The Origin Sea was the source of everything in the world, even the world itself. Still, after its birth, a barrier of sorts had formed between the world, and Origin Sea, preventing the Origin Sea from corroding the world with its Mysteries. There were places in the world though, where this barrier was thin enough for the Origin Sea to influence the world. And these were the places which would experience the growth of precious resources.
However, other than precious resources, the influence of Origin Sea could also result in formation of Springs of Fortune, also known as just Fortune Springs. Places, where all its visitors, Oren Beasts, and Wanderers alike, would receive a Good Fortune. Even Thralls were no exception to that rule. The Origin Sea did not discriminate, after all. And neither did its Mysteries.
In any case, if they were to find a Fortune Spring, they were bound to experience a Good Fortune. What that Good Fortune would be would depend on the place where the Fortune Spring was born, and the Mysteries that influenced its birth. But regardless of what the Goof Fortune might be, it was an undeniable fact that all those who would encounter such a place would experience rapid growth in their abilities.
And so, it was not like they did not have any clues to look for Fortune Springs. All they had to was to look for Oren Beast which showed exceptional strength for their growth. Like an Oren Beast still in the initial phase of its Adolescent Stage, but capable enough of taking down even those in the intermediate phase of their Adolescent Stage. Or they could also look for Oren Beast which showed strength beyond the limits of their race.
However, with their current strength, taking down such Oren Beasts would be an impossibility. If Yuri did not intervene, that is. And Cecilia, with some sense knocked into her head by Yuri, was not on a suicidal rampage of seeking strength. She was much calmer than before, and understood her limitations.
After all, she may have had a head start of a month over him, but she was only one level ahead of him. And though Yuri was more than an entire Stage above them, they could not let her carry the team. It was called a team for a reason. In any case, they were clearly not ready as a team to actively look for Fortune Springs.
Besides, they could not devote all of their time to search for an illusory opportunity. They were training to fight against Heterodox Wanderers, and not go on a treasure hunt. Even if those Heterodox Wanderers would be limited to the False Rank, it would be best if he could reach the Advanced Stage before he met them. But with his current rate of progress, let along reaching the Advanced Stage, even reaching the Intermediate was up in doubts. And the same was true for Cecilia.
Only Yuri had the chance of reaching Advanced Stage in a few months. But even then, all she had was a chance. If she spent all her time roaming around the canyon, then she was likely to fail the condition that his master had given her. To reach the Advanced Stage in four months. And so, it became imperative for them to plan out their search in such a manner that it would give them enough time to train every day. Even including the time to rest, and meditate.
After all, they were still humans. They needed to rest. And as Wanderers, they needed to meditate. They needed to overcome their internal struggles, and conflicts. They needed to temper their Hearts. To find their Clarity. And to strengthen their resolve, and conviction. He, Alnea Oathkeeper, was going to become the greatest Wanderer. He was going to create the path to the Rank of Origin Wanderer. And he was going to do it with the ones he loved.
Exhaling a deep, and heavy breath, Alnea opened his eyes, and looked at the darkness surrounding him. A silent, and familiar darkness. The cave was just as dark as ever, but he was acquainted enough with it to make his way around with resorting to using his Aspects as a source of light. Still, even then, he reached to his Aspects, and urged them awake. No, not them. He reached out to just one Aspect, his fourth one. The Aspect of Light.
Related to the lineage of Day, his fourth Aspect was his first elemental Aspect. His third Aspect was also related to Darkness, but it was not a pure elemental Aspect like his fourth one. Besides, was the darkness in the cave not enough as it was? Why would he urge his Aspect to gather even more darkness in the cave? His fourth Aspect was much better for such situations.
Manifesting as a globular ball of light at the tip of the first finger of his right hand, the Aspect was releasing bright golden yellow light, illuminating every inch, every part of the cave, as if it was not his Aspect, but Enn himself which had descended to light up the cave. Except, the light was not as sharp, and glaring, as Enn’s glory was. Even when the source of the light illuminating the cave was right in front of his eyes, it did not cause him any kinds of discomfort, or pain.
On the contrary, the light was so soft on his eyes that it did not even feel like the Aspect was from the lineage of Day. Or so he would have thought a few days ago. But… who said that Enn’s light always had to be glaring, and sharp? Sometimes, Enn’s light could also be the warmest, and the gentlest of lights in the world. Even more so than the light of Orn. And it could be just as beautiful as well. One just had to have the right eye to look for it.
