AMARANTHINE

BEYOND THE EVERLASTING

BY NIE

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Chapter 2

Is it true?

.

“There is nothing good or bad, but by thinking makes it so”

.

“Is it true?”

A man halted his move, looking bewildered.

“Ye-yeah? What is it, San?”

San takes a step forward as she is pressing the poor man. “Dr. Dairis, is it true?”

Dr. Dairis is sweating. “Pardon me, but could you explain this further?”

San: “Is it true? They are real? No, everything is real?”

Dr. Dairis: “Wha? They? Who? Real?”

San: “they. Zeeloreis. Guador. Faltea. Daelos. Please, Dr. Dairis, is connected already? I mentioned almost all the keywords. Oh, and truck.”

Dr. Dairis make an O-shaped mouth, indicating he finally got the clues. San also followed him by making an almost O-shaped mouth but still looks like she was quite happy when the poor man gets the clues.

“Let’s sit for a while. Tea or coffee?”

“…”

It wasn’t heroic for the first quest. Really. At the table, there is a pile of books and a small area enough for two cans of coffee. If we had play RPG games, the setting was more epic. Like, caves or small hut. Laboratorium? Come on, it reeks medicinal a lot. And the first NPC to be our sage or tutor or mystical creature looking for help, usually said more like this; ‘I have been waiting for you, Lass/Lad’, ‘the prophecy has come, you have come’, ‘you must begin your journey’, and blabla blah. And then, the NPC will give us something like a journal book, or anything to guide us.

But, Dr. Dairis said; “Sorry, I never thought that our tea has expired. I hope you can drink coffee.” And San replied, “Oh, no problem.”

Heaven.

San slapped herself, internally.

“Please, let’s get to the point Doc.”

Dr. Dairis sat across her. Breathing slowly and begin to explain.

“What do you think?”

San could not help but making a weird expression. “What?”

“Now you are here. What do you think?”

This is wrong. Do the first epic quest like this? This is frustrating.

“It felt like, am dreaming,” San answered as it is. She was right, she felt everything is not real. Meet with Zeeloreis, that Angel of Death, who form never known by her because she was already scared just hanging beside that figure. And then, Daelos? Mana? Faltea? Everything was wreaking havoc inside. But once again, she still believed that she is still alive, despite the time a truck almost hit her.

Dr. Dairis pick his coffee. After taking a sip while letting the lassie in front of her was thinking deeply, he leisurely said: “Well, it’s true. Zeeloreis already informed your arrival to me. As usual, it will never become our habit when we met Zeeloreis. That fear, sudden cold, an uneasy feeling, will always accompany us.”

That pricked the brown-haired lady. She snapped from her thinking and stared at the man before. “Pardon me, You too?”

Dr. Dairis nodded and replied, “Of course, we all meet the Guador who responsible to take the soul after all. The Death itself. There is no way a living being would never be scared.”

San Oh-ed. She recalled the first time she met Zeeloreis and said ‘It was natural for all living-being feeling scared or fear toward us’ part. Silence filled the room once again, only a sipping sound could be heard from the man.

“Don’t you have a lot to talked about?”

San still feeling uneasy, “I… Pardon me, I don’t even know where to begin at… it’s just, this is too much. I don’t think I can bear this anymore, there should be something wrong. Aren’t Daelos already doing the swore since a long time ago, why right now? what happens to humans if we failed? No, what’s in me? Why I’m also taking the part?”

Dr. Dairis put the coffee. He thinking deeply for a while.

“Indeed, Zeeloreis is busy, very busy. Thus, it was reasonable if you have a lot of questions since the explanation was less coherent.

San Roel, we don’t force you. If you find this quite nonsense, you may quit. You have the choice to do so. I cannot say what exactly in you or why did you also take the part, but I believe, what happens to you is equivalent to how far you are capable of.”

Oh.

There.

San could see glowing bubble-like things. Flickering around the laboratory. She glanced at every corner of the room. she could feel something warm lurking around her chest, makes her feel calm. She adjusted how she behaved just now, she acted like a person who already lost her consciousness.

Haha, she smiled faintly. Yeah, she already lost them. Why thinks too much?

she takes a deep breath.

“Calm already? Faltea around here finally get your consciousness back, huh… “, Dr. Dairis took a sip again.

