I was last, as my new dress did not arrive until then. I was unfamiliar with the shoes, a style called mules I had never seen before, with a three-inch heel and no back. The cloth of the shoe was white velvet, covered in silver and gold embroidery, complete with a stylish bow on top. I was sent on laps around the sitting room to learn how to walk in them properly.
The dress was far more elaborate than I had expected, made of pristine white velvet heavy with gold and silver embroidery and threaded with lace throughout. The patterns were all familiar to the church and House Du Ciel, leaving no question as to who I was. The bodice was form-fitting, with decorative lacing in the front and functional lacing in the back. The corset was perfectly contoured to my body, but once tightened, the boning made my movements far more restricted.
The sleeves were fitted to my arms, reaching to my wrists, with a dramatic gauntleted point over the tops of my hands that connected to a loop over my middle finger. The full skirts included petticoats to give them volume, with layered lace for effect as I moved. The mantle was a highly decorative piece that wrapped around my shoulders and clasped in the front for easy removal. It reached down to my elbows, and the family insignia was rendered in perfect detail across the back, with a phoenix adorning each shoulder.
Looking in the mirror, the effect was stunning. Jewelry and combs had been sent with the ensemble, and Aunt Violette spent some time testing different styles before she was satisfied. Not long after that, we were done for the evening, and everything was hung up to await the morning.
As we finished, I looked out the window at the starlit night sky and smiled at the long-missed sight. I made it to my room before I began to feel ill. Not the deathly pull of the grave, but a trembling weakness, and I stayed awake for a while, lying in bed and watching the light clouds move across the stars.
It reminded me that this was a vacation, not a new life, and that I would eventually leave it behind. I was coming to realize that I did not have to go back, but I knew I needed to. I needed to tell Father that I was all right and tell him what had happened. Nothing said I could not leave again if I wanted. Making it home would be enough proof that I could handle myself, and I would even be coming home with a class.
My time spent traveling, and then meeting some of my real family, was making me feel very conflicted. I knew in my heart that I did not belong in the world of the living, but the longer I stayed, the more I wanted to. In the end, I knew what I needed to do. Still, I was not ready to leave just yet, and when I was, my family here would know I was well and that they would see me again. After all, visiting would not hurt anyone.
With that thought, I fell asleep to a night blessedly free from dreams.
When morning came, we were all gathered together once again to prepare for the festival, but I was pushed forward to ensure everything was ready as soon as possible. This time, things went much more quickly, and Aunt Violette and Marion went to work on my hair and makeup. They followed Janice’s instructions as if they were holy scripture, lacing silver silk ribbons into my hair as they set it in a half-up, half-down style with braids throughout the upper portion and the rest falling in waves to frame my face.
When everything was done, Aunt Violette used one charm to ensure it all stayed in place and another to make sure the makeup would not smear, run, or fade. Moments later, when she brought me in front of a mirror, I hardly recognized myself. It was like looking into an artistic painting, and somehow, that made it a lot of fun. I grinned back at my family and joined in helping everyone else get ready for the next hour, until the bell rang announcing a visitor waiting outside.
I felt my face light up and shamelessly ran to open the door. Then I froze, staring up at an unfamiliar paladin in full armor towering over me. Only the calm look on his face and the fact that he held his helmet in his hands kept me from slamming the door and running for a weapon. The expression on my face must have told him something, because he was quick to explain his business.
“I apologize for the disturbance. I am here on behalf of Lord Laurent Ashford. Is Lady Mirela available?”
I slowly nodded. “Yes. I am Mirela.”
“Lady Mirela, I am sorry to say that due to security at the Cathedral, Lord Laurent is being kept separate from all other guests until after the ceremonies are finished for the day. He sends his heartfelt regrets. He argued quite stridently for you to be allowed to join him, but the cardinal refused.”
I stood there, mouth agape for several seconds, before looking down at myself. “But, I…”
“I’m sorry, my lady. Perhaps you will be able to join him after the ceremony.”
Candice stepped up beside me and asked, “Does the cardinal know who she is?”
The paladin shook his head. “He was not in the mood to discuss it. It is no insult to your family.”
