"THERE!" Led by an increasing pain, he saw it .. The Link to the physical world... In fresh of air, Ceron jolted up, resting on a dull familiarity. "..." Speechless, Ceron's tongue stopped despite his rush. Warmth returned... Beth cast to his side, looked with utter bewilderment, Travis joined eyeing the miracle. Flashes of joy overwhelmed Beth, as she hugged Ceron. "Master! You're not dead!" Leaving her embrace, Travis gave a firm nod "Glad that you're looking well master." ... "Hmph.. Not dead yet, it'll take a lot more to do me in." Ceron said lightly, as if the precipice of death was planned; Felt the residual substance around his chest.

Between thumb and finger, Ceron held the bluish gel and huffed a little in amusement. So this was part of my savior, it's a potent gel... If I was anything else but in a near coma.. Well, I probably wouldn't be thinking about it. "That's my fault master.. I tried that, and failed." Reliving a lasting smirk Ceron shook his head, "Not what I'm thinking, no it was a risky decision yes.. But it was a wise one, the intense pain of my physical body had reached my inner consciousness. It was the correct choice." Exchanging a quick glance between one another, Travis and Beth smiled.

Extending her hand Beth reached for Ceron, attempting to help him up. "What happened?" She inquired with a lingering worry in tow' would it happen again, would his eyes fade and never resurface..? Ceron paused, accounting what happened in his mind, the reality he saw. The Elrax root, sentient with a drive of its own and lingering pieces of white mana... And of course, facing the cause be it his arrogance, in that thinking the demonic would follow his frail state. "A mistake." Plainly he stated, reached into his coat pockets... What he sought, was a miss. Already knowing why, how Ceron sighed, Elrax was inside him...

An odd sensation crept up, and caressed at the waist. Rubbing it Ceron found scarring, a mark ragged and split, resided not far from where the root had been. Annoyance surfaced as Ceron gritted his teeth knowing it's new found home. Undoubtedly a place vital like his heart or spinal column, places not so easily torn from. Places he himself had no ability to tackle in the current situation... Heed my words death is mercy, in or out I will be the one to devour you Elrax... Ceron tensed with silent resolve, with an incoming headache. "..Y..OU WILL. FAIL.."

Crotchety the unwelcome voice of a pitiful tumor gave presence, the words came with a price as the headache grew... "Elrax..." He could feel it inside him, infecting his body with unbridled malice and temptation to give in. An urge of emotion swelled as Ceron thought once more, The tumor needed to be dealt with, even if not able now' quicker the better. "..R..ESISTANCE.. WILL.. ONLY... EXHAUST YOU.." Reliving the headache Ceron held his head, "My thoughts... You dare invade?" Speaking in shallow whisper looks of concern took on Beth and Travis as they watched idly unable to act. ...

Yet silent after provocation, no retort or lingering pain came. You're just a shadow of the past Elrax, but a sliver; a speck, you will be the one to succumb... This new body of mine is mine alone, I'm not in the market for any roommates... As desire burned in his words, the pain came however delayed it was "..SUCCUMB.." Ceron huffed and released a small smile... so... "That's how it is Elrax?" Pity, sensing my emotional state rather than my conscious thought, though your slimy ass can probably see what I do, I'll have to watch what I say... Testing this Ceron grasped feelings of sorrow, regret focusing on his mistakes, like a fiddle a predictable tune came. That of a splitting headache.

...

A new table cloth donned, though the table remains the same. The passage of time moves mountains, shapes the continents and those living to breathe and wither, be forgotten as insignificant dust on the road. Yet the mistress of continuous change is but a fleeting facade, appearances change but the core stays the same, all with the capacity to feel and want remain as they always were and will be. Desire runs, with its seven brethren keeping any daring of change in check.

