The sound of the bells reverberated from the centre, echoing outwards in all directions, eventually leaving the land and muffling into the vast ocean.
The whitegale birds flew majestically in the open, free blue sky, bowing reverently as they avoided flying directly over the largest island in the middle, surrounded by smaller ones connected by golden-white stone bridges.
Even the waves bowed to the Sancta Verum Isles, as though the ocean itself stood still in the shadow of the Divine Order—no aquatic demons or ancient monsters dared to approach—such was the sanctity of the Gods.
The Isles of Sancta Verum were majestic yet lonely, as if it were the only sanctuary left standing in the middle of the ocean—unyielding and sacred.
Many, many grand cathedrals, spires, towers, and domes covered the Isles, all bathed in layers of mystery and history older than antiquity, yet no single one stood out, not one outshining the other.
On Sancta Verum, everything exuded purity and solemnity. Here, the walls were white and gold, the leaves were greener, and the flowers smelled like Divine Nectar.
From afar, it looked less like land and more like a monument placed upon the sea by Goddess Neua herself. Up close, it was a spectacle of divine, reverent beauty—sacred and infallible.
In the very middle of it all was the Sancta Basilica, a towering structure made of pale, almost bone-white, unusually smooth stone, veined faintly with gold and ash.
The Sancta Basilica did not rise in a single line, but in tiers.
Its base was broad and heavy, a vast stone foundation that spread outward like a man-made cliff. Above it, the structure ascended in stages—each tier ending before the next rose behind it, narrower and higher, as though the Basilica were climbing toward the sky one deliberate step at a time.
From below, the whole could not be taken in at once. The eye was forced upward, layer by layer, and the Basilica almost appeared to be like a dragon ascending, its layers towering atop one another, like the scales of a dragon.
The Basilica Plaza was the single unified seat of the Divine Order. The plaza was populated, yet still felt somehow empty, simply because everyone minded their own business. Conversations were held in hushed voices, every step was taken orderly and intentionally. From scribes and God Slaves to high-ranking archbishops and deacons, everyone nonchalantly went about their work in a measured, structured manner.
All the elites of the Order were here. Surrounding the Basilica, there were churches of the same magnitude, bearing banners and sigils of various kinds, signifying that they belonged to various Gods and Deities within the Divine Order.
Only the Sancta Basilica proudly flaunted the insignia of the Divine Order above its sacred golden arch at the main entrance, sunlight illuminating a faint single phrase for all to see upon the banners.
—That Which Endures Requires No Witness—
A beautiful young girl with a face that felt almost ethereal, draped in a pristine white gown threaded with gold, paused right at the entrance of the Basilica, her hands clasped in front of her chest reverently. Her fair, entrancing face was transfixed on the sentence, her expression cold and distant, yet her eyes held a trace of nervousness.
"Saintess."
Grand Cardinal Vael called out softly, a smile on his aged, bearded face as he looked at the Saintess.
The young girl lowered her gaze and looked at the grand entrance of the Basilica, feeling a grounding pressure emanating from within.
"Saintess, endure."
Grand Cardinal Vael placed a hand on the Saintess's shoulder, his gaze also moving toward the lone phrase above the entrance, glowing gold beneath the sunlight.
The Saintess nodded silently and entered the Basilica alongside the Grand Cardinal.
A vast hall, unimaginably spacious and magnificent, opened before them, with large pillars spaced evenly, holding the ceiling high above, engraved with murals of the legends of the creation myth and the divine gospel.
Pure sunlight entered from the sides and above, illuminating everything with a shade of platinum silver, casting all within in holy divinity.
Five figures, all in white robes, stood calmly at the sides as the Saintess and Grand Cardinal Vael walked down the central aisle, their gazes reverent and devout.
The Grand Cardinal wore a gentle smile as he stepped aside and joined his colleagues, leaving the Saintess alone as she walked forward, her hands clasped tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks as she slowly, painfully, approached the Holy Grail placed upon the altar, the pressure on her body bearing down with each step.
The six Grand Cardinals raised their staffs, the various gemstones at their tips slowly glowing brighter and brighter. In the background, the echoes of hymns filled the Basilica and beyond, prompting anyone who heard the angelic sounds to halt and bow to the Divine Order.
The Saintess approached the altar step by step, pain coursing through her mind, soul, and body with each movement, yet her expression remained devout, her eyes gleaming with tears of faith.
