"Long time no see, Lumine," a whisper drifted into her ears, soft and familiar."You remember that, don't you? Come, let's go for a walk."
Lumine turned, scanning the bustling square. Except for Cornelia standing quietly by her side, everyone else was caught up in their own business—laughing, moving, unaware.
"Cornelia," Lumine said gently, "wait for me by the carriage. I need a moment… to clear my mind."
Cornelia nodded, ever obedient, and walked off without a word. Lumine, now alone, slipped away to a quieter corner of the garden where no one would disturb her.
She closed her eyes, steadying her breath."Oh Lord of this world, bestow your presence upon your lowly servant," she whispered.
A warm breeze stirred the air."Child. You know the prophecy, don't you?"The voice was smooth, deep—like a melody echoing through time.
Lumine opened her eyes, and a man of regal presence stood beside her. His aura was calm, yet held a weight that made the world feel still.
"Stella is already thirteen. You've done well hiding her. Even I couldn't find a trace of her until now."
Lumine dropped to one knee immediately."It's all because of your guidance, my Lord. I've only followed your wisdom."
The man gave her a soft smile and motioned for her to stand."Are you prepared?" he asked. "It won't be easy. For you or for Stella. But do not fear. Everything is unfolding according to the plan… and it's all for the best."
He placed a gentle hand on Lumine's head. It was a simple gesture, but it gave her enough strength to carry a mountain.
When Lumine returned to the carriage, her face bore the weight of sorrow.
Cornelia, adjusting the seat cushions, noticed immediately."Did you meet the Lord, ma'am?" she asked.
Lumine gave a small nod. Her voice trembled."Will Stella be okay… on her own? She's only thirteen…" She looked at Cornelia. "Right? She'll be okay… right?"
Cornelia gave her a reassuring pat on the back."She'll be more than okay," she said with quiet certainty. "And if not, she'll still do just fine. She's blessed by the Lord himself."
Cornelia had been by Lumine's side since they were children—her most trusted friend and confidante. They had grown up together, shared laughter and hardship. The only thing that separated them was status.
Lumine was born into nobility, a direct descendant of the first Avatar of Egotheon, one of the Seven gods. With that came divine blessings, power—and burdens.
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The Umbran Year 6.
By then, the old religions had vanished, buried beneath the weight of dwindling populations and forgotten traditions. But from the silence, seven new gods rose. Humanity clung to them like a lifeline.
Yet even these gods couldn't stop the Whitening—a mysterious curse slowly swallowing the world.
Each god chose an Avatar to carry out their will among mortals. Some chose wisely. Others… did not. There were also gods who never chose at all. Instead, they gave their blessings to shadowy agents, working from within to sabotage the others.
Though the gods appeared united, a secret war raged behind the scenes—fought by their Avatars in blood and betrayal.
This conflict had stretched across decades.
Egotheon.The eldest of the Seven. The god of the skies. The Highest Wind Current.
His first Avatar was Thesias Seraphine—Lumine's ancestor. A legend. It was said he possessed strength beyond human limits, blessings from Egotheon himself. He was the first and only one to defeat two other Avatars in single combat and have all ten blessings of Egotheon.
The blessings of the Seven came in ten stages—ten gifts, like ten fingers. A person could receive up to ten blessings in their lifetime, though not all did. The timing and number varied from one person to another.
Only seven individuals in all of history had received all ten.