A Living Divine Realm

“Boohooo! Dad, help meee!”

From the door, Roniel gawked at the four adults accompanying his stepdaughter, who had just returned from the Primer Beacon. Aya wailed and thrashed in Cassian's arms.

“Now, now, little lady. We kept our promise to bring you home.”

Aya sobbed louder, “I still don't trust you! You chased me down!”

“Because you suddenly ran away!”

“Because you said you'd take me!”

“A-Aya?” her stepfather called, apprehensive. “Did you climb a tree in our neighbor’s yard again? I told you that's trespassing-”

“I didn't! These people just came up to me with their scary fireballs and ugly illusions!”

The person who’d cast said fireballs and illusions frowned. “Scary and ugly…”

Danica and Soccorro gave looks of sympathy. Cassian flicked Aya on the forehead.

At a realization, Roniel hastily opened the door wider. “N-Nobles! Ah, I… I apologize for not noticing sooner, my lords, my lady. P-Please, c-come in.”

Only then did Aya recall this was how commoners had to treat nobles. That whole time, she’d behaved insolently—running away, shouting, and even insulting them. Any other day, she would’ve been punished already for her impudence.

But this encounter was not by choice. What followed would not be either.

Earlier, Aya had received a life-altering revelation from Lorenz.

Formal rites of passage were held in the kingdom at various times of the year, but many didn’t realize that something bigger than achieving a milestone was happening. This was the first stage of the country-wide selection known as the Calling, in which all native citizens were obliged to participate, making attendance compulsory in ceremonies like the Primer Beacon.

The ritual in the Primer Beacon summoned Sageflame, a fire entity invoked by an ancient spell and served as a direct connection to the God of Fire, Rhomignische.

Anyone whose dedication retained its original form after being offered had passed the first stage of the Calling, and they would then be a Called. Essentially, this meant they became an official candidate. Every Called would proceed to the next and last stage of the Calling, which was a sacred trial done in the palace.

After Lorenz gave Roniel a retelling of this, the house went completely silent.

Her stepfather had invited their visitors inside. They’d declined his offer to serve them refreshments, getting straight down to business instead. She's hiding in her room at the moment, afraid of what would come next.

“M-My stepdaughter is…c-chosen by the g-g-gods…?”

‘Impossible, right?!’ Aya nodded vehemently from her doorway.

“But she isn’t even that well-behaved of a child, a-and…”

‘That’s your reason, Dad?’

“Very few become Called, and much fewer complete the Calling, especially among commoners,” Lorenz explained. “It’s never fully known why a person is chosen, but with Miss Aya, I at least find something worthy of the higher beings’ attention. Did you teach her magic, Sir Roniel?”

Roniel averted his gaze. “Oh, n-no… She, uh, learned from reading.”

“Just from reading? That’s amazing.” Danica and the other knights reacted with surprise from behind Lorenz. “Does that mean you have books on magecraft?”

Aya swallowed hard. ‘Dad can’t lie for the life of him. This is it for us.’

“W-We do. My late wife left them.”

“Oh, from which house did she hail?”

“She was…a commoner like us…”

At once, Lorenz’s expression sharpened in scrutiny. Roniel stiffened, both hands clasped together to keep them from shaking. Seeing this, Aya was overcome by guilt and trepidation.

She knew how much Roniel loved Yvonne. Even though she never met her, it felt like she did with all the stories her stepfather shared with her. There were so many that she even managed to create an illusion of the woman once, though she never tried it again after he forbade copying other people. But whenever someone asked about her mother, he would close off the way he did now.

She steeled her resolve. She couldn’t continue being a burden on the one and only family she had left.

"I-I'll go with you!" Aya stepped out of her room, catching everyone’s attention. “Just please stop…asking things to Dad.”

“No, Aya. It's fine-”

“You’re just here for the selection. You shouldn't have any business with our family.”

“Aya! Mind your words. Remember who you're talking to.”

“S-Sorry, Dad…”

“It’s quite alright. I understand what it's like,” Lorenz assured them with an ambiguous smile. “Manners can be learned. If Miss Aya finishes the Calling, she will have many opportunities to practice etiquette.”