Candice looked as though she was about to say something else, but I held up a hand. “It’s all right, Candice. I’ll find him after. No message we return would be in time to change their mind.”
I stepped away from the door and let her handle the paladin, which she did in angry, hushed whispers. I didn’t bother listening, tuning them out as I wrestled with the pain in my chest. I was disappointed, far more than I knew how to deal with. I stopped a few steps away and leaned back against the wall, studying the tips of my shoes as they stuck out from beneath my dress. Their little ribbons were cute, but incredibly silly.
Candice closed the door a few seconds later and walked back to join the others, but I didn’t feel ready for that. I wanted a moment to think. I hadn’t realized how much I had been looking forward to this day until I was told it wouldn’t be going how I expected. And since when did I look forward to anything like that? It was unreasonable. Just as unreasonable as how I suddenly wanted to go to the church, touch the catalyst stone, and then begin my journey home.
I took a deep breath and sighed. I could still enjoy this day. I had my family with me, and I still wanted to know them better. I looked up from my thoughts as the tips of another pair of shoes joined my own.
“Are you all right, Mirela?” Aunt Violette asked.
I nodded. “I am all right. It is just… well, it doesn’t matter. May I join the family for the day?”
She smirked at me. “You may regret those words. Your uncle Edgar will be here soon, and we will join him in his carriage. His wife and your cousin Anatole are already at the cathedral, but your cousin Nadine will be with him. She has been in a foul mood and is not pleasant company.”
“Maybe I can cheer her up. And if not, we can be in a foul mood together.”
I rejoined them in the sitting room and watched as they finished Chloe’s makeup. It was very light and somehow made her look a little younger. I did not mention that, though, because this was apparently the first time she had been allowed to wear it, and she was feeling very grown-up about the whole ordeal.
We talked a little, and they explained some of what I should expect: needing to stand in line, albeit a shorter one for nobles only, with the younger people to touch the catalyst, followed by a great deal of prayer and thanks to the gods, before the day filled with performances, food, and music. Many public festival games would be set up, but most clergy and nobility avoided them. Before the end of the evening, we would likely receive invitations to attend one of many dances throughout the city, and the family would decide together which would be best for us. By the time we were watching the carriage pull up, I had a good idea of how the day would go.
Aunt Violette led the procession out of the house, followed by Candice and Chloe, with me bringing up the rear. As we approached, a tall man who looked to be near Aunt Violette’s age and bore a strong family resemblance stepped out of the carriage. His dark hair was worn short, and his formal suit was black and white. He stepped forward to Aunt Violette, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, then moved on to greet Candice and Chloe. When he turned to me, he froze in confusion.
“Who is this?”
Aunt Violette gestured in my direction. “Edgar, this is your niece, Mirela. She returned home last night.”
I gave him a formal curtsy as he continued to stare at me like I was a ghost. Several seconds later, he finally asked, “Marie?”
I lowered my eyes and shook my head. “I’m sorry, Uncle Edgar.”
Then he stepped forward, wrapping me in a crushing hug. My sudden “oomph” as the air was forced from my lungs must have alerted him that he had pressed a little too hard, and he let go, stepping back to look down at me.
“Welcome home, Mirela.”
Aunt Violette put a hand on his shoulder. “Come. Let’s talk on the way.”
He nodded, and the two of them moved to get aboard the carriage. It was not as large as the carriage I'd traveled in, but that made sense for transportation designed for inside the city. It was still easily large enough to fit us all comfortably. The entire carriage was black, and there was a valet who was riding on the back and a driver on a high seat in the front. It had glass windows along both sides with no privacy, but I was sure they afforded a great view. Inside was my cousin Nadine. I knew she was a year older than me, but it was hard to tell at a glance with how close in age we were. She had the same dark hair as the rest of us, but it seemed to shimmer with a bit of red in the light. She was dressed as formally as the rest of us in a white dress, but she looked entirely downcast. I doubted she'd looked up from her lap since the carriage stopped. The Valet hopped down as we approached, opening the door for Edgar and then offering Violette a hand up.
