The hours passed slowly in silence. Kael leaned against the window while Liam dozed beside him, his head swaying with the movements of the train.
Outside, fields of silver grass blurred by. In the distance, jagged peaks rose like the teeth of a sleeping beast, and partly hidden in mist between them was the Moonlight Temple.
The train slowed down, screeching slightly as it came to a stop. Liam woke up, blinking in confusion.
"Did we arrive already?" he mumbled, sitting up.
Kael didn't respond; he focused on the view outside.
Through a gap in the curtains, he saw a towering cathedral carved into the mountain, its spires reaching up like hands. Above the highest spire hung a broken moon, its pieces shining softly in the sky.
The Moonlight Church was one of the seven wonders of the world and perhaps the most sacred place on Earth. Kael had heard of it but never expected it to look so grand. This place was known for shaping destinies.
As the train came to a complete stop, a sharp hiss filled the air as the doors opened, letting in cold winds that carried the scent of sanctity.
An official in dark blue robes entered the train, his face covered by a silver half-mask.
"All Initiates, please disembark the train and proceed to the Outer Cloister. The High Seer of the Temple is waiting for you inside the Moonlight Temple," he announced.
The initiates whispered among themselves, aware of the High Seer's great reputation and strength. He was one of the founders of the Temples and was said to be one of the few people in the world who were close to the Divines.
Liam quickly jumped to his feet, excitement written all over his face. "Come on, Kael, let's go!"
Kael stood up more slowly, slinging his satchel over his shoulder. He smiled as he followed Liam.
Even though he didn't want to show it, he felt just as excited deep down.
"I am finally here," he thought.
He turned to Liam and frowned. When had he become friends with this guy?
If one were to look at them, one would assume that they were childhood friends.
Kael and the others stepped off the train into an open area.
As soon as he exited the train and stepped onto the ground, Kael looked up at the nearby mountain. The temple was located there.
As he stared at the tall, mist-covered mountain, he raised his eyebrows and silently questioned,
"Are we walking all the way up there?"
The distance between him and the temple was really vast and would take him and the others a long time to reach.
"Could it be that they are already testing us?"
His thoughts were soon interrupted by one of the men who had escorted them from the train.
"Welcome, Initiates! Please pay attention!" shouted a man in silver knight armor, similar to the knights Kael liked to watch in historical dramas.
Seeing him, Kael thought, "A holy knight."
These knights were selected Ascendants who excelled in their talents and served each one of the twelve Temples. It was rumored that these holy knights received special gifts from the Divines, making them some of the strongest Ascendants in the whole world. People respected them greatly, much like they did the Seers.
After the noise among the initiates died down, the knight spoke again. "My name is Sir Jack, captain of the holy beast guards of the Moonlight Temple. I will be responsible for escorting you all to the temple."
The initiates were surprised and displayed various reactions. Liam looked at the knight with admiration, while one boy suddenly fainted from the group, an unusual reaction for a boy to make.
Kael maintained a composed expression, though inside, he felt just as thrilled.
Sir Jack was famous throughout the lands, a holy knight known for his exceptional skills, whose endowment was said to be divine, and whose name was even celebrated in songs.
"Light Silver Jack," those words escaped Kael's mouth before he could stop himself.
Seeing the reverence in the initiates' eyes, Sir Jack smiled.
"I'm sure you're all wondering how you will reach the temple. Well, don't worry, that's why we are here. We will escort you all to the temple. And don't worry the trip won't be long. In fact, it will only take a minute."
Sir Jack stepped aside, and behind him, four more holy knights emerged from the mist. Their silver armor shimmered under the broken moonlight, eyes hidden behind identical helms.
Each carried a spear tipped with a crystal. Clearly, these weren't ordinary weapons and were probably the mystical artifacts that Kael had heard about in folklore.
Kael's breath caught as he studied them. There was no mistaking it now these weren't just ordinary men. These were figures out of legends, the defenders of temples and wielders of Divine Gifts.
The squad that followed Silver Jack in the frails of wars and conquest.
"Please, form a line," Sir Jack said. "You will ascend in groups."
A low hum rose from the mountain behind them, and then Kael saw it.
A circle of white light, no, not light, symbols.
It had begun to form on the stone platform. Intricate runes spun slowly outward from a single central glyph, shaping a perfect circle just wide enough to fit six people.
"Step into the Ascension Circle when instructed," the knight continued. "Remain still. Do not speak. And do not let fear cloud your hearts."
Kael's group was called first him, Liam second, and four others whose names he barely remembered. They stepped cautiously into the circle.
And the moment he entered the circle, the air suddenly shifted.
It felt heavier, like walking into water, thick and cold.
He glanced at Liam, who gave him a shaky grin. "This is... incredible," he whispered.
Kael nodded slightly, sharing the same feeling.
Sir Jack raised his hand. "Stand firm."
Then the world blinked.
In an instant, Kael's feet were no longer on the platform.
The wind suddenly vanished and the cold was gone.
Kael was stumped by the scene before him.
He and the others now stood in a massive, domed chamber of glistening white marble, its ceiling impossibly high and painted with stars that shimmered like living constellations. In the center stood a massive statue, a woman cloaked in a moonlit gown, holding a mirror in one hand and a brass book in the other.
The Goddess of Reflection, Kael, realized, stunned.
This was one of the humanoid embodiments and avatars that belonged to Luna.
The Lady of the Mirror/ Goddess of Reflection was the body portrait of the High Seer Alora.
He'd only seen her image in temple books and heard rumors of her from those who had met her in person.
The circle of light dimmed beneath their feet, and the pressure vanished. Kael swayed slightly.
"It's really amazing," one of the other initiates murmured, eyes wide. "We're really inside the Moonlight Temple."
A moment later, another Ascension Circle lit up beside them, and the next group materialized. Then another and another, so on. Soon, all fifty initiates stood in silence beneath the sacred dome.
Sir Jack appeared last, striding toward them with silent confidence.
"You stand in the temple's Hall," he said. "Few outside the Seers have entered this place. Take a moment to gather yourselves. You will not see the sky again for many days."
Kael looked up, as if trying to memorize the painted stars above. He felt small, almost swallowed by the weight of the place the magic, the sacred silence.
Then a new presence entered the chamber.
A tall figure, wrapped in layers of dark violet robes, glided toward them. His steps made no sound.
His hair was gray and white, his appearance that of a middle-aged man, his presence both calming and commanding. His gray and white hair framed a face of deep wisdom, marked by a gentle intensity.
As he approached, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation, and he spoke with a voice that held authority and warmth. "Welcome, chosens," he said, his tone steady and reassuring.
"My name is the Light Seer Gaelic. Many of you know me by my status as one of the three High Seers of this temple. I want to welcome you all to the Moonlight Temple. From here onwards, your future will be decided by the Goddess. "
Kael felt a mixture of awe and unease as the Seer talked. The High Seer's gaze was penetrating yet kind, holding a depth that suggested he understood far more than he let on. There was a power in this man, an essence that demanded respect but also inspired confidence.