April, Two years ago

(A new Zodiacus Cathedral)

One of the few rituals children had to undergo in Nagasmar was the Zodiacus Sign Acknowledgement Ceremony. Unlike the ritual that determined one's Elemental alignment, this ceremony was optional for Nobles. Despite that, it remained extremely popular. Children and adults alike often looked forward to participating in it. The process was less formal than other rites and could bring great fortune to those fortunate enough to receive grace from the Divine World.

The Zodiacus Sign Acknowledgement Ceremony was rooted in the Zodiacus Architecture and revealed a candidate's affinity with the Guardian Celestials, Divinities, and Spirits of this world. While the criteria were obscure—being of Divine origin—they often included bloodline, personality traits, behavior, accomplishments, or physical attributes.

Children between the ages of three and eleven were tested for their affinities to the Zodiacus Signs. After the age of eleven, they were no longer considered children, and those who had not been tested by then had to undergo the adult or adolescent rituals to determine their Benedictions and Blessings.

Most children who were tested received an Acknowledgment of their affinity to a Sign. Fewer were granted a Benediction from a Sign, and even fewer still received a Blessing. Those two were bestowed later in life and only upon a select few.

Acknowledgement by the whole House was extremely rare and reserved for a fortunate few. Some even said that receiving a Benediction or Blessing from an entire House was close to impossible. Such honors came only from the Higher Spirits who presided over the Houses—not the Guardians themselves. Still, it was commonly referred to as a House Acknowledgement when a Sign acknowledged someone, since the Guardians were believed to speak on behalf of their House. The priests and theologians, however, knew better.

While the Zodiacus ritual was technically optional, none of the wealthy families, regardless of their social class, ever forwent it, as it granted greater access to studies, apprenticeships, and employment. Certain Noble positions were not even open to those lacking the proper affinities.

Most children knew only the House of Chester and the House of Rainbows, as they hoped for a Benediction from one of those Houses' Signs. Such a Benediction would have meant not only Divine Acknowledgement of their existence, but also that they were now considered to be under a kind of sacred watch from one of the Houses founded by Lord Chester. It showed others that the person had received a favorable review from the Servants of the most influential Lord in their Realm. Lord Chester was, after all, known as a Sacred Patron of Children.

The Kazenbar Temple-Church or the Brenzegel Temple-Church usually conducted the official Divine testing to determine one's Zodiacus Sign. Each maintained only a single representative per major City or Region, which made securing an appointment difficult for many. Some candidates and their families were not even admitted into the sacred Edifices at all, due to carrying too much corruption.

Still, a few alternatives existed for those seeking to be tested.

Certain specialized Priests from affiliated Churches were authorized to perform Zodiacus testing during their tours across the country. Most people in the countryside underwent testing this way. The only drawback was that the results usually required confirmation from one of the Zodiacus Temple-Churches unless the testing was conducted by Priests or Monks affiliated with Kazenbar, Brenzegel, or Izranaga Temple-Churches.

A final option existed through the National State Church, which provided unofficial Zodiacus testing. However, their results were widely regarded as flawed and unreliable since they were marred by political interference or outright incompetence.

For a time, wealthy families were known to bribe Priests in order to receive fabricated Acknowledgments or Benedictions. This finally led to Divine punishment. Corrupt Priests who forged Acknowledgments or Benedictions and those who bribed them were either cursed or smote. Not once but several times.

As a result, the National State Church only issued certificates of Zodiacus Sign affinity, many of which were dismissed outright by discerning employers familiar with the fraud.

As unfortunate as it was, the fraud persisted after Divine Punishments since the ritual held economic value. The problem lay in positions and apprenticeships being given first to those with affinities or Benedictions to Signs that favored some of the traits required for the job.

For instance, the House of Nature & Roots and the House of Pearls, Songs & Watershapers were celebrated for nurturing creative minds and musicians. The House of Chester specialized more broadly in entertainment, with music being just one of its many celebrated arts. The House of Sunlight and Light offered popularity and success, though its members often had reputations for vanity and self-importance. The House of the Stars & Brights favored high achievers and those devoted to higher learning, while the House of Phantoms & Spirits consistently produced some of the most capable non-specialized Mages.

Naturally, Saint Sylia wanted the Slums' children under her care to have that opportunity. Over the years, she had dragged more than a few to the Temple-Churches to undergo testing.

