A Birthday to Remember

"...and also looks like we missed the tour," she pointed to a tour that was already far deep into the temple.

"Eh?" as the tour already moved on to the inner hall. "Come on!" She grabbed his hand and ran to the inner hall.

They arrived in the inner hall, and the children were already seated on the floor, waiting for the main event.

"Uhhh... it's already crowded here," grumbled her with dissatisfaction.

With a rush, they finally joined with the others. Leonard looked around, at the back of the hall, the guardians began to arrive, eagerly waiting for the procession of their children. He skimmed the crowd in search of someone, someone whom he dearly loved. Among the crowd, he spotted Anne, they exchanged their eye contact as she raised his hand upward, making a hand sign as her lips mouthed the word "I promised". Her presence gave him a soothing feeling and a sense of relief.

The inner hall was octagon shaped structure with the floor formed by intricate geometry of colored marble and the wall was colored reddish-purple decorated with intricate details and golden accents, not to mention in the middle, a giant chandelier with the smaller ones on each side of it hanged. It was quite grand, and on top of that, with lavish tapestry hanging from the front, left, and right of the ceiling of the hall. Each tapestry symbolized the Triumvirate Gods, and behind the tapestry, there was a niche with sculptures of representative Gods overlooking the center of the hall. Yansan —the Goddess of Wisdom represented by the blue tapestry, Haresu —the God of Tribunal represented by the red tapestry, and Hairmesu —the God of Delusion represented by the purple tapestry.

Leonard couldn't help but glance at Sheera. She looked enthusiastic at the event, her eyes sparkled with fascination. She was captivated by the words that resonated with the sermon by the archbishop —about the story of the Divine Blessing— but Leonard paid little attention to it. Instead, his eyes fixated on her, and for the first time, he felt no longer alone. The loneliness that lingered in his heart gradually lifted. He smiled as she took a glance at him, and invited him to come over and listen to the sermon.

"... and zhat was how Divine blessing bestowed upon us. As Gods' children, we have to walk according to zheir way. Zhis blessing is meowrely just one of zhe meowracles zhat zhe Gods gave to us meowrtals. Mi Devasu benini etu tjon hun beninsu. Amen," the archbishop closed the sermon.

"Mi Devasu benini tun tjon hun beninsu. Amen." replied all the children. "...Amen" replied Leonard, following the others. As they finally entered the end of the procession. The archbishop and his monks prepared for the altar. Each of them bringing the four God's relic, one of the monks bring a relic —a round-shaped relic, a sapphire orb with golden ornate details, surmounted by three lily petals adorned with it colored gems, the same color based on the tapestry— and placed it upon the altar.

"The first Catalyst" exclaimed Sheera as she fixated on it with fascination.

The monks from various Blessings started to demonstrate their capability on their blessings. As the monks gathered and encircled the children. Each of them initiated to channel their affinities from their Catalysts, drawing upon the Igunisu, the fire affinity, and the Kaze, the wind affinity. The air around them started to swirl up as they mended their affinities. The atmosphere surrounding them began to intertwine with the Igunisu. A flicker of fire ignited in their palms as both affinities began to mix and manifest themselves. "Igunitus Kerulume!" they chanted the spells. Creating a captivate blue fire, proved as a testament to their mastery of both affinities. Signaled the start of the main procession.

The children started to line up before the altar. Their faces filled with excitement, especially Sheera as she stood in front of Leonard. A face full of anticipation and impatience, eagerly waiting for her turn to come up as they were on the back most of the line.

"Ugh... this is killing me."

"Can you just bit patience?"

"I know..... but I can't wait. I've been waiting for this moment for my whole of my life. I can't wait to touch the holy Catalyst," clasping both of her hands with enthusiasm.

"Huft... fangirling," he rolled his eyes as she gave him a cynical look.

"I have an idea~!" exclaimed her. "How about we touch the Catalyst together?"

"Ehhhh???????" surprised Leonard. "Where did you get such an idea?"

"Dunno, it just came through my head. We might get the same blessing, who knows?" she shrugged.

"I... I mean I don't mind it but..."

"No but! We are doing this together!" she grabbed his hands, clasping together. For a moment, their eyes were intertwined with each other.

"O..o...okay..." he stuttered.

"Hahah you such a pushover, I like you"

The line slowly becomes smaller and smaller with each passing moment. They knew that their turn was almost near. A sense of anticipation weighed upon themselves, knowing the rest of the children already received their blessings. However, he couldn't help to notice that she grabbed his hand unintentionally, clenching her hand into him. He didn't care anymore. He felt warmth beside her. As their turn was finally unveiled, they finally stepped up together to the altar. They were welcomed by the archbishop that stood beside the holy Catalyst. They noticed that they were being watched, but they couldn't care less. All of their attention was fixed on the holy Catalyst.

