THE SACRED CODEX OF LEGACY: CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

¹And Loras, King of the Delmarians, spake first, saying: “O Lord, Thou knowest me, and my going out and my coming in. The things of the mind have I loved, and to seek out Thy works hath been my delight.”
²“When I was yet a child, I read the stars and marveled at their order. I sat among scribes and asked them of the days before the flood, and the tongues of the ancient ones.”
³“Let me drink, therefore, of the Chalice of Knowledge, for my soul hungereth after the things that are hidden.”
⁴And he took the chalice that was like midnight, and raised it to his lips, and drank. And the cup was not emptied, but it shone brighter, and a light entered into his eyes.
⁵Then Baltrain, King of the Kezrethites, looked upon the Chalice of Power, and his heart burned within him. And he said:
⁶“O Lord, from my youth have I been strong; I have stood in the breach and turned back the sword of the oppressor. I have not desired dominion for its own sake, but that I might lift up the lowly and give bread to the fatherless.”
⁷“Let me take the Chalice of Power, for with it I shall establish justice, and smite down the pride of the wicked.”
⁸And he lifted the chalice of flame and gold, and drank. Though the cup was not emptied, a fire passed through him, and his voice became as the voice of many men.
⁹Then Cadra, King of the Avarites, stood alone before the last cup, and he trembled more than they. And he looked not at the vessel, but lifted his eyes unto the Heavens, and said:
¹⁰“O Lord, great and terrible, who knowest all things, I am not worthy to drink of any of these, for my understanding is but dust.”
¹¹“Yet if Thou wilt give me grace, that I may lead my people in peace, and discern between good and evil, and not exalt myself above that which is given me, then shall I take the Chalice of Wisdom.”
¹²And he reached forth his hand, and took the chalice which was plain and without ornament, and drank. And there was no fire, nor light, nor cry — but a silence fell about him, and he was changed, even though he had taken but a sip from the cup.
¹³And the voice of the Lord spake again, and it was as the sound of many trumpets:
¹⁴“Well have ye chosen, O sons of men, and according to thy choosing shall thy houses be established forever.”
¹⁵“Loras, son of Halmar: Thou hast taken the Chalice of Knowledge, and with it shalt thy seed multiply in understanding.”
¹⁶“From thy loins shall come scribes and scholars, keepers of the record, and revealers of that which is hidden. Yea, they shall search out the deep things of Ivalice, and uncover the works of My hand.”
¹⁷“Baltrain, son of Oric: Thou hast taken the Chalice of Power, and with it shalt thy seed become mighty.”
¹⁸“Kings and princes shall rise from thy house, and the scepter shall not depart from thee. Thou shalt rule in strength, and uphold the cause of the righteous.”
¹⁹“Cadra, son of Methor: Thou hast taken the Chalice of Wisdom, and I have poured My spirit upon thee.”
²⁰“Thy seed shall be called blessed, and when darkness covereth the land, they shall be as a light upon the mountains.”
²¹“For in the latter days shall Ivalice be troubled, and the hearts of many shall fail them; but the wise shall stand, and lead the people unto deliverance.”
²²“The day shall come when the kingdoms of men are shaken, and the beasts arise from the deep; then shall thy house be a refuge, and thy name a banner.”
²³And the tree in the midst lifted up its branches, and the flames thereon became as stars; and the plain was filled with a glory beyond telling.
²⁴And the voice ceased, but the echo thereof remained, as a song sung before the beginning of days.
²⁵And the kings fell upon their faces, and wept, and their tears watered Ivalice.
²⁶And there was given unto them a sign each: to Loras, a scroll sealed with seven seals; to Baltrain, a rod of iron; to Cadra, a stone white as snow, upon which no name was written, yet known to God alone.
²⁷And the Lord blessed the place of the choosing.
²⁸And the kings thought each of his own land, where he would bear the mystery of the chalices in their hearts.

▷THE SEVEN SCRIPTURES OF THE CHURCH OF GLABADOS
    ▷THE FIRST TESTAMENT
        ▷THE SACRED CODEX OF LEGACY
            ▶1—2—3—4—5

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