Rebecca sat in her Ascension Chamber wearing her usual habit, her staff lying across her lap. She meditated as she used Seraphara’s mantras, the chants ordering her thoughts and directing the energies inside her.

  Lumos had helped her make the room resemble her Soulscape, her simple nook of a room meant for relaxing, reading, and meditation. The stained glass windows were just like at Seraphara’s Cathedral, casting her in refreshing, tinted light.

  Eirwen and Luna had already stopped by, making sure she was ready. The lovely pair were so friendly and giving that it was easy to be friends with them. They spent time encouraging her and assuring her she was ready, hyping her up and making her feel welcome before they left to prepare themselves further.

  As she meditated, a pleasant aroma entered her senses as she breathed through her nose, a constant companion in her daily life. It was a small reminder of her husband’s love when compared to their true connection, but it was one that she was still happy for.

  Nick had given her a simple silver pendant during their date, as he made other necklaces for his other brides. He had also gotten her the moonlight lily in full bloom, covering it with his special frost to preserve it. Seraphara then blessed their union, transforming it further into a frost lotus.

  She tied it along her locket with a picture from their date inside, and the lotus had eventually grown and latched around it, no longer requiring the tie and fusing with it.

  The frost lotus Nicholas had given her during their courtship had continued to grow these past several months. It absorbed the special waters of the springs of revitalization and purity within the Ordeal and had even responded when she cultivated, drawing up some essence of its own.

  It was an odd thing, and she could feel a slight connection to it. In truth, it was almost like a Nexus Core, yet different. She could sense its purity, and she was curious about Seraphara’s designs when she gave her blessing.

  Nick had told her that his body wanted it, and she was more than willing to give it to him. At the same time, neither of them felt that this was right–this gift was meant for her, after all. And it would be a waste if he just…ate it like some demon core.

  Her mother, Irene's, voice entered her ears. “That core of yours is pure and beautiful. I think you’re ready for the next stage, my Becca. I’m proud of you.”

  Rebecca opened her eyes, surprised at her mother’s voice. Irene must have arrived while she was lost in her thoughts. Her mother looked positively radiant, light shimmering from her. And she was showing–carrying Nick’s child. Rebecca got up and hugged her, engulfing each other in their wings and arms, warmth filling her chest.

  She pulled away, smiling. “Thanks, Mom. And thank you for helping get me ready these past few days.” She looked over to the new tome and mirror representing Seraphara’s Wisdom. They were reflected inside of her Soulscape, the magical creations helping her master methods of managing her knowledge and wisdom, as well as measuring and monitoring her purity.

  The tome was a part of their mantras about committing their knowledge to memory. The idea was that when they learned new knowledge, it would be stored in the tome, ready to be called upon like a memory. And the mirror allowed her to see her personal purity, a reflection of her soul. They were both mystical tools that Seraphara had taught her mother, which she was able to teach Rebecca now that she had the talent and understanding.

  Irene replied, “Think nothing of it. We and the rest of the clergy and adherents are praying for your success. It may be better if you reached the twentieth floor in Mother’s Ordeal first, but your Path is not fully hers, and there’s no clergy currently ready to climb that high that aren’t…pregnant. Instead, you can shepherd a party later when they are ready. Or better yet, once this little one comes out and I recover… we can go together.” She rubbed her tummy.

  Rebecca smiled wryly, thinking about the implications. “It’s…going to be strange to have a brother or sister at this age. And…for my children to have such a young aunt or uncle.”

  Irene chuckled. “Well, he or she is going to have many, many brothers, sisters, and mothers. An aunt or uncle or two will hardly be all that strange. As for you, well, I do wish I could have given you a much more normal childhood with brothers and sisters sooner, but… I’m sorry, Daughter.”

  “You don’t need to apologize to me. You did the best you could and fought hard to protect me.”

  Her mother’s face had darkened before she sighed, wiping it away with a smile. “It’s all in the past now. Instead, we get to look forward to a beautiful future. Show me this pathcore the Ordeal awarded you.”

  Rebecca retrieved the Pathcore from the pouch at her waist and held it out. It was a white core, with specks of frost scattered through it. Her mother’s blue eyes stared at it intently.

