Chapter 4 - The first part of The Struggle for Heaven’s Blessing Ceremony

The senior led the participants into the tall stone building. They were greeted with a large spacious area.

The floor reflected the white light of several chandeliers. Causing a shimmer of light to appear on the cool marble floor.

Despite the exterior, the inside was grand.

Lilith along with the other participants glamoured over the inside, the dazzling golden light shining over them.

They had never experienced anything so luxurious.

Even with Lilith’s previous life, she could not help but admire the design.

The large room was scarcely decorated though. Only a few tables stood along the edges of the room.

They formed a path directly to the opposite side of the room where a larger desk stood. A stranger was sitting there with a smile.

“This is Azure Tower,” The senior began. “We do nearly everything here.”

Lilith thought to herself, “He is right. In every empire there is usually a building almost as similar as this one. The seniors mention of doing ‘everything’ here is not its complete purpose. For The Struggle for Heaven’s Blessing Ceremony, a pond of The World’s Essence is required. The World’s Essence is a water-like liquid that gives life the possibility of gaining power. This essence is very rare and expensive, usually found deep into the world or very rarely above ground in small amounts.”

“From my experience, this building is probably the border around the excavation site, masking it gloriously.”

“Follow me, as a tour of the building is not a part of the ceremony.” The senior said to the participants.

The senior turned his back and made his way to a pillar of stairs across the room. He nodded at the stranger at the main desk and began climbing down the stairs. The participants eagerly followed.

As they continued to dive deeper under the building, Lilith noticed the walls which once held shine to them began to dull out. Morphing into a dirty brick-like material.

They continued to journey down the steps until eventually the pillar of stairs ended. Stopping at a stone floor.

As the participants climbed from the pillar, it was eventually Lilith’s turn. Unlike her peers, she was not surprised at what she seen.

A small cave with a pool-sized pond was what met the participants. The pond had a silver-shimmer to it and sparkled under the light.

Stalagmites reached from the top of the cave, grasping for the pond. Fungus grew carelessly on these stalagmites, sparkling with bioluminescence.

The light from this fungus was enough to illuminate the cave just enough to see, and this light greatly enhanced the beauty of the pond.

The participants were in awe, but the senior looked as if he had seen this place a million times.

“This is a pool of The World’s Essence. This is also the first part of our ceremony.”

The participants murmured and whispered among themselves.

The Struggle for Heaven’s Blessing Ceremony is a 3-part ceremony. Only the last part is technically a ceremony but it's easier to group them all this way.

The first part required a pool of The World’s Essence, enough to submerge a human inside. The World’s Essence is a crucial step, as without it the rest are meaningless.

The essence opens the world to your presence. Although the world is living, it does not know all. To open its eyes to you, you must be accepted by the world. That is what this essence is for.

Along with the world’s knowledge of you, one would also gain their talent from this pond.

“So, I shall explain how this will proceed,” The senior spoke aloud with a stern tone.

The Ceremony had begun.

“One at a time, each of you shall submerge yourself into the pond for a minute. Closing your eyes and thinking in the process. Keep in mind, any longer than a minute and 30 seconds and you are risking your life so please count in your head.”

Lilith expression was calm as she already was familiar with the procedure.

“When the minute is up, rise from the pond and the first part will be complete.”

The participants whispered excitedly among themselves.

“If you cannot stay submerged for a minute, do not force yourself. Simply rise. Unfortunately, your journey will end here, however.”

The participants’ excitement turned into anxiety. It was their first time doing the ceremony; thus, they hadn’t expected failure. All but Lilith had a nervous expression.

“The World’s Essence, a unique liquid only native to this world. Although its properties were similar to that of water, it had one trait that made it worlds apart. The World’s Essence was a completely breathable liquid as long as the world chose to open its eyes to you.”

Lilith analyzed this to herself.

“So,” The senior began. “Who would like to go first?”

The participants were silent. None dared to go first, unsure of what to expect.

“Hey, you were so excited earlier, why don’t you go first?”

“Me go first? No way! You go first instead of trying to force me.”

“I’m not going first!”

The participants began to grow restless, each one suggesting someone else to go first. The senior swiftly put an end to this.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

“You there.” The seniors stern voice pierced through the commotion. He pointed at a boy. “Step forward.”

The participants parted, leaving the boy standing out among the crowd. He nervously stepped forward.

“What is your name?” The senior asked him.

“C-Cupid Lucius of the Azuri Village.” The boy answered.

The participants whispered to themselves. If Lilith were to guess, it was about his origin.

“You’ll be going first, no need to fret. You will do just fine.”

The boy shakily walked toward the mouth of the pond. He stood and trembled a step away from the essence.

“Anytime.” The senior politely rushed.

Cupid took a deep breath and began to step into the pond. His body falling lower and lower into the essence with every step.

Eventually his head was submerged.

It was silent.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5…

Seconds passed.

45…46…47…48…

And passed.

57…58…59…60!

The boy quickly shot up from the pond, his body shaking. The boy made his way back to the stone floor and toward the senior.

The senior examined the boy then opened the book he held since the beginning and looked for a blank page. He removed a quill from the pockets of his robe and scribbled something down.

“You proceed onto the next part.” The senior told the boy loudly enough for the participants to hear.

They whispered again like mice.

Cupid’s expression lightened and he broke into a smile.

“I’ll have someone down here to issue you some new attire.”

Cupid’s clothing was drenched but he didn’t seem to mind, he only vigorously nodded. Clearly excited about his results.