"May I?" I asked Candice, who waved me ahead. I stepped up, took the valet's hand, and climbed aboard. As soon as I was inside, I took the seat directly beside Nadine. She didn't seem to notice, so I put my hand on top of hers and held it. Candice followed, sitting beside me and Chloe beside her. I think it was the amount of people passing her by that finally got her attention, and she looked up. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked completely heartbroken. It was a look I'd seen before in the eyes of people who'd given up on everything, accepting their fate. Only she had no reason to feel that way. She wasn't in a dungeon, waiting to die.
“Hello, cousin. I am Mirela. I am glad to finally meet you,” I said. I didn’t smile or press her further. She only tightened her grip on my hand in response.
“She hasn’t spoken to anyone in two days. Do not take it personally,” Uncle Edgar said.
“Why?” I asked. The lack of concern in his tone struck me immediately.
“It is a new form of protest. She is unhappy that she will be spending the day with her betrothed. I believe she thinks this will deter him, but their marriage is not about them.”
“That’s ridiculous. Who she marries is entirely about her. To suggest otherwise is blasphemy. Have you not read the Articles of Light? It is very clear.”
That earned me a sharp, disapproving look, but it was true. Even the church’s own doctrine was unambiguous on this matter. That only became a problem for those who relied on others never reading it.
Nadine’s grip tightened again, but Edgar only shook his head. “The words were never meant to be taken literally. This is a good match, politically and financially. Her mother worked very hard to arrange it. She will want for nothing, and it will benefit our family. All she needs to do today is stand beside a perfectly acceptable man, and she treats it as though she’s being led to the headman’s block.”
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“Uncle Edgar, Nadine is part of the family. Her interests are family interests. Her happiness is not a coin to be spent, and your words are an absolute sin. You are suggesting she live in misery so that you may gain something in the family’s name. But have you looked at her? I have seen that look of despair before. That is the face of someone who has surrendered all hope and is simply waiting for their fate.”
I gestured toward her. “What petty thing is worth losing her forever? That is not gaining for the family. That is sacrificing part of it. She is family, and family is more important than anything else.”
Silence fell over the carriage. After a long moment, Edgar finally replied, “This is not the time for this discussion. I should have known you would be just like Marie. She will survive the day, and we will discuss family matters at home.”
I turned back to Nadine. “Yes. You will survive the day. It is unfortunate, but your cousin—who has been missing for eighteen years—has finally returned home. You must stay with her today so she will not be lost and alone. I am sure this wonderful man will understand.”
Edgar started to speak again, but Aunt Violette seized his arm, and they fell into a heated whisper between themselves. I ignored them and waited only for Nadine.
She stared at me for a long heartbeat. Then, just barely, the corner of her lips twitched.
I nodded. “That’s settled, then.”
On my other side, Candice leaned in and whispered, “Thank you, Mirela.”
The rest of the ride was quiet, broken only by the occasional discussion between Violette and Edgar over business matters. I knew little about his work, and I wasn’t particularly interested, so I watched the city pass by as we made our way toward the cathedral. The streets surrounding the great building were packed, and from what I understood, every church in the city and far beyond it would be just as crowded for the holiday.
We were let out just inside the iron gates at the edge of the cathedral grounds. Outside the fence, a great mass of people had gathered, and from their practical attire I assumed they were the common citizens of the city. Once we were all on the ground, we formed a small circle, Nadine still standing with me, hand in hand, as though I were a shield against the storm.
Uncle Edgar stared at us for several long seconds before finally sighing and stepping back.
“I will go find Baron Isaac and inform him of the bad news. We can meet inside later. This will take some explaining.”
The moment he turned and walked away alone, Nadine threw her arms around me and pressed her face into my shoulder.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she murmured.
I returned the hug and held her while she shook, casting a concerned glance at Aunt Violette. Violette shook her head faintly.
“This is going to cause trouble,” she said quietly. “The man is only a baron, but he is powerful. He may take this as an insult.”
Nadine pulled back to look at her. “The man is a monster. After how he treated me right in front of all of you, how can you even suggest I go through with this?”
Violette looked hurt as she replied, “Nadine, he has no heirs. Of course he would ask those things."
“And grabbing me like that? In front of everyone?” Nadine shot back. “‘She’ll do’ was all he had to say about me, and I’m supposed to marry that pig?”
