"Well, I've finished my promise, and I shall take my leave now," Aleria said, walking past him.

"Wait, where are you going?" Lioran asked. He knew she wasn't from here. Spiritual Souls aren't even known at all, even online.

"I'm heading back to the place where I come from. It's in a different dimension that is beyond the mortal realm, where it goes when they die." Aleria explained, and Lioran nodded his head.

But he felt a little lost inside, like a ship without a compass. He finally found someone he could talk to and call a friend, and to top it off, they possessed incredible powers and appeared completely unfazed by the fact that others couldn't see them. As Lioran pondered on this, an idea suddenly flashed in his mind.

"By any chance, I can come with you?" He asked, his voice barely audible.

Aleria, who heard him clearly, smiled. "Sorry, but I don't think you can. Your body isn't dead, and you are very much alive. Also, I might be punished if you somehow cross over while still being alive."

"I see..." Lioran said with a tinge of disappointment in his tone. In his mind, he saw this as his golden opportunity to escape to another world and embark on an exhilarating adventure. However, he refused to surrender without a fight.

"I'm willing to risk anything, even my soul. I have little here. Well, I have nothing really. Now I know about things like soul spirit and other neat terms I don't fully understand, which would make it impossible for me not to search for the answers. Even if I am punished, I can take solace in the fact that my actions were worthwhile. I have done something worthwhile with my life."

Aleria could feel the unwavering determination in his words, and she tapped on the wall, emitting a low groan.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked, her voice a low whisper.

Lioran responded without hesitation, his firm "Absolutely" echoing in the room.

Aleria sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're going to make me regret this, aren't you?" She said, her eyes narrowing.

Lioran responded with a nonchalant shrug as if it didn't matter. He had no clue about the rollercoaster of events that lay ahead.

"Well, I guess I can show you how to get there. But first, we need to train your Spiritual Soul. If you can't handle that, then we can't go anywhere." Aleria said.

"Alright," Lioran nodded his head but was confused. He did not know how one would increase their spiritual soul.

"Don't worry, I'll help you." Aleria said, noticing his confusion. "First, let's leave this hotel and head to a place that has no people around."

Lioran nodded his head. They left the room and walked out onto the streets.

"What are you going to do?" He asked.

"Just wait and see," Aleria said.

She confidently led the way, navigating through the bustling streets until they reached the desolate, abandoned building.

"This will do." She said.

Lioran looked at the building. The building looked dilapidated and on the verge of collapse. The ground, dry and cracked, emitted a cloud of dust with each step he took. Covered in moss and ivy, the crumbling walls stood as a testament to passing time. The windows were shattered, and a chilly breeze blew through the room.

"Are you sure this is safe?" He asked in doubt. Looking at this run-down place, he was afraid of catching a cold. Hell, he lived in better places.

"Trust me." She said, leading the way inside.

The interior was in a similar state. With each step, the floorboards protested loudly, their decaying structure threatening to give way. The wallpaper hung in tattered strips, revealing the decaying walls beneath, while the furniture sat in disarray, its broken pieces coated with a thick layer of dust.

As they entered the room, their eyes were drawn upward to the expansive, high ceiling. The walls were adorned with cracked windows that allowed the setting sun to flood the room with a soft, orange glow.

"Now what?" Lioran asked. He didn't understand why she would bring him here.

Aleria turned to look at him in the eyes and opened her mouth to speak.

"There are three fundamental ways to increase your Spiritual Soul." She said, sticking up three fingers and waving in front of his face.

"You don't have to treat me like a child," Lioran said, his voice choked.

"Ah ah ah, be a good boy and listen to the teacher. You might get a piece of candy at the end." She said, her eyes twinkling with mirth.

Lioran felt the heat rise to his cheeks. He wasn't a kid, and she didn't need to talk to him like that.

"Alright, now pay attention," Aleria said. "The first way is by using your Spiritual Soul and draining it."

"Drain it? But how?" Lioran asked. He was intrigued and eager to learn more.

"It's simple. Spiritual Soul is our soul but contains energy to power us. The more we use, the more tired we get. It's like using a muscle. If you use it a lot, it gets tired and needs to rest. And if you overuse it, it can become damaged."

"How do I use it?" Lioran asked. This sounded fascinating and scary at the same time.

"First, you need to find the feeling of it. Once you do that, you can start draining it."

Lioran closed his eyes and concentrated. After a few minutes, he felt a warm sensation spreading throughout his body. He opened his eyes and clenched his fist, turning his knuckles white. He could feel the energy coursing through his veins, and he felt a sense of exhilaration.