“Doc, my first question.”

“I was going to explain to them when you are ready.”

San takes her second-deep breath. “Pardon me, I think I’m ready”

“(Sigh) Zeeloreis sure are… making me explain the complicated part.

Daelos and their oath. Yes, they do and will always tantalize us; human-being, earth-dwellers, the most sublimed creature or any other term of us, the third-being. Formerly, Guador won’t and prohibited from interfering with this matter. But lately, Daelos and their underling activities have been outrageous. Seems Guador’s responsibilities begin to be disrupted and if prolonged, it may be agitated the World Balance.

As a matter of fact, death and life, something that should keep hidden, direct or indirect blessing, everything will mess up.

For example, you. Yesterday, almost died. I suppose Zeeloreis already told you, yesterday its not the time of your death, yet. But Daelos and their underling break those and harmed you, indirectly. The person who pushed you was a mere human, that fell to the lure. Being greedy and all, he hunted for the likes as the next scapegoat. The purposed is simply, to gain greater Mana. Oh, that’s right, in elementary school, you should already know this before; about Mana, Faltea, those blessings.”

San put away the information up until now. she nodded and added, “I only know the common picture of them. If I am not mistaken, there is a different about direct and indirect blessing. Zeeloreis only taught me about Faltea, how about Mana?”

“Mana. As supreme and magical power, they don’t do the indirect thing. They are all direct. Precisely because they are the form of one desire, thus they born as the bundle of blessing between the darkness. But, from this, you should differ them as Passive and Active Mana. The Passive, they formed from the mediator, it can be an accessories, talisman, amulet or charms, anything. Even a living-person could be the mediator to attach the passive Mana. They influenced the user’s Mana.”

San: “Oh, like buff-skill or boost items huh?”

“What?”

San: “Nothing. Please continue…”

“The passive one, they mostly boosting the user ability. Thus, a person with Mana if they also have a passive one, truly difficult to deal with. To attach them, you need sacrifice, the more the better, the higher the position of sacrificial like a human, the greater you get the effect. The sacrifice is the price.”

San understands something, the person who pushed her, wanted to attain greater passive mana then. If thinking like this, she is quite sad, her dead become someone only-booster and a passive one at that. What a hassle. Just for that, there she is now. no fair. San affirms her wish, if she met the person who pushed her, she will make a reckoning with him.

“Pardon me, Doc. May I inquire a question?”

Dr. Dairis: “Go ahead.”

“What happened to the person who pushed me? I suppose he wanted me to become his sacrifice, am I right?”

“Oh, you already connected. Experience is the best teacher. Well, Zeeloreis said that matter was finished. Perhaps, has been rout? There is no way I would like to know how grim reaper's method of finishing the job.”

What

And here, she wanted to give him a pay-back. Again, no fair. It should be her.

“You can ask Zeeloreis later about that.

Now, get to the active Mana. They don’t use a mediator. Simply empty-handed. As the desired begin, thus within the right price, they will form active mana. You could expect healing, shield, or maybe assault kind of result, depending on the desire.”

San understood them quickly since it happened on most of the RPG-games or novel.

San: “do active mana also perform like controlling elemental matter?”

“Of course, human’s desired was beyond the limit. Fire, water, air, earth or another elemental that I could not sort them. Even rain, thunder or maybe if the sacrifice was tremendous, for example, a crowd of humans, maybe they could perform a tsunami.”

Woah, feeling supreme already. San understood again, no wonder we are easily tempted. Just by hearing this, she imagined what will she do when she got bored. Oh, did she mention bored? Haha

How frightening.

“Ho-how to defeat them, Doc? I think it’s impossible to defeat them. Since they have something like that. That reminds me, what does exactly Faltea do?”

“one by one, Lass.

As for Faltea. It’s troublesome if you don’t experience them on your own. But I will give you an example. A moment ago, you lost your selves, aren’t you? You still think that this is nonsense or why it should be me instead. Thus, you feel lost. And then, you see those glowing bubble things. What do you feel at that time?”

San recalled the memory. “well, something is lurking warm inside my chest. And then, I feel calm all of sudden.”

“Good, that’s enough. The calmness, what do you think?”

San cannot recognize what was the question meant, and making a weird face.

