NOTE : We dive right into the action, and are assuming you've checked out the auxiliary volumes for the world building and lore. You can continue without it and it's just so you don't get lost on the terms

.....

A thousand years have passed since the Variants first appeared from the Rifts. God answered the prayers of the human race and gave them a chance to fight back.

He bestowed special marks called crests upon twelve who were worthy, granting them unfathomable power to fend off the wave of attacks.

Well… that's what the church wants us to think.

Man, being man, found a way. And in the present day, large numbers of the population have crests, and those that don't are treated as second-rate.

This was the case with Marcus, who spent most of his life doing odd jobs—until one of those jobs led to his demise.

At the hands of whom??

The son of a major crest-bearing house.

Marcus is reincarnated into the body of his killer and soon finds that despite being from a major house, the boy did not have a crest.

At least, not one that was bestowed upon him by God.

The tension filled the main cathedral as the Trinity stood before the three highest-ranking officials of the Golden Chalice: 


Magister Sister Jewel, Vice-Magister Idris, and Strategos Zelda.


Calvin stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Sister Jewel, there's something we need to...."


Calvin froze and then the cathedral exploded with light.


Golden pneuma-lights floated down from the ceiling like stars. 


Banners unfurled along the walls, shimmering with celebratory patterns.


And in massive glowing letters above the altar:


"Surprise!" Sister Jewel's stern expression broke into a warm smile.


Members of the Golden Chalice emerged from the side corridors; operatives, clergymen, support staff. all carrying wrapped gifts and wearing grins.


Calvin stood frozen, his face turning red. "When did you guys even....."


Chapter 40 - Time moves forward, and maybe we should too.