New Celesta Empire Capital of Dorian A year had passed since the Garden of Eden incident, when Anta-Eden had attacked the capital. In the aftermath, the city had been rebuilt in just a few months, erging stronger, more magnificent, and nearly unrecognizable compared to its forr self. The first thing anyone would notice upon arriving in the capital was the sheer scale of its transformation. The once-impressive walls had been replaced with towering fortifications, far taller and sturdier than before. Constructed from the finest materials mined directly from Edenis Raphiel, the walls shimred like gold under the sunlight, reinforced by more than twenty layers of mana circles—the most advanced defensive formations in existence. With these new fortifications, the city now stood as an impenetrable fortress. But the most awe-inspiring sight was undoubtedly the Garden of Eden. No longer hidden, it now stood in full view in the northern part of the city, a breathtaking landscape brimming with divine energy. Unlike before, the garden was now open to the public, though only for those wealthy enough to afford the exorbitant entry fee. Security was nearly impenetrable, but that didn't stop millions from traveling across the world just to see it with their own eyes. This single attraction alone had turned the capital into an economic powerhouse, drawing in an endless stream of visitors and pouring vast amounts of wealth into Celesta's treasury. The influx of money was imdiately funneled back into the kingdom's developnt. Infrastructure flourished, the military expanded, and new advancents were made in nearly every field. In just a year, Celesta had grown into sothing far beyond what anyone could have imagined. Yet, beneath the kingdom's newfound prosperity, two major events had quietly reshaped its leadership. The first was the deteriorating health of King Charles Celesta. Although the truth had yet to reach the public, those close to the royal family knew his condition was worsening. The second was Aurora Celesta's rise to power. With her father too weak to rule, she had stepped forward, taking control of the kingdom with the guidance of her grandfather, Lucius Celesta—a demigod who had only returned after years of absence. So believed he had co back because of his son's failing health. Others whispered that it had more to do with the death of his second son…
Lucius and his granddaughter had reshaped Celesta in ways no one could have imagined. Not only had they rebuilt and fortified the capital, but they had also gone a step further—renaming the kingdom to the New Celesta Empire, a bold declaration rarely seen in history. The streets of the capital remained as lively as ever, yet there was a newfound order within the chaos. Soldiers clad in golden armor, fully equipped from head to toe, patrolled the city. Despite their imposing appearance, they did not instill fear but rather a sense of security. They were a symbol of the empire's newfound power and stability. But today, the capital was even more animated than usual. Everyone had heard the rumors. A Hero was about to be summoned. Not just any hero, but a Hero of Eden, a chosen warrior of the supre god himself. The New Celesta Empire had been one of the rare few kingdoms entrusted by Eden with the divine knowledge to perform the Hero Summoning Ritual—a sacred spell that could call forth a warrior personally selected by the god. A knight of Eden. A ssenger of the divine. That alone was enough to send waves of excitent throughout the empire. And today was finally the day. The royal family had made no effort to keep the event a secret. Quite the opposite—they had announced it to the entire world. There was no reason to hide it. On the contrary, it was a mont of unparalleled prestige. Celesta had been chosen by Eden himself, and such an honor would only bring more renown to the empire. One by one, grand carriages arrived at the capital's gates, each carrying dignitaries and noble figures from across Celesta. The most powerful and influential individuals had been invited to witness this historic event firsthand. However, despite the grandeur of the occasion, access to the summoning ceremony itself remained strictly restricted. Only the most trusted figures would be allowed to witness the hero's arrival, ensuring that the event proceeded without any unwanted disruptions. "Everything is ready for the summoning, Grandfather," Aurora Celesta said as she walked beside Lucius through the palace corridors. She was dressed in a regal gown, ticulously chosen for this occasion. Today, she would stand before a warrior chosen by Eden himself after all. Lucius glanced at his granddaughter, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. "Hm. You did well, Aura." It was Aurora who had carefully orchestrated everything, making sure the event had been hyped to the fullest. From the widespread announcents to the carefully controlled invitations, every detail had been perfectly planned. She was a brilliant strategist—a woman who understood not just politics but the art of spectacle. Yes, she would make a great Empress soday, unfortunately not in Celesta but in the Arvatra Empire. "I didn't do much. His Holiness is the one who received the spell to summon the Hero. If anything, the Holy Church deserves all the gratitude," Aurora said modestly. "Indeed. The Holy Church has been of great help to us over the past year," Lucius replied. "Once the Saintess awakens, Celesta will grow even stronger." "I heard that the next Prophetess in Sancta Vedelia has already been chosen. The Saintess is the only one left," Aurora said. Lucius nodded slightly. "Not just that. I received word that the Apostle of Nihil has also erged. They've already secured victory in the Utopian War. It seems nothing but good news reaches them these days." "So do we, Grandfather," Aurora answered with a small smile. Lucius chuckled, but as he studied his granddaughter's expression, sothing else weighed on his mind. After a brief silence, he finally spoke. "Wouldn't you ask about your childhood friend?" Aurora's eyes didn't waver, but there was a slight pause in her movents. "Which one, Grandfather?" She asked.
