《PRISM OF FATE》


 Chapter 1 : Unlucky day

    " Shawn, hey Shawn. Are you even Listening to what I am saying" Jean, a 13 year old boy was speaking to Shawn, who had turned 13 that day. " You are always in deep thought. Do you even enjoy your childhood. You are like an adult who is in a financial corner. I would like to open up that small brain of yours to know what is going on." Jean said as he threw a paper to Shawn who then looked up to him an said " Sorry Jean. I was trying to think of a way to make a water making machine. Its hard to think of the components that will be used to compress oxygen and hydrogen at right temperature without exploding or water forming inside its chamber. But what did you want." " Have you forgotten that today is the day when we are to go to Presvile Labs for the group science presentation. Remember that we are to present a self sustaining electricity system which only requires one to have an access to a water source. You will be representing us. And also, the Mayor will also be present. So it''s better if we prepare and go to the parking lot and wait for the the teacher to give us instructions." Jean said as he went to the bathroom to take a shower as Shawn packed what they required in a bag pack. Jean and Shawn were very good friends and they knew each other since pre- school. Jean was older by few months. They were in Jade view Academy, which was one of the cream top schools in the world. It was only accepting students with high intellectual capacity. Today was the day when they were privileged to attend an annual Scientific meeting in Presvile Laboratory, A company with the most advanced technology and with the best scientist. It was a big company known all over, and Shawn''s school were given the privilege to attend it so as to know how the top figures were thinking and how they solve problems that others failed to solve. After preparing themselves, Shawn and Jean went to the parking lot where a private vehicle provided by the company was to pick them together with their teachers and other students. " Hope that you all had a wonderful sleep and are prepared to do your presentation. I know that you might be nervous, but just know that we your teachers and your parents who will be present will always congratulate you for your braveness." Lean, their problem analysis teacher, encouraged his students as soon as they reached their destination. " And by the way Shawn, I have something for you. Happy birthday my friend." Jean said to Shawn as he handed him a small gift wrapped in glitter paper. " Thanks Jean, but what is ...Thanks, Jean, this is what I always wanted. The prime watch. It is the best watch manufactured by Presvile and it sure costs a fortune. You are the best and also thankyou for remembering my birthday. I had almost forgotten about it." said Shawn as he wore the watch Jean had gifted him. "Do not mind about the price. Being your friend is priceless and I do not mind buying you this watch." said Jean as they entered the premises. An escort was handed to them who showed them around the premises as they were directed to the auditorium where they found that many people had already arrived. A sector for the kids was set aside and they were directed to their seats. After salutations and some random talking ''Bla Bla Bla'', presentation time finally reached. Shawn was the one to lead in presentations and did the presentations and after forty minutes of questions and answers, they concluded with a round of applaus from the audience. " You did great Shawn." " Good work. You have made the school proud." Mr Lean said as he patted Shawn''s back and handed him a bottle of water. " Jean, you said that your big brother was working here, right " Shawn asked Jean. " Yap, did you want to have an audience with him, I cam connect you to him much faster than anyone here. " Jean bragged. " Yes please. I would like him to give me pointers on the project that I had in mind. But before that, let me go to relieve. Give me a minute I will be right back. " Shawn said as he stood from where he had sat and rushed to the washroom. ''Slippery Floor, Watch Where you step'' a small warning board was set across the pathway leading to the washrooms but due to his mind somewhere else, Shawn slip and fell backwards, his head hitting the tilled floor. " Is this how I die. No I can not die. I have a meeting with Jeans Brother. My parents need me and I can not die." Shawn said as he tried to get up but he couldn''t. Slowly by slowly, darkness fuzzed is eyes. His skull had cracked upon impact. Well I guess it''s goodbe world. Fate is indeed is cruel. Its was to be my day but alas......" Shawn said as his life flashed before his eyes before darkness shrouded him fully.                                                           If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    *******


    SOMEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE


    From afar, a feminine woman was in deep thought. She had blue eyes, Blonde hair and a curvy body well symmetred as if a skillful woodcarver of a God took his precious time making a masterpiece. She was stunning and had unparalleled figure. She wore a purple dress with a white robe. She sat on a golden throne and besides her throne were 5 other thrones which only four had owners. On her right, the throne was lit up which meant that it was already owned. She held a sceptre which had a white crystal diamond in shape. " Guess this is what is required. It will be done soon. Now, come forth." She said as a white light shone all over the place. " Welcome Shawn"

 Chapter 2 : Unlucky encounter

    " Why did you become so weak. All your siblings are strong, your mother is strong and I am also strong. You are but a disgrace to our family. What will other people say. I am to be the next leader of our clan after your grandfather and they expect me to bring forth powerful soldiers. We are a powerful clan but people like you end up tarnishing our names. This was your moment to awaken your powers and enter the world of Prims and prove yourself to be a strong figure and raise your head high. I am disappointed in you." said a young man who looked to be only in his mid thirties to a young boy roughly at the age of 12 and both were standing in front of an altar. The altar had a spherical silver globe which was used to measure the power output and potential of the owner.


    Normally, for one to awaken his power, one had to undergo some certain procedure, normally like a test to prove yourself if one was worthy and capable of awakening. To Starborn clan , 99% of the members had a higher chance of awakening their powers, and the royals had the highest chance. But as for this anomaly, not only had it no talent, but also failed in the awakening process and his father had to intervene so as to save his life. It could bring shame upon them for even those commoners had mostly awaken.


    In this world, when one is born, they are not usually given names. They are then given name at the age of 12 when they undergo the rituals of awakening and awaken their innate abilities. Usually, very few people fail and for those who fail are considered outcast and failures to the community. That was why the father of a figure had gotten so angry that his crimson aura was leaking while his wife was trying to comfort him. " I am sorry father for failing you. I guess that you have to make me an outcast. I am a failure." the boy said. Mr Shin, the father to the boy and the one to be the next ruler and was currently the one in charge of most of the affairs.


    For one to awaken his or her power, a test had to happen. The one to awaken is normally taught the basics of soul force. how to absorb it hence forming a soul seed, which grew with the owner till it forms a spirit core and, never mind. After learning on basic technique of soul force absorption, and a soul seed is formed, the test comes. The test was happening in mindscape, like one was in a slumber. In the mindscape, one saw another version of him or her made of entirely soul energy and what was separating them from the soul was a blue soul shield. The test was quite easy. One was to break the shield and then merge with their other self and then the soul seed takes shape fully. After this is done, one enters in the realm of Prims, those people who had awakened their innate abilities and becomes a beginner Aspirant.


    In this world, there were different levels of power growth. They were as follows. : 1. Spark of aspirant.


    2.Artisan''s Touch


    3. Warrior''s resolve


    4. Harbinger''s Vision


    5. Soul binder''s Gift


    6. Ethereal Warden


    7. Sovereign Manifest


    8. Cosmic conqueror


    As for the rest, it was not known if there was any rank above a Sovereign Manifest since the most powerful being known was a guardian known as Aurum and he was strong. Not even a million Sovereigns could even put a mark on him, that is if if those sovereigns actually existed. No one knew his rank and no one who ever dreamt of facing him even existed. In short he was a God and the rest were ants, but luckily he was not a tyrant and never affected anyone''s decision. Not even 1% of the people knew he existed. But lets leave him for now.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    In this world, those who were not Prims, those who have awakened their abilities , were shunned and discarded as rubbish. Mr Shin had every rights to disown his child. '''' I have considered what to do with you. Due to your weakness , you will have no name. Secondly, I will not be living with you. Your grandfather has decided to let me rule for a while so as to get accustomed to the way of ruling the people. Therefore, I will send you to live with him. Although you have not awakened your abilities, you are still my son and I still love you. But rules are rules, hence I will not stay with you. And also since you were good with your brain, maybe he can teach you one thing or two so that maybe you van help in the finances of the clan in the future.'''' Mr Shin said as he got out of the house.


    The Starborn clan was the most powerful clan ever known. It had produced legendary figures like Mr Shin, His father Sir Ades, and other mighty figures. It was feared all over due to their battle prowess and their talents in many things. They even did not consider sending their children to the prestigious academies as they taught them themselves. And their children were more powerful than even those who studied in those prestigious academies. It was well known in the 4 major continents in this world and even the world leaders could not dare to offend them.


    ***One week later***


    After doing the necessary preparations, Number 3, a name given by his father Mr Shin as he was his third child, went to live with his grandfather who was secluded from the rest of the people as he was claiming to undergoing a breakthrough. If one looked at him, one would not even think that this man was more than three hundred years old. His correct age was 354 years. But he looked like a man who was in his mid forties. ''''If it isn''t my boy Shin with his offspring.'''' said Ades, Shin''s father, as he hugged both Shin and three.'''' Welcome my boy. I''ve heard that you have failed to awaken your powers. But do not worry, I will put that brain of yours into good use." said Ades as he patted three''s back. "Thankyou sir, I will not let you down. I will do my best to bring honour to our clan. Thankyou dad for the privilege to study under this mighty figure." said shin as he bowed to both his dad and his grand dad.


    " I see that you have reached the perfected Warden. Congrats dad. I am still at its beginning stage and I have used the technique you taught me recently to absorb soul essence after my breakthrough to beginning stage Soul binder." said Shin in a down casted face. " Do not worry about it. In fact, I am envious of you for breaking through earlier than me. I was two hundred years when I broke through. My talent was a mediocre compared to yours which was one of the best recorded talent in the las century. So stop whining and appreciate yourself for that. " said Ades as he rubbed Shin''s head even though Shin refused but he was no match.


    As stated earlier about different power realms, each level was separated into several segments which were: beginner level, intermediate level, high level, peak level and finally perfected level. Each level was a heaven and earth difference but not unreachable. For one to grow in levels, one had to absorb the basic energy found in the environment, Soul force or Soul essence which strengthened ones soul for the future levels and also helped in removing body impurities after each level. A child had the fewest of the impurity hence many awoke at the age of 12. After that, if one tried later, due to the immense impurities, It was hard to awake as many died a gruesome death as their bodies blew up due to accumulation of impurities hence it was considered a suicide. Those who managed to awake had their level growth faster as 98% of their impurities had been expelled. But who will risk and gamble their life on such a theory which no one could prove.


    After talking for a while, Shin left three and went back home. But he had left him a communication amulet just incase." Well my boy, even though you have not awakened, you will not stay weak on my watch. I will make you wish that you were never an awakened after my training, that is if you survive the training. Right now, I am one of the strongest people existing, excluding the guardians as they are in another level. I have seen Aurum face to face and the aura he has can not be measured. But lets not speak about things you might never see. Now, I am not your grandfather but your master. I will teach you everything I know and even tell you the secret to our clan''s immense strength." said Ades as he gave three a booklet and told him to read it and finish it by the next day.

 Chapter 3 : The secrets of the clan

    ***Early the next day***


    After the duo took their breakfast, Mr Ades led three towards the mountains with just but a single step through warp gate. " Wow sir, you can tear through space. I wish I could do the same. said three , admiring his grandfather''s proficiency in space while also disappointed of hi failure to even have a future like that of the rest of his family members. "Well kid, this is the place" said Ades. " All I see is a mountain and nothing else. Please enlighten me." three said in a flabbergasted expression. " That is how you are supposed to see it or else this illusion array casted will be a joke. Behold, this is where all of our secrets are contained." said Ades as he waved his hands and the illusion array was dispelled. There was a cave and high energy impulses was emitting from it.


    Ades held Three''s hand as they teleported inside the cave , bypassing all the security measures after a device scanned Ades to validate his own soul signature. What was seen by three made him tremble with fear and he fell down. It was a huge red hole circular in nature. " This is a dimensional rift. As I said earlier that I will tell you the secrets of our clan but before that, I would like you to swear with you life that you will not spread what I am about to tell you to anyone." said Ades in a grave voice like a God was giving a warning to his worshippers.


    " I will have you sign a Spirit oath with me before I say anything. If you dare break the oath, your soul will be destroyed instantly, no matter your excuses." he said as he conjured a emerald spherical object smearing his blood on it as the artefact absorbed it as a barren land after a rainy season. He then told three to do the same which after that, the device shone brightly and then disappeared. " I know you are overwhelmed with what we just did but it was necessary even though you are my grandson. Prepare yourself for what I am to say to you. After this, I will ensure that I train you as hell and you will be an elite in no time. All I need is your respect, hard work, perseverance, and mostly your trust in me. Although I told you to call me master, I still love you. This world is a corrupt place, stating that weaklings have no say and that this world should only have the strong." he said


    " The reason behind our battle prowess and our strength is not just because of this dimensional rift. First, you know that our clan is the most powerful in this world, or so, but do you know that our bloodline is not the most powerful. Hundred of thousands years ago, there was a powerful clan, the star legacies. It was the most powerful In the entire of the universe. There were also other powerful bloodlines present at that time. The era was known as the Primdice Era. That is why everyone who has awakened their abilities are called Prims. It was said that even the newborns were at a warrior level. Even someone like me can never even beat an adult ate the age of 18. They had a rapid growth in ranking up and other people looked at them with envy. But what could they do. No one could stand against them and live to tell the tale. You see, there is one thing I believe and most of the leaders and powerful figures who I have spoken with accepted it. I believe that there are other worlds apart from us, a higher world containing Universe energy as its basic energy. Hope you finished the booklet which I gave you for it has a crucial information. In this world, there is energy all around us. Those who have awakened their powers have an access to absorb that energy based on their techniques. It is split into


    1. Soul force/ soul essence


    2. Spirit force


    3. World energy


    4. Universe energy.


    Each form of energy can be absorbed at different ranks. An Aspirant and an Artisan absorb soul force, a Warrior and Harbinger spirit force, a Soul binder and a Warden world energy and finally beings like a sovereign and a conqueror Universe energy. There is also something that I came to realise after several decades of searching for the right answer. Have you ever asked yourself why those mighty figures who used to bring chaos with just a flip of finger go to. One thing I also came to know is that right now, I feel like a force of unknown origin calling out to me. And I also guess that for my next breakthrough, I must first heed to that call. After all, no one in this world can challenge me, apart from the guardian. So, I came to a conclusion, this mighty beings who stood at the pinnacle simply left this world to go and find other realms with powerful Universe energy. After all, I have proof of this and it is standing infront of you. This rift proves it all. Our bloodline is a weaker version of the mighty race, the Star Legacies. It is so diluted but still we are the most powerful people. Although I do not know much about the previous mighty bloodlines, what I am sure is that they still existed. This rift is a legacy, an inheritance left by the Star Legacies to us. It has been handed down from generation to generation and each leader is made to swear an oath to keep it''s secret from the world. And your father will do the same since in 2 years, I will give him full authority and go search for the voice reaching out to me.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Right now I am sure that the major world leaders know of this secret and I fear that they may take action and finish us. But what am I afraid of. We are powerful and they can not compare to us. All of our soldiers are at Warrior''s resolve and we are numerous in number. Also, I have a connection with Auurum with his guardians hence they will not dare to make a move. But they do not know that Aurum does not intervene to these mere conflicts. Also, they can not do anything when I am here so there is nothing to worry about in the meantime. Also your father is the second strongest after me as he can destroy a state in when serious. I for sure can graze down half a continent at my peak form. There is also another reason and it is that we can exist without our bodies after breaking through to a Warden. That form is the Ethereal form , a spirit like form." said Ades as his body turned silver and he looked like he was made of pure energy. " So now, I will have to train you since I have nothing else to do. You are my current project and I hope that you will grow even more powerful than me. Now we will enter this rift. Hold my hands as it might feel uncomfortable to you due to lack of an ability." he said as he grabbed three''s hand and entered the rift.


