Sariel was beyond nervous at this point.

She could feel an uncomfortable sensation of expectation and unease settle within her stomach, churning as though violent winds were sweeping through her digestive system. She had agreed to becoming a Knight without integrating a Memento Source Fragment, knowing that Knighthood would provide her far more opportunities in order to obtain a System Acknowledged Feat.

Her abilities were limited at Mortality, considering that she primarily focused on obtaining fragments with concepts related to "protection," "healing," "support" and "defence."

Sariel was quite pleased with all the fragments that she had integrated. Her Title, Adeptus Santus Medicus increased the effectiveness of all abilities with either the Recovery Trait or Defence Trait, which when factoring in both her Life Mana Core and Shield Mana Core was close to half of all the abilities she had manifested.

"Are you ready?" Jon asked her, his face obscured beneath the Heretical Chalk Protection. Wilheim standing behind her similarly wearing his Fragment Of Helm, or Chandala; Vision Of Liquid Lapis.

She could feel Metzli within her shadow, placed there at Avahni's behest, alongside two of her brother's summoned companions; Lamorak; Knight Of The Golden-Tree and Peleus; Principality Of Fruitful Harvests.

Schwarz Eis standing beside Jon, smiling at her.

She nodded, seeing just how many protectors she would have during her ascension. With Jon alone she was sure that no-one would dare try anything during her ascension to Knighthood but with over a half-a-dozen different summoned companions protecting her, Sariel felt a trace of warmth blossom within her chest.

Although dozens of different things had happened since the beginning of the System Introduction, she did not once regret meeting Avahni and Wilheim on that fateful afternoon. Her encounter with Jon mere hours later and despite her initial distrust with the man had grown to treat him as a friend that she could always rely on.

The friction between her Source and Jon's was lessened the moment she formed her Title, almost to the point where she could not feel it anymore unless she was physically touching him.

She knew that some of the natural concepts within his Source opposed some of the concepts within hers although were ignored, instead allowing her to relish in the sense of calm Adeptus Sanctus Medicus granted her.

Focusing on her Mortal Ranked Title, Sariel felt as though she was a still ocean surface.

Regardless of the wind or rain she would remain unmoving and unbreaking. A tranquil construct amidst a world of pain and misfortune.

Taking a deep breath, Sariel nodded her head once more, allowing for Jon to open up the enormous entrance to the Wonderous Forest Dwelling, stepping out onto the porte cochere and for the crowds gathered outside Harcourt to turn their attention towards their group.

Jon, wearing Glaucus and having manifested Assail in his hands, stepped out, ignoring the numerous probes of spiritual energy sent towards him. Each one being swallowed beneath the fathomless depths of Guf, Tehom and Hadal.

Schwarz Eis stepping out behind him, this time dressed in a black-white dress. The White Devil Of The Ninth Circle manifesting spiritual shields around the Sariel preventing any external source of spiritual energy to enter her mind, body or spirit.

Behind her was Wilheim.

And behind him was both Lamorak and Peleus.

The Knight Of The Golden-Tree a golden-human variant, while the Principality Of Fruitful Harvests a fruit-souled messenger. Although both possessed humanoid appearances, their eight-foot tall frames indicated above-average physical capabilities.

The two summoned companions were immediately observed using Fragments Of Inspection and Fragments Of Sight, glimpsing into the barest details of their respective status pages.

[Fragment Of Knight] [Lamorak; Knight Of The Golden-Tree] (Summon, Knight, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Principality] [Peleus; Principality Of Fruitful Harvests] (Summon, Principality, Ability, Spell, Buff)

A sense of realization washing over some of the more perceptible members of the crowd. Hushed whispers and low chatter scattered amongst their number.

"… No way, did they use a task reward in order to obtain such a Mana Core?"

"What do you mean? I don't under-."

"Summon Mana Core!?"

"How the hell would someone sustain so many companions before even becoming a Knight?!"

