Vestal

The vestals are important figures of the Crystal Orthodoxy, and are highly revered by followers. All vestals are females and have the Oblige surname, which is meant to link each vestal to her predecessor. Each Crystal has one vestal; thus there are usually only four active vestals at any one time. Vestals are often referred to in conjunction with the crystal they tend to. For example, Agnès Oblige is referred to as the vestal of wind, as she tends the Wind Crystal.

Vestals reside in their respective temples, alongside other nuns and female acolytes. They are to care for, pray to and are 'brides' to the crystals they are issued to. Also residing in the temples are vestalings. Vestalings are trainee vestals, chosen from young girls who possess the ability to connect with the crystals. When a vestal retires or dies, the successor is chosen from the vestalings. A vestal's position has no age limit, thus even a five year old child may be a vestal. The selection method by which the faithful of Crystal Orthodoxy choose the women and girls who will become the vestalings is still unknown (although the Matriarch of Florem mentions how Sylvie possesses "that light" within her that makes her a candidate eligible to succeed the late Olivia Oblige as the new vestal of the Water Crystal).

Vestals must tend to their respective crystals at all times. Thus, vestals typically live a secluded life, having little to no experience with the outside world. Vestals must be kept away from worldly conflicts and must never bother themselves with political issues. Their duty to the world is to read the rites that will purify the crystals, ensuring balance and warding the world from natural disaster.

Vestals are required to pray to their crystals on a daily basis. According to Crystalist beliefs, this helps to maintain the crystals. Should a crystal be consumed by darkness, the Vestal must perform the Rite of Awakening to purify it. In times of need, the Vestal can create a shield which will protect the crystal from enemies and even further corruption. This shield can only be removed only by vestals. Otherwise, it will dissipate upon the death of the vestal. In certain cases, if a crystal is not cared for properly, or if its vestal has been killed and there are no vestalings to take over, the crystal will be out of control. Out of control crystals can result in natural disasters, unnatural pollution, and in extremely rare cases, devastating destruction, such as the whole village of Norende being consumed by the Great Chasm.

When offering prayers or performing rites, the vestal must wear a special vestal garb, which allows them to perform the rites necessary. These garbs are produced by Sage Yulyana from special Rainbow Thread, which is the only material deemed acceptable by the Orthodoxy. While garbs can apparently be inherited, the production of new garbs require that the vestal gather the Rainbow Thread herself by venturing into the Vestment Cave.

Although not compulsory, but a vestal may be accompanied by a cryst-fairy, a fairy-like creature in the teachings of Crystal Orthodoxy. In the teachings, the cryst-fairy are responsible to tend the Crystals together alongside the vestals.

Unfortunately, over the years, the teachings of the Crystal Orthodoxy have slowly changed due to the corruption of some of its leaders. Sage Yulyana was the one responsible for secluding and separating the vestals of fire, wind and water from Crystal Orthodoxy's corruption (thanks to the rising of the mountains around Eternia, which separated the main base of Crystal Orthodoxy from the rest of the world), protecting them, their vestalings and the rest of the faithful ones from the corrupted faith.

Story[]

For many years, vestals tended the four crystals of Luxendarc, offering daily prayers to maintain them. However, when the Crystal Orthodoxy became corrupt, Braev Lee and others led an uprising against them, which resulted in the formation of the Duchy of Eternia. In the process, the vestal of earth was killed. The Duchy began a strict policy of Anticrystalism, with the goal of stamping out the Crystal Orthodoxy. One of their main goals was to capture the remaining vestals. The vestal of the Fire Crystal was accidentally assassinated by the Black Blades division of the Eternian forces, while Olivia Oblige, the vestal water, was forced into hiding for months, though she was able to shield the Crystal from any harm and corruption before her fleeing.

The final vestal, Agnès Oblige, was targeted after she traveled to the Kingdom of Caldisla when the Wind Crystal had recently been consumed by darkness, coinciding with the destruction of the village of Norende by the Great Chasm. Agnès is able to evade these attempts with the help of Tiz Arrior, Norende's last surviving citizen. After learning that all the Crystals have fallen into darkness, Agnès begins a journey to awaken them. Along her journey, she learns of the Duchy's attacks on the other vestals and the adherents of Crystal Orthodoxy.

After awakening the Wind Crystal, she travels to meet with Olivia, to see about the Water Crystal. Just as the two meet, Olivia is killed by Victoria F. Stein, a high-ranking member of the Duchy. This causes Olivia's magic shield on the Water Crystal to dissipate. As the last surviving vestal in the entire world, it falls to Agnès to restore the remaining Crystals.

As her travels continue, Agnès slowly learns of the Crystal Orthodoxy's corruption. Among other things, the Orthodoxy had refused to aid the victims of a plague, dooming them to death, and had rejected a vestaling after learning she had a terminal illness. She also learns that infusing with her prayers too much energy can seriously overload the Crystals, causing them to spiral out of control and bind them to other worlds and realities parallel to hers through the Great Chasm.