“This is not the place for this conversation,” Violette said tightly. “What am I supposed to say? This was not my decision. I didn’t know it would unfold like that. This was between you and your parents. I was only trying to help.”
“Then when my mother throws me out for refusing the marriage, let me come stay with you.”
The way Violette’s expression fell told me this was not the first time those words had been spoken.
“That will be your grandfather’s decision,” she said.
“And you know he has already said he will not stand between Father and me.”
I looked to Violette in confusion. “I thought you said family was always welcome in that house.”
“It is,” she replied. “And if it truly came to it, I am certain your grandfather would not refuse you, Nadine. But this still must be settled. For now, you can stay with us tonight if you wish, and we will speak of it again later. We need to go inside. Mirela must use a catalyst stone, and we do not want to miss the announcements.”
It was clear the argument was far from finished, but I squeezed Nadine’s hand.
“I’m your excuse,” I said conspiratorially. “Show me how to use the catalyst.”
She let out a tired breath and nodded. “Yes, cousin. Are we all going together?”
Violette shook her head. “No. You two go ahead. We will go to the family’s box. Meet us there when you are finished. It will be good for the two of you to talk.”
Candice looked a little disappointed, but she nodded. Then, with shifty eyes, she stepped forward to hug Nadine, whispering in her ear. When she stood back, they locked eyes before both trying to subtly look at me. Nadine gave Candice a small nod and then led me away from the group.
As soon as we were out of earshot, she said, “Thank you for what you said. I am not certain I can get out of this, but I appreciate your words.”
I shrugged. “If you don’t want to marry him, just say no.”
“It’s not that simple,” she replied. “He could hurt the family financially if I back out. He controls parts of the market for enchanters and could make Father’s life very difficult. He might even send people to harass or hurt us.”
“Grandfather is an Archbishop,” I said. “I can’t imagine he would allow that. I’m not anyone important at all, and even I wouldn’t let that stand.”
She sighed. “We will see. I’ve made my position clear, but he doesn’t speak to me. He only speaks to my parents, as if I were still a child.”
As we walked, we soon found ourselves inside the cathedral and at the end of a line of teens, most of them on the younger side. I looked around the massive chamber. At the far end stood a large stage, decorated with many displays I recognized from scripture, with a podium set before it all. Beside the podium sat an Echelon Catalyst encased in glass, untouched. That didn’t make sense to me yet, but I was sure it was part of the ceremony.
The main floor was filled with thousands of fixed, plush benches arranged in long rows separated by aisles, all facing the stage. Above them, lining the walls, were private box seats stacked one atop another at least ten rows high. I knew our family would be watching from somewhere up there. Each aisle was filled with a line similar to ours, each ending at its own catalyst, with just enough space beside them for people to move through to find their seats.
We had at least sixty people ahead of us, and with how quickly the seating was filling, I doubted we would reach the front before the ceremony began.
Seeing my concern, Nadine said, “Don’t worry. If we’re not finished before they start, we can stay in line while they speak and continue afterward.”
I smiled at her. “I was worried about that.” I hesitated for a moment, then decided to release the tension I’d been feeling. “Nadine, what is it that everyone is refusing to talk to me about?”
I was fairly certain I’d already guessed, but I had a feeling she wanted to talk to me about it anyway.
"Your betrothal," she said quietly. "They think you will be as upset and resistant as I am."
I snorted. “They might be right, especially if they didn’t bother to include me in the process.”
She sighed, "They did not. It was arranged before you were born. When you disappeared, your fiancé’s family was very involved in trying to find you. They gave up a long time ago, but for some reason they never negotiated for him to marry anyone else. The contract is still considered valid.”
I shrugged, "I'll decide what is and isn't valid. I'm not overly worried about it."
We quickly changed the subject after that, talking about our interests and a little of my story about how I’d gotten here. Eventually, she told me more about the baron who wanted to marry her, and by the time she finished, I completely understood her refusal.
