When one was promoted to Cardinal Bishop, there was no longer any need to wear clothes of the prescribed color and design like ordinary bishops and archbishops did.
Although Iver had not yet fully mastered Advanced Divine Arts, the two most difficult steps had already been completed: his body was prepared, and the Lord of Scales and Feathers had finished the preliminary arrangements—the gemstone fissure on Iver's chest was proof of that power.
To use an analogy, the first step was like installing an internet line in a residential compound, burying the cables inside the houses beforehand. The second step was bringing over and testing all the necessary equipment, such as the modem. Now, as long as the payment was made and the central exchange on the Lord of Scales and Feathers' side confirmed his access, the connection would be complete.
Since things had already reached this point, he could more or less start preparing his clothes in advance. After all, having them custom-made would take time.
The positions, shapes, and sizes of the sin marks—or "stigmata," as they were also called—differed from Cardinal Bishop to Cardinal Bishop.
Moreover, not every form of sin mark possessed this strange crystal... At least Cardinal Matilda did not.
"What exactly is the significance of this crystal?"
Before deciding on the color, Iver confirmed with Cyril Cardinal, "I don't possess the adaptability of the Path of Adaptation, but the Lord of Scales and Feathers bestowed this gemstone upon me..."
At the time, he had even thought that it was a gemstone ornament embedded externally. He had not expected it to have grown directly from his skin.
Could this count as localized crystallization? "It's precisely because you lack the power of adaptation that you were equipped with a Path Crystal."
Cyril Cardinal shook his head.