Jericho took a breath, steadying himself as all eyes fixed on him.
He began calmly, explaining the truth behind the abilities he and Jace possessed — the gift the gods called the control of soul energy.
He told them this power wasn't meant to belong to just two people forever. According to the gods, the next generation would be born with a natural connection to soul energy, and the world would soon enter a new era where humans would begin awakening fragments of this power on their own. And the other races would be able to tap more into it than they were allowed to.
This alone shook the room. But Jericho didn't stop there.
He went on to explain everything. What truly happened four years ago – How the war began – The hand that guided the chaos – And most importantly, Pluto.
He told them plainly that a rogue god, the fallen deity Pluto, was the true architect of the catastrophe. The war wasn't a political accident — it was a carefully constructed chain of manipulation, using both nations and emotions as tools.
And now, Pluto was not finished.
This time, he had found a perfect weakness — Jace's broken heart, grief, and vulnerability.
Jericho's voice softened, but the heaviness of the truth settled across the room like a storm cloud.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Alice, Erica, William… even the king… they all stood stunned, unable to process how much their world had just expanded — and how much darker it truly was.
Only the ArchPriest finally exhaled, closing his eyes as if confirming long-held suspicions.
"A rogue god…" he murmured.
"So I was right… but I never knew the full depth of his ambition."
He nodded slowly, accepting Jericho's words with disturbing ease.
Then, in a calmer tone, he continued:
"Fifteen years ago, the Holy Church suddenly received a divine order… Pluto's title was revoked, removed from what was known as the Seven Pillars without explanation. We obeyed, and it became the Six pillars, but we were never told why. Now… I finally understand."
His voice carried sorrow — and relief.
The others, meanwhile, stared at Jericho in a mixture of awe, disbelief, and the dawning realization that the world was much more fragile than they ever imagined.
The king slowly lowered himself back onto his throne, his expression shifting from shock… to worry… to a quiet, heavy acceptance.
Erica, Alice, and William exchanged uneasy glances. The air itself felt thicker now, as if the truth Jericho had shared was bending the atmosphere around them.
Jericho looked at each of them carefully before speaking again.
"And there is more the gods told me," he said, his tone steady but solemn.
"A change is coming — one that will reshape the world."
All four turned toward him instantly.
The king leaned forward.
Alice's shoulders tensed.
William stopped breathing for a second.
Erica swallowed hard.
Even the ArchPriest straightened, eyes sharp and attentive.
Jericho continued — "The gods said that soul energy will awaken in the world… naturally."
He raised his hand slightly.
"People will begin manifesting strange abilities. Some small… some powerful. It will not be limited to royal families or bloodlines. Anyone — nobles, peasants — anyone can awaken."
The king's brows tightened.
"You mean the balance of nations will break," he whispered.
Jericho nodded.
"Yes. The world's structure — power, authority, military strength — everything will shift."
He paused.
"And not everyone who awakens will use their gifts peacefully."
A chill crept across the room.
Jericho then added the part that weighed on him most:
"The gods believe the awakening of soul energy will increase Pluto's influence. Those with emotional cracks will be more vulnerable than ever. And Jace…"
He lowered his head.
"He is already under Pluto's shadow."
The room fell into another suffocating silence. The king rubbed his forehead, troubled.
"So the world is heading into an era of uncertainty… chaos… and power beyond our control."
The ArchPriest nodded slowly.
"An age of soul-born children… an age of gods and mortals intertwined again. History is turning."
Erica stepped closer to Jericho, determination replacing fear.
"Then we prepare."
"We don't run. We don't hide. We prepare for whatever comes."
Alice followed.
William as well.
The king finally rose, regaining his composure.
"Jericho, if what you say is true… then your presence in this kingdom is not only a blessing."
He placed a hand over his chest.
"It is necessary."
The weight of prophecy, danger, and destiny now hung in the throne room like a crown of invisible fire.
Then Alice's question trembled in the air.
"So… is there anything we can do about it?" she asked, her voice small.
