Chapter 1—Begin Anew

⁘⁛Cerulean⁛⁘

Princess Celine Klein returned to Castle Cerulean to find its survivors gathered in front of central hall. The doors were locked tight, however, and even were they not, soldiers stood between them as if the people were their enemy. She did not like the sight of it, but she left Elias in charge and was sure he had his reasons. It wasn’t like the people needed to get to Sector Two either way. Her mother was still recovering from the encounter with Fang, and would not soon be ready for a sermon. With the way things turned out at the obelisk, the princess didn’t even know what her mother could say. The book of visions did not speak of the terror she saw out there, and she was sure it did not speak clearly about whatever might come next. Cerulean was in the dark, for the second time this evening, but there was definitely one person who could shed a little light.

She did not drop and greet the soldiers but flew over their heads to the cries of their people. More soldiers were cleaning up the remains of the ritual at the lab, but she ignored them too as she strode inside, finding Francis at the front desk giving orders. Their researchers were ragged from the tumultuous night, scared of tomorrow, and certainly not in the right mind. Francis, however, seemed just as calm as he normally was, and for the first time, Celine found that his composure bothered her. He waved his underlings off as she drew closer, lowering his head into a respectful bow.

“You’re back, Princess, but it does not seem you brought a new vessel with you.”

She crossed her arms. “Unfortunately, that vessel ended up becoming the host for something else. Tell me, Francis, what do you know about the God Eternal?”

It might have been easy to miss if she wasn't watching closely, but there came the subtle tightening of his jaw. She locked eyes with him, warning off whatever half-truth he was about to draw, eliciting a sigh instead as Francis moved to sit down.

"Well?" She allowed it because it meant he wouldn't run away either.

“As you know, my lady, I previously worked with a group calling themselves New Dawn. I was not working in true faith with them, using their knowledge to further God’s plan instead. However, New Dawn worked to fight against a single enemy. They called it the God Eternal, but as he was not blue and blue alone, I thought that it was merely a pretender.”

“Another demon perhaps? A king of them?” She suggested.

“Yes, though New Dawn took it quite seriously. It did not matter, I saw the chance to put God on his proper throne, and did not humor New Dawn’s ravings.”

"And yet, Francis, the way you react tells me you did not completely dismiss them either. Frankly, I might even take umbrage with that, if it didn't have to face this false god myself." Celine hissed. Taking a breath to steady herself, she asked her question again. "So, what is the God Eternal?"

“Based on New Dawn’s findings, it is a seed that will eventually grow into the form of a true and proper god. The One True God, they say, worshiped throughout the world as an individual and all powerful being. Each seed is a fragment, and they grow stronger through combat, becoming more connected to the One True God’s light. When it achieves this, the world will fall under his whim.”

“How did New Dawn plan to face this threat?”

“They had a few plans, milady. The first was to create their own Lightbearers, by collecting the light of scattered souls and implanting them within single bodies. There were five Refracted Harbingers as I recall. Green, Red, Blue, Purple, Yellow. One such became the vessel we previously used.”

"Was the Crimson Prophet another of them?"

Francis let the question sit in silence for a moment. Eventually, he nodded, slowly, and Celine sneered. Could they have avoided tonight’s carnage if this information was already on the table? Could they have prepared for it?

She barked. "What of the other ones?"

“That much I do not know. The Refracted Harbinger plan was where my group interfered with the Advent Ascension. Once we acquired the Blue Vessel, we did not concern ourselves with the others.”

The Princess thought she might know where two more were. She had seen the green one herself during their battle with the God Eternal and did not like what his presence meant. Purple was another story, but not nearly as dangerous as Green or Red. Could the Purple she know also be one of these Harbingers, or had Cerulean merely fought a struggling kingdom seven years ago? Either way, that still left one, but she would have to come back to that later.

“What were their other plans?”

“We have always recognized it as a sign of the intruders. I suppose the true plan for Lightbearers was the armor the intruders wear. It was developed so that even the most daft of fools could utilize their light and fight like a Lightbearer. The halos we use now were key components to that.”

That sounded like Celine's suspicion of the Purple might be right. Still, she stayed focused.

“What else?”

“On last plan that was so dastardly it made me ill. They turned to the darkness for help, and were told to find children in glowing buildings. They called them Dark Disciples.”

And that would be Fang and the two boys. In comparison to New Dawn, Celine found Castle Cerulean lacking. This battle with the God Eternal was far from over, and the way things turned out tonight told her that was hardly the last battle they would face. Cerulean needed to get a leg up if it wanted to make it to the future, and it would need more than that to truly rule this world. She looked at Francis, with all his secret knowledge of New Dawn. If this organization made their halos and armed the intruders to fight their greatest foe, then New Dawn would serve Cerulean too.

