An Extra’s POV

Gratiana still remembered how it felt when she was summoned to see The Oracle.

She had just attained her age of maturity and was going to become an Elder. It was an honor to grow into an Elder and finally assume more responsibility within the Elven Community.

She remembered how excited she was for the moment.

After all, more than the honor she would receive from her new name, and the responsibility that she would have to shoulder as an Elder, there was one more experience every Young One had to go through before they were officially recognized as an Elder.

—Meeting The Oracle.

It was The Oracle who gave names; the true nams that an Elder would bear for the rest of their lives. As such, Young Ones would appear within the shrine and be transported to the place where The Oracle resided.

No one really knew where it was.

However, all of those who had received this glorious experience had the same testimony.

"It is beautiful beyond belief!"

From everything Gratiana heard from her fellow sisters—some who had just gotten their True Names a few days before her turn—the experience couldn't be summed up in words.

Every Elf had to experience it for themselves.

And so, Gratiana faithfully waited for her own experience… until it finally came.

She was instantly transported to the interior of a golden palace; the halls designed so immaculately with architecture that she had never—and would never—lay eyes on.

The hall was brimming with beauty, but all of that was soon forgotten as soon as Gratiana finally took in a deep breath.

For the first time in her entire life, she smelled a certain fragrance that brought her to her knees almost instantly.

body shivered in reaction to the

could ever smell this good and so intensely for that matter. If they could, then they had long transcended the highest realm that the Esteemed

were on a completely different

within Gratiana's ears

her body the

in her ears. Thankfully, the

arrived here—the Domain of

any of the words that were being uttered. She was merely nodding like

from the little her blurry eyes

out the details. She

not fear, my child. You are safe

at that moment, knew exactly what to think and how to do so—through the divine words uttered

common name. Your

in consent at

was now completely lost in her mind, and she embraced the

must always perform your obligations to the community without fault. Protect the Young Ones, mercifully shun all the tainted ones, and

to respond to those words back then, but in

was powerful—an unforgettable experience that words could never do

The Oracle held

pleasure shot

not recollect just how much she shivered and how loudly she screamed. She only knew how good it felt back then… and how that joy overflowed

be touched by the divine…

time she regained consciousness, Gratiana found herself within the Shrine—a completely new person from the

an Elder in every sense

Only Esteemed Elders could see the Oracle after their recognition as Elders, and even then…

chance she had to meet The Oracle again was if she worked hard enough and

succeed an Esteemed Elder, and if The Oracle approved,

that