Chapter 8 : The Awakening in the Hall of Mystery
Kallen stood at the entrance of the Hall of Mystery, a vast underground chamber hidden beneath his family’s estate. Glowing orbs floated in the air, casting a pale light that illuminated the massive Awakening Circle at the center of the hall. The intricate lines and symbols etched into the ground shimmered with latent energy, each one a key to unlocking the spiritual realm within him.
Lord Erlen stood beside him, his expression a mix of pride and caution. "This is it, Kallen. Today, you take your first true step on the arcane path. The process is arduous, but you are ready."
Kallen nodded, fully aware of the complexity that awaited him. He focused on his breathing, controlling his heartbeat. He had prepared for this moment for months, refining his mind and body to endure the harshness of the Awakening Ritual. Each breath felt heavy, as though the very air was laden with the knowledge of what he was about to undertake.
Without a word, he stepped into the circle, positioning himself at its center, where the lines beneath his feet began to softly glow. He bowed and closed his eyes, initiating the blue Resonance Breathing Technique to stabilize his heartbeat. His breaths slowed, becoming steady, in sync with the surrounding mana that hummed through the room.
From a distance, Borwen observed, arms crossed. He had high expectations for Kallen, but the boy had surpassed even those lofty ambitions. Now, all that remained was the ritual.
With a gesture from his hand, Lord Erlen activated the circle. Blue lines flared along the intricate symbols, lighting up the room with a soft, pulsing glow. Kallen felt the shift in the air, as the mana twisted, coiled, and condensed into spiritual energy through the magical circle. Its force was overwhelming as it surged into him, sending shockwaves of pain through every inch of his body. His muscles tensed, and flashes of light and shadow assaulted his mind.
The pain burned as he activated the bleu Resonance Breathing Technique to guide the raging spiritual force within his body. Gritting his teeth, Kallen endured the agonizing process. His mind was sharp and analytical, slowly directing the energy through his body and toward his head.
Suddenly, everything went black.
Kallen awoke abruptly to find himself floating in a void, an endless expanse of blackness. His perspective had changed—he could no longer see through his eyes alone but could now perceive a 360-degree view within a limited range.
The shift in perception startled him. Here, in this mental space, he had no body—only a spiritual consciousness. And with that realization came understanding. This void was not an empty space; it was his inner world, the gateway to his deepest self.
He had reached the threshold of his first Awakening.
In this ethereal space, Kallen instinctively knew what to do next. His inner world was a blank canvas, a dark plane upon which he would inscribe the fundamental runes that governed the conversion of mana into spiritual power. He did not hesitate. Drawing on the knowledge gained from countless hours of study, his hands began to glow as he manipulated the spiritual energy to carve the three runes that would serve as the foundation for building his mental world. In other words, his mental world would become a miniature Awakening Circle.
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Each of the three essential runes—The Rune of Purification, The Rune of Transformation, and The Rune of Condensation—consisted of 54 lines, arranged in complex geometric patterns. The challenge wasn’t just in channeling spiritual energy through these lines but in doing so without interruption or mistake. Any error would force him to start over, with severe consequences for both his body and mind.
Yet, Kallen’s analytical mind thrived in this environment. He knew he had three attempts before his body would collapse under the strain of the raging spiritual energy, but he also knew he would need only one. His thoughts raced as he calculated the precise paths for the spiritual energy, guiding it effortlessly as if following a carefully drawn blueprint.
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After nearly two hours, the final line of the Rune of Condensation was complete. A flash of light exploded in his mind, and suddenly, the black void he had been trapped in transformed.
A brilliant flash illuminated the surrounding darkness, and the void was no longer empty. The blackness gave way to a calm silver sea, an ethereal landscape rippling with waves of light. This was his realm. According to what he had read in the books, some called it the mental world, while others referred to it as the Soul Sea.
His world was small, barely three meters in diameter, which was a good sign, considering most people struggled to reach this level.
He opened his eyes, his breathing ragged, but the pain was gone. He felt a surge of power coursing through him.
The Hall of Mystery had returned to its usual state, but Kallen knew something fundamental had changed within him. He had awakened, and now his mental world was filled with three glowing runes that symbolized his mastery over mana.
Lord Erlin stepped forward, his voice steady but filled with charisma. "Congratulations, Kallen. You have crossed into the realm of the Awakened. Your mental world has now been established. The Awakening level is divided into two parts: novice and expert. You have just taken the first step as a novice. The three runes now engraved in your mind will allow you to purify mana, transform it into spiritual power, and condense that power into golden runes. These runes will become the foundation of your spells."
Kallen stood firm despite the ordeal. "How can I progress to the expert level?"
Erlin smiled. "By condensing 18 golden runes to expand your mental world enough to engrave and master at least three magical spells. Only then will you have the qualifications to be called an expert Awakened. But remember this – you can only engrave spells from one path in your mental world because the energy of different paths cannot coexist. If you attempt to master spells from multiple arcane paths, it will lead to your demise."
Kallen didn’t miss the weight of those words. Engraving golden runes was a precise process, one that required not just spiritual energy, but absolute concentration and control.
Kallen absorbed the information, already contemplating the future. The golden rune would allow him to stabilize and nurture his mental world, but he needed to engrave his spells carefully. Once a spell was engraved in the mental world, it could not be undone.
Kallen’s mind raced. He knew he would need to be cautious and strategic. A wrong spell could limit his future progress, trapping him in a path that might not align with his long-term goals.
Erlin continued, "The expert stage prepares you for the next major breakthrough – the foundational stage or apprentice. You will need to condense 36 golden runes and engrave six spells before you can advance. It is a slow process and requires patience."
Erlin’s gaze softened as he went on. "Remember, Kallen, that magic is a double-edged sword. It grants power, but it demands caution. Many have fallen before you because they reached too far, too fast."
Kallen responded in a steady voice, "I understand, and I will not rush."
Borwin, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. There was a gleam in his eyes, a mix of admiration and anticipation. "Well done, Kallen. But this is only the beginning. The trials ahead will be far more challenging."
His gaze met Kallen’s, and he said firmly, "I am ready for whatever comes next."
And with that, the awakening ceremony came to an end, but the real journey had just begun. Kallen's path was set, but the choices he made from this point forward would not only shape his future, but the future of those around him as well. Whatever came next...
He intended to face it head-on.
That is, if he didn’t get to it first.