    "Do you know why I told you that one of the reason for our strength is this rift? " he asked as three shook his head. " This, according to how I see it is another realm aside of ours. I think that it was our predecessors opened it so that they could be strong. It is the best place to grow natural rare treasures that grows 60% faster than the normal areas. It also contains beasts which our soldiers train with it as soon as they become adults. " said Ades with proud manner. "If I may ask master, why have the beasts ever escaped this area?" three asked. " Good question and I almost forgot to tell you the most important part. This rift needs a blood sacrifice once every five year. We normally accumulate our blood in special containers and after that, we give it. It only requires our bloodline as it rejects other blood we give it. By doing that, the rift will never break and will be safe. Also, there is a huge force field somewhere at the centre which prevents us to cross over. Not even I can break through it. It is fully made of universe energy and is constantly supplied with it. Not even my ancestors found a loophole to bypass the security system.


    And also, this is the best place to absorb world energy as it is concentrated. There is few traces of soul force and once one enters this place, it is like 10 days compared to the rest of this planet hence it being a natural treasure in itself. People will rather fight to death than letting it be with us if all the world knew of its origin. Hence even the soldiers have to perform a spirit Oath before entering here. Another pack of this place is that everyday, it produces a life token which will bring you back to the entrance incase you die. No soldier can die in short. They train in a life and death situation until they fear death no more and become pros in this sector.


    You will be training here until your body becomes a weapon in itself. I will make you a force to be reckoned with. It does not matter if you awake now or later, but I will train your body in this environment until it breaks. Luckily, a human body is meant to survive and adapt to different changes. After 2 years, I will leave you by yourself as I have to go but I will have ensured that incase you broke through and awaken, your body will survive. And also because of the trauma you will face in here, your soul therefore, will be strengthened hence increasing the rate of your survival."

 Chapter 4 : Facing hell

    After the talk an venturing the dimensional rift, Ades removed some food from a space ring. " Excuse me master, what is that ring that you are wearing?" three curiously asked. He had never seen such a thing. It was a ring with an emerald crystal embedded on it. " Guess you have never seen this. It is a space ring and I personally made it myself. It is 500 meters cubic and it took me a hundred and fifty years just to make it. I am proud of this piece of work coz even now, it grows slowly by slowly as I have made it to absorb universe energy itself. I have also used an emerald crystal as the storage device since it has the highest affinity to Universe energy. It is a masterpiece and the reason I took longer time to make it despite my proficiency in space manipulation is due to it''s unique features. Otherwise, it might only have taken me few days after mastering space. So do not underestimate me. And the best part of it is that it can help you understand the nature of space for beginners. I will never sell it to anyone. But also I made another space ring just like those but with lesser storage capacity and sold them. " bragged Ades.


    They continue to venture into the rift, as Ades killed several beasts with just one move and harvested some crystal shards from them. " If I may ask, what are the reasons of harvesting those crystal shards." three asked. "Ooh this. These crystals are known as Soul crystals. They  are found in the beasts in this area. Each shard have different forms of energy, benefitting anyone who absorbs them, increasing the soul force they carry and also increase their affinity to any form of abilities they have." explained Ades.


    After a while, they went outside the rift and got out of the cave and then teleported to their home. " Why didn''t you teleport directly?" asked three and the old man explained that the space will be hijacked and collapse, killing them. In the next few days, three learnt all the theory he was taught. Then after that, Ades took him back to the rift where he was forced to do strenuous activities which made his muscles ache like hell on a daily basis. He was even forced to stay underwater for aa whole hour and then graduated to three hours until he was able to stay for half a day deep in the water. " Why do you think that you are able to stay underwater even without any abilities for that long time?" he asked and three didn''t have a clue. " That is the benefit of our bloodline. No one can compare. You get it. That was why I told you that I will train your body until it reaches the peak of an unawakened human being. It will be similar to someone at a warrior''s level after my training so stop lazing your butt and keep on working." Ades complained as he released a slight of his aura so as to train three''s body but he fainted immediately as big droplets of sweat rolled down his face. He reeked of sweat. Ades cleansed him with his cleaning spell and let the boy rest. "It seems that I went too much. But its ok. His body is quickly recovering and it''s adapting to every changes and challenges he faces. By the time I am living, he will not be defenceless anymore. Hope that his abilities awaken soon or else he will only be a liability.


    *** Two years later ***


    Three had completed his training schedule. Although he did not awaken, he was able to go on par with an Artisan with just his body. He had trained several fighting skills which only required a strong body. He was taught TOUCH, a breathing technique of absorbing soul essence but he still did not awaken. The main reason as to why he failed to awaken was because he lacked a soul core and this had never been recorded ever. Everyone in the entire world had a soul core but he lacked it hence three had no hopes of awakening. Even though it was disappointing and saddening, he was still grateful for getting a chance of having a life again. That day, three was turning fourteen and his grandfather decided to celebrate the last birthday with him. His family members were also called and they celebrated it with a party.


    " Son, the voices are getting more clearer. I will have to search for it and I will therefore travel in the following week." Ades said to Shin after the kids went out to play. " Do you have to go. I am at the high level Warden and if you go we might get attacked. Please do not go." begged Shin. " If I do not go, I might never be able to transcend the next level. I know that you will be a capable ruler so I am leaving my people in good hands. Do not worry, I will come back eventually. It''s not that I am going to die any time soon." said Ades while laughing at Shin. Shin had already been coronated as the next leader and all the states new about it. They also knew that Ades will be no more since he was leaving full authority to his son. After some encouraging words, Ades summoned three and told everyone else to give them privacy.


    "Three as I told you earlier that I will be leaving, I have decided to leave next week. But before I leave, I would like to give you something. You know that I am the most powerful person living, hence during one of the times when I hear the voices, I had a vision. The vision was a terrible one and I hope that it will never happen. I can not tell anyone about this as it would change the flow of life and affect million of innocent lives. So right now, I carry the largest of the guilt ever. And I know that I will never forgive myself in case such a thing happens. So, I will give you my ring. It has a direct access to the rift and will help you bypass the security measures. All I can tell you is that your future I can not see. But I am sure that things will go well. Do promise me that you will not tell anyone about what we have talked about." said Ades as he gave three his most precious ring which changed it''s colour from emerald to a dull black colour.


    *** The following week ***


    Ades gathered all the members of his bloodline and gave them a speech, telling them that he was embarking on a dangerous journey that he might never return. After that, he then disappeared out of thin air.


    *** Three months later***


    Somewhere in a far place, there was a congregation of powerhouses who had gathered in a big auditorium and were each savouring the taste of the drinks they had been served. " Finally, Ades is foolish enough to leave his people like that. Especially now that the rift they have been guarding has no one to look after it. Shin is busy harmonizing the people hence he doesn''t dedicate his time looking after it. This is our moment to remove that monarchy of the face of this planet. We have to show the rest of the people, who are the true rulers. " a man with green hair and purple robe with a white trouser spoke. If someone like three or even Shin was here, they would faint due to the pressure of the aura released by this man. " I agree with you. I already prepared my men for this wat. We will not let even one of them survive." a man who sat at the end of the high table spoke with an authoritative tone. " I hope that no one is taking sides with the enemy. There is going to be a genocide and the blood shed will be for the greater good. These people have been a prideful race but it is the moment for their fall. All opposing this idea will be an enemy of us all." spoke the man as he released his aura which covered the entire place. The weak servants fainted while some of the leaders lowered their head due to the pressure released.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    " All joining me please raise your hands and just know that there is no backing down once you join us. All the treasures they have will be ours to enjoy." he said as all the people present raised their hands in approval. " Then, we will attack when they least expect it. Go and prepare. Meeting adjourned." he said as he stood up and opened a dimensional gate and went in. The remaining people left while talking about the details spoken by the green haired man.


    *** One month later ***


    As three was busy practicing the fighting techniques taught by his grandfather, a huge silver dome formed in the sky surrounding the entire island they were living in. A battle horn was blown as several warp gates were opened from the silver dome. " We are being attacked. Battle formation if you want to live. This is not a drill." shouted Shin as al the capable warriors took their battle stance. " Women and children run to the forests and hide." he shouted. No one came from the gates that was opened. "What does this mean. Are they scared or is this a trick to lure us all." thought Shin " And I can not manipulate space as how I used it. What is this dome that has covered us. I guess that it has sealed our abilities to use space. We are like sitting...." Shin did not even complete to analyse the situation before blades came from all the gates opened. Then fire balls and ice spikes rained down on the warriors who were expecting people to get from the gates but not attacks. BOOM. POW THUD. Attacks rained down as they tried to conjure shields but failed. The attacks went down with many lives. Then people came from the gates.


    " Charge"  the soldiers went to fight the enemies but they were outnumbered one


    '' AARGH'' ''somebody help'' ''Spare me'' ''Have mercy on my children'' cries were heard all over. The ground was painted red as blood flowed towards the ocean like a river. Shin managed to hold his ground amidst the enemies and even killed some.


    Who said that the Starborn were weak. Although they were ambushed while unprepared, they were still veterans. Shin was a battle machine, slaughtering the enemy like chicken. His aura alone intimidated  some of the enemies and some passed out while Shin tore through their heads, laughing like a maniac. " Those who sent you to attack us sent you to you grave. You are privileged to even fight with me. You are all weak. HAHAHAHA." Shin said hysterically. Just then, he felt immense pressure which made him be cautious. " Shin ooh Shin. Just look at you. You are weaker than I thought, even though you had an advantage over us. You had all the resources but you are a let down. Come my boy and let us Dance", spoke the green haired man.


    " It''s you. I had my suspicions that only you were stupid and coward to only attack after Sir Ades had left. How na?ve. You are the let down. I remember the last time we crossed swords I beat you and you still dare to show your face here again, Ryne." said Shin as the green haired man frowned after hearing the remarks given by Shin.


    "While you were busy learning how to rule, I was busy growing my strength. Even though I can not compare to Ades, God curse his soul, you can not beat me." Ryne said, releasing all of his aura, revealing that he was at the peak stage Warden and made Shin tremble but still stood his ground. " Then, face me like a man Shin." he said as he lunged forward, trying to attack Shin who countered it with his sword. After that quick exchange, Shin also released his full aura which was crimson in nature.


    ''Elemental Sword Purge'' Shin released his first skill as countless swords formed from the elements of nature present and the swords flew towards Ryne. '' Nature''s Pride'' exclaimed Ryne as his skill hijacked Shin''s sword and dispelled them. " As you see, after reaching this level of power, I have become Nature''s own. Any attack of any element will not affect me. You can not manipulate space as I have sealed it. It is my win. Accept your defeat and I will give you a swift death." mocked Ryne. " I guess you are still na?ve Ryne. Tell me, why do you think that we are called Starborns. It''s because we can manipulate and use the power of the stars to our own benefit. There are two suns and a sun is still a star. So whether day or night, I am mighty." said Shin as he entered his ethereal form as his body shone in a silver colour. The sky darkened as most of it''s energy was concentrated in the dome.


    "In this world, I am supreme. In this dome, it is your cage, your deathbed Ryne. Please, entertain me more" mocked Shin as he looked down at the enemies as if he were a god. ''Star''s Divinity, purify'' he said as a white blinding light shone throughout the entire battle field. Those with Starborn bloodline felt rejuvenated while the enemies melted under the divine light that judged them, not sparing them after being found guilty. Ryne had to conjure shield after shield as he also used his aura to protect himself from the punishing light. " Dammit, I have used up most of my energy reserves on that spell and still Ryne survived. But I guess that he is weakened from the attack just now." thought Shin


    "As I told you, you will die today Shin." exclaimed Ryne who after the attack dispelled, healed his injuries at a speed visible to the naked eye. " I was planning on swiftly killing you but I will make you suffer." Just then, the dead people arose and the gates opened again, releasing other powerful foes in the battle field. " It is ready, Ryne. No one will escape alive. All forces are ready for your word." exclaimed a soldier who had the same density of aura as Shin." Fine, all of you who are alive should leave for I am going all out." said Ryne as all those alive got out. The animated people he had raised fought with their might . not afraid of death anymore.


    It was massacre. Three who was hiding in his grandfather''s home was found out by an enemy soldier. " Well ,a kid should not be here. Let me take you to join the rest of your kind." said the soldier as he released his warrior''s aura and was surprised that three was not fainting. "It seems that you are a special one, yet I do not sense any aura or ability in you." I will have fun decimating you and knowing what ability you are hiding." he said as he unleashed his full aura. " Light strike" he unleashed his light skill which hit three, making holes through his body. He tried using the fighting skills he had learnt but he could not even land a hit on the man.


    " You have some decent skills, but all skills and power to a powerful man is a joke." he said as he laughed at three. Just then, a white wave of light passed through the building. It was the skill Shin had released. The man burned to death as some of three''s wound healed. He then heard a voice inside his mind saying" Three, we have lost. But I am opening a portal gate which will lead you to the sea. Please live on and forget about  revenging for us. I am sorry for not being there for you but you are my son and I love you. Both your brothers and mother have died and I can loose you to"


    A portal opened and sucked the severely injured three inside. In the battlefield, Shin was at least smiling. He was kneeling down after he had overused all of his energy reserve to parry the full brunt attack of Ryne. " You are still smiling even at the face of death. You were a worthy opponent Shin but I was mightier. Any last words." said Ryne as he conjured a light sword and placed it at Shin''s neck. "Not even one of you have survived. The Starborn inheritance is mine. " said Ryne as he gave Shin aa mocking side eye. " Victory is mine" He said as his light sword passed through Shin''s neck like a hot knife cutting through butter.


    And the Starborns are no more.

 Chapter 5: Battles of titans.

    *** Somewhere very very very far***


    " Finally, I''ve found you, Azrael," a man donning a black hoddie and looked no older that a mid- twenty youth. He was average in size, good looking with eyes black as the abyss itself. He had grey silver hair and was wearing a smile that would put joker in shame. On his right side was a hulk of a man with engravings all over his yellow skin. He had two horns protruding at his forehead and his gaze itself would send shivers down your spine. He was the exact opposite of the youth. He only wore a trouser as his chest was bare, showing his muscular body and abs well aligned. His body had no visible flaw. In short, he was the perfect figure a female would be drooling over for even his aura was eerie which matched perfectly to his figure.


    On the youth''s right was a lady who also seemed to be in her mid-thirties. She had a black wavy hair, a well symmetric face with black pupils floating on her milky white eyes. Her face itself would make any man go head over heels after seeing her. Her body was curvy as she moved gracefully approaching Azrael. A full chest with al flat tummy was a body wanted by many. The aura of an angel that she released made her be like a true goddess sent over to bring help. Yet what she came to do that day would make even the worst of Hippocrates detest her.