At some point, the six Cardinals raised their staffs high, the lyrics of the hymn being sung in the background now also uttered from their mouths.
Suddenly, the hymns resonated with everything. It was as though every being on the Isles could feel the vibrations passing through them. Everyone stood frozen in place, eyes closed as tears streamed down their faces. Everyone's mouths began moving on their own; the Hymn of Revelation echoed everywhere, from everyone.
"The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
His tongue speaks judgment."
The singing echoed as cracks began forming on the fair skin of the young maiden, blood oozing forth yet not a single drop falling upon the sacred ground.
"Blessed is the one who endureth temptation and pain,
For once thou hast been tested, thou shalt receive the light of revelation."
The Saintess endured even as her body collapsed from within, her bones breaking apart, her veins bursting—only to heal in an instant, and then break apart again.
"Lord, fount of goodness.
Lord, divine fire, have mercy!
Oh, how sacred, how serene.
How benevolent, how pleasant this Virgin who believeth.
Oh, how sacred, how serene, how benevolent, how pleasant.
Oh, pure lily."
The words left the mouths of countless people across Sancta Verum, reverberating throughout the Isles.
Outside the Isles, no one would know what was happening; no one could understand it anyway. In that moment, in the middle of the ocean, a miracle was taking place beyond the knowledge of the outside world.
Within the Basilica, beautiful young maidens in white robes sang the hymn while standing in the side aisles behind the six Grand Cardinals, their voices enchanting and angelic, almost ethereal—like themselves.
The power of their voices shook the island, tremors passing through the waters. From above the altar, a pure silver-white beam of light descended onto the Holy Grail.
"Oh, how sacred, how serene.
How benevolent, how pleasant this Virgin who believeth.
Oh, how sacred, how serene, how benevolent, how pleasant.
Oh, pure lily."
The chorus reached the zenith of its climax as the Saintess finally reached the altar, her white gown now painted blood-red.
The pure silver beam of Holy Light fell upon the Saintess, rejuvenating her entire body instantly, healing the cracks in her soul and cleansing her of all malign thoughts.
The Saintess lowered her head in submission and extended her hands shakily toward the Holy Grail.
She held the Holy Grail in her hands, bathed in holy light. Her blood-tinged tears fell into the Grail as the Cardinals watched.
The beam of light intensified; an unprecedented white glow enveloped the Grail, the light filling the emptiness within. As the Saintess's tears fell into that void of light, the sound of flowing water echoed.
The Grail was empty no more—it was filled with luminescent Holy Water.
The echoing voices singing the hymn lowered. The Cardinals glanced at one another with heavy solemnity and disbelief, and yet their eyes were filled with ecstasy and tears of joy.
The Saintess looked at the Holy Water in the Grail, her face devoid of expression. She placed her soft, supple red lips upon the edge of the Holy Grail and drank the luminescent Holy Water.
A profound silence fell over the Basilica as the Saintess placed the Holy Grail back in its place. She then took a feather pen set at the ready and began scribbling upon the parchment absentmindedly, her body looking incredibly fatigued and exhausted.
Finally, after finishing the writing, she turned back and, with the help of a few nuns, left the hall after giving an exhausted nod to Grand Cardinal Vael.
Then, everyone except the six Cardinals left the Grand Hall. The six approached the altar, each reading what was written on the parchment one by one.
"The day of reckoning is near, the first beacon of the Divine shall light up the sky of Eidryth. A grand announcement upon the vanquishing of Evil."
Grand Cardinal Vael read the parchment aloud and fell silent.
"I will inform His Holiness right away," one Grand Cardinal said before departing, while the others fell into profound silence.
"Was it just me… or did we all feel it?" another Cardinal muttered in disbelief.
"No, we all felt it. We can feel it stronger… much stronger," the fourth Cardinal said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
Grand Cardinal Vael sighed as he folded the parchment. "The first beacon of the Divine…" He looked at the other Grand Cardinals meaningfully and continued, "…vanquishing of Evil."
"We must alert all the Churches and Cathedrals. Activate all intelligence across the Continent. We must not miss this opportunity."
All the Grand Cardinals nodded in agreement, a rare, near-unprecedented sight indeed. Their eyes shone with glints of excitement and joy.
The six Cardinals clasped their hands before them, smiles on their faces, as they proclaimed the motto of the Divine Order with utmost faith and sincerity, leaving the Hall to attend to their duties as usual. The echo of their final words, however, rang through the hall long after they had gone.
—That Which Endures Requires No Witness—