"I did it!" He said, his voice bouncing around the room.

"Good job," Aleria said, patting him on the back. She couldn't believe how swiftly he accomplished it. It took her nearly three days to absorb the feeling, let alone let it flow through her entire being

"Now try to push all of that throughout your body. Don't limit yourself and try to break through your limit."

"Alright," Lioran said, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. He could feel the electric energy coursing through his veins, fuelling a surge of adrenaline.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Remember, you don't have to limit yourself. Push yourself, and don't stop until you can't go any further," Aleria said.

With a nod, Lioran channelled the energy, coursing through every fibre of his being. As it coursed through his veins, he could feel the power building up in his body, strengthening him. But he felt a natural sense of fear as he attempted to quell the nagging sense of danger. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, his body trembling under the overwhelming surge of energy. His knees gave way beneath him, as if they were made of jelly, and his whole body burned with intensity.

"Just a little more," Aleria said, noticing the struggle.

Lioran nodded, pushing the energy through his body. He could feel his muscles burning as if they were being licked by flames. His vision became hazy and his thoughts grew muddled.

"Come on, just a little more. If you don't do it, you won't get your candy!" Aleria said, her voice growing louder.

Lioran gritted his teeth, his body wracked with excruciating pain. But he didn't stop. He pushed the energy through his body, and he could feel the pain easing its grip. His muscles, once on fire, had finally cooled down, and his bones no longer screamed in agony.

Lioran's mind flashed when he first met "himself" and thought about the time when his wounds magically healed. It's not like they healed, and the wound was there, but what was sensing was just something that could be felt.

He can't fully understand this, as this isn't an illusion, but something more. It's true, according to reality, but does that make it true?

As Lioran thought about this, he could feel his body growing weaker. He could feel the energy beginning to fade, and his mind going blank. He was at his limits, his body trembling as he ceased the flow of energy within him.

"How do you feel?" Aleria asked.

Lioran's heart pounded in his chest, and he struggled to catch his breath. He was so exhausted that his eyelids felt heavy, and his body was aching in every muscle.

"I feel fine, but I seemed to learn something about my Soul Spirit." He said, putting his hand against the wall.

A brief glimmer danced in Aleria's eyes, swiftly fading away from Lioran's view.

He had an enlightenment in the middle of that? How surprising. She thought to herself. She had her suspicions about the boy, but she never thought he would be this talented. I don't think many could compete with him in terms of talent. Maybe my family will be workinglling to help him out because of it.

"You should take a rest." She said, helping him sit down.

Lioran didn't object, finding a comfortable spot to sit and leaning against the wall. Despite his exhaustion and soreness, a feeling of fulfilment washed over him.

"You did well," she complimented, her voice filled with genuine admiration.

"Thank you," Lioran said, flashing her a small smile.

"You should rest. We'll continue tomorrow." Aleria said, turning around and walking out of the room.

As Lioran leaned back and closed his eyes, the peaceful sounds of birds chirping filled the air, a contented smile gracing his lips. A surge of accomplishment and excitement washed over him.

He set off on a path that would lead him to an entirely new world.

***

Three days had passed since Lioran began his intense training with Aleria, who was teaching him the fundamentals of control.

He could now feel his own Spiritual Soul, which he had gained the ability to partially manipulate. However, his progress was sluggish, and he was still distant from achieving a level of proficiency where he could utilise it effortlessly.

As the fourth day dawned, sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, casting a warm glow in the room. Lioran opened his eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight. In a drowsy state, he rubbed his eyes, let out a deep yawn, and stretched his limbs to banish the sleepiness.

"Ah, that was a good sleep," he sighed, stretching his limbs.

"Hmm, you've been at it a lot in the past three days. You should be able to handle coming to our world." Aleria's voice sounded behind him, as her footsteps echoed across the room.

"So we're heading over today?" He asked, turning his head.

"Yes." She nodded her head. "There is something I encountered whilst you were training, and I need to report it to my division."

Lioran nodded his head, his expression filled with understanding. For the past couple of days, she would disappear for an hour, only to return after an extended absence. He didn't bother asking her, aware that she wouldn't divulge anything.

"Alright, let's go then." He said, standing up and stretching.

"Good, we shall leave at noon. The sun's almost there."

Lioran nodded, then turned and gazed out the window at the bustling city below. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow on the bustling streets.

