CHAPTER 11 - Awakening
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Eroan had opened his eyes for a long time. He did not know how much time had passed. He felt ethereal throughout this entire process. The Spirit Energy that entered his body felt so intimate. It feels like something he has lost for a long time, and it was coming back to him. His body felt that it had returned home after a long time.
The unstoppable Spirit Energy that revolved and integrated into his body felt like an eternity. He feels being at home took so long—that he did not realize it was not real. Only to find out he returned to reality after a long dream.
The moment his senses came back, he noticed the newfound strength in his body. It appears that he became stronger, almost twice his former strength.
Yet, that was not the entire change; a white orb was hovering around him in a random direction—seems to describe its cheerful personality. Eroan thought that the white orb wanted to gain his attention.
Eroan was amused with the little orb, and he used his left arm to catch it. However, it dodges his hands with graceful movements. After that, it even hovers closer to him that seems like it wants to challenge him to try it again. He tried many times until he was oblivious that he is catching it in both hands.
This thing is hard to catch. Is this a spirit?
Eroan was a little bit annoyed as the white orb is too agile for him.
“Are you trying to catch an orb of light?”
His small world, with the white orb snaps when the voice of Fredric chips in.
“Do you see it?”
“No, I do not but I have something similar.”
“What are they?” Eroan asks for confirmation on his hunch.
“They are what we call spirits. Spirits are imperceptible to others, aside from their companions. I only guess it since it was the common reaction of an individual after they awaken.”
Companions? Why is it avoiding me?
Eroan attentively looks at his spirit as it hovers around him like a little kid who was hungry for attention.
Maybe we can conversate telepathically?
He laid his hand flat in front and wished for the spirit to perch on his hands. He tried to prove his guess and sincerely ask the spirit to come beside him. Since Fredric said that they are companions there may be something like a connection with it.
His guess was right—since his mischievous spirit gradually calmed down and rested in his hands. The spirit body is corporeal and was a little bit warm to feel but you can't touch it.
He is busy examining the spirit when suddenly, his spirit began to shine brightly but not enough to blind him. His spirit released a see-through rectangular board. It is suspended in the air and contains information. The information inside the board was noticed by Eroan and he immediately scanned it. The spirit continues to hover around him while Eroan reads the information on the board.
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[https://i.imgur.com/YhdHjVz.png]
The face of disappointment was painted on Eroan, although he had expected it—it still had left a bitter taste.
There is nothing much going on in his status, aside from him having bottom-rank talent and innate abilities.
The [Viewer] innate skills seem to be responsible for slowing the motion of time at random moments during fights.
The [Talent Decay] surely came from his accident two years ago.
He does not know what [Spirits’ Favored Child] is, because it has no explanation.
Especially the [?????] (Locked) skill that was grayed on it only says "You are not worthy enough".
Overlooking his status window, he could not help but feel pessimistic about his future as he faced the bitter reality.
Rank 3 [Human] is the talent that was bestowed on him. Although he should be glad that he was not talentless like most of the ordinary folks—which took ninety percent of the population in the world. His talent was still the bare minimum, only for an elite soldier at the most. He could not help to bemoan since his talent was supposed to be higher than this, if not for the [Talent Decay].
He looked at Isabella, who was still in the middle of the meditation. A bright red aura hugged her silky-smooth skin. The result was very clear that she would be awakened to God’s rank.
A series of negative emotions bombarded Eroan’s chest. Anger, regret, and jealousy these kinds of emotions continue to embrace him. Soon because of the continued influence of those shitty emotions he finds himself having a hard time breathing.
His spirit, which was cheerful earlier, was currently showing restlessness and worry in its movements. Seeing the pitiful look of his spirit, he forcibly suppressed his shitty feelings. He tried to cheer up his disheartened spirit.
“Although your talent is inferior there was still a chance for you to aim for a higher department.”
Fredric likewise notices the change in Eroan's emotions. He anticipated it ever since he saw Eroan's aura. He tried to cheer him up and give him hope.
Eroan examines Fredric’s remark on his talent before he responds. He does not know what Fredric means by ‘higher department’ since it could be a double meaning.
Since he said ‘department’ it would be something like a realm that pertains to different realm departments of Spirit Realm as you climb higher.
On the other side, it could also be a ‘department’ that covered the division of elite soldiers. The more he improve his achievements as an elite soldier, the higher department he could jump on.
Eroan disregards the former meaning and decides to respond to the latter as a reference.