"We're not part of the next generation. We weren't born with that… gift."
She exhaled sadly, shoulders sinking.
Jericho shook his head gently — and smiled.
"I wasn't finished."
All four of them — the king, Erica, William, and Alice — turned toward him again.
Jericho continued — "The only reason Jace and I can manipulate soul energy now… is because both of us actually died first."
A stunned hush gripped the room again.
Jericho pressed on, voice steady:
"When we died, our soul structure was rewritten.
Jace became a demi-god — carrying Pluto's divine energy in his soul.
And I returned as a sub-god — bearing the blessings of all six true gods."
He lifted his palms slightly as if giving them something invisible.
"That divine interference is why we can control soul energy right now.
Without it… even we wouldn't be able to manipulate it yet."
Erica stepped forward, brows raised.
"So you are saying, Jace is truly a Demi - god?" Erica asked worried.
"He had always announced he was special, but we all assumed it was cause of his ego, and the power he possessed… so he spoke the truth" William adds, looking really worried.
But jericho looked at each of them, a warm confidence in his eyes.
"yes but do not worry about that, you all have a fighting chance now — what I'm saying is it's not impossible for you to manipulate soul energy too."
He smiled.
"Your generation is close enough to the shift that you can awaken it — with help."
The surprise that hit the room was immediate. But none reacted faster than Alice.
She practically teleported into Jericho's personal space — so close their noses nearly touched. From another angle, it would've looked like she was about to whisper straight into his mouth.
"You mean it?! We can really use it too?! For real?"
Her eyes sparkled with pure excitement.
Jericho froze, a flustered expression overtaking his divine composure.
"Uh— Alice— you're very close—"
Alice blinked, realized, then leapt back as if the floor burned her.
Her entire face turned strawberry red.
"S-Sorry! Sorry! I just— that's— wow— I mean— sorry!"
She bowed her head, hands flailing in embarrassment — but she couldn't stop smiling.
Jericho let out an awkward breath, trying to calm the storm in his chest.
{"She was so close… my heart almost exploded…}". he thought, forcing down the pink tint rising on his face.
Then he cleared his throat sharply.
"A-Anyway— yes. You'll be able to use soul energy too."
He regained his composure.
"But… only with a catalyst."
William then asked what the catalyst would be exactly.
Jericho explained,
"Your weapons. A sword, a spear, an arrow… anything that can channel soul energy safely without tearing your own body apart."
He paused, nodded to himself way too confidently, and then said with absolute seriousness.
"I call it… Soul-Powered Smackery."
The room froze.
Every single person stared at him like he had personally offended every ancestor they ever had.
Erica blinked slowly.
Alice's soul left her body for a moment.
William—who never laughs—actually choked.
Then all three of them burst out roasting him at once.
Erica: "What in the heavens was THAT?"
Alice: "Jericho, PLEASE never name anything ever again—"
William (laughing for the first time ever): "Smackery?? Really??"
Even King Gustavious looked away, fighting the urge to rub his temples.
The ArchPriest whispered a prayer for Jericho's naming sense.
Jericho's face turned bright red as he stared at the floor.
He sighed, defeated.
"…Fine. You come up with something better then."
Erica crossed her arms, smirking.
"How about just calling it Soul Technique?"
Everyone paused.
Then they nodded.
Alice: "That actually sounds so cool!"
William: "Much better."
The king: "Yes… significantly better."
The ArchPriest: "A blessed improvement."
Jericho wanted so badly to laugh at her suggestion out of revenge…
but he couldn't.
His shoulders slumped.
"…It is good…" he admitted with disappointment.
Erica smirked proudly while Alice laughed again, pointing at Jericho's pout.
Jericho gave a last heavy sigh, then continued his explanation, stating that the weapons he was talking about can't be made from just any material; they had to withstand the tenacious flow of soul energy channeled through them. With the king's approval, he could commence research and start training the knights who showed potential.
He continued with some sobering news: not all of the knights' soul energy was active. He guessed this was because some didn't have enough natural capacity, and even he wasn't entirely sure how it worked yet, being new to it himself.
