NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52 (The Glorious Path)
Angar awoke slowly. His head was extremely groggy and fuzzy, and he had a hard time opening his eyes. His body still hurt tremendously.
He was in a small, enclosed space, the air cool and still. The door, a solid slab of wood, was closed. The walls were a dull gray, pressing in close, and a faint hum vibrated through everything, steady like a heartbeat.
He lay inside a strange machine with mechanical arms, its surfaces smooth and cold against his skin, dotted with glowing lights that flickered in patterns he couldn't understand. The machine held him gently but firmly. It felt oddly reassuring for being so unfamiliar.
Most of the machine was above him, and he could climb out from either side of the part he lay on.
He lay for a moment longer, trying to force the grogginess away.
He believed the mob he witnessed trying to storm the Eyes of Providence building, likely led by the Sister Kenson Spirit had mentioned, must've taken him here.
When forcing the grogginess away failed, he slid off the side of the machine and stood, noticing he was naked.
His wounds weren't healed, but had been treated, and he was covered with healing patches. His missing toes had been stitched and coated in an itchy goo. His missing fingers had the same goo, but hadn't needed stitching.
Across the room, a counter stretched along one wall, catching his eye. On it, he noticed his maul, so wherever he was, he was trusted to be armed. He checked, and his ring was still on his finger.
Above the counter hung three signs, each pointing down to objects below. The initial sign said, "First, scan this with the Holy System," and pointed to piece of paper with a jumble of thin lines scratched across it, like tracks in the dirt.
The next sign said, "Second, put these on," and aimed at a neat pile of gray clothing and large black boots.
The last sign said, "Third, push this button," and pointed to a small device with a round knob sticking out.
Before anything, Angar got his maul and meditated until his resources were full.
He had never been shown how to scan with the System, and it took him a few annoying minutes to figure it out. When he finally scanned the paper, a message appeared in his eyes.
Aspirant, by the Divine will of the Three, you are called to the path of sanctification. Read all and accept the terms.
THE GLORIOUS PATH OF THE CRUSADER
Those born naturally wanting to aspire to Crusader must join a Cloisteranage prior to age 12, then survive harrowing trials dubbed The Grim Ordeals of Sanctified Knighthood at age 16.
CLOISTERANAGES
Boys and girls share the same path of training in mixed Cloisteranages through the fateful age of 11, at which point they are divided by the edicts of purity, each dispatched to the austere confines of a Cloisteranage-Scholarium to forge a destiny of glory, or obscurity.
From the moment of birth, within the sacred walls of these institutes, children are molded through:
Hypno-Indoctrination and Scholastics: Hypnotic rites, spiritual conditioning, and iron discipline shatter their minds, rebuilding them as bastions of the Three's will, ensuring absolute fealty. Catechisms, dogma, knowledge of the Holy Empire, and the infernal are burned into their souls, including our glorious history, Heretical identification techniques, Divine System and Classes, and tactics and leadership.
Combat Training: Wielding blade, fist, and blaster, students are trained to kill and to root out corruption. Weakness is purged; mercy is sin.
Trials: Quarterly rites of endurance and faith crush the frail, tempering survivors in adversity's fire.
THE GRIM ORDEALS OF SANCTIFIED KNIGHTHOOD
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Most of our youth prove themselves unworthy of the sacred mantle of the Crusader long before the age of 16, their paths instead veering towards service in the solemn ranks of the Ecclesiastic or among the devout Laity.
At the age of 16, the same hallowed threshold the Messiah, blessed Mother Mi, first unleashed her wrath upon the infernal Hellspawn that dared besiege Terra, and girded herself for battle, those few remaining aspirants undergo the Sacrament of Purification and Sanctification, a deadly ordeal for very many of our most promising youth consisting of:
The Psygistrion: The first test, usually nonfatal, but dooms the fate of many. A trial of the mind, where aspirants are subjected to a two-week ordeal of drug-fueled neurological and psychological torment, its goal to break the will and spirit, whispers of abyssal temptations testing their conviction. Those who withstand are blessed with enhanced mental fortitude and will, their faith sealed against corruption.
The Penitent's Sacrarium of Sanctified Transfiguration: Its secrets are known only to a select few clergy, its aspirants unremembering of their terrible ordeal, its effects on the survivors profound, granting heightened senses, a minor regeneration effect, enhanced spatial awareness, metabolism, speed, intuition, and reflexes as if blessed by the Messiah herself.