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“I don’t think I would be able to become an elite soldier.” Eroan shakes his head when he replies to Fredric.
“You are, you learn fast and you have great senses when fighting.”
“I don’t want to have a collar.”
He does not want to 'serve someone'. Even ordinary people who have lower talent than him could live freely, so why would he do 'that'?
“It will be very hard for you to reach the top”
This time, Eroan thinks Fredric seems to regard the former meaning. He expresses his true feelings.
“Yes, although the success was slim. Even if there was a saying formed ‘finding a Rank 3 [Human] in Spirit Realm is like finding a needle in a haystack.’ I will still try it.”
Eroan looks at his spirit, which is currently resting on his shoulders—he looks back at Fredric.
“History books are the greatest living proof that despite the difficulty—they are still able to find the needle.”
Eroan declares this with full determination in his eyes.
“If I fail, then it was a problem for me in the future.”
Although he was determined to succeed, he still gave a path to the possibility of failure.
"You can still be knighted by the duke when you accomplished great things. You just need to be consistent that's all, ’ Fredric still did not let go of his persuasion.
He wanted to hold someone like Eroan. A kid who develops monstrous fighting skills over a short period of time. He is capable of fighting a veteran soldier… while being a 10-year-old child.
His talent might be at the rock bottom, but this is what makes him deadly. In times of war, massive quantities of soldiers are pouring; enemies could pop out anywhere, anytime.
If Eroan were to be put in the middle of that skirmish—he will become a death scythe that will decide the outcome of the war. Anyone who holds someone like Eroan will definitely gain a huge advantage.
He will certainly be the apex, below the Spirit Realm. Fredric inwardly declares.
Eroan scratches the back of his head as he hesitates, eventually saying what Fredric does not want to hear: "No, thank you"
Eroan was initially swayed; however, based on Eroan’s follow-up response—Eroan truly disappoints Fredric.
He looked at Isabella who was quietly meditating. "I saw her as a rival and equal not someone to serve. If I fail to become her rival then I will be her stepping stone in promoting her success"
Fredric wants to continue to persuade Eroan, but eventually agrees to respect his resolve when he hears Eroan.
“Okay if that was your resolve then I will respect it. Just take note that if you need help the Davidson’s House always welcomes you.”
“Hmm” Eroan nods in acknowledgment.
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Eroan patiently waited for Isabella to finish her awakening. He predicted what sorts of taunts and teases he would receive from her. He is pretty sure he will get assaulted by many teasing words from Isabella, which is why he thinks of possible lines to retort to Isabella.
The long and smooth eyelashes of Isabella's move. Her eyelids that have been closed for a while slowly opened. Isabella's adorable face looked dazed for a moment—she looked at the two men in front of her after.
"Did I make you wait?" Isabella asks in a soft voice.
"No not at all, Eroan just finished his awakening as well. Why don't you look at your Spirit Status… although I have an idea from what I saw in your aura earlier, I still want confirmation coming from you."
"What's your rank? Did you reach the top talent?" Eroan was dying of curiosity too.
Isabella moves her head around first, trying to look for something then she also laid her hand in front of her—after that, her mind was cut off from her surroundings. She is now studying every detail of her status.
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Isabella's Status [https://i.imgur.com/hxJaP57.png]
“Seriously, both of you don’t even let me have an opportunity to teach you how to view your statuses.”
“Is it? I did it naturally tho—I thought it was common sense.” Eroan was perplexed.
Eroan watches Isabella in earnest. Initially, Isabella seemed to be happy in looking at her stats. Until a frown gradually forms on her adorable face, disappointment in her face was fully demonstrated—then fear.
Did a problem occur? Eroan thought inside.
Fredric seems to notice this change but Isabella went back to normal. A smile of delight and satisfaction lit up her adorable face.
“I received the highest rank!” Isabella’s figure floats in the air as she jumps to Eroan. Extreme excitement was portrayed on her face when she dashed and embraced Eroan.
In a soft voice, while buried in Eroan’s chest, Isabella expresses her gratitude. “Thank you… thank you… I could not achieve this without you”
“M–me?” Eroan pointed his finger at himself confused.
“Yeah! You don’t need to know how you did it. Just remember you help me a lot.”
“W–well I don’t how I did but you are always welcome”
Eroan actually is holding back to show his shyness in front of Isabella. While their bodies were embracing Eroan is getting this weird feeling nonetheless, it wasn’t awful.
