Years ago, twelve people, young and full of infinite potential, let darkness encase them. In this darkness, they found protection from a grisly outcome the world they lived in will one day succumb to.

If you met one of these twelve people, you wouldn't hear the darkness sparring in their beating hearts. Or even notice the dagger they hold behind their backs. They are your leaders, your friends, or even your family. They commit their crimes, in front of all, yet none hear their roars.

Together, they are a pride. A pride which no one knew existed. A pride that was unstoppable. Until one day...

Karolina can never see any of the faithful followers who visit her, because she floats high above them, high enough that to her they look like markers placed on the ground. The ground of which, Karolina's never had the chance to step on.

Karolina is different from all those born before her and yet also different from any born after. She's a miracle. She's a wonder. She's a diamond plucked from out of the night sky. Her parents had made this discovery just hours after Karolina was born.

When Karolina's parents walked into her nursery, they had expected to greet their new baby girl by peering down at her sleeping peacefully in her cradle. However, that wasn't the sight they ended up seeing before them. No, instead, they had walked in and found Karolina floating high above her cradle, shining like a prism hit by a curious light. This discovery had left them both shocked, so shocked that Karolina's mother fell back into Karolina's father's shaking arms.

The prophecy of radiance had come true; a prophecy of whom all followers of light had wished to encounter in their lifetime. The followers of light had many songs foretelling this prophecy. Songs that Karolina could only hear the faintest of echoes of when a gathering of followers was chosen to glimpse at her.

Followers that her parents were chosen by the light itself to lead. A responsibility that filled both of Karolina's parents with pride. Pride because their daughter was the messenger, a foretold follower bathed in the light before she was even born, leaving her with abilities that no mere mortal would ever understand.

The messenger who will bless all of whom will accept the light, so they can free themselves from the darkness. The messenger who would, at last, lead the church to the brightest light that only those who were Ultra could catch a glimmer of. The messenger who could only be seen by those who were deemed worthy. Those who were deemed ultra.

Worthy. A word that weighs on Karolina's mind like her parent's pride weighs on her shoulders. Sometimes Karolina wonders if the weight will pull her down. She wonders if it'll let her place her feet on the ground, the ground of which, she's never had the chance to step on.

Karolina keeps on floating, however, her body stays weightless, the ground of which, she's never had the chance to step on is always so far below. Always out of her reach.

Karolina hears a bell, an indication that soon one of her parents will check in on her. She readies herself, going over every word of the prophecy of radiance. Her mind lingers on one sentence of the prophecy. The sentence that spoke of Karolina blessing all of whom will accept the light.

Karolina was the messenger, a guide that only the worthy were granted to see. Yet, the Book Of Gibborim spoke of all who accept the light. All of who Karolina will lead. Karolina couldn't help but think that maybe her—

"Karolina," Her mother calls, stopping Karolina's thoughts from floating, making them sink deep into her mind where she was scared to venture.

"Yes?" Karolina says, her tone exposing she was thinking of something she wasn't supposed to. Thinking of something that could possibly dim her light.

Karolina looks below her, her eyes settling on the lonesome platform where her mother stands. The platform is built from apophyllite crystals that were acquired by the first follower of light while on their journey to seek the brightness. Sadly, the first follower's journey didn't find success.

However, their journey ended up inspiring many to seek the brightness and in turn, lead to the Church Of Gibborim's creation. That first follower of light was also Karolina's ancestor through her mother's lineage, a fact that Karolina's mother held onto with pride.

Speaking of her mother, Karolina realizes her mother hasn't spoken again, so she snaps herself away from her thoughts. Her mother's eyes are searching, searching Karolina's face as if every thought Karolina's ever had was written on it. Sadly, for Karolina it was and she knew it would take her mother just a minute to decipher what she was dwelling on.

"Today's services ended early." Karolina says, starting up small talk."Is there anything interesting happening in the kingdom today?"

"No, nothing of interest is happening in our small kingdom, Karolina." Her mother answers, looking at Karolina with eyes full of suspicion.

Karolina nervously adjusts the rope that's tied around her waist. A rope that for as long as Karolina could remember was always there. A rope that kept Karolina from drifting away to the ceiling above her.

"You shouldn't dwell on the world outside our church, Karolina, for the world is covered in darkness." Karolina's mother's expression softens when she sees the guilty look on Karolina's face. "Why do you think the light has blessed you to only float upwards?"

"I don't know," Karolina admits. She then starts to apologize for letting in thoughts that could dim her light but her mother speaks up again.

"Karolina, you were sent by the light to spread its message. You were meant to rise above the darkness and so the light blesses you to rise."

"I know," Karolina says, her voice shaking a little.

"Recite the prophecy of radiance, now." Her mother orders and Karolina instantly obeys.

As Karolina recites every word of the prophecy with perfect precision, one sentence of the prophecy replays in her mind. The same sentence she was contemplating on earlier.

"And who is this being of light the prophecy speaks of?" Karolina's mother asks with a prideful smile on her face even though both she and Karolina knew the answer.

"Me," Karolina answers, still in deep thought. She considers voicing her interpretation of the prophecy of radiance to her mother but decides against it. Instead, she thinks of how excited the prophecy of radiance makes her feel.

She loves the prophecy of radiance because it's the prophecy that foretold her existence. The prophecy that talked about how special and needed Karolina was. The prophecy she couldn't wait to fulfill.

But how could she fulfill it when she could barely see the people below her? Karolina gains confidence and asks her mother the question rising in her mind.

Karolina's mother is silent and her expression turns into one of disapproval. Suddenly, it sheds as if it was never there. Her expression is now a comforting one but the words she's saying are barbed and laced with poison which spreads guilt throughout Karolina's veins.

"Why are you asking such a question?"Her mother says, tilting her head as her nostrils flared. As her posture stiffens."Are you trying to cause your light to dim?"

Karolina's mother continues speaking, her tone becoming calmer."Karolina, you needn't worry about something such as that. You're a marvel. A blessing to all who even hear of you. It would be so selfish of you to let those that weren't holy enough see you."

Karolina, however, felt as if her evidence was sound because the prophecy spoke of her doing just so. Plus, she was the messenger, wouldn't she know best what the light wanted? Karolina tries to explain her reasoning but the words her mother poisoned her with replay in her head.

Karolina feels like she's sinking down but still, she manages to stay afloat. Always floating. Always upward. Always knowing her feet will never step on the ground.

Even with the poison of guilt running through her veins, Karolina decides to use her voice.

"I want to see what the floor of this room looks like, mother. I want to take a step on the ground. I want everyone who believes in the light to know that I am here."

"Oh, Karolina." Her mother says gently. "Everyone knows that you're here. You're our beacon and you're way too precious to ever step foot on the ground below."

Karolina nods, deciding that it's best to let the conversation go. Yet, a part of her knows she'll bring it up again. A part of her knows, she'll wish for a different answer. An answer that she knows will never come.

Her mother smiles, this time without pride and starts telling Karolina what was picked from the garden today. Karolina is halfway paying attention, her ears are listening but her eyes are looking down at the faithful followers below her. They're leaving the room in an orderly fashion. The dots of them disappear and Karolina feels a mixture of emotions. Longing. Shame. Envy.

The last emotion twists her up inside because envy wasn't the way of the light. According to the passages that Karolina had memorized, an emotion like envy could extinguish someone's light.

And as the light's chosen messenger, Karolina's light could never fade.

Karolina brushes away her envy but a question plants itself in her mind. How could she spread a message when her voice could never be heard?