This world of mine, my inner thoughts dwell in encroaching flame, and such does the world. Even if not at first glance there is someone, somewhere being consumed by the dregs of dark and light. These effects of time may seem grand, something to idolize but it may as well be still, in stagnant water the world is the same as it has always been, I'm no different. I haven't escaped this, I am not exempt, dare not believe such delusion a curse runs though those of us mortal who feel. Yin and Yang, two sides of the same coin- No one is truly innocent, just or pious as they may make you believe. Where there is a scale on morality, there is an action to tip it.

The scope of my actions haven't waned, a week has yet to roll past and I've made myself known and there is much needed to be done. Well matters not pressing right now, shouldn't be toiled on. Not while in this ghastly place, with my newfound guest, Ceron grimaced at the thought. Slowly drew a smirk as scenes of him tearing Elrax apart formed in his mind-

Interrupting brief happiness, a stream of patter and thumping echoing, most if not all of the other participants hadn't looked, not stopping to ask if they could help. After all they were strangers and secluded by themselves, in a selection process they were no more than other contestants. "You were down for a few minutes at best master." Travis spoke as he saw Ceron's trailing vision on movement, to the center where an altar laid. To and from, streams of the shuffling went lines of people converged at the center then trailed off behind it.

"To death those who lay still..." Ceron mumbled, motioned the others to follow, "I've wasted a lot already, let's get this over with." Time passed quickly behind the mirage of people, in their assorted cloaked attire; It seemed any semblance of unity Ceron saw at the lodge was foregone, replaced with a film of anonymity, a disorganized assortment of recruits... Any and all to the flame? Or just those with some traces of magical talent, ... Ceron thought as he walked, "This is more of a disheveled cult than any entree to academy.." Peering at the outskirts, the numerous carriages that had brought them still stayed with the guides accompanying. "Keeping the monstrosities out, or keeping us in?" ... Beth winced, catching a glimpse beyond the layers of white, like a sea of endless heads hovered, attached by lethargic and thin nubs. Something massive was out there, using man-like heads as feelers, whatever it was... "Don't worry we're safe...." Travis said, "..For the moment." Ceron finished and pointed up.

There was no flame guarding the ceiling, causing the reality to strike, they were essentially prawn in a bucket readying to be plucked. "Never let an inch of what you see escape you, since I've regained my senses those guides have moved closer, it seems this selection is on a time limit." Ceron stated without any hint of emotion, a logical and dreaded fact that could turn to worse needed not be played with, it affected his life too... Dancing between strings of others again, Ceron cracked a smile, his life was threatened. Numerous since being reborn, "This... I had forgotten the feeling..." Jittering a little in slight sighs Ceron's smile grew distorted. Feeling it, quickly covering the crazed smile behind his hands. The line neared its end.

Sanity took steps back as Ceron let out a shallow laugh. "HAHAHA...." These current weaknesses, this constant danger... Fear? No more like anticipation and drive, I'll tear this infernal abomination dwelling inside and have these arrogant assholes bend knee... And maybe use Reedrick's skull as a goblet, but not before the Elfer Herb remains in my hands. Though acquiring my aids and their, knowledge has limited it use the personal knowledge of this Asriel may yet prove valuable... Barely salvaging his burst of emotion Ceron coughed, met eyes with an elderly woman.

...

The old lady's face stiffened, as Ceron stepped forward sporting a slanted grin that most likely, would make any baby who saw it tremble in fear. Travis and Beth took to his sides, giving the lady firm looks as Ceron quickly looked behind to the trail of figures. "hmm, Got 'nother weird one." In a grunt the lady spoke neither in slight or a indiscernible eagerness. Her face was dotted with scars, worn from the passage of time it seemed pleasantries were something of the past, "Well you gun' keep gawking at my voluptuous form or come closer?" Speaking once more, yellow teeth were displayed behind wrinkled and coarse lips... It couldn't be farther from the truth! Ceron exclaimed in his mind, as others most likely did too.

