[The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end—you don’t come to an achievement, you don’t come to a conclusion. It is an endless river.]— Jiddu Krishnamurti
As soon as that thought echoed in Azar's mind, a bright light pierced the darkness before his eyes. The light formed a spinning circle, within which countless stars danced in the void, each existing in the stillness of the dark.
Balance, Yin and Yang, Lumen and Umbra. The primordial elements, Azar realized. But this realization plunged him deeper into the unknown. That's not it? What are you trying to show me if not the primordial elements? He still felt uncertain, not fully resonating with the primordial elements.
My interpretation is wrong, Azar concluded. So, chaos and... order, forming balance. But not light and darkness? He continued to analyze the sight before him as well as the sensations he felt until... There's nothing more to it. Just chaos and order. Realization hit him.
What if the flux-weavers understanding of the origin is not complete? For as far as i know myself Lumen and Umbra were considered to be the primordial elements, existing before the creation, being the base ingredients from which the creation was made. But i remember reading in the Genesis that when only darkness existed, the first evolved spirit that reached the level of consciousness created the light from the darkness by making a circular motion. If that was correct, then... No. I have to see for myself.
Connect to the Void Archives. I wish to see the moment of the genesis, the birth of all that is. Azar thought, and the Void System replied to his message.
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The individual is requesting to see a certain moment in time. The moment when the universe took birth.
Processing: Request in progress...
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Acknowledge!
Rules:
- Unable to interfere in another's privacy
- Unable to alter the event
Required: Astral Form
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The individual has an Astral Form (spiritual body). By continuing, the individual agrees to the rules. Breaking the rules is impossible, but trying to break the rules will result in the punishment of the individual.
Able to travel to the moment of Genesis. Do you wish to continue?
Yes/No
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Yes!
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Calculating:
Coordinates...
Moment in time...
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Acknowledge!
While not being able to alter the event, the individual is able to interact with it via thoughts. The individual can; Pause, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind, Increase/Decrease Speed, Adjust Volume, Zoom In/Out, as well as exit and return to his current timeline and location when he wants to.
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After the message disappeared, Azar found himself transported to another place. The sight before him changed, as well as everything. He was floating, guided only by thought, in and above total darkness.
In the vast emptiness, before time had found its rhythm and space knew its shape, there was only chaos—an endless expanse of swirling shadows and raw, untamed energy. Silence reigned, yet there was a constant hum coming from the darkness, as if the universe itself waited to be born. The void, unformed and boundless, churned with chaotic force, an of darkness that knew no direction, no purpose.
With no prior warning, from within this abyss, a faint shimmer stirred. It was not yet light, not yet form, but a presence, ancient and timeless, of one of the spirits drifting in the darkness without a destination or purpose, just existing. The spirit awoke, stopping for a second against the ever flowing river of energy. Slowly, the spirit extended its will, unfurling like the breath of creation itself.
With a deliberate motion, the spirit began to spin. The first time it moved was the first time light was created. The conscious movement against the chaotic stillness of the darkness created the light.
At first, the movement was slow, a subtle ripple against the chaotic tide, barely noticeable amid the maelstrom. But with each passing moment, the spin grew faster, its reach widening, a force imposing itself on the shapelessness. The wild energies resisted, but the spirit persisted, its movement steady, precise.
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As the spirit spun, a vortex formed, drawing in the chaos, pulling it into alignment. Where there had been only disorder, patterns began to emerge. The formless darkness twisted into streams of order, spiraling into a single point at the heart of the spirit’s dance. The very fabric of existence shifted, bending to the will of the spirit, giving it the reign over the infinite expanse of darkness.
So, all that it did was to bring direction to the darkness, to give it purpose. To bring order into the chaos and use the energy to create something. To use all the surrounding energy as its source of power, Azar realized.
After an untraceable period of time, the light grew big enough to fill the spirit's body. Yet it only existed inside the confines of the spirit's body. Then, as the other spirits dwelling into the emptiness felt the change, they drifted involuntary toward the source of light, attracted by it like curious bees.
I wish to return for now, Azar thought. Having fulfilled his desire to see, he now had to return and make sure to store what he had just witnessed into the depths of his mind and soul, to integrate the information into his being.
"Order and Chaos," Azar muttered once he reentered his body. "These are the primordial true elements. If they can be considered elements. But they should. After all, everything is made from them and our interpretation of light and dark, right and wrong, does not contain their understanding, does not harmonize with the whole truth of the universe."
"Did you want me to discover this?" Azar asked the system, who wasn't going to respond him. "Though i am sure there were others before me and will be others after me who will discover this, i will dedicate myself to the study and mastery of these two elements. As that is what i feel closest to my heart in at this point in my evolution."
However, taking this decision came with many hardships for Azar, as cultivating these primordial elements meant abandoning his old method of cultivation. Abandoning his previous understanding and elements as there was no time to dedicate for them all. Worse, it didn’t help him with brewing potions. What could he burn, chaos?
