While the Governor concluded his opening speech, the attendants carefully placed a mysterious sphere atop the altar — a sphere roughly the size of a soccer ball, resting delicately on a silver tripod.Its surface shimmered like a piece of the night sky, as if it contained a living swarm of distant stars.
Every self-respecting citizen knew: these spheres were the foundation of the Roman Empire's power, priceless treasures beyond any value.Forged from the legendary ore of Orichalcum, they served as conduits of divine power, guiding mortals through the process of Awakening.
The sole source of this ore was the depths of the Quirinal Hill — one of the Seven Floating Hills of Rome.Only those who had laid the Foundations (4) could survive mining it.In ancient times, many noble patricians sacrificed their lives to extract Orichalcum, their heroism still honored even today, even as foreign slaves and prisoners replaced citizens in the quarries.
The sphere upon the altar was not merely a treasure — it was a symbol of strength, mystery, and the promise of a brighter future for all Romans who awaited their awakening.
As the sphere absorbed the altar's energy, Adam turned the ceremony over to his trusted ally — Cardinal Alaric of the Church of Light.
A short, slightly stooped man with chestnut hair, Alaric ascended the platform at an unhurried pace.Opening a massive book adorned with a golden cover, he stood atop the shining altar and began to chant:
"In the name of our Lord, the majestic God of Light, I proclaim the beginning of the Awakening Ceremony.O Great Guardian, grant your messenger among mortals the right to enact your will, for the sake of all the faithful. Phoebo..."("Amen" in the tongue of Apollo.)
In response to his prayer, the entire pyramid burst into purest divine radiance.
"Come forward, child," Alaric proclaimed solemnly, turning to the crowd.
Grace watched the scene with wide-eyed awe.Upon hearing the priest's summons, she released her mother's hand and timidly made her way up the altar steps.
Reaching the summit of the shining pyramid, she stood before the priest, awaiting instructions.
A mixture of excitement, reverence, and expectation filled her heart.She couldn't wait to discover what magical core she would awaken — and to see her brother, her mother, and Cassia shower her with praise.
'If it's an S-rank core, they'll definitely praise me! Mama will buy me toys, and brother will look at me with even more admiration!'
'I'll win this bet for sure! But what should I make him do as my reward? Maybe pick up all my toys for a day? No, too easy.'
'Maybe brush my hair? No way, that's punishment, not a prize! But... he needs to learn to be gentle... Ah! I'll have him practice on Mama first — he won't dare hurt her! Brilliant! I'm a genius!'Little Grace lost herself in plotting, completely forgetting her nervousness.
Seeing the girl's distracted expression, Alaric offered her an encouraging smile and gently instructed her:
"Place your hand upon the Sphere of Origins."
Grace obeyed.
"Focus on your body. Relax. Feel any changes within you.When you sense a tickling sensation around your stomach, focus on it.Hold that feeling. Do you feel it? Now try to guide that tickle upward, toward your arm, and into the sphere."
Grace concentrated intensely.At first, she felt nothing but a faint numbness.Taking a deep breath, she relaxed — and then, she sensed a strange, tingling sensation just above her navel.
As if noticing her attention, the sensation grew stronger.
Grace imagined it rising toward her solar plexus, where it itched more distinctly.Then she pictured it flowing upward into her chest, down her arms, through her wrists, her fingers — and into the Sphere of Origins.
The moment her energy touched the sphere, it burst into a dazzling rainbow of light.
Darkness vanished.Living flames of color danced within the sphere — red, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, and pure white — blending and weaving together in radiant harmony.
The light was so bright it flooded the entire altar with a sacred, mystical aura that rivaled even the pure white sunbeams streaming from the sky.
Without anyone needing to explain, every witness understood:The princess's magical core was exceptional.
Those present couldn't help comparing it to their own Awakening ceremonies — and most found their memories painfully lacking by comparison.
Of course, much of the difference came from the quality of the Sphere of Origins.Royal blood required a vessel of exceptional purity — lesser spheres simply couldn't reveal such power.
Gasps of awe echoed through the crowd.There were whispers, exclamations, and stunned murmurs as Cardinal Alaric frantically flipped through his holy book, desperately trying to match what he saw to ancient records.
Finally, after much calculation, he announced with a trembling voice:
"After thorough analysis, I declare with full authority:Princess Grace has awakened a legendary-class Magical Core with S-rank mana capacity — the Rainbow Core.She will be able to wield any elemental magic without fear of overload.Her future deeds will surely shake not only the Province of Light but the entire Roman Empire!"
