Balton, Talfwood borough, Culmer Street. On a cold, hazy morning, carriages, people, and market stalls brought a sense of bustling liveliness to the streets—or that’s how a spectator would perceive the scene from a cursory glance. 

In reality, these people work endlessly to make ends meet, to have enough to stop their stomachs from growling, to risk their lives to satisfy the greed of corporate owners, to sacrifice their precious time to live such a mundane and depressing life, rarely even finding the chance to sit down and spend time with their families. 

This was how people lived on the outer ring of the empire.

“Hahahha! I’m telling you, those churchgoers probably have no idea that they are sending their hard-earned money into our pockets!”

“With all this money saved up, I could even buy a Manor for myself, stock it up with a couple of good wines, and maybe even find a beautiful mistress…”

In a nearby church, two priests sat in the rectory office of the church. A plate of half-eaten cheese was on the table with some empty wine bottles littered on the floor. Their faces flushed bright red like two drunkards. 

Right behind the bookshelf next to where the two priests were sitting stood a young priestess with russet-colored hair, blue eyes, and quite a charming face. Holding a feather duster, silently brushing away the dust clinging to the spines of the heavy books.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Small footsteps suddenly echoed through the church halls before coming to a stop at the entrance of the rectory office.

Look sister! Look! Look what I found! 

A little girl with silvery white hair and amber colored eyes bounded up to the priestess, beaming, hands kept secret behind her back.

“Abby! Don’t go running around the church like that; you could get seriously hurt if you tripped.” 

The priestess gently patted the girl's head, treating her as if this was her real little sister.

“So, what did you find this time?”

Abby slowly brought out her arms and revealed in her palms a shimmering object wrapped loosely in a white cloth.

“What’s this, Abby?”

The priestess reached her arms out and grabbed the cloth-covered object. 

“A medal?”

The lustrous medal bore a rectangular shape with strange symbols engraved on it.

“Sister, what kind of medal is that? Is it worth a lot?”

The priestess examined the medal before giving an answer.

“It’s probably just some sort of art piece. If it’s on the street, then it’s likely to be worthless.”

Abby looked down in disappointment, as she genuinely thought she had found a rare treasure.

“C’mon Abby, it’s lunchtime already. Go meet with the other kids at the dining hall.”

“Blah! The food they serve is completely tasteless! I feel sick just looking at them!”

Abby stuck her tongue out and made an exaggerated expression of disgust.

The priestess knelt down in front of Abby.

“Abby, don’t be like that. You’re still little; you have to eat properly. How about this: if you finish your meal, I’ll take you to the flower field, and you can pick one flower of your liking?”

“Really!? 

“Yes, really.”

“Pinky promise. You always break your promises.”

“When did I ever break my promises…” The priestess thought inwardly, offering a dry, helpless smile.

“Alright, pinky promise, here.”

The two of them held their pinky fingers together to form a promise that they cannot break.

Abby smiled before taking off in a sprint to the dining hall.

“What did I just say, Abby! No running around the church!”

The priestess sighed before helplessly shaking her head.

“What a troublesome child.”

The priestess looked down at her palm, still holding the shiny rectangular medal contained within a white cloth. She slowly brought her left hand to the medal and pressed against it.

In an instant, before she could even react, darkness engulfed her vision, and she was transported to an unknown location. Suspended in an infinite, dark void, she saw countless specks of colored dots glowing in the unreachable distance, each one with its own unique story to tell. 

Soon, she heard the fluttering of a silken fabric whispering in the dark. She turned her head and saw what she would perceive as…

“Lord…”

She breathed, her voice trembling with fear and excitement.

“You heard my prayers…”

Overwhelmed, the priestess bowed her head as tears rolled down her cheeks, as though she was embraced from the inside.

Falkon’s face was twitching behind that mask, flabbergasted by his sight. 

“Lord? Prayers? What are you talking about…you got the wrong person, ma’am.” Falkon criticized inwardly.

“Lift your head. State your identity.”

“As you wish, my lord. I’m Nataya, senior priestess of Saint Mary church.

“Ah, so you’re a clergy member…” Falkon mindfully taking note 

“As a crisis approaches, my position will grow perilous. Since I've heeded your call, you should understand what your role will be.”

“Yes, my lord! I will bring the truth back to this world that is now deprived of corruption. Though that is my deepest wish, my own power and knowledge are far too limited for me to make any impact.” 

“So you do have insider knowledge…huh,” Falkon thought inwardly.

“That will not be a concern after today. You will have my guidance, and I will grant you a certain portion of my power.”

“Your guidance will bring newfound light into humans that purifies the guilt that embodies their heart!”

Falkon nodded his head in approval of her statement, but still found it a little bit exaggerated.

“By the way, the medal that was in your hand is a communication device. And for the record, you will address me simply as Mr. Falkon from now on.”

Natalya clasped her hands to her chest.

“Yes, Lord Falkon!”

Falkon’s eye twitched visibly behind the mask.

“It’s Mister, MISTER!” Falkon scolded inwardly.

“I will transport you back now. You must keep this conference confidential. The fate of humanity rests in your hands.”

“I will fulfill my duty and shed your light upon mankind once more. I do not wish our children to suffer in such a nefarious and blasphemous environment.”

“Don’t you think you’re committing blasphemy right now…” Falkon criticized inwardly

Mr. Falkon raised his gloved hand and gestured for light to descend upon the priestess. Wrapped in sudden radiance, the priestess vanished back into the real world.