“I will give you a hint. Every human being has something called ‘Heart’. Each of them responsible for managing one person feeling. The calmness you felt was something that could influence your heart. The calmer your heart is, the better you are. Thus, you can think more clearly or do something that won’t weigh you down. But that different when your heart won’t calm down. You become easily being bothered, upset, confused, or disordered.

Imagine your heart is like a room, and imagine the space of your room indicated how far you tranquilize. When your heart becomes more composed, thus space will spacious. Then, you added some problems inside, added ten to twenty problems you just made yesterday. Since its spacious, you won’t mind no matter how much problem there is.

However, when your heart was less composed. Space will become cramped. Just added two problems and poof, there is no space left for you. Thus, you will easily be agitated.”

San finally understood how calmness influences the heart. Yet, she concludes. Did Faltea is more like the power of nothing then? Is just changing a feeling, what so special? Even taking a break could change them. She is imagined if she must face a tornado born from Mana with that.

“I know you are thinking about how useless Faltea is”

Gulping. San took a sip of her coffee and shifting her gaze since it hit directly to her mind right now.

“Haha, no need to act. It is normal if you think like that. As I said, this is just an example of many examples and miracles that could happen with Faltea. You should begin your train to learn more of your Faltea, Lass.”

San: “that’s right, what train? Like military lessons? Zeeloreis also said ‘Aelux Open-Hall Realm’, what’s that?”

Dr. Dairid sighed and muttering ‘one by one, please’.

“I was going to send you there. Well, whenever you are ready. Training, hmm… should I make a spoiler here?” he chuckled and finished his coffee. “as for training, ask Zeeloreis again since the one and ‘only’ one who trains you will be the grim-reaper itself. I suppose every Guador will train their students each differently.”

Huh, each student? Every Guador? Wait, too much. Too much information bleaching.

“you are making a lot of funny faces. Alright, I know you already run out of patience. To the Aelux, your times in this world will be stopped, thus how long you were there you will come back at an exact time when you departed.”

“Huh? Wa— “

“See you soon.”

A wind suddenly slapped her face as she closed her eyes tightly. She didn’t know how light could blind her. Up until a moment ago she was sitting, but the wind could launch her body as she was flying, forcefully at first and when the wind calmed down, she felt her body flying slowly. and then, her feet already touching a land.

San opened her eyes gradually.

Inside her viewing.

She could see wide blue skies and white puffy clouds. Not really below but more like in the same height, she saw flying landscapes forming a flying island ties each other with bridges and stairs. In the center of the islands, she could saw an enormous building that looks eye-catching even from afar. Tree and greeneries, bushes and flowery, ornamented sky pillars, the bridges, long white stairs, and radiant gateways.

Just by looking at the places, she felt dazzling. She could feel the warmness all over her inside and soft coldness behind her back. Once again, tranquilize taken over her.

“Is… is this heaven?” she muttered to herself. She wanted to pinch her nose.

“No. this is Aelux Open-Hall Realm.” Said a person next to her.

She quickly turned to the side and saw a person with fair skin and short-cutting black hair wearing a white blouse and long black pants, she covered her blouse with long sleeves black tuxedo. Seemingly elegant. San thought she is an office worker.

“U-uh… “

as always, San confused either to-agreed with her or wanted to know the woman beside her first.

The woman gazed her and added, “which means, we are in the Aelux realm. But not that far to heaven. A realm beyond space and time in our world.”

Wow, such information. She must be well informed before. Then, San thinks how can she stuck with the busiest Guador, she meant that Zeeloreis, and the clumsier lecturer, she meant that Dairis. They are not even giving her detailed information like these.

San smiled at her, “Th-Thanks for the information… umm… “

“Vera, Vera Smith.” The woman presented her hands, indicating to shaking hands.

“I am San, San Roel. Nice to meet you, Vera.” San grasped her hand and shakes gently.

“San… Roel. You are, do tell me that—”

Her voice cut off from a sound behind them.

“WHOAAA, LOOKS FLYING ISLANDS!!”

San and Vera being startled and looked behind together.

“Qai, calm yourself will you!?” spotted a man that halted the screaming one.

“ow, come on, don’t be stimulate-blocker, Alais. I know we just met but we should explore this place together!”