  Irene said, “It’s certainly a powerful angel or being of light’s Pathcore, but I wonder why the feeling of cold is emanating from it–that’s not quite so fitting for you, is it? Either way, perhaps Mother herself helped make sure it arrived in your hands. I’m sure it will serve you well. Are you ready?”

  Rebecca nodded, smiling. “I think I am. Kaya already ascended, and I know Winny, Fang, Luna, and Sable won’t be far behind.”

  Irene smiled at her. “Don’t mind it. You are you, different from them. It is pointless to measure others’ success against yours. Just focus on yourself and what you wish to be, and I know you can do it, my Becca. Especially with our husband’s help.”

  “That…is pretty good advice and reassuring. You are truly changing, Mother.”

  Irene laughed. “Have I not always had my mother’s wisdom? But that is fair for you to say, I feel. I may have failed in sharing my knowledge, too slothful and focused on the things that I enjoyed. Now I find myself wanting to be better for you and my future child, and of course, our dear husband. Life is now…much more enjoyable, in more ways than one.” She smiled in thought, and a grin touched her lips.

  Rebecca couldn’t help but blush a little at that. After all, she knew just what her mother was enjoying so much and probably thinking about right now!

  Irene shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts. “Anyway, I just wanted to give you my and the other girl’s regards, and my love, before you ascended. We wish you luck, and we have every confidence in your success.” She hugged Rebecca warmly again.

  “Thanks, Mom. I love you, and…thank you.”

  Her mother hugged her even more tightly before they parted, and she left the room. Rebecca then entered her Soulscape. Her door shimmered with its rainbow, prismatic light, but otherwise, there wasn’t much all that different in this room from the physical one.

  She could feel her connection to Nick, even more powerful than before. He was waiting for her to arrive and floated through the door with a smile. He arrived in front of her and grasped her by the waist.

  “Hey, my Becca. You’re ready now?”

  Rebecca smiled and nodded at him, her own arms wrapping around his much larger torso. “I am. A year ago, I never thought I would be ready so soon. Before I met you.”

  “Well, you probably also didn’t think you’d almost die a dozen times either. To drakes, to evil bishops, to lava elementals, to–” Nick began counting on his fingers, but Rebecca interrupted with a chuckle.

  “Yes, you’re right. Or to find a wonderful husband, a lord of Orion that earned Seraphara’s approval so easily.”

  Nick was affronted. “Easily? I worked my ass off for those quests! I got that full clear, remember?”

  “How could I forget?” She kissed him on the lips and wrapped her wings around him as he wrapped his arms around her more tightly in turn. She enjoyed the somehow cold warmth that engulfed her, her heart beating happily in her chest as she was held by her husband.

  Rebecca could feel his love for her, a comforting presence of his emotions connected to hers. There was a subtle feeling of possession or dominance that carried over, a pleased feeling that came from her being his, forever. This only warmed her further, causing her to want to wrap her legs around him and hug him even more tightly.

  Nick chuckled as he broke from their kiss. “Not that I mind, but you get me worked up, and you won’t be ascending for a few hours. Well, you’ll be ascending… but also descending. A lot.”

  Rebecca chuckled. “Later then?”

  Nick grinned at that. “You got it. I just wanted to remind you that I’m here and I’m ready–not that I have to do all that much thanks to you girls' cores, it seems. You got this, Becca.”

  “Thanks. It’s reassuring that you’ll be helping me.”

  Nick snorted. “Just as you helped me, and all those times you saved my ass. See you in a bit.”

  He left the chamber, and now Rebecca was finally ready. To Ascend.

  In the real world, she sent mana into the mat she sat on. A pedestal rose from the ground, allowing her to place the refined Pathcore. She sat back down on the center mat with all the glyphs running through it, legs crossed and hands clasped as if in prayer, speaking Seraphara’s Mantras and moving her essence to her learned cultivation imagery.

  The gathered essence from their challlenging Trial battle came raining down upon her and pushing from below. A bubble wrapped around her from the floor, trapping much of the essence inside, as pressure built.