    The trio who looked like a bunch of kids in front of Azrael, who looked like an old mane at the age of 60 with white beard liking his frowned face. Although his face looked like an old man, his body said otherwise. He had a titan of a body. Three meters tall, towering the trio and a muscular body that the devil man looked like a joke. His skin glittered under the sun, proving his uttermost love and care towards his skin. He was floating, smoking something that looked like a boozer. Even as the trio spoke to him, he pretended that they were not there and continued smoking his cigar.


    " The sky is rather beautiful and the air is moist, don''t you think so, brother, " spoke Azrael in a tone that sent the jeebies to the figures surrounding the youth. " I am rather not surprised you being able to find me. It was only like yesterday that you destroyed everything and everyone I loved. Is power so corrupting that it will make one to betray his flesh and blood just to gain it. Tell me Zeek, why do this to yourself. Sooner or later, the sins you have committed will drag you down as it becomes heavy, sinking you to the ground until you crash. Just tell me, who will save you when the time comes." Azrael spoke in a tone that a father uses to lecture his own child.


    " Stop throwing tantrums and face me Azrael. Right now, you do not even know how unfathomable I''ve become. Or are you scared that I will beat the hell out of you and then kill you. You are even worst than Jade." spoke Zeek as he laughed like a mad man. " Do not dare speak of our sister that way. You have no right to mention her name, you Kin slayer. So shut up." Azrael spoke in a cold tone. ''BOOM'' he released his aura which looked tyrannical compared to Zeek who released his aura which had an aura of a King. It was majestical. " I am just speaking the fact. Even dad will be disappointed in you. Come, let me see what you are made of" he said as his fists glowed golden and then he hit the ground causing an earthquake that would cause even the beasts slumbering deep in the mountains grow weary.


    '' Zap'' , lightning came from the mysterious lady as a shadow and silencing aura came from the horned man. " Attacking one person with two people is barely fare, let alone three people. Who is the coward between us? But I hate unfair fights" said Azrael as his swiping hand tore through space bringing out two men with the same body size as him, one with a scar on his face while the other had silver scales on his face. " So you had help and back up from the dragons. No wonder you were cocky." mocked Zeek. " Sonya, Duce, keep those overfed lizards company. I have to catch up to my brother." he said, making the two people present frown as if they had eaten a bitter lemon.


    The two dragons transformed to their real size, both more than fifty meters tall with a wingspan of ten meters each. The one with a scar had red scales which were sizzling with power while the other had silver scales, brimming with lightning energy. They both stood with their twos like their opponents. The dragons names were Vuldrick and Ronin respectively. Vuldrick went for the demonic foe while Ronin went for Sonya who also was very proficient in lightning. " A wyrmling wanting to fight me. So funny. I will kill you and use your scales to make a new weapon for myself. Your heart contains the seeds of true flame which will help me evolve my flames to mystic flames. You are a living treasure and a rare delicacy. Please, come and I will gift you a swift death then carry your head as a trophy. " said Duce and the words made Vuldrick power up instantly, his aura spreading 100 metres, and like a hell domain, it burned through every life force touched by it.


    " I will face you demon and bring honour to our race. Your race is fallen and you are but just a failure. Please, I hope you do not kill me by your boredom. "said Vuldrick as he unleashed his weapon, a battle axe which had an aura that would suppress Ryne. Each step that he took shook the core of that planet. Duce took a step and unleashed his Mace, crashing through the dragon which he parried it with his axe, generating a shockwave that silenced the battle field for a second. " You are not bad yourself, But I held back hoping that I would not kill you with my attack instantly.


    ''100%'' he said as, BOOM, a heaven shaking blast was heard as the demon released his aura. '' Engulf '' , the demokin released a dome of darkness which fought with the aura of heat. The clash itself could destroy the entire of Three''s world in an instant. " I have not started to fight but you are struggling with my aura. How pathetic of you. And I thought that I will fight to my heart''s content." Vuldrick said. '' Cruel Sun '', he exclaimed as several spheres of condensed heat, earth and light appeared, turning the tables in an instant. The spheres rushed towards Duce who was surprised at first then smirked later.


    '' Gluttony '', exclaimed Duce as black spheres of the same number as Vuldrick appeared and started to suck in everything. It was like a hungry man given steak for the first time, eating even the bones. It was a condensed black hole. The small suns were absorb by each hole, making both of them explode, making a trench as deep as 200 metres and the smell of ashes was only present. "Nice trick, do you think that I will be able to do the same as you. Well what do you know, I can. HaHaHaHaHa. " laughed Vuldrick as he released small silver orbs which had the power of sucking like a blackhole. " Unlike you, I can do this all day. My orbs are self sustenance. A combination of heat and cold causes a thermal chain reaction which destroys everything to it''s atomic level. If you can counter this, I will acknowledge you and also concede these battle." Vuldrick spoke in a domineering tone, revealing the crude fangs arranged in his mouth like daggers, ready to chomp down any enemy.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The battle of the silver spheres and the dark spheres was a scene to behold. It was like an angel battling a demon as the silver sphere held the upper advantage. True to Vuldrick words, his spheres did not need him to constantly replenish its energy as it was self sustenance. The only disadvantage was that it needed mind strength to prevent it from going haywire. Luckily, one can not hurt themselves with their own power as it had the same energy signatures as the casters. Duce was trying his best to replenish his attack energy reserves but it was futile. After the tug of war, the silver spheres swallowed the black spheres and in an instance, it blew up. Duce tried to enter his ethereal form but it was in vain. He was caught up with the explosion, deleting him from existence.


    The battle of Ronin and Sonya was stalemate as they were both equally matched. Both had lightning usage as their basic ability. Since lightning was one of the best attacks with fastest reaction and high explosive power, they both decided on using it. It could help one escape an attack. From a viewer''s perspective, only silver lights were seen dancing in the skies. But due to his nature as a dragon, he started to gain an advantage. The explosion of Vuldrick''s attack was clearly heard by the duo. Sonya''s heart sank as she knew that it washer end. She was struggling to keep up with one dragon, what about two. " How can two men gang up on a pretty lady as I am. It is not fair and not manly of you. Please go easy on me and I will repay your kindness." Sonya said trying to put up puppy eyes so that she could be spared. " In battle, there is no fairness. First you three were planning on ganging up with Zeek before we appeared. You are not worth our time. " Both Ronin and Vuldrick spoke in unison, releasing their attacks simultaneously as Sonya struggled to put up a barrier of shield to protect her. " A shield might be the strongest defence but a stronger attack can break through the mightiest of the shields. It was a honour fighting you. Just kidding, adios." Ronin mocked as a barrage of attacks rained down on Sonya breaking her defences erasing her being. " Now lets go and finish the last one. With the tree of us, he is no match." said Vuldrick as they rushed towards Azrael''s direction.


    "It seems like your pawns have finished my allies. You''ve got some good connection ''brother''" Oozed out Zeek as he shed a tear. " Now brother, let me show you our difference. You might be older me but I''ve got some fortune after you abolished me from our home. I have a master now and is training me to be his heir. He is someone you do not want to mess up with. The thing you are holding is his creation. Even though it is not as complete as the others, it is still his and I have to retrieve it no matter what. Dad lied to us that it was an inheritance but it was something that our grandfather stole from my master. So, hand it over and I will leave you in peace and will never bother to disturb yo ever again. You will have my word. There is no point of bloodshed as I can not bear to loose the only brother I have." Zeek said.


    " Over my dead body. Although I do not know who your master is and I do not care, I will still not hand over this artefact. So, come for it if you want it." Azrael said as his aura rose and unsheathed his halberd which seemed to have an affinity with space. " Vuldrick, Ronin, do not come over as I can not guarantee your safety. My brother is strong as he was able to kill my sister who was as powerful as me. If worst may come, you will be the one to take this small orb as I believe that it should belong to your people. So please go. " Azrael said via mind link to his two accomplices . " No mind links as I am talking to you. It seems that you have chosen death. I will gift you with it. And who said that I will play it safe. '' Sealed Space '' " he said as a massive dome shaped barrier formed and covered the whole of the battle field. " Now no one will escape and all space manipulation is jammed." he said, wearing a smirk on his face. " I have also been able to form my own world, although not complete. This will be enough to trap him and finish him. Master can not come and if I fail, I will be doomed." thought Zeek.


    '' World Formation '' shouted Zeek as clouds gathered and a small spherical dome started to form, until it covered the entire battle field. " Welcome to my world where I am God. " said Zeek. " How could he have formed his world and he just became a Sovereign not long ago. I have yet to form mine. I will have to go all out from the start before his world forms fully. " Azrael said to himself. " Vuldrick, Ronin, to me. We will have to use Conjuction as it our only way to finish this battle. Even though this spell needs five people, we three are still enough as we are stronger individually." said Azrael as two golden threads came out of him and rushed towards the two dragons. After fusing with them, the trio''s power rose up as scales of silver and red scales covered all of them.


    '' Abyssal Conqueror '', a wave of purple energy blast went towards Zeek at lightning speed making him focus on the trio. " I have seen that you have decided to use Conjuction so that you can beat me but what a shame. You can not beat a god in his own domain. " said Zeek as he disappeared from the incoming attack and appeared behind Vuldrick, stabbing him with a sword in his heart, and releasing his own attack through the sword, killing him on the sport." No Vuldrick." said the duo as the coughed blood. " We can not go on like this. With only two of us, this spell will suck us dry, killing us on the spot." said Azrael as tears rolled down his face due to the loss of a precious friend. " I am sorry Azrael, please avenge us as I will be the main energy supplier to you, empowering you. " said Ronin as he turned into his ethereal form and fusing with the golden threads. " Do not be stupid friend. " said Azrael but his words fell on deaf ears as Ronin was no more.


    AAAAAAAH! Roared Azrael as his aura rose up, making the world that Zeek had made tremble. " Today will be your end brother. I will not let you leave alive. " shouted Azrael to Zeek.


    '' Final Sunset '' said Azrael as a violet white glow came out of his body. " I will die after this powerful power output but I am not sur what tricks Zeek has. Before I die, I will send this small silver marble towards the primitive realms where I am sure that even this master of it will not be able to access it. " thought Azrael as he used his life force to charge up the attack he was to unleash.


    " Hope you rot in hell Zeek." he said as the energy accumulated blew up spreading all over the small world Zeek had made, breaking it. A small silver orb rushed out of the formation and disappeared in space in a certain specified direction.


    " You fool. You will kill both of ...." said Zeek as he formed shield after shield so as to brace himself from the attack that had the power to destroy several planets at an instant. " He has thrown away the small orb but I will trace...." '' AAAAAAAAAAAAh '' shouted Zeek as the attack hit him but luckily an amulet that he had worn teleported him away from the vicinity and saved his skin. " I should thank master for such a wonderful gift" he said as a green light covered him, healing all of his injuries in an instant.


    He then removed a small rectangular device that blipped . It is still ok. I will trace it. " Damn it. It is in the primitive realm. Even master can not access it nowadays. The old goat will kill anyone who gets close to those realms. Better tell master immediately." Said Zeek as he disappeared.


    Somewhere amidst the centre of attack heaved Azrael as he started to fade away. " At least we will be safe for a while. Goodbye world."

 Chapter 6: When all became one

    " Welcome Shawn." the feminine voice was heard. Her voice itself was a remedy to the broken souls. It was not  an angelic voice, but something much better. Shawn was startled by the soothing voice. He had never expected to be at the place he was at that time. " Who are you?, Where am I?" he asked and the lady giggled like a little girl. " Well Shawn, you said that fate was unfair and for your first answer, I am Fate, but my name is Feela. And as for your second question, I will answer it but not now." Feela said.


    " Am I dead or is this just a dream?" he asked hoping that reality was just messing up with him and that his mom would wake him up to enjoy a hearty breakfast.


    " Well, you are dead." Feela answered and Shawn frowned, but then smiled at the lady. " Why are you smiling. I had thought that you will be weeping and I had prepared some serviettes for you." Feela said while conjuring some serviettes." Is it not obvious. Even when I cry, I am sure you will not take me back. You had a reason for summoning my soul." he said, smirking even further.


    " What a bright soul and you  are hardly a teen. I guess that I had made the right choice, not that I have ever been wrong even for a moment." she said while Shawn''s soul formed a body and a golden robe covered him fully. " Wow, you are cool. Can I call you grandma coz I am sure you are older than my great great grandma although you look younger than my mother. How old are you? " Shawn asked.


    " It is rude to ask a woman''s age but I forgive you. Come, lets have a cup of honeyed milk tea. " she said as the environment of the thrones was replaced by a huge mowed land with a creamy white table at the centre and had a kettle with two cups of tea. " And you can call me grandma if you feel comfortable with it. " She said as she shape shifted to a small girl roughly Shawn''s age. Her beauty was still peak even after being a child." That''s not fair. You look so young and still powerful. Will I ever be like you one day?" he asked, hoping to receive answer from Feela.


    They sat down and Feela served the tea which was the sweetest thing Shawn had ever drank. " Can you give me the recipe of this tea. I would like to prepare it someday." he said, breaking the silence that had shrouded them. " Can you at least answer the questions that I have asked for you still haven''t told me the reason for my summoning. And I hope that the place you are sending me is not boring. " he said after noticing that Feela had yet to answer any question. " Am I beautiful." the little girl asked while putting on a seductive smile and biting her pinkie finger. " I hope that I have not been summoned so as to be your husband. I am weak compared to you and I am sure that I have not reached your standards. " said Shawn which made Feela frown and started to shed dome tears. " You are a meannie. How can you treat a small and weak girl like me that way. How do you expect to have a girl with that mouth of yours. " said Feela while sobbing.


    Shawn apologised while hugging Feela so as to comfort her and make her to stop crying." But I guess that I should get straight to the point. I have forgiven you." she said as she wiped the tears that had clouded her eyes.


    " I have summoned you for a task that will not benefit me but you. I have come to give you a second chance to live. I have nothing that I want you to do for me. Your previous life was not well spend and I want you to have a lively life that I will grant you. " Said Feela. " How do I know that you are not making me to go into a trap or want me to be your pawn. " asked Shawn, obviously suspicious to the lucrative offer that he was given.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    " I am a being that no one can rival. I am fate. Why do you think that I need a puny soul like you to do something for me and I can just snap my finger and everything that I want will appear." She angrily responded as her gentle aura turned deadlier and Shawn''s soul was almost snuffed out of existence.


    " I am sorry, " replied Shawn, as he was feeling puny in front of the mighty figure before him. He really felt remorseful for the lack of trust he had towards Feela as whatever she had said was right. Who needed a weak being like him when they can do whatever they wanted and no one could say anything. To power, everything else was meaningless.


    " No problem. As I had said, I am doing this for your own sake. I know that you might ask why I summoned you and to be sincere, you are the first summoning I have done. I just felt bored and I needed to enjoy myself. Hope you enjoy my offer as I will not lay it out again. If you do not want it, I will just let your soul rest in peace. So do not pressure yourself." She answered as Shawn formed another frown on his face. " And do not worry, your second life will be interesting. Better than the first one. Are you in. I will only grant you one favour. Choose wisely." she said as Shawn''s frown disappeared in an instant.


    " Anything I ask you will grant. I hope that you will not go back to your words. " He smirked as he started to think of the best thing he could ask for.


