The Ascension Of The Celestial Priest

First let it be said that Finian was no noble. He was the one of the few lads, able to enroll into the Cathedral due to pure chance provided when The Awakening Ceremony just happened to take place near one of the remote villages he resided in.

He held no background thus when he was thrusted into a prestigious Cathedral, he became overwhelmed and intimidated. Suffice to say he did one of the most obvious thing most conniving people would have done in his shoes; he targeted a clueless noble and aimed to attach himself to the "thick t.h.i.g.h" all so he could build a better life for himself(securing his future as a mage) and get more resources riding on someone's back.

And the Original Lukas was the first prey his claws latched on.

At that time, the old Lukas was riding his sister's wave, especially when it was discovered she was so talented that she was directly recruited by a Prestigious Master the moment they both landed in the Cathedral of Light. During the moment, Lukas was well respected,revered and everyone thought that he would have used his sister to raise his prestige within the outer walls despite his low talent. At least that was exactly what Finian was counting on.

To his astonishment, the previous host was too prideful and by then, the old Lukas had already regarded Finian as a close friend. With time Finian was able to get a glimpse to the real story within the House of Raydore which by then it was too late. He finally realized that the old Lukas would never be able to bring him where he wanted to be especially when he kept denying his sister's advances for help no matter how much he tried to convince him otherwise.

Suddenly, more than a few days later, Finian ruthlessly cut ties with him, humiliating him in front of everyone. Surprised, deeply hurt and betrayed, the old host closed himself off from the rest of the outer sect disciples, leading a quiet and lonely life that made others jeer at him from a distance.

Now tall, with decent good looks and a face that could change colors as fast as a chameleon; Finian confidently walked inside the ancient hall with another guy in tow, someone the current Lukas couldn't recognize at first glance.

Finian radiated might with his every step, but it was further engulfed by the person behind him. Lofty, aloof, with subtle arrogance that shone through his light eyes, his power swirled around him like a heavy blanket. Lukas could feel his psych power was seemingly endless and majestic.

"Finian," Lukas greeted, his pale eyes automatically noticing all of the small details. Of how Finian, even though he was the one who led the entourage, his whole demeanor seemed differential, almost submissive to the aloof guy behind him. Recalling the memories from his previous host, Lukas immediately realized that this might just be the new 't.h.i.g.h' Finian was able to attach himself to. The arrogant guy had an emblem stitched into his white robes and just by seeing that Lukas knew that he was in the presence of one of the great noble houses. He just didn't know which one.

Finian surprised by the relaxed and nonchalant Lukas was, he smirked. "Well for a famous priest who attained a Star-Marked badge, you sure know how to hide from the limelight…"

Lukas frowned a little. He really hadn't expected for such a thing to be a big deal. He had paraded that badge around in order to obtain some discounts, not giving it any further thought to people murmuring and pointing every time he had it on.

"And what has that to do with you?" Lukas asked, puzzled. Due to the history between them, Lukas was more than satisfied that this conniving little snake was no longer in his new life. It would have been hard enough for him to put an act in front of him and even harder to pass off as the previous Lukas when he was surrounded by many people who would have been able to keep an eye on him.

"Looks like all that fame is really undeserved for someone like you who doesn't even know what it actually means." Finian spoke with a clear disdain in his tone.

Lukas wasn't having any of it.

"If you came here to only speak these useless words then you might as well return from where you came from. We are no longer familiar, you and I." Lukas waved his hand dismissively intending to return his focus to the enigma that had puzzled him for a while now.

"I'm truly surprised though…" Finian continued almost as if he hadn't heard what Lukas said. "For someone who used to be so stubborn, you either hid your strength very well..." His head tilted with a mocking smile. "…or the Adventurer's Guild was momentarily blinded when they erroneously hyped up your abilities by granting such a rare privilege to someone in the likes of you."

Lukas only smiled in response." Is that envy I'm detecting? Whether I truly deserve the star or not it's surely not up to you. On the other hand, I'm not surprised that you found an even bigger 't.h.i.g.h' to cling upon. I'm just not sure which great noble house fell for your antics this time."