It was a challenge, even for someone who had mastered the void and time elements in other timelines and worlds. Then, the memory of the unique mission, *Veiled Identity,* surfaced in his mind. He had to find himself, uncover his own truth. And if that path led to mastering the primordial elements, then that he should do. There was no other way.
To see through the lies and truths of the world, a cultivator had to trust their intuition, their only true compass.
Walking the path of Yin and Yang was arduous. When they appear together, the flux-weaver must find balance and harmony, for these elements are forever in contrast. Few can truly harmonize them, and those who fail often suffer severe backlashes.
It was rare for a cultivator to resonate with a believed primordial element - Lumen and Umbra. To resonate with both simultaneously was nearly unheard of.
Like Araumir, whose affinity with the dark element shaped his personality, those with the light element were similarly influenced. But having both light and darkness within the same person meant enduring a relentless internal battle, one that wouldn’t end until balance was achieved.
However, unlike the Lumen and Umbra with no doubt in being opposite elements as the records about them stated, the Order and Chaos had little to no records from what Azar could remember. With his current position in the world, he had no access to knowledge, and that meant that the only place he could learn from was the Origin Library. Yet he only had two coins left.
The visit Azar has made to the place of Genesis and his journey of understanding took him nearly the entire day. Azar emerged from his room as the sun dipped below the dunes to change his residence and check on Tariq’s selection of warriors.
Walking through the dusty streets of the settlement, Azar made his way toward the rocky outcrop at the northern edge of the camp. Passing a group of children playing with a hay ball, he approached a thin wooden wall, two meters high, which enclosed an area behind it, blocking not only access but also the sight of what lay beyond.
Two guards stood watch at what appeared to be a gate, while more patrolled the perimeter. The guards noticed Azar approaching, bowed their heads in acknowledgment, and opened the gate for him without hesitation. Azar nodded in response, passing through in silence.
They have an inner area for notable figures to practice and meditate away from the regular tribesmen's gazes? Azar pondered.
To him, it seemed odd. Typically, when a cultivator wanted privacy for training, they would find a secluded place, not create a restricted area within the camp. But perhaps, with the changing times, these practices had evolved as well.
Judging by the people’s fear of practicing alone in the desert but still needing solitude, they probably created these enclosed spaces in their settlements, Azar concluded.
Beyond the gate, an open space unfolded before Azar’s eyes. Solitary tents dotted the area, with marks on the ground indicating that some had been recently moved to expand the open space. Near the rocks, Azar spotted Tariq engaged in what seemed to be a heated discussion with a man Azar didn’t recognize. Choosing not to interfere, Azar approached them, their conversation growing clearer.
“I will not move. This place was empty when I set up my tent twelve years ago. You have no right to push me out, father,” the man addressed Tariq in a raised tone.
Father? Azar thought, surprised to learn that Tariq had another son.
“Oh, stop being so stubborn and listen to me for once,” Tariq burst out. “You’re not doing me a favor. This is for your own good and for the tribe’s. Is this spot so important to you that you can’t relocate a few meters away?”
The man sighed, placing a hand on his forehead. “Yes, father, this piece of land is so important to me that I can’t relocate. Go speak with that person and find someone else to bother.”
“You’ve really decided to test my patience today, haven’t you?” Tariq asked, giving the man a frustrated look.
“Is something the matter?” Azar interjected, drawing their attention.
Tariq’s mood shifted instantly as he greeted Azar with his usual tone and demeanor. “Azar Syed, have you finished your meditation?”
“Yes,” Azar replied, exchanging glances with the man who had been in a heated argument with Tariq. “What seems to be the problem?” he asked the man in a friendly tone.
“Syed, the problem—” Tariq began.
“The problem is that you think everyone is here to cater to your demands,” the man interrupted. “Well, I don’t care who you are or what you want. You can find another place to set up your tent because I won’t move from here.”
“Parash!” Tariq admonished sharply. Turning to Azar, he added, “Syed, please forgive my son. Unlike his elder brother, he knows nothing of manners or respect.”
“I know, but I don’t see why I should respect this scrawny person,” Parash retorted. “He isn’t even one of us, yet he dared to bring a Calabi here. I know you treat him like this because of his companion, but I don’t care. I kneel before no one and respect only those who deserve it.”
“Your son?” Azar asked Tariq, completely disregarding Parash’s words.
“Yes,” Tariq said, somewhat ashamed. “This is Parash, Mohul’s younger brother. He became indifferent to everything that happens in the tribe, dedicating his life to training and meditation after Samira chose Mohul instead of him.”
Azar raised an eyebrow at this revelation.
“Father!” Parash growled through gritted teeth. It was clear that Tariq had touched on something Parash would have preferred left in the past.