While Ester was thrown into imprisonment by the Geneeva officials, another Child was being forged into a different kind of weapon for the same Church. 

To the East of Chimera, Leria, Lucius was born. Leria was known for producing the fewest Synchs in comparison to all the other countries, so when he was born a Pure Synch, it was seen as a miracle. 

His power was a Storm in a child's body. At five, he set his home on fire, creating wind explosions when he had a tantrum. There was no record of any Synch wielding such raw power at such a young age. 

But then Tragedy Struck. 

At nine, a sickness stole his sight. Theories suggested it had something to do with his body and Flo, others said it was a curse. Lucius, ever cheerful, adapted. He became a genius of perception, using Flo as a sonar to "see" the world in pulses of energy. He saw more than any sighted person could, but a strangeness settled in him. He began to avoid non-synchs, almost never being in the same vicinity as them. 

Before his eleventh birthday, his hearing was gone. Not from injury, but because the Arc's whispers became a gradual, never-ending scream inside his mind torturing him night and day. The cheerful boy was erased, replace by a grumpy, isolated shell. It took months for him to get used to the anguish, crying himself to sleep and wishing thoughts of ending it, but he didn't. He persevered because he had his older brother with him. His name was Raye. 

Raye, a knight of Leria, was his anchor. He was the one who grounded Lucius, who uplifted him, who gave him a reason to endure the agony. The strangest thing was that In less than a month, he could understand and communicate again, however his stance with non-synchs didn't change as he would act like they weren't even worth his time. When asked how, he simply said," The Arc gave me sight."

Then. at twelve, the final tragedy struck. Raye was dead. The Order of Leria claimed a Flo beast ambush ended his life instantly. 

Lucius was never the same. He barely spoke, abandoning the Church he was raised in, and was always found near wild Flo beasts, as if he was communicating with them. Though he pushed people away, he was profoundly kind to the beasts. Raye had made him promise to use his overwhelming power to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. That there was a reason why he was blessed with such gifts. So, the boy travelled Leria, casually subduing high level Flo beasts that threatened entire villagers, faster than the Order of Synchrites , leaving them in awe and astonished. 

He earned a nickname from the Church; one they would use to brand him: The Arc's Authority. 

After his brother's death, he needed an outlet for his rage. Fortunately, there was talk that an elder dragon was seen dwelling in the mountains of Leria. It had been seen flying low over villages as its shadow darkened the roads. It stole cattle, frightening the villagers almost to their deaths. It was said to have the power to set the entire country ablaze with ease. However, Lucius went up the mountain alone. 

He didn't just defeat the dragon, he humiliated it, perhaps making the creature feel fear as it tried to retreat. Lucius didn't let that happen. He was twelve at this point and when he came back down the mountain, unscathed, dragging the deceased beast behind him. Some fell to their knees revering him, crying, "PRAISE LUCIUS! PRAISE LUCIUS!" He became an instant symbol, a legend spreading across Chimera, the tale of the crippled boy who slayed an elder dragon with ease. 

The Church moved quick showering him with a fancy religious attire, golden earrings, even shaving his white hair into a buzzcut. They wrapped a bandage around his eyes, emblazoned with a symbol that meant "Chosen". They paraded him as their trophy. 

Lucius didn't care for the pageantry. He complied for one simple reason, food. Being the "Strongest" didn't change the fact that he was still a child, and the Church provided him with exotic delicacies from across the land. It was a mutual understanding, he would be their "chosen one", and they would grant him luxuries. They both knew they could never truly control him. 

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"It seems the histories of your time contain...a kernel of truth," she allowed, her posture easing slowly.

My curiosity had reached its peak."So, he was a prodigy. A weapon. A legendary mascot." I leaned forward, the recorder between us like a truth teller. "But...that doesn't explain why he would save you. Someone who murdered a highChurch Member... Why would their paragon take an interest in you?"

Tilting her head, the veil shifting like still water.

"For he deemed it of interest," she finally said, the words firm and deliberate. "Thus it was. The monster they sought to erase, fighting in their holy trial."
A faint, hollow semblance of a smile touched her lips.

"Naught could have brought him more...diversion."