“You said if. Is there a chance I won't finish it?”

“Everything so far is but a test. You either pass or fail.”

“Will I keep living as is if I end up failing?”

He pondered for a moment before nodding slowly. “For the most part, nothing will change. I fear I can’t divulge any more information. In which case, I require your discretion on this entire matter.”

Of course, neither Aya nor Roniel would speak a single thing about tonight's events, or else people would start suspecting she was of noble blood again. After all, the royal family was involved here, even the gods. But to begin with, the whole situation seemed bizarre. Nobody would readily believe it.

Aya herself still couldn't take it in until now that she's in a carriage headed to the palace.

Lorenz was seated across from her while the knights rode on horses. Roniel had allowed her to leave with them after much persuasion.

It was late in the night, and the road was dark. She couldn't help but feel she's being kidnapped with her parent's consent.

“Your stepfather must cherish you greatly. He cried when he bade us goodbye,” Lorenz said, snapping Aya out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, well… Dad is as fragile as a glass and soft-hearted as a maiden. That's why I vowed to be his knight, to protect him with my life!”

He chuckled, “You certainly have a way with words. Knight, you say? Most daughters want to be treated as princesses by their fathers.”

“But in novels, princesses are the epitome of perfection. How can I expect to be treated the same if I'm the farthest thing from them?”

Ironically, Aya would soon be in a castle.

She had no idea how the trial would go or what she was a candidate for. But she’s already planning to fail on purpose, so she didn’t bother to ask. She was content with the life she had now with her family.

Their home was her sanctuary, where the beauty of the mountains and the sea lived harmoniously with all the wonderful stories she could read in their bookshop. It's where she was born and raised, where she wanted to stay.

“You're wrong, Miss Aya. Every girl can be a princess.”

She pouted and crossed her arms. “What's wrong with being a knight?”

“Nothing, but… I suppose you'll see soon enough.”

Suddenly, small figures of divine beings took form, wrapped by magic. They had shimmering halos and glowing eyes. Yet, they were stiff as pillars, their expressions like carved stone.

Lorenz smiled at Aya with amusement.

“Pardon the ugly illusions. It’s the best I can do.”

“I-I-I’m sorry! T-That was rude of me,” she quickly apologized.

“I don't blame you when the only illusions you’ve ever witnessed are the ones you create. They really are splendid.”

Aya blushed and fidgeted, feeling bashful. Lorenz didn't seem to be the typical noble she imagined.

Despite holding the title of Rah, an island chief, he listened and talked to commoners without conceit. He possessed a commanding presence that never turned oppressive despite her disrespect. She also caught glimpses of a nurturing gentleness in his soft gaze and patient smile.

As Lorenz conjured illusions, he appeared less of a powerful, mighty lord explaining the rules and more of a teacher writing lessons on a chalkboard.

“Listen, Miss Aya,” he began, “The Theovaleo Kingdom is a living divine realm. Ancient creatures may have long ceased to exist, but this one truth remains. Mountains, rivers, forests, oceans—all of nature chooses certain individuals to become the eyes and voices of the realm. Those being who hold the crown.”

Her face brightened up. “I read about that! The crown is a pact between the land and its representatives. No one knows where the next ruler will be born, and bloodline doesn't carry any advantage. So, rituals and ceremonies take place all around the country to find the… Wait a second…”

“Very good, Miss Aya! Your genuine desire for knowledge would bring any academy professor to tears. I intended to discuss it more thoroughly, considering that commoners' education is inadequate compared to nobles'. I believe you're only supposed to learn this in temple school-”

“Wait, wait, wait! Is it the same story?! I-I read it in a book for children. Isn't that fiction?!”

“I know it's evening, but we're having a history lesson right now, not a bedtime story.”

Aya paled.

She read a lot yet understood little. Her comprehension often came out disproportionate to her memory. So, she never would've guessed that those children's storybooks from when she’s four years old depicted the true origin of the kingdom all along.

“I'm aware you're not taking the trial seriously.” Lorenz’s once warm smile turned cold, making Aya squeak as if caught sneaking. “You only asked what would happen if you failed, not if you passed. Are you not interested?”