Baptistry of Igneous Purgation: This trial is often fatal. A baptism by Holy fire in burning liquid where the unworthy perish in anguish. Leaving this bath before the process is finished results in agonizing death. Oftentimes, remaining in the bath results in agonizing death. Those who endure gain protection against the ravages of extreme conditions, their bodies purged of impurities, their skin sanctified against toxin and many forms of damage and harm.
THE DIVINE CRUCIBLE
Finally, the Divine Crucible, the last test of aspirants, a personal and individually created Hellscape administered by Holy Theosis in dilated time, where one's soul and resolve are tested beyond mortal limits, and details of this sacred trial never remembered.
Here, failure leads to mandatory service in less glorious but vital roles, such as within the combat-arms factions of the Ecclesiastic or Laity, or as a questing Free Agent.
Though rare, those who complete the Divine Crucible, instead of becoming a Crusader, may request these far less glorious and honorable assignments as well.
THE SACROSANCT FORGING
Aspirants surviving these grim and hallowed trials undergo two ancient sacred rites:
Bones of the Rakshasa: A ritual that renders their skeletal system as unyielding as the faith they hold, making once brittle bones nearly invulnerable to physical trauma.
Blessing of Samson: Enhancing their strength and endurance significantly, a sanctified ritual embodying the might of those blessed by God Himself.
Aspirants are then augmented with three mandatory implants:
Neurvux: A neural network that not only interfaces with their own nervous system and augmented biology, but also external systems. Nine interconnected nodes are placed throughout their body, allowing connection to objects such as the sacred arms and armaments of the Crusaders.
Infernus Oculus: An eye that sees through the darkness, and a doughty aid in spotting illusions cast by the foul spawns of Hell.
Somnoregulator: An implant that allows aspirants to forgo much sleep, their vigil eternal, their alertness exalted.
THE ANOINTMENT
In the storied halls of one of our grand Cathedrals, where the echo of battle chants reverberates through the stone, the aspirants partake in the sacred rite known as the Anointment. This is no mere ceremony; it is a confirmation of faith and glory, where the chosen are blessed by the Holy oils of the Three's own will and sanctity. Anointed with these sacred essences, their flesh becomes a vessel for the Holy Empire's will, their souls armored against the darkness of Hell.
Upon completion of this hallowed ceremony, they emerge not as mere mortals, but as true Holy Knights, ready for martyrdom and their names to be inscribed in the Litany of Heroes. They stand ready to pledge their undying loyalty to the ranks of the myriad Knightly Chapters, each a bulwark against unholy darkness, each a beacon of our glorious Holy Empire's undying resolve, each waging eternal Holy War against the evils of Hell.
THE SACRED AND IRREVOCABLE COVENANT OF THE ASPIRANT
By Order of Theosis and the Divine Will of the Holy Trinity
Effective Immediately Upon Engagement
Introduction
This Sacred and Irrevocable Covenant of the Aspirant (hereinafter "the Covenant") governs your participation in this Cloisteranage, the trials, duties, and sanctification processes administered by the Empire of the Holy Trinity (hereinafter "the Holy Empire") under the Divine oversight of Theosis and the Custos Sapientiae of this Cloisteranage. By accessing, engaging with, or otherwise commencing forthwith as herein described, you (hereinafter "the Aspirant") agree to be bound by the terms set forth in this Covenant, as decreed by the eternal will of the Holy Trinity.
Acceptance of Terms
Your initiation into a Cloisteranage or any interaction with the Holy Empire's facilities or procedures constitutes your full and unconditional acceptance of this Covenant. These terms are binding upon you immediately and irrevocably, pursuant to the Divine authority vested in the coming and arrival, Theosis, the Divine System, by God Himself. Should you fail to agree to these terms in their entirety, you are prohibited from proceeding and must withdraw forthwith, subject to the judgment of…
Angar stopped reading. He was at a Cloisteranage, where the Holy Empire raised most of its children. He'd do whatever it took to get the type of armor Knights wore.
He knew he was a lot tougher than the two Knights he'd faced earlier. He just needed the gear to match, and a weapon that could actually hurt the armor.
He also needed the power the Grim Trials granted aspirants. What he just read through made it seem significant, more so than he had assumed by what Spirit had told him.
Once he had that power, he could ascend to the second Tier.
Then he'd continue his war against the Eyes of Providence, until they all, or he, lay dead.
He just hoped that since he was already a Crusader, he wouldn't have to wait until he was 16. But if he had to, he had to.
He scrolled to the bottom and agreed to the terms.