Chapter 8 : The Sanctified Metamorphosis: Celestia’s Divine Revelation
March 21st, 823. About 30 minutes after the duel, in the holy capital of all churches, 2500 km to the west of the Aurelian Empire's capital.
The grand prayer hall, a sacred space that mirrored the majestic prayer halls of the medieval Vatican, stood as a testament to the devoutness of the holy capital. As Celestia, a young lady with brown hair and brown eyes, entered the open hall for her daily prayers, a hushed reverence seemed to envelop the surroundings. The intricate architecture, adorned with arches and stained glass windows, filtered the warm afternoon sunlight, creating a mosaic of colored beams that danced upon the marble floor.
The air within the prayer hall carried a subtle fragrance of incense, a timeless aroma that accompanied the faithful in their moments of devotion. The echoes of distant footsteps reverberated through the cavernous space, a harmonious symphony of the sacred. As Celestia approached the altar, the gentle rustling of her modest brown robe added a soft cadence to the atmosphere.
In a sudden moment of divine intervention, the entire capital was plunged into shock and awe as a radiant light descended upon the prayer hall, illuminating it for a fleeting second before coming to a gentle stop. The Pope and other cardinals, drawn by the ethereal occurrence, hurriedly entered the hall, only to be met with the sight of a transformed Celestia.
No longer recognizable, Celestia stood before them with silver hair and diamond-like eyes, an embodiment of celestial grace. The Pope and cardinals, unable to comprehend the divine spectacle, found themselves staring at Saintess Celestia, a vessel chosen by the gods and angels. In the miraculous moment of transformation, God had bestowed upon her the memories of her existence from a time before the winding back of the ages. The prayer hall, now touched by the divine, bore witness to a manifestation of holiness that transcended the ordinary bounds of mortal understanding.
In the resplendent prayer hall, bathed in the soft glow of candlelight and adorned with intricate, medieval-era tapestries depicting scenes of divine significance, Celestia stood frozen. The sacred space, reminiscent of the grandeur of Vatican prayer halls, echoed with the hushed murmurs of prayers and the occasional creaking of the aged wooden pews.
The air hung heavy with the scent of burning incense, a fragrant offering to the divine. The flickering candles cast dancing shadows on the mosaic-covered walls, creating an atmosphere that seemed to transcend the earthly realm. The vaulted ceilings, adorned with celestial motifs, reached towards the heavens, emphasizing the spiritual sanctity of the space.
Celestia now found herself in a moment suspended in time. The pope and cardinals, clad in richly embroidered vestments, entered with a mix of awe and confusion upon their faces. The very individuals who had branded her a witch and condemned her to the flames in the previous timeline now stared back at her, their expressions a mix of recognition and disbelief.
The divine revelation, accompanied by a brief descent of light, had transformed her into Saintess Celestia. The silver-haired, diamond-eyed lady met the gaze of the religious authorities, her identity now a vessel for a divine mission. In the stillness of the prayer hall, the weight of God's instructions pressed upon her.
The echoes of the past mingled with the sacred hymns, creating a poignant backdrop to the unfolding revelation. Celestia, chosen and endowed with the power of healing through solar energy absorption, grappled with the dual nature of her existence. As the divine charge to protect the world rested upon her shoulders, the history of persecution and betrayal remained a haunting specter in the sacred space.
The prayer hall, a silent witness to the divine calling, stood as a testament to the cyclical nature of fate and the possibility of redemption. Celestia, in the midst of the spiritual grandeur, contemplated her newfound purpose and the journey that lay ahead, guided by the divine mandate entrusted to her.
In the wake of the divine revelation that had left the Cardinals in awe, Saintess Celestia engaged in a lengthy discussion with the religious authorities. The prayer hall, still bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, witnessed the exchange of words that delved into the details of her newfound identity as Saintess Celestia.
As the Cardinals sought to satisfy their hunger for understanding, Saintess Celestia carefully navigated the intricacies of the divine instructions she had received. With a measured approach, she shared how God had directed her to embark on a journey eastward, emphasizing the importance of this sacred mission. The tapestries on the walls seemed to sway with the gravity of the conversation, their depictions of celestial beings mirroring the divine essence that now permeated the space.
Saintess Celestia, Silver-haired and diamond-eyed, spoke eloquently about her duty to protect the world, the power of healing bestowed upon her by absorbing the energy from the sun, and the broader purpose that God had laid out for her. However, she tactfully omitted certain details—specifically, the divine mandate to find another lady, marry the same person as her, and ensure that their child would become the next Pope.
The Cardinals, with a mixture of reverence and scrutiny, listened intently. The fragrance of incense hung in the air like a silent witness to the unfolding conversation. The stained-glass windows, illuminated by the flickering candles, cast a mosaic of colors across the prayer hall, adding a surreal dimension to the proceedings.
In the midst of this discussion, Celestia's gaze met the eyes of the Cardinals, her unwavering commitment to the divine mission evident. The echoes of the past, marked by persecution and betrayal, were juxtaposed against the sacred space that now served as a canvas for her revelations. She would her revenge on the cardinals and save the holy city. Not immediately but definitely.