The Selection Hall was a place of ancient power. Lucian had no idea of its lore, its secrets and its magic. But the moment the heavy oak doors groaned inward, propelled by unseen hands, he could feel it.
He could feel all of it.
He stepped across the threshold, feeling the air change instantly. Gone was the cloying tension of the corridor, replaced by a profound, echoing silence that pressed in like cold velvet.
The ceiling soared so high that gazing up to find it would send one into dizzying darkness. The candles lining the edges of the floor and hanging on the raw ancient walls couldn't even illuminate it.
As for the walls themselves, they were lit just bright enough to show the regal murals that depicted Goddess Exalta sundering mountains to banish the Demoness, Lucifera.
The candles on the wall also illuminated the near-multitude of nuns gathered in an arc. They separated themselves in six groups of lines, and in front of each group was their Anchor, the leading nun.
Lucian's gaze locked with Sister Elaris and then drifted to Celeste who smiled exuberantly at him. Not smiling back, he continued forward towards the five orbs in the center of the hall.
Each of these orbs were uplifted by a single slender podium, designed in majestic goth. Angel wings acted as their resting place while they glowed with different colors.
It became clear to Lucian that these five orbs represented the types of Rune magic.
The orb that glowed with the color of molten gold was undoubtedly the orb for the Flame Rune.
The orb that had the color of swirling mist over glacial blue was the Frost Rune.
The one with pulsing green and crimson veins was the orb for the Flesh Rune.
The one thrumming with yellow energy that looked like it was going to burst out any minute was for the Force Rune.
Then, at the center, the one that appeared to be dissociated from the rest, glowing with pure, holy whiteness, was clearly for the Light Rune.
Lucian forced his feet forward. Each step echoed unnervingly loud in the cavernous silence. He could feel the Anchor Nuns tracking his progress, their individual anxieties and hopes radiating outwards.
Then, he climbed up the few steps to the elevated stage where the orbs were waiting. From here, he could basically see all of the nuns at his behest, their whispered prayers weaving a fragile web of hope in the still air, led by the Anchors.
Not knowing what was next, Lucian waited, though he was quickly getting impatient about the whole situation.
Finally, Elaris spoke. "Sisters of the Church of Exalta! The time has arrived for our master, the chosen Hero and new High Priest of the Goddess herself to discover which Rune holds the most of his magic!"
Lucian swallowed, studying the orbs. 'I still can't believe I have magic. I don't feel different at all.'
"These orbs are descriptors of the Runes. The Flame, the Frost, the Flesh and the Force!"
Lucian frowned. 'That's weird. Why didn't she mention the Light Rune?'
"Father Lucian," Elaris called him.
Lucian looked at her.
"These orbs resonate with the divine potential within your soul. The intensity of their light will reveal which one has your greatest affinity. All elements are sacred vessels of Her will… and even though the Sovereign is a master of all Runes, he is the grandmaster of one."
Lucian's brows raised slightly. 'Bars. I guess.'
Elaris gestured to the orbs. "Place your hand on them, one after the other."
With a short, hesitant sigh, Lucian approached the Flame Orb. He watched it for a moment, seeing the blazing energy within it. Then, he gently placed his palm on top.
His touch ignited a sunburst of orange and red. The light was bright and it caused a rush of heat to wash over the chamber.
There was reaction from some of the nuns, murmurs of approval or wide eyes. Celeste clasped her hands, tears glistening. The Flame Orb had shined bright, but she wanted his affinity to be highest with the Force Rune as that was her affinity.
Next, Lucian moved to Force. Celeste watched with eyes wide and anxious. The orb waited and the moment he touched it, it buzzed violently against his palm, projecting waves of golden light that pulsed like a war-drum's echo.
The light in the end was exactly the same strength as the Flame Rune's.
More murmurs came. Celeste frowned with disappointment. This meant that Lucian's magic was neither the highest in the Flame or Force Rune, since they were both equally bright.
When he touched Frost, it bit his skin with instant, bone-deep cold. Then, the blue light followed, and it filled the hall completely, like a heavenly candle in a dark blizzard.
