"...Lady Seliora Eidryn has been captured, Your Majesty." Darian spoke, as he kneeled before Valen in his throne room.
"And you are sure of this proclamation?... I do not take lightly a claim that one of my Seven Sovereigns has been captured by the inhabitants of this world, Sovereign of Vision."
"...We have taken the proper steps and investigated his vision, Your Majesty. We had fully lost contact with her after the Orchid and Wyr-Stable of the Seerblades returned back to the Capital." Avelina quickly spoke up, before Valen was enraged.
"Nine Silent Daughters that accompanied Seliora have all perished, which speaks volumes, Your Majesty."
"...Three Sable Trinities killed… and they were all personally trained by her… that means that forces in this world that can challenge my Sovereigns and their direct subordinates are starting to emerge… that was much quicker then I expected…"
"...The only nation in this world that I could think of with the power and rapid responsiveness to even dare and complete such a feat…"
"The Holy Dominion of Solmira…"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Darian nodded, starting to smile as he believed that his monarch would quickly realize the capturers before he even spoke of the vision.
"We believe that the Host of Apostolic Execution is responsible for capturing Lady Seliora and killing off the Silent Daughters, according to our interrogations of the Solmirans we have in custody. They have the magical relics of the Seven Divine Apostles."
"...If it's the Seven Divine Apostles… then it would make more sense… I should assume that each Apostle can rival each of my Sovereigns…"
"And this Host of Apostolic Execution… There must be a numbered seven if they match their apostolic representations. Together, they may have the strength of one Apostle."
"That is correct, Your Majesty." Darian solidified his educated guess.
"I believe that we should send out an elite, sizable military force after her immediately. Cael will lead the force, with me and Darian as strategic deputies. Considering the assumed strength of this group and the threat Seliora poses in captivity, that much is necessary. If they are able to break her, she can give them unparalleled information regarding our Empire."
"Hm."
"...That is the logical and proper response… leaving her in captivity for too long, she will be the reason the Empire crumbles for the second time… I will not let it happen again…"
"Darian, do you have a location of Seliora's whereabouts? I can feel that she is faintly alive, but her essence is being oddly suppressed."
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Sanctum Mournveil, known formerly as the Pale Bastion of Chains."
Hidden deep within the eastern reaches of the Kingdom of Draevarr, nestled in the shadow of the Grayspire Cliffs and the haunted woodlands bordering former Solmiran lands, lies Sanctum Mournveil — an abandoned border fortress turned to a divine detention sanctum. Though technically within Draevarran territory, the land surrounding Mournveil has long been ceded in spirit and practice to the Holy Dominion of Solmira, where fanaticism bleeds into stone and loyalty to the Apostolic Synod outstrips their former allegiance to king and country.
The Sanctum is built directly into the cliffs, partially submerged within caverns of white marble stained gray with age. The walls are carved with scriptures of the Seven Divine Apostles, etched and blessed to repel demonic interference, magical scrying and astral travel. The outer bastion is manned by military police from the Host of the Unyielding Chain. They would sooner die than let a prisoner escape or be reclaimed. Inquisitors from the Host of the Inexorable Hand reside in private sanctums within the bastion, running shifts of surveillance, judgment, and psychological breakdown through sacramental rituals.
"I have decided what course of action to take, regarding this incident."
"To prevent any dissident or discouragement among our ranks and our people, we will keep Seliora's capture undisclosed. Only the Sovereigns and the Seerblades' leadership may know of this event. However, I declare that the Seven Realms of Velkaris are put on a maximum security threshold."
"Understood."
"As for our military response to recapture Seliora…"
"...I will summon one of the Sins from the Reliquary."
"...What?" Avelina was bewildered, while Darian rose his head in both surprise and interest.
A clandestine order within the Seventh Dukedom of Vicersa's End, the Sin Reliquary serves as both sacred relics and terrible weapons — each member a living embodiment of sin transformed into divine instruments of flesh, blood, and spirit. Each is referred to as a "Reliquary", housing forbidden knowledge, alchemical miracles, and ancient sin-bound rites. Bound by oaths carved into their bones, they are revered like saints and feared like revenants.
Only Valen himself, not even the former Sovereigns, eclipses them in raw power amongst the inhabitants of the Eidryn Empire.
"The Seven Sovereigns of the Eidryn Empire are one of the most powerful individuals within our Empire, and publicly, are the most powerful. I do not know, truly, how powerful the Host of Apostolic Execution are, but they were enough to capture one of my Sovereigns alive."
"Not only is the deployment of a Sin necessary, but practical. I will not risk any military forces and willingly throw their lives away against a foe that will cut through their ranks. The fallen Silent Daughters are a testament to that fact."