The man had a terrible reputation for brutality within his lands, and when he had met her, he hadn’t even spoken to her directly. He had only sized her up, asked about her breeding and cycles, and put his hands on her in an entirely inappropriate way, as if testing whether she were ripe fruit. There was no world in which she should be subjected to that. Her parents were cowards for not putting an end to it. Their only excuse was that arranged marriages were simply “how things were done,” and that she had a duty to the family. It was “too late” to back out now.
We disagreed. And I promised her I would find a way to help.
Before I realized it, we were only about tenth in line for the catalyst, and I watched as several people ahead of us unlocked their classes. Each was required to answer a few questions before placing their hand on the stone. After a few seconds, it would flash a color depending on the class that had been unlocked. It looked painless. Almost mundane.
The line moved forward again, but then a horn sounded and everyone in the cathedral stood.
Several men and women in formal church attire stepped onto the stage. Finally, a woman whose eyes seemed to glow took her place upon a high-backed chair behind them all, one that gave the impression of a throne. She looked both blind and as though she were somehow scanning the entire crowd at once.
The most elaborately dressed of those on the stage stepped forward to the podium and began to lead the cathedral in a ceremonial prayer to open the festival.
When he finished, he began speaking of the Oracle and a vision. I wasn’t sure if this was normal, but after the first few minutes, my interest waned. There was a great deal of talk about good and evil, light and darkness, and a growing threat to the entire world. It sounded uncomfortably similar to the fear-mongering I had read in church materials before.
Then, about twenty minutes into the speech, Laurent walked onto the stage with an escort of four paladins. He wore armor far finer than anything I had seen on anyone else. It somehow made him look even taller, even more regal. With visible reverence, the preacher stepped aside, allowing Laurent to approach the catalyst and place his hand against the crystal.
What followed was nothing like the other awakenings I’d witnessed. The crystal turned a deep royal blue, but instead of flashing and fading, the light only grew stronger as his hand remained in place. The glow spread outward and upward, reaching toward the vaulted ceiling until a pillar of blue light enclosed him entirely. I could feel the divine energy radiating from it, even from where I stood.
When the light finally flared and vanished, the preacher took Laurent’s hand and lifted it high, presenting him to the people.
“By the will of the Gods and the divine light that guides us,” he proclaimed, “I present to you their chosen Hero. May his courage inspire you, and his strength protect us all. His dedication will lead us to victory over this coming tide of darkness!"
He kept talking, but I was too busy staring at Laurent to hear a word of it. I knew enough of the stories and myths surrounding a Hero to understand what this meant. With that class and him already in the church's clutches, I would likely never see him again. And even if I did, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t try to kill me on sight.
I watched him for a long time as he stood there smiling and surveying the crowd. When his eyes finally found mine, he held my gaze just a little too long, that broad smile softening into something more genuine. I didn’t know what else to do, so I lifted my hand in a small, uncertain wave. Not long after, he was led from the stage.
Someone continued speaking, but it might as well have been static. When it finally ended, the line began to move again, and Nadine gave me a small nudge to bring me back to myself.
“You know him already?” she asked.
I nodded. “We traveled together to the city. I’m probably never going to see him again.”
We stepped forward, and Nadine said with quiet certainty, “Yes, you will. You’re up next. Then you can tell me about your class, and we’ll go find him.”
The priest standing beside the catalyst motioned me forward, and I moved to stand before him.
“What is your name, petitioner?” he asked in a not-quite bored tone.
“Mirela.” When he continued to wait, I added, “Mirela Beaumont.”
He nodded and wrote it down. “Mirela Beaumont, do you have a class?”
I shook my head. “No, I do not.”
He made another note. “Does your status confirm your class is unlocked?”
“Yes.”
“Mirela Beaumont,” he said formally, “please press your hand flat against the Echelon Catalyst and let the gods show you the path forward.”
Following his instructions, I placed my hand on the catalyst and waited. For several seconds, nothing happened. Then a dim white glow stirred within the crystal. It was warm at first, and then quickly became hot. When the heat turned painful, I tried to pull my hand away—but it was stuck fast.
Then, something inside me rose to meet the light.
Like a dam breaking, a surge of power from somewhere deep within me connected to the crystal, and its glow intensified. The light spread slowly, just as I had seen before, a white pillar forming around me. And, in that instant, time seemed to stop.