***

It is within this context that our next chapter begins. For it would be nearly impossible to speak of Sylia's life in the Slums without addressing her complex and evolving bond with the children there. Alongside her two other Divisions, Syl Celia and Cesylia, she had improved nearly every aspect of their lives. The three women had brought better food, cleaner water, proper clothing, and serviceable shoes—essentials that most parents living in the Slums could not afford.

Poor hygiene and chronic malnutrition had once condemned the majority of Slum-born children to an early grave. Before Sylia began intervening in the Slums, child mortality hovered between sixty and seventy-nine percent. Now it had dropped below twenty, and even that remaining fraction was largely due to deaths caused by lingering environmental corruption.

The Saints had introduced a system of health and education that prioritized children, offering care at nearly no cost to those in need.

Our story picks up two years ago, in the month of April. A few days prior, a Brenzegel Temple-Church edifice had suddenly manifested in the heart of the City—its appearance unannounced and deeply unsettling to many. With it came the creation of a new District and an entire Half-Enclaved area, further confounding local residents.

(A new District appears)

To begin with, the Kazenbar Temple-Church which descended from the All Saints Churches had long been predominant in the area. There were already several cathedrals, churches, and chapels belonging to the Kazenbar Temple-Church spread across the Region.

The second surprise came from the Saints assigned to the new Representative Edifice. Sylia was one of those Saints alongside Lady Seyka.

That choice proved even more jarring given the Brenzegel Temple-Church's known alignment with the Elements of Light and Lightling. By contrast, the Kazenbar Temple-Church was the one traditionally associated with the Blood and Dark Elements. It was also the favored institution of the Blood Lords and of Lord Chester himself.

Some in the community soon accused Sylia of betrayal, of turning her back on Lord Chester, the Dark Lord, and the Blood Lords.

Tensions simmered until a Divine Revelation put the matter to rest. It was declared that Brenzegel, contrary to the prevailing belief, was the Temple-Church that harbored the purest expression of the Dark Element. Lord Chester had chosen it specifically as the spiritual seat for the House of Rainbows. Even more confounding, the Light Lord who was also known as the Master of Blood Lords held the leading role there.

Few knew what to make of that but no one dared commenting further.

***

On that day, Sylia, appearing in her adolescent form, gathered the children. A few—Jimmy and Pullina among them—were especially excited. Though they had taken part in several similar rituals before, they had never received a full Benediction or even a Sign Acknowledgment, let alone a Blessing. They hoped, as many did, that today might finally be their day.

Only a few parents had been permitted to serve as guides and caretakers for the children gathered there. Some, particularly the doting or naturally anxious ones, were visibly unsettled at the thought of entrusting their children to Saint Sylia. Even for a few hours.

Sylia nearly laughed. Some of those same parents had handed over their children to the National State Church months or years ago for far longer periods, without hesitation.

The truth was plain. They feared the Houses of actual Gods far more than the corrupted State Church.

Adana Bimario arrived with her two children in tow, both of whom looked distinctly uneasy. Sylia found herself wondering what exactly they had been told. Adana had never liked her. Perhaps it was because Sylia had always treated Dunkareh Krevoski poorly—the man Adana was secretly in love with. Or maybe it was because of that childhood crush she'd had on Grenar Krevoski's other son, Grenek. The woman had always had the worst kind of taste for men.

Adana glanced around uneasily. "Sylia, are you sure about this? Can you really handle all these children? I'm just… concerned you've organized all this so soon after the Province Lords forbade these kinds of events. That's a lot of meat. There will be trouble if you import so much. Are those guards? They don't seem to be from around here."

Sylia followed her gaze to the guards and answered coolly, "They're from the Bumkaria Enclave. As for the ban, it was lifted just yesterday."

Adana blinked. "Lifted? I haven't heard a word. And I've never even heard of this Enclave you mentioned."

Sylia smiled faintly. "There's a great deal you haven't heard of, Adana. Mathias and I executed the Province Magister Lord and a few of his men in the Kudral Region last night. That Region's been shrunk so severely, I doubt they'll bother appointing anyone unless they find someone willing to rule over a patch no bigger than the Sovereign Duke's garden. What land didn't vanish was either exiled or divided. A pity for the residents, yes…but when one accepts such rulers, one must also accept the consequences."

She tilted her head. "You seem more concerned with that man's orders than with the will of the Gods. Care to explain why?"

Adana shivered and glanced around. Her children clung to her, sensing her tension.

