I found myself in a face-to-face encounter with Elsie, her ethereal presence radiating light in the midst of the void. Her voice echoed through the realms, resonating within the depths of my soul, enveloping me in a comforting warmth that defied the emptiness surrounding us.
Yet, as swiftly as the world had shifted to this blissful encounter, an unsettling tension pervaded the atmosphere. Elsie’s radiant smile twisted into a pained frown, contorting her features with profound anguish. My heart clenched at the sight of crimson blood trickling from her lips, tarnishing the purity of her countenance.
In that fateful moment, the world shattered into fragments of emotions and images, entwined in a surreal dance.
"Whew, it was all a dream."
I carefully rose from my one and only bed in the room, taking deep breaths. My foggy eyesight seemed to clear as tears streamed from my eyes, but those tears quickly dried up as a sensation of resolve raced to my eyes, causing them to gleam. These recurring dreams served as constant reminders that I could not afford to falter and that the life Elsie had sacrificed for me must not be in vain.
Without delay, I descended the flight of stairs leading to Nebeus’s garden, my usual place of meditation. I looked up at the swirling cosmos above, their celestial beauty offering solace in this enigmatic realm. The absence of sunlight further confirmed the absence of a sun or moon in this place.
Time had slipped through my fingers, and almost a year had passed since I first set foot on Limbo’s Edge. It meant that half a year had also elapsed on Earth. Nebeus had been my guide in embracing the essence of ‘space’ itself, an awe-inspiring concept that stretched the boundaries of my understanding. However, this profound knowledge proved elusive, requiring eight months of relentless dedication to even tap into the first phase of sol-weaving.
Already in a permanent state of Zen, I prepared myself for meditation, seeking to cleanse and purify my sol channels with my newfound spatial powers. It had become a daily ritual, followed by practicing fluid movements with Glacireave, my trusted weapon. And in the remaining hours, I would delve into the teachings of space offered by Nebeus, eager to expand my understanding.
As I settled into my meditative position, Nebeus materialised before me, his serene presence interrupting my solitude.
"It will still be some time before you are fully prepared," he said in a calm and measured tone.
"Prepared for what?" I asked, a hint of surprise lacing my words.
"Have you forgotten about the blessing bestowed upon you in Avaldur?" Nebeus reminded me, maintaining his tranquil demeanour.
A wave of realisation washed over me as I recollected the blessing known as "Nelchael’s Eyes" that had been granted to me. In the chaos and challenges I had faced, it had slipped from my mind.
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"But don’t I need to awaken it first?" I inquired, seeking clarity.
"There is no time for the traditional path of learning now. I can awaken it directly for you, but remember, you must learn to wield it on your own. Without your personal understanding, you won’t grasp its true essence. I won’t be able to assist you in any way," Nebeus explained, emphasising the importance of personal mastery.
Curiosity piqued, I posed the question that burned within me: "What does this blessing entail? What power does it hold?"
"The blessing bestowed upon you is a double-edged sword, holding both tremendous power and great danger," Nebeus explained, his voice carrying a weight of caution.
"It is the most potent and treacherous gift left by my master, capable of granting you a whole new perspective on the world. With seersight and this blessing, you can ascend to new heights. However, it comes with a grave risk. If you fail to grasp its essence, you may descend into madness or lose your very humanity." He elaborated.
As Nebeus outlined the risks, the image of spatial warping to remove impurities directly resurfaced in my mind. The parallels were undeniable. Just as failure in that endeavour could lead to death , mishandling this blessing could have equally dire consequences.
As I pondered whether to accept this blessing, I was reminded of Baek Hyun’s fight against the Voidshades and the approaching menace of the Void Order.
The power of the Voidshades rivalled even the mightiest Heralds, while the three enigmatic Voidkeepers existed on an entirely different plane of strength. I couldn’t help but wonder if their hierarchy had an end.
In Avaldur, I could only wound Peachith with Kei’s assistance. If I wanted the power to keep up with these monsters, I had to become a monster myself, going beyond common sense and taking whatever risk I could, even if it meant risking my humanity.
"When will I be able to awaken this blessing?" I asked, my determination unwavering.
"Your current state is not yet ready to withstand the immense power this blessing holds. You must first eliminate a significant portion of the impurities within you and gain a deeper understanding of ‘space’. Once you have achieved that, a trial awaits," Nebeus elaborated.
With curiosity and anticipation brimming within me, I inquired about the nature of this trial. Nebeus’s response only heightened my sense of trepidation.
"I’m certain you are aware of the three-tailed black dragons that roam Limbo’s Edge. They manifest from the emotions of greed, resentment, lust, and envy harboured by countless people who venture into Limbo. Normally, it falls upon me to keep their numbers in check. Your task will be to slay one of these formidable creatures," he revealed.
Fear welled up inside me as my gaze shifted to the majestic dragons soaring above. If the awakening of my blessing hinged on defeating one of these creatures, it meant I needed to rise to their level of strength. Yet, midst the trepidation, a flicker of determination ignited within me. The ultimate goal of my training had been established.
Time remained an elusive factor, as I was unaware of when the Void Order would launch their next attack. I made a solemn vow to make the most of every second in this enigmatic realm, dedicating myself fully to honing my skills and achieving the power necessary to reach my goal.
Every day would be an opportunity to surpass my previous achievements, to surpass what I once thought was my peak.
I would immerse myself in gruelling training sessions, pushing my body to its absolute limits and then surpassing them. With each repetition, each set, and each exercise, I would strive to go further, to push through the barriers that held me back. No obstacle would deter me from reaching my ultimate goal.