I looked around. Everyone and everything was frozen in place, but I could feel the attention of something far greater than myself. A gaze full of judgment settled over me, and I knew it could see straight through me and everything I had ever done. They were looking down on me, and with great reluctance, I looked up.
High within the pillar, I saw three golden lights, watching me in return.
Their appraisal washed through me as they sifted through my entire life, from the day I was born to the monster standing here now. They turned through my memories like pages in a book, far too quickly for me to grasp them all. They saw the first life I had taken and the last. My endless study. My training. My determination to be better. Every thought. Every feeling. All of it laid bare, not only to them, but to me as well.
I saw the layered memories of my earliest days, and the ones that later appeared that were not my own. And when their judgment finally came, I felt their pain, and their pity.
They did not purge me for being evil, because I was not. Nor was I part of the Darkness they were so eager to see destroyed.
Zephyros weighed my Power.
His judgment was not gentle. It pressed down on me like a mountain, measuring not just the strength of my body, but the forge of my will. He saw every blow I had endured without breaking, every limit I had shattered through stubborn refusal to fall. He found me strong in skill as well as flesh, relentless in pursuit, unyielding in the face of hardship. I did not rage blindly. I thought as a warrior thinks, with clarity born of battle and sacrifice.
And so Zephyros found me worthy.
Sophia turned her gaze upon my Wisdom, and where Zephyros had been weight and pressure, she was light.
Her awareness flowed through me like a vast, quiet ocean. She saw not only what I knew, but what I understood without knowing I understood it. She saw the questions I never stopped asking. The patterns I sensed before I could name them. Magic did not resist me—it was part of my very nature. I did not cling to knowledge as something to be hoarded; I reached for it as something endless.
And in that reaching, Sophia felt joy as she granted her blessing.
Then Valoran judged my Courage.
His presence was thunder. It struck through every fear I had ever known and every step I had taken despite that fear. He saw that I had never been without terror, and that I had never let it rule me. Again and again, I had chosen to stand when it would have been easier to flee. My heart burned with longing for the unknown, for danger, for what waited beyond the next horizon. And yet, when others had needed my protection, I turned from that calling without hesitation.
Valoran roared his approval. I lacked nothing in bravery.
Each of their blessings reached me at once, and I watched as they grew infinitely distant, leaving behind a shard of themselves that melted into my soul. The light began to fade, and I felt another presence. It was discreet and far removed, watching from the darkness. Before I could give it any attention, it was gone, and the world snapped back into motion.
I gasped and stumbled back, and Nadine caught me. Every eye in the cathedral had turned toward me, but I only stared blankly ahead, reading the message suspended before my eyes.
Class Unlocked: Saint
Congratulations, Mirela! You have been chosen by the divine to bear the mantle of the Saint.
Class Benefits:
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Divine Radiance: Your presence radiates a holy light that inspires allies and repels dark forces.
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Blessings of the Divine: Access to powerful healing and protective spells.
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Bastion of the Light: Your connection to the divine grants you increased resistance to dark magic and curses.
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Divine Insight: Gain heightened awareness and understanding of the divine will and celestial beings.
New Abilities:
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Blessing of Light: Imbue yourself or an ally with a protective shield, reducing damage taken.
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Healing Touch: Channels sacred vitality to knit flesh, purge pain, and stabilize the injured.
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Holy Radiance: Emit a burst of divine light, damaging beings of darkness or evil and purifying the surrounding area.
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Sanctuary: Create a protective zone that repels evil and provides refuge for allies.
Remember, as a Saint, your actions reflect the will of the gods. Use your powers wisely and with compassion. Seek out and aid those in need, and your connection to the divine will grow stronger.
May the light of the gods guide and protect you on your journey.
I turned to Nadine, who was staring at me wide-eyed.
“I don’t think I did that right.”
THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS.
My sister has finally launched her first Royal Road story after literal years of me pestering her to publish her stories! She is equal parts excited, terrified, and pretending not to check stats every five minutes. Go read it. Encourage her. Make her feel validated. And also just nervous enough to be productive.
Bonus: of the two of us… she’s the one who actually knows how to write. It's really good!