Hearing Elder Bellum’s elated voice, Alex slowly stood up. It took a moment for him to shrug off the daze and tiredness following his trial, after which he immediately looked at the Elder and spoke.

“The voice at the end, was that-?” asked Alex.

“The Queen,” answered Elder Bellum without skipping a beat.

“She is the final arbiter of the trial. Only she may test the mettle of the applicants,” he added.

“I see,” Alex spoke succinctly, content to leave it at that.

“And how long was I-?” wanted to ask Alex as the Elder once again answered quickly.

“You were inside the trial for about twelve hours, though you probably felt as if years passed on the inside,” he spoke.

Hearing the Elder’s reply, Alex started contemplating on what happened in the Trial. Still, while he was concentrating, he could feel something new inhabiting his body. It took a bit of an effort on his part, like how it usually took a bit of focus to feel your heartbeat or blood flow, but he could definitely feel something coursing through him.

Seeing the fascinated look on Alex’s face, Elder Bellum once again decided to illuminate his neophyte.

“The breath started accumulating in your body the moment it settled over this world and started permeating everything, including the air. It merely needed a trigger to surface in your body; the catalyst being the trial. The distress your soul was in during the trial forced it to adapt to its new circumstances and overcome its mortal limitations and connect with the breath already inhabiting you.” explained the Elder.

“Now what? I’ve passed the trial and the little guy – or little gal to be more exact, has been born,” Alex asked, feeling the tuggings of the soulbond between himself and the Nightmare Serpent.

“The Rite. It’s nothing grand like its name might suggest. You swear the Legion’s Sacramentum, name the hatchling, and choose a Path-name for yourself.” Elder Bellum replied with expectation in his voice.

“A Path-name?” asked Alex.

“A Path-name is something all cultivators take up as they move forward on the Great Path. It is done to signify rebirth and leaving their mortal life behind. New cultivators don’t take up a Path-name right after stepping on the path of cultivation because they must first experience a trial of adversity to earn the right to bear a Path-name. As it happens, you’ve already passed the Legion’s Trial, which doubles as your first trial of adversity – adversity against your own worst fears, which is why you get to pick one as soon as you enter the Legion. Usually, a Path-name is meant to represent an aspect of yourself, whether it be your chosen cultivation path, a quality you possess, or something that has a close connection to who you are as a cultivator. Aside from family or close friends, a Path-name is what you will use when interacting with everyone else under the Great Starry Sky,” he explained.

“You know, I can bet you’re the first one among your peers that gets to pick a Path-name this early; at least in this outpost. You should feel proud of yourself,” the Elder added.

As the Elder finished his speech, he motioned towards Moira and Cian.

“Moira, Cian, bring his new belongings.” the Elder spoke.

The twins faithfully took off towards the same arch from where they previously brought the chest containing the egg and entered it. After a few minutes, they once again came out with a chest, though this one was both smaller, less ornate than the previous one, and clearly lighter as well, considering this time the siblings didn’t seem to struggle to carry it.

As soon as they reached the spot where Elder Bellum and Alex were facing each other, they stopped and carefully placed the new chest in front of Alex, and then motioned for him to open it, which he did.

As Alex opened the chest, its contents were revealed to him. First, a silky black robe, the same kind the twins were wearing, except bigger. Then, laying directly on the robe, a pitch-black mask with no opening of any type on it, seemingly made of the same black stone everything in the Nightmare Legion seemed to be made of. And finally, three black, rectangular tokens; identical in shape, but each with a different image carved into their stony exterior.

The first token had an upright sword carved into it. The second token had an ancient seeming scroll on its surface. And the third, final, token had a humanoid silhouette represented on its carving.

Watching Alex, still observing the contents of the chest, Elder Bellum took a step forward and spoke with a certain sense of formality.

“Don the robe and mask, Legionnaire,” the Elder said.

Alex lifted his gaze from the chest towards Elder Bellum and raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in tone from him.

Immediately he saw the twins articulating wildly with their hands while making suggestive movements with their heads and faces. Understanding quickly came to him.

“The Rite. I see,” he thought.

With a little help from the twins, he donned the robe on his first try and took the mask into his hand. The smooth, black and oval surface of the mask had no seeming openings; either for his eyes or breathing.

After another encouraging gesture from the two children, he decided to trust them and put it onto his face. As soon as his face was finally fully covered by the black mask, surprise filled him. Even though the seamless surface of the mask lacked any kind of aperture, he could clearly see his surroundings as well as breathe as easily as before; it was as if he wasn’t wearing anything at all. As soon as he was done, Elder Bellum continued to speak.

