The Dead Hours of Rome

3:13 AM.

The Vatican’s great towers loomed against the night, their spires piercing the heavens like celestial spears. The city beyond lay still, trapped in the suffocating silence of the dead hours.

But here, within the sacred halls, something stirred.

The wind moved with an unnatural hush, weaving through the stone courtyards like a whispering specter. There was no breeze, yet the banners of saints rustled overhead. The air carried the scent of ancient parchment, candle wax, and something else something acrid, like burned incense left smoldering too long.

The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica had long since rung their midnight toll, yet their echoes still seemed to tremble in the bones of the city, lingering longer than they should.

The High Inquisitor did not believe in omens.

But tonight, something felt different.

A Man with No Shadow

He moved swiftly, his black robes brushing against cold marble, the weight of his rosary beads clinking against his belt.

He had spent his life devoted to the sacred, sharpening his mind against blasphemy, against heresy. Yet in all his years, he had never witnessed a man return from the abyss unscathed.

And Gabriel Cross had returned without a single wound.

No scars. No pain. No fear.

Only silence.

That was what unsettled him the most.

He had watched exorcists walk away from encounters with the damned shaking, sobbing, broken in ways that no prayer could mend.

But Gabriel?

He stood unmoved, his hands steady, his breath calm.

A man who had stared into hell itself should not look so untouched.

Yet, the thing that troubled him most, the thing that made him descend into the Vatican’s darkest vaults at this ungodly hour

Gabriel cast no shadow.

The Descent Into Silence

The door to the Forbidden Archives loomed before him a relic of another era, wrought from iron and etched with sigils older than the Vatican itself. Wax seals lined its edges, unbroken for over a century.

He reached for them.

The moment his fingers brushed the surface

The wax cracked.

The sigils, long dormant, hissed as if something inside had exhaled.

The heavy iron doors groaned open, their rusted hinges wailing in protest. A gust of stale, dead air rushed from within, carrying the scent of mildew, blood, and something older than time.

Inside, the passage was pitch black.

He stepped forward.

And the torches lining the stairwell snuffed out.

The darkness welcomed him.

The chamber stretched before him like the belly of some slumbering beast, lined with stone shelves filled with forbidden texts. The air was thick not with dust, but with something unseen, something watching.

He moved deeper.

Rows of books, scrolls wrapped in decayed bindings, locked iron reliquaries containing prayers never meant to be spoken aloud.

Then he saw it.

A single tome, set apart from the others, untouched by dust.

It had no title, no inscription only a sigil carved deep into its leather cover.

His heart stilled.

He had seen that symbol before.

On Gabriel.

He reached for it

And the pages flipped open on their own.

The words were scrawled in ecclesiastical Latin, ink smeared by a trembling hand.

"There have been others."

His throat went dry.

Gabriel was not the first.

Exorcists who returned whole, but no longer cast shadows. Priests who spoke, yet their voices echoed with another beneath. Saints who were honored only for their names to vanish from history.

His pulse hammered as he read the final passage, one written with such force that the quill had torn the parchment.

"They did not return alone. They wear their own skin, but beneath it… something else stirs."

The room grew colder.

His breath fogged in the air.

And behind him

A voice spoke his name.

Elsewhere, in the upper sanctum of the Vatican, Gabriel stood before the sacred reliquary.

The chamber was bathed in gold, the candlelight flickering across the bones of saints, their reliquaries gleaming behind crystal glass.

A priest approached.

"Just a blessing," he assured. "To cleanse your spirit after all you have endured."

Gabriel inclined his head.

The priest raised a silver crucifix and pressed it to his forehead.

And nothing happened.

No warmth.

No divine presence.

The priest’s breath hitched.

A moment too long.

And in that silence Gabriel heard it.

A heartbeat.

Not his own.

The chamber was lined with statues of saints, their faces carved in eternal devotion.

But now

They were watching him.

The Virgin’s eyes bled crimson.

St. Michael’s lips moved without sound, whispering something Gabriel could not hear.

The apostles stood rigid, unmoving yet he swore they had shifted slightly, their heads now turned toward him.

