Expanded chapters will come in all shapes and sizes. This is one on the shorter end. I'll try for each one to carry meaning, or serve a purpose.
As always Giliath demands your power stones!
*
I knew we left the door of the Basement open, so just about anyone could waltz into here. If they had any intentions of doing so. Not even the soldiers guarding this place nor the maids likely new of the Shining Ring's existence. I'm sure it was tight-lipped amongst the higher brass in the Royal Army. Grandmother and her family were also closely related to the Septian Church because of this. Two sides of the same coin. You got Grandmother on one, and the Septian Church on the other. I can see them cooperating to keep this matter sealed.
Still, they just had to send in Ein and Rufina. I meant it when they're young. They aren't in their twenties as shown in the games. No, Ein right now should be thirteen years old, while Rufina is eleven. But there in lies the beauty of being part of the Gralsritter.
That group had zero restrictions when it came to age. Young folks could head to Arteria and study to become nuns or priests, and join whatever group they wanted. For this group in particular, they only had one requirement to hold the seat of Dominion.
A Stigma.
A Stigma is a supernatural power that is often seen as otherworldly. A user of a Stigma can bend the elements to their will. Receiving a Stigma held two requirements. One was to have a mental trauma, which are typically caused by a tragic event in their life. The second is to be near an Artifact, allowing its user to draw from its power so the Stigma can manifest properly. However, there are rumors that if one's trauma is extreme enough, like REALLY extreme, one can bear a Stigma without an Artifact nearby.
Stigmas become an extension of their very soul. It doesn't explicitly state where the power gets drawn from after it manifests, but it can dish out insane amounts of damage. I recall a promotional trailer for Daybreak of two new Dominions where they can call forth the element of fire and water however they please. One incinerates everything to the ground while the other turns the earth into a frozen Gehenna.
In the games, only twelve seats were available for Stigma-bearers. Not all seats were revealed. There's still a few hidden out there, or just straight up unoccupied. Stigmas can be very picky, they can't choose just anyone. Its as if they have a will of their own when they decide to latch onto an unfortunate soul.
I don't know if I'll get a chance to activate Stigmas in the coming future, so we'll see. I do know of a certain tragedy that is set to take place in the coming five years. It is the same tragedy that will fan the flames of war. The very same war that will spin Giliath's tale into that of chaos. And being his direct son, no doubt will I have to experience that.
It is something I am not looking forward to, as it will likely split our current family apart.
The Hundred Days War.
With what is set to happen during these events, will I earn a chance to bear a Stigma of my own?