Lightly nodding Ceron took to the Altar's center, trying best not to stare too deeply at the woman in front, as his eyes kept trailing to a large mole protruding on her chin. Not that he wanted too it was like a beacon beckoning in defiance of all things decent and uniform. "Stop." Extending her shriveled hand, the lady pointed to Travis, quickly traced over Beth, "One. At a time, even of your affiliation this is a private matter." As stated, the two looked at Ceron, in turn was responded with an approval "I'll be fine, wait outside." Ceron said as the old lady hunched behind the Altar, pulling out a thin razor... "Go." Speaking again, Travis and Beth nodded, stopping their suspicious looks at the old lady, and went outside the Altar's circle.

The altar had sat in waste, the point of its skilled refinement had long passed. Cracked and weathered, its original use had too been swept by time now, just but a disorganized pile of goods. A black cauldron sat in the center point, had it been carved or initially used as drainage Ceron hadn't the thought. Whatever the case two shriveled arms remained behind it followed with a drab figure-

"Embrace your judgement upon this twilight dear acolyte, I bring you." The raspy voice invaded all who laid in its path, as the woman stood up wobbling, in hunchback. In a odd jerk the lady beckoned closer with a flick of her wrist and curling finger, "To discern your aptitude I require a portion of blood." Blood magic... Unperturbed by this Ceron opened his palm within reach. With the force of a hawk, the lady snatched his hand causing Ceron to slightly lean down to meet her height. Watching the knife, one could see it jitter in her hand with unskilled movements similar to a butcher carving stone she sliced a ragged cut down Ceron's palm.

Slightly tensing as she did that, crimson blotches of blood trickled down. Dripping, and accumulating in a pool at the cauldron beneath, tap..tap... Wearing an unreadable look nearly apathetic the lady in void like eyes passed a glance, handed a towel out. "Use. That to put pressure on the bleeding, I need-eht not anymore." Accepting it, Ceron quickly noticed a green substance coated it, some type of restoration mixture? Smiling in gratitude Ceron wrapped it tightly around his palm. Perhaps this hag is nicer than appearances lead one to believe... Abruptly coughing- No more like clearing of one's throat the lady poured a charcoal looking substance into the cauldron.

And in a prayer like chant, spoke in inaudible tongue filling the pot with more strange liquid. A bubbling rise soon occurred, swirling the cauldrons contents changed. The blackish and rough material loosened, morphing a texture similar to thick soup and swayed in differing hue's. Stopping the chant, the soup like liquid soon followed in tandem, settling on a gray color with trickles of white and a sliver of black. Huffing at the sight, the lady stepped back. "Have a look.".. Nodding, Ceron took view of the pot..So it's true, my mana is singed with light- The absurdity of it, me? Blessed?.. What would make me some paladin of the dark. Ceron chuckled, exasperated at the thought, this body destined for knighthood or some zealous prophet?

But drawing on a more unsettling sight, the amount overall, it was barely tangible, this aptitude or rather ineptitude is laughable at the least. Grimacing, Ceron drew attention to the obscuring gray it covered his mana entirety like a black hole. No doubt on what that could be. Wretched parasite, the black sliver?.. An affinity for dark, had my possession tainted this pious mana? Or just another face of this Asriel had been.. Coming back to reality, Ceron gave a slim smirk almost pleading at the lady- "Hm.. So you can read it can you? Then there's something you're good at fourth bracket."

Continuing, the lady threw a bronze token.. "No replacements if ye lose that. Don't come crying to me, I wager you know how to use it?.." ... Ceron nodded glancing at Beth and Travis as he walked outside the circle, paying the token no heed. It wasn't anything new.

Not good, not the worst. If the brackets are any indication, the labeling of power should be the same.. Ceron lamented at that incessant fact, this body wasn't by any means full of innate magical talent or abnormal reserves of mana. It would be an excessive amount of dedication just to make the scale of above average, still it wasn't an entirely new fact. Once long ago, my body had been weak and insignificant one isn't born strong, wise or influential. Cradled, fed and wiped was most fate for newborn.

...