"Who would even be willing to integrate such a risky Mana Core anyway? The fragments needed to resummon companions at Lordship and Barony would be…"

The Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est stirred outside the front of Harcourt. His golden-silver eyes glancing towards Sariel's entourage, before uncoiling his monstrous form, allowing Sariel to walk closer towards him, as both Jon and Eis ascended up the length of his tail, standing atop his back the two observing the denizens of Springtown beneath them.

Wilheim stood behind both Lamorak and Peleus, still wearing Chandala.

Sariel took up a position behind him, her back softly resting against the platinum-coloured scales of Song Lian Yu.

Lifting her up towards Jon, she noticed him nod before reaching into her [Gluttonous Bird Of Cobalt Sanctuary] and retrieving the fragment that would form her final Mortal Ranked ability. Although it had been a long time coming, she felt, at Schwarz Eis' recommendation that obtaining a complete set of sin-type abilities would best suit her, knowing how conceptually weighted each of them were.

Fragment pathways would come easier, with the help of a certain ice devil spirit.

Fragment Of "Superbia" discovered!

Would you like to integrate this into your Shadow Mana Core?

Y/N

Sariel took another deep breath before glancing one last time towards her status page.

Name: Sariel Of Lemnos Age: 18 Rank: Mortal Tier: Sixth Initiation Title: Adeptus Sanctus Medicus

Mana Core(s)

[1]: Life [Fragment Of Physique] [Hers Is The Life That Cradles The Earth And Sky] (Life, Physique, Mutation, Ability, Passive)

[Fragment Of Spring] [Tenderness Is The Gentle Hand Of Spring] (Life, Spring, Spell, Healing, Recovery, Buff)

[Fragment Of Song] [Twelfth Sonnet Of Life] (Life, Song, Spell, Technique, Recovery, Buff)

[Fragment Of Cleanse]

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. [Ninth Verse Of Life] (Life, Cleanse, Spell, Technique, Buff)

[Fragment Of Phoenix] [Despoina; Salvation Of White Beginnings] (Summon, Life, Phoenix, Spell, Recovery, Buff)

[Fragment Of Staff] [Behold Thy Life-Giving Staff, Crafted From Merciful Blessings] (Life, Staff, Summon, Weapon, Spell, Ability, Buff, Recovery)

[2]: Shield [Fragment Of Devour] [Thou Shalt Stand Before The Boundless Maw] (Shield, Barrier, Defensive, Spell, Debuff]

[Fragment Of Repulsion] [Thou Shalt Not Gaze Upon Thine Image] (Shield, Repulsion, Defensive, Spell)

[Fragment Of Invisibility] [Thou Eyes Shalt Turn Away From The Truth] (Shield, Invisibility, Spell, Buff)

[Fragment Of Invocation] [Thou Shalt Kneel Before The Daughter Of Silence] (Shield, Invocation, Mutation, Ability, Passive)

[Fragment Of Incarnation] [With Thou In Hand, Shields Shall Obscure The Sun And Stars] (Shield, Incarnation, Ability, Technique, Spell, Construct, Buff)

[Fragment Of Prison] [Thou Sentence Shall Be One Of Damnation] (Shield, Prison, Spell, Ability, Debuff)

[3]: Space [Fragment Of Heart] [Weeping Throughout Emptiness] (Space, Heart, Mutation, Ability, Passive)

[Fragment Of Shadows] [The Shadows That Dwell Between Us] (Space, Shadows, Technique, Spell)

[Fragment Of Gula] [Gluttonous Bird Of Cobalt Sanctuary] (Space, Pocket, Technique, Spell, Ability, Construct)

[Fragment Of Mind] [Mine Is The Throne Of Distortion] (Space, Mind, Passive, Ability, Enhancement, Resistance, Self)

[Fragment Of Slash] [Spatial Art; Severance] (Space, Slash, Spell, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Denial] [Spatial Art; Negation] (Space, Denial, Spell, Ability, Debuff)