He gave examples: he could sense an incredibly strong flow of soul energy from both Erica and Alice, which indicated their potential was very high. William's energy was different, but still noticeable—likely a result of how he had trained his body and mind to be physically superior. Jericho mused that it would be very interesting to see how William would develop.
As he had passed through the castle on his way to the throne room, he noticed that most of the other knights had no detectable soul energy at all. He hoped they would awaken enough potential to be trained effectively.
The king nodded thoughtfully, then asked a question with genuine concern. "Will it truly be safe? Their bodies are still dormant to this energy… I worry for everyone that would want to train."
Jericho reassured him calmly, "Every living thing possesses soul energy. It isn't harmful—the only thing dormant is their ability to discharge it. As long as they use a proper catalyst, they will be completely safe and able to control it properly."
Satisfied, the king granted Jericho full permission to move freely within the kingdom and approved any resources or assistance he might require to carry out his work.
The king rose from his throne, the weight of revelation still clinging to his features like a second shadow. With a steady breath, he turned to Jericho.
"Then… I shall inform the other rulers of what is coming," Gustavious said, voice low but composed.
Jericho inclined his head. "Yes please your Highness. But the truth about Pluto's treachery stays sealed—and so does mine. No mention of a rogue god. No mention of me being a sub-god. Not yet."
Gustavious swallowed, understanding the gravity of secrets that could shatter nations if spoken carelessly. "I agree" he replied. "The world will be guided… carefully."
With that, the king gathered his mantle and strode toward the massive doors. The guards bowed as he passed, the echo of his footsteps fading into the corridors beyond.
When the doors shut behind him, an uneasy silence settled over the throne room.
Only the archpriest, the three knights, and Jericho remained—alone beneath the towering stained-glass windows, where shifting colors painted their faces like omens of an uncertain dawn.
"ArchPriest Leon," Jericho called respectfully.
The old man paused, turning with that gentle, knowing smile.
Jericho approached and bowed. "The six gods told me… the divine object—the Evolgia Ore—is in the care of their trusted subordinate. I wanted to confirm if that subordinate is… you."
The ArchPriest's smile didn't falter; if anything, it softened. "I will be waiting at the Holy Church of the Six Crowns whenever you are ready to use it."
A spark lit in Jericho's eyes. So he truly is the one they meant… It made perfect sense now why the gods had said Jericho would "understand when he sees him."
"Thank you," Jericho said, bowing again. The ArchPriest returned the gesture before leaving the throne room with his personal holy knight escorts.
The grand doors shut, leaving Jericho alone with Erica, William, and Alice.
Erica stepped forward, her boots echoing across the polished marble as she asked, "So… what do we do first?"
Jericho glanced at the massive doors the ArchPriest had exited through, then drew a long breath. "We start the research on the material that would be perfectly suited to handle soul energy. We're already far behind Jace, and every hour we lose gives him more ground." His tone was calm, but the air around him shimmered faintly — determination radiating like heat.
William folded his arms, nodding firmly.
"But before research," Jericho continued, "Erica—I need you to gather all the Holy Knights. Every single one. I need to find those with soul-energy potential."
Erica didn't waste a second. She snapped her fingers at the attendants lingering by the pillars. "Inform the barracks. Full assembly. Now."
They all exited the throne room, making their way to the place of the assembly.
Within minutes, the courtyard was filled with rows of armored knights, standing tall and disciplined beneath the midday sun.
Alice, William, and Erica stood behind Jericho, watching him step forward to face the knights. As he walked, a quiet pressure rolled outward — subtle, almost gentle, yet impossible to ignore. Several knights straightened unconsciously, sensing something they could not explain.
Jericho stopped before them.
Rows upon rows of elite warriors—swords on their hips, spears grounded, shields strapped behind them—stood waiting for orders they did not yet understand.
Jericho bowed his head slightly, showing respect.