Lilith knew what the senior looked for after the submersion. After the first part of the ceremony, the eyes of whoever had been submerged will illuminate a specific color for a duration.

The color corresponds to the talent of the individual. Yellow was the lowest, 1. In progressing order, the colors are Yellow, Lime Green, Pink, Red, and Golden. Golden being the highest, 5.

Lilith was curious about the boy's results considering she knew the ranking but had no way of finding out. The color only shone briefly, and the senior already used the duration.

“May I go next! May I go next!”

The participants grew restless now. Their anxiety reverted into their original excitement. Now countless were eager to submerge into the essence.

Lilith scorned. She knew that they had looked down on the Azuri Village and if someone from her village could pass then so could they. Lilith felt pity for them as this part of the ceremony is notorious for removing half of the participants.

“Cassius Aeneas of the Sky Shade Village. May I have the honor of going next?”

The lovestruck boy spoke clearly to the senior with a tone one would have as nobility. His face was disciplined, a complete opposite from earlier.

“What an eager one. You may go next.”

Cassius turned toward Lilith and winked with a smirk. Lilith was unamused.

“I will demonstrate the glory of Sky Shade Village.”

He walked toward the mouth of the pond and submerged himself with no hesitation.

Lilith seemed intrigued at the boy and examined him.

60 seconds later, he arose from the pond and made his way to the senior. The senior examined him just like Cupid. The expression he held while examining was one of pride. Similar to one a mother would have at the sight of their child’s first step.

“You proceed.” The senior said with a smile, scribbling something else inside of the book. “If you do well on the following parts of this ceremony, I’m sure the emperor would love to meet you.”

Cassius bowed and made his way beside Cupid, giving him a smug look. Cupid didn’t notice this and was too busy shivering at an attempt to return heat to his body.

Lilith noticed Cassius shivering slightly as well. Even the toughest can succumb to the elements.

More and more participants volunteered to go next, causing the senior to get overwhelmed.

“Ah, just say your name, village and step into the pond. First come first serve.” The senior finally gave up on trying to figure out who would go next.

…

Minutes have passed. The line beside the senior was long. Some of the participants were crying as they had failed the first part of the ceremony. Others were waiting patiently, and a few were comforting the crying participants.

That's just the way the ceremony worked, if the world chose not to open its eyes to you, you couldn’t force it. Becoming talentless (1) for the rest of your life.

There were only two others they hadn’t submerged themselves yet. Lilith and coincidently, Roman Caius.

After the multiple failed participants, the number of participants continuing onto the second part was a little more than half of the original 31. Around 16 or so. Considering 2 participants still hadn’t gone, this was shocking in itself as its usual for less than half of the participants to continue past this point. Despite the participants who failed, it’s impressive that this many participants actually passed.

All of the Azuri Village participants had failed besides Cupid. 3 of the Cerulean Village had passed, and 12 of the Sky Shade Village passed. The only participants left were beginning to make their move.

“Roman Caius, Cobalt Sapphire Village.” Roman called out, fearing of going last.

Lilith didn’t mind, she wished to go last.

Roman stepped toward the pond and looked down at it nervously. He stepped in and submerged. 60 seconds later he rose.

After examining him, the senior spoke while scribbling, “You proceed.”

With that, the only participant left was Lilith. She was calm as she spoke, hiding her nervousness.

“Lilith Grand of the Azuri Village.”

She walked to the pond elegantly, every eye watching her.

She looked down at her silver reflection in the essence. She noticed her nervous expression and fixed it hastily.

She thought, “I know in my previous life, I was a talent 5. But considering my rebirth, I haven’t the slightest idea on if I maintain my talent or not. Well… I have only one option…”

She submerged herself into the freezing water. Surrounded by darkness she counted.

1…2…3…

She hesitantly inhaled, fearing that she would inhale thick water-like essence into her lungs.

[The World has opened its eyes for you!]

“!”

She breathed just fine. She felt a wave of relief washing over her.

“I did not fail, how reassuring.”

A few seconds have passed under the water. The freezing temperature started to harden her body, yet she felt at peace counting in her heart.

Lilith felt like a thousand eyes were watching her, their gaze cold and desolate. Like a tiger lurking in the jungle, she felt like prey in the darkness. A wonderous feeling.

And after 60 seconds, she rose. The gazes vanishing instantly. She could only feel the ice of her body as she walked over to the senior.

He examined her and swiftly told her that she proceeded.

The villagers of the Sky Shade whispered to one another.

“How did two Azure Stone’s Failure villagers manage to pass. This must be rigged”

The failed participants of the Sky Shade were plagued by envy and jealous watching Lilith take her spot at the end of the line. She pitied them.

Although Lilith had proceeded to the second part of the ceremony, she could not know for sure what her talent was as she could not look into her own eyes.

She sighed, “I will just have to see during the final part of the ceremony.”

“That concludes the first part of your ceremony,” The senior spoke aloud. “2 from Azuri Village, 3 from Cerulean Village, 12 from Sky Shade Village, and 1 from Cobalt Sapphire Village. That makes 18 of your moving forward to the second part.”

“As for the rest of you, I’d like to thank you for participating. I’ll have someone quickly return you back to your villages and the rest of us shall carry on.”

1- Talentless Mortals are regular humans who the world refused to open their eyes for. When the world refuses to open its eyes for someone, they cannot receive alerts mentioned in chapter 1 and they cannot have classes. Not to be confused with Classless Mortals which will be spoken more about in chapter 5