A Saint and A Flower

Chapter Three

The book had explained how nobility tested for divine powers. It was almost impossible for anyone outside of the royal family to have any at all, but from what I knew from the book, divine powers were either passed down by royal blood, or directly gifted from God. The test was broken up into two parts. Firstly, a glass globe would be presented. If that globe lit up when touched, divine powers were present. Second, six stone would be offered, if any of these stones broke when touched, then that person would have an aptitude for the abilities those stones represented. Launce stood beside me in the prayer room, his serene face smiling as he held the glass globe. Having divine powers was almost guaranteed considering I was a beloved child of God, and I was hoping to rely on them to get closer to Axel. 

I really needed that globe to light up. Hesitantly, I reached out and took the globe. Immediately, blinding white light filled the room. A laugh almost burst out of me at the victory. Adom gasped softly from behind me, and I saw Launce's eyes widen marginally. I quickly handed back the globe.

"I don't think I've ever seen such a reaction," Launce finally said, his expression returning as it was before. 

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you will have a very powerful aptitude," He phrased, setting the globe back inside it's velvet box. Next he took out the six stones. Yellow, meaning purification and healing, purple, meaning combat, blue meaning divination, green meaning an affinity with nature, white meaning spirit, and red meaning self-Amplification. Prince Remly had combat powers, while Axel had self-Amplification, which meant his body was above that of the average person, which was why his infected cells could self regenerate. 

I started by touching the purple stone, but when nothing happened I moved on. Yellow was what I was truly after anyway, and sure enough, the yellow stone crumbled underneath my finger tips. I smiled, drawing back.

"If I may, Saintess, please continue with the stones. Though the last Saintess came before we had the tests for divine powers, many believed she had an aptitude for more than one ability," Launce stated. 

I nodded reluctantly, reaching for the blue stone, and again, nothing happened. The same with the red, and green, but when my finger brushed against the white stone, it instantly turned to ash. My eyes instantly went to Launce, and I saw how he tensed. 

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's only that the last person with spiritual divine powers died a long time ago. We don't know much about this rare ability, but seeing this I know that the Saintess is indeed a great person," He told me, a hint of excitement in his dark eyes. 

I smiled lightly, but inside, I was confused. The book didn't say much about "Spirit" powers either, but there was something else I wanted to check. 

"I would like to test Adom as well," I told Launce. Launce's eyes moved to Adom, who stood behind me. I could practically read his thoughts, as a flash of disdain passed through his dark orbs. Adom was a commoner, and divine powers only presented themselves in those with royal blood, but I wanted to check. Adom had been given God's blessing, and something in me told me that I needed him to be tested. 

Launce pulled the globe out of its case, and held it out to Adom. The boy's little feet stepped forward hesitantly, and with shaky hands, he took the globe. After a moment of tense silence, the orb lit up. It wasn't blinding like mine, but like a light bulb flickering on. I could see both of their surprise and after a moment, Launce took back the globe. He looked at me, expectantly. 

"Could this be a part of God's Blessing, Saintess?" 

"I believe so, after all, if he is going to serve a child beloved by God, he will need the tools to do so," I smiled, attempting to appear confident in my answer. 

The priest smiled gently, as if what I said made perfect sense to him. The rocks that had broke under my touch were quickly replaced, and blessed, then Adom made his way through them. Under his hand, the one that broke was purple, for combat. 

"It looks like young Adom may become your knight, Saintess Esme," The priest mused. 

I smiled, looking at Adom. 

"Perhaps."

Adom's bleak green eyes seemed to liven at the thought.

"Now, shall we talk of the Saintess's plans?" The Priest asked. 

I nodded and he led me back into the sitting room where we first started. As we sat, he brewed tea, pouring some into a cup for myself and him. After he sat, and we both drank, I cleared my throat gently. 

"High Priest, how old is the prince this year?"

"Prince Remly will be celebrating his eighth birthday next week. Does your arrival have something to do with his highness?"

I perked up, so nothing has happened yet. Amelia won't come to the palace until she's sixteen and the twin princes are seventeen. 

"Actually, I'm here for the eldest twin, Prince Axel," I told Launce. 

"The eldest prince? The one who suffers under the curse?" He asked, surprised.

I looked down at the porcelain tea cup in my hands, thoughtfully. Axel's curse was one handed down in the royal family. According to the book, the original Saintess from three hundred years ago married the emperor, and though she was made to be the empress, the emperor took a second bride, a princess from another land. It sent her into a deep depression, and the once vibrant, intelligent Saintess became a recluse. In favor of the beautiful, young queen, the Saintess was neglected by the emperor and was eventually poisoned by the young queen who envied her position. God was angered by this, and cursed the imperial bloodline, and turned the young queen into an old, barren woman. The Saintess left behind two princes and a princess, and the emperor never married again, fearing God's wrath.

The curse is described as black writing that slowly begins to cover the victim in God's language. It's extremely painful, and leaves the bearer weak, suffering from seizures, weak senses and spells of vomiting and fevers. Usually, they die before the age of five. Axel suffered with all of this for eighteen years, cast aside by his family, and alone in an abandoned tower. 

"Yes," I finally answered "I am here for Prince Axel."

"What could God want with someone cursed with a curse He bestowed?"

"The Curse will be broken," I announced, setting down my cup.

Launce's eyes widened in shock as he watched me. 

"Is this true?"

"Prince Axel doesn't deserve his fate. He will become a great man, one that has the capability of becoming a great emperor. I am here to watch over him until the curse is broken, and to support him down his path."

"Bringing you to the prince's side shouldn't be a problem. The Emperor has already welcomed you to visit at your earliest convenience."

"What we have talked about cannot be brought to the emperor's ears. I do not want the sickly prince to become a target of assassination by those who support the second prince's claim to the throne."

After a moment, Launce nodded in understanding, his eyes already deep in thought. With this, the church is under the impression that God supports Axel's rise to the throne, and so the church will follow in his footsteps. I smiled, knowing that Axel has now gained a powerful ally. 

"Then tomorrow, I will visit the emperor."