"Why don't we give Master Izikel some time to prepare?" Dremlin said, ushering the guests out of the room.
Just as Sophia was about to follow the others, Izikel's voice stopped her.
"Sophia, may I have a word with you?"
She turned back and bowed slightly. "Of course, my lord. Is there something you need?"
"Not quite. I just have a few questions."
"Questions?" She tilted her head slightly, waiting for him to elaborate.
"How does one increase their Soul Divinity?"
Izikel let out a slow exhale, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.
'Finally, I'll get the full picture from a Divine believer herself.'
With everything that had happened since he woke up in this body—the death of Isiel, the guards, his newfound powers, the appearance of Lyzah and Saint Raynoel—it hardly felt like only a single day had passed. One event after another had kept him from fully grasping the situation he had found himself in.
Sophia hesitated for a moment, expecting him to clarify his sudden question. But Izikel simply watched her with eager anticipation, a broad smile on his face.
"O-okay," she said, a little uncertain but seeing no reason to withhold the information.
"After obtaining a Fate Scripture, every believer must remain faithful and devoted to their god. If their devotion is recognized, they will receive a Fate Trial."
"A Fate Trial?" Izikel echoed, intrigued.
Sophia nodded. "Yes, it is the same for both Anchors and Saints. By tying your fate to a god—such as the Silver Goddess of the Enchanting Lunar Moon—you allow them to influence your existence and, in turn, share their divine energy with you."
"The Order of Divinity created the system of Fate Trials and Scriptures to maintain balance in the world."
Izikel's mind flashed back to the words of Oroborn during the Altar Ignition.
'The Order of Divinity is the very fabric of existence itself—the force preventing the Outergods from interfering'
"Maintain balance?" he repeated, intrigued.
"Yes," Sophia confirmed. "There are 5 stages of divinity, a Divine believer must pass three trials at each stage to increase their Soul Divinity. These trials are not self-imposed; they are determined by Fate itself,"
Izikel leaned forward slightly. "And these trials… how do they happen? Does one apply for them, or do they occur at specific times?"
Sophia opened her mouth to answer but hesitated, eyeing him curiously.
"Lord Izikel, do you… wish to become a Divine believer?"
Izikel paused, considering his response. If this was the answer she wanted to hear, he saw no harm in giving it to her.
"Yes, Sophia. I've always wanted to be a Divine believer. It's one of the only things I can remember." He held her gaze, his voice steady. "If you can help me, I would be deeply grateful."
Sophia's eyes shimmered with emotion. "Of course, Lord Izikel! I will do everything in my power to help you!"
He gave her a small nod. "Thank you. Now, back to my question—how do these trials work? Do they follow a cycle?"
She shook her head. "No, they come unexpectedly. That is why a believer must remain ever faithful, proving their devotion by vanquishing dangerous beasts, eliminating heretics, or even fighting believers from rival kingdoms."
Izikel frowned slightly. "Heretics?"
Sophia's expression hardened. "They are those who seek power through darker means—by consuming the souls of others."
His eyes darkened.
"Soul energy resides within the soul, but its essence seeps into the blood, infusing the entire body. That is why believers immediately get stronger as soon as they awaken their soul energy, and why bloodlines are so crucial to Divine believers. Heretics consume the flesh and blood of others to steal their soul energy and grow stronger."
She sighed. "They are outlaws in all five kingdoms. Most of them live as bandits, preying on the weak. Some are so depraved that they even feast on their own kind."
Izikel's fingers curled into a fist. Monsters among men… The thought of cannibalizing another human just for power was truly repulsive.
"Lord Izikel if you really want to become a Divine saint it is important you find a mentor to train you,"
He tilted his head. "I was thinking of becoming a Divine priest instead."
Her eyes widened in shock. "An Anchor?!... My lord, I don't think that would be possible."
She hesitated for a moment before quickly adding, "However, I can introduce you to some capable Saints. In fact, I am certain the Legion Commander himself would be honored to train you."
Izikel's lips curled into a wry smile. "Why is it impossible for me to become a Divine priest?"
Sophia exhaled sharply. "For one, you would need an Altar of your own. No new Altar has been discovered in over a century. Unless an existing Anchor willingly surrenders theirs… it simply isn't possible."
Izikel's smile did not waver. "You can't know that for sure. What if an Anchor dies? I'm already a priest so it shouldn't be that hard,"
Sophia gave him a patient yet firm look. "Altars are bound by blood, my lord. They can only be inherited by someone of the same lineage. Even if an Anchor perishes, their Altar will not accept an outsider."
Izikel frowned, recalling the moment he had used his own blood to ignite the Altar. That… made sense.
"Is that the only difference between a Saint and an Anchor?"
"No." Sophia's tone softened as she explained. "After an Anchor ignites their Altar, they gain the power to anoint believers as Saints. These Saints swear an oath of servitude and, in return, are granted a fraction of the Altar's power."
She glanced at him meaningfully. "However, unlike Anchors, a Saint can be anointed by multiple Altars—as long as they serve the same god."
"So after a Saint is anointed, they journey across the land, receiving anointing from other Divine Anchors?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes. This lonely journey strengthens their connection to the Divine. It is a sacred trial, one that we call the Pilgrimage of the Saint. Some Saints enter the second stage of divinity during this journey,"
She hesitated before adding, "Lord Izikel… I must warn you. This path is fraught with peril. During pilgrimages and crusades, we face countless dangers. Many do not return."
Her bright blue eyes met his with quiet intensity. "I urge you to think carefully before making your decision."
She then gave a graceful bow. "I must return to the Saint quarters now… I still have to locate the missing guards."
She bowed and graciously exited the room, Izikel observed as her waist wiggled from side to side, imagining what it would be like to swim inside her embrace. It had really been a long time since he had been around a woman.