Gabriel’s pulse remained steady.

No fear.

No reaction.

He turned to the polished silver reliquary

And his reflection lagged before following.

A slow smile curled at the edge of his lips.

And for the first time

He wasn’t sure if he had been the one to smile at all.

The Vatican’s Disturbance

Beyond the chamber, throughout the Vatican something stirred.

A priest collapsed during prayer, screaming about "the hollow man."

The candles inside St. Peter’s Basilica all went out at once.

In the great cathedral, as the High Inquisitor clutched the forbidden tome, the statues rumbled in their places.

And above them

A golden angel fell from its pedestal, crashing into the marble at Gabriel’s feet.

The chamber shook.

The priests began to murmur in terror.

Gabriel closed his eyes.

And in the silence

Something listened.

Something waited.

How to Apply for an International Study Visa to Study Law in Canada (Step-by-Step, 2025)

Comprehensive, original guide — includes checklist, sample Letter of Explanation, budget example, myths vs facts, pros & cons, and official resources.

This guide explains how international students apply for a Canadian study permit (the document commonly called a "student visa"), with specific notes for law students: how to select a school (DLI), gather the correct documents, pay fees, give biometrics, meet health & police requirements, work while studying, and plan for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and pathways to stay. All steps are original, summarised from official sources — check the "Resources" section at the end for the primary pages.

Quick checklist (at-a-glance)

Get accepted to a designated learning institution (DLI) — obtain an official Letter of Acceptance (LOA).
Confirm provincial/territorial attestation: PAL / TAL (or CAQ if Quebec).
Prepare proof of funds (tuition + living + return travel; examples below).
Create your IRCC online account and apply online (preferred).
Pay application + biometrics fees; follow Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) to give fingerprints/photo.
Book medical exam with an IRCC panel physician if requested; get police certificate if requested.
Upload documents, submit, track application, attend VAC/VFS appointments (if required), then travel once approved.

Note: Always confirm local visa-office instructions (they may request extra documents). For students from Quebec: get CAQ before applying.

Step-by-step guide (detailed)

Step 1 — Choose a school & program (law)

Select a Canadian law program and confirm the institution is a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Not every school or every program within a school guarantees eligibility for work or the PGWP — check the DLI list and whether your program is PGWP-eligible before you accept an offer.

Step 2 — Apply and secure your Letter of Acceptance (LOA)

Apply to the school as an international applicant. Your official LOA must include program start/end dates and tuition details — you will upload this to your IRCC application.

Step 3 — Provincial/Territorial attestation or CAQ (Quebec)

Most applicants must include a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). If you plan to study in Quebec, obtain the CAQ (Québec Acceptance Certificate) before applying for the federal study permit.

Step 4 — Prepare documents & proof of funds

Typical documents: passport, LOA, evidence of tuition paid (if any), bank statements, GIC (if used), sponsor letters, birth/marriage certificates, translations (if not English/French), police certificate (if requested), medical exam (if requested), and a Letter of Explanation / study plan (sample below).

Step 5 — Start your online application & pay fees

Apply online via IRCC's portal. Pay the study-permit processing fee plus biometrics fee (if required). Pay carefully — use the payment methods listed on IRCC.

Step 6 — Give biometrics & attend VAC (if outside Canada)

If IRCC requires biometrics you will receive a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL). Book an appointment at an official biometric collection site (often a Visa Application Centre / VAC). Biometrics appointments are free to book; the biometric fee covers collection. See panel physicians and VAC locations for your country.

Step 7 — Medical exam & police certificate (if requested)

If IRCC asks for a medical exam, use an IRCC-approved panel physician. For police certificates, follow country-specific instructions early (requesting these can take weeks).

Step 8 — Track & respond to requests

Use your IRCC online account to track the application. If IRCC requests more documents or an interview, respond quickly and keep copies of everything you upload.

Step 9 — Decision & entry to Canada

Once approved you’ll get an approval letter (and, if abroad, a temporary resident visa in your passport if required). Carry your LOA, approval letter, passport, and proof of funds to your port of entry; the border officer issues your study permit.

