The large gates to Alpam finally stood before the recruits, reaching so high that their upper edges disappeared into the clouds surrounding the sanctuary.
The archangels stationed along either side raised their weapons, and gold symbols began appearing across the doors as divine energy gathered through the material of the door.
Hundreds of recruits had assembled around Lennox and Esme by then, filling the great avenue with nervous murmurs, shuffling feet, and whispered self-talks, while the Paladin leaders remained farther ahead near the entrance.
The Archangels were preparing to open the gates, but Lennox stared at the gates until his palms became slick again, then suddenly stepped forward and put both hands against the doors as though he could somehow stop several celestial beings from opening them.
“Wait wait wait wait, hold up, let me prepare myself.”
Several recruits stared at him, and even Esme slowly turned her head. “Thanks. I’m a little nervous too, need a couple seconds to brace myself.”
Everyone else braced themselves too, and Lennox eventually removed his hands and took a deep breath, staring at the entrance while his stomach twisted again.
‘Let’s do this.’
He rubbed his palms against his ragged clothes, checked his sleeves, touched the burn mark on his face without realizing it, and then looked toward the other recruits who were making their own preparations, with some kneeling in prayer while others whispered last-minute encouragement to their friends.
Esme stood beside him with her arms crossed, staring at the gates while the white light spilling through the seams became brighter by the second.
‘We’re really about to face a god…’ She thought.
The archangels raised their weapons, and the gates opened.
Beyond them lay something that Lennox could barely understand as a room, because the sanctuary opened into a large celestial expanse where white marble platforms expanded across the clouds and massively tall pillars rose toward the heavens.
There was no ceiling above the throne room, only an endless sky filled with vast clouds, and enormous chains descended from somewhere impossibly high above, each link large enough for several people to stand inside.
They disappeared into larger masses of clouds far overhead, while limitless amounts of strands crossed the sky around the sanctuary like restraints holding some incomprehensible divine structure in place.
Golden light poured across every surface, illuminating hundreds upon hundreds of recruits while casting their shadows across the white floor.
A collective gasp moved through the crowd.
“What the hell…”
“This is the throne room?”
“We’re outside. Right?”
“Are those chains holding the sky together?”
“I really hope they’re decorative.”
“I don’t think anything here is decorative.”
At the front of the throne room stood the strongest Archangels Lennox had seen since arriving, their armor considerably more elaborate than that of the guards outside.
Their wings fanned out behind them in arrays of white feathers, and each carried a weapon covered in divine markings.
Among them stood Sugrid, still holding his flask, Cassius, and five additional figures who immediately drew the attention of the recruits.
Each wore the distinctive armor and symbols belonging to one of the seven Paladin Oaths, and even from a considerable distance, Lennox could tell that these were people whose presence carried enormous authority.
They definitely were the other Paladin Son’s and Daughter’s.
‘This is it…!’
Esme squinted against the brilliance filling the chamber. “Eh, it’s alright. Just way too fucking bright. Did I spoil myself for expecting too much?”
Lennox raised one hand to cover his eyes and give himself some shade and agreement. “It really is bright. I can really barely see! It’s like they’re trying to show off or something.”
He could barely make out the other Paladin leaders through the overwhelming illumination, although Cassius and Sugrid remained recognizable because of their positions near the front.
His throat became dry as he stared toward the throne beyond them, and the confidence he had tried to maintain throughout the journey became increasingly difficult to hold together.
‘I can barely see the other Paladin leaders. I can make out Cassius and Sugrid, though. This is when I have to make a good first impression… Whatever they throw at me, I have to catch it.’
Then Lennox saw someone, and gasped, Esme gasped next, and the rest of the recruits gasped alongside them.
“Whoa…”
“Is that….”
High above the throne room, floating among the clouds and glowing chains, stood Alpam; Except Lennox could not understand what he was looking at.
Alpam’s appearance changed continuously, each form appearing for a moment before becoming something else entirely.
He took the appearance of an Archangel with enormous wings, then became a gigantic beast possessing countless white wings across its body, then transformed into the glowing likeness of one recruit, copying their face and body while rendering the entire figure in glowing white.
Another moment saw him become an old man, followed by a young woman, followed by a towering humanoid figure covered in wings and eyes, each appearance carrying the same overwhelming presence that made Lennox’s skin crawl.
“Why is he constantly changing…?” The question came from somewhere within the crowd.
Lennox thought, ‘Alpam….I feel like I’d be more astonished if I could see Alpam’s true form, if he wasn’t changing. But nonetheless…I feel like I’m being bathed in sunlight, like so much power is hitting me all at once and it doesn’t hurt. This is truly amazing…nonetheless!’
A figure stepped away from the throne positioned at the front of the chamber, moving with calm confidence as the recruits turned toward him.