  It took a time for the essence to build, until the weight felt like she could stand no more. Her cores then shattered, leaving only the compressed cores inside. Inside her Soulscape, the Seraphara’s Faith Core, Devotion Core, and then the Body and Soul Cores floated to the outsides of the room, forming four pillars.

  The Sacrificial Concept established its own pillar, and Seraphara’s core Concepts: Wisdom, Compassion, and Purity, enhanced the Faith Core to hold up its side.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Over these past several months, her Sacrificial Concept had changed, ever so slightly, thanks to the Devotion Essence and a Bottled Concept she had obtained.

  She could convert her faith essence gathered inside her Faith Core to control energies that were not her own at first, even erasing them if needed. But now, she had taken it to the next level, allowing for conversion of friendly energies, such as her own and her sister wives’, through their Enhanced Pact Connections–thanks to the Devotion Essence, her doorway she had formed. This was what she had done with Eirwen when she helped Nick with the Blessing of Compassion: Might against Lord Tagron.

  Then, the Bottled Concept she obtained helped her with converting Soul or Faith Essence into Body, she could also empower her muscles and create much more powerful attacks. The cost was heavy and often wracked her body with pain as the Concept took its due from her vitality, but it would produce significant outcomes that could turn the tide of battle, even if it weakened her.

  Thanks to this, she had reached Middle Mastery, and it was now a dense and powerful pillar congealing with the immense amount of essence forming in the room. Seraphara’s mantras caused her faith essence mixed with Soul and Body essence to gather throughout the pillars, building them up like bookshelves filled with knowledge and wisdom both.

  The devotion pillar became a powerful arch and doorway, her Angellic Tether and Nick’s connection within. It held up that corner strongly, not even budging from the pressure. In many ways, she understood why the devotion essence would be a Pillar of Self.

  So much of her personal identity, her goals, and her dreams had been changed and focused on her lover and her family’s success. Even how she had focused on becoming a Fighting Sister was because of this. The other pillars, she could feel the strain, especially the Body Core.

  The essence from the Pathcore flowed into the mat and then into her now, joining the Boss Essence. Her Soul Core thrummed as the essence wove around the pillars, like a deep bass note of a sound that shook her entire being.

  A vision of a being of light came to her thoughts, of a sort of angel of frost and flowers. The woman was covered with green leaves and vines with bright white flowers, like a dryad with wings made of flower petals. The being mainly used stored sunlight to defend, but it could also do something more substantial. It could sacrifice a seed from her flower to merge light and frost into one and send out a devastating blast of frostlight.

  It was not the light of wisdom, but she could feel parallels to Seraphara’s tenets contained within. The creature was pure in disposition, bathing in the cold light within a cave of frost peacefully. It had compassion, helping other creatures with its light, and only fighting to defend itself if absolutely necessary.

  The vision was interesting, but it didn’t shake her conviction in her path, though she found herself desiring the monster’s control over the frost and light. She felt the creature’s usage during the vision but knew she personally had a mediocre at best affinity for cold, even after her trait from the first floor in the Path of Kings Ordeal.

  The flower on her chest suddenly bloomed, releasing an indomitable frost. Essence traveled through her veins, but rather than a scary, painful thing, thanks to both the cold and foreign essence, it was a comforting warmth that combined with the essence from the Pathcore she was absorbing. She could feel a connection to the flower and its energies, as the flower seemed to merge into her very body.

  In the Soulscape and the room, the energies traveled into and combined into her Body Core’s pillars, which had been a little weak. She had improved it through her hard work and efforts to become a Fighting Sister of Seraphara, but it was a simple fact that an angel didn’t have a powerful body, nearly weightless as it was. Her Sacrificial Concept had only allowed her to overcome or shore up her weakness.

  With the enhancement, suddenly, the compassion and wisdom pieces of Seraphara’s Concepts left the Faith pillar and formed their own in the sixth location, the room shifting as the gears spun and the metal twisted.

  Rebecca was shocked but happy as the hexagon room took its form. She reasoned that the only reason it managed to become its own pillar was because of how Rebecca had excelled with them and thanks to the new balance established by Seraphara’s gift.

  As she continued following Seraphara’s mantras, the pillars and room finished solidifying, and yet some essences remained, mixed into a dense haze floating in the room. It wasn’t as condensed as Nick’s pillar of soul light, but something within her body seemed to shift as the Pathcore was completed.