"My name is Jericho," he said, voice steady, carrying across the courtyard without strain. "I know many of you have questions, but for now, I ask only for your trust."
He did not tell them he was the lost prince of Menssai.
He did not reveal he carried the spark of a sub-god.
He let his eyes travel over the rows of knights—veterans, prodigies, and rookies alike—before speaking.
"Thank you all for assembling so quickly," Jericho began, voice steady and calm. "I stand before you today to introduce something most of you would have witnessed for yourselves, after encountering Jace and his inner circle… Something ancient… something powerful."
A ripple of dread passed through the knights… as most of them began to recall Jace ruthlessness.
He raised his hand slightly. "What I am about to speak of is called Soul Energy. It is the raw essence that lies dormant within all living beings. But only a rare few can awaken it—fewer still can wield it without being consumed."
That caught them. Even the proudest, most disciplined knights leaned forward ever so slightly.
"Soul Energy grants strength beyond physical limits," Jericho continued, his tone deepening. "It sharpens the senses, strengthens the body, and can manifest itself in ways the world has forgotten. It is not magic, nor blessing… but the very core of one's existence given form."
A wind stirred through the courtyard, brushing past armor and cloth, as if reacting to his words.
"But with this power," he added, "comes danger. Responsibility. And potential consequences for the unprepared."
A few knights glanced at each other, uncertainty flickering in their eyes.
Jericho softened his voice. "Today, I will simply identify those of you whose souls hold the potential to awaken this power. Nothing more. You will not be forced into anything."
That eased their tension. Even Erica felt the atmosphere loosen.
He stepped forward once more.
"I will not be checking you one by one. Soul Energy cannot be measured with hands or eyes."
He closed his own eyes. "It is felt."
A pulse of invisible pressure swept outward from him—gentle, warm, yet unmistakable. Several knights gasped. A few took involuntary steps backward. Others felt their hearts thrum strangely in their chests, as if something inside them responded to the call.
Jericho's expression remained serene, focused, calm. Beneath that calm, Alice felt something stir—an aura deeper and older than anything she had ever sensed. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide the tremble in her fingers.
The knights remained silent, unmoving, as Jericho extended his awareness through them like a warm tide.
After a moment, his eyes opened.
He began pointing those with the potential — twenty seven in total. Each knight stepped forward, stunned, honored, or confused, depending on their nature.
When the last knight was picked, Jericho faced the rest.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
But none of them moved.
Their discipline wouldn't allow them to leave before being properly released… or perhaps curiosity wouldn't let them.
Erica stepped forward, voice sharp. "You heard him. Dismissed!"
This time they moved—armor clattering as they bowed and took their leave.
And with that, the next phase of the journey began.
Jericho turned to Erica. "Stay with them for now. Train them lightly until I return. I need to visit the Holy Church and use the ore."
William nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
But then—
A voice so soft it nearly vanished in the air spoke up.
"U-Um…"
Alice.
Her fingers fidgeted with her gloves, her face a deep shade of pink.
"Jericho… c-can I go with you?" She tried to sound professional, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves. "You're new to the capital. I can act as your guide. It'll be… helpful. Very helpful."
Jericho blinked, then nodded without hesitation. "That actually makes a lot of sense. I appreciate it."
Alice's heart practically fluttered out of her chest.
Erica watched them with a tiny smirk. {"So that's your real reason, Alice… adorable".}
She clapped her hands together. "Everyone has their tasks — let's get to work."
Jericho and Alice headed toward the palace gates, walking side-by-side. Erica watched them go with the quiet pride of a mother watching her child grow up.
William drifted beside her. "Commander… is it just me or is Alice acting strange?"
Erica chuckled. "Well, Willy… a baby bird can't stay in the nest forever."
William stiffened. "Commander—please. I asked you not to call me that. We talked about this… and you are not much older than Alice."
She laughed softly. "Where's the fun in that?"
William muttered, "I feel sorry for whom ever takes your hand"… under his breath but followed her as they walked toward the newly chosen knights, ready to begin their training.