Interlude: As the Light guides

[A/N: The time measurements in this world are the same as on Earth. I’m just a bit lazy.]

-17th of March, 1052 (The day of choosing of the Apostles), Poiri-

An old man woke up from his slumber in the early morning. He looked around the huge bed and raised a hand to his chest level. His breathing was ragged, but he was quickly calming down. What just happened, the dream… no. It wasn’t just a dream. He couldn’t explain it, but… he felt her. The goddess, she… she chose him. She called him her 'Apostle'.

He felt his temples for a moment and got out of bed. This was… too much at the moment. He needed to calm down, assess the situation… prove to himself that it was still the reality.

He pointed his hand forward. Much like his entire body, it had some signs of being old, a few wrinkles here and there, and his skin blemished after many years spent in the sun. He felt his mana and said, “I summon thee. Come forth, divine glaive Caori.”

Instantly, mana around him shifted, and the entire large room was bathed in light that was bright like the Sun, but rather than irritating, it felt pleasant. Suddenly, the man felt a little weight appear on his hand and saw the outline of the weapon.

It was a marvelous piece of a polearm, almost 2 meters long. Its rod was made of shiny silver with multiple golden engravings on it, outfitted with a large head, about 30 centimeters long, and sharpened like a sword's edge. The whole construct radiated golden light onto the floor beneath and was covered in writings the man couldn’t decipher. The entire construction had also multiple metal vines surrounding the pole, made of metal that he hadn’t ever seen, but instinctively recognized it.

“Adamantine…” he felt his hand tremble as he traced it alongside the surface. It was a myth, a metal that was used only by gods. And now, he… he had it in his hands. “Goddess Sia, you have graced such an incompetent fool as myself with such a noble mission… I will not fail you. I will win at all costs,” he got on his knees, still holding the weapon upright, and started praying.

As he finished his prayer to the Goddess of Light, he got back on his feet and allowed the weapon to stop eating his mana. Quickly, he rushed through his room to the huge door and opened it hastily. Noticing two guards standing outside, he beckoned to them both, “One of you, get me cardinal Finn, this instant! It’s a matter of the highest urgency! The other, bring me my full battle equipment!” and then, he slammed the door shut.

He sat down on his bed and marveled over the room, as he did a million times prior. The impressive arches were made of the highest quality marble and red granite. The floor was made of dark, reinforced glass, cold to the touch and resilient beyond belief. The windows with visages to the city below were grandeur. The man sighed, feeling like all of those beautiful things stopped mattering anymore.

His name was Leon Klinn. He was turning 58 this year. His body had already lost the strength of its prime, but the tenacity of his spirit made up for that. His skin was covered in wrinkles but despite that and its blemishes here and there, it was sparkly clean and bright. His large nose guarded smaller lips, and smooth ears complemented green, glimmering eyes that held wisdom to change the belief of any pagan. He fixed his pajamas and swiped sweat off his head. Thrill overcame his spirit, but it was also tinted with nerves. The goddess Sia didn’t bestow him this power because of his earnest prayers or proven faith, but because she chose him to represent her in the so-called 'Apostle Competition'.

He still vividly remembered the hours he spent talking with her, examining every small detail he could think of. All the gods, their attributes, the skills he would eventually unlock… what would happen to him, how his attribute works… they discussed everything, every minute detail. Leon felt his heart beat strongly as he heard a knock on the door after a few minutes.

“Supreme priest, what happened?” a man walked into the room, closing the door behind himself. “I came running when I heard that you called!” He bowed to Leon for a moment, showing his respect.

“Drop the formalities, Finn. Something big happened. Let me explain.”

Leon started explaining the thing to his friend, putting pressure, especially on the important points. The Apostle’s Competition, how the attribute of Light worked… the cardinal could only squint his brown eyes. He felt sweat appearing on his pinkish skin. This story Leon was telling… sounded incredible, but also… weirdly too supernatural.

Eventually, as silence was beset upon the two, Finn began speaking, "Leon, I don't want to dispute what you said, but--"

“I know, I know! I’ll prove my words to you!” Leon quickly got up and stood in front of his friend. Putting a hand in front of himself, he simply summoned the artifact. “Caori. The weapon wielded by the Goddess of Light herself.”