Two people approached where San and Vera standing. They both male, the left one with greyish black hair and wearing a dark-purple blouse with long sunny color trousers. While the right one, the screaming one just now, has brown hair and wearing short sleeves white t-shirt with a huge image a tiger face printed and long black trousers. They fixed their stares at the two ladies in front of them.

“oh, another one. hello hello!” the brown hair one waving his hands as reaching toward the two ladies. San waving back and smiled faintly, while Vera doesn’t respond anything and continued stared the males with solid expression. “My name is Qaile Sav and here is… “

“Alais Blythe. Just Alais, it’s fine.” The others quickly talked.

Followed by their introducing, Vera the first person who talked with only, “Vera”

Seems like Vera doesn’t like talking as she was wearing stoic expression, or so she thinks.

“And my name is San Roel. Nice to meet you, Qaile and Alais.”

Qaile looking at her with a bewildered expression, Alais only have a slight O-shaped mouth and almost wide-eyed at her while Vera looking at her also with the same impassiveness but slightly you could feel a piqued at her eyes.

“THAT… THAT SAN ROEL???”

Oh, here we go. The screaming one. Qaile’s voice was loud enough to be called as screaming. Or maybe the places were too calm and serenity that makes his voice somewhere higher.

“lower your voice, Qai.” Alais tapped Qaile’s shoulder.

“Sorry, sorry. It just… “

Alais: “Yeah, we know.” Alais back to his composure, “nice to meet you too, Vera and San.”

San wondering why they look bewildered at her name. she is not doing anything wrong or something outrageous. Yeah, not yet. But, is there something happen with her?

Vera: “Let’s move. the meeting will begin soon.” Both Qaile and Alais nodding while San still dumb-founded after hearing the latter part.

Heaven. What again, what meeting? Why she is like a lost puppy that her owner doesn’t even give her enough care and loves? She hesitatingly wanted to ask them but she thinks it would be wise to sit and watch first. No, more like, if she asked she will lose some face. What kind of Guador and tutor that doesn’t give her well information?

Hence, she tagged along too.

They walked at a steady pace, although Qaile said they should take a slow pace since he wanted to sigh-seeing first. But Vera and Alais denied him quickly. They take a long-white-stairs that connected where they landed to the center island, straight toward the enormous building.

While walking along the staircase, San could see there is another flying terrain below. She could see a wide green lake that it surfaces reflected the skies above. As she could see the lake formed from a waterfall located on the west island. As they near the end of the stairs, they could hear the sound of the waterfall.

They arrived and before they were a huge golden gateway. San stared inside and could see there are a hundred, no, almost a thousand people. They are standing and forming a big cycle layer by layer.

Alais: “Oh, looks like it’s not begun yet. Let’s take place quickly.”

From outside, sure it looks crowded. But as soon as they step inside, it’s like the never-ending wide hall and the gap was more than enough. They took the outer layer one and standing side by side. There is a total of five layers that forming a cycle.

As soon as they reserved their place. A bell ringing, it's sound enough to catch the crowd attention. A figure comes forward from the center podium. Wearing a white hooded-robe and embroidered with yellow and black patterns. The figure has a hood that making a shadow area, prevent others to see its face or upper part.

“Whoa, that must be a Legius.” Qai, out of nowhere, his voice caught by San.

What? Who? Legius? How did he know? San doesn’t know anything about another creature or being and what’s it looks like, as she never dared to peek at Zeeloreis. One thing for sure, she is less-informed.

“Ho-how did you know, Qai?” San bravely asked him.

Qai: “Well, Arie, the Guador who choose me, told me so. Arie said; ‘after the whole attention comes to the center, a Legius will comes forward and explain something’. And Arie added, Legius is a soul that ripped before the end of their time, they lost because they have been mistreated. I asked what mistreated meant and Arie said; being a sacrificed, getting cursed to death, or anything that involved mischievous matter, hence, indirectly makes them lose their soul.”

Thank you. Really. Your Guador was kind enough to give you such good information, even answering your question exactly as you wanted hahaha.

San: “wait, it’s like they don’t do anything bad but wrongly dead before the time because another person wanted them as sacrificial?”

Qai: “Yep. Poor souls, Arie added and I think so too.”

