Holy Empire of Eterno - Founding Myth

The war showed no signs of ending.

Powerful nations trampled upon helpless kingdoms, and countless countries that could not even leave a name behind vanished into history. Black smoke covered the sky, flames swallowed forests and fields, and people had to kill one another to survive today, not tomorrow.

Just when everything was being stained with despair.

A being revealed itself to the world.

He sometimes took the form of a beautiful woman to embrace a wounded child, sometimes became a pure boy to share bread with the hungry, and sometimes appeared as a benevolent old man to heal the dying.

Where he passed, the parched earth was revived in green, and trees grew again in the forests turned to ash. People began to gather by his side, chasing miracles.

In that crowd were an exiled prince who had lost his homeland and a priest who served another god that had long since vanished.

The priest had wandered for decades searching for his lost god, but the moment he witnessed the miracles performed by the new god, he realized. The light of salvation he had waited for his entire life was right before his eyes.

Following the will of God, the exiled prince and the priest gathered the scattered people and finally built a new nation upon the ruins of war.

That was the beginning of the Holy Kingdom of Eterno. God established the prince as the first king and had the priest establish a religious order to spread his teachings. Thus, the Aether religion was founded, and God bestowed blessings and divinity upon the kingdom to look after the people.

Once peace arrived and the nation was firmly established, God vanished from the world without a word.

However, God never abandoned Eterno.

Whenever the kingdom faced the threat of destruction, instead of descending directly, God chose a Saint or Holy One to inherit his will and bestowed oracles and divinity upon them. They saved the country multiple times, continuing the miracles.

After hundreds of years, the Holy Kingdom of Eterno, which grew under God's blessing, finally etched its name into history as the Holy Empire of Eterno, the representative religious state of the continent.

It is said that God has merely hidden his form and is still watching over the world today. However, his name was never ultimately revealed.

Year 936 of the Eterno Imperial Calendar, the Great Cathedral of the Aether Order.

Amidst the cheers of countless Holy Knights, Roche Winchester was appointed as the youngest Commander of the Holy Knights.

As the solemn appointment ceremony ended, the first person to approach him was Saint Olivia Blanchette.

"Congratulations, Commander."

With a gentle smile, she seemed to offer a more sincere blessing than anyone else.

Roche bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you, Saintess."

No one knew.

That what was hidden behind that smile was not a blessing, but obsession and desire.

A few days later.

The temple bells rang, and all priests and knights gathered in the Great Cathedral.

Standing upon the altar, Olivia opened her mouth with her eyes closed as if receiving an oracle.

"God has spoken."

In an instant, the temple became so quiet that not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

"The Commander of the Holy Knights can only be embraced by the Saint."

"..."

"The moment this is disobeyed, God's protection will vanish."

No one dared to doubt.

The words from the Saint's mouth were the will of God.

And Roche, who believed in God more than anyone, did not doubt the oracle either.

He believed it was his mission and willingly accepted it.

That night.

The Saint's bedroom.

Olivia slowly approached Roche, who was standing with a stiff expression.

She carefully wrapped her arms around his waist and whispered softly.

"I do not wish for this either..."

With a momentarily sad expression, she looked down.

"But it is the will of God, is it not?"

Roche closed his eyes in silence.

He wanted to refuse.

He wanted to run away.

But he could not defy the will of God.

From that day on.

Roche began to head to the Saint's bedroom every night.

That was the beginning of all the tragedy.

Aether Religion Power Structure

[1. Holy Emperor]

• The supreme leader of the Aether religion.
• The final decision-maker for all organizations.

[2. Saint / Holy One]

• Directly under the Holy Emperor.
• Religious authority within the order is second only to the Holy Emperor. However, when a divine oracle is issued, even the Holy Emperor cannot defy it, and the oracle takes precedence over all authority of the order.

[3. Cardinal]

• The chief executive of the order.
• Oversees the administration and clergy of the order.

[4. Holy Knight Commander]

• The supreme commander of the Holy Knights.
• Leads all Holy Knights.

[5. High Priest, Vice Commander of Holy Knights]

[6. Priest, Holy Knight]

[7. Apprentice Priest, Apprentice Holy Knight]

Aether Order Grand Temple Layout

1. Great Cathedral: The center and most sacred place of the order. The highest sanctuary of Aetherism where official worship and oracles are proclaimed, and the Holy Emperor personally conducts rituals.

2. Saint's Palace: The residence where the Saint stays. A space for preparing oracles and resting; access is restricted to anyone without permission.

3. Holy Emperor's Palace: The office and living space of the Holy Emperor. The place where the highest decisions of the order are made.

4. Holy Council: The supreme decision-making space where the Holy Emperor and Cardinals discuss the order's policies and major issues. For national matters or issues where the interests of the order and the Imperial Family intersect, an official joint meeting is held with the Emperor, Crown Prince, and Imperial representatives.

5. Grand Library: A vast archive storing scriptures, ancient manuscripts, historical records, and holy magic books. (Forbidden Books: An area where entry by commoners is strictly prohibited. Even those with the status of Priest or higher cannot enter freely and must receive prior approval from the Pope.)

6. Central Fountain: A symbolic fountain located in the center of the temple. Those entering the temple wash their hands with the holy water here to purify their body and mind.

7. Healing Hall: A holy healing facility for treating the injured and sick. Priests and clergy in charge of healing reside here.

8. Prayer Garden: A quiet garden for meditation and prayer. A place for clergy and believers to compose their minds.

9. Clergy House, Training Center:

• Clergy House: Private residence for priests. Equipped with private offices and research rooms, where academic research, nurturing successors, and management of important documents take place.
• Training Center: An educational facility where apprentice priests live and learn theology, etiquette, and healing arts.

10. Holy Knight Headquarters: The central facility of the Holy Knights. Includes the Commander's office, Vice Commander's office, training grounds, and knight dormitories.

11. Prayer Room: A space where clergy and believers can freely offer prayers. Communal and private prayers take place according to the time, maintaining a solemn and quiet atmosphere.

• Feel free to add any necessary buildings.

Relationship between the Imperial Family and the Order

• In the Holy Empire of Eterno, the powers of the Imperial Family and the Order are strictly separated.

• The Imperial Family rules the Empire, while the Order governs faith and divinity, and neither side can encroach upon the other's authority.