Finn’s eyes widened when he saw the marvel of a weapon. Even as a person who hardly ever held a blade, he recognized the craftsmanship that transcended the mortal realm. Awestruck, he could only watch as Leon swung the weapon lightly, and the sound of metal vibrating rang through the room. As he was coming to his senses, the cardinal went to the ground, bent forward on his knees, forehead touching the glass floor.

“T-This… It’s so beautiful. My foolish eyes do not deserve to watch something as grand. Supreme priest, you… you are no longer just human. You have transcended humanity,” Finn’s honest words were full of his sincere desire. He wished to do anything he could to help Leon.

“Finn, I have an important mission for you.”

“I’m at your service, my lord.”

“Send out a message to all neighboring countries. We require the assistance of the best of the best. This is a matter of the highest urgency. If they wish, we will provide them with compensation.”

“As you wish. How long should I ask for their assistance?”

Leon looked at the Caori momentarily and sent it away. “5 years.”

“F-Five years?! That’s… they won’t accept.”

“Then… make it a month. We’ll think of something in the meantime.”

“And for what purpose are we calling them here? Are you going to tell them about your situation?”

“Not yet,” Leon shook his head a little. “We can’t be risking that any other Apostles could be hidden in our ranks. That’s why officially, we will be going on a holy crusade. I’m sure you’ll think of some reason.”

“…I understand,” Finn bowed again and left the room immediately.

Leon looked at his hands and breathed out a sigh of relief. He was aware that not every country would support him initially, but he also knew that when they saw who he was, they would come around. That was how they were, after all.

-The next day, about 15-

Leon was standing behind a counter-like table, giving a speech as he usually did a few times a week. As the supreme priest, he was the overseer of the largest religious community in Forna.

He combed through his short hair momentarily, preparing himself to deliver the big news of what was going to happen. Finn was so kind that he already set all the preparations up. All Leon had to do was simply deliver the message.

“My brothers,” he raised his hands. “I know that to many of you, grand conflicts are a thing of the past. Even I can scarcely remember the latest war against Akni Kingdom. I was still a small boy when the conflict came to a halt," he lowered his head ever so slightly. "I wish to say that every next day will be filled with prosperity and peace. I truly wish for that to be true. However, there are many forces which wish for such a thing to be impossible. Bring him in,” he nodded toward two monks standing behind him.

The door in the back of the church opened, and a small man was brought in, a bag on his head. As the two who carried him brought him to Leon’s feet, he knelt and undid the bag around the man’s head, exposing him to everyone. He was somewhat beaten, with messy hair and dirty skin, his eyes unfocused as he was barely breathing.

“This man,” Leon started, turning to the crowd. “Just a few weeks ago, was attempting to infiltrate our king’s palace. He lurked in past the guards and used his vile magic to nearly reach King Rhobard. This man… is a Psion.”

Leon could hear the murmur that his words caused. Bishops, priests, monks – all of them were looking one at another, unsure of how to react, but all of them emanated one thing: fear. Even the two cardinals sitting in the corner shifted uncomfortably, visibly disturbed to be in the same room as the man accused of having a forbidden class.

“This man was not the only one," Leon continued his speech calmly, aware of the reactions of everyone. "There were a total of two of his accomplices who got away. We've been trying to pry for information, but it's proven ineffective. Still, there is no question as to what they will do in the future. They will repeat the attempt to overturn our kingdom. Brothers, this is the reason I called you all here today. I ask you, is this the Forna Kingdom we want? Is the great country we've spent years developing and protecting?” he asked, his voice echoing throughout the cathedral for long seconds.

“Supreme priest, what do you propose?” asked a cardinal, lifting himself from his seat with a heavy sigh. His body, heavily worn out by time, was still holding together somehow. It was no doubt that this man was approaching a full century of his lifespan - a feat remarkable for a human.

“Cardinal Paul, my proposition is simple. We will do as the Goddess of Light and Purity had dictated in the holy verses. We will upturn every stone in every corner of Forna, and seek out to find and eliminate every last of them. Not only Psions. We are endangered by other forbidden classes as well. Hexers, who have been known to **** women and children! Necromancers, who desecrate our graves! And many more!” he turned to the masses again, and saw the conviction in their eyes; it was as easy as day to have them sway as he wished. "We've spent too much time in our houses of prayer. We've kept ourselves pure, but those parasites have festered our kingdom once more. There is only one solution to this problem: a holy crusade, just as the Goddess would wish. I ask you all, do I have your support in this?"