“Francis, you will use this knowledge for Castle Cerulean’s future.”

“But, milady, this is affront to the Almighty Want!”

"Make no mistake. It is by the Almighty Want and the book of visions that you stand before me in the first place. The Arbiter brought you to us, Francis, only for you to tell me you were holding back. From now on, there should be no question as to how you serve the Castle. Let tonight be a warning, Cerulean shall never face disaster and despair again." She glared down at him, but rather than fear she saw his belief swell up. She was ready to send him to work when a message filled her mind.

“Celine, Elias, come quickly. Your father and siblings have risen.” It was her mother, and she supposed this meant she had just given her final order…

⁘⁛Seedling⁛⁘

It was hell for the people who reignited in the twisted streets of Old New York City. One moment, they were going through the day-to-day, jobs and errands, dates, and secret rendezvouses. In the next, they awakened in darkened streets lit only by rivers of light beneath them. They didn't get the chance to get their bearings before hell befell them, birthing into life through things that looked human for a fraction of a moment before howling and attacking. Paralysis overtook them, uncertain about this new worldly revelation. Maybe it was how much things had changed, or how much sense their minds had to make, but eventually, they gave up, running and screaming, joining the choir that filled this endless night. They ran like they had when they were Grays, but hardly as efficiently, hardly as good at ignoring their wear and tear. They just had to run longer than the person beside them or run fast enough to duck behind cover as projectiles flew. They just had to run, but when a turn on E.1st led to W.97th, they wondered, run where? Many of them fell, to fatigue, to defeat, to that suffocating touch of fear around their neck. Many of them prayed, turning to God because he seemed to be the only one who could save them from this. Many still died, but the prayers of others were heard, as angels with burning orange halos and wings swooped in and tore through their pursuers. Angels filled the sky above them and dived, except for one, warming them in that way that only the sun could after a rainy day.

"Do you hear me, worshipers of our Lord?" Its voice was masculine, but its body androgynous and pale like porcelain, colored only by the light of three halos interlocked above its head. "I am the Archangel Gabriel, sent by our lord to show you the path to salvation. He makes a haven for you now, in the hallowed halls of your Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Let his angels clear a path and follow it as you follow him. In this place our lord's first son awaits. In this place, he shall serve and prepare you for our Lord's return."

They would not reject these words. They would not cast doubt. Turning toward where angels slew demons these people ran to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, sitting not where they remembered but waiting all the same. Waiting with angels circling above it like hawks. Waiting with two forms inside. One, another Archangel. The other, a bearded man with long brown hair that fell down his back. His body was strong in the way of a man who knew hard work, toned by the toil of repetitive and honest effort. He stood as if he was newly awakened, not yet through the fog of a world he never knew, but ready to meet it all the same. He stood on the stage of the cathedral, looking out to the empty pews. The Archangel’s body was much the same in a way, and he spoke with a heavier voice than Gabriel as he came to this man’s side.

“My brothers have showed them the way to your light, my Lord.”

The man’s head turned just enough for his ears to catch the words. They seemed to take him from where ever his mind was. “I can hear them in my heart, Michael. They are many.”

“Yes. This world has grown immensely since your time, but your followers have served you well. There are few who have yet to know your father’s light. There are none who can challenge it. Many will come seeking passage into heaven from this hell.”

“As his first son, I shall lead them there. Tell your brothers to dedicate themselves to safe passage, Michael. I can feel the pulse of this strange city. It is truly sickly.”

“Of course, Lord Adam.” Michael bowed. Six great wings stretched and wrapped him in a cocoon, removing him from the cathedral with a flash of light.

Alone, Adam looked out to the pews again. He would need far more than this for what his plans required. The angels would bring people to be certain, but he had his own job to do. This city. This “New York,” was not too different from Jerusalem, but he would not be so foolish as to leave it in mortal hands again. It truly was sickly, and he could feel the cancer of it growing. It had only been hours since he rose, but he felt the force of his enemies. They would not see the next era. They would not sit upon the throne of God…

⁘⁛Orange⁛⁘

As the mobile lab rumbled on, its passengers undisturbed by the waking world, Ace had a dream. In this dream, he was in the marbled halls of somewhere opulent, where gold lined the floors and wrapped around the base of pillars. The sky above was bright and blue, the sun shining in through views overlooking verdant hills. He was moving, passing walls painted with murals that seemed one part family portrait, and another, epic depiction. He followed a boy around his age, with a strong tanned body and curling dark hair. For a moment this boy paused and turned to him, looked through him, to another behind him. This second boy was not much different in build and complexion, but his hair was long and tied, and his smile was bright.

“Phosphorus!” Said the new boy, coming up to shake Phosphorus’s arm at the elbow. “When did you arrive? Did your mother bring you?”