The hall fell silent.The weight of his words crashed down upon them.
Many nobles present had spent decades, fortunes, and blood to evolve their cores from B-class to A-class — an endeavor that cost more than a small city's annual income.And now, a tiny girl had been gifted a blessing greater than all their sacrifices combined.
As if to underscore this unfairness, a beam of pure sunlight fell from the sky, surrounding the altar in an impenetrable cylinder of divine light.
Every citizen of the Province of Light knew what this meant:
The patron deity himself — the most beautiful of all gods — Apollo, had chosen to personally speak with the princess.
Such an honor was rarer than the birth of a hero.
Meanwhile, atop the glowing pyramid, Grace stood wide-eyed, staring at a blurred figure of pure white light — vaguely human in shape.
Cardinal Alaric was already groveling on the floor, his forehead pressed to the stone in reverence.
"What are you doing, Princess? Kneel before our god!" he hissed, sweating profusely.
"No need. Let her be. She is innocent," said the figure in a neutral, resonant voice.
"What is your name, little one?" asked the figure, whose radiant eyes outshone even his luminous form.
"I... I... Grace... Princess..." stammered Grace, overwhelmed by the encounter.
"Grace. A beautiful name. Fear not — I will not harm you," said the figure kindly."I have come because your talent impressed me.Would you like to become my true priestess and my named daughter? Like little Eva once did.You would live both in the secular and sacred worlds. You would guide people toward the Light.You would become even more beautiful. You would gain fame, honor, and, one day, ascend to Elysium.What do you say?"
"I... But... Mama... Katerina... Permission..." Grace stuttered.
Before she could answer properly, Cardinal Alaric interrupted:
"My Lord, may I humbly present important news. In private."
"Oh? You're bold to interrupt," said the god lightly."Speak, then. It had better be important."
Alaric bowed even deeper:
"My Lord, based on our observations, the girl's twin brother may be a Herald of the Night."
The god's radiance pulsed in surprise.
"A Herald of the Night? Based on what?"
"At the twins' birth, two phenomena occurred: first, a rainbow — clearly tied to the Princess.Then an unexpected darkness fell — not just over our province, but across the continent."
"The boy has dark hair, despite his blond father and silver-haired mother.It could merely be the interrupted phenomenon, but...Rome's pontiffs have issued a decree for investigation.If confirmed, it may relate to the prophecy of Saint Matthew:'When day and night fall out of rhythm, HE shall be born, heralding humanity's twilight.'The boy is there — standing beside Governor Adam."
The God of Light turned his blinding gaze toward the royal family.
He stared at each of them intently...Until his gaze found Katerina.
For a moment, the god's light flared so brightly it could have burned through marble.He stared for ten long seconds — an eternity for a god, enough time for mortals to build entire philosophies.
At last, the god shifted his attention to the dark-haired boy.
"Interesting. Very interesting..." the god murmured to himself, unknowingly speaking aloud."I didn't expect this. So many possibilities... I must act swiftly."
Without warning, he grabbed Alaric's wrist and flooded him with divine instructions encoded in pure Light.
Alaric's face twitched slightly, but he bowed and answered firmly:
"Yes, my Lord."
"Good. Know that you have my full support. Afterward, place the girl under Eva's tutelage — she is young enough to be properly shaped.Consider it your reward for loyal service."
The god turned to Grace:
"Child, come. I must depart, but I leave you this gift."
He handed her a white bracelet that gleamed with protective enchantments.
"Umu!" Grace chirped, delighted more by the gift than the meeting.
"Good luck, little one. Alaric, do not fail me," the god intoned, and his form dissolved into shimmering motes of light.
No one heard his parting murmur:
"Apollo, dear Apollo... You have only yourself to blame.Leaving your altar unattended... ignoring the summons...Ahahahaha...I must find Apophis at once. Only he can hide the boy from Hoder and Nyx.At last... there is hope for Pratos!"
Meanwhile, Alaric rose from the ground, looking at the bracelet Grace was now playing with — unaware it was worth more than a noble estate in the capital.
Sighing heavily, he reaffirmed his faith.Today had shaken him to the core — and he knew the true storm had only just begun.
As the sacred light dissipated, Alaric whispered to himself:
"What did the god see? Has the prophecy truly begun to unfold?"
Yet he pushed the doubt aside.A priest's role was not to question the divine — but to obey.
He would have faith.He would serve the Light.
No matter the cost.