    " OOh I got it. All I want is that in the new body that I will possess, I want to have all of its memory so that I will not be inconvenient when I reincarnate. Can you do that for me please. I know that it is not hard for you. And also will you give me the recipe of this tea. I really enjoyed it." said Shawn, putting up puppy eyes so that Feela could at least him the wishes he had brought forward. " Just because you are cute will I grant you the second wish. I will engrave it in your mind and it will just be your second nature. " she said as Shawn bowed down to her while thanking her for the hospitality.


    *** Somewhere in the ocean in the Prim World ***


    As three''s body drifted on Prim sea, not a breath was heard from him. Clearly, he was no more. Nothing but the blue sea was seen. No lands. No ships. It was just water. Three had clearly passed away due to the injuries he had gotten from the attack earlier at their home Island. Just then, a small silvery comet cut across the sky and splashed into the sea, near Three''s body. It then floated towards his body and entered his mouth.


    " Shit. This body is clearly dead and has no soul. Luckily, I can revive it and make it full functioning but I will be the one in control. I have never possessed a body let alone be free after a long time. I guess that I am in one of the planets  primitive realm. The Law guarding me has released the seal that had held my conscious for those million of years has finally been lifted." a voice was heard in the body as both the visible and invisible wounds from it healed at an incredible pace. A green emerald life force originating from the solar plexus covered the whole body, rejuvenating it until it was new.


    A heart beat was heard slowly by slowly as the previously white skin gained colour as blood flowed through the body. A body without a soul was just a husk.


    Just then, a small an invisible portal opened as a white golden being descended from it, entering the body that was now fully healed. It seemed that it was still unconscious as the body did not move even an inch. A white golden light covered the whole body, even subduing the emerald green light that was previously present.


    " Now what. A soul is present even in its dormant form. I will take over it for now." The voice said. " Shoot, I can not do anything. I have been denied access to this body. This is not what I had expected. Is it that after fusing with this body that I have now been weakened. What is this body made of and whose soul is th ¡­" the voice did not finish as the two lights that were fighting each other fused together to one, forming a golden colour surrounding the body. It was evident that the owner of the voice had passed out.


    Then the light subdued and entered the body.

 Chapter 7: Darkness.

    As the body was floating on the sea for a while, a ship was seen from afar. The distance from where the body was afloat to the ship was roughly 10km. The ship looked like a pirate ship with only some few modifications to differentiate the two. " Captain Sir, this is the third time that we have came to the seas to search it but we have not had any luck in the past few weeks. I think that we should go back to the main land." a lady with a black wavy hair and wore a light brown dress with black sandals spoke to a man with black boots with a red trench coat , white shirt and black pants. " This is the first month after Starborn clans was annulated hence we should take this chance to check for anything interesting across the seas. Even though we might not find whatever we are looking for, at least lets enjoy the ride." The Captain said. " Sir, I can see something else at roughly 9 km ahead of us. Its floating and I can''t detect whatever it is from here. We should go take a look." another man at the front of the ship spoke to the Captain.


    As the big majestic ship neared the sea, the man was able to detect what was in the ship. " Its a body sir. And It is dead. No wait, I can sense some life force in it. And it seems to be a child sir. Permission to bring it inside Sir. " the man said and the captain granted him the permission. Shawn''s body was brought on board the ship where the man used his the Lady who was speaking to the Captain earlier scan him with her abilities. " Sir, nowadays people are so evil that they dare to massacre small children. This child is barely alive but had we delayed our journey for even one day, he would have been a goner. I have healed any hidden injury in him but I will have to continue when he is at least awake so that we can know the problems he has. I have also given him some energy hence he will be ok. He will wake up tonight so there is nothing to worry about." the lady said.


    *** Later that night ***


    After what felt like an eternity to Shawn, he gained his conscience. " Why is it dark in here. Did fate decide to spawn me in a cave or what. " " Its seems that the little survivor is awake." The Captain said. " Who''s there. Who''s speaking to me." Shawn said after hearing a deep voice but could not see the owner.


    " It seems that this boy is blind. What bad luck has befallen you. First, you were almost dead from the sea an were it not for us, you would have been dead. Secondly, you are blind. Did you sin against the gods for this misfortune to befall you." the captain said in a sombre tone. " Blind, how is this possible. Have you abducted me and blindfolded me so that you can play some petty tricks on me. " the scared lad spoke out.


    " We have no intentions on harming you. Infact, you were found in the sea in a half dead state. Were it not for Lynne, my right hand lady and a prominent healer, you would be dead. So you should be thankful, not angry and displeased with us. And yes, you are blind." said the captain. Shawn was very worried of his current predicament. Unable to see his surroundings or even the person speaking to him was terrible. Worse, he could not see the body he was currently have but after hearing about a healer present, he knew that he had spawned in an interesting place.


    With silence shrouding the ship, and the Captain giving him some space, Shawn decided to go through the memories of the previous owner. Slowly by slowly, he came to realise his origin and his current state, as to why he was in the deep sea. He realised that he was from a powerful clan called Starborns, but they were deeply hated for their monopoly. He also realised that he was the last survivor of the mighty clan and all the remnants were massacred apart from him as he was lucky enough to escape, thanks to his father. He therefore decided to play his cards right. No one wanted to be associated with the Starborns, so he decided to pretend that he had no idea of his origins. In short, he had amnesia. With this mindset, he knew he would be able to survive. And luckily, his hair colour and built had taken his previous life, silvery in nature, which was different from the known dark red from the Starborns. No one could link up the dots.


    And plus no child could survive in the sea for a month like this body had. Still with all of the info he had gotten, being blind was the worst.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    After thinking for about an hour, he came to. " I see you are back. I have some few questions I would like to ask you if you do not mind. " The Captain said, breaking the silence that had swallowed the ship. " First, my name is Jay, a captain of this ship. We are now five in number, plus you. What is your name, and how did you end up in the sea. You know that these seas are quite dangerous with the sea beasts that could sink even a ship like mine if not fully prepared? " asked the Captain.


    " Sincerely speaking, I do not remember anything at all. All I remember is that I am Shawn an I am currently 14 years old. " he said. " So you have a name. That means that you have a Vitral. It explains alot, your good body built, and how you look refined. Even when Lynne removed the impurities from you, you did not have much. What Vitral do you have?" the captain asked. Confused, Shawn thought for a while, he clearly did understand what a Vitral was and was sure that this body had failed to awaken one. His mistake was saying his name. He did not have a way out of this current situation.


    "Kind sir, I can not remember what my Vitral is as I can not recall anything. " he said, hoping that the Captain could buy his excuse. Luckily, the excuse worked as the captain thought that it was an effect of the concussion and the injuries and maybe the trauma he had faced, making his body forget the experiences and start over his life. " Can the healer heal me from this blindness. I do not know how I will survive. Please help me. I have no one to call to." said Shawn, shedding some tears, hoping that he could obtain mercy from the Captain and it worked as the Captain called Lynne who examined Him and tried to heal him.


    " I''m sorry but this kind of blindness is not natural or a sickness. I can not even understand it. But all is not lost as the body cleanses itself of its injuries and impurity after every leveling up. So take heart. There are also prominent powerhouses who were born blind but they can now see and are one of the leading figures in the planet. " said Lynne, trying to bring some hope to the junior who was truly hurt and felt hopeless.


    "And also, since you do not have any memory of your previous self before finding you here, I will take th e opportunity to raise you as a child of my own since I have no child for now. Captain if you do not mind but this child is now mine. Hope no one will object it as no one will even take the chance of taking care of him." she said, as she looked at Shawn who did not object as he did not have anything and that the only thing he had was the ring that the grandfather had left, but he could not see the things present due to his blindness. And also the captain did not have any interest to the ring as it looked quite old and not useful to the rings he had.


    After being introduced to the two remaining members, the ship set sail back to the mainland. It took roughly two weeks, as the ship travelled at full speed. " Welcome to Erevar Continent, one of the four continents in our world. My home is not that far from here, and we will take one gate to it. " Lynne said, as the ship docked and then disappeared. " Where did the ship go?" the confused Shawn asked and was told of the mechanism that shrank the ship upon arrival and stored safely and only the owner can retrieve it.


    They then went to a nearby food bay where Shawn ate his first meal after a long time. The food was nothing like his previous life as it was full of energy that was rather satisfying. After the hearty meal and parting with the rest, the newly mother and child went to the Transvergance halls where one could get a gate to take him or her to their destination. Gates linked one place to another, but the distance it could take one was determined by the inbuilt and its foundations. It was the best thing for travel as a day worth distance could be done with mare seconds. With this new info gotten, Shawn''s day was made as he inwardly thanked Fate for bringing him here.


    " Welcome to your new home Shawn." said Lynne as he directed Shawn to the lovely cottage she called home. She was living alone after his husband died five months ago without even leaving a child behind. This made her adopt Shawn as her own child as she longed to have one of her own.


    I will personal teach you on how to live as a blind person. If you have awakened any ability, I will personally teach you on how to use it to your benefit. With it , it will be your eyes and guide. " She said. " But as for now, have a good sleep and see you when you wake up. Its not a must to call me your mum for now but when you feel so, I will be very pleased. I love you Shawn, my son. Goodnight.

 Chapter 8: Whispers of the Wind.

    *** Early the next day***


    A fruitful and enticing breakfast woke up Shawn who prepared himself hurriedly to join his new mother for the hearty meal. " Morning Son, hope you had a great night. Here''s breakfast. I do not know what you like so I prepared alot. Eat to your fill." Lynne said, ruffling  Shawn''s hair as he directed him to his seat. After eating breakfast and assisting his mother in washing the utensils, the mother and son decided to have a talk.


    " I know that you might not like it here first, nor like me like a mother, but I will ensure that you will be comfortable with me. I really want you to accept me. I lost my husband and my child during a raid as they were going to the city. I was not there to save them and I feel guilty about it. How can I be a healer and not be able to save my own flesh and my husband. Since then, I have not be willing to move on, but seeing you and your condition during our voyage, made me want to save you. I felt a pull towards you and something in my heart convicted me to take you in. I might not be like your previous family, but I am at your beacon if you need me."


    Shawn felt guilty for thinking that he could use this lady for his benefit. He stood up and and approached Lynne, and gave her a big hug. " I love you mum", he said, as tears threatened to break it''s dam. Seeing the action and the honesty Shawn heard made Lynne break to tears and held Shawn as if he were going to leave him. " I love you too son." she said.


    " I have to go to the city, as I have many people waiting for my services. The journey from here to Raze is just two hour travel, so we do not have to take the Transvergance halls. We will walk as I love to enjoy the nature. I want you to accompany me and get to know where I work." Lynne said.


    The sun peeked through the dense canopy of trees as Lynne and Shawn made their way down the worn dirt path. A soft breeze caressed Shawn¡¯s face, ruffling his dark hair as he held onto Lynne¡¯s hand. Though he couldn¡¯t see, he could feel the world shifting around him¡ª the uneven ground beneath his feet, the distant murmur of a flowing river, and the rhythmic rustling of leaves swaying to an unseen song.


    "Are you sure you don¡¯t need a break?" Lynne asked, her voice gentle yet laced with concern.


    Shawn shook his head. "I¡¯m fine," he replied, though his body was still adjusting to its new reality. Blindness had stripped him of sight, but his other senses had sharpened in ways he had yet to understand.


    The journey to the city was long, and Lynne had rented a small carriage pulled by a sturdy beast¡ªone of the many creatures domesticated for travel. As they climbed in, the wooden frame creaked beneath them.


    "Once we get to the city, I¡¯ll find someone who can help you adjust," Lynne said as she guided him onto the seat.


    Shawn sighed. "I don¡¯t want to be treated like I¡¯m helpless."


    Lynne chuckled softly. "It¡¯s not about being helpless. It¡¯s about adapting."


    The carriage began to move, rocking gently as the wheels rolled over uneven terrain. Shawn listened to the rhythmic clatter, the sounds of the world shifting around him. But something else stirred in the air.


    A whisper.


    It was faint, almost imperceptible, like the wind was calling his name.


    Shawn stiffened. "Did you hear that?"


    Lynne turned to him, her brows furrowing. "Hear what?"


    The wind rustled through the trees, but to Shawn, it wasn¡¯t just the movement of air¡ªit was something more. He couldn¡¯t explain it, but deep in his gut, he knew that something was about to happen.


    Then, the sudden snap of a branch.


    The beast pulling their carriage let out a distressed cry. The carriage lurched violently, throwing Lynne and Shawn forward. Before they could react, figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them.


    Bandits.


    "Get out," one of them ordered, his voice like gravel.


    Lynne gritted her teeth, stepping in front of Shawn protectively. "Stay behind me."


    But before either of them could react, a heavy blow struck the back of Shawn¡¯s head. His world spun into darkness, deeper than the blindness he had already endured.


    And then¡­ he dreamt.


    Or rather, he saw.


    Not with his eyes, but with something else.


    A vast sky stretched before him, endless and free. The air hummed with power, invisible yet omnipresent. And then, a voice¡ªa whisper carried on the wind.


    "You are of the sky¡­"


    The wind howled, shifting, forming currents that swirled around him like unseen hands reaching out to embrace him.


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    "You are the storm."


    Shawn gasped, his mind burning with something new. Something awakening.


    Then, icy cold water splashed against his face, ripping him from the vision.


    He woke up to harsh laughter and the rough grip of his captors. But something had changed.


    Inside him, the wind was stirring.


    Shawn gasped for air, his mind caught between the fading remnants of the vision and the harsh reality before him. His body ached, his head pounded, but something new stirred within him¡ªan unfamiliar sensation, like a presence lurking beneath his skin.


    His captors laughed.


    "Looks like the little one finally woke up," one of the bandits sneered, his voice thick with amusement.


    Shawn could hear at least five of them moving around¡ªa shuffle of boots, the clank of weapons, and the faint creaking of rope as Lynne struggled nearby. She was bound.


    "Let us go," Lynne demanded, her voice sharp despite the situation.


    A deep chuckle followed. "Oh? And why would we do that, Healer?"


    "Because you have no idea what you''re dealing with," she said coldly.


    One of the bandits stepped closer, gripping Shawn''s chin roughly. His breath smelled of rot and cheap alcohol. "What¡¯s so special about you, brat?"


    And that was when it happened.


    A sudden gust of wind swept through the camp, not natural, but deliberate¡ªas if the air itself had awakened to his anger.


    Shawn felt it.


    Felt the currents moving, bending, waiting.


    His hands clenched.


    "Move."


    The whisper from his vision returned, but this time, it wasn¡¯t just a voice¡ªit was a command from within.


    The wind obeyed.


    A burst of air exploded outward, sending dust and debris flying. The bandit gripping Shawn staggered back with a curse, shielding his face. The others reacted too late. The wind howled, twisting unnaturally, cutting through the air like invisible blades.


    Then, the first strike.


    A thin crescent of air sliced through the darkness.


    One of the bandits screamed as a deep gash appeared across his arm. Blood splattered onto the ground as he collapsed, writhing in pain.


    "W-What the hell was that?!" one of them stammered.


    Another lunged at Shawn.


    The wind surged forward.


    The attacker was lifted off his feet, thrown back with a force that slammed him against a tree. The sickening crack of breaking ribs echoed through the clearing.