  A halo of frost and light condensed over her head as she was changed forever, ascending to the Third Stratum. It almost looked like a woven crown of vines made of ice, a cold emanating from it and falling around her like a thin snow.

  She took a restoration pill as she took a shaky breath. Her body and soul had been strained by creating the Pathcore and changing so dramatically, but there was still a ton of essence remaining for her in the physical chamber.

  And there was a fair amount of frost essence, she noted. At some point, the prism that allowed essence into the room must have shifted along with her change, accommodating her and ensuring the desired mixture was provided.

  After she had recovered enough, she reviewed the prompts waiting for her.

  [Class Upgraded. Epic Class: Archaen Noblefrost Cleric of Seraphara]

  [Effect: +1.50 Body, +1.50 Soul Rating Per level starting at level 20.]

  [Pathstone: Dual Concept Path. Seraphara’s Faith, Sacrificial Devotion.]

  [Purity: S Grade, 6 Pillars.]

  [Effect: +14 Body, +16 Soul, +1.75 Body and Soul Per Level starting at level 20.]

  Noblefrost. A smile touched her lips as even her class contained her new family’s namesake, and she now controlled nearly the same Saintfrost that her husband did.

  She hadn’t realized it as the frost lotus did its work, but her body had changed. Her wings were made of frost and angel feathers, and now they almost looked like four frost lotus petals. And she could feel a connection to the frost element from her Pathcore and from the halo floating above her head.

  [Trait Upgraded: Faithbound Frost Resilience -> Angellic Frost Halo]

  [Effect: +4 Body, +8 Soul]

  [Your faith in your goddess’s path and your extreme aura control protected you in the frost, tempering your body and mind to resist the cold. The moonlight frost lotus and Pathcore have been subsumed and merged with your flesh and spirit along with a vast amount of frost essence, altering your race as you ascended. Thanks to your purity and connection to your goddess and her Concepts, you have established your halo. You now have an increased affinity with Frost, granting Frost Manipulation. Angel’s halos also grant increased light affinity and greater control over flight.]

  Rebecca reasoned it was because she was an Archaen Angel that her Frost Trait had managed to combine with a new one, subsuming Seraphara’s blessing–the moonlight frost lotus. Her race was now marked as an Archaen Frostangel.

  She finished absorbing the essence within the room and recovering, the gains substantial. The Boss essence was truly a lot, solidifying her entry into the Third Stratum. Eventually, she stood, ready to try her new powers.

  As she activated Seraphara’s Light of Wisdom, the orb that formed was a mixture of light and frost. It would likely still fire as a beam, but one of both light and cold.

  The cold emanating from the orb was a bit weak, however, and then it took her a moment to understand why. Just like the odd…dryad-angel in the vision, she was meant to use her Sacrificial Concept in order to make the more powerful combination, or perhaps, pull frost from the surrounding area using her manipulation. Of which, there would be plenty for her to work with thanks to her many allies.

  She chuckled self-deprecatingly. Her faith in her goddess’s path was strong, but it had faltered as a priestess.

  Rebecca had worked so hard to become a Fighting Sister, in hopes of growing and becoming able to influence fights in a greater way than merely healing and defending her sisters in battle. To support her Archaen Husband and her sister wives in combat, she had wanted to be more than just a pacifist like her Sisters at the Cathedral.

  Rebecca still believed in seeking peace and the power of Seraphara, but her Lord Husband was a Heroic King. That meant the path of peaceful avoidance was not fully an option, as he would have to face conflict to redeem others and would actively seek it out even in a small group.

  Not only that, but the Ordeals were a place where it was rare for her power to fully influence the enemies they were facing. She needed her clergy sister’s voices added onto her shouts to fully demonstrate Seraphara’s true strength; something not possible in the Path of Kings Ordeal, let alone when facing the evils of the world head-on.

  Seraphara’s doctrines would have her people be much more passive, only moving once all else failed, long after evil might have festered and harmed many.

