Chapter 577: Decision (1/2)
”What!?” Raven exclaimed as he heard Sect Master Lucas' words.
”You didn't hear me wrong.” The Sect Master said, ”I want you to be my successor. Would you be willing to do it?”
”B-but…” Raven stammered. He was caught completely off-guard by this sudden offer. ”I bear the mark of Ancestor Zeus instead, how - ”
”It's not the only one…” Lucas smiled and informed him.
”Eh!?” Raven tilted his head in confusion. ”What do you mean?”
”When Henry handed you the token and you went to the Chalice Room, tell me how many Chalice was present?” The Sect Master didn't answer him yet and instead asked this question.
”Three. The Chalice of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus.” Raven reported.
The sect master nodded and asked once more, ”How many chalices retreated underground when you interacted with them?”
Raven thought for a bit and said: ”All of them.”
”Then are you aware, that unless the Ancestors acknowledged you, their chalice won't react to you at all?” The Sect Master raised a brow and looked at Raven in amusement.
Raven's eyes widened as he realized what he was trying to say.
”B-but, if that's the case then why did Kyrie receive me instead? She's the Battle Maid of the 9th Chosen of Zeus right?” Raven asked.
”I can't be helped…” The Sect Master sighed. ”It should originally be me who's going to do that, or at least someone under me. However when you accepted the Baptism, I wasn't around the sect. It's due to that Kyrie sensed your presence and mistook you for the 9th Chosen of Zeus.”
”What's more is that, only the Thunderbolt Mark which represents Zeus was visible to everyone including you. In truth however, you bore all three…”
The Sect Master snapped and Raven suddenly felt some ripples rising from his body. He felt the mark on his forehead tingling. He felt the same ripples on the depths of his soul and his core.
It was then that he noticed that his palms were emitting a faint brilliance. His left hand were covered in a faint curtain of black colored light, meanwhile his right hand was emitting a navy blue colored light. In addition to the Thunderbolt Mark on his forehead which is now emitting a faint yellow glow, Raven finally understood what the Sect Master meant.
He looked at his palms. On his left palm he had a mark of a skull, on his right palm was a mark of the rippling water.
Raven truly had all three marks of the Ancestors.
”Bearing the mark of the Ancestors is a great honor.” Sect Master Lucas stated, ”There are times when a disciple could receive more than one mark. If that happens, then that disciples will be considered the Chosen of whoever's mark was higher in terms of responsibility.”
”Take Celestine - the Dominatrix War Goddess for example…” The Sect Master said, ”During her baptism, she received the good graces of Ancestor Aphrodite and Ancestor Ares at the same time. Since the War Gods bore more responsibilities in the sect matters, she was acknowledged as the Chosen of Ares, becoming a War Goddess.”
”Although disciples bearing the mark of two or more Ancestors are rare, it still happens from time to time. However, even with how many marks they receive, they'll never be able to be considered as the Chosen of Chronos since that requires a specific requirement…”
”You're smart. You should know what I'm trying to say here.” The Sect Master calmly said.
”To become considered as the next Chosen of Chronos, one must acquire the marks of the brothers' Hades, Poseidon and Zeus.” He said.
Sect Master Lucas smiled and said: ”Correct.”
Although he said that, Raven remained reeling from the sudden news.
”Like I said earlier. Had I been on the sect during your Baptism, I should've been the one to personally receive you.” The Sect Master stated, ”Unlike the other Ancestor Mantles where there could be more than one Chosen, the position of Chronos is one of those who would only acknowledge one per generation. The mantles of Gaia, Hera, Hermes, Aphrodite, Demeter and others are included in this categories.”
”I only realized that you've met these requirements during our first meeting. However, since we are about to go on a pretty risky mission, I decided to not inform you yet in order to not distract you from the task at hand.”