"...To that end, I will be deploying alongside the Sin."
Avelina and Darian both gasped.
"...We were forged and trained by our masters to be of use to the Eidryn Empire in their passing. A sovereign who doesn't respond to the expectations of their emperor has no reason to exist…"
"...Make no mistake. I intend to use the Sin to try to rescue Seliora, but if they have found some way to brainwash her, then I shall kill her. In order to properly control the Sin in fulfilling that goal, I must deploy alongside it."
"...You are willing to use such an important weapon to rescue a Sovereign and not endanger any of your own forces in the process… you truly show your compassion for us, Your Majesty." Avelina nodded.
"This incursion may also be a plot to either lure me, or my forces, out of hiding. They must believe that the Host of Apostolic Execution will be enough to defeat me, now that they have demonstrated their strength of being able to capture one of my direct subordinates."
"They will not expect one of the Empire's greatest trump cards, lying on their doorstep."
"...I will show the Holy Dominion of Solmira, and you, my Sovereigns, why I am called the Arcane Blade of Eidryn and the Emperor of the Greatest Empire…"
"...And that I am not called those titles without reason…"
***
Locals have whispered about the Sanctum Mournveil with awe and dread, calling it the Cage of Saints, where even meager gods would be shackled in chains of faith. The nearby settlements fly Solmiran banners and serve the bastion in full obedience, often volunteering their children into religious service. Even animals and nature itself seem subdued — the birds do not sing near the cliffs and the wind carries the scent of incense and ash.
Valen, now in his dark, ornate and obsidian armor, opened a realm gate on the exterior of the Greyspire Cliffs, as astral travel into the Sanctum was blocked. It would take some time to break through the runes that were embedded into the walls that prevented his ability to create realm gates.
"Lord Kael, Reliquary of Wrath. Awaken by my imperial decree."
"BY MY BLOOD UNBOILED, I DEMAND THE FLAME OF JUDGMENT!"
The Reliquary Decrees — ancient, coded phrases spoken only by the Emperor of the Eidryn Empire, designed to awaken the Sin Reliquary. These decrees are living words, embedded with necrotheurgic resonance that resonates with the Reliquaries' soul-seals. When spoken, they bypass death, distance, and time to compel absolute activation. Each decree corresponds to the core sin and function of the Reliquary it awakens.
The decree awakens Lord Kael Wrath, one of the Reliquaries of Sin. From beneath the Dukedom of Viscera's End, Kael's bloodfire ignites from within his dormant vessel. He is then teleported by one of Valen's realm gates, as he then erupts from beneath the ground near the Sanctum, an inferno given form. His denizen purpose: To raze rebel armies, punish heretical cities or purge lands in sacred fire.
The Unyielding Chains, the military police guarding the Sanctum, watched as Lord Kael rose from the ground, briefly covered in crimson black flames that screamed infernality.
"...A devil…"
"Eradicate all who do not belong to the Eidrynic. You have your command, Kael."
The Solmiran defense saw a colossal demigod clad in obsidian armor fused with red-hot veins of molten bone. His skin burns from within — smoke rises from his joints and his mouth glows like a forge. His left arm is a titanic construct of arterial iron, constantly leaking bloodfire that ignites the air. As he was given his directive, Kael roared as flames emerged from his mouth like a draconic.
He then used his ultimate ability: Bloodfire Annihilation. It channels his internal arcane furnace to create cataclysmic crimson firestorms that incinerate flesh and spirit alike.
The Sanctum walls and the outer bastion could not defend against such pure destruction, as the extreme and devastating fire was struck against it, filled with intense heat and violent convection, becoming so fierce that it created its own weather system. The large area of intense fire generated its own wind system, drawing in air from all directions toward the fire's center and formed pyrocumulonimbus clouds that produced lightning and tornado-like fire whirls, further igniting fires and exacerbating the hopeless situation. The civilian populace loyal to the Solmirans were caught in the crossfire, as they and the Unyielding Chains either perished through infernal incineration or were blown away from the intense wind pressure.
As the walls shattered and the runic defenses broken, Valen then teleported inside of the Sanctum, emerging outside of Seliora's cell.
***
"...May I ask what is going on?" Sirkael spoke, as the Sovereigns were gathered within the throne room, Eidryn's Crown. They watched as Darian used his Mirror of Endless View that allowed him to observe the situation around the Sanctum due to Valen's physical presence.
"The words me and Darian have exchanged with His Majesty have already been communicated to you all before your appearance here." Avelina retorted.
