Kael’s heart raced as he looked up at Reyl, still processing his words. His mind was spinning with uncertainty, yet something in him felt more certain than ever. And then, just as Kael nodded his acceptance, Reyl's lips curved into a knowing smile.
With a swift movement, Reyl stepped back, his presence still commanding the room. The air around him seemed to shift—shimmering, almost. Kael blinked in confusion.
Suddenly, a low hum filled the air, and before Kael could react, a sleek, compact spaceship appeared behind Reyl, its metallic surface gleaming under the sun. It looked like something out of a dream—elegant, angular, and far beyond anything Kael had ever seen. The ship’s engines roared to life with a surge of power, sending a gust of wind that whipped through Reyl’s hair and Kael’s face, sending his heart into overdrive.
Reyl turned toward the ship, his dark teal hair blowing in the wind, his voice as cool and calm as ever. “Are you ready, Kael? The world won’t wait forever.”
Kael stood frozen for a moment, his jaw slightly agape. The reality of everything hit him like a freight train. “A spaceship…? But… I didn’t expect—”
Grandpa Elric’s voice interrupted his thoughts, rich with a hint of amusement. “Don’t be surprised, Kael. This is only the beginning. Reyl has already packed your things. You’re ready for what comes next.”
Kael looked at his grandfather, still trying to grasp what was happening. “Packed my things? But… when?”
Grandpa gave him a wink. “I’ve been preparing you for this moment for years. You didn’t think I’d let you go unprepared, did you? You’ll have everything you need.”
Reyl’s gaze softened, though his demeanor remained steady. “I know this is a lot to take in, but you’ll get used to it. And we can always communicate through the device I’ve given you.” He gestured to a small, silver pendant hanging around Kael’s neck. “With this, you can reach me whenever you need guidance. I’ll be there, even when we’re worlds apart.”
Kael’s eyes flicked to the pendant, then back to Reyl. The weight of it felt reassuring in his palm as he gripped it, understanding the importance of their connection. “Thanks, Reyl. I’ll hold onto it.”
Grandpa stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Kael’s shoulder. “Remember, Kael. The journey you’re about to begin is one that will test you in ways you can’t imagine. But I believe in you. And I’m proud of you. You’ve got the fire in you, just like your parents did.”
Kael’s throat tightened as he tried to find the right words, but all he could manage was a nod. He wanted to say so much, to express the swirl of emotions inside him, but he knew there was no time. The ship was waiting.
“Goodbye, Grandpa,” Kael finally said, his voice steady but filled with warmth.
Grandpa smiled, his eyes twinkling with pride. “Goodbye, Kael. Go show the world who you are!”
"ah, it's bit embarrassing."
Kael turned to Reyl, ready to begin this new chapter of his life. He walked toward the ship, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness tightening his chest. Reyl gave him a nod of approval, then led the way up the sleek metallic ramp.
With a final glance back at the village, Kael stepped into the ship, his feet heavy with the weight of what was to come. As the doors sealed behind him, the ship’s engines roared louder, lifting off the ground. Kael felt the world below him grow smaller as they ascended into the sky.
Reyl stood by his side, eyes fixed on the controls. “You’ve made the right choice, Kael. The journey will shape you into something greater. But remember… it will not be easy. Prepare yourself.”
Kael looked out the window, his gaze sweeping over the familiar landscape of the village below. The adventure ahead felt impossibly vast, but his resolve was stronger than ever. He clenched his fists, the weight of Radiance at his side, and said, “I’m ready, Reyl. I’ll prove it.”
With that, the ship streaked across the sky, Kael’s destiny unfolding before him.
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As the ship soared higher into the atmosphere, the world below Kael became a mere blur of green and blue. The ground vanished from view, replaced by the deep expanse of the sky, the stars twinkling like distant jewels. Kael’s breath caught in his chest as they ascended even further, the dark expanse of space slowly revealing itself. He stared out of the window in awe, his eyes scanning the heavens.
He could see the distant flicker of several stars scattered across the endless void, each one a beacon of mystery and wonder. But the sight that captivated him the most was the glowing orb of Mynera, the planet closest to his own. Its surface shimmered with swirling clouds of violet and blue, a world so familiar, yet so far beyond his reach now.
Kael’s heart raced with excitement, the reality of the journey ahead settling deep within him. His thoughts were interrupted when Reyl’s calm voice cut through the hum of the ship’s engines.
“We’ll be heading to Veilwood Grove first,” Reyl explained, his tone neutral but firm. “It’s an old sanctuary where we’ll proceed with the ceremony. It’s... essential for the next step of your journey.”
Kael nodded, his curiosity piqued. “A sanctuary? What kind of ceremony?”
