The Ascension of the Celestial Priest

3; The Unexpected Ride.

As Lukas walked up the road, leaning on his staff he marveled at what he was seeing. The pathway was very well kept with the trees growing beside the road glowing full of vitality. And as he raised his eyes he could see a faraway towering figure of a gleaming golden castle under the rising sun. It shone with such a vibrancy that made even his elemental light resonate.

Taking a deep breath, dredging up the memories of his previous host and from what he got was that the Towering Golden castle was the Cathedral of Light, one of the most powerful institutions that teach and train talented mages on the path of being a Priest of Light. And although they were other kind of elemental mages and various warriors training inside; its Main focus laid in the aim of producing elite Priests who would help in various world quests all over the Continent of Lush.

Him and his 'sister' were both orphaned by their father recently and with their dwindling income their mother made a risky choice for them to attend an awakening ceremony held in far town from Demacia where they were born and bred. By a stroke of luck, they both awakened Elemental Light causing all of the pressure they had all felt to recede especially after they were recruited by the Cathedral of Light.

Lukas sighed. It seems as much as this new world had the grandeur of Magic and quests and enemies to conquer, the hierarchical classes still existed and both the nobles and commoners were pulled even further apart. Nobles families could nurture powerful mages and warriors that could protect their family heritage, something which common families could only achieve through luck.

Not long after a carriage came from downhill, trudging slowly on to way towards the Cathedral. It was layered in a white fashion, with embroidery of a kind that Lukas had never seen before. Before he could remember what the symbol decorated on the helm of the carriage meant, his thoughts were interrupted when the carriage slowed down to a halt beside him, while the front driver called out to him.

"Mistress would like to have a conversation." the driver said in a cool fashion and without even considering an answer he opened the carriage door in a fluid motion.

"Fellow Disciple, Would you care for a ride?" a soft voice asked from within.

Lukas was just about to say no when it suddenly hit him. He looked at the Faraway Castle and then at the long road to the top. And when his eyes turned to the hooded figure inside who had a white robe too though hers was in more perfect condition than his, he threw caution to wind, shamelessly accepted the ride a nod and then got inside. It would be a long while if he had decided to walk by himself, so he might as well take a helpful ride there.

After entering carefully, he took the empty seat on the opposite while on the other side were young lady of nearly the same age, with a man of such large stature that he towered over him, fully clad in armor crested with divine beings with wings . His aura itself seemed as if it was about swallow Lukas whole.

Lukas being sensitive stifled his erratic emotions and then calmed down, his tone a lot more respectful.

"Thanks for the ride." He said his tone all too calm.

The girl wore a white garment with simple to no embroidery though hers seemed as if it was especially made for her. It held her supple body perfectly and the view would have been perfect if it wasn't for a white veil that covered her face with brown golden hair braided in a simple fashion. Her eyes tinged with a golden hue smiled as she waved her lithe hands.

"I'm glad I was able to offer some help to a fellow outer sect disciple" she answered.

Lukas half-smiled in embarrassment "Forgive my appearance. There wasn't an appropriate place for me to change."

The girl smiled, not minding even a little "it looks like your endeavor was quite a challenge. If I can ask: where you successful in the end?"

Lukas recalling the last moments of the previous host sighed to himself.

"It would have been successful were it not for some unavoidable circumstances." His tone implying of things best left unsaid.

The Crested Warrior beside her snorted. Changing the topic swiftly she introduced herself. "I'm Celene and this is my Guard Nelfgard."

His mind automatically picked the dissonance. Almost all of the nobles as a part of the custom had to introduce their House's Name as a part of greeting but if she didn't, then it might be either he was too low of a noble to learn or they never deigned it important to carry their Family name around; which can only mean the girl came from a very powerful noble family.

In an automated body response he let out his hand for handshake which immediately made the Guard let out an intimidating aura that froze Lukas's body in a heartbeat. Laughing awkwardly, realizing his earth habits had to be controlled, he retracted his hand as he introduced himself.

"I'm Lukas," he paused" from the House of Raydore."

Celene's half covered eyes flashed.

"The Raydore Noble Family?" she asked. Before Lukas could answer, Nelfgard added in a deep grating voice "Not anymore."

Lukas coolly locked eyes with warrior "I'm from the Raydore lineage. We might have fallen for the moment but our dignity till stands"

The atmosphere immediately became stifled. They kept locking onto each other before Celene deftly diffused the tension with a warm smile.

"Don't mind what my guard says. His mind is brunt and honest "

Lukas half smiled as he evaded his eyes but didn't add another word. He looked outside of the carriage his mind churning all of these thoughts. It looks like his starting point proved to be even more dismal than he thought, though on the hind sight he was grateful that he wasn't reborn in a dangerous location straight away.

His new family, the Raydore lineage had very few members making him one of the two remaining descendants; him and his sister who was now an inner disciple of the Cathedral. Her talent allowed her to zoom towards greatness while the previous host talent made it almost impossible for him to catch up to her.

But Lukas could sense that previous host had a very strong lingering attachment at the moment of his death. No matter how much of a gulf that existed between them now, all he wished for was for someone to protect his little sister. Maybe his arrival was a form of an answer in some ways but it somehow befell on him to do according to his dying wishes, as some kind of compensation at least.

After all as much as Lukas wished he could return to his own home, he couldn't. He knew he had no choice than to bid his time and increase his own strength. He was in the world of Magic so the possibilities were endless. He would explore, learn, experience this new world and grow stronger all for that one chance that will allow him to go back to Earth.

The carriage trudged on, and an awkward silence settled inside, Celene was perfectly comfortable with it as she periodically looked at Lukas in detached sort of way. She wondered to herself what would have been his reaction if he knew from what family she came. Then she recalled the rumors and the gossips she had heard (since it's hard to ignore when his sister was recognized to have an A Rank Elemental talent while his brother had C) and then tried to connect them with what she was seeing. And it seemed they were a little too far-fetched to reality.

The rumors spoke a lad with a timid nature, and a weak stature but all she could see was his relaxed gait and the moment his family's dignity was challenged he responded and defended it in kind. Her further thoughts were interrupted when the Carriage smoothly halted and the front door was knocked.

"We have arrived."

With that Lukas unceremoniously raised himself first and then got out swiftly. Thinking of how rude he seemed Celene followed, her hand held by Nelfgard. She was surprised when she found Lukas with his staff beside the opened carriage waiting for her. Taking back her previous thought, Lukas gave a curtsey bow.

"I'm truly grateful for the help." He sincerely said.

"It's just a small gesture." She then added, "We should definitely take care of each other in the future."

Lukas nodded and then gave another bow at the Crested Warrior before he turned and started walking in a familiar and yet strange direction.

"Ignorant lad" Nelfgard spoke. Celene shook her head in response "You might think so but there is something about him that informs me that the rumors might actually be just rumors in the end"

With that she walked towards another direction. Any accompanying thought of Lukas already out of her mind.