[4]: Lotus [Fragment Of Spirit] [Thou Art The Monarch Of Lotus And Dreams] (Lotus, Spirit, Mutation, Spell, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Shield] [Virtuous Lotus Art; Four-Petaled Flower Shield] (Lotus, Shield, Defensive, Buff)

[Fragment Of Water] [With Thou In Hand, Thine Lotus Shall Eclipse The Moon] (Lotus, Water, Technique, Ability, Spell, Construction, Buff)

[Fragment Of Star] [Carmine Star Of Flora Deva] (Lotus, Star, Ability, Spell, Technique, Construct, Buff)

[Fragment Of Luxuria] [Sinful Lotus Art; Decadent Lotus Ardour] (Lotus, Luxuria, Spell, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Acedia] [Sinful Lotus Art; Slothful Lotus Curse] (Lotus, Acedia; Spell, Curse, Debuff)

[5]: Phoenix [Fragment Of Summon] [Aerion; Preservation Of Dark Endings] (Summon, Phoenix, Ability, Spell, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Wings] [Behold Thy Nirvanic Wings, Burning With Phoenix Light] (Phoenix, Wings, Summon, Construct, Enhancement, Buff)

[Fragment Of Avaritia] [Avaricious Phoenix Art; Golden-Wealth Flame] (Phoenix, Avaritia, Spell, Ability, Recovery, Buff)

[Fragment Of Ira] [Wrathful Phoenix Art; Black Reincarnation Flame] (Phoenix, Ira, Spell, Ability, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Transformation] [Quasi-Phoenix Transformation; Four-Feathered Rainbow Phoenix] (Phoenix, Transformation, Spell, Ability, Technique, Enhancement, Buff, Self)

[Fragment Of Transcendence] [That Which Is Born Through Phoenix] (Phoenix, Transcendence, Ability, Spell, Technique, Enhancement, Buff, Debuff, Self)

[6]: Shadow [Fragment Of Marrow] [Ours Is The Blood That Births Shadows And Reflections] (Shadow, Marrow, Mutation, Ability, Enhancement)

[Fragment Of Tether] [Merciful Shadow Art; Graceful Shadow Connection] (Shadow, Tether, Spell, Ability, Recovery, Buff)

[Fragment Of Swamp] [Lightless Shadow Of Overflowing Swamp] (Shadow, Swamp, Mutation, Ability, Enhancement)

[Fragment Of Invidia] [Envious Shadow Art; Thieving Shadow Extension] (Shadow, Invidia, Spell, Technique, Buff, Debuff)

[Fragment Of Moon] [Alizarin Moon Of Nuwa Deva] (Shadow, Moon, Ability, Spell, Technique, Construct, Buff)

Her status page had grown significantly over the past few months. The integration of a Phoenix Mana Core was something that she had waited several weeks in order to obtain and her decision to integrate a Shadow Mana Core was done in the hopes of developing more supportive and offensive-type abilities.

Although Jon had offered her an Inferno Mana Core and Shamael a Dream Mana Core, she had felt that a Shadow Mana Core suited her more after discussing potential builds with Despoina, Aerion and Schwarz Eis. Despite the white salvation phoenix eyeing the ice devil spirit with an untrustworthy look in her eyes, Eis had offered her something that not either of her summoned companions could replicate.

"You know back when I was alive and everything. I too had a Shadow Mana Core?" Eis admitted.

Sariel raising an eyebrow at the sudden admission.

"Really?" She asked.

"Winter Mana Core. Desire Mana Core. Beauty Mana Core. Shadow Mana Core. Devil Mana Core. Sword Mana Core. Seven, if I include the Ice Mana Core contained within Licht Weiss."

The White Devil Of The Ninth Circle scootched closer towards Sariel, allowing her thigh to brush up against the green-skinned satanas. Sariel's cheeks flushing a dark green in response to their sudden closeness.