Lukas's eyes riveted over to the indifferent guest before Finian's face twitched like he had steeped on a porcupine's nest. "He is a respected Descendant of the House of Litcht, someone the likes of you would never be deemed worthy enough to know them "

Lukas' playful smile still lingered, his eye brows arching. The silent youth stepped forward, his hand waving Finian aside where he immediately bowed in a show of obeisance. Witnessing such boot-l.i.c.k.i.n.g, Lukas was deeply disgusted inside. He had crossed paths with such characters in his past and it always fascinated him how people were ready to throw away their dignity and integrity all so they could become willing followers for people with power.

"Lin, from the House of Litcht" He plainly introduced himself.

"Lukas, from the House of Raydore" he shot back the same courtesy.

Lin's eyes gleamed as he went on "When I heard the rumors of someone being bestowed a Star-Ranked badge while still being an Outer Sect disciple, my sudden curiosity led me to behold the very figure who was on the whisp of everyone's tongue and suffice to say…" he paused for added measure "…it's kind of disappointing."

Lukas eyes' narrowed.

"Well although I'm glad your curiosity was fulfilled, I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet whatever requirements you had in mind. After all…I can kind of guess they are not that important any way." He spoke, his voice even without even a hint of fear.

His radiant eyes slightly narrowed when a formless pressure immediately emanated from him, rushing towards Lukas like a gallop of wild horses. All of sudden Lukas found himself mired with a heavy sense of danger and before he could even understand what was happening...

WHAM!!!!

A huge collision silently occurred in his mind palace. His face paled, with blood rushing back to his mind. It was his psychic power; he knew it and he could feel it as it was so powerful that it caught him by surprise. He huffed, bent, and he was just about to kneel down before his mind desperately called upon the godly statue, envisioning it in his mind palace, where Lin's psyche power was immediately dispersed with color returning to his face a heartbeat later.

But they all witnessed it, one second Lukas was cowering under the diffusing pressure from Lin before his pale face resumed its healthy color and now no matter how much Lin emanated his psyche it was almost as if Lukas was fondled by a breeze. His psyche brushed off him as if it met a wall that shrouded Lukas's in an invisible protective barrier.

Finian frowned while Lin, who was initially puzzled, stopped what he was doing before adding a few words.

"Careful with your words Lukas, there are just some people you can't bear to cross with." Lin spoke in slightly cold tone.

Lukas looked at him right in the eye before he retorted, "Respect is earned not given. No one in their right mind allows a stranger inside their door only to be insulted and shamelessly ambushed upon. "

He countered back, laying b.a.r.e the shamelessness act Lin had just pulled. Realizing that it was indeed a little inappropriate of someone his caliber to do such a thing, Lin stared at him before he slowly walked himself out. Lukas could literally feel the pride and arrogance in his gait. It was almost as if he didn't deign to give him another thought and Finian knowing what just happened between them felt like adding some last words.

"Watch your back, old friend. You just had to ruffle the feathers of people you weren't supposed to mess with. I feel pity for your future prospects."

Lukas turned at him before he tsked. "Oh Finian, no matter what you do or try, you would never be a noble nevertheless a person worth keeping. This is what fate lies for you, forever an obedient dog to those who deem you nothing else other than expendable."

Finian's face crumpled in a hidden frustration before he eerily smiled to him. "After years of trying, is this your final result? I'm afraid this year's annual contest will pass you by. You are just a little too weak to even survive a few blows. You will definitely be stuck here forever shadowed by your sister as she reaches the higher stages before you." Finian finished what he was saying and then made a beeline for the door before he heard Lukas speak with enough confidence that ripped through the air.

"We will see in the end. Won't we?" Finian looked behind and then seeing Lukas's confident smile he laughed so hard, treating his words as ramblings of a star struck fool. His laughter carried him away from the Hall, leaving Lukas further back not realizing that his arrival had given Lukas a major breakthrough. The very same breakthrough that will help design his future demise without him even knowing.