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As the High Priest, Aiden's commands were law.
She was lying. This lie appeared well-hidden and vital for her to keep.
What if the boy's presence within the church was not merely a coincidence? What if he held the key to everything Aiden had devoted his entire life preparing for? The notion dawned upon him that the boy could be the long-awaited missing piece, the answer to unraveling the mysteries that had consumed him for so long.
There was no mistaking it. He was in the Godless City.
wouldn’t it make sense if he’s having amnesic side effects? It’s a miracle he’s still alive. Nobody has ever survived this amount of Somnia before.”
the bitter taste of bile creeping up his throat
The Veil—a once ethereal place that existed between the realm of the Gods and mortals—was weakening, and so too were its barriers. Over the centuries, they had thinned, and now the Veil was colliding with the human realm, two planes of existence that were never meant to meld.
mortals had used the Veil as a sacred bridge between the two realms, a conduit that allowed them to seek the counsel and blessings of the Gods. It was a cherished link between humanity and the divine, a source of hope and guidance that spanned the ages.
“There's nothing anyone could have done for Andanova, Aiden. None of us could have known that such a tragedy was coming.” “I know,” Aiden murmured. “It was destined to happen. It was their fate. And if something is not done, and the prophecies are not fulfilled, then it is our fate as well.”
Don't you see? It aligns with the scriptures and the prophecies the Seers have upheld for centuries. The Sundering is fast approaching, closer with each passing day.”
“I swear, your sacrifice will not be in vain, Alernaea,” Aiden promised. He met the purple-painted eyes of the Goddess. “The Veil will be cleansed again. I will see to it. If it is the last thing I do.”
“The Mother Goddess sacrificed herself for our sins during the Great War, hence the creation of the Veil. And what have we done to repay Her? The sins of humanity still plague the land, and because of this, the Godless City still stands.” —High Priest of Aurelius
William grinned. “It’s exciting, isn’t it? You’re my damsel in distress.”
The Godless City of Vavilon remained the sole place in Aerithium untouched by theocracy. At its heart, the Council of Novem reigned supreme, nine enigmatic figures responsible for dictating laws and governing the city. Each of the three sectors had a head of security overseeing untouchable armed forces, while a head scientist managed technological advancements within each sector. Yet, above all, loomed the enigmatic presence of the three Auguries.
The Auguries inspired fear, even in a city that had openly rejected the Gods.
Where would he go? He wanted to scream. He had his name and his age. And…what else? Where was his home? His family?
Somewhere in the darkness, Jude called out to them. “Give me a moment. I’ll go turn the lights on from the control panel!” Mila chuckled dryly. “Of course, only Jude would miraculously know where a control panel is.”
“And the Gods said, ‘let the light guide the way across the umbra of infernal sins and bless those who wield it.’” he declared. He scratched his head. “At least that’s what I think they said. I wasn’t a very good student as a child.”
“Humans are only as cruel as the Gods that created them.”
Lumen smiled sinisterly. “Ah, the truth, my feathered friend, is a weapon all on its own.”
“I thought this tunnel looked familiar.” Seren and Mila exchanged glances, unsure if he was joking, considering all the tunnels looked painstakingly similar.
However, they have vital knowledge about Vavilon that would change everything. Let me just say they know why the land surrounding the Godless City is deemed cursed.”
Mila stepped between Jude and him. “Enough,” she declared, her voice emanating a sense of authority. “I am a Sanguine Sister, and this route through the Behethium Forest is our best chance to evade the radicals who discovered me in the city. We are fugitives seeking safe passage. Please, let us continue, or I will use force.”
Half-Light? Son of a God? Impossible. Madame Kitsune had to be lying. It was forbidden for a God to have a child with a human. It was unheard of.
The Sisters sacrifice men and boys they deem worthy for their own personal gain. It’s how they use their blood magic. It’s a dark, ancient magic that they have learned and siphoned from powerful demons, similar to how the Priests and Saints siphon magic from the Gods.”
“The Sisters passionately believe that the Devil is superior to all the Gods, and they await the day when his reign will come, marked by the complete merging of the Veil. As you said before, the Sundering. Through his worship, they hail a demon that claims to be the first love of the Devil himself: Lilith.”
“How I envy the aspirations of a child,” he said fondly.
Bile surged in his throat,
“What good is a true name when you don’t have freedom anyway?” Kamil said somberly. “It makes no difference for me.” A true name. What does that mean? Seren wondered.
Mila looked at Kamil’s paintings, taking a step forward. Her finger grazed the brushstrokes. “I promise someday I will show you the sky.”
“Listen to me,” Mila interrupted. “After the ceremony, I’ll come for you. We’ll leave and go to the Godless City. I’ll find a way to free us forever, Prince Atsu. I will show you a sunset and sunrise. I will show you the stars and the lights of the city. And we will find a way to be free. I swear it.”
Lilith faced exile, cast out from the sacred Garden of Aetheria.
a forbidden love story was unveiled—a clandestine affair between Lilith and none other than the Devil himself.
But it appeared that the Devil was still not satisfied. In a cunning ruse, he assumed the deceptive guise of a wyrm to trick Adamus into partaking in the forbidden Mother Tree.
“We have anxiously awaited this moment, knowing it carries immense significance. The princess’s affection for her brother surpasses all limits, transcending the boundaries of ordinary love. Her devotion
is profound and selfless and represents the purest form of affection that can exist between siblings. My daughter’s unwavering dedication is such that she would willingly sacrifice her own life to preserve that of her brother.”
“There is no greater sacrifice than that which is made out of love. Our beloved prince stands as the ultimate testament to this truth, an offering unlike any seen in centuries. Though my heart aches for my dear son, I have always known that this day would inevitably arrive.”
we all knew this fateful day would arrive. All the men in this world are tainted; it is the doing of Adamus. He is the one who cursed humankind.”
“The Veil calls to you.” The monster began to twist its body, coiling its thick neck around Seren’s arm. “You are no ordinary Half-Light. You are different. Special.” Seren saw the gleam of the creature’s fangs as it smiled. “You were never meant to exist.”
“She rarely uses her magic due to the danger it brings, but one of the gravest risks is attracting the attention of the Sanguine Sisters. They’ve been searching for their princess for a long time.” “What do you mean?” Seren managed. “Mila once told me that she doesn’t use her magic because of the shared connection she has with her mother. She can track her if she uses it.”
“Nobody knows where the Sanguine Kingdom is.” Jude rubbed the back of his neck.
“Let’s go save a princess.”
The Veil, to him, almost seemed alive in the way it reacted to the moon and fed off negative emotions.
Apparently, noble families prefer their heirs to attend grand balls, not equestrian sleepovers.”
Seren couldn’t escape the truth. Something was different about him. Lumen had wanted him for a reason. Seren had done something in the forest. He’d been connected to the Veil somehow.
“Humans aren’t all they’re made out to be. We just have the luxury of hiding that we are monsters. I have met beautiful people with wicked hearts, and I have met demons that granted mercy. There is darkness in all of us.”
“I have always believed that one cannot understand the power of light if they have never faced the darkness.”
“Its fate was sealed. That is the way of life. It is not my place to bend the laws of nature to seek a future that I see fit.”
“Seren,” Aiden murmured, reaching for Seren’s hands. “You have no choice. It is your destiny. You cannot fall victim to the flaws of humankind. Failing is not a luxury you are permitted.”
“Women here are blamed for the sins of Eden and must be obedient and subservient. Disciples believe that in doing so, we seek redemption for the sins of the past. Besides, it’s believed that human sin is one of the reasons the Veil became tainted, and the first sin happened to be by a woman.”
