The crack in the sky shivered-then sealed shut as if invisible hands stitched it together.
Elior stood frozen, staring at the empty heavens.
"Bro… we should go home," Peter's shaky voice cut through the silence.
Elior nodded slowly.
"Yeah… after seeing that, I'm not in the mood for any fun."
They walked back into the quarters, still glancing upward every few seconds.
"See you tomorrow," Peter said.
"Yeah… night."
They waved, stepped into their separate rooms, and the night settled around them like a heavy blanket.
Elior collapsed onto his bed, eyes burning with exhaustion. Before he knew it, sleep dragged him under.
---
The Next Morning
Elior jolted awake.
And immediately almost screamed.
A soft, golden panel hovered three inches from his face, letters glowing like living fire.
╠═ Heavenly System ═╣
Do you believe?
◉ Yes ○ No
He swung at it. His hand passed right through.
It didn't move.
Then a gentle chime rang.
Elior stared.
His heart raced. He had work. Rent. A life that barely held together.
He leapt out of bed, washed in record time, dressed, and ran.
He still arrived late.
Garrus was waiting outside, frowning like a storm cloud ready to explode.
"Lad, I swear, if you weren't useful I'd have thrown ye out six months ago-!"
Thirty minutes.
Thirty whole minutes of yelling.
Then finally Elior escaped into the restaurant, tied his apron, and began taking orders.
But the panel was still there.
Floating beside him like a quiet companion only he could see.
╠═ Heavenly System ═╣
Do you believe?
Do you believe?
Do you believe?
It followed him through the kitchen.
Through the crowd.
Through every thought.
He ignored it… until lunchtime.
---
A small boy-no older than eight-sat alone at a table. Thin. Shivering. Dirty feet dangling off the wooden chair.
Elior recognized him.
Tobin.
One of the abandoned kids who scavenged around the city.
He usually came with two other street kids. But today… he was alone.
Elior approached him.
"You okay, kid?"
Tobin looked up with wide, tired eyes.
"Mister… can I… can I have just the leftovers again…? My sister is sick. She hasn't eaten since yesterday."
Elior froze.
He looked back at Garrus.
The old man was busy counting money-eyes sharp, watching, always watching.
If Elior gave Tobin food without permission…
He'd be fired. No mercy.
Tobin kept staring.
Hands trembling.
Trying hard not to cry.
Elior's chest tightened painfully.
His thoughts screamed:
"If there is a God… why do kids go hungry?"
"Why do good people die?"
"Why Volradis?"
And right at that moment…
The panel flashed again.
Soft. Gentle.
Almost… understanding.
╠═ Heavenly System ═╣
Do you believe?
◉ Yes ○ No
Elior swallowed hard.
His hands trembled.
He looked between the starving child…
The greedy old owner…
The broken world…
And the golden panel asking the question he'd spent his whole life running from.
Slowly, Elior whispered:
"…if there's something out there…
If Someone is actually watching…
If this isn't just madness…"
His eyes softened.
He placed a gentle hand on Tobin's head.
"Wait here," he said.
Then, heart pounding like a war drum, Elior reached toward the glowing panel…
And pressed YES.
The world went perfectly still.
Then a voice, tender yet unshakable, spoke inside Elior's soul:
"Well done, My beloved son.
In your weakness, My strength is made perfect."
Golden light flooded everything.
╠═ Heavenly System ═╣
┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓
│ Awakening Complete │
│ Chosen Vessel: Elior │
│ Rank: Saint (E) – Level 1 │
┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