Chapter 26 — The Angel and the Prophecy of Light
Night descended gently upon London.
The Cathedral of Innovation stood silent under the moonlight, its brass and marble arches gleaming faintly like a crown of stars. The hum of the city faded until all that remained was the whisper of wind through stained glass.
Inside, Edward knelt alone before the altar.
No courtiers, no council — only the faint ticking of a clockwork pendulum that swung behind him like the heartbeat of creation.
He had come seeking silence, but silence rarely came without an answer.
🌌 A Vision in Light
A faint shimmer broke the stillness — light rippling across the nave like water.
The golden gears in the altar began to turn on their own, powered by no steam, no wire, no hand.
Edward rose slowly. "System?" he asked under his breath.
[No response. System activity — suspended.]
The light intensified until it coalesced into form — a tall figure cloaked in radiance, with wings not of feathers, but of pure, revolving light and thin lines of gold energy.
Each motion shimmered like the shifting of starlight through glass.
Edward's heart pounded, but his gaze remained steady.
He had faced kings and popes — but this, this was beyond all measure.
The being's voice echoed like the harmony of thousands of chimes.
"Edward of Earth, Son of Innovation, Hearken unto the decree of the Heavenly Father."
The words resonated not in his ears, but deep within his soul.
✨ The Divine Mandate
Edward knelt, half in reverence, half in shock.
"What decree?" he asked quietly.
The angel extended a hand. Within its palm shimmered a sphere of light — and within that light, Edward glimpsed visions:
Cities shining beneath the sun, people of every nation building together, engines humming in harmony with nature — then fire, war, ruin, and ash.
"The Father of All has seen your light," the angel intoned.
"You have built a kingdom of wisdom, yet the hearts of men tremble before it."
"There shall come three trials — of faith, of fire, and of truth. Pass them, and your Empire shall be the beacon of this world."
Edward's breath caught. "And if I fail?"
"Then innovation shall become idolatry, and light shall birth its own shadow."
The cathedral trembled faintly, as though the words themselves shook its foundations.
🕊 The Gift
The angel's wings flared once more, scattering fragments of luminescence that floated like falling snow.
"Take this blessing," it said, holding out a small, crystalline gear — spinning softly in its palm.
"It shall serve as the Seal of Providence. Through it, Heaven shall watch over the work of your hands."
Edward reached out slowly, feeling a warmth flow through his fingertips — not heat, but purpose.
When he blinked, the angel was gone.
Only silence remained.
The gear floated before him for a moment longer, then gently embedded itself into the altar, glowing faintly with a golden pulse.
🔔 The Morning After
At dawn, Charlotte found him sitting in the pews, still staring at the altar.
"Edward?" she whispered. "You didn't come to bed."
He turned toward her, eyes distant yet bright. "I had… a visitor."
She frowned lightly. "The System again?"
He shook his head. "No. Someone far beyond it."
Charlotte followed his gaze to the faintly glowing gear embedded in the altar. "What is that?"
Edward smiled faintly. "A promise. Or perhaps a warning."
He rose, stretching his stiff shoulders. "Charlotte… prepare the council. We have three trials ahead of us."
⚙️ The Prophecy Written
Later that morning, Edward took quill to parchment, transcribing the vision before memory faded:
"Three trials shall test the Empire — the Trial of Faith, when belief wavers; the Trial of Fire, when enemies strike; the Trial of Truth, when power tempts the heart."
"Only through unity of faith and reason shall Britannia stand eternal."
He sealed the document and placed it in the archives of the Cathedral, under lock and prayer.
🌤 Peaceful Morning, Unseen Shadows
Despite the night's revelation, the palace awoke to the simple rhythm of daily life — the smell of fresh bread, the ring of hammers in the workshops, laughter in the courtyards.
Annabelle scolded the apprentices for overheating an engine.
Lianhua discussed mathematics with Aiko over tea.
Life went on — as though Heaven itself had not spoken the night before.
Yet Edward's eyes carried a quiet resolve.
As he watched sunlight fall through the cathedral's great window, the faint golden glow of the celestial gear flickered again, pulsing like a heartbeat in rhythm with his own.
He whispered softly:
"Faith, fire, and truth… then so be it. Let the Holy Britannian Empire be tested — and proven."
And somewhere far beyond the clouds, unseen wings stirred once more.
[System Notification]
Celestial Event Recorded.
Prophecy of the Three Trials Added to Imperial Codex.
Divine Favor — Active (Duration: Unknown).
The light from the altar brightened for a final moment, casting Edward's shadow long across the marble floor — not as a ruler's silhouette, but as a man destined to balance Heaven and Earth.
End of Chapter 26.