Documents checklist (detailed)

Document	Why it matters
Letter of Acceptance (LOA)	Proof of admission; must be from a DLI.
Passport & travel documents	Valid travel document for date of entry.
Proof of funds	Show you can pay tuition + living + travel.
Proof of tuition payment (if any)	Shows commitment and funds transfer trace.
GIC or bank statements	Common proof of funds for many applicants (or student loan documents).
Letter of Explanation / Study Plan	Clarifies intent to study and to leave at permit end (if applicable).
Biometrics & application receipts	Proof you paid and gave biometrics.
Medical exam results (if needed)	Only from IRCC panel physicians.
Police certificate (if requested)	Country-specific; get early if likely required.

Sample Letter of Explanation / Study Plan (LOE)

Keep it concise (1 page), honest, and personal — explain why Canada, why that law program, and your future career plans.

Sample (short):

To the visa officer —
I, [Full name], was offered admission to the Juris Doctor / LLB program at [University name, city] starting [date]. I believe this program is essential to develop the legal knowledge and skills I need to return to [home country] and practise commercial law / public interest law / etc. My family will support my studies; I enclose bank statements and a formal sponsor letter. I understand my responsibilities as an international student and intend to comply with all conditions of my permit. Thank you for considering my application.

Sincerely,
[Your name] — [Date]

Sample budget (example only — adjust for your program & city)

Item	Year 1 (CAD)
Tuition (year 1)	25,000
Housing & utilities (12 months)	12,000
Food & transport	3,600
Books & supplies	1,000
Health insurance	900
Return airfare (estimate)	1,200
Total (example)	43,700

IRCC requires proof of funds — examples above are illustrative. Confirm the exact amounts for where you will study and update figures before you apply.

Working while studying & PGWP (what to expect)

Recent regulatory updates changed work rules and PGWP requirements. Eligible students may work off-campus without a work permit for a set number of hours per week (confirm eligibility). After graduating, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can let you gain Canadian work experience — eligibility depends on program length and whether the school/program is PGWP-eligible. Keep records of full-time status and program completion for PGWP applications.

Common myths & facts

Myth: You must have CAD 100,000 in the bank. Fact: You must show tuition + living expenses + return travel; IRCC publishes guidance and occasional updates to the amount they expect. Check official proof-of-funds guidance for current figures.
Myth: You can only apply on paper. Fact: IRCC prefers online applications for study permits in most cases — apply online unless you have a valid reason for paper filing.
Myth: Paying tuition guarantees a permit. Fact: Tuition payment helps but the visa officer also evaluates intent, admissibility, health, and ties to your home country.

Pros & Cons: Studying Law in Canada (visa & practical angle)

Pros

High quality education and international recognition.
Work opportunities while studying and possible PGWP after graduation.
Pathways to permanent residence for some graduates.

Cons / watchouts

Cost — tuition + living can be high in some cities; plan finances well.
Not all programs are PGWP-eligible — verify before accepting LOA.
Processing times & local visa-office instructions can add delays — start early.

Practical tips & red flags

Start early — some documents (police certificate, bank statements) take weeks.
Keep clear, original evidence of funds; avoid last-minute transfers that look unusual.
If told to pay third-party "expedited" fees by anyone other than IRCC/VFS, treat it as suspicious and verify directly.
If your LOA is conditional, upload proof you met the condition as soon as possible.

Official resources & useful links

Embed these links into your post to provide readers direct access to official pages and VAC booking services.

Final checklist before you click Submit

LOA from a DLI with exact dates & tuition information.
PAL / TAL (or CAQ for Quebec) if required for your province.
Clear bank statements or sponsor letter, and receipts for tuition/fees already paid.
Scanned passport bio page and translations as needed.
Signed Letter of Explanation (LOE) and study plan.
Payment for application & biometrics fees; appointment booked for biometrics/VAC.

If you want, I can tailor the LOE and checklist to your exact situation (country, program, tuition, sponsor details) — paste your details and I’ll draft them.

The Forbidden Archives (Devil's sentence 11)