While the governor was finishing his introductory speech, the acolytes carefully placed a mysterious sphere onto the altar, about the size of a football.At first it looked like a dark, faceless orb, but the moment it was set onto its tripod and infused with energy, its surface released an enchanting glow, as if a swarm of constellations began to dance inside it.
"Mom, is that… is that a fragment of the night sky?" Grace whispered in awe, unable to tear her eyes away.
"No, sweetheart. This is the Sphere of Origin. It will become the conduit for your awakening," Catherine said softly, trying to explain it in a way her daughter could understand.
In truth, these spheres were considered the foundation of the Roman Empire's might — a gift from the gods and a priceless treasure. Their importance to the state could only be compared to fire for all of humanity.
Legends say that, envying Prometheus' feat, Hephaestus decided to surpass him. For a long time, he pondered what gift could be more significant than flame, which was vital for survival itself.
Then he realized: a satiated human always strives for something greater. Like the gods themselves, humanity is prone to ambition. Once hunger is quenched, they begin to seek power and status.
Hephaestus decided to gift humans strength. From orichalcum ore, he created the Spheres of Origin — artifacts capable of awakening a magical core within ordinary mortals, opening for them the path to perfection.
To this day, the Roman Empire is considered the most powerful, precisely because it has the highest percentage of practicing citizens.
The Sphere of Origin was more than a treasure. It embodied power, mystery, and the promise of a bright future for every Roman.
While the Altar activated the sphere, Adam's trusted supporter, the cardinal of the Church of Light, Allaric, took upon himself the conduct of the ceremony. He was a short, slightly hunched brown-haired man with a hooked nose, but standing upon the altar, bathed in radiance, he appeared almost holy.
Allaric opened a massive book clad in a golden cover and began to chant melodiously:
"In the name of our Lord, the great God of Light, I proclaim the beginning of the awakening ceremony! Phoebo!"
The crowd responded in chorus: "Phoebo!"
"Oh, Almighty, grant Your servant the right to enact Your will. Phoebo!"
"Phoebo!"
"For the good of all believers, grant mortals strength! Phoebo!"
In response to the priest's prayers, the entire pyramid was flooded with the purest divine light. The scene appeared so majestic, as if the god himself had descended into the world of mortals.
"Step forward, child," Allaric turned to the crowd and invited Grace to ascend the altar.
Confronted with such solemnity for the first time, the girl became flustered. Her hands unconsciously tugged at the hem of her tunic, and her eyes trembled with uncertainty. But all eyes were fixed upon her, and there was no choice left.
Taking a deep breath, Grace walked toward the altar in small steps. The sphere beckoned her, like an oasis beckons a traveler lost in the desert, like air beckons the drowning. The sensation felt strange, yet utterly natural.
With each step, fear retreated, giving way to nervousness, then curiosity, anticipation, and delight. She was eager to find out what kind of magical core she would awaken. And what her brother, her mother, and Kasi would say.
Her thoughts began to dance:
"What if I get an S-class core? Then Mom will definitely praise me! Maybe she'll even give me a new doll… And my brother will be even prouder of his sister!"
"And I'll win the bet! But what should I wish for? Make him clean up my toys all day? Hm, too boring…"
"What if I make him brush my hair? No, no, that's punishment, not a reward! Although… he should learn to be gentle anyway. Ah! I've got it! Let him practice on Mom — he definitely won't hurt her. Hee-hee-hee… I'm a genius!"
Allaric noticed that the girl had drifted into her dreams. He understood better than anyone how the Sphere of Origin worked. The power and authority it promised ensnared all mortals. This phenomenon seemed almost primal, uncontrollable.
Grace's reaction did not surprise him at all. Of course, he had no idea what exactly was running through her head at that moment — otherwise, he would have behaved very differently.
"Easy, Grace," he said gently, with a kind smile, like a grandfather encouraging his granddaughter. "Don't worry. Just relax and touch the surface. Everything will work out."
Grace obeyed.
"Good girl. Now close your eyes and listen to yourself," Allaric continued in the same warm, soothing tone. "Feel your body. There, in your belly, a light tickling will appear. Found it? Remember that feeling. Good. Now try to slowly guide that tickle upward, toward your hand… and then straight into the sphere."