'So is the will of the Goddess!' - in just a few moments, the numerous heads chanted together. It was clear as day that they agreed to his proposal with all their hearts. Seeing their reactions, Leon nodded lightly and pulled out a long knife.

“Then, it is decided!” he swung the weapon, cutting the man’s throat. Without even getting a sound out of his throat, he lay on the ground, bleeding out quickly.

Leon hid the knife, feeling a little weight appear on his heart, but he shook his head. It had to be done. If he were to impress the goddess, he needed to win. He would do whatever it took to win.

Bishops, priests, and all others gathered in the room have gotten up from their seats, cheering for Leon’s declaration. Of all the crowd, only Cardinal Paul, once standing, was now sitting down, silently watching the scenery unfold.

It was a perfect development for Leon. He already had the entire country following him spiritually. Them supporting him with such ferocity only showed the extent of his power and their belief in him. But he knew he couldn’t lose himself in this feeling; he was only level 1 now. He needed to grow stronger, faster, and better than other Apostles. He was sure that all the other ones were doing everything to become stronger, be it through gaining levels or growing a team.

Leon sighed lightly to himself. The larger the army he could gain, the better. Having a thousand people as his support was completely within the bounds of reality. However, he wanted the best to be there. Only the best. Nothing less would satisfy the Goddess.

Finn approached after the speech and said, “Your Excellency, a squad of elite troops from the Moil Kingdom has arrived through the church’s teleport gate.”

“That’s good to hear,” ‘Undines are extremely powerful creatures. Having them on my side will be great, even if their numbers won’t be great.’ “What about our own institutions?”

“Every officer of Inspector rank and higher was called upon, and they heeded our words. Some of them have arrived through teleport gates, but many will come in the coming days.”

“Good,” ‘Sieving through authorities takes priority. After securing them, we may proceed with gathering the entire group.’ Leon nodded his head, both at Finn’s words and his own thoughts.

“Also, royal knights from Chis Empire were supposed to arrive by now, but as I have exchanged some words with their commander, their teleporting seal broke and they were cut short on distance.”

“Where are they?”

“They landed near Silvana, about 250 kilometers southwest of Poiri.”

“I see,” Leon nodded at his friend’s words. “When will they arrive?”

“We expect them by tomorrow. They will regroup and teleport again soon.”

“Did any other country say they will support us?”

“So far, no,” Finn shook his head. “However, we do have the support of King Rhobard and the authority to access every dungeon, cave, and forest in the kingdom.”

“Mhm,” he nodded lightly. “Alright then. Tell the troops to prepare to set off. We’re going to hunt monsters. Unimaginable numbers, at it.”

“It will be done, your Excellency,” Finn bowed his head and walked away.

-The next day, around noon (current time)-

Leon threw Caori with all his might. The polearm flew true and pierced through the head of a large feral wolf. The Apostle of Light leaned in forward, taking a breather. This was somewhere around the 200th beast he had killed only today. He felt his body wanting to combust.

“I need a break,” he proclaimed. “Everyone, please set up a camp!” a command left his mouth, and immediately, dozens of soldiers around him started working as he had ordered. Those were all the people that were checked in the past day to seek any unusual flows of mana from them, and only after confirming that they were clear could they attend.

In a way, it was a wonderful sight. In the middle of a dense forest, about 50 kilometers north of Poiri, was a dungeon that was cleared many times but never buried away or destroyed, mostly because it was deemed a decent place for beginners. The monsters that appeared here were at most level 25. The most common type to emerge was wolves, known to be somewhat fast. This was a perfect training spot for Leon, who needed to practice his aim and strength.

Nearly 200 people, including soldiers of Forna, undines from Moil, royal knights from Chis, and a few dozen bishops, were setting up a camp. The Apostle of Light felt his mouth curve upward at the sight; it was much like watching ants working on an anthill.

Leon sat down on a small chair that was prepared for himself and summoned Caori to his hand before dismissing it. He’s been hunting nearly entirely on his own, watched by hundreds of eyes, for the past many hours. At first, he thought that he might get a heart attack before he would kill the first monster, but now? He was eager to keep going. He knew, felt it. Slowly, but surely, he was growing stronger. He took a moment to ponder.