San Oh-ed. She agreed. But stopped when it hit her. She almost becomes one of them though, she almost being hit by a truck yesterday, hahaha. Not bad when Zeeloreis already keeping an eye to her. Not bad. She should be grateful for that.

The figure, Legius, standing at the center of the podium. A slight movement between the middle part of the robe and gleaming blue crystals appeared beside the figure.

“We, thank you for bracing the pledge, instead of all Guador. Welcome, to the Aelux, Open-Hall Realm.”

The voice echoes as silence filled the room afterward.

The gleaming crystals getting bigger and bigger. It filled the entire vault at the center of the hall. With a quick pace, the crystals forming a landscape. With such attention, the onlookers could take a hint, it was a map of Aelux Open-Hall Realm.

“In front of you, was the map or Aelux Open-Hall Realm. there is a total of 8 isles. The first island you came by, the south one, is the station between the Earth and this realm. which we called them Ferma Plains. Heading to the stairway, you will arrive at the second island, which is where you are right now. we called this place as Casala Hall. Going outside and straight to the north you will meet a bridge that connected to the innermost island, Sentra. Sentra will be our command post as well as our main office. Sentra has three pathways. To the west, you will meet a bridge that connected to a library, Lebera. you can read the books freely but you cannot bring them to your world. To the north, you will meet a stairway that connected to the training grounds. You will start your training there accompanied by each of Guador who responsible for you. To the east, you will meet a bridge that connected to the Gallery of Reflection. A place to meditate as well as resting, here you will find a lodge, small plaza, sauna, health facility, and garden. The Gallery also connected with a stairway to the southeast island. Downright, you will arrive at Gaffany Lake. It’s also a place purposed for meditating and rest. The waterfall that filling the lake was from the upper land on the middlemost west island. Unfortunately, the only administrator could get to access them.

If you lost you may find a map attached in a stone tablet available on each island. If you need further information related to your job or training you may come to the reception at Sentra. The library and the Gallery always enabled to be accessed every time you visit.

We think that’s enough for introducing Aelux Open-Hall Realm. if you have any questions about the places and so on, you may inquire at Sentra after this meeting ended.

Let’s get to the training session.”

The crystals changing the form at a quick pace. It forming a letter ‘TRAINING’.

A bell ringing for the second time and a blue crystal appeared in each of the audience. They emit and fade as well as release a scroll. All the audience hold the scroll spontaneously as they opened it.

“that paper described when and what is your training session begins, each has different things. You may group with other students under the same Guador and you may not. After you arrive at the training grounds, you will find seven bases. Each base symbolized each Guador you are under to. To enter the training session, you must stand above the base and use the password. Each guador has a different password. This is intended for safety and privacy reason. The password you may get them when you stand at the base for the first time.”

As the Legius ended the explanation. The scroll in each audience started appeared a black ink and forming a letter, then a sentence, then become a whole schedule and table list. The hall once again becomes noisy.

The bell-ringing again and the hall suddenly muted.

“that’s all for today meeting. Please, for all the students, directly headed to the training grounds as you will start your first-training, here and now.”

The Legius turned around and slowly faded. Afterward, the hall becomes rowdy. Some of them started stood up and headed outside, exactly to the north.

It looks like everyone heading to the training grounds.

San was there. Standing while looking at her scroll. She does understand what the Legius said, but she doesn’t understand one thing. She folded the scroll and opened them, and then folded them back, opened them and keep doing so.

Why her scroll doesn’t emit any letter, sentence, nor schedule and table list?

It is empty. Wow.

She suddenly feeling overly-dramatic. Why did such a thing happen to her? It was like, she is an outcast. A mixture of feeling like an outsider and everything is wrong, she wasn’t chosen. It’s not her. She is feeling she hasn't received enough love. (T.T)

Someone tapped her shoulder. She turned her head to the side.

“shall we get going to the training ground, San?” Vera asked her. She noticed the brown-haired lady beside her has become quiet and wearing a sad expression. “what’s wrong, San?”

San wanted to show her scroll. But stopped when somebody, suddenly, burst into the conversation.

“SAN?? As if, that, SAN ROEL??”

San and Vera stared at the two-person that standing not too far from them. They looked very young, and not too tall, like a sibling. Since they looked alike.

San wanted to answer but got suddenly stopped again. Someone with familiar screaming answered them in her place.

