Golden light from the morning sun filtered through the curtains and onto the plush carriage interior.
The vehicle swayed gently as it flew across the sky, the path leading from the Mooncrest Empire's palace toward the distant Church of Nyxiana.
Nyx sat back against the cushions, his black hair catching the light, dressed in a simple yet elegant shirt and trousers that spoke of his princely status.
Beside him, Nyami perched with her usual poise, her hair neatly braided, the two elegant horns on her head adding to her ethereal grace.
Her maid's uniform was impeccable, though her eyes held a watchful tenderness as they flicked toward him now and then.
Across from them sat a striking woman, her presence commanding even in the confined space.
Her hair was a cascade of deep red with striking white strands woven through, falling like flames over her shoulders.
A black blindfold covered her eyes, yet she seemed to sense everything around her with uncanny precision.
She wore a satin skirt that draped elegantly over her legs, paired with a fitted black leather top that accentuated her curves.
Intricate tattoos swirled across her exposed skin —arms, neck, and collarbone —depicting ancient and beautifully celestial patterns of ink.
Above her head hovered a beautifully elegant halo, glowing faintly with a soft, otherworldly light, marking her divine connection.
Nyx shifted slightly, still adjusting to the early hour.
Leyina had slipped away before dawn, her goodbye a quick, kiss on his cheek as she whispered promises of reunion on the weekend.
Elysiana had arrived promptly after, her carriage a vision of church opulence, and
Leyina had departed for her own kingdom duties with a lingering glance back. Now, as the cityscape gave way to rolling hills dotted with sacred groves, Nyx cleared his throat, breaking the comfortable silence.
"So... you're Elysiana?" Nyx asked, his voice steady but laced with curiosity.
He studied her face, the blindfold making her expression enigmatic, her lips curved in a calm, knowing smile.
The woman inclined her head gracefully, the halo shifting like a crown of light.
"Yes, Nyx sama. I am Elysiana, High Priestess of the Church of Nyxiana. It is an honor to finally meet you in full awareness. Goddess Nyxiana has spoken highly of your destiny,"
"But Why the sudden call?"
"Yes I am here to assist with your Apostle awakening by Nyxiana's willrW." She said with practiced grace.
Nyami nodded beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm in silent support.
"Lady Elysiana is the most trusted guide in these matters, Master. Her wisdom comes directly from the goddess."
Nyx frowned, leaning forward a bit.
He drowned in his thoughts, memories of his partial awakening during the coma flashing briefly — that surge of power, back when he was attacked.
It was... Raw and driving him to borderline madness.
"Awakening? I thought... I mean, after the ambush and everything, I felt something stir inside me. Wasn't that it? Haven't I already awakened?"
Elysiana shook her head slowly, her red hair swaying with the motion. The tattoos on her neck seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive.
"No, my prince. What you experienced was merely a partial awakening —a glimpse, triggered by the danger you faced. It was enough to save you and Lady Leyina,"
"However it was incomplete. Dangerous, even. Your abilities are tied to forces so potent they could unravel you if not handled with care.
You must awaken properly, under my guidance, in the sacred halls of the church. Only then can we ensure your safety and the empire's."
Nyx's brow furrowed deeper, his fingers drumming on the armrest.
The air in the carriage carried a faint scent of incense from Elysiana's presence, mingling with the fresh morning breeze slipping through the cracked window.
"Dangerous how? What exactly are my abilities? Leyina mentioned the apostle role, but she was vague. I need to know what I'm dealing with —especially if it's going to help at the academy."
Elysiana's blindfolded gaze seemed to pierce right through him, her voice calm and measured.
"Your powers are linked to the Seven Sins, wrapped in divine wrath and mortal temptation. They are not gifts bestowed lightly, but curses repurposed for a greater purpose."
"The Seven Sins?" Nyx echoed, glancing at Nyami for reassurance. She met his eyes with a soft nod, her elegant horns catching the light.
"How? I mean, why me? What's the connection?"
The priestess leaned back, her satin skirt rustling softly. She folded her hands in her lap, the leather top creaking faintly with the movement.
"It stems from the Second Cataclysm, twenty-three years past. The hero summoned from another world —you've heard of him before, I presume?"
"Yes I have."
"He rose like a storm, conquering threats and purging the darkness. But the gods grew envious of his might. In their jealousy, they allied with the monstrous hordes from the other side, weaving a curse upon him. A binding of the Seven Sins, meant to consume him from within. It did, in the end, leading to his fall. Yet the curse did not die with him."
Nyx felt a chill despite the warming sun.
"So... it passed to his child? That's me?"
Elysiana nodded, her halo glowing a touch brighter.
"Precisely. The hero's lineage carried the burden. Your mother, the late Empress of Mooncrest, bore you amid the curse's fury. She knew the risks —the pain, the sacrifices —but her love was unwavering. It ended up claiming her life during your birth, a sacrifice to bring you into this world. The curse slumbers in your veins since then, intertwined with Nyxiana's blessings."
A pang of sadness twisted in Nyx's chest, unbidden and sharp.
He stared at his hands, remembering fragments of the original Nyx's memories: a mother's lullabies cut short, a cribside vigil that ended in tragedy.
"She... died because of me? Because of this curse? I didn't know. No one ever told me the full story."
Nyami's hand squeezed his gently, her touch warm and grounding. She leaned closer, her voice a soothing murmur, pink hair brushing his shoulder.
"Don't let it hurt you, Master. Your mother loved you fiercely. Even knowing the dangers, she chose to give you life. She held you close until her last breath. You're not a burden —you're her legacy."
Nyx swallowed, meeting Nyami's gaze. Her words eased the ache, a balm on old wounds he hadn't fully felt until now.
"Nyami... I... I just wish I could have known her."
Elysiana's expression softened, though the blindfold hid her eyes.
"And that is why your awakening must proceed under strict observation, Prince Nyx. The curse's power is volatile; without control, it could harm you as it did the hero and your mother."
"But under Nyxiana's grace, we can harness it. You will become a force for the empire's protection, especially with the forthcoming of a Third Cataclysm."
Nyx straightened, determination flickering in his dark blue eyes.
The carriage flew past a hill, the church's silhouette emerging on the horizon —towers of white marble etched with lunar symbols, veiled in morning mist.
"I understand. Then what do I need to do? How do we start this properly?"