"Let's get some food. I'm starving." He said, rubbing his stomach.

"Alright, let's go," Aleria said.

They descended the stairs and were greeted by the bustling sounds of the crowded streets. They entered a bustling restaurant and settled at a cozy table by the window.

The place lacked any extravagance; it was simply a humble, family-run establishment. The place was bustling, filled with the chatter and laughter of families and friends. The atmosphere was filled with a pleasant buzz, and the tantalising aroma of food hung in the air.

They ordered some food and sat down to eat. However, since Aleria couldn't interact with humans, it was up to him to order the food and find a secluded spot away from everyone else.

The bright side is that she took care of all the expenses. It was surprising to discover that even aliens had a concept of money here. The sad thing was that she was wealthier than him as if that wasn't even a competition.

"So how do we exactly travel to your dimension?" He asked, picking up a piece of bread and chowing down on it.

"Well, first you need to open a rift, which is a portal to our dimension. But when we enter the rift, we must put our spiritual powers to the soul of our feet, or you'll enter a place called the Soulrupta Void." She said.

"That sounds... Bad." Lioran said.

"Indeed, and I've seen the effects of the void. It's not pretty." She said, "Although I'm just a guard for your city, I've seen some writings and stories from the frontliners and my family."

"I see," Lioran said, picking up a piece of meat and eating it.

"And there are creatures in there. They feed on the energy of our souls, so you never want to fall in there alone." She said, her voice taking a grim tone.

"That's not comforting," Lioran muttered.

"But you have nothing to worry about because I'll be there with you." She said, giving him a reassuring smile. "But if you fall, I won't save you."

With a sigh, Lioran's shoulders sagged, weighed down by disappointment. He picked up a piece of meat and ate it. It was tasty, but he wasn't in the mood for food.

"Well, let's head out and get going. I will open a rift with this." She said, taking out a globe with a white crack in it.

"All you have to do is smash it on the ground and the rift will open for three minutes." She explained, putting the globe back in her pocket.

"Alright, let's go," Lioran said.

They got up and left the restaurant, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air. They walked through the bustling streets until they reached a narrow, dimly lit alley.

"Alright, here we go," Aleria said, taking out the globe.

As she smashed it on the ground, a resounding crack echoed through the air. They watched in awe as a rift opened up, offering a tantalising glimpse of what lay on the other side.

The inside was a murky swamp, with black goo oozing and a purple gas hovering above.

"What is that place?" Lioran asked, his face pale.

"This is known as the Root. If we head straight, we'll reach separatism Expanse, the place where I live, but if you fall..." Aleria didn't finish, letting her words trail off.

Lioran's throat tightened as he swallowed hard. He didn't like the sound of that. He could hear the meaning behind her words. It should be the place where Soulrupta lies.

"We better go," Aleria said. She jumped into the rift, and Lioran followed.

The moment he stepped into the Root, a chill ran through his body. He was surrounded by a thick, freezing air that made his breath visible. The sensation was akin to being trapped in a viscous pool, every movement a struggle against the molasses-like resistance.

"Just keep moving forward, and don't look down," Aleria said, her voice echoing.

Lioran nodded in agreement and quietly followed her lead. With each step they took through the slimy swamp, they could hear strange noises reverberating from the depths below.

"What was that?" Lioran asked, a cold sweat running down his neck.

"Those are the creatures in Soulrupta. Just ignore them." Aleria said.

"If you say so," Lioran muttered, keeping his eyes forward.

With each passing step, the sounds of the creatures surrounding them grew more intense, making their journey feel like it had stretched on for hours. While they continued their journey, a shadowy figure materialised before them, its neck adorned with sharp, white spikes. It also had an enormous mouth with teeth that were the size of an adult hand.

"It's a soulbourne," Aleria whispered, talking her sword out of her scabbard, which had been placed on her back. Her hand tightened around the hilt of the sword, her muscles tense and ready for battle.

"A what?" Lioran asked, looking at the figure.

"Soulbourne," Aleria repeated.

"Is it dangerous?" Lioran asked.

"Of course it's dangerous!" Aleria said, her voice laced with anger, as she shot him an angry look.

"These are creatures from Soulrupta. Yah know, the place we talk about and how dangerous it is? Why don't you go up and give it a kiss and see how he reacts?"

Lioran coughed, the sound muffled by his hand as he quickly recognised his mistake.

"Don't worry, I can take care of it," Aleria said.

Aleria braced herself as the soulbourne inched closer, its eerie aura filling the air.