    Shawn''s breathing was ragged, his heart hammering against his chest. His body burned with exhaustion, but he wasn¡¯t controlling the wind¡ªit was responding to him.


    "You little¡ª!" A third bandit charged, raising his weapon.


    Shawn instinctively raised his hand.


    A gale roared to life, forming a spinning vortex in his palm.


    Then, it shot forward like a lance of compressed air.


    The bandit barely had time to scream before the blast of wind struck him square in the chest, sending him flying through the air. He landed with a heavy thud, unmoving.


    The remaining bandits staggered back in fear.


    "What¡­ What is he?!"


    The wind hissed, circling Shawn like a living entity, lifting his hair, stirring the dust around him. His clothes rippled as though he stood at the heart of a storm.


    But the strain was too much.


    His body trembled.


    His vision blurred.


    And then¡ªhe collapsed.


    The next thing he felt was warmth.


    Soft hands cradled him. A voice¡ªgentle, filled with worry¡ªwhispered his name.


    "Shawn¡­ Shawn, wake up."


    He stirred, barely able to move. His entire body ached. The power had left him drained, but somewhere deep inside, he could still feel the wind lingering¡ªwaiting.


    When he opened his eyes, he couldn''t see, but he felt Lynne''s presence beside him. Her arms wrapped tightly around him.


    "You saved us," she whispered, her voice trembling. He could hear her crying, but whether it was from relief or fear, he couldn''t tell.


    Shawn¡¯s lips parted, but no words came.


    He had felt powerful¡ªbut also helpless. The energy had come too easily, too wildly. He had no control, and it had nearly consumed him.


    Lynne pressed her forehead against his.


    "You are more than you realize," she murmured, her healing energy flowing into him.


    As warmth spread through his aching limbs, Shawn thought back to the vision.


    "You are of the sky¡­ You are the storm."


    He didn''t understand it yet.


    But one thing was clear¡ªthis was only the beginning.


    Shawn¡¯s eyes fluttered open as he felt Lynne¡¯s warmth beside him. She was still holding him, her hands glowing faintly as she healed his wounds. The pain eased, but exhaustion still weighed down his limbs.


    A distant sound reached his ears¡ªthe clatter of hooves, the stomp of heavy boots against the dirt.


    Lynne noticed it too. She turned her head sharply, her grip tightening on Shawn. Moments later, armored figures emerged through the trees, torches illuminating the darkened grove. Their insignias gleamed under the flickering light¡ªthe City Guards of Raze.


    "Over here! We¡¯ve found them!" one of the guards called.


    More soldiers poured into the clearing, weapons drawn, surveying the unconscious and wounded bandits. The aftermath of Shawn¡¯s storm.


    One of the officers, a man with a silver crest on his armor, approached cautiously. His gaze flickered to Lynne before settling on Shawn¡ªhis eyes narrowing ever so slightly.


    "Are you harmed?" he asked.


    Lynne hesitated, then nodded. "We¡¯re fine now. But these men attacked us¡ªtried to take us captive."


    The officer¡¯s expression darkened. He gestured to his men. "Restrain the survivors. We¡¯ll interrogate them later."


    As the guards moved to shackle the groaning bandits, one of them hesitated, nudging the body of a fallen attacker. His armor was shredded, deep gashes running along his limbs¡ªall inflicted by the wind.


    The guards exchanged uneasy glances.


    No swords. No arrows. Only air itself had done this.


    Shawn, still too weak to move, felt their stares pressing into him. Lynne sensed it too, shielding him slightly with her presence. "He¡¯s just a boy," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    The officer hesitated, then exhaled. "We¡¯ll escort you to Raze. You¡¯ll be safe there."


    Lynne nodded, lifting Shawn into her arms as they moved toward the waiting horses.


    Unbeknownst to them, a lone figure stood atop a distant rock formation, watching.


    He had been there from the beginning¡ªsilent, unseen.


    His cloak billowed slightly in the wind, though he himself made no movement. His face remained shrouded beneath his hood, but his golden eyes gleamed with interest.


    The wind had whispered to Shawn.


    And he had heard it.


    The figure¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile.


    "So it begins."


    Then, as quickly as he had appeared, he vanished into the night.

 Chapter 9: Echo view.

    The journey to Raze was uneventful at first. The rhythmic sway of the carriage, the gentle sounds of hooves against dirt, and the occasional murmur of passing travelers set a peaceful tone. But Shawn, despite his blindness, felt something else¡ªa presence, an energy lingering at the edge of his senses. He chose to ignore it for now.


    Upon arrival, the city of Raze was alive with a buzz of activity. The air smelled of a mix of herbs, clean linens, and a hint of sea salt carried from the distant docks. Lynne, ever composed, led Shawn toward the towering structure that housed the Grand Healing Hall, a place known across the continent for treating even the gravest of injuries.


    As they stepped inside, hushed whispers spread through the hall. ¡°Lady Lynne has returned,¡± someone murmured, awe tinged in their voice. ¡°And with a boy?¡±


    Shawn smirked inwardly. He could not see, but he could hear, and right now, he imagined them gaping in confusion.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Lynne¡¯s voice was warm yet firm, guiding him through the vast hall. ¡°Try to sense your surroundings, Shawn.¡±


    Sarcasm flickered in his mind. Ah yes, let me just observe the surroundings with my perfect vision. But instead of speaking, he focused. Air swirled around him, brushing against bodies, furniture, even the slightest movements of people shifting in their seats. It was like an invisible web connecting everything. He could feel the weight of their presence, the way their bodies disrupted the natural flow.


    Then, an unmistakable voice called out. ¡°Boy!¡±


    It was Captain Veyron, the grizzled man from their journey. ¡°Good timing. I¡¯ve got something to show you.¡±


    Lynne gave a slight nod. ¡°Go with him. I¡¯ll be attending to my duties.¡±


    Shawn followed the old captain outside, where the wind howled through narrow alleyways. ¡°You felt it before, didn¡¯t you?¡± Veyron asked. ¡°The way the wind speaks?¡±


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    Shawn hesitated before nodding.


    ¡°Good. You¡¯ll learn how to listen to it properly.¡±


    The lesson began. The Captain had him stand still, letting the wind wash over him. At first, it was nothing but a chaotic breeze. But then, something clicked. Each gust carried information¡ªthe faint shift of leaves, the distant footsteps of a passer-by, even the heartbeat of the old man before him.


    ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ echolocation,¡± Shawn realized aloud. His mind raced to memories of his past life, where certain animals used sound waves to map their surroundings. Only here, he had wind instead of sound. The moment he connected the two, his progress accelerated. He refined the skill faster than expected, impressing even the Captain.


    ¡°Clever brat,¡± Veyron muttered, though there was a hint of pride in his voice.


    As the sun dipped lower, Shawn¡¯s control improved. He could ¡®see¡¯ outlines, make out movements, even predict shifts in the air before they happened. But then, a shiver ran down his spine. Someone was watching him.


    Far away, in the shadows of a tall building, a figure stood, observing. They had been there since his arrival. Their presence was calm, unreadable, but then¡ª


    A hand appeared behind them, grabbing their neck in a swift, silent motion. The observer barely reacted as they were pulled into the darkness. A low voice whispered, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be watching too closely.¡± And then, they were gone.


    Back in the training area, Captain Veyron gave Shawn a firm pat on the shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You¡¯ll only get better with practice.¡±


    Shawn nodded, though his thoughts lingered on that eerie feeling.


    Later that evening, he and Lynne returned home, exhaustion settling into their bones. Just as they were about to relax, a frantic knock came at the door.


    ¡°Lady Lynne! We need you!¡±


    A group of guards rushed in, carrying a woman whose right arm was missing and whose body convulsed violently. Blood soaked her side, and her breathing was ragged.


    Shawn felt his mother move past him, her aura shifting. Power surged. He heard gasps from the guards as an unseen force settled over the room. Within moments, warmth radiated from Lynne¡¯s hands, light pooling over the woman¡¯s wound. Flesh began to mend. Muscle wove itself back together, and in the span of mere minutes, a once-grievous wound had vanished without a trace.


    Shawn, still exhausted from training, leaned against the wall and smirked. ¡°Remind me never to get on your bad side.¡±


    Lynne simply smiled, wiping sweat from her brow. ¡°You should get some rest. Tomorrow, we continue.¡±


    And with that, Shawn realized¡ªhis journey had only just begun.

 Chapter 10: The encounter.

    The week following their arrival in Raze was filled with quiet moments of observation and adaptation for Shawn. His mother, Lynne, was a woman of great renown, a Harbinger ranked healer, sought after by the high and mighty for her expertise. Despite being blind, Shawn could sense the admiration and respect in the voices of those who approached her for help. He had always known she was special, but seeing¡ªor rather, feeling¡ªher in action solidified just how incredible she was.


    Lynne had promised Shawn that she would teach him the fundamentals of Vitral, the core essence of all abilities. And so, after a week of settling in, she began his lessons.


    The training room was silent, save for the rhythmic breathing of mother and son. Lynne stood before Shawn, her voice calm and instructive.


    ¡°Vitral is the essence of all abilities,¡± she began. ¡°It defines what power one can harness and how well they can control it. Most individuals can only awaken one, but there are rare cases where a second Vitral emerges. However, those cases are so scarce but when one grows to later levels, they gain more Vitrals, as their power evolves and the become a force to be reckoned with..¡±


    Shawn nodded, taking in her words. He already knew he was different, but even Lynne was unaware of just how unique he truly was. The artifact within him, the mysterious second core, remained a secret.


    ¡°The ranks of Vitral users are divided based on the depth of their control and power,¡± Lynne continued. ¡°A person starts as a Novice, just barely tapping into their abilities. From there, they progress to an Initiate, then an Adept, before reaching the first true mastery rank: Harbinger. At Harbinger, the user is recognized as a force to be reckoned with.¡±


    Shawn tilted his head slightly. ¡°And above that?¡±


    ¡°Soul Binder,¡± Lynne said, her voice laced with a hint of longing. ¡°A rank that solidifies one¡¯s bond with their ability. It allows complete mastery over one¡¯s Vitral, making their power an extension of their very soul. Few ever reach this level.¡±


    ¡°So what happens when someone dies?¡± Shawn asked, curiosity piqued.


    Lynne sighed softly. ¡°When one dies, their core dies with them. The Vitral dissipates, returning to the natural order of the world. That is why true death is feared among the strong. Their power does not persist, nor can it be inherited. It simply fades away.¡±


    Shawn absorbed her words. He wanted to ask more about the spirit core, about its depths and limitations, but something told him those answers would come in time.


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    That night, the air was thick with something unfamiliar. Shawn lay on his bed, his body tense despite his exhaustion. Then it came.


    A sudden weight bore down on him, suffocating and cold. His breath hitched as his body stiffened involuntarily. The presence was inside him, stirring from deep within. A voice, soft yet echoing, resonated in his mind.


    ¡°This body¡­ it is mine.¡±


    A pulse of raw force slammed into Shawn¡¯s consciousness, sending his mind spiraling into an abyss. He found himself in a vast expanse of darkness, standing in an endless void. Before him loomed a silhouette, its form fluid and shifting.


    The pressure it emitted was overwhelming, yet Shawn did not yield.


    ¡°You are mistaken,¡± Shawn said calmly. ¡°This is my body.¡±


    The presence did not waver. ¡°You are but a vessel. I have waited for form, and now I have it.¡±


    Shawn exhaled slowly, allowing his mind to focus. He could feel the core, the second one, pulsating behind his own. It was strong, but it did not belong to him completely¡ªnot yet.


    ¡°You think you can take this body?¡± Shawn asked, his voice steady. ¡°Then try.¡±


    The entity lunged at him, shadows curling around his limbs. But the moment they touched him, they shattered. Shawn stood firm as a gust of wind roared around him, tearing through the encroaching darkness.


    The presence shrieked, recoiling from his strength.


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a fragment of something long gone,¡± Shawn declared. ¡°You exist within me, but you do not own me.¡±


    A pause. Then, a laugh¡ªsoft, almost amused. The darkness receded, condensing into a single point before materializing into a faint, glowing core.


    ¡°You are strong,¡± the voice said, no longer aggressive. ¡°Stronger than I anticipated. Perhaps¡­ you are worthy.¡±


    Shawn narrowed his eyes. ¡°Worthy of what?¡±


    ¡°Of wielding me.¡±


    The voice softened, turning almost melodic. ¡°I do not remember my true purpose. I was created long ago, by hands I cannot recall. I am incomplete, yet I am powerful. And now, I am yours.¡±


    Shawn remained silent for a moment. Then, he nodded. ¡°Then we make a deal. You are mine, and I am yours. No more resistance.¡±


    The core pulsed, as if acknowledging his words. ¡°Agreed.¡±


    " And another thing, if you dare to take my body, for I know that you will grow stronger with me, I will destroy you. You made a mistake of trying to own me, so be careful of your actions, and I hope you will not repeat what you did today." Shawn concluded.


    The world around him faded, and when Shawn opened his eyes, he was back in his room. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding. Yet, he felt¡­ different. Stronger. More complete.


    The second core, the artefact, was now truly his.


    And somewhere in the distance, beyond the city walls, a pair of unseen eyes observed in silence.


    The following morning, Lynne noticed nothing unusual. Shawn resumed his lessons with renewed vigour, though his mind still lingered on the events of the previous night.


    The world was vast, filled with mysteries. And now, one of them resided within him.


    And for the first time since his rebirth, Shawn was eager to unravel it all.


    " Hurry up so that we  go to Raze as today you have someone interesting I would like you to meet up with. You will enjoy the company for I do not want you to always stay and practice. Enjoy life as you are a child. You have not started school yet but you will start it soon as I am asking favours from the Lords who have gained my healing. Maybe in the next month will you join school. I have a good one in mind." Lynne said as they headed to Raze.

 Chapter 11: Shawn vs Rian.

    Shawn stood in the clearing, his body tense, his breath steady as he faced Rian. The air was thick with anticipation, the rustling of leaves barely audible over the tension crackling between them. The two boys stood apart, their gazes locked like warriors preparing for battle. Rian, a year older and already adept at wielding fire, smirked confidently. Flames flickered at his fingertips, casting a warm glow in the dim light of the forest.


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Rian asked, tilting his head slightly. ¡°You barely know how to use your wind abilities.¡±


    Shawn clenched his fists. He had trained with the Captain , learned the fundamentals of sensing his environment, but true combat was another matter. Still, he refused to back down.


    ¡°I need to learn,¡± Shawn replied, his voice firm. ¡°And the best way is through experience.¡±


    Rian''s smirk widened. "Alright then, but don''t hold it against me when you lose."


    With that, he moved. Fire erupted from his palm, streaking toward Shawn in a fast-moving arc. Shawn reacted on instinct, the wind around him responding to his desperation. A powerful gust deflected the flames, but the sheer force sent him stumbling backward.


    Rian didn¡¯t give him time to recover. He dashed forward, his movements swift and controlled. Shawn tried to sense his opponent, using the echoing wind technique Captain Alric had taught him. The currents of air around him shifted, whispering of Rian¡¯s movements. But he was still too slow.


    A flaming fist slammed into his shoulder, sending pain searing through his body. He gritted his teeth, rolling with the impact to lessen the damage. His tunic was scorched where the flames had licked his skin. He had barely gotten to his feet before another attack came, forcing him to dive to the side.