He possessed long white hair arranged into several braided locks that fell around his shoulders, while his eyes were completely white and seemed to emit their own light.
A glowing golden robe covered his body, and four arms laid calmly at his sides, each hand bearing small traces of divine markings. On top of that, two white deer-like antlers rose from his head, glowing with the same celestial brilliance as the chains above.
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The nearest Archangels bowed their heads, and Several recruits immediately recognized him.
“Wait…”
“Those antlers…”
“That’s…”
“There’s no way.”
“The Son of Alpam?”
“Nepherel?!”
The man’s name spread through the recruits like wildfire.
Nepherelc One of Alpam’s three children, a literal demigod!
Lennox stared at him, his mouth partly open. “Nepherel? I thought he was just some myth that the Paladins made up.”
Esme scratched beneath the edge of her bandage and shrugged.
“Yeah, same. I’d heard all that crap about Alpam having children, but nobody’s ever seen them. Apparently they don’t come down to the mortal lands. Demigods belonging to other deities wander around the mortal world all the time, so people figured Alpam’s kids were probably some story Paladins invented to make themselves sound important.”
Lennox stared at Nepherel again. “So it really is true…!”
A few recruits immediately bowed, honoring him:
“My father was a Paladin! It is my honor to be before you!”
“Me too!”
Nepherel did not acknowledge them, as his attention remained upon Alpam, who continued changing forms high above the chamber.
“If Alpam were to speak directly, his voice would kill every mortal present.” Nepherel said.
The entire crowd became silent, and Nepherel continued speaking with the same calm tone.
“His true form contains the entirety of his divine authority. Mortals were never designed to perceive that existence directly. The forms you see are manifestations created through his Authority of Revelation, which allows divine truths to be expressed in forms that mortal minds can comprehend. He changes constantly because remaining within a single mortal-compatible form for too long would allow his presence to become concentrated in one recognizable vessel, placing excessive strain upon your bodies and minds.”
He raised one of his four hands toward the god. “That is why you must not stare at him for too long. Your bodies are already struggling to endure his presence. Continued exposure will cause your internal organs to fail. And you will all explode into mush.”
Several recruits immediately looked away, other were already bleeding from their noses and mouths.
Some recruits said:
“No way…”
“Did he have to say ‘mush’ though….? A little brutal isn’t it?”
Esme said to them, “He’s definitely seen it happen before.”
A boy near the center of the crowd wiped beneath his nostrils and stared at the blood on his fingers with horror, while a girl beside him had both hands pressed beneath her nose as tears gathered in her eyes.
Lennox suddenly felt something warm beneath his own nose and touched it, finding blood across his fingers. Esme noticed the same thing happening to herself and wiped her upper lip with the back of her hand before staring at the blood.
“Well, shit. Guess we’re not worthy or something.”
Several recruits began whispering prayers again, while others stared up despite the warnings because apparently curiosity was stronger than self-preservation.
Lennox thought of them, ‘Dumbasses.’
Until Cassius approached and forced those recruits heads down himself, saying, “Please don’t get too curious.”
Nepherel waited until the noise settled before continuing, and even the strongest Archangels remained silent as Alpam above changed again into the form of an enormous winged creature suspended above the clouds.
Nepherel said, “The seven Oaths govern the Paladin Order and represent seven aspects of Alpam’s divine authority. Each Oath carries responsibilities that extend beyond combat and affects the kingdoms of the mortal world.”
He raised one hand.
“The Oath of War represents the authority to wage battle against threats that ordinary armies cannot overcome. Its Paladins become weapons against monsters, invading forces, hostile divine beings, and enemies capable of destroying entire regions. They are expected to stand where ordinary soldiers cannot.”
A second hand rose.
“The Oath of Faith represents devotion, spiritual protection, and the preservation of belief. Its Paladins guard temples, protect sacred places, guide those who have lost their way, and strengthen communities during periods of catastrophe. Their presence can stabilize kingdoms when fear begins spreading through the population.”
A third hand lifted.
“The Oath of Law represents order and divine judgment within mortal society. Its Paladins investigate crimes involving supernatural powers, enforce divine statutes, and prevent rulers from abusing authority granted through mortal institutions. Kings and queens may command armies, yet even they can be brought before a Paladin of Law when their actions violate the authority of Alpam.”
His fourth hand rose, keeping the momentum going.
“The Oath of Vengeance represents punishment for those who escape mortal justice. Its Paladins pursue criminals, monsters, traitors, and enemies who believe distance or political influence can protect them. They are hunters of those who have made themselves unreachable by ordinary law. The Oath of Mercy represents preservation of life, healing, protection, and compassion toward those who can still be saved. Its Paladins serve during wars, plagues, disasters, and conflicts where lives can be preserved through intervention. Mercy does not mean weakness. It means understanding that the preservation of one life can alter the course of an entire kingdom.”
