(Written while listening to: "Earth" by Jasper Kyd on YouTube)
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Laito stared with a horrified face at the strings of runes describing his unwanted, hopefully temporary attribute.
As he tried to quickly comprehend the implications of what he saw, these runes "disappeared" before his eyes.
In reality they did not and he knew that, but the effects of Saint Gandeon's Shaping has diminished already so his "mind" started ignoring them again.
Thankfully a person's being is not just their "mind". There's more to consciousness than that and so, he remembered.
'Great.'
'Mind control based monstrosity. Personally I rank these firmly at the top 3 of the: "Worst kinds of enemy you can face" right next to the "Time manipulation" and "Fate shenanigans " types of things.
''One can easily deal with the ugly toothy, murderous kinds. You just punch them hard…- but Tricksters? Masterminds?...- Ugh.'
'At least I hope it's deranged enough that it won't be making "rational" decisions, though the chance for that is pretty low.'
"From the way your face is looking, I deduce that you realized that there is something…- really wrong happening right now in this entire region." Aged Wizard interrupted Laito's internal musings, though his face was also worse for wear.
Exhausted even further by the strain of Name Shaping.
"Yeaa…- So I just learned that I am being put under a charm of "corrupted deity", I admit it is not something that's happening every Friday. I guess today must be Monday…- I hate Mondays." Laito complained.
"
"Both actions failed spectacularly."
"The entire eclipsed lands were put under absolute quarantine by the order of the Silver Sovereign. We also found out that we won't be able to locate the perpetrators unless they decide to show themselves."
"We tried luring them out among other things, but I divined that they will only come out in the open "when the time is right"...- which is soon."
"Very soon."
"And in the meantime the charm grew stronger. Mundane people even started forgetting about its existence in the first place. It all began with the children, as the most vulnerable appear to be the "primary targets" for the wretched being, their malleable minds susceptible to the forced manipulation."
"Then it spread out to mundane adults, and after a few months even Awakened started to be influenced, both civilian and Incandescent."
"Now, even I am not completely spared from its insidiousness, though it already reached its full potential."
"The only one who resisted it completely is Lady Tirabeth as her Aspect's source element: purity, is basically an anathema to this creature's powers. Whenever my resistance falters she is there to "keep watch over me", as my uncontrolled actions could spell disaster for us all, if my overall strength is considered." He concluded.
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"Damnation. This explains a lot…- but what exactly are these enchantment effects in practice?" Laito inquired.
"Its biggest power lies in its subtlety, inevitability and the fact that it doesn't really "change" you, or "force" you into anything…- yet, which makes it harder to defend itself against it, unlike if it directly assaulted your mind.
"All it does for now is make the target stop noticing the enchantment itself, while also…- vastly "amplifying" the target's inherent desires.
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"-...But why?" Laito asked though he kinda expected the answer already.
"It's like a farmer fattening his pigs before the slaughter." The Aged Wizard admitted with a tired voice.
"The Flame is what gave birth to existence. The corrupted beings abhor It, but at the same time they seek It to devour, for the sake of fueling their evolution…- their descent into Unholiness."
"The passions of humans are one of the primary fuels to The Flame, but the main factor is always the strength of one's Soul Core…- And their main goal…-" he paused briefly and pointed at the ceiling.
"Is to devour the artificial sun right above our heads…- as it contains the miracle of the Sun God Himself within it."
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"And as such it all comes back to you…- Soot."
Laito cringed slightly and tried to say something but was interrupted.
"I know it's most likely not your real name, but it doesn't matter. At this point you should avoid mentioning your real name at any given chance…- as I have just shown you…- names have power.
"I wasn't going to say my name really…- just…- I don't get it, what can I do? All things considered, I am barely stronger than a mundane person." Laito asked.
Font of Wisdom explained:
"While everyone in the city was under the charm for over a year, which proved enough time for everyone, who was susceptible to it, to fall under its influence…- you "are here" just for few months…- although you have a body of a child, your mind lacks the malleability of a growing one…- which proved to be additional shield against the charm's infection."
"That and your inherent resilience has proven just enough to last until now…- and even until "The Ritual" will take place.
" "The Ritual"?." Reincarnator asked with raised brow.
"Yes. The "Harvest", or "Final Battle" if you want."
"That will be the moment when the enemy will have to rear its ugly face…- and our only chance to strike at it. With you being the key to catching it off-guard."
"And since with you officially being a full fledged Incandescent Knight from today…- Oh Right." He stood up as if he reminded himself of something.
"
"As the Lord Commander of the Incandescent Order. Under the hegemony of the Silver Sovereign and with Sun God Himself as our Witness…-"
He raised his hands into the "Praise the Sun" gesture.
With him speaking the artificial "Sun" right above their heads brightened, its intensity reached slightly beyond its usual everyday "maximum", illuminating the skies and sending slight "pulses" of light across the skies attracting the attention of every single living being in the large vicinity of the city.
The instant the aged Saint started the "ceremony", Laito instantly shot up from his chair and positioned himself in front of the Commander, falling at his left knee with his head lowered, just like he was taught.
"Soot, I do hereby knight thee into the Incandescent Order of the Sun Empire." The Wizard's voice booming with authority once again.
"Arise, Knight, and be recognized."
Laito raised and stood up at attention, in response to the command.