    Shawn focused, inhaling deeply. The wind was his ally, and he had to trust it. Instead of dodging blindly, he let his senses guide him. When Rian lunged again, Shawn spun with the air, a sudden gust pushing him just out of reach. For a brief moment, he felt the exhilaration of control¡ªbut it didn¡¯t last.


    Rian twisted mid-strike, a ball of fire igniting in his other hand. The flames crashed against Shawn¡¯s hastily raised defense of swirling wind. The collision sent him skidding across the ground, coughing as he tried to rise.


    ¡°You¡¯re too reactive,¡± Rian commented, watching him with calculating eyes. ¡°You let the wind carry you, but you¡¯re not using it to fight back.¡±


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    Shawn exhaled sharply, frustration boiling in his chest. Rian was right. He was dodging, deflecting, but he wasn¡¯t attacking. Wind was not just a tool of evasion¡ªit could cut, it could strike. He needed to take control.


    Drawing upon his reserves, Shawn willed the air around him to sharpen, compressing it into a force he could use. He felt the wind stir, responding to his command. As Rian charged again, Shawn swung his arm outward, and a sharp gale lashed forward. It wasn¡¯t strong, but it was enough to throw off Rian¡¯s balance.


    Seizing the opportunity, Shawn lunged, the wind propelling him forward. He struck out with a palm, sending a burst of air into Rian¡¯s chest. The older boy stumbled, eyes widening in surprise. But he recovered quickly, rolling back onto his feet.


    ¡°Better,¡± Rian admitted. Then he grinned. ¡°But not enough.¡±


    Before Shawn could react, flames burst from Rian¡¯s feet, launching him forward at an unnatural speed. The next blow was brutal. A direct hit to Shawn¡¯s stomach sent him sprawling. The wind in his lungs was knocked out, leaving him gasping.


    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough,¡± Rian said, stepping back. ¡°You put up a good fight.¡±


    Shawn groaned, lying on his back, staring up at the sky. His body ached, his pride stung, but deep down, he felt exhilarated. This was just the beginning.


    A hand appeared in his vision. He looked up to see Rian offering to help him up. Shawn hesitated for only a moment before grasping it, pulling himself to his feet.


    ¡°We should do this again,¡± Shawn said, wiping the sweat from his brow.


    Rian laughed. ¡°Definitely. But next time, try not to get knocked down so easily.¡±


    They exchanged grins, the foundation of a new friendship forming in the aftermath of battle.


    As they walked back toward the settlement, still catching their breath, something caught Rian¡¯s eye. He bent down, picking up a small, weathered envelope partially hidden beneath the roots of an old tree.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he muttered, brushing off the dirt.


    Shawn peered over his shoulder as Rian carefully opened the letter. The parchment was aged, the ink slightly faded, but the words were still legible. As they read, a sense of intrigue settled over them. It spoke of a place deep within the forest, a hidden location where something of great importance lay forgotten.


    Shawn and Rian exchanged a glance.


    ¡°An adventure?¡± Rian asked, a smirk forming.


    Shawn grinned, despite his exhaustion. ¡°Looks like it.¡±


    Little did they know, their actions were being watched. Hidden among the trees, a hooded figure observed them with keen interest. The figure¡¯s presence was shrouded, concealed even from the sharpest of senses. Just as they turned to leave, another shadow emerged behind the watcher. A hand shot out, grasping the figure¡¯s neck, pulling them into the darkness.


    A hushed whisper echoed through the woods. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one interested in the boy.¡±


    " I want us to venture into the place stated by the map in two days.  Ensure that you will be prepared and let no one else know about it. It should be a fun experience but you must not inform anyone. Promise me that." said Rian, as a handshake to seal the deal was made.


    " Lets head back as it is late. I do not want my dad to worry about my whereabouts nor does your mother." he said as they returned to the city , but luckily, they made it in time.


    Shawn and his mom headed back at home, tired, but each one of them with a good mood.

 Chapter 12: The Wind’s Hidden Strength

    The two days felt like two years to Shawn, as if time itself had decided to exact vengeance for reasons unknown. He trained relentlessly under the Captain, who was also proficient in wind manipulation. But even a prodigy is not made in a single day.


    On the eve of their departure, the Captain decided to teach Shawn how to compress wind into sleek, razor-sharp blades. At first, he thought it would be easy¡ªafter all, when he first awakened his affinity for wind, he could manipulate it effortlessly. But reality proved him wrong.


    Compressing air to form blades was as challenging as running blindfolded through a storm. It was near impossible. Every attempt left him wounded, as the intense concentration required to contain the chaotic currents of wind took a severe toll on his mind. To make matters worse, his vision depended on sensing the movement of air, and every shift in control threw him into disarray.


    After countless visits to his mother for healing and grueling hours of training, he finally managed to form a single wind blade. He was battered, but victorious.


    "Well, you amaze me with your tremendous growth, Shawn," the Captain said, his voice filled with admiration. "You know, when I awakened my wind manipulation, it took me two years to master wind blades. Most people underestimate air manipulation, but it is one of the most versatile and powerful Vitrals."


    The Captain sighed before continuing. "People focus on other flashy abilities¡ªfire manipulation, water, earth, spatial manipulation, those with speed rivaling light, or those with strength as mighty as the beasts themselves. There are countless Vitrals you have yet to encounter, and you''ll come across them when you attend school."


    He glanced at Shawn with a knowing look. "Your mother must have told you about the rarity of multiple Vitrals. Some are born with two, others with three, and the luckiest few with four. Bloodline and family heritage play a significant role. Take the Starborn Clan, for example. No one in their lineage was born with less than two Vitrals."


    A somber expression crossed the Captain¡¯s face. "They were a force to be reckoned with¡ªpowerful, but arrogant. It¡¯s no wonder all the powerhouses of Prim joined forces to annihilate them. Though it was a cowardly ambush, a victory is still a victory. Still, I wonder¡­ were they really the root of all our problems? There are powerful families spread across the continents, especially among the royalties, and many of them are nothing but selfish, arrogant brats."


    His gaze softened as he turned back to Shawn. "Regardless, your growth is impressive. You may not compare to the prodigies in the great cities, but for someone in the backwaters of the continent, you''re exceptional."


    Shawn remained silent, absorbing every word. Then, as if reading his thoughts, the Captain smirked. "I bet you''re wondering what rank I hold. Trust me, in this city, no one rivals me. I''m not the strongest by far, but I am still a force to be reckoned with. I studied at one of the top academies on this continent. It ranked tenth here and thirteenth in all of Prim."


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    He stood up, stretching. "Now, call Rian for me. There¡¯s something I want to show both of you."


    Shawn left for the stables, where he found Rian tending to the horses. A few minutes later, they were both back in the training hall.


    "Rian, I want you to unleash your strongest flames at me. Hold nothing back. Aim directly at me¡ªI promise I won¡¯t retaliate."


    Rian frowned. He didn¡¯t want to hurt his father, but the confident smirk on the Captain¡¯s face convinced him otherwise.


    "Prepare yourself, old man. I hope you don¡¯t regret this," Rian said, conjuring a massive pillar of fire before hurling it forward.


    The Captain remained unfazed. "Hmph. Is this all you¡¯ve got?" he scoffed, and in an instant, the fire vanished into thin air.


    Rian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "H-H-How?! You cheated! I didn¡¯t even see where it went!"


    The Captain chuckled. "Try again. But this time, Shawn, focus on the air movement the moment Rian releases his flames."


    Rian gritted his teeth and summoned an even larger inferno. As the flames surged forward, Shawn concentrated. Then, just as before, the fire disappeared. But this time, he sensed it.


    "He¡¯s removing the air from space, creating a vacuum..." Shawn thought, his mind racing. "Without oxygen, the fire dies instantly. He¡¯s a genius."


    The Captain nodded, pleased. "I bet you¡¯ve figured it out. I manipulated the air around the flames, suffocating them. But here¡¯s the best part¡ªI can store a spark of the fire within a vacuum pocket and release it even stronger by fusing it with air. This way, I fight flames with flames."


    He stepped forward. "And that¡¯s not even my best trick. Watch."


    Suddenly, both Shawn and Rian collapsed to their knees, an invisible force pressing down on them like a mountain.


    "W-What¡­ are you¡­ doing¡­ Dad?" Rian struggled to speak, barely able to lift his head.


    Then, just as quickly as it came, the pressure vanished.


    The Captain grinned. "That was my own aura. I compressed the air around me and mixed it with my spirit force. The result? A dense, suffocating pressure that costs me little energy to maintain. By using the world¡¯s energy, I can exert pressure without exhausting myself."


    Shawn and Rian exchanged looks of awe.


    The Captain chuckled. "And do you know that I can launch an attack from behind you without moving?"


    Before they could react, he appeared behind them in an instant. Shawn¡¯s heart pounded with excitement.


    "How can I become as strong as you?" he asked, a new fire burning within him.


    "It depends on your hard work and talent," the Captain replied. "I have no doubt that one day, you will surpass me."


    Shawn''s eyes gleamed with determination.


    "As for my rank, I¡¯m still a Harbinger¡ªthough at the peak. I might break through soon, like your mother. And a word of advice, Shawn¡ªnever underestimate her. Even with my abilities, I can¡¯t defeat her."


    Shawn stiffened. His mother was at the same rank as the Captain, yet he claimed he couldn¡¯t defeat her? A chilling thought crossed his mind¡ªduring the attack by the bandits, she could have saved them. So why hadn¡¯t she acted?


    He shook the thought away.


    "And don¡¯t forget about our adventure tomorrow!" Rian reminded him as the Captain walked away.


    Shawn smirked. "How could I forget? My memory isn¡¯t failing like an old man''s."


    "Good. Meet me at dawn. And have an excuse ready for your mother, because I won¡¯t wait for you."


    As Rian left, Shawn stared at the night sky, determination swelling in his chest. "I have a long way to go before I become a powerhouse," he thought. "I still remember Fate¡¯s overwhelming power. I haven¡¯t met anyone like her yet, even the Captain does not even comes close. I wonder¡­ when will I surpass even the Captain?"


    With that, he turned and made his way to his mother¡¯s office, ready for whatever lay ahead.

 Chapter 13: The adventure.

    Shawn woke up the following day with renewed vigor coursing through him. The previous night, after an intense training session with the Captain, he had a long talk with his mother. He had told her that he and Rian planned to explore the jungle for adventure and perhaps some hunting. After some resistance, his mother gradually relented, though she insisted that he return home before sundown.


    That night, he had also attempted to communicate with the feminine consciousness within his second core, but his efforts bore no fruit.


    "This world is cruel to those without watches. I have to rely on the sun to tell time. I should make a watch to avoid such inconveniences," Shawn muttered as he stepped outside, heading toward the agreed meeting point. "Then again, even with a watch, I¡¯m still blind. Unless I learn to use sound waves instead of air particles for my vision, a watch won¡¯t be much help." He chuckled at his own joke as he quickened his pace.


    He arrived just in time, with Rian appearing three minutes later, map in hand.


    "I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re early. I thought your mom would put up as much of a fight as my dad did," Rian said, embracing Shawn briefly.


    "She complained, but she eventually gave in. I guess she got tired of my constant grumbling," Shawn replied with a smirk.


    Wasting no time, the duo set off toward their destination. They walked briskly, occasionally chasing away small beasts that crossed their path.


    The breath of the forest was relaxing, energizing them, making their pores thirst for more of the relaxing eerie.


    "This is going to be a long journey," Rian remarked. "We need to reach the center of the forest, but as you know, powerful beasts lurk there. Luckily, I worked my butt off and managed to buy two cloaking rings. They emit the scent of the fae, so the beasts shouldn¡¯t bother checking on us. But we need to hurry¡ªonce night falls, the real predators awaken, and we won¡¯t stand a chance."


    Neither of them wanted to become food. They were trespassers in a hunter¡¯s domain, and at any moment, the hunter could strike.


    After a grueling five-hour trek, they arrived.


    "Now what?" Rian asked, catching his breath.


    ***Meanwhile, in an unknown land***


    Five figures entered a modest-looking tent in the middle of a desert. At first glance, it appeared no different from the others scattered throughout the camp. Its exterior was clean but no grander than a typical family tent, barely large enough to fit four or five people at full capacity.


    However, inside, it was an entirely different world.


    Lush greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, with thriving flora and peaceful beasts roaming freely. The landscape was as vibrant as a highland meadow, a stark contrast to the barren desert outside. In the distance, a colossal palace loomed, its boundaries impossible to discern even with sharp eyesight.


    In a nearby garden, a young woman, seemingly no older than sixteen, tended to a flock of flawless white lambs. The five figures knelt before her in unwavering respect.


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    "Sir, you summoned us. We are here to receive your commands," one of them spoke.


    "No need for formalities, Rhyzek. The same goes for the rest of you. Stand up¡ªwe are all companions here," the young woman said, her voice calm yet authoritative.


    "I called you because we have a matter of grave importance to discuss. It will determine the balance of the universe as we know it. By now, you have all sensed the odd soul wandering through our lands. I have a theory about its origin, but it remains unproven. I will investigate it personally.


    "Furthermore, he has fused with the Astralis Prism and survived. You know its maker. Though I wish not to recall that wretched man, he approached me, asking if I had seen it. I lied and said no. I doubt he believes me, but he dares not challenge me.


    "By the will of the universe, none from beyond can step foot in this realm¡ªno matter their rank, they will perish upon entry. So he will not come. However, I have foreseen a catastrophe beyond time, one that will impact the Prim World itself.


    "Humans, driven by greed, will be the cause of this calamity. I ask only that you do not interfere with their lives. Am I clear, Vaelith? I do not want you keeping tabs on the boy¡ªI will handle that myself. And Kaelmar, thank you for keeping him in check when he crossed the line. I understand he is the youngest among the Guardians and is still adjusting to this life. Guide him well.


    "Zephyrion, Orivax¡ªkeep up the good work.


    "Rhyzek, you will be in charge in my absence. I expect regular reports. If the owner sends his pawns, beat them down as you did last time. I hear some of them see you as a leader and call you an ¡®old goat,¡¯ despite you being far younger than me. But do not worry¡ªeverything will unfold as it should."


    She conjured a seat, reclining into it as the others exited the small world.


    "I hope my time with them proves interesting," she murmured, sipping from a crystal goblet filled with golden liquid.


    Meanwhile, back in the forest, Shawn and Rian found themselves at an impasse. The map led them to the heart of the jungle, but beyond that, it offered no further instructions. Before them stood a massive mountain, its towering form casting an ominous shadow over them.


    "Hey, Rian, I have an idea. Try passing a small flame under the map¡ªbut be careful not to burn it," Shawn suggested.


    "Are you insane? Sure, I can control flames, but I¡¯m not that skilled yet! I¡¯m only at the late Aspirant stage, not the peak. I might burn the whole thing!" Rian protested.


    "Relax. If anything goes wrong, I¡¯ll put it out immediately. Let me give you some advice before you start¡ªthink of the flame as an extension of yourself, not just an external force. If you treat it as a limb rather than a separate entity, you¡¯ll gain better control. I believe in you, Rian. Just focus."