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Shaking his head with a smile, Alnea tore his eyes away from Cecilia’s face. It looked like she was still Wandering the Origin Sea. But that was to be expected. That was how it had always been up till that point. Having higher Spirit Power meant that she was able to Wander for a longer time than him. Of course, with his increasing Spirit Power, that difference between the time that they spent Wandering was getting shorter, and shorter, but for the moment, the difference still existed.
It would probably take her a while to come back, Alnea thought, as he pushed himself up from the ground. Not a long while, but not a short while either. And he was never the sort to waste time. So, after picking up his sword, he made his way towards—
Yuri burst in through the entrance of the cave, glancing around with a grave expression on her face. Only when she had confirmed that everything was alright, did she let out a sigh of relief. Immediately afterwards, her eyes darted towards the globular ball of light hovering above the first finger of his right hand.
“A new Aspect?” Yuri asked, looking at the Aspect with curiosity, before shifting her eyes to his face. “You could have said something if you were going to use your Aspect within the cave. I thought that something had happened.”
“I had not thought that the light would be so bright,” Alnea said with an awkward smile.
“Lineage of Day? Light?”
“Right on both accounts,” Alnea said with a nod. “A pure Light elemental Aspect that focusses on dispersing Darkness.”
“…That is an oddly specific Aspect,” Yuri said, as she stepped closer towards him, taking a closer look at the Aspect gathered around his finger. “But it should prove quite useful here, in the canyons.”
“I thought so too,” Alnea said. “And so, the moment that I understood what it stood for, I chose it as my next Aspect. Too bad, its light is not glaring, or else, I could have used it as another means of attack.”
“…You underestimate your Aspect,” Yuri said, as she tore her eyes away from his glowing finger. “Anyways, you should put away your Aspect now. Even though you have used it only within the cave, the light is still to eye catching. It will be too troublesome for us if some Oren Beasts discovers the cave because of it.”
“…I did not think about that,” Alnea said, withdrawing his Aspect to its Aspect Well, just as blood rushed to face. Thankfully, the light had faded away the moment he withdrew his Aspect, hiding his embarrassment. “You should get some rest, now. Cecilia should be done Wandering in a while. It will be your turn to Wander the Origin Sea then. It would be for the best if you could recover your Spirit Power before then.”
“I can do that while guarding with you.”
“It would be faster if you did it while resting though.”
“Not by much.”
“Something is better than nothing.”
“Alright, alright. I will go rest. But at least let me wait until Cecilia wakes up. I cannot rest easy with only you as the guard.”
“…Are you doubting my ability to guard, or are you worried about me?”
“…Who knows?”
“You…”
“My days were a lot quieter when you two used to talk with just your eyes,” a third voice rang out in the darkness beside Alnea, and Yuri, breaking their attention from the world they were lost in. Fortunately, they knew who the owner of the voice was.
“Hey, you were the one who did not wish for us to keep any secrets from you,” Alnea said with a chuckle, while calling forth his Aspect to illuminate the cave. Not his latest one. Its light was just too bright. Instead, he called for his first Aspect. Although it was not of the Light element, the light that it released was enough to illuminate just the small area of the cave. And the smile on their faces.
It was clear from the smile on her face that Cecilia was not complaining about them disturbing her. On the contrary, she looked happier that they had done so. Yuri’s smile, on the other hand, was an awkward, and a helpless one.
“Your Wandering ended earlier than usual,” Yuri said. “Did you encounter something?”
“…A Mystery.”
“Another Mystery?” Alnea said, staring at her with a weird expression. “Are you sure that you are from the Serpia clan?”
“Shut up,” Cecilia said. “I would have preferred an Aspect over a Mystery. But I am not in a position to complain. As long as I can increase my strength, and abilities, what does it matter if I progress as a Warrior, or an Arcanist?”
“…You have comprehended the Mystery?”
“Of course,” Cecilia said with a hint of pride in her voice. “I am Cecilia Serpia. A mere Mystery is nothing in front of me.”
“…I will accept your greatness when you can say the same about Aspects.”
“You…”
Not waiting for Cecilia to burst into one of her outrages, Alnea turned towards Yuri, and said, “You rest with ease now, right?”
“Fine,” Yuri said, with a pout on her face, and a tiny hint of dissatisfaction hidden in her voice. One that stroked his desire of teasing her once again. But he knew what was important, and what was not. So, as Yuri walked deeper into the cave to sit down, and meditate, Alnea walked out of the cave with Cecilia to guard, and train, waiting for Yuri to be finished with her own Wandering.