Sylia gave them a faintly pitying look. "Fear not." she said. "You needn't eat the skewers we brought from the Bumkaria Enclave Izranaga's Flock created. I'm sure Izranaga matters far less than that distant relative of yours who turned half your family into prostitutes or pets. Adana, I must say that I remain surprised. Last week, you were complaining I wasn't offering enough meat despite knowing I was doing it to avoid repercussions in the Slums. This week, you've changed your stance entirely. This is extremely curious. Could it be because I changed my position?"

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Adana stiffened. "No, of course not. You're the Saint. I wouldn't dare speak against you."

Sylia raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just five days ago you did exactly that in front of your friends, no less. You called me a worthless whore who sucks on everything male."

A few listeners nearby glanced at each other, uncomfortable.

Sylia sighed. "Adana, we'll never be friends. But let's try for civility. As I said, your children don't have to eat my food. They also don't need to come to the ceremony. We're selecting only those who can behave. Clearly, these two weren't raised properly. They look at me like I'm about to eat them." She tilted her head. "They needn't worry. We have venison today."

Adana's son Julio brightened, but her daughter clutched tighter to her.

"Are we free to go?" Julio asked. "Can we just enjoy the buffet?"

Sylia gave a nod. "It's for everyone invited. Run along."

Julio beamed and dashed over to join his cousin Tommy, who stood beside his uneasy mother. The two boys took off toward the food.

Count Hugder Rakulda of Dorbensyl Province approached with a small entourage. Sylia recognized him immediately. He had long been involved with Kirsten's aunt, Hanna Carentos.

She also caught sight of Count Garutam moving toward her, his children and grandchildren in tow. Sylia offered him a warm smile, which he returned with a nod of respect.

Count Hugder Rakulda bowed slightly. "Saint Sylia, may I ask a favor? I'd like to visit the new Temple-Church with Hanna."

Sylia answered at once. "You're welcome to attend the evening event, like everyone else."

The Count hesitated. "Might it be possible to go now?"

She regarded him with a long, unreadable look.

"My son Asturo is due to meet his mother for a testing around the time of your visit," he added quietly. "I'd hoped to accompany them."

Sylia shook her head gently. "I'm afraid only my personal guests are permitted in the main edifice before four o'clock. Your son is scheduled to visit the Kazenbar Annex Chapel. The children and I are going to the thirteen Cathedrals hidden behind the one presented to the public. We'll be using Teleport Sygils to visit each one of them."

The Count blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

Sylia smiled. "If you wish, I can arrange for you to enter one of the Annexes with your son."

He nodded, slowly. "I'd be grateful. I had no idea it was that extensive."

"Some of the edifices may need to be relocated." Sylia said lightly. "Izranaga's Flock tends to overdo things. There was a promotion on the All Saints Online Shopping website—Gods & Celestials Network. Mathias and I kept selecting everything that had zero value."

Jimmy, standing nearby, looked over at her. "You can shop through a divine Network?"

Pullina pressed a hand over Jimmy's mouth. "Stop asking silly questions," she whispered. "Miss Sylia and Master Mathias are Gods Avatars so they have Divine Powers. They have those screens they summon, where they order all kinds of things. I only heard of them when Miss Sylia is concerned, but I saw Master Mathias use one a couple time. I couldn't see the screen, though. Even Julend got access to a Celestial Annex website where he orders Onigiri from the Turtle Shop. He received a Blessing for that."

Sylia smiled faintly. Jimmy only stared, speechless.

Count Hugder Rakulda stepped forward. "Isn't this boy too young to attend?"

Jimmy pursed his lips.

Sylia answered smoothly. "He's just short. Jimmy has Viscount-class Mana, so he develops more slowly. Your children with Hanna aren't Noble material, so you wouldn't know."

Count Hugder Rakulda blinked. "I see. And what is he doing here?"

"He's being raised by a foster parent, though his official guardians are his uncle and that man's wife. I wouldn't recommend his father for anything. But his birth mother is decent enough."

Rakulda gestured toward Pullina. "And the girl? She seems too old for the ceremony. She doesn't appear to have much Mana. I doubt they'll let her in."

Sylia's expression cooled. "Wrong again. She's just tall. Her Soul was bloodline-blessed at birth by Dyarinara, the Celestial-Goddess known as the Spiritual Huntress. Pullina carries several Mana-Zero Blessed Skills. Her Mana is highly compressed due to the local environmental corruption—it would uncompress in a cleaner environment."

She tilted her head slightly. "Are you done questioning my choices? I don't question yours. But maybe I should, Hugder, son of Agnar."