    Taking Shawn¡¯s words to heart, Rian conjured a small flame, first testing it on his handkerchief. He successfully controlled the fire, preventing it from burning the fabric. With renewed confidence, he passed the flame beneath the map. The first attempt ended in failure as the parchment began to smolder, forcing Shawn to extinguish it instantly. On the second try, the fire remained steady, and a hidden inscription emerged from the map¡¯s surface.


    "I did it, Shawn!" Rian exclaimed. "But there¡¯s nothing¡ªwait, I see something! No, no, no¡ªthe map is burning!" he shouted in panic.


    Before they could react, the burning map launched toward Shawn, searing his hand. A painful cry escaped his lips as a rune resembling a withered branch was etched into his skin.


    "Aghhh! It burns!" Shawn yelled, clutching his hand.


    "I¡¯m so sorry, Shawn! I don¡¯t know what happened! But we have to get back¡ªit¡¯s getting late," Rian urged.


    Before they could move, the mountain beneath them groaned and split apart. A massive fissure opened, swallowing Shawn whole while violently tossing Rian aside. Fortunately, they hadn¡¯t climbed too high, but unfortunately, Shawn had vanished into the depths.


    "No, no, no¡ªShawn!" Rian screamed, his flames lashing futilely at the unyielding rock.


    Tears welled in his eyes as panic gripped him. "What am I supposed to tell his mother? What will my father say? I¡¯m screwed!"


    Realizing his only option, he turned back toward the village, igniting his flames beneath his feet to propel himself forward at breakneck speed.


    "I need to get help¡ªfast!" he whispered, racing through the forest with everything he had.

 Chapter 14: In the mountain

    Darkness. Infinite, suffocating darkness.


    Shawn¡¯s consciousness drifted, submerged in an abyss so deep it felt like he had been swallowed by the void itself. His mind swayed in a trance, barely holding onto the thin thread of awareness. Coldness seeped into his bones, gnawing at his flesh like an unseen predator. He had fallen. The mountain had consumed him, and now, he was nothing more than a ghost wandering the precipice of death.


    Then, a voice¡ªsoft, melodic, yet eerily unfamiliar¡ªpierced through the silence.


    ¡°Wake up, dummy.¡±


    It was a girl¡¯s voice.


    Shawn¡¯s eyelids fluttered, a painful throbbing gnawing at his skull. His body, weak and battered from the fall, screamed in protest as he stirred. He tried to move but found himself floating in an ethereal space, surrounded by a vast sea of luminescent blue particles. His breath hitched, confusion lacing his every thought.


    ¡°Finally awake?¡± the voice teased again. ¡°I was beginning to think you¡¯d stay unconscious forever.¡±


    Shawn¡¯s eyes snapped open completely. His gaze darted around, searching for the source of the voice. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse.


    A faint giggle. ¡°Took you long enough to notice me.¡±


    Suddenly, the space around him shifted, and in front of him materialized a floating, radiant orb. The core. But unlike before, it pulsed with life, swirling with tiny strands of golden and silver energy, like a miniature cosmos trapped within a crystalline shell.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here the whole time,¡± the voice continued, now coming directly from the core. ¡°Observing. Waiting.¡±


    Shawn frowned. ¡°You were silent. The whole time. Why now?¡±


    The core flickered. ¡°Because now you need me.¡±


    Silence stretched between them. Shawn¡¯s mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. He had been swallowed by a mountain, yet he wasn¡¯t crushed. He was floating in a strange void, talking to a sentient core that had been inside him all along.


    Shawn let out a breath. ¡°Alright, then. Who¡ªwhat¡ªare you?¡±


    A hum vibrated from the core. ¡°I am... uncertain.¡±


    Shawn raised an eyebrow. ¡°Uncertain?¡±


    ¡°I know that I am your core,¡± it responded, a hint of playfulness in its voice. ¡°I know I have been inside you since the moment you arrived in this world. But my existence is... fragmented. Incomplete.¡±


    Shawn mulled over the words. ¡°Then what do I call you?¡±


    ¡°Call me?¡± The core pulsed, as if pondering the thought. ¡°I never had a name.¡±


    Shawn smirked. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you one.¡± He paused for a moment before settling on a name that seemed to resonate with the energy around him. ¡°Elaris.¡±


    A soft hum, almost like a sigh of contentment, echoed from the core. ¡°Elaris¡­ I like it.¡±


    A chuckle escaped Shawn¡¯s lips. ¡°Good. So, Elaris, what exactly do you know about me?¡±


    Silence.


    Then, the core responded, but this time, its voice was layered with something deeper, something ancient. ¡°Everything.¡±


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    A chill crawled down Shawn¡¯s spine. ¡°Everything?¡±


    ¡°I see your past. Your death. Your regrets. Your anger,¡± Elaris whispered. ¡°I know who you were, Shawn. And I know why you¡¯re here.¡±


    Shawn¡¯s breath hitched. He clenched his fists. ¡°Then tell me. Why am I here?¡±


    Elaris remained silent for a moment before answering. ¡°That... I do not know.¡±


    Shawn exhaled sharply. He had expected as much. Still, the realization that this core, this being, had access to his memories unsettled him.


    He shook his head. ¡°Fine. But why did you stay silent all this time?¡±


    A mischievous hum. ¡°I wanted to see if you were worth talking to.¡±


    Shawn rolled his eyes. ¡°And?¡±


    A soft laugh. ¡°You passed.¡±


    A smirk tugged at Shawn¡¯s lips. ¡°Glad to know I made the cut.¡±


    " But do not think I have forgotten about you wanting to take over my body. Hope your ambitions have died out." Grimmed Shawn.


    The two fell into a comfortable silence. Shawn closed his eyes briefly, absorbing everything that had just transpired. This was only the beginning. There was more to Elaris than she let on, and more to his existence in this world than he had yet to uncover.


    For now, though, he had taken the first step.


    ¡°So,¡± he said, looking at the swirling core before him. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±


    Elaris pulsed, her voice carrying a newfound excitement. ¡°Now? Now we survive.¡±


    A grin spread across Shawn¡¯s face. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±


    And just like that, his journey into the unknown truly began.


    Shawn¡¯s arm burned with searing pain as the mysterious mark upon it pulsed, illuminating the dark cavern with an eerie glow. His breath hitched as he clutched his wrist, trying to suppress the overwhelming sensation. The mark was calling him, pulling him toward an unknown destination deep within the belly of the mountain. He had no choice but to follow.


    Elaris, the core, hummed softly in his mind. ¡°It appears you are being summoned, Shawn. The mountain holds more secrets than you realize.¡±


    ¡°I noticed,¡± Shawn muttered, sweat forming on his brow as he pressed forward through the winding passageways. Stalactites hung like the fangs of a beast from the ceiling, while strange mineral deposits gleamed along the cave walls. Occasional gusts of wind howled through unseen crevices, whispering secrets long forgotten. The deeper he went, the more otherworldly the air felt, heavy with ancient power.


    Then, the air shifted.


    A crushing weight pressed down on Shawn¡¯s body. His knees buckled, his breath hitched, and his vision blurred under the suffocating force. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to run, to turn back, but his body refused to move. It was as if space itself had turned against him.


    A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cavern. The pressure increased tenfold, forcing Shawn onto all fours. He gasped, his heart pounding like a war drum as he felt an overwhelming presence¡ªa predator beyond anything he had ever encountered.


    From the shadows, a massive figure emerged. Its form was shrouded in darkness, but Shawn could make out its monstrous features. A hulking beast, at least four meters tall, its body covered in gleaming obsidian scales that reflected the dim light like black mirrors. Twin crimson eyes glowed with terrifying intelligence. The beast¡¯s body rippled with raw power, its limbs thick and sturdy, ending in razor-sharp claws that could tear through stone as if it were paper. Massive horns curved back from its skull, crackling with streaks of blue lightning.


    Shawn¡¯s throat tightened. This wasn¡¯t just any beast. This was an Ascendant Beast, a creature that had transcended normal limitations, possessing intelligence equal to or greater than humans. A predator among predators. An apex in the chain of beast.


    The beast let out a low, rumbling chuckle, its maw parting to reveal rows of jagged teeth. The cavern walls trembled as it spoke, its voice deep and ancient.


    ¡°A mere mortal dares tread this sacred ground?¡±


    Shawn gritted his teeth, forcing himself to lift his head. The air felt heavier with each passing second, pressing down on him like an invisible hand crushing his existence. His lungs burned. He could barely breathe.


    He was going to die.


    The pressure suddenly ceased.


    Shawn coughed violently, gasping for air as he fell to his knees. He lifted his gaze just in time to witness something that defied all logic.


    The beast¡¯s body shimmered, its monstrous form melting like liquid shadow. Its limbs twisted and shrank, its scales retracting into smooth skin. The horns receded, the lightning dissipated, and before Shawn stood a man¡ªtall and imposing, appearing no older than fifty. His hair was jet black, streaked with silver, and his piercing eyes retained the same crimson glow as before. Draped in regal dark robes, the man exuded an aura of absolute authority.


    Shawn¡¯s entire body trembled as he stared, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.


    ¡°Beasts can¡­ transform?¡± he whispered, his voice barely audible.


    The man smirked, his gaze filled with amusement. ¡°You know nothing of this world, child.¡±


    Shawn swallowed hard. This was beyond anything he had ever imagined. If beasts could take human form, how many of them were already walking among humans? How many of them had infiltrated society, hidden in plain sight?


    Fear crept into his heart.


    He was trapped in a cavern with a being that could end him in an instant.


    And he had no way out.

 Chapter 15:In the mountain II

    Shawn¡¯s breath was heavy as he stood frozen, his eyes locked onto the massive beast before him. The sheer weight of the creature¡¯s aura bore down on him like a mountain, threatening to crush his very existence. His limbs refused to move, his body trembling under the overwhelming pressure. Just when he thought his bones would crack, the air around him shifted. The suffocating force vanished, leaving him gasping for breath.


    His heart pounded as he watched the impossible unfold. The beast, a monstrous entity covered in thick obsidian scales with glowing golden eyes, began to change. Its form twisted and contorted, shrinking and morphing until it stood on two legs. Before Shawn now stood a man, aged yet powerful, with silver hair streaked with black, his golden eyes retaining the beast¡¯s piercing gaze. He wore a simple dark robe, yet his presence alone exuded an authority that made Shawn feel like an insect in his presence.


    Shawn clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand straight, though his instincts screamed at him to bow or flee. But he knew¡ªif this being wanted him dead, he would already be nothing more than a smear on the cavern floor.


    The man¡¯s gaze bore into him as if peering directly into his soul. Silence stretched between them, thick with an unspoken tension. Then, finally, the man spoke, his voice deep and controlled.


    ¡°You are an interesting one.¡±


    Shawn swallowed hard. His throat felt dry, his mind racing to form a coherent response. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t come here by choice. The mountain swallowed me, and then¡­ this.¡± He lifted his arm, the mark on his skin glowing faintly. ¡°It¡¯s been pulling me forward, guiding me.¡±


    The beast-turned-man narrowed his eyes, but his face betrayed nothing. A flicker of something¡ªrecognition?¡ªflashed across his features, but it was gone just as quickly. He stepped closer, and Shawn had to fight the urge to step back.


    ¡°Fascinating,¡± the man murmured, though more to himself than to Shawn. He studied the mark for a few moments before stepping back. ¡°I have no interest in human inheritances,¡± he stated. ¡°You may proceed.¡±


    Shawn barely had time to process the words before, in the blink of an eye, the man vanished. No sound, no movement¡ªjust gone. One moment he was there, the next, only empty space remained.


    A shudder ran down Shawn¡¯s spine. ¡°That was¡­ terrifying,¡± he muttered, exhaling deeply.


    ¡°You are lucky he let you live,¡± Elaris said, her voice filled with uncharacteristic seriousness. ¡°That was no ordinary beast. That was an Ascendant, an existence beyond what you can comprehend right now.¡±


    Shawn exhaled, shaking his head. ¡°I figured as much. The power radiating from him was unreal. I doubt even the Captain could stand against him.¡± He clenched his fist, determination burning in his eyes. ¡°One day, I¡¯ll reach that level. No¡­ I¡¯ll surpass it.¡±


    Elaris chuckled. ¡°Ambitious. But I like that about you.¡±


    As their conversation continued, Shawn suddenly stumbled, a sharp pulse of energy flaring from his arm. He gritted his teeth, gripping the glowing mark as pain radiated through his entire body.


    ¡°The pull¡­ it¡¯s stopping,¡± he said through clenched teeth.


    Before him, the path came to an abrupt end¡ªa towering stone wall, ancient and weathered, standing ominously in the dim cavern light. Shawn frowned, running his fingers along its rough surface. The mark on his arm pulsed again, stronger this time, sending vibrations through the air.


    ¡°What now?¡± Shawn muttered, narrowing his eyes at the seemingly ordinary wall.


    He stepped back, heart pounding with anticipation. Something was hidden here. And he was about to uncover it.


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    ¡°Now where is the pathway? All we have is a dead end and nothing else. And if a beast decides to attack, we have nowhere to run,¡± Shawn grumbled, crossing his arms as he scanned the solid rock face before them.


    ¡°Always with your grumbling. For once, you need to be happy. When did you last laugh? All you think about is power. Do you even have a life?¡± Elaris scoffed, leaning against the wall with a smirk. ¡°As I recall, Fate told you to be interesting. And if I were her, I¡¯d be bored with you.¡±


    ¡°That is why you are not her.¡± Shawn shot her a glare before exhaling sharply. ¡°And I do have a life. If I had none, it would mean I¡¯m dead. So quit bothering me and focus on getting us out of this place.¡± Annoyed, he slapped the wall, trying to cool his nerves.


    At that moment, the ground rumbled violently. Dust and loose stones rained down from above as a powerful quake shook the mountain. Shawn instinctively braced himself, pressing against the very wall he had just struck. But to his surprise, rather than providing stability, the wall betrayed him¡ªit cracked and tore apart, as if some immense force on the other side was fighting to break free.


    ¡°Now look at what you¡¯ve done!¡± Elaris shouted over the chaos, gripping a nearby rock to steady herself. ¡°Your impatience is going to bury us alive! I do not want to die yet!¡±


    As the wall split open, a pathway emerged from within the stone. An eerie light seeped through the newly formed passage, casting long shadows across the cavern floor.


    ¡°Look,¡± Shawn said, his lips curling into a half-smile. ¡°I guess a little bit of anger can actually get you what you want.¡±


    Before either of them could step forward, an unexpected disturbance rippled through the air. A jagged tear formed in the very fabric of space, crackling with an unnatural force. Shawn¡¯s rune throbbed violently, its glow intensifying. Then, without warning, he was yanked forward by an invisible force. The tear consumed him whole, closing instantly behind him as if it had never existed.


    Elaris reached out, but it was too late. The spatial disturbance vanished, and the cavern returned to stillness.


    ***


    Elsewhere, a pair of glowing eyes observed the event from the void. A deep, ancient voice echoed within the darkness.


    ¡°Interesting¡­ so humans have evolved. But still, they are nothing compared to the past. Weak. Fragile.¡± The presence rumbled before fading into silence once more.