“Now, kneel, Legionnaire,” Elder Bellum spoke, full of decorum.

As Alex was about to kneel, the Elder quickly added.

“On one knee. The Queen, in all her grace, does not demand absolute obedience; merely your respect. She is a free-spirit, looking for likeminded companions instead of mindless thralls.” he explained.

Hearing the Elder’s reasoning, he quickly took the knee and raised his head to look at the Elder once again.

“Now, repeat after me,” said the Elder.

“I solemnly swear never to betray the Legion, whether knowingly or unknowingly, so long as the Legion does not betray me. I solemnly swear to answer the Queen’s call, and not abandon her in her time of need, so long as she does not abandon me. I solemnly swear to decimate any and all who stand in the Legion’s path, so long as the fire of life burns within my soul” he uttered with absolute fervour in his voice.

As Alex spoke the words, he could feel their weight as if they were corporeal.

“I solemnly swear never to betray the Legion, whether knowingly or unknowingly, so long as the Legion does not betray me. I solemnly swear to answer the Queen’s call, and not abandon her in her time of need, so long as she does not abandon me. I solemnly swear to decimate any and all who stand in the Legion’s path, so long as the fire of life burns within my soul.” Alex repeated after the Elder.

“You have passed the Trial, and the Queen has found you worthy of joining our ranks.” the Elder spoke.

“And so, it falls on you to name the newborn Nightmare, for it will unfailingly follow you to the edge of the Great Starry Sky, and perhaps, beyond,” he added.

Hearing Elder Bellum’s voice, Alex began to think of a name for the little creature currently coiled around his neck. Remembering his mother’s fondness for astronomy, he quickly decided on a name.

“Nova,” Alex said with confidence.

As he spoke the new name, and he felt a slight change in the bond between himself and the Nightmare; the bond became even deeper than before. As the name rang out, it seemed to settle deep into the core of the serpent’s being. After it settled down, it raised its horned head towards Alex’s eye level and hissed with approval.

“You like it, huh? I’m glad,” Alex said, smiling kindly at Nova.

After maintaining eye contact with Alex for a little longer, Nova opened its maw with a yawn and seemed content to return to its previous position, comfily sleeping coiled around Alex’s neck. Immediately after that, the silence was once again broken by Elder Bellum.

“Just as the newly born are gifted with a name, so must a new cultivator shed his mortal life, and take a Path-name. Speak it.” said the Elder.

Hearing the way Elder Bellum first described the Rite, as well as Path-names, Alex already had a vague idea of what his would be.

With everything that happened in the last few days, especially Colin’s death, nothing was keeping Alex attached to his previous life. He had no family, and no other friends to speak of. In a way, this was a clean start for him; a clean start that offered more than he could ever imagine possible. Considering this was officially his first step on the path of cultivation, or, as Elder Bellum called it, the Great Path, he thought his choice of a Path-name fitting. And so, with confidence in his voice, he spoke.

“Farwalker. Let my Path-name be Farwalker, so that I may walk far on the Great Path.” Alex said with solemnity.

As his voice resounded with a clear ring across the hall, Alex took a moment to observe the others. The twins were looking positively giddy with excitement at him now, while Elder Bellum seemed to mull over his choice of Path-name for a moment before speaking.

“A good choice,” he added warmly before continuing, “Now, stand up proudly and raise your heads, Legionnaire Farwalker and Nova the Nightmare!”

Hearing Elder Bellum’s words, Alex stood up slowly, but with concealed confidence in his movements. As he finally stood up, he straightened his back and raised his head to match the Elder’s gaze. At the same time, Nova also lifted her horned head and looked towards the Elder.

“As an Elder of the Legion, Fifth Finger to the Legion’s 3rd Commander, and Master of this Legion’s Branch, I wholeheartedly welcome you into our ranks!” the Elder intoned in a louder voice.

Hearing the Elder’s heartfelt welcoming, Nova hissed so loudly in reply that it bordered on a roar, while Alex was content to simply nod his head in acceptance towards Elder Bellum. Shortly after, silence descended over the hall, and it was Moira who took it upon herself to break it.

“And now, we celebrate!” yelled Moira. “I told you I had a good feeling about this one, Cian.”

“Yes, yes, you won the bet, I’m watering the Ghostcrane Lilies next time,” replied Cian with defeat in his voice while a sigh escaped his mouth.

“Grand Uncle, you promised us a feast if he passed the Trial,” Moira excitedly skipped around Elder Bellum.

