Slightily tilting her head with a smirk, a smirk that had slowly followed his descent with strange fascination until she snapped her fingers before the fall could be heard.

Reality had been twisted. Finding himself once more within close quarters of that strange dimension, disorientation became overwhelming.

"I cannot believe you would proceed to leave without proper introduction Jin. You're as stubborn as a mule."

"I need answers. And I need them now." He said, trying to recompose himself.

The girl sighed deeply with a disappointed expression, "You lost too much blood and fell unconscious."

"Lords and Overlords of Old have sacrificed thousands in my name to even get a glimpse of my attention. You may presently perceive me as a byproduct of your imagination and fool yourself, but know this. The Elemental Gods have forsaken you."

Jin had every reason in the world not to trust her words. But for some reason, that explanation was very logical. Recalling his last memories in the Hall of Trial, the reason why he took such a drastic step was unclear.

Despite the difficulty of putting a definitive reason for explaining how he acted back then, the intention was pure. Attract the beast towards him. Bait an opening.

The amount of blood needed for Jin to be able to steal that dark creature's attention was unknown. The cut turned out to be bigger than what he initially wanted to and made a significant trail that ran through much of his forearm.

“I see… That cut across my arm was definitely very clumsy of me.”

“But why is my arm healed? Have we gone back in time?”

"What is this place?" Jin asked, looking around.

“This is the place your consciousness comes to when you’re not ready for what's out there Jin… You decorated this place yourself.”

"What?"

“Every window, every wall, every object around you has materialized because of you. Fruit of your deepest desires for relaxation and comfort.”

“You’re telling me everything I’m seeing is not real?”

“Not everything. There is one exception,” He could notice a faint smirk.

"In that case, I have so many questions to ask you."

"Be quick about it, you’ll soon be waking up," While playing with her own hair, her red eyes sparkled. Clearly finding it amusing to see Jin so interested in her. Compared to the first time, this was a fantastic role reversal, to say the least.

"Those red eyes of yours, I have never seen such kind before. Not even amongst the Sages—those who broke through the five steps— in Sanctum."

She giggled, "Only me and three other Ascendants share the Blood Moon's gaze, we stood among Azazel's chosen. The seed that birthed the Alanothian Empire had five branches in all, and Sanctum defied the oldest eleven years ago."

Eleven years ago.

Jin had heard this story before. Not through his father's mouth, since he would dare not speak of past grudges— but Vendrick did share what he learned.

The Divine War. A war that was so bloody it dragged the last dwarven kingdoms Onovis and Lenturia to ruin. His father newly past the Lord rank was still in his prime of youth and power. Having mastered his elemental in the way of —Goddess Aurora's— on the battlefield he was said to have the fighting strength of more than a thousand elemental warriors put together.

But this was not just any battle. On one side we had the creatures of darkness. Monsters that had no names, deformed types that were far beyond the redemption of the gods. With them, the nameless beheamoths. Bloodthirsty, living in the shadows, and cursed with profanity they completed their ranks by the hundreds. The beastmen tribes, inhabitants of nature had also joined these monsters for their goals. With their lands threatened and hearts full of hatred. They all came together under a single host and flag, Zagath’s—a Saint alligned with his own beliefs—who only found defeat when faced against the Thirteen Overlords of the Brotherhood.

To rival this alliance, the Kingdom of Elba and Belkor were not enough. And so they bought the help of the elemental bastion located in the vicinity of the two countries, Sanctum. Putting their differences aside, even the Nine Sages fought side by side with men-at-arms. A belief in the Elemental Way was everything they had in common. Their values, their goals for the first time in history were one and the same.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

It was difficult to pinpoint the specific reasons for what triggered this war, giving reason to violence was no easy task for Vendrick to explain a younger brother. But whatever the political intention, it quickly became apparent that none would justify so much pain.

So many orphans. So many widows. So many deaths.

Then, on the aftermath of the war, the new estabilished law of the Nine Sages had been announced. Sanctum was henceforth considered neutral in all political matters that concerned the kingdom of Elba and its war goals. Its alliance could only be summoned with gold to please, and Sanctum would abide by it—as long as their children were sent to hone their skills there and strenghten their belief in the Elemental Pantheon.

“It took thirteen Overlords to bring Zagath—ranked Saint— down." said Jin.

"Yes, and multiple sacred brothers also fell by his sword. A power vacuum that your father, Lord Alaric helped fullfill when he joined the order after the war."