Count Hugder Rakulda flinched and bowed quickly. "I offer my deepest apologies to the Saint of All Saints. I never meant to question your judgment. I only wished to understand."

Sylia's gaze remained cool. "Don't bother. We may never understand each other's choices. You'll regret some of yours. I rarely regret mine."

The afternoon was spent at the new Brenzegel Temple-Church. Sylia had brought with her many of the children from the lunch gathering, and they moved through the new edifices as she explained the Zodiacus system and the significance of the decorations in each building they visited. The children looked around wide-eyed, marveling at the golden ornamentation and the intricate beauty of the Cathedral walls.

As expected, Sylia had several of the children take the tests. The others would be evaluated later, once their families were present—some over the next few days or weeks, and a few as early as the six o'clock ceremony in the main public Edifice.

***

The main hidden Cathedral was markedly quieter than the others. High arched ceilings absorbed every whisper, while the faint light from enchanted sconces gave the space a perpetual dawn-like hue. The murals painted across the upper vaults depicted the thirteen major Houses of the Zodiacus, each Sign stylized in sacred form, iconic, not just illustrative.

Saint Sylia stood to one side, watching in silence as the children waited on the pews. The Brenzegel Priests and the Faithwardens took their positions behind the curved altar of polished green-black stone.

Children were called up one by one. Faithwardens placed a soft cloth on the testing dais before the altar, and the child knelt in silence, hands joined together as the Priest read from the Zodiacus Scrolls. Once spoken aloud, the Zodiacus Spell triggered the activation of a Sygil embedded in the floor—an old-world mechanism that bridged the mortal Soul to the Divine Record.

Some children received flickers of light, faint colors or brief whispers known only to the officiants. One girl from a merchant family was given an Acknowledgement by the House of Nature & Roots, linked to the Oak Elk. Her parents, sitting in the back, wept silently.

And then, the name Danielu Beymeyer was spoken.

A hush fell over the Hall, though no announcement of Danielu's parentage had been made. The invited children and adults glanced at one another but did not move. Everyone knew who he was—the son of Saint Sylia, already Blessed by Lord Chester's Chipmuck Mascot Under-Sign at birth.

Danielu walked forward quietly and took his place on the cloth. He looked calm, perhaps too calm for a six-year-old. His emotionless eyes studied the altar for a while, then closed as he went into a silent prayer with his hands joined.

The Priest did not ask him any questions as one would expect when conducting the ritual for someone who had already received a Major Blessing from a very powerful Under-Sign. Instead, he unrolled the same Spell scroll and read from it again, adding only a Spell used when a Blessing had already been granted.

"We will reconfirm and read for unregistered alignments," he said finally. "Let the Divine World bear witness."

The Sygil under Danielu pulsed.

A pattern emerged on the floor. As initially expected, a radiant white-gold flare, the signature color of the House of Chester shone brightly. The light did not remain contained, however, to only one House. It expanded, bleeding out into adjacent circles. One, two, then three additional Houses lit faintly. The House of Rainbows, the House of the Blood & Lords, and, curiously, the unexpected House of the Night & Shadows.

The Priest hesitated.

From behind him, a second Priest stepped forward. "The reading shows that the original Blessing is for the full House of Lord Chester. The Chipmuck's Mascot Blessing is just the primary one. All the Signs of Lord Chester have given Lordling Danielu at least a Minor Blessing. Many have granted him the highest Blessings. Danielu is also triggering other Signs from different Houses."

Saint Sylia smiled as if she had known it all along. Danielu, sitting perfectly still, seemed unaffected as well and just nodded. His father looked from the mother to the son before sighing in exasperation. He, then, turned to his other children for moral support. His daughter Danisha just shrugged, laughing softly as she stood next to him with her arms crossed. Her brother Takara looked away, avoiding his father's scrutiny.

Of course, Danielu would have all the Signs' Benedictions and Blessings. After all, Danielu's Blessing was ordered by Lord Chester himself. Given Lord Chester's reputation, you would expect all his Flock to follow their Master's choice without waiting for a formal order.

Jimmy leaned toward Pullina. "Did that happen with anyone else? I mean having a full House's Blessing."

Pullina shook her head slowly. "No. I don't think so. That's not normal."

"All is normal," Sylia said, loud enough for them to hear. She hadn't moved from her spot.

The Priest glanced her way but said nothing.