Gandeon turned towards one of the encrusted boxes, which the boy noticed earlier.
He opened one and took out a single amber looking gem, alongside with a small needle and turned towards Laito.
"Sir Soot. I grant thee your armor, let it bring aid in becoming the Guardian against the Darkness."
Laito took the needle and pricked his finger with it allowing a single droplet of his blood to fall onto the gem.
And just as he already expected at this point…-
[You have received an Attribute].
The Spell announced as the "gem" dissolved into silver sparks.
Without checking the description, he quickly summoned the armor.
In a swirl of his soul essence a silver chainmail materialized over Laito's body. Because Laito was still a dormant human (first to become an Incandescent without an Aspect) his armour was not yet a full plate armor.
Whenever Master Fang created an Incandescent Armor, he made every single piece into a bonded artifact designed solely for the Knight in question, connecting to their souls with the blood of the person in question serving as a thread that binds into Soul Core.
A feat possible only for the most splendid among craftsmen. A true pinnacle of his "art" and a crown jewel in the technological achievements of the Sun Empire…- second only to the Artificial Sun above their heads of course.
And with the help of the Nightmare Spell it was made into a proper Attribute.
At this moment both Laito and Lord Commander raised their hands to the air "in position".
2x "Praise the Sun! Protect the Weak and Innocent! Destroy the Evil and Unjust!".
"Herby I swear. Sun god be my Witness!" Laito completed his vow and with that the "ceremony" concluded.
The "Sun" above them realised the final "pulse" of sunlight, as if with recognition and then, it dimmed back to its supposed intensity.
The Font of Wisdom smiled gently at this moment.
"I apologise for the abrupt ceremony. In "normal times" there would be days long festivities with a grand decor…- but unfortunately these are not normal times…- you could even consider it the "Mid-battle Knighting" as we are technically in the midst of fighting against a cunning enemy and the time is running out. Even your guardian, Gastac, is held back by his duties, unable to attend such a grand moment for his protégé.
Laito just shook his head slowly in response to Gandeon's apologies. The words were slightly stuck in his throat at the emotions he felt right now.
'In my entire life…- both lives actually, it was the very first time…- I was recognized in such a grand way. Damn it, was I really so starved for acknowledgement? It's embarrassing.' His eyes wandered to the window and beyond it he saw with his [Keen Sight] faces of the large crowd that were "praising the Sun" in response to his Knighting.
"Although your training was extremely accelerated, you still managed to complete your planned quota splendidly. We didn't have time to impart everything we would wish to teach you, but you managed to reach the very basic standards in record time. You did your due diligence. Font of Wisdom grabbed Laito's attention back.
"You can be proud of yourself." He added.
But that is not all! I personally chose two more artifacts. I think they would be most useful in your hands. We need all our Knights fully "geared up" for what's to come."
With that he approached the second box placed in the room. From inside he took out…-
"A dress?" Laito blurted out in surprise.
"
"What? But yours looks cool! A proper Wizard's robe, while this one looks like…- whoops! Sorry…-
And again…- (At this point it's kinda boring.)
[You have received a Memory].
'I am getting Memories as if they were candies…- it is absolutely ridiculous. I don't know whether I am lucky, or if Sunny's luck was absolute garbage…- probably the second one.' He thought as he instantly checked his new Memories runes.
Attribute: [Incandescent Chainmail]
Attribute description: [Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness.]
"Oh! I see that Master Fang didn't make his "usual" type of description while making this!" Laito noticed.
"What do you mean "description"?" Gandeon asked with furrowed brows.
"Nothing! Just a slip up, don't mind me. Hehe." Laito tried to nervously brush it off and went back to his runes.
Memory: [Disciple's Robe]
Memory Rank: [Ascendant]
Memory Type: [Garment]
Memory description: [And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled].
'I really don't know why…- but I am getting a slight feeling that these last two Memories descriptions feel slightly…- I don't know.'
'Biblical?...- or something.'
'I am sure it is just a coincidence.
'But damn, aN ASCENDANT MEMORY WHAT THE HELL!?!' He finally noticed.
'I doubt, that I will be able to summon it with my current essence capacity…- I will definitely try though!'
"
"Yes?"
"Are you sure you want to give me this Robe?"
"Most certainly." Wizard nodded. "It wasn't made by Incandescent. It is an ancient artifact found by the first explorers that were charting the terrain when we first arrived at this continent.
"As far as we apprised it, unlike Incandescent armor that grants mostly physical protection, these Robe enhancements are even more spectacular."
"Spectacular enough to become a precious Order's treasure…- if not for the fact that it was damaged beyond even Master's Fang fixing capabilities. So no one could really profit from its effects in its current state. Shame, as it would be invaluable in our current situation…- But I guess you won't have that problem."
'Right. The Spell fixes and repairs all the damages done to Memories, while they are stored in my Soul Sea. As such, the only ways to lose a Memory is to either give it away to someone, or for it to be completely destroyed beyond the point of repairing.' Laito reminded himself.
Gandeon continued "The Robe has two most prized defensive effects that have been found up to this moment in any artifact. It is an Ascended ranked artifact that vastly increases the wearer's defense against attacks from both soul category…- and mind category."
'Okay, absolute cinema.' Laito thought to himself.
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[4 years left until MHA plot beginning]
[Chapter End] The story is not over yet