  As a Fighting Sister, she had achieved her personal goals, she thought. She had excelled in being able to disrupt and disable enemies, allowing her to use non-violence when the situation called for it. And she had been sure her husband would do the right thing when the option was available. In a sense, she had left it up to her family to honor her values and principles, and Archaen Law helped reinforce this instead of Seraphara’s Purity.

  And yet, Seraphara had a path prepared for her, a gift that would allow her to achieve something even greater than her goals as a Fighting Sister. The frost lotus was given to her so long ago, as if her goddess knew just what Rebecca needed.

  Her Saintfrost could no doubt disable and disrupt, and as she wrapped it around her staff, she created a spearhead at the tip and then switched it to a more blunt instrument.

  With this, she could fight effectively against monsters, both as a caster and as a warrior if the situation required it, with or without her clergy by her side.

  With a flex of her will, she floated into the air effortlessly, not even requiring to flap her frost…petal wings. She looked into the mirror, finding that she hadn’t changed all that much, but Rebecca now felt more like a butterfly than an angel.

  It seemed she could now fly reliably and not have to worry about falling out of the sky or running out of endurance. Her halo somehow created a special field around her that required nearly zero effort to float any distance from the ground. She imagined if she flew high enough outside, that wouldn’t be the case, but in the city, she could float at any height she chose.

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t really carry anyone, not even her smaller Wolfen sister-wives. Maybe back when they were wolflings… Over time, as she got closer to the Fourth Stratum, that could change, she was sure.

  She left her changed ascension chamber, floating through the halls until she arrived at their living room. It felt like a small party in her honor, soft music playing as the family gathered. They were waiting for her, almost everyone clapping and smiling at her entry.

  Luna was beaming, her tail wagging gently behind her. “Congrats, Becca! We knew you could do it!”

  Fang, Sable, Jasmine, and Kaya each shared their congratulations, giving her hugs and words of encouragement. Shara was still plating some of the food, placing it on the table, and then she offered her congratulations as well.

  Her mother was there too, along with a few of the other Maidens. Irene exclaimed. “Oh! You got your halo! Congratulations, Daughter. You’ve changed a little during your ascension too.”

  Nick smiled at Rebecca, giving her a hug and reviewing her changes. “You look great as always, Becca. Do angels not always get their halo when they ascend, then?”

  Irene shook her head. “They don’t. Some only achieve it when they reach the Fourth Stratum. Most will do it during the third at some point, but it has to do with their traits and attributes and the strength of their Concepts. Rebecca is definitely an elite to manage it now.”

  Eirwen smiled at her, looking at the petal wings more closely. “I do like the wings; they look so pretty. Now, we've got a bunch of your favorite foods prepared, and we wanted to celebrate your success. It’s not every day someone reaches the Third Stratum! You’ve become an elite on this Shard. You should be proud.”

  The table was packed with various items, though of course, not all were for her. She liked items light on meat, but she did enjoy fish items more. Shara had made a few different sushi items that she knew Rebecca liked, and that included some with fruit packed with rice, with decadent sweet fruit sauces drizzled on them.

  And of course, there was plenty of meat for the monsterfolk girls and Kaya to enjoy. The beastfolk girl had changed very little during her ascension, only an increase to the feral air surrounding her.

  The good feelings of the family and their hugs wrapped around her and sent her heart fluttering before they sat down and enjoyed the food together. She felt welcome and loved from her place at Nick’s side, excited about the future as her other sister-wives discussed their own preparations for ascension. Sable, Fang, and Luna may be doing theirs as a pack together as soon as tomorrow, and Winny might do hers tonight.

  That meant Shara would be last, but it was to be expected. As much preparation as she had done before she began cultivating, there were limits to how much could be done. She was working to get her second Concept to Middle Mastery, and it was a challenge.

  Elyra was currently racing to ascend before her, as she would rather not be beaten by her daughter. She had already headed over to the Fortress near the monster kingdom in hopes of bringing her own second and third Concepts up to Middle Mastery as well. Battle was certainly the best to combine her will into Orion’s, and Rebecca was sure it was only a matter of time.

  The family moved on to playing some games, spending time together as part of the celebration. Seeing them and Nick so happy for her built a warmth in her chest, along with a satisfaction for her success. Soon, things would get busy again, but she could relax for the moment.