    ***


    Meanwhile, Shawn found himself tumbling through the void. His vision swirled, nausea creeping into his stomach. He was getting tired of this¡ªbeing thrown around by forces beyond his control, sent to unknown places like a leaf caught in a storm. But who was he to complain? The weak had no voice in this world. Weakness was akin to sin.


    So he shut his eyes and let himself fall.


    The moment he did, his body landed abruptly on solid ground.


    Shawn stumbled forward, regaining his balance. The air here was thick with age, carrying the scent of dust and decay. The room before him was vast, an ancient hall adorned with intricate carvings on its towering stone pillars. Time had long since claimed this place, but there was something eerily untouched about it¡ªlike a forgotten relic waiting for its next visitor.


    His rune pulsed again, sending a sharp pain coursing through his arm.


    ¡°AAAGH!¡± Shawn clenched his teeth, gripping his wrist. ¡°Damn it, why does this thing keep burning me?! I swear, if I could get rid of it, I would. Elaris, do you have any clue how to remove this cursed mark?¡±


    Silence.


    For the first time, Elaris had no remark, no sarcastic quip, no answer. Shawn exhaled in frustration. He would just have to endure it.


    Following the rune¡¯s pull, he advanced deeper into the hall. Each step echoed in the hollow silence. Then, before him, stood a massive wooden door adorned with intricate inscriptions. Symbols unfamiliar yet strangely compelling etched themselves into its surface. Without hesitation, Shawn reached out.


    The moment his fingers brushed against the carvings, the door groaned to life. Ancient mechanisms shifted, gears unseen clanking into motion. The heavy doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit chamber beyond.


    A voice drifted from the shadows¡ªcalm, steady, yet devoid of warmth.


    ¡°Congratulations, esteemed guest, for reaching this place. I am but a remnant of my former self. If you stand before me, it means you have been deemed worthy to enter.¡±


    From the darkness, a wisp of ethereal energy coalesced, forming the outline of a humanoid figure draped in white. Its face remained obscured, a faceless entity suspended in an unnatural stillness.


    ¡°I know you have questions,¡± the entity continued, its voice neither loud nor soft, yet somehow absolute. ¡°Where you are. Why you are here. Who I am. But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jarvine, at your service.¡±


    Shawn felt an inexplicable weight settle on his chest. Though Jarvine did not exude any pressure, its mere presence was overwhelming. He swallowed, keeping his posture firm.


    ¡°If this is just a remnant,¡± Shawn muttered to himself, ¡°then how powerful was the original?¡±


    A shiver ran down his spine.

 Chapter 16: The First trial

    Shawn had made it this far by himself. He did not know what lay ahead, but the fragment of soul before him was the only thing standing between him and whatever treasures lay beyond¡ªif there were any at all.


    And this fragment''s aura was immense, so dense that it eclipsed even the monstrous presence of the Ascendant they had faced before. Yet this was only a shard of a soul. The realization made his skin crawl. If just a fragment exuded such power, then what kind of being was the original owner? What heights of strength had they once reached?


    A chilling thought crept into his mind¡ªwhat if he had to fight this entity? If the soul chose to attack him, could he even defend himself? His breaths came slow and controlled as he carefully treaded the flow of conversation. One misstep, one misplaced word, and he might invite his own destruction.


    But who was he to fear? If this soul had wanted to kill him, there would be no conversation at all.


    "I hate being weak, being at the mercy of others," Shawn grumbled internally. "If this is what I signed up for after death, I would have never accepted it. Sure, I have powers I never dreamed of possessing, but they''re weak. Air manipulation? It''s one of the weakest Vitrals. I wish I had flames or could bend space with a thought."


    As if responding to his very thoughts, the soul spoke, its voice resonating within his mind. "You must undergo trials to prove yourself worthy of what lies ahead. But before that, we must test your affinity to Vitral."


    Jarvine, as the soul had introduced itself, gestured toward a path leading to a grand hall. At its center stood a moderate-sized platform with a black slate podium. Reluctantly, Shawn placed his hands upon it.


    The moment his skin made contact, the slate seemed to hunger for his energy. His reserves dwindled at an alarming rate. Though still an Aspirant, his ability to absorb soul force was already slow, and to make matters worse, he constantly had to feed two soul cores, making his progression even more grueling. Yet he knew the truth of this world¡ªa strong foundation was everything. Those who built upon weak foundations could never ascend to true heights. Even if they forced their growth, they would forever remain inferior to those who had nurtured their roots properly.


    The podium felt warm beneath his fingers. Then, a sudden jolt coursed through his entire being, like a foreign energy probing his very essence before vanishing a second later.


    Worried, Shawn instinctively reached out to Elaris, his guiding core. But the response he received washed away his unease.


    "Interesting. You possess an Air Vitral, akin to my master¡¯s, though his was far more advanced. He was a mighty figure¡ªone whose name you may already know, or will soon learn if you seek the truth. But you are fortunate. Since your affinity aligns with his, this inheritance will be suitable for you. However, whether you can claim it depends entirely on your comprehension and will to learn."


    Shawn narrowed his eyes. Something about this felt too easy. "Why do I feel like I''m just being handed an inheritance without much struggle?" he muttered to Elaris, skepticism creeping into his tone. "This seems too good to be true."


    He knew better than to question the soul directly. That was a death wish. But as if sensing his doubts, Jarvine''s voice rang out again. "Do not concern yourself with such thoughts. I am here solely to ensure that my master¡¯s inheritance does not fade into obscurity."


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    Before Shawn could press further, the ground trembled. The walls quaked. The air itself shifted.


    "Do you understand what air truly is?" Jarvine¡¯s voice turned deeper, laced with power. "The essence of air is not merely movement. It is stability. With air, you can become a god among men. But knowledge is power, and power without understanding is a blade without a wielder."


    A gust surged through the cavern, carrying the weight of impending judgment.


    "The First Trial: The Void Wind. A test not of power, but of wisdom. If you fail, you will not leave this place alive."


    The Void Wind


    As Shawn stepped forward, the world shifted.


    Silence.


    Absolute and suffocating. The howling winds had vanished. There was no sound, no movement. It was a world devoid of air, devoid of life.


    He took a cautious step. His breath felt heavy. The absence of air made his limbs sluggish. Something was terribly wrong.


    Then, it struck.


    A thin slash appeared on his cheek before he even realized it. Blood dripped, only to be instantly devoured by the void. The cut was so clean, so precise, that he barely felt it.


    Then another came. And another.


    Invisible blades of wind carved through the air like unseen reapers, seeking to slice him apart. He barely dodged, feeling the ghostly kiss of an enemy he could not see.


    Jarvine¡¯s words echoed in his mind. "Do you know what air is? The power of air is not just about moving and controlling it, but it carries stability."


    A test of knowledge, not strength.


    Shawn shut his eyes. He reached out with his senses. The wind was formless, elusive. He had to find another way.


    Then it clicked.


    Wind wasn¡¯t just a force. It followed patterns. It could be read, understood. He knelt, pressing his palm against the unseen ground, feeling, listening.


    A faint chill brushed his skin. A minuscule shift in pressure. The Void Winds weren¡¯t random. They were a labyrinth of currents.


    If he moved against them, he would be shredded.


    If he followed them, he might survive.


    With newfound understanding, he weaved between the slashing currents, moving not as a fighter, but as one with the wind. Seconds stretched into eternity. His body burned with near-misses, his mind strained, but he kept moving.


    Then¡ª the void trembled.


    A platform emerged from the darkness. At its center sat an ethereal figure, shifting between solid and intangible.


    "The final test," it intoned, voice both a whisper and a roar. "The burden of knowledge."


    The winds surged inward, entering him. His mind expanded, flooded with visions¡ª


    The first breath of a newborn child.


    The storm that reshaped mountains.


    The unseen currents that dictated life itself.


    Air was not just an element. It was the unseen force that shaped existence.


    The wind whispered its final challenge.


    "To wield air, you must surrender to it. Will you fight, or will you become?"


    Every instinct screamed at him to seize control. But true mastery was not about control.


    It was about trust.


    Shawn exhaled¡ªand let go.


    The winds consumed him. He became part of them. And in that moment, he understood.


    He was not the master of air.


    He was air.


    The void shattered. The winds roared in approval.


    Shawn collapsed onto solid ground, gasping. The cavern returned. The trial was over. Jarvine¡¯s presence lingered beside him, satisfaction in his tone.


    "You have passed."


    A gust swirled around Shawn, no longer an external force but an extension of himself. He clenched his fist, the air whispering around him in response.


    Jarvine¡¯s voice turned solemn. "This is only the beginning. The path of the sky is endless."


    Shawn smiled. He was ready. But weakness made it difficult for him tomove on.


    " Remind me Elaris never to do such a thing again. It is draining, I can''t even move." Shawn spoke to Elaris.


    "Do not worry, I am sure that he will let you rest for a bit before continuing onto the last test." She said, trying to comfort Shawn, who fell asleep the moment his head touched the ground.


    " I hope the next one is easy, This is traumatising and tiresome." Elaris soliloquized.

 Chapter 17: The Second trial.

    Days passed like seconds while Shawn remained unconscious, his body refusing to wake after the brutal battle. The exhaustion had consumed him entirely, his overexertion forcing him into a deep, dreamless slumber. He had never felt so drained before.


    A whole week passed before his eyelids finally fluttered open.


    "How long was I out, Elaris?" Shawn muttered groggily, his voice raspy from disuse. "I don''t think I''ve ever slept this long before."


    "A whole week!" Elaris huffed, her voice carrying clear frustration. "You could¡¯ve at least given me a warning before passing out. Do you know how boring it is to sit in absolute silence for days? Sometimes, even silence feels like torture¡ªespecially when all you have for company is darkness."


    Shawn chuckled weakly. "Sorry to keep you waiting."


    Before he could say more, a powerful presence filled the room.


    "Good. You¡¯re awake." Jarvine¡¯s deep voice echoed through the chamber, a mixture of approval and authority in his tone. "I must admit, you have impressed me. You¡¯re still an Aspirant, and your core isn¡¯t fully saturated, yet you woke up earlier than expected. However, let¡¯s not waste time. The second trial awaits."


    Shawn barely had time to react before Jarvine lifted him effortlessly using his powers. Suspicion flared within him, and he instinctively struggled, but his resistance was meaningless against the overwhelming force holding him in place.


    "Relax," Jarvine said calmly. "If I meant harm, you wouldn¡¯t be conscious right now."


    Even with reassurance, paranoia still gnawed at Shawn. He hated feeling powerless.


    "You have done well in your first trial," Jarvine continued, his gaze sharp. "But let me be clear¡ªif you had failed, you would have died. You were lucky. But don¡¯t let that inflate your ego. The second trial will be far worse."


    Shawn felt his breath hitch. If the first trial had been hell, what kind of nightmare awaited him next?


    Yet, beneath the fear, there was also excitement. Challenges were the forge that refined him. He was the blade, and these trials were the flames¡ªslowly burning away his weakness, tempering him for the future.


    "You have proven you can bear the burden of knowledge," Jarvine declared. "But knowledge alone is useless if you lack the power to protect it. They say knowledge is power, but only those strong enough to wield it can reap its rewards. In battle, tricks and skills mean nothing if raw power can erase you with a single thought. This trial will test your ability to defend what you learn."


    Jarvine¡¯s voice reverberated across the chamber as the ground shifted beneath Shawn¡¯s feet. The walls around him dissolved, morphing into a vast stone arena. A heavy, earthen scent filled the air, thick with raw energy.


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    "You will face an opponent equal in rank," Jarvine announced. "An earth golem. If you can defeat it, you will pass. If you fail¡­ well, I¡¯m sure you understand."


    A deep rumble vibrated through the arena.


    Shawn tensed as the ground split open, unveiling a massive entity rising from the depths. Towering at four meters tall, the golem¡¯s form was carved from dense, jagged stone, its bulky frame exuding an oppressive presence. Glowing amber eyes locked onto him with unwavering hostility.


    "Elaris, I¡¯ll need your help," Shawn whispered. "I¡¯m still blind, and I can¡¯t afford to waste time looking for weaknesses. Identify its flaws as soon as the battle starts."


    "Understood," Elaris replied. "Stay alert. This thing is no joke."


    The moment her words ended, the golem attacked.


    With a thunderous stomp, the earth groaned in response. Jagged spikes erupted from the ground, slicing through the air like deadly spears. Shawn barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the spikes shattered behind him.


    No time to hesitate.


    He lunged forward, fists glowing with raw energy. He struck the golem¡¯s torso with all his might.


    Crack.


    Nothing.


    His fist barely left a dent. The sheer density of the stone was far beyond anything he had faced before.


    "That¡¯s¡­ really tough," Shawn muttered, shaking his throbbing hand.


    The golem retaliated instantly, swinging a massive stone fist like a hammer. Shawn ducked at the last second, feeling the force of the strike send shockwaves through the ground. Before he could counter, the creature stomped again, causing the entire battlefield to tremble.


    His footing wavered.


    Taking advantage, the golem launched another boulder-sized fist straight at him.


    Shawn twisted his body, barely evading the devastating blow. The fist crashed into the ground where he stood moments before, leaving a crater in its wake.


    "Elaris! I need a weakness¡ªfast!"


    "The joints!" Elaris responded quickly. "The stone is reinforced everywhere except the joints. That¡¯s your target!"


    Shawn gritted his teeth. "Easier said than done."


    He feinted to the left, baiting the golem¡¯s attack. As its massive arm swung downward, he dashed in, delivering a precise kick to its knee joint. A sharp crack echoed as the golem staggered slightly.


    "Got you!" Shawn smirked.


    He struck again, pressing his advantage. The golem groaned, its movements slowing. A flicker of hope ignited in Shawn¡¯s chest¡ªhe could win this.


    But then, something changed.


    The golem¡¯s core pulsed, releasing a sudden burst of energy. The ground beneath Shawn exploded, sending him airborne. He barely had time to brace before crashing down hard, pain flaring through his body.


    Before he could react, a looming shadow swallowed him whole.


    The golem¡¯s foot came down.


    Shawn rolled desperately to the side, barely escaping the impact. But the shockwave still sent him skidding across the arena. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body aching from the relentless assault.


    "It adapted," Elaris warned. "It won¡¯t fall for the same trick twice."


    Shawn cursed. He had underestimated this thing. It wasn¡¯t just brute strength¡ªit could learn.


    Summoning his remaining energy, he launched himself forward. Feint right, strike left¡ªhe aimed for the shoulder joint this time, putting everything into his attack. A satisfying crack rang out as pieces of stone splintered away.


    The golem lurched, its balance breaking.


    "One more hit!" Shawn gritted out, readying his final attack.


    Then darkness.


    A colossal fist slammed into his chest, the impact sending him hurtling across the battlefield. He felt his ribs scream in protest as he collided with the far wall. His body crumpled to the ground, numb with pain.


    His vision faded.


    The battle was over.


    The golem stood victorious, unmoving.


    From above, Jarvine observed, nodding in approval.


    "Not bad," he mused. "Though he lost, he managed to assess the golem¡¯s weakness despite his blindness. With refinement, he will grow stronger."


    With a wave of his hand, he lifted Shawn¡¯s unconscious body and carried him to a chamber with a soft, comfortable bed.


    "For now, he rests."