Nepherel raised another hand.
“The Oath of Revelation represents knowledge, discovery, truth, and the destruction of deception. Its Paladins investigate hidden phenomena, uncover supernatural secrets, expose falsehoods, and preserve knowledge that could otherwise vanish from the world. Their work frequently takes them into ancient ruins, forbidden archives, and places where ordinary scholars would have no chance of surviving.”
Only one Oath remained.
“The Oath of Sacrifice represents selflessness, duty, and the willingness to surrender personal desires for the survival of others. Its Paladins are entrusted with situations where someone must bear a burden that cannot be shared safely. They may serve as guardians, protectors, defenders of cities, or living barriers against supernatural threats. Each Oath exists because the world requires different forms of divine authority. None exists solely for glory, and none exists without consequence. Those who receive an Oath will carry its responsibilities regardless of whether the position matches their personal ambitions.”
Cassius glanced toward the recruits, then at the other leaders beside her. “Trials? They’ve never done trials before…”
Sugrid took another drink from his flask. “Maybe it’s something new.”
The other Paladin leaders exchanged confused looks with concerned responses attached to them:
“Trials?”
“This really is new…”
“Deadly trials at that?”
Nepherel regarded them without concern. “We will not waste time here discussing the changes. After each trial, the recruits will return to this sanctuary and be given access to the rookies’ quarters. You will have several days to train, recover, eat, and sleep before the next trial begins. The purpose is to determine whether you possess the qualities required to carry an Oath rather than merely the enthusiasm required to request one.”
He paused. “And if you survive all four trials, you will receive your Oath.”
Nepherel’s face remained completely serious for another moment before he attempted to add what was apparently intended as humor. “Think of it as a four-course meal. Except the courses may kill you.”
Silence filled the area, yeah this was definitely supposed to be a joke, Lennox figured Nepherel was trying to lighten the mood.
A few recruits exchanged uncomfortable looks, because the joke wasn't truly funny. He was a demigod who never touched mortal ground, of course his jokes wouldn't hit at all.
Someone eventually laughed on purpose, scared they’ll be brainwashed if they don’t laugh. “Haha…”
Another recruit forced a laugh immediately afterward.
“Yeah… four-course meal. Very funny!! HAHAH!”
A recruit behind them muttered, “That was terrible.”
Several people who appeared to worship Nepherel, however, burst into genuine laughter, bowing their heads while trying to contain themselves.
“HAHA!”
“THAT WAS HILARIOUS!”
Nepherel merely stared ahead as though he had made the funniest statement in the history of the world and was patiently waiting for everyone else to understand it.
‘I knew I could make humans laugh.’ Nepherel thought.
Esme slowly turned toward Lennox, and Lennox slowly turned toward Esme.
“They’re reallyyyy trying their best to show us we won’t get brainwashed.” Esme said.
Lennox nodded solemnly. “That was my biggest fear coming here actually. Wings too, I don’t want wings, either. They’re just lumps of feathers in the way.”
“I’m just worried a feather will stab my hair and I’ll end up bald like some of these geezers. I don’t want wings either.”
“Yeah. How do you think the initiation will go? They mentioned trials but I never heard of trials even when I studied the Paladins.”
“You don’t know anything about it? So it really is out of nowhere. Maybe something like aptitude tests? I don’t know. Most of these recruits use magic because of their lineage of the deity they were blessed by, but if they wanna be Paladin’s they’d have to get completely washed by Alpam’s blessing which has the ability to override another gods blessing. Yeah, guess aptitude tests would be out the window. Forget I said that. I was trying to sound like I knew something.”
“You don’t use magic?”
“Hell no. My family wouldn’t let me.”
“That’s twice you mentioned them. They must be shitty.”
“Worse than that.”
Lennox looked at the Paladin leaders ahead of them before looking down at his hand.
‘I’ll survive whatever these trials are. I didn’t go through what I went through for no damn reason. I’m reckless for a reason. To outrun fate. Fate screwed me over since I was a kid, and every time I sit still for too long, it catches me and breaks me again. I’ll do anything to finally beat it, to become unbreakable.’
Nepherel stepped forward, and the chamber slowly became silent again. “Prepare yourself.”
The divine light surrounding the sanctuary intensified as Nepherel raised one hand toward the hundreds of recruits.
“You will each be assigned a weapon bearing light runes created through Alpam’s authority. That weapon will carry you toward your first trial. The trial will be deadly and excruciating, and your survival will determine whether you possess the strength required to continue.”
The recruits stared at him, and Nepherel’s four arms lowered down again.
“Good luck. Remember the first trial will be incredibly dangerous and deadly, many of you won’t make it back.”
Lennox stepped forward with eyes looking upon Alpam, and said, “Bring it!”