“Did I now? Why don’t I seem to remember? Perhaps my memory is failing me in my old age,” the Elder mused with a wolfish grin on his face.

“That’s impossible Grand Uncle, you’re not even three thousand years old yet,” Moira quickly replied with incredulity.

Hearing Moira casually mention the sheer ancientness of the Elder standing before him, Alex’s realization that nothing would ever be the same as before only seemed to cement itself further. As he was still coming to grips with the fact that Elder Bellum’s age virtually equalled the age of a good chunk of earth’s civilizations, Moira continued piling on to the Elder.

“Besides, I clearly remember you saying that the 3rd Commander promised a reward to the first branch in this world to get a recruit. We’re not even two days in on this world and look at that,” Moira continued to speak with excitement while pointing with both her small hands at Alex and Nova standing still to the side.

“You know what, Grand Uncle? I seem to recall that as well. It was part of the reason you had us stop all the other factions from recruiting him; you were aiming for the Commander’s reward.” Cian chimed in.

“Tsk, two children bullying their Grand Uncle; shame, shame on both of you,” the Elder spoke with mock sadness and disappointment in his voice.

“Fine, you’ll have your feast, but you’ll have it tomorrow morning. I’m sure our new addition is dead tired after his trial and would like to rest,” he added, “Aren’t you, Alex?”

Alex never interacted with children much, but he knew when he saw someone looking for a lifeline. Seeing Elder Bellum’s hopeful expression, Alex decided to play along.

“Yes, I’m afraid the Trial took its toll on me, and I must rest now,” Alex said.

“You see? And I would arrange a feast even now, though it hardly seems fair to do so when the one responsible for this blessing can not attend.” the Elder once again tried to weasel out.

Moira took a look at the impassive Cian and understood she was not getting any more help from him in trying to corner their Grand Uncle. She immediately turned towards the Elder and was furiously scouring her head for a reason – any reason, to make him prepare the feast now, but could simply not find one. With an audible ‘Hmph!’ she kept glaring at both Elder Bellum and Alex, understanding the two of them did something, though not quite comprehending what.

“Fine! Tomorrow morning, don’t forget this time!” she said with finality.

“Of course, now, take our recruit to the living quarters so he may rest.” Elder Bellum said, before turning to Alex.

“You’re in luck, as the first recruit you get to choose your room first,” he added with a small wink and a wolfish smile.

Seeing that obvious wink from her Grand Uncle made Moria physically groan with frustration and defeat before she turned to Alex and said.

“Ugh, let’s go. I’ll show you to the living quarters,” said Moira.

And with that, Moira took off with Alex towards the living quarters while Cian and Elder Bellum retreated through a different archway.

After a series of turns and twists, Alex found himself in a giant corridor filled with doors. As he was observing the intricate patterns carved on the stone walls as well as on the wooden doors, Moira spoke.

“Pick one,” Moira said.

In reality, Alex didn’t just play along with Elder Bellum’s little performance, he was actually tired and so was not in the mood to go room browsing.

“Uhh, this one,” Alex said, pointing towards the room closest to where they came from.

“Lucky choice, that’s the room reserved for the top recruit, though, I guess you’re the top recruit now, being the only one and all that,” Moira still spoke with a drop of annoyance caused by the previous incident.

With that said, she approached the door and turned to Alex expectantly, waiting for him to come closer as well. As soon as he did, Moira once again explained.

“Take out your Darkstone and touch the door. That will bind the room to you and you only as well as act as a key. This way, later, when hopefully more recruits will arrive, no uninvited guests will make their way into your room.” she said.

“I’ve shown you to your quarters. Now, go to sleep faster, because the faster you go to sleep, the faster you wake up, and the faster you wake up, the faster I get my feast!” Moira added with excitement as she turned around and ran off.

A small smile blossomed on Alex’s face as he took out his Darkstone and touched the door with it. In the next moment, the carvings of two soldiers with crossed spears rearranged itself. The previously crossed spears were now unlinked, indicating free passage for Alex. With a small effort, he pushed the double doors open and took a step into the room.

Inside the room, the only things that could be found were a gigantic bed filled with various pillows and silk sheets, a trunk at the base of the bed, a small ivory wardrobe, and a table near the bed, upon which, a cleansing enchantment like the one from the Hidden Star Hall could be found. This cleansing enchantment pulsed with a ghostly green instead of the deep azure of the previous one.

Too tired to look over his new room, Alex lied in bed and waited for sleep to settle over him finally. That night, Alex had the best rest in many years of his life – a rest filled with expectations for what the new day might bring, something he didn’t experience before.