Lucius sighed, his voice carrying a knowing tone. "You know exactly which one I'm talking about, Aurora." She said nothing. Her expression remained unreadable, but there was a certain stillness in her posture, as if she were lost in thought. "I have nothing to ask, Grandfather." Lucius studied her for a mont but chose not to press further. So things were best left unsaid. By then, they had reached the great hall. The hall was bathed in golden light, its ceiling left open so that the rays of the blazing sun could pour in, illuminating the grand space. It was a hall of prayer, its walls adorned with subli patterns of sacred scripture, and at its center stood a towering golden statue of the Archangel Michael—the deity worshipped as Celesta's protector. As Aurora stepped inside, her gaze swept across the room. All the key figures had already gathered. "Your Highness." An elderly man stood at the center of a massive summoning circle, carefully drawn with divine symbols beyond ordinary comprehension. He was Francis Higer Eden, the Holy Pope. "Your Holiness." Aurora gripped the hem of her gown and bowed her head respectfully. Lucius greeted him with a nod as well. "Grandfather, are you sure only us being here is enough?" The voice belonged to Alfred, who had already been waiting in the hall. His blue eyes scanned the room, noting the conspicuous lack of an audience. Indeed, despite the grand scale of the event, the number of attendees remained surprisingly small. Most of the invited guests had been excluded from the summoning itself. After all, the ritual had to proceed without any interference.
"It could be dangerous, and we need to ensure everything proceeds smoothly. The people gathered here are more than enough—they are the future of Celesta, after all," Lucius said. Alfred scoffed, his gaze shifting toward a white-haired, blue-eyed man—a quite handso figure. "That guy? The future of Celesta?" Alfred grumbled, crossing his arms. "If you an the number of won in his harem, then yeah, sure, he's the future." Jayden furrowed his brows, about to retort, but before he could, a pink-haired beauty suddenly stepped between them, her expression sulky. "Your Highness, please," Milleia said, puffing her cheeks in mild exasperation. "Jayden is the Apostle of Lord Lun. He has to be here. Just like Lord Simon, Duke Falkrona, Duke Tarmias, Duke Roger, and Duke Scarlett." Indeed, the four dukes were all present, along with Donald Trueheart, the Chancellor of Celesta, widely recognized as the third most influential figure behind the Empire's great transformation. Also among the gathering were Davis Seaven, the Knight Commander, and Peter Greenvern, the Guard Commander. Milleia continued, speaking in Jayden's defense. "And besides, as an Apostle, it is his duty to birth children, and his wives love him. Unfortunately, they couldn't be allowed here today." Jayden groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I never intended to invite them, Milleia…" "Thank the heavens you didn't," Alfred scoffed. "There wouldn't be enough space here for your hundred won." "I have only eight wives and two concubines!" Jayden shot back, visibly irritated. Lucius sighed, watching the back-and-forth with an air of mild disappointnt. "Now, now, calm down, both of you." His gaze lingered on Alfred for a mont. Since when had he beco this childish? Lucius could rember a ti when Alfred had been far more composed, but it seed love had changed him. He was clearly fond of Milleia, yet so was Jayden. A classic love triangle. Lucius would have been blind not to notice it. But he held his tongue. After all, Milleia was a Daughter of Raphiel, and who had no ill intentions toward Celesta.
Alfred finally stopped at his grandfather's gentle reprimanding. Francis took this as his cue to begin. Without hesitation, he stepped outside the enormous summoning circle.
He had been granted a divine blessing—one bestowed upon him directly by Eden himself. He could feel it coursing through his very being, an undeniable connection to the divine. Other kingdoms might have received similar blessings, but Francis's concern was solely with Celesta. It was his duty, and he would see it through. A golden magic circle shimred on the ground beneath him, its symbols pulsating with radiant energy. Francis began to chant, his voice weaving through an ancient, forgotten language. With every syllable, the circle intensified, glowing with an ever-increasing brilliance. The light emanating from it was unlike anything mundane—it was divine. Those present didn't just see it; they felt it, an overwhelming presence pressing against their very souls. "Oh, Eden! Let borrow your divinity!" -BOOOOM! The instant he spoke the final words, a blinding column of golden light erupted from the summoning circle, surging skyward through the open ceiling. It pierced through the heavens, tearing through the clouds, transforming the once-blue sky into a dazzling expanse of gold. Gasps of awe and murmurs of astonishnt rippled through the city as countless citizens turned their gazes upward, srized by the celestial spectacle. Milleia reacted swiftly, summoning a massive hexagonal barrier around those present. A precaution—no one knew what this summoning would bring. The light was overwhelming, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. It lasted only a few seconds, yet it felt far longer, as if ti itself had stretched in reverence to the divine event unfolding before them. And then, as quickly as it had co, the light began to fade—slowly retracting, folding in on itself, until all that remained was a single figure standing at its center. Aurora, Milleia, Jayden, Alfred, Simon, the Pope, the four Dukes, and the two Commanders all stared in silent disbelief. A woman stood before them. Jayden's jaw dropped.
She was breathtakingly beautiful—so much so that even Milleia and Aurora, known for their own striking beauty, found themselves rivaled. Yet it wasn't just her looks that captured attention. There was sothing different about her. She wore unfamiliar clothing—modern attire that would be common in high-tech cities, yet mostly foreign to their world especially in Dorian. A long sleeves black sweater, a neatly tailored fluffy black skirt. A leather shoulder bag hung over her shoulder.
Her hair, a rich shade of chocolate brown, frad her face in soft waves, ending just above her shoulders. From her features, she appeared to be in her late teens or early twenties. Then, she opened her eyes. A pair of stunning, clear blue irises gazed out at them—yet, depending on the light, hints of green shimred within them.
Silence stretched between them as she took in her surroundings. She was in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by unfamiliar people, dressed in what, to her, must have seed like clothing from centuries past. And yet—despite the clear strangeness of it all—she remained composed, though her gaze sharpened with subtle wariness as she grasped the strap of her bag.
Aurora took a step forward. "Welco to the Empire of Celesta. I am Aurora Avia Celesta, First Princess of the New Celesta Empire. May I ask for your na?" It was only proper that a woman close to her age should be the one to speak first. The stranger regarded Aurora for a long mont, her eyes scanning her face, her attire, before she finally parted her lips to respond. "…Jeanne."
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