"Wait, you spoke of Azazel and his empire, as if you met the legend himself," Jin frowned "Are you a goddess?"

"You flatter me," she said as Jin trembled before her. "but the difference between what I am and godhood are as thin as a needle."

Approaching Jin so that the heat from her breath could be felt with each word, she enveloped him in her captivating and seductive aura. “I love how narrow your view of the world is sweetheart. There is much that you are still struggling to see. You should consider yourself lucky. For I will enlighten you.”

“You are weak. Because of your lack of will and power, you have put you and your companions in danger. Would you be able to forgive yourself by repeating over and over that the gods have forsaken you? Is that good enough of an excuse to free you of your inner guilt?”

The red-eyed girl's words attacked Jin at his weakest point.

Since he was a child he imagined himself to be an elemental warrior, as capable as his father. He dreamed of protecting humanity from monsters and being recognized for his bravery.

Go on adventures across the world and finally get out of father's shadow. Jin wanted to be Jin. Not forever deemed as Alaric's son.

How can the gods dare to refuse such a simple wish?

“Shut up! We successfully proved ourselves in the Trial. Even though I wasn’t chosen to awaken the elemental powers, we managed to defeat that powerful beast!”

“Oh, that thing? That was merely a former shadow of itself. That vampire that you faced was starving for over ten years. The strength in her bones deeply weakened. Its reasoning was clouded by immense hunger. If you had not acted as human bait, everyone in your party would have been torn to pieces.” She shrugged.

The girl had a certain way with words as strange as they were. They sounded weird, an accent that Jin was not used to hearing around Elba. But what attracted the most attention when she addressed him was not the way she spoke. But the weight that their words carried and the experience they entailed.

Jin wanted with all his might to refute what she said. But the damn girl had a point. He had beaten the monster with his friends, but how long could he count on his luck? Would the Sages in Sanctum even allow him to stay, if he was powerless in the elemental ways?

Perhaps it would've been better that he hadn't even visited Sanctum with Vendrick. He was not able to be a hero. He had neither the talent nor the past filled with tragedy that legends often have.

“So then I have an offer for you Jin. I can grant you immeasurable power. Enough to make your father lord proud of you. Enough to make you the hero you always wanted to become. ”

“I’m listening.” Said Jin attentively

“In this world, there are ancient beings such as myself that have broken through the nine steps. We are Ascendants. We are few but as old as the elemental gods themselves. I’m willing to lend you the means to become what you want, if you have faith in me. Become my one and only chosen elemental warrior. Spit in the face of the elemental gods that denied you. With me at your side, nothing will stand in your way. I can give you the affection you so deserve.”

"—" The boy shivered.

Those words tempted Jin. His heart began to beat faster, fueled by the tempting offer before him. But since he had woken up in that room, something he couldn't quite define made him feel awkward.

Something was wrong.

No god or deity he knew was inclined to help mortals in such a way. Even the nine elemental gods, who had been worshipped around the entire Kingdom of Elba for over a thousand years, were not so kind. The gods, like the creatures that inhabited the earth, each had their own selfish desires. What Jin had been through today in Sanctum also reaffirmed that idea. After all, to participate in the Trial, they all had to give something in return.

They all had to sacrifice themselves in some way. Some had to leave their homes, say goodbye to their families in the hope of becoming an adventurer. And even Jin, who did not have to go on a dangerous adventure as his partners had due to the proximity of his village. Even he had to spill blood on Sanctum to be judged by the gods.

And who could confirm that that would be the only price to be paid?

Even Eliza, the blue-eyed blonde girl who had completed the ritual was at the mercy of these deities. Her breathlessness after using her elemental powers showed that even those chosen by the gods were not favorably treated.

There was an expenditure of vital energy on Eliza's part that had clearly affected the girl deeply after her special attack. She was barely able to walk because she was so drained by her newfound powers.

Until now, that offer was too good to be true.

And then he asked. "What’s the catch? What do you want in exchange for helping me?”

The satisfaction on her face when she got to that point in the conversation, enough to understand that she was waiting for this very moment with much anticipation.

“I will share your fears, your burdens of future and past but you will also see glimpses of those who aid you. It is the most precious source of energy within each being. But the power that will flow through you also has its own burdens, and they will taint your very being with thoughts that aren't your own. The past will knock, and you will slowly become something...else... even if subconsciously,” she continued.

"In order to not disappoint your mother's memory and your father's. You can be looked up to by your peers. Everything you need to become the person you dreamed of. And sealing the pact with the warm touch of our lips is all it takes."