Yet, the light was just as bright as the last two.
The nuns reacted again. Sister Marielle and Elaris shared knowing expressions. Celeste didn't care which Rune he got at this point. The other Anchors, Sister Lilyx, Sister Ismere and Sister Kestra watched in silence, though their expressions were different.
The High Priest was not a grandmaster in either Flame, Force or Frost— the most popular three amongst the four runes.
So, surely it was the Flesh Rune.
Even Lucian expected that. He had started getting worried at this point, but there was still the Flesh Rune, the one that encompassed life and form magic.
So, with a deep breath, he approached the orb and slowly placed his palm on it. The crimson lines on the green orb tickled him as they interconnected. The green got brighter… and brighter… and brighter.
And bright— it stopped getting brighter.
The light was just as intense as the last three orbs.
Murmurs of confusion instantly spread through the nuns. How? It wasn't possible? The High Priest had equal affinity for all the Runes?
Elaris, catching the glances of her fellow Anchors, spoke; "Sisters! This is a special situation. It seems the Goddess truly had made a mistake."
"Could it be that he is not truly the chosen Hero of Altareign?" a nun in the crowd.
"How could he not possess grandmastery over a Rune? All High Priests have!" another added.
Celeste came in Lucian's defence. "Elaris! How dare you speak such blasphemy against our Goddess! Exalta is the ruler of all. She is perfection personified. It is against her nature to make a mistake."
Elaris realized herself and lowered her head, quickly muttering a prayer for forgiveness.
Lucian, still on the podium, just watched.
"So why is it then that he doesn't have a Rune with the highest affinity?" Sister Ismere asked, bored.
"There must be a reason," Sister Kestra asked, having anxiously forced herself to chime in.
"Prayer Nuns! Perhaps you should speak to the Goddess and ask if this is truly her wish." Sister Marielle said.
"Or…"
Everyone suddenly fell silent and turned to Lucian.
"…I can try this one." He pointed at the orb in the center. The one glowing with pure platinum white.
Elaris's eyes widened first at the audacity, then narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about? That orb represents the Light Rune, and that magic is meant only for the Goddess! It can not be used by anyone, not even the High Priest!"
Lucian was quiet for a moment, gazing at her. Then he eyed the orb. "Wouldn't hurt if I just tried."
"What?!" Elaris fumed. "Stop suggesting that immediately. Can't you see that it is also blasphemous to suggest that a mortal could wield the Goddess's powers?!"
The other sisters simply stared.
Elaris looked at them, face softening, struck by their silence. "Why aren't any of you saying anything?"
Sister Marielle, arms folded, eyes cold and locked on Lucian, spoke next. "It wouldn't work anyway. So just go ahead and give it a try."
"What? You're in favor of this?"
Celeste beamed, immediately cheering for Lucian. "Yes, Master Lucian! Do it. You never know."
Sister Kestra bit her fingernails. Sister Ismere scoffed. Sister Lilyx had her eyebrows perked. All the other nuns were filled with a tense air as Lucian uttered the words, "I'm doing it," and began extending his palm to the Light Rune Orb.
His fingers barely brushed it.
BOOM!
A bright light like heaven enveloping earth filled the Selection Hall. It blinded everyone, catching them, shocking them ruthlessly as they threw their hands over their face to shield their eyes.
Lucian was the only one who wasn't affected by the blinding light. But he got a fair share of the shock. 'The Light Rune worked for me?'
Moments after, the light faded away, leaving behind the shocked expressions of all his disciples.
Elaris staggered forward, her scholarly composure shattered. Her whisper was a blade of pure disbelief: "Impossible…"
Lucian stared at his hand, still radiating with the orb's violent, life-thrumming power. "Wasn't that a bit too.. bright?" he asked, looking at the faces of the Anchors.
Sister Marielle, just as baffled, but slightly more composed, looked above her shoulder, gazing at the shadowed ceiling.
"This means she's coming."
Lucian frowned. "Who's coming?"
Suddenly, a swirling golden energy appeared above them. And with a boom, it erupted outwardly as a figure, laughing cheerfully stepped out.