"That is not what I am asking, High Sovereign. I am asking why did you let His Majesty go alone?"
"He is not alone. He has a Sin of the Reliquary supporting him, does he not? His Majesty made the decision. Who are we to question his commands?"
"Why did you allow such a thing?!" Sirkael raised his voice.
"...You allowed His Majesty to use one of the Empire's seven deadliest trump cards against an enemy that we failed to estimate on several occasions. That led to Lady Seliora's capture and the deaths of nine Silent Daughters in the first place." Cael agreed.
"If it was a trap, I could have easily dispatched an elite force from our Seven Imperial Legions as a decoy. With our Special Forces, they could overtake any enemies lying in wait."
"I firmly believe that His Majesty has a hidden intent unbeknownst to any of us." Sirkael spoke again.
"Watch your tongue, Sovereign of Virtue." Darian spoke up.
"You are wise, Sovereign of Vision, but surely you agree and have noticed it too."
"Your thinking is not wrong, Sirkael."
"Then why?!"
"...His Majesty personally vowed to defeat the Host of Apostolic Execution and rescue Seliora on his own."
"What?"
"His will… I felt his true determination from those words. I just couldn't continue arguing with him."
"Because of your love for him?" Miriya spoke up, Avelina nodded to her question.
"He promised he would return to us, Sirkael. Believe in the Emperor that you have faithfully devoted to."
"So you, the High Sovereign of this Empire and the second-in-command, based your decision not on logic, but emotion?!" Sirkael was enraged.
"And you agreed to this, Darian?!" Cael turned to him.
"His Majesty is our Emperor! It is our birthright as Sovereigns to eradicate any danger that may befall his reign, even if he decides to rebuke or claim our lives for our transgressions!" Cael said, as he then got up from his seat.
"Where are you going, Cael?" Darian stared at him.
"I believe you of all people should know where I am going with your foresight abilities, Darian."
"I will join you, Cael." Sirkael abruptly got up as well.
"Sit down." Avelina ordered, as the other three Sovereigns in the room eyed both Sirkael and Cael down. Even Miriya, the most innocent of them all, was determined to fulfill her monarch's wishes.
"...If His Majesty dies in battle, how will you take responsibility, Avelina? Or is it that you secretly wish for his death because you would rightfully take his place?!"
"Do not mock or misunderstand my intentions, Cael."
"He will return."
"How can you be so sure?!" Cael yelled as he slammed his greatsword into the ground in anger, however the floor beneath him had no damage done to it, despite his vast strength.
"Believe in your monarch, Cael." Darian spoke. "Is that not one of our roles as Sovereigns of the Eidryn Empire?"
"...If death comes to our Emperor, your head will roll, High Sovereign. That is a promise." Sirkael said, sitting back down.
"Those words alone are blasphemy, Sirkael. Rethink them, very carefully." Auren finally spoke, tired of the infighting.
"That is fine." Avelina nodded, with Auren, Miriya and Darian a bit surprised at her response.
"Darian, what do you believe the odds of Valen being victorious?"
"Considering the Host of Apostolic Execution were capable of capturing Seliora, arguably one of the stronger Sovereigns, I would say five out of ten."
"So you claim there is only a half chance he wins?!"
Avelina chuckled.
"Let us watch then, as His Majesty fights against the odds set before him and emerge victorious."
***
"...My will… my vow in this world… was to once again spread the name of Eidryn across this world's territories in the effort of rebuilding the great Empire that once transcended mere regional power…"
"...I initially planned to do whatever it took to achieve that goal, but… I moved too quietly, in order to avoid unnecessary fighting as I did not know the true strengths of this world's inhabitants…"
"...And now it has come to this… the capture of one of my treasured Sovereigns, one that bears and represents one of the Seven Sigils of my Empire… the physical manifestation of one of the Empire's ideals… has been captured like a wild feline…"
"...I will destroy the Holy Dominion of Solmira… slowly but surely… I will make sure they deeply regret their own folly of challenging me… Do not believe that things will end like this after starting a fight with Valen Arthas Eidryn!..."
Her containment chamber is referred to as "The Mirror Sepulcher", a silent, lightless vault lined with blessed silver-glass, reflecting her face back at every turn. She is chained by the Chain of Heaven, relic of the First Numbered Host, each link a binding word of Dominion. The only voices allowed to speak to her are those of Host of Apostolic Execution members or of the Synod. All others are considered unworthy to hear or be heard by vengeance incarnate.
"I am Valen Arthas Eidryn…"
"…and this name will not ever know defeat to the likes of you godforsaken leeches, feeding off of the strength of your taciturn Apostles!"