Chapter 3: Cherry Blossom Cosmos

Brutus smiles lovingly at his little brother, 'It would seem as if we were both fated to be great in this life, little Virgo. We will gaze down from upon the heavens together.'

Little Virgo, as if taking in the silent thoughts of his brother, closed his eyes still new to the world, to enjoy his first sleep in his mother's arms. The young Virgo had truly been born into an interesting reality.

…

In the vast expanse of existence, there existed a unique universe that was much different from other realities, the 'Cherry Blossom Cosmos'. Having a shape resembling Flower petals, this cosmos contained pockets of worlds, signifying different territories. Within each territory is a Noble House, ruled by a different celestial and inhabited by their devoted followers. Though it is strange, Celestials lived among their direct followers here, guiding those who held the most devotion for them.

According to the lore of this world, the 'Original Celestials' are powerful beings who were born from the primordial energies that created the multiverse itself. Each celestial possesses a unique set of powers and abilities that are passed down from generation to generation.

The passing on of divinity is a sacred responsibility, one that ensures the continued strength and power of the celestials and the Noble Houses they rule. Some see their divine bloodline as a gift from the universe, one that allows them to rule over their followers with wisdom and grace. While others view their bloodline more as a divine right rather than a blessing.

For the celestials, the process of passing on one's divinity is a grave and mystical one. It involves a ritual known as the 'divine inheritance,' in which the current celestial of a 'House' must pass on their powers to a chosen heir. This transfer of power can only occur when the current celestial is ready to return to nothingness, as the act of passing on their divinity is in reality, giving all they have to the next in line. Down to the very lifeblood that powers their existence.

The ideology behind the celestials being able to pass on divinity from parent to child is one of legacy and continuity. It reinforces the idea that the celestials here are not just powerful beings, but also members of a divine family that stretches back to the very beginning of the universe.

The celestials were spread out across different planets, each unique in its terrain, climate and magic. Some were known for their harsh, unforgiving landscapes, while others boasted lush forests and towering mountains. Each planet had its own distinct culture, traditions, and way of worshiping the divine beings that ruled over them.

In one of these worlds, on a planet hidden from the rest of this Cosmos, the Matriarch Helios and her followers lived in bliss. The cities were lined with crystals that shimmered in the soft glow of divine ethereal power, and the air was thick with the incense that wafted from the grand temples that dotted the landscape. The people of this world were deeply devoted to their Matriarch, and they believed that her benevolent rule was the reason for their prosperity and happiness. The current Matriarch indeed led her people well, putting her people and their wellbeing above everything, even herself. Unlike some of those selfish celestials, she cares deeply for her followers, seeing the act of ruling not as a matter of power or dominance, but of service. Matriarch Helios strove to create a territory that is fair and just, working tirelessly to ensure that all had access to the resources and peace they needed to survive. Her kindness and compassion were legendary, and many of her people, the Sun-Eaters, looked up to her as a paragon of virtue.

This was a realm ruled by beings beyond a mortal existence, but mortals were after all molded in the image of their Celestials. Meaning these divine beings feel the very same emotions humans do. Being love, pride, jealousy…and obviously…greed, perhaps in greater amounts than their mortal counterparts. The Celestials were not infallible, and they often clashed with one another over matters of pride and power. While a few were content to rule over their own territories, the vast majority coveted the resources of their fellow celestials. As a result, there were often tensions and even wars between the different Noble Houses, with mortals following their divine leaders to battle.

Originally, when the Noble Helios Family was not as peaceful. In the time before even the first son of the Matriarch, the Family was still a branch of the Greater Noble House of the Sun Celestials. The council of all the minor houses that held divinity over the Sun and Flame, having only one goal, to conquer everywhere the light of a sun touched. The Helios Family was incredibly powerful, with warriors respected by all Houses under the sun, and feared by all Houses opposing.

For some reason, unknown to others, the Matriarch decided to leave the Main council, but of course, not without a fight. But when the Sun Council tried to find the Noble House of Helios, they were unable to find even a trace of them in their system. Overtime, they gave up on the hunt.

The Helios family separated itself from the rest of space where other Noble Houses existed. This was a special dimensional treasure one of her ancestors had found in an ancient ruin in a far-off dimension. By some miracle Matriarch Helios discovered how to awaken the tool to open the dimensional rift where her family could live in peace, without fear and war.

Although the Sun-Eater people were raised as warriors from the moment they could hold a weapon, the trust they had in their leader was immense. They followed her off the battlefield into a relatively peaceful seclusion. But still, The Dimensional Rift wasn't completely safe. Despite separating the Helios Family from the war, the Rift had to be kept open to maintain a steady flow of Divinity and resources. For some strange reason the Matriarch found that when the Dimensional Rift was closed off from the Cherry Blossom Cosmos, the divinity she had control over plummeted almost immediately. It was almost like the dimensional Rift was a completely different plane, governed by strange laws. This rendered the Noble House unable to make use of the more chaotic divine energy present in the atmosphere of their new home.

It was decided to live on the outskirts. Here the Noble House was safe from the unknown and could still secretly participate in the utilizing the divine resources shared by other celestials. Apart from the few times that some random invaders would accidentally breach the open Dimensional Rift, the violent nature was largely kept at bay. With Faction games and other pathways, the house was constantly discovering the possible talents of their people outside of war.

And this is how the current orders of the Noble House of Helios were evolved; the Flame Dancers of Dante's Inferno, the Steel Faced Asura of Heaven's Gates, Oracles of the Unspoken Tongue, and the foundation upon which all are built, by means of Rune Sculpting. Little Virgo would soon become familiar with all of them, as this was his responsibility being the second Prince.