Reyl glanced at him, a glint of understanding in his eyes. “The Ceremony of Bonding, Kael. The ritual that will merge you with your parasite. It’s a process that connects your soul to the entity that will guide you in the future. But first, you need to reach the sacred grounds. The Veilwood Grove will be the place where it all begins.”
Kael’s gaze shifted back to the distant stars, his mind buzzing with anticipation. But Reyl’s voice brought him back to the present.
“Don’t get too eager, Kael. The path to Veilwood Grove isn’t as tranquil as it may seem. The place… it holds a dark history.” Reyl paused for a moment, his expression turning slightly somber. “The sanctuary was the focal point of a great war over two hundred years ago. It was the site of some of the fiercest battles ever fought, and the land still carries the scars of those ancient conflicts.”
Kael furrowed his brow. “So… the place is in ruins?”
Reyl nodded, his gaze unwavering. “The remnants of that war are still there. You’ll see the damage—burned trees, shattered stone, and a land forever altered by the bloodshed. Don’t let it surprise you. The war was brutal, and the healing has been slow. But it is a sacred place still, and it’s where you will make your bond with the Parasite suited for you.”
Kael’s heart tightened as the weight of the words settled into his mind. The Veilwood Grove wasn’t just a place of ancient beauty—it was a place of loss and hardship, a reminder of past violence and destruction. Yet, it was also the place where his journey would truly begin.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Reyl sensed his unease and added, “It may look like a graveyard of old battles, but the power of the sanctuary is undiminished. You’ll feel it when you arrive. And you’ll understand that the past is simply the foundation of your future.”
Kael nodded slowly, trying to absorb it all. He was about to step into a world far beyond his wildest imagination.
Reyl looked out the window, his fingers deftly adjusting the controls as the ship sliced through the sky with ease. “We’ll be there soon. Prepare yourself, Kael. It’s going to be a difficult place to navigate, but you must be ready for whatever lies ahead.”
Kael leaned back in his seat, his mind racing. The journey ahead wasn’t just one of distance—it was one of inner discovery. The Veilwood Grove, the war, the ruins… they were all pieces of a larger puzzle that Kael had yet to fully understand.
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As the ship descended toward the Veilwood Grove, the atmosphere shifted—something ancient and heavy hung in the air, a palpable energy that both soothed and stirred the soul. The sanctuary came into view, a silhouette rising from the shadows of the grove.
The Veilwood Sanctuary was a grand relic, its stone walls half-crushed by time, nature, and the ravages of ancient warfare. Jagged remnants of towering columns jutted from the earth like the broken bones of a forgotten titan, their surfaces etched with worn runes that seemed to hum with an energy all their own. Ivy and moss had claimed the once-proud structure, draping it in a living veil of green. Trees with twisted branches formed a protective canopy above, their roots coiling into the stone foundations, as if the earth itself sought to reclaim the sanctuary’s forgotten majesty.
Shattered windows and crumbling archways hinted at the violence that had once torn through this place, but there was a quiet strength in the ruins. The air was thick with history, the silence speaking louder than any battle cry. The land itself seemed to breathe, as if it were waiting for something—or someone—to reignite its purpose.
Reyl slowed the ship as it hovered above the ground, the faint hum of the engines growing softer. He turned to Kael, his expression serious but calm.
“This is it,” Reyl said, his voice a low murmur. “The Veilwood Sanctuary—the place where you will begin your true journey. This is where the Soul Parasite will be summoned, and your bond will be forged.”
Kael felt a mixture of awe and unease as they landed. He stepped out of the ship, his boots crunching softly against the moss-covered earth. The air was thick, laden with ancient power, and Kael couldn’t help but feel the weight of the place settling around him.
Reyl stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the crumbling structure. “Don’t be afraid, Kael,” he said, his tone reassuring. “I will activate the bonding ritual, but you must remain calm. Your spiritual consciousness will be sent to another world—a realm that exists beyond the physical. There, you will meet the Soul Parasite that will bond with you.”
Kael blinked, his pulse quickening at the mention of the Soul Parasites. “Another world?” he asked, his voice steady but tinged with nervousness. “What exactly are Soul Parasites?”
Reyl’s eyes softened, his voice taking on a deeper, more solemn tone. “The Soul Parasites are not like anything you’ve ever seen. They are pure energy, forms of existence that transcend the physical realm. They look like long, undulating centipedes of different colors, shifting through hues of glowing light—each one unique, each one a different manifestation of energy. They exist in realms beyond our own, and when they bond with you, they merge with your very soul.”
Kael felt a chill run down his spine at the thought of something merging with his soul, but Reyl’s reassuring gaze steadied him.
“The merging process,” Reyl continued, “is painless. It is not a violent union but a symbiosis—one of balance and power. The Soul Parasite will link with your spirit, granting you abilities beyond the realm of human understanding. It will be a connection that binds your fates together.”