He spoke simply and clearly, as if telling a fairy tale. In that moment, he truly seemed not like a strict cardinal, but like a caring mentor.
Grace squeezed her eyes shut tightly and tried to focus. At first, she felt only a slight numbness, as if her arms and legs had fallen asleep. This made her worry a little. What if she was doing something wrong?
She recalled the instructions and tried to relax — her shoulders, her stomach, her arms and legs. A minute later, a strange sensation appeared in her lower abdomen, just above her navel — a light tingling, as if tiny sparks were tickling her from the inside.
As soon as she focused on it, the tingling intensified. It turned into a faint itch, resembling a gentle burn, yet it easily obeyed her guidance. Grace imagined it slowly rising upward, toward her solar plexus, and felt the energy respond to her will.
The tickling slid across her chest, moved to her shoulders, and rushed into her arms — first to the elbows, then to the wrists, and finally to the very tips of her fingers. The energy itself strove outward.
A thin, glowing strand penetrated the device and entered into resonance with it. At that moment, Grace clearly felt changes within her body. The magical core awakened, as if it had always been a part of her — just as natural as her arms and legs.
The sphere responded and flared with rainbow light. The darkness evaporated. Inside the orb, bright flashes ignited — red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and deep violet. All seven colors intertwined, as if weaving an invisible net of light, playing and shimmering with every shade.
The radiance was beautiful and blinding. It completely illuminated the acropolis, filling the space with a mystical aura.
Without explanation, everyone present understood: the princess's magical core was exceptional. It would surpass everything they had ever seen before. Their own rituals now seemed dull in comparison to this splendor. Comparisons truly kill people.
Of course, part of the effect was explained by the quality of the Sphere of Origin itself. That was precisely why only the most perfect specimens were used for the royal family. Their genes were inherently strong; an ordinary awakening stone available to common citizens simply would not have worked. Everyone knew: the more powerful the core, the harder it was to sense its strength.
Admiring gasps and whispers spread through the hall. The priest frantically flipped through the book, trying to determine the type of core, but people's eyes were already turning green with envy. They murmured quietly among themselves, yet no one dared to disrupt the ceremony.
Finally, Allaric finished his calculations. He stood upon the altar, trembling slightly with excitement. His voice sounded restrained, but confident:
"After analyzing the completed ritual, I declare with full responsibility: Princess Grace's magical core belongs to the legendary class with S-level throughput. A Rainbow Core, allowing its bearer to use any elemental magic without overload. I assure you, the talent of young Grace will shake not only the Province of Light, but the entire Roman Empire."
The crowd could no longer be restrained. The spectators' emotions finally found release.
"Long live Princess Grace! Phoebo!"
"Long live the Province of Light! Phoebo!"
To understand just how special little Grace's core was, one must know that most of the spectators had only managed to develop their cores to A-class. They were nobility. The cream of society. Yet only years of grueling effort and mountains of resources had allowed them to reach that level.
The money spent on their development alone would have been enough to support a small city for a decade. And here, a little girl received everything at once — and even more — simply by right of birth.
The emotions were indescribable. Envy, anger, awe, and admiration. At that moment, Grace was bathing in the rays of undeserved glory! She was absolutely delighted.
However, it did not end there…
A beam of light descended directly from the heavens onto the altar. It enclosed Grace and Allaric in an impenetrable cylinder, cutting them off from the outside world.
The spectators' jaws dropped to the floor. They knew exactly what was happening. Grace's performance had attracted the attention of a god! The patron of the Province, the most beautiful man in the world, Apollo himself, had approved the princess's talent and personally descended from Olympus.
What an honor! What magnificence!
Divine blessings were not unheard of in Eridania. The practice of offerings existed precisely for that purpose. However, one must always remember that blessings come in different forms. Even though the nobility could spend enormous sums, attracting a god's attention was no easy feat. The slightest favor was already considered something impressive. And to earn it, countless resources had to be invested.
So how could they not envy it, when a mere girl's talent forced Apollo to appear in person? Where was the justice?! Were they destined to "eat dirt" while others "feasted on lobsters"?!
