“Never before have they seen someone excel in the seminary prior. Never before has someone shown such understanding of the workings of the Queen and Her seraphs in such a short time. And yet they still keep me behind. That I must continue before they can accept me as ready for the final ritual of the clergy.
Pontiff Volcov has not yielded in weeks, keeping me from the chamber of revelation and the Queen’s Veil, but I found a way to witness it. I watched through a crack in the doors of the chamber as the procession entered and the avowed initiate walked the path to the central pool. I know the movements, the same each time. I have the words memorized as though etched into my eyelids, I see them when I close my eyes. They moved, still dripping in the blood of the pool, to the veil. Minutes passed in silence before their scream echoed. The performing clergy rushed forward. Another failure. I could have told them that. It should be me they put through this ritual. Three failures I have witnessed since I found this hideaway. Three initiates for clergy stepping before the most holy artifact of the Queen only to show their lack of devotion. They are so timid. Unable to accept the full presence of the Queen. But I can feel it more with each time I witness the ritual. It doesn’t just see, it speaks in whispers within your blood. It calls me. It knows I am worthy.”— Sister Gabi Ionesco, Avowed of the Claret Covenant
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