else entirely. No one knows how he got such a powerful gift, but the Holy Church is treating him like the second coming of a saint."

Alastor frowned. "A purple-grade talent in Holy Magic… That's unheard of."

"Exactly!" Cedric leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Imagine having someone like that as an ally. Maybe he could even help you out, Alastor!"

Alastor scoffed. "You think someone as revered as him would waste time meeting us?"

Cedric grinned mischievously. "Not if we sneak into the Holy Church's chambers."

Alastor gave him a flat look. "You cannot be serious."

Cedric burst out laughing. "Oh, but I am, my friend! Think about it! The thrill! The mystery! The handsome, holy man!"

Alastor groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is a terrible idea."

Cedric smirked. "That's what makes it fun."

Alastor had a sinking feeling that Cedric wouldn't drop this idea anytime soon.

Chapter 7: The Mysterious Priest