Today was the annual day of divine worship in Vita Capital City, a significant holiday where all forms of work and activity were supposed to be halted to give all citizens of the Vita Divine Empire a chance to prostrate themselves in the Divine Umbra Church before the Three Supreme Deities.
Out in its streets, many citizens were happily on their way dressed in the colors of Umbra. There was a lot of idle chatter about the special meals they would eat with their families once they got home to celebrate this auspicious day, as well as the various blessings and joys they had enjoyed this past year.
Families, couples and friends grouped together, no one standing out alone on this day.
Currently, it was the main boulevard of the Vita Capital City that led towards the Rank 7 Church. On this road that was wide and spacious enough for the main worshippers to come and go freely, there was a group of four youngsters who were walking down the street.
In the lead was a lovely young lady with tousled yet short silver hair that shone in the light of the sun. Her calm and mature eyes were a simmering dark orange hue while her small, yet round face was indicative of a young woman who just entered puberty as her features were beginning to refine themselves, especially given her height of 5 foot 6.
On her slender neck was a black choker that she used to try and conceal the amber colored gem on her chest, but it was an action in futility. She wore a white crop top that covered her upper chest area while leaving her stomach and midriff bare, along with an orange-colored sleeveless vest.
The vest draped over her shoulders and was open at the front, providing a striking contrast to her top. Her waist was bound by a vibrant orange cloth wrapped like a sash, which hung loosely and added an exotic element to her outfit.
She wore tailored harem pants that were semi-loose and cinched at the ankles with golden bangs, eliminating the need for shoes as it extended from the back to cover her feet and was locked by a golden ring around her middle toe.
Along with her golden bands set on her wrists as well as the striking caramel color of her skin, this lovely young lady was the epitome of a school belle for budding young men, causing their hearts to ache daily for her affection.
Walking casually behind her - and quite lazily as his arms were placed behind his head - was a young man of the same age range who was slightly shorter than her. The lad had medium-length black hair tied back into a high ponytail, with some strands falling loosely around his face.
His eyes were a striking shade of reddish-purple, giving them a distinct and intense look. The lad was dressed in a sleek, all-black outfit that exuded a sense of agility and readiness. He also had a form-fitting sleeveless top that accentuated his slim build, paired with equally tight-fitting pants.
His arms were covered with long black gloves that extended to their shoulder, while the shoulder area was bare.
He wore a black belt around his waist while his lower legs were wrapped in similar black fabric, ending in sandals that were open-toed and secured with straps. Additionally, he had a couple of silver bracelets on his wrists, adding a subtle touch to his predominantly black attire.
He was extremely handsome for a young man his age, especially with his sleek caramel skin and slightly androgynous features that could drive young girls crazy. It was clear that in a school setting, he would be the 'perfect boy' that every girl had a crush on.
Slightly behind them, towering over the duo with his 6 foot height, was another young man who had a serious and composed expression. He had medium-length black hair that was slightly tousled, covering his face with bangs along with deep red eyes full of cold intensity, which contrasted strikingly with his dark attire.
The young man was clad in a suit of dark armor that was primarily black, with a scale-like patterns covering the chest, upper arms and thighs, providing a sense of durability and resilience. The scales had a subtle sheen, reflecting light and passively absorbing ambient worldly energy at near noticeable rates for even commoners.
Their knees and calves were protected by segmented armor plates, along with metallic gloves and boots that generally matched the rest of the armor. The lad had pale white skin that contrasted his dark armor, and his eyes were continually roving the streets as if watching for danger.
Finally, there was an absolutely adorable young lady who had a cheerful and friendly expression surrounded by the three in a protective formation. She possessed short wavy hair that was a soft shade of white along with large bright blue eyes that added to her overall charm and conveyed a sense of warmth as well as openness.
Meanwhile, Rosella folded her arms and watched with an unhappy expression until her vest was tugged lightly. When she turned, she saw the youngest sister Shiro, pulling at it with a worried expression on her sweet face.
"Sister Rosella, brother Loki and brother Kuro are fighting again. Should we tell papa to come and break it up?" Shiro asked in a soft voice that would make anyones turn into hearts from its adorableness.
Rosella smiled dotingly and stroked Shiro's soft white hair gently. "Don't worry, Shiro. Esteemed Father is more than aware of the nature of those two, so he naturally predicted this. Whatever the case, neither can kill the other, so it should be fine."
Shiro enjoyed the headpats but still seemed worried. "Okay, I trust you sister. What about the citizens though?"
Rosella looked around and saw that the common populace were in peril, but she made no moves to help. She continued stroking Shiro's head, but her words were cold and direct.
"The life and death of mere ants is not for me to decide. You have the abilities of Mama Hikari, so if any of them suffer from the fallout, it's up to you whether you wish to help them."
Shiro hesitated and shook her head in the end. She couldn't resist her urge to help and clasped her hands together, a pure and holy white light radiating from her small body that spread out around the area, granting relief, healing and protection to all those nearby.
The saved all showed expression of awe and astonishment. Seeing the holy light coming from that sweet young miss, they couldn't help but kneel and cry out in adulation.
"An angel! It is an Angel of the White Dragon Goddess!"
"A miracle! A Divine Miracle!"
"I knew it! Today is the day of Divine Worship, the Three Supreme Gods have sent their own among us!"
The people almost rushed over to crowd Shiro and carry her up but were deterred by the still ongoing battle. Still, their fervent glances made Shiro nervous and hesitant, hiding behind her elder sister while seeking comfort.
Meanwhile, Rosella glanced venomously at the crowd, causing them to flinch backwards in shock. How could such a pretty young lady make such an evil and terrifying expression?
Rosella snorted with disdain and looked away, focusing on the battle that was reaching a climax. However, before it could escalate further, a loud voice sounded over the area as torrents of Worldly Energy formed shackles in the area that locked down the atmosphere.
"CEASE THE DISTURBANCE!"
Immediately, a group of ten men appeared, led by an armored man in the lead who was decked from head to toe in top-notch legendary equipment. This was a Guard Captain of Vita City, a Rank 7 Divine Warrior!
His squad members - who were common guards - were all Rank 6 City Guards decked in Epic equipment from head to toe meant to subdue all perpetrators within the borders, with buffs and boosts that worked within Vita's territory.
Standing in the sky, they were awe inspiring and resplendent, giving all the citizens a feeling of safety and security while those with ulterior motives felt fearful and suppressed given the terrifying reputation of Vita's Guards.