"Also, don't fear them"
Reyl’s expression softened with a rare, knowing smile. “It is safe. And necessary. The Soul Parasites are not parasites in the traditional sense. They do not feed off of you or harm you. They are guides, protectors, and companions. They unlock the hidden potential within your soul.”
Reyl turned, his hand raised toward the center of the sanctuary, where a glowing symbol embedded in the stone floor began to pulse with light. “Prepare yourself, Kael. When I activate the ritual, you will be transported to the other realm. Keep your mind clear, and trust in the process. It’s time to meet your Soul Parasite.”
As the ground beneath their feet began to hum with power, Kael felt a strange sensation in his chest—like an invisible force was pulling him forward. He took one last glance at Reyl, who nodded in silent encouragement. Then, as Reyl chanted softly under his breath, the world around Kael blurred.
In an instant, he was no longer standing in the ruins of the Veilwood Sanctuary. He was somewhere else entirely.
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The air was thick with the pulse of ancient energy. The sky above him was a swirling scope of colors that Kael couldn’t quite describe, the very atmosphere vibrating with power. The world around him seemed to shift and ripple like the surface of a deep pool, and Kael felt the tug of something greater than himself—a pull towards the center of it all.
The world around him unfolded like a dream—a vast expanse that defied all human understanding. The very laws of gravity seemed twisted here. Land stretched above and below him, floating in impossible configurations. Great, rocky plateaus jutted out from the sky, hovering like islands amidst a sea of swirling light. Below, massive cliffs dropped off into glowing, mist-filled chasms, where the air shimmered with an ethereal glow. The very land seemed to defy the conventional concept of up and down—here, everything was in flux, suspended in a delicate balance, shifting between dimensions.
image [https://i.imgur.com/4zdn9k0.jpeg]
Floating in the space between the rocks were the Soul Parasites—strange, radiant creatures of pure energy. They varied in shape, size, and color, each one pulsing with an individual glow that radiated outward in mesmerizing patterns. Some were small, no bigger than a child’s hand, while others were vast, stretching across the horizon like celestial beings made of light. The air hummed with their presence, each parasite emitting its own unique wavelength of energy. There were reds, blues, and golds, swirling in vibrant hues, with flickers of neon and pulse-like lights.
Kael, feeling the overwhelming energy of the realm, looked down at himself. His own body was glowing with a soft, radiant white light, the brightness of it contrasting against the overwhelming power around him. It felt as though the very energy of the realm was attuned to his presence, vibrating in harmony with his soul. But his connection was incomplete—he was searching, looking for something, some Soul Parasite that would resonate with him, that would call to his spirit.
He moved between the parasites, his senses tingling as he passed them, reaching out mentally, trying to find the one that would align with him. Some moved away from him as if they sensed his uncertainty; others simply drifted by, offering no connection.
And then, Kael saw it.
A teal-colored parasite, its form sleek and serpentine, glowing with a deep, calming light. It hovered in the air, its body undulating gently in the glowing currents of the realm. Its color was unlike anything Kael had seen before—a soft, yet vibrant teal that shimmered with hints of turquoise and silver, radiating a sense of peace and strength.
As Kael approached, the teal parasite turned toward him, its glow intensifying. It moved toward him, its energy swirling in harmonious pulses, and Kael felt a sudden pull—an undeniable connection that seemed to reach deep within his very core.
The moment their energies met, Kael felt a shockwave of warmth and power flow through him. The parasite’s light surged, merging with his own, and the world around him seemed to shift and blur. He could feel the parasite’s energy intertwining with his soul, settling in, becoming part of him.
It was a seamless, painless fusion, as if his very being had been prepared for this moment all along. The parasite and Kael were now one, the energy of the realm aligning with his soul, unlocking power that was both exhilarating and overwhelming. He felt the surge of newfound strength—both mental and physical—as the bond was completed.
Back in the sanctuary, Reyl stood waiting, eyes closed in concentration as he kept watch over Kael’s body. It had been nearly half an hour in the real world, and Reyl’s patience was beginning to wear thin. He stood tall, his arms folded across his chest, a faint sense of anticipation buzzing in the air.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. Kael’s body, still lying motionless on the stone floor, began to shift. To Reyl’s amazement, Kael’s form began to float above the ground, his body glowing with an intense, rich black hue. Small lights flickered around him like distant stars, twinkling in and out of existence.
Then, Reyl saw it—patterns. Teal-colored patterns, faint at first, began to etch themselves across Kael’s body, spreading outward in intricate, glowing lines that seemed to pulse with life. It was the mark of the bond—the unmistakable sign of Kael’s union with a Soul Parasite.
“Teal, huh?” Reyl muttered under his breath, his voice almost nostalgic.
"Rest well, Kael, for tomorrow will be a long day."