The Acknowledgements of the other Signs were now fully forming. There were new Benedictions as well, but no new Blessings. The flickers of alignment, though faint, were unmistakable for other Signs from different Houses as well. Something in Danielu's Soul had drawn attention across multiple Houses. The Sign of the Duskmirror Cat, sacred to the House of Night & Shadows, flickered brightly in the outline of a mirror-sigil, never fading.

"We are not able to read further," the second Priest murmured. "The House of Lord Chester is too powerful and immense for us to manage the reading of the other Houses properly. Lady Sylia will need to perform the ritual instead for her son."

Sylia nodded, saying she might do that later. There was no rush. The Priests nodded and ended the ritual with a proclamation. Danielu had been acknowledged by the Divine. Today revealed that his path was still deepening and shifting.

When Danielu rejoined the children, Pullina scooted to make room for him. Jimmy stared openly.

"You didn't seem surprised," Jimmy said.

"Why would I?" Danielu asked.

"Because the full Lord Chester's House gave you their Blessing. Three very difficult Houses answered," Pullina whispered. "And one was the Blood & Lords. They don't give Blessings or Benedictions easily."

Danielu shrugged. "Lord Chester ordered my Blessing originally so it is not surprising that the Houses of The Blood & Lords and Rainbows answered. Lord Chester is very influential there. Particularly in the Rainbows which he funded. As for the House of Night & Shadows, it is my mother's main House. So, it is normal they gave me their Benediction."

Pullina pressed her lips together, glancing toward the dais. "You're strange. At least, look happy!"

Jimmy added, "Well, we already knew he would be like this. He is Lady Sylia's son after all."

The next name called was Pullina's.

She stood, her long legs awkward under her weight, and walked with visible tension. Some of the younger children whispered. She looked too old to be undergoing the test. Still, the Priests made no comment and invited her to step in.

Pullina knelt on the cloth.

The Spell scroll was read once more.

Nothing happened.

A long moment passed, and the Priests seemed ready to close the ritual—until the Sygil flared faintly. Just once.

One of the Faithwardens gasped. "It's reacting."

The older Priest stepped closer, inspecting the Sygil's outer edge. "Her Mana seems to be sealed. The ritual cannot be performed fully."

A soft ripple passed over the floor. No House illuminated fully. But a trace of yellow shimmer, one associated with the House of Dawn, pulsed.

"Mark it," the Priest said. "Possible future Blessing from the Sunrise Elk. A rare profile and good potential. She has a Half-Benediction from the Sign of Renewal and Calling."

Pullina returned to the pews pale, unsure whether she had passed or failed. She had a Half-Benediction after all. Not a full one.

Then came Jimmy's turn.

The young blond boy walked up faster than he should have, nearly stumbling onto the cloth. The Priest gave him a brief glance before beginning.

His test was successful. The Sygil responded quickly and brightly—yellow with flecks of gold. It was the House of Sun & Light, and the Sign appeared clearly. Honey Badger.

"Blessing from Honey Badger Sign of the House of Sun & Light, known for Fearlessness," the Priest read aloud, for this one was definitive. "Acknowledged and Blessed."

Jimmy's eyes widened. "I got one?"

Sylia chuckled faintly.

"You got one, congratulations!" Pullina confirmed, smiling.

Jimmy returned glowing and was welcomed by the other children and a few adults who quickly congratulated him, one by one. Danielu shook his hand and promised to invite him over for an afternoon so they could celebrate together. Jimmy nodded, blushing. He thanked Danielu, then gladly accepted his offer.

***

All children went through the same process. Some were disappointed. A few even wept and had to be consoled by their parent or one of the adults there. Others, a selective group, stood proudly as their test went brilliantly. As expected, the House of Rainbows gave most of the Benedictions and partial Acknowledgments. However, all of the children knew that few could keep those when reaching adulthood. That House was special and protected mostly children or those who were devoted to children. Many were aware that the House had mostly teachers, doctors, and nurses of young children listed in its Acknowledgment records.

Jimmy was the most excited one, having obtained a popular Sign's Blessing. Pullina humored him for a while but soon her eyes drifted back to Danielu. The boy was quiet again, watching the Hall.

Something had happened earlier. It was undeniable.

The House of the Blood & Lords didn't give Benedictions to just anyone. At most, it would fully acknowledge someone after decades of watching over them and it would usually do so through an Under-Sign not the main Signs. Master Mathias had told her as much and warned her about even trying. There were requirements that didn't stop at one's blood. That House was notoriously picky. It also had more Under-Signs than any other, with so many levels it could give even the Gods a headache.

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