333. Making An Odyssey Ring

“I knew that Odyssey Rings were used to identify the Saintess because of how they resonate with her, but I never expected that they actually made her more powerful with each ring consumed,” Faldeus remarked, leaning back in thought as he took a slow sip of his tea.“Even we didn’t realize the extent of it until both the Solious and Herptian Odyssey Rings were absorbed and her blessings became noticeably more efficient,” Ravenna replied.

“While that’s true,” she thought to herself, “the secondary and perhaps more vital reason I need them is to upgrade the Reputation System. Collecting them seems to be the only way to unlock the next tier of my abilities.”

“It’s odd that such a significant detail has remained a secret, even though there has been a Saintess in every era against the Witch,” Faldeus questioned.

“It actually makes sense when you consider the politics of the past,” Ravenna explained. “In every recorded war against the Witch, the Saintess was monopolized by a single religious faction. It was nearly impossible for her to even set foot in a rival temple, let alone come across an Odyssey Ring from a faith other than the one she was currently serving.”

“That does make sense. You only managed to secure the Solious Odyssey Ring because of the specific reward from the Solious Church you received; otherwise, even you might have stayed in the dark about this,” Faldeus noted, nodding in understanding. “So, your intention is to collect the Odyssey Ring of every single faith and have Marie absorb them all?”

“That’s the plan. History shows us that every war against the Witch was a desperate, bloody struggle until the Saintess finally secured a narrow victory. But what if that struggle was so difficult simply because the Saintess wasn't at her full strength? If she is the child of all the gods, she is supposed to be on equal standing with the Witch or at least as powerful as the gods.”

“You’re right! We can’t have sweet little Marie be vulnerable when the Witch eventually comes for her! We have to make sure she is completely untouchable!” Faldeus stood up, his eyes burning with a sudden, protective fire.

“B-but Mother…” Marie spoke up softly, sitting close to Ravenna’s side. “I’ve heard that Odyssey Rings are the most important artifacts of the faiths. How do you even make something like that? And if Grandpa Faldeus is an Apostle, couldn't we just ask the Glinto Faith for one directly?”

Ravenna looked at Faldeus, who offered a wry, knowing smile in response to the girl’s innocent question before bursting into a boisterous laugh.

“The Glinto Faith?! Ha ha ha!” Faldeus roared, the sound echoing off the study walls.

Ravenna scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. “She is still learning about the faiths of the world, Master. Don’t tease her. She spent her life as a slave, remember?” She turned to Marie, her expression softening as she patted the girl’s head. “Marie, do you know the domain of the God Glinto?”

Marie nodded tentatively. “Time and War.”

Ravenna handed her a small cookie. “Exactly. Now, think. If a God’s domain resides purely in War, what do you think a church dedicated to him would look like?”

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“I... I don’t know?” Marie tried to visualize a cathedral, but all she saw were battlefields.

Faldeus leaned forward, his smile turning sharp. “Unlike other faiths that have grand cathedrals or Temples and rigid hierarchies, those who follow Glinto are in a constant state of conflict with one another. It is in the very nature of War to fight. You cannot build a structured, peaceful ‘faith’ around the concept of strife. The moment two followers of Glinto meet, they’re more likely to duel than to pray together.”

“It’s rare to find common followers of Glinto,” Ravenna added. “Most are Apostles, people like Master Faldeus who have no choice in the matter. They were born with his mark and are bound to his nature.”

“I see... is that why Grandpa Faldeus is feared by everyone? Because his nature is to battle?” Marie asked.

Faldeus beamed. “Not just battle, little one. I crave war the way your mother craves... well, her various indulgences.”

A brief, heavy silence fell over the room as Ravenna narrowed her eyes at him. The awkward tension was only broken when Alice entered, carrying a stack of freshly inked documents.

“What is it? Why the strange atmosphere?” Alice asked, looking between the brooding Princess and the grinning Khan. “It’s nothing,” Ravenna replied, taking the papers. “Is everything ready?”

“Yes. The factories had to adjust their production lines slightly, but the preparations are complete. As long as Lord Faldeus is ready, we can begin immediately.”

“Excellent.” Ravenna stood up. “Marie, come. It’s time to see how a divine artifact is born.”

A Vacant Room, New Lord’s Castle (Partially Completed). Kim City, Kim island, Kim Dukedom, Ancorna Empire

They followed Alice to a vacant, high-ceilinged room in the unfinished wing of the new castle. In the center stood a magnificent statue of Glinto, carved with breathtaking detail. The God was depicted mid-stride, holding a notched sword as if stepping into an eternal battle. The afternoon sunlight streamed through the high windows, bathing the stone in an ethereal, golden glow.

Spread across the floor in perfectly measured intervals were hundreds, perhaps thousands of identical silver rings. They covered the floor like a shimmering carpet of metal.

“You understand how divine magic works, right?” Ravenna asked Marie as they entered. “you use it yourself as well after all.”

Marie nodded. “We borrow power from the deities, and they bestow a blessing that we manifest as abilities or contracts.”

“Correct,” Faldeus said, walking toward the statue. “So, how do you think we imbue that divine power into a physical object?”

“By... praying?” Marie guessed.

Faldeus clapped his hands softly, sitting in a heavy iron chair positioned between the statue and the sea of rings. “Exactly. You petition the deity, and they decide whether or not to grant a fragment of their essence to the world.”

“An Odyssey Ring is made through sheer volume,” Ravenna explained with a sigh. “Normally, twenty priests would pray day and night for ten days, offering hundreds of rings to the statue. If they are lucky, one or two of those rings might actually absorb the blessing. The rest remain just... ordinary jewelry.”

“What?! That’s such a tiny success rate!” Marie exclaimed.

“Why do you think even the Imperial Family had to fight so hard just to get the second odyssey ring from Solious Church for my mother for health before her death?” Ravenna chuckled darkly. “There is zero guarantee. It’s a game of divine chance.”

“But... we only have one follower of Glinto here,” Marie noted, looking at Faldeus. “Will it work with just Grandpa?”

Alice adjusted her spectacles, her eyes reflecting the silver glint of the rings. “An Apostle carries the weight of a hundred Priests, it is equal to a High Priest. And since Glinto doesn't have a formal church, his attention isn't spread thin. Lord Faldeus’s prayer alone is worth an entire cathedral’s worth of monks.”

Ravenna leaned down and whispered into Marie’s ear, “Stay close. Standing in the presence of an Apostle’s direct prayer is perfect since this is how you discover the blessing you got from Glinto.”

Marie nodded, her face set in a look of fierce determination. Faldeus closed his eyes, his breathing slowing until it matched the rhythm of the wind outside.

“Well then,” the old Khan murmured, his voice suddenly resonating with a power that made the very air vibrate. “I shall begin.”