"I'd be willing to share some of the fragment pathways I have accumulated… for a price of course." Eis whispered, preventing her voice from escaping through the manifestation of a spiritual ice barrier around them.

Sariel felt her breath hitch, trepidation creeping down the length of her spine.

Although she trusted Jon with many things, the ice devil spirit beside her was something else entirely. Despite the fact that she could have communicated with Despoina or Aerion, summoning them both to her side, Sariel just allowed the silver-haired woman breathe into her ear, muttering a single fragment pathway into her ear.

Her brows furrowing in response to her words, before her eyes widened, hearing the name of the fragment that it would produce.

"Fragment Of The Shadowless Swamp Ocean."

Without a moment of further hesitation, Sariel accepted the system notification to integrate this Fragment Of Superbia. The feeling of seven sin-type concepts settling within her Mana Cores caused her heart to pulsate in surprise before watching as her final Mortal Ranked ability appeared before her eyes.

[Fragment Of Superbia] [Behold Thy Rebellious Sword, Forged From Sinful Remembrances] (Shadow, Superbia, Summon, Weapon, Spell, Debuff)

Effect (Mortal): Summon Heosphoros; Evening Starsword. Heosphoros is a pseudo-spiritual construct formed from the coalescence of a Fragment Of Superbia and Shadow Mana Core. Heosphoros contains within it the echoes of the thirteen layer of the abyss, a unique wonder born within Pandemonium.

Attacks made with Heosphoros will inflict traces of shadow natured damage.

While wielding Heosphoros, chant, then thrust the Evening Starsword towards the sky. Using this location as the point of casting, produce the illusory image of an evening star above oneself, raining down rays of glittering shadowlight capable of inflicting instances of [Shadow Rebellion] on impact.

[Shadow Rebellion]: Inflicts a continuous shadow-natured damage over time effect. Shadow natured spiritual energy erodes the mind and spirit, whispering humiliating truths and horrifying realizations. Additional stacks have an additive effect.

Her eyes widening as she felt the Mana Cores within her chest expand and the ambient spiritual energy all around her surge in response to her final fragment. System notifications flooded her vision and the sensation of having her Throne Of Distortion pulled upon in directions she never thought imaginable caused some of the blood vessels in her eye to burst, leaking trails of pale-green blood down the side of her face.

Her form was bathed in spiritual energy.

Her Title trembling in response to her ascension.

The eyes of dozens, if not hundreds of Mortals around her all widened, feeling an unfamiliar thrum within their chests, watching as the woman in front of her underwent her ascension to Knighthood.

The spiritual energy around them surging into her flesh, mind and spirit. Through her pores and orifices. Sariel felt bursts of pain throughout each of her conceptual qualities, before feeling them vanish, washed away with the growing tide of mana.

In this moment, Sariel forgot that she was sitting in front of a crowd.

She forgot about the epoch-heart dragon behind her.

And she forgot about her agreement with Schwarz Eis.

In this moment, nothing else mattered.

She was no longer a potential member of her warrior caste back home.

She no longer felt the burden of being a twin, an omen of misfortune and bad luck.

For the first time in her life… she could not feel the presence of Shamael around her, even knowing that he was within shouting distance of her.

She was just… Sariel.

Situated above her, Jon and Eis shared a look, the two of them noticing Delila, Amadeus and Maliq within the crowd. The Administrator Of Thunder And Civilization raising an eyebrow at him, while the Right-Eye Of Life And Nightmares glared at him from atop the Threaded-Heart Of Terminus Est.

"… No regrets, right Eis?" He muttered.

Song beneath him and Rana within his Sea Of Knowledge also able to hear his words.

All three of them nodding in response.

"No regrets Jon. Regardless of what happens."

Jon smiled.

'I cannot help but wonder just where fate will take us?'

Time remaining: 788 days 9 hours 45 minutes 18 seconds…

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