Before touching the Holy Catalyst, the archbishop guides them through the cleansing ritual. They need to wash their hands thoroughly in the golden basin on the left side of the altar. Cleansing any impurities with the pristine water inside the basin. The archbishop then instructed them to kneel before the Catalyst. They looked at each other, "Together" exclaimed Sheera with joy, he nodded in agreement. Solemnly they both closed their eyes as the archbishop chanted a prayer behind them, he sang the prayer gracefully, and his voice resonated in the hall creating a soothing melody. Comforting atmosphere shriveled up in the air, bringing warmth to any who listen to it.

"Nyeow you may touch zhe Catalyst," said the archbishop as he finished with the prayer.

After many years of anticipation, Leonard finally was able to reach his first goals to gain his freedom. A moment they waited dearly, and as soon as they touched the holy Catalyst a surge of power shriveled up their bodies. But he felt nothing, it didn't hurt but only a bit tingling sensation, he thought.

However, that moment was abruptly shattered by a commotion heard from the back of the hall, causing panic and confusion. A man emerged from the crowd, wearing a dark cloak that concealed his body. Behind his cloak his hands are already scheming with his Catalyst. "Tirtus Cristallus!" he mouthed as he walked. He left a trail of ice, the air surrounding him gradually froze, forming ice crystals. He locked on his gaze to Leonard that was still touching the Catalyst. He smirked. "Heh, got ya."

"Tirtus Ferumen!" he put his hand down to the floor, from his catalyst, an immense power channeled through to his hand, and a splash of water started streaming through his hand, just enough to submerge the entire inner hall. With his other hand, "Kazeus Furizitus,” he mended his wind affinity to be able to speed up the process of freezing.

The archbishop and the monks encircled the hooded man, with their Catalyst ready. The light user forms a protective barrier between the children and the guardian. Shielding them from any malicious intents. And the Tribunal has instigated an attack on the man, but to their surprise, all of their attacks have been nullified as the man swiftly casts the barrier with his other hand. "Lux Claustraume!" he shouted as he erected the light barrier deflecting all the attacks.

"Zhat impossible!..." gasped the archbishop in astonishment. "He... he... blessed with two Blessings," exclaimed the other monks as they began to tremble in disbelief to see such a sight that it was impossible to have two different Blessings all at once. As the ice spread fast, their movement began rigidly to move as the ice slowly crept into their foot, locking them up in place.

Leonard and Sheera are both still on the altar with a looming danger over them. "Forget about the Blessing we can do it later," he started to grab her hand. "It's almost finished, I can feel it" She looked at it desperately. He knocked her hand down from the Catalyst. But to their avail, it's already too late as the ice already crept into their footing, making them unable to move.

"For many... years my country..... waited for this very... moment," exclaimed the mysterious man slowly, losing his breath to the untamed ice. "I-i shall.... finish t-the job that... I-i should have done it five... years... a-ago." his voice echoed through the chamber "O-one... last... prince before this nation crumbled into c-chaos," he raised his hand in the air, formed a thin icicle, and turned it into a spike that was sharp enough to impale someone.

Leonard clenched his fist tightly as his mind was already filled with confusion and anger. A disbelief reflected on Leonard's face upon hearing that. "You... you are the one who did that..." he started to disbelief. "I... I remember you, I...I was there, you... killed my family." he trembled. "YOU KILLED MY FAMILY," screamed his lungs out filled with anguish, his voice echoing across the hall. Sheera looked at him motionless, unable to move him from his footing as he drowned in anguish.

The man smirked. "Tirtus Cristallus Lanseia!" he finished with the spell.

"For..."

"FREXIDONIA..." he shouted, launching the ice spike across the hall as he finally caught up with the ice turned his body into frozen figure, shattered into countless pieces.

"I...I" muttered Leonard as he gasped for breath. He felt a soaring pain throughout his chest, he put his hand in his chest, it soaked in blood. He looked down at the floor. Blood already spilled, turned the marble floor into crimson blood, he tried to get up as he trembled and gained consciousness.

He heard Sheera gasp, an utter disbelief and shock reflected on her face as she watched him in horror as she caught herself with his blood as he collapsed. He heard a voice call his name, a woman from the back of the crowd rushed into the scene. She holds his feeble body in her arm, drenched her white dress in red. Leonard took a glance at her.

"A..nne?" he said as his vision blurred

"Don't say anything... I hold you, I hold you right now," cried Anne. "Get me a physician, a healer, or anything quickly now!" She embraced Leonard tightly as she ripped her skirt and rolled it up in Leonard's chest to stop the bleeding.

"..."

"Sheera..." he turned his eyes to the side, watching her motionless in horror.

"Ah... sorry," uttered Leonard faintly as he slowly lost his consciousness in her grasp and took a long last look at her.

It was supposed to be a happy memory. The day he finally got his blessing. The day he finally achieved his freedom. The day he finally has a friend to talk to. The day he was born. As it was his tenth birthday.

Such...

A birthday to remember.