He shook his head. "She has gone to that new land, where the crown of the world is being built. She thinks that it would be best to convince Zeus to acknowledge it, but I find such matters bothersome."

“And so you come to me! Perhaps for games, girls, or gallivanting!”

“Perhaps…” Phosphorus looked away, face flushed. He bid his friend follow him between pillars to look over the land. When they did and breathed deep, he broke the silence before it settled. “Seiros, does the world not feel different for you?”

“In what way?”

“Both mortals and our kind speak of this crown of the world. Some do so with trepidation, but the mortals especially see hope in it. Maybe it is my pessimism, but it unnerves me. Can we truly crown a world we do not know?”

“The first thing I can say to this, Phosphorus, is that you are certainly here for girls, games, and gallivanting, if so young a mind can go to such old thoughts. I am not one for philosophy, as you know.” Seiros grinned.

Phosphorus sighed. “I know, but your games are often ones of strategy, and there are few minds I would rank higher than yours.”

"I am flattered you did not rank me second to you. At least not out loud."

Phosphorus laughed again, but his friend's good nature could not steady his heart for long. He sighed once more and leaned against a pillar. "What good is a mind like my own without a proper ear to hear it?"

"And how proper are these ears that hear your woes but not their root in your heart?" Seiros offered a somber smile. Ace wondered if Fang could offer Phosphorus freedom from these words. "Oh, but I might know someone!" As if they shared the thought, Seiros perked up. "It turns out you are here for girls, Phosphorus. One in particular I might add. I think you might enjoy Lilith’s company.” More was said between them, perhaps about who this Lilith was and where Phosphorus might meet her, but their words fell silent as Ace’s body shook.

Slowly, he awoke to find King nudging him, and the mobile lab brought to a complete stop. Fang and Micaela were awake too, and Khalaf had emerged to join this impromptu meeting. Maybe it was Ace’s new power that pushed immediate grogginess away. Or maybe it was the look in Fang’s eyes, that told him they had to prepare for what was coming next.

“We are not that far from the Enclave now, but before we get there I think we should make a plan.” She said as she noticed his eyes on her. “To start, I don’t think we should go there as we are now.” She gestured at herself, and then around the cabin.

“I might agree,” Khalaf nodded. “I’m personally fine myself, but you all scream otherworldly in my opinion."

Micaela stared sidelong at him. “Ignoring the literal ghost saying that, don’t you guys trust the Enclave?”

Fang shook her head. “It’s not that I distrust them, but much of what we heard in the city has given me reason to be cautious. A lot of it came from Cerulean, however, I would prefer to proceed with caution.”

“Which begs the question, can we even look normal again?”

King nodded. “Using the idea of the Soul Frame that Dr. Gupta and the Book of New Dawn mentions, yes you all can. I just need to turn my armor off and they won’t know about the change, for you three its a matter of reshaping yourselves. You’ll still possess your powers but it’ll be inward instead of outward.”

“Like the royal children!” Micaela clapped.

Ace chimed in, “Should we hide how it made us stronger too? To be honest, I wanted to do a few simulations to test what I could do. The battle with The God Eternal was a good example, but not a good place to learn.”

“No, I think it’s all right to go ahead. We should speak to the Administrator first, but I don’t see any reason why you should hesitate, especially after the battle.” Fang replied.

They hadn't talked about it much, but the battle with the God Eternal did linger on their minds. In any other situation, they surely would have died. It often felt like they did no damage, whereas they were worn down more and more. Death wasn't avoidable, so they had to make it a part of the plan. It worked out, but there wouldn't be a second time. If that battle told them anything it was that their abilities were still crude. There was only one way to hone them, and it wasn't waiting for the right time.

“On that note,” King spoke. “Ace, do you feel any different after absorbing that Fragment? Even as Dark Disciples, we shouldn’t ignore that you had a direct connection with the One True God. That fragment is surely different than any others we’ll find.”

Feel different? No, but that dream was certainly strange. He shared as much with the others but wasn't surprised when no one offered anything back. Khalaf at least seemed to be pondering it though, chewing on the words as if he recognized some of them. The mobile lab started moving again before he finally snapped and stopped any coming lull.

“I can’t really place it, but Lilith is a name I’ve heard a few times before. Considering our recent worldly revelations, I might say her words are something you should pay attention to.”

“Do you think it’ll connect directly to the God Eternal?”

“Maybe not directly, but close enough. After all, this memory came straight from the big man himself. Phosphorus, Seiros, and Lilith. I wonder why their names linger so potently in the orange.”

Ace wondered too and wondered about where they lived. Beyond their names, that question Phosphorus asked was at the front of Ace's mind. How did anyone think they could crown the world when even now people knew too little about it?

[Chapter 1 ends…]