Eroan set himself free from Isabella’s embrace. He thinks that he could not control himself anymore if they continue to embrace each other. He doesn't want to lose control and do embarrassing things—especially in front of Fredric.
“What’s wrong?” Isabella who was oblivious to Eroan’s feelings questioned his cold action.
“N–nothing isn’t it a bit hot here right now?”
Eroan flaps his shirt to express his discomfort while avoiding Isabella’s gaze.
“Eroan is right we should leave this cramped room to a more ventilated one.” Fredric back up Eroan’s observation. This room has no windows so the ventilation is quite poor. Fredric only decides to use this room because he does not want anyone to peek at Isabella's awakening.
“Hmm??” While they were walking side by side. Isabella looks sideways at Eroan’s suspicious actions, not buying his alibi.
Eroan just smiled wryly.
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On a sunny day, three people could be seen sitting inside the room where official talks are usually settled.
Three people enter; Fredrick, Eroan, and Isabella. There is a sofa set in the middle—consisting of a long couch, and a single couch that were facing both opposite sides. In the middle of them was a table that has as ready to eat snacks, drinks, and a basket of fruits.
Fredric sat on the single couch, and Eroan likewise follows and sat in the middle of the long couch. Isabella grabs the fruit basket first—pulls it toward the corner of the table as she could not reach the fruit she wants. She jerk a few bananas from the basket and sat beside Eroan then she proceeded to lay down on the sofa.
She push Eroan to the far end of the sofa and began flapping her feet on Eroan's lap. Eroan obediently obliges like a good dog.
Hmm?
Even Fredric is a little bit surprised to see Eroan like that. Ironically, it also happens after his bold statements earlier.
Whatever—less stress is good for your health. He shrugs it off and proceeds to his objective.
“Now that you both are awakened, I will tell you basic things you need to know”
“First the Spirit System, the status bar describes your body status, the list of skills and their availability, and the progress of your Spirit Level. Spirits always notify you when a change was made especially after you climb a higher rank”
Hmm. I have now ninety-three percent progress, I can level up soon.
Eroan ponders seriously as he looks at his status bar. “Excuse me, how can we level up?”
“There are two ways; by training/battle, or by meditating.” Fredric looks at both of them before continuing.
“You can do both of them but there are certain people who were extremely talented in the extreme ends. That’s why you could see some battle maniacs that fight anyone whom they think is strong, and old sages who secluded themselves inside a room their entire life.”
“Are we normal?” Isabella chips in.
“Y–yeah, I think so?” Hesitation could be seen in Fredric’s actions as he scratches his temple.
“Ha?” Isabella was irritated at Fredric’s response
“I–I think both of you are genius at both ends” Fredric tried to save his life and immediately point the topic at Eroan.
“Eroan you were most likely be training/battling a lot to level up. Since you won’t be able to get an active skill, you will rely on improving your physique instead.”
“Well, that’s that” Eroan nonchalantly replies.
Even if I was at rock bottom, I am still confident to get by. It even increases confidence when Isabella said she knows a possible way to somehow solve my talent problem, she only needs time.
Eroan recall their earlier discussion while they were eating their lunch. This is also the reason why he is behaving like a dog to her.
[1 hour ago]
“What? You have a way to increase my talent?”
“Yes, but I need more time. Honestly, I did not expect it also to be that long I thought I could help you sooner.” Guilt was on Isabella’s face when she responded to Eroan’s interrogation.
"No worries I could wait, I won't let my hopes up and become careless tho since I think it was very impossible.
He reads a lot of history books and there's not a single piece of information about increasing talent. Maybe Isabella could remove his [Talent Decay status] or something like that. Anyway, at least there is some hope.
"It's okay I understand your situation. I am also the one to blame and took everything from you" Isabella was on a guilt trip.
“I am also quite confused and only going with the flow but thanks to the Spirit Status. Most of my doubts were answered.” Isabella was currently looking at her status bar when she said that—she sighs.
[Eris’ Star Sword]
Passive – when bound before awakening, adds one talent rank to the owner.
Active – summons Eris’ Star Sword and gives an additional boost in strength.
[Eros’ Star Bow]
Passive – when bound before awakening, adds one talent rank to the owner.
Active – summons Eros’ Star Bow and gives an additional boost in dexterity.
[Union of Two Hearts] (Locked)
Passive – a skill that appears after binding both Eros’ Star Bow and Eris’ Star Sword to oneself. One-time use, 16 years old and above.
[?????]
It was an error.