Meanwhile, at the very top of the pyramid…
Surrounded by sacred radiance, Grace froze in place, eyes wide open. With fear and reverence, she watched Apollo. His figure was completely white, composed entirely of light. In that brilliance, no eyes or face could be discerned. Just a simple silhouette, its outlines blurred.
"PHOEBO TO YOU, APOLLO THE ALMIGHTY!!!" Allaric slammed his forehead against the floor and dared not raise his eyes. His posture screamed absolute devotion and reverence.
Grace simply stood frozen in astonishment.
"What are you doing, princess? Kneel at once!" the cardinal shouted, sweating profusely.
"It's fine," Apollo waved him off. His voice sounded calm and indifferent, as if the mortal world meant nothing to him.
However, Allaric knew better than anyone that this was not so. The gods were not that magnanimous, Apollo included. Grace had just shown disrespect and lost a few points of favor. But there was nothing he could do.
"What is your name, child?" Apollo asked. His eyes shone like searchlights. Strangely, those eyes stood out even against a figure entirely made of light.
"I… I… G-G-Grace… P-p-princess," Grace answered haltingly. She was very nervous.
"A beautiful name. Blessed, radiant, and merciful. It suits you well," Apollo praised her. "I am impressed by your talent. Do you wish to become my named daughter? You may be a priestess, like little Eva. Your task will be to guide people toward the Light. You will enjoy both secular and ecclesiastical authority. You will become even more beautiful. You will earn glory and honor. In the end, you will be able to enter Elysium and live forever. Do you agree?"
Grace nearly lost her mind. The god offered her everything a human could dream of. Could she refuse? However, Grace was only three years old. She was worried about something else. She knew it would be presumptuous to ask for more, but she could not retreat.
"I-I… S-StarLight… Y-yes… M-my mom and brother… P-permission…" Grace stammered. She tried very hard to form her thought, but simply forgot the words.
Unexpectedly, Allaric himself interrupted her:
"My Lord, allow me to report important news. Privately."
The God of Light cast the priest a disdainful glance.
"Have you forgotten your place, servant?! How dare you interrupt a conversation with my future priestess?! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" Apollo was not restrained. The girl had almost agreed. Just a little more, and he would have obtained this uncut diamond. Yet this lowly servant, devoid of talent, interrupted him.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to listen. The girl was here and would not be able to escape him.
"Go on. Continue. She cannot hear us. I hope this is truly something important."
"As you command, merciful god, I shall explain at once," Allaric trembled under the piercing gaze of the higher being. He dared not delay and began his account.
"The matter is as follows. This humble one believes the girl wishes to ask on behalf of her family. However, there is something unusual in this case. Three years ago, the third concubine gave birth to twins. Their appearance was accompanied by a heavenly blessing…"
"Get to the point! I do not have all day to listen to your nonsense," Apollo interrupted.
"Y-yes, my lord. The issue is that the heavenly manifestation was a rainbow that rose over the province. However, it was interrupted by an eclipse that descended upon the entire continent."
"Continue…" Apollo was now interested.
"The girl's parents are both blond, yet the boy was born with black hair. We thought the mother had been unfaithful. And to conceal such a disgraceful act, it was presented as the child being affected by the eclipse.
A request was sent to the capital pontiffs. This was a trivial matter and a completely normal practice. However, the response from the capital surprised us.
We were ordered to investigate the case. Thus, we learned that three thousand years ago, the senate made a decision to convene all the Sibyls. They were given a task — to predict the fate of Rome.
There were more than a hundred of them. Together, they performed the 'Propheteia' to divine the future. Everything went well, but when they attempted a divination three thousand years ahead, they began coughing up blood and dying, one after another.
They left behind a single prophecy:
'When day and night fall out of rhythm, a child will be born whose shadow will eclipse the sun. Old histories will burn, legends will be rewritten. Invaders will descend, and the world will gain new chains.'
That is how the Sibyls vanished. The pontiffs are deeply concerned. The ceremony is our only chance to determine whether Gray is the harbinger of night.
I greatly fear that our careless actions may interfere with your noble plans. Please, give me instructions!" Allaric finished his report. He still knelt, awaiting the verdict.