His main strength was the fact that he was powered up by the faith of people who were watching him fight and succeed. The longer he kept on going on, the more awestruck they were, the higher the faith, and consequently, the stronger he became. But that didn’t mean there was no increase in his level. Although he couldn’t check his status anymore, he was sure to be about level 25 or so already. But he wasn’t naïve or arrogant. Even before he became Sia’s Apostle, he was nearly level 440, which put him at the pinnacle of strength in the entire kingdom, but he wasn’t the strongest in the world. There were elves, who have been known to reach even level 500 in their long lifespans, and dragonkin, who lived for millennia and to whom level 600 was but a step. Level 25 in comparison was like a crumble of dust to be blown away at any moment. Moreover, the speed of his leveling would diminish greatly over time. He still had a long way ahead of him, and he was well aware of that fact. Other Apostles were most definitely not sitting around doing nothing.

Especially one of them, Apostle of Tricks and Manipulation, could be problematic. Sia had warned him that Redion was an unpredictable, extremely dangerous god, and his Apostle was no different. When he inevitably would cross paths with the person dubbing themselves the Apostle of Tricks and Manipulation, he was to attack without restraints. This was how much Sia was worried about that god’s servant. That person would become a powerful mind-bender if they were allowed to grow too much.

Leon shook the dark thoughts out of his head. He had already sent the message through the church’s communications. Within a few days, all subordinates of the church would begin sieving through Forna’s population one by one. Eventually, they would find that Apostle. And once they do… Leon will have an edge. He was sure of it.

Leon breathed a sigh of relief. If he could treat Redion’s Apostle as a case taken care of for the time being, then… his next target would obviously be Hanil’s Apostle. Sia had explained Hanil’s power in detail to him, and indeed, the Apostle of **** was also very dangerous, but this time, it was specifically because of Leon being of old age. Power to drain lifeforce out of alive targets was fearsome, mostly used by Necromancers and demons, but Hanil’s Apostle would be capable of doing it quickly without the need for rituals or demonic magic. On top of that, they didn’t even have to touch him. But that person, whoever they were, would definitely be on their own until they started raising corpses. As long as they could be found before they found him, he would be able to respond easily.

Additionally, the first skill he got from his goddess was the summoning of divine artifacts. For now, it was only Caori, but eventually, he would summon the other three - the shield, armor, and helmet. The thought of eventually wielding all four of them made his hands shiver with excitement. The glaive alone was strong, and it was still not expressing its full power.

But there was no point in thinking of the future too much. Planning was a good thing, but only when done in moderation; this was a lesson he had learned many times already. For now, his objective was to simply become stronger.

That being said…

Leon took out a small card from his pocket, which was about 3 by 5 cm, made out of silvery metal akin to that of Caori. It was a gift from Sia, a part of MID to allow him access to his skill tree, working even without MID itself and despite divine power coursing through his veins. He looked at the expansive, branched-out tree, forming a structure filled with dozens of different skills he would eventually use. He took a deep breath. The Competition hadn’t started yet, and he was already pushing through and getting his 3rd skill. He smiled, picking the option he was overjoyed to try out. Sia's specialty was wide-area skills, and he was about to get the first one.

[Light’s Efficacy lvl.1

Create a field of light magic around you, up to 25 meters in radius. Depending on the artifact weapon used with it, it has different effects.

Caori: After the field is deployed, a total of 200 spears of light will randomly rain down in it, each dealing 9-15 damage.

Cost: 1500 MP]

It was an extremely powerful skill for its level, nearly on par with a similar one he had as a supreme priest, but obtainable much earlier. The only thing that was bothering Leon was the MP cost.

‘Thanks to my equipment I have over 1000 MP in total and amazing regeneration, but this is still not enough to even use this skill.’ he mused quietly. It was just like Sia had warned him: his skills were very powerful, but that power came at the expense of prodigious mana amounts. However, he did not fret. He knew the day would come when he would overcome his old strength, and reach new heights not yet known to the mortal world. A smile entered his face as he once again felt the weight of his duty on his shoulders.

'As the Light demands it, we shall follow.'

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