He had his own motives. He did not believe in the prophecy one bit. It was too vague and too convoluted. However, he knew that the gods cared most of all about their reputation.
He was certain Apollo would notice the hint: "…a child whose shadow will eclipse the sun…". Was that not a direct challenge? No matter how talented the child might be, he would never allow him to rise at his expense. Whatever the princess asked for, he simply could not agree.
Thus, Allaric wanted to help his friend get rid of an unwanted offspring, while also earning favor from the deity.
The god did not answer. He sank into deep thought.
"I remember that three years ago, the forces of light across the world were suppressed. I doubt it was a natural phenomenon. I am certain Nyx, Azazel, or Hel were involved. Who knows what they are plotting?"
Through the veil of light, he looked at the crowd. He studied each member of the royal family for a long time, calculating something. When he noticed Catherine, his gaze flared so intensely it could have burned through walls.
Even Allaric noticed his surprise, yet kept his head low.
Turmoil reigned within the God of Light. What he had seen forced him to doubt his own sanity. He simply could not believe it.
His plans had to be changed immediately. He could not miss such an opportunity.
Apollo stood there in silence. Ten seconds… a minute… two… three…
One must understand that for a god, ten seconds of contemplation can equal a dozen years of active research by a team of mortal philosophers. What was he pondering so deeply?
At last, he reached a conclusion. He had to act carefully.
"You have served me well," he said to Allaric.
Those words were everything the cardinal had ever dreamed of. He trembled all over in ecstasy.
"Do not rush. You must follow my instructions precisely," Apollo extended his hand to Allaric's crown and transmitted his directives. Then he took his right hand and inscribed a rune upon it.
"Use this, and do not deviate from the plan under any circumstances. Do you understand me?"
For a moment, Allaric's gaze lost all focus. He stared at his hand for a long time — the one the god had just held. But then he regained clarity and hastened to express his loyalty:
"Yes, great lord, I will do everything you command."
"Good. Be assured, I will not forget your contribution," Apollo assured him, then turned his gaze to the girl, who was still trying to convey her thought.
"M-my brother and I m-made a bet about whose magical core would be b-better…"
"I understand you. You have nothing to worry about," the God of Light could listen no longer. He had thought for so long, and this girl still had not finished speaking…
Nevertheless, his reply sounded very tactful, as if he feared frightening her:
"I do not wish to separate you, so I will give you this bracelet. It will protect you from any harm. Be a good girl and obey Eva. She will be responsible for your training…"
With these words, the God of Light vanished. He dissolved into particles of light, leaving behind only a white bracelet. His manifestation was not endless.
The moment his consciousness returned to his true body, he burst out laughing.
"Ahahahah, Apollo, oh dear Apollo. You cannot blame me for what will happen. How do they say it — 'an eye for an eye'? Yes… exactly so. You brought this disaster upon yourself.
What kind of idiot leaves an altar unattended? Now I will have my revenge. Your son will live worse than death. I will play with your daughter. I will put horns on you. I will destroy your reputation. Ahahahah!
And all in a single move! I will play you to death, bastard."
The God of Light laughed maniacally, as if he had completely lost his mind. However, this was by no means the most beautiful man in the world. One could hardly even call him human.
Suddenly, he remembered something:
"Oh, right, I must find Apophis. He will be able to help carry out my plans. I remember Apollo put horns on him as well. The time for revenge has come, my friend. Nyx will not help. Just relax and wait! Ahahahah."
While someone successfully slipped away from the scene of the crime, Allaric rose and took a breath. He looked at Grace with a strange expression, but said nothing.
Meanwhile, the girl joyfully played with the bracelet. She liked it very much. She had no idea what danger it represented.
Watching the dome of light dissipate, the cardinal tried to comprehend what had happened. The God of Light had been so agitated by the prophecy. Had he noticed something? Why did his orders seem a little… strange?
In the end, he simply cast aside all unnecessary thoughts. What was the point of dwelling on it? The best course was simply to carry out Apollo's command. Should he doubt the words of a god at all? Of course not.
Apollo had given him power and status. His job was to carry out divine will, to spread the word of god among the masses — not to ponder the motives of a higher being. He had no desire to become a heretic.