Qai: “YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. THE REAL LIVING-PERSON.”

“OH MY GOD. IT’S REAL, LEVI, IT’S REAL!!” the enthusiastic one, a blonde two-side tail haired girl grasping the person beside her.

“Yeah, I know, I can see her, Big sis. Please lower your voice, and stop jumping already.”

Alais step into the conversation. “Pardon us, but who might you be?”

“Aiyah, sorry. Me, Leis Ius and he is my twin brother, Levi Ius. Nice to meet ya!” Leis smiled brightly. Her twin brother, Levi, nodded and smiled toward the four older-people.

Alais: “I’m Alais Blythe. This is Qaile Sav, the center one is San and beside her is Vera.”

Thank you for the short introduction.

San cannot help the urge to ask.

San: “I’m sorry to ask something like this. But why you all look so shocked when hearing my name? I… I didn’t do anything wrong right?”

“No.” Vera quickly answered her.

“WHAT, NO NO NO.” both Qaile and Leis answered together.

Alais adjusting his eyeglasses and added, “San, did you know, you are quite popular among us.”

San jaw dropped. “What. Did. I. do?” she is pressing the question.

Leis wanted to reply but stopped by Levi as she was too noisy. Qaile on the other one got jabbed by Alais as he knew Qaile would make a misconceived looking by his habit, although they just met.

It left with Vera.

Vera: “San, every Guador choose students. Do you know how many students they are?”

San: “Umm, could not say I know. How much for each Guador?”

Vera: “around hundreds and more.”

San: “Woah, no wonder there is so many people inside before. So that’s meant there are around 600 students.”

Vera: “not quite. San, do you know you are the one and only student from Zeeloreis’s branch?”

San: “I don’t know.”

Silence filled with them.

“WHAT” she could not help but shocked. Zeeloreis and Dr. Dairis didn’t say anything to her. This is so cruel. She is too innocent.

Leis get to released from her brother and enthusiastically said; “WHAT A LEGEND, and you are still alive! Despite being the only student from Zeeloreis.”

Qaile holds the pain and added; “Heaven yeah, I know. Psst, we are talking the Zeeloreis here, the Angel of Death. How is it San? Become the only student, I meant.”

Alais: “Guys, can we proceed to the grounds? The hall almost empty.”

Levi: “Alais big bro was right. Stop annoyed her, Big Sis.” Levi pulling his sister's arms and dragged her. They all followed them as they headed to the training grounds together.

San still could not believe it. She is walking sluggishly.

As the other chatting along the way,

Qai: “you guys still at first high schoolers? Oh wow, younger than me.”

Leis: “Yep. We both twin siblings and attended the same school in Magla city.”

Qai: “Wait, I’m also from there! I’m Magla university’s student. I’m majoring in Machine Engineering.”

Levi: “Really? We are in the same city then. Who else? Vera big sis? Alais big bro? San big sis?”

Alais: “no, I lived at Jaego. I’m working as Secretary at Knoa Institute.”

Vera: “I’m mostly spending at Uddsey City. Since the main office where I’m working was located there.”

San didn’t want they noticed how unhappy she was.

San: “well, I’m also lived at Magla. I’m Magla university’s student and majoring in Nutrition and Health Science.”

Qaile and Leis both expressing such a hype. As they were chatting and hyping earnestly, they arrived at training grounds. As always, it looks crowded outside. But once step into the grounds, it seemed like the place was wide enough and never feeling cramped. Not far at each corner of the ground there is a grand staircase and lies beyond them was the seven altars. Its gleaming green lights and sparks, indicating the person who used them got transmigrated and faded.

Looks like each altar was still pre-occupied. There were still many students waiting for their turn. Sometimes they didn’t mind to let the other use the altar first.

Yes, all the base except one, San quickly recognized a dimmed greyish gleaming base. That Zeeloreis’s branch. Should she go? She doesn’t feel to do so and it’s will better if all the students already enter their bases. Yes, San will wait until she is the last one.

Or so she hopes.

Leis: “San Big Sis, look at your base! You should go quickly!”

Here we go again.

Qaile: “Woah, even the base looks dead to me. It’s really alright to enter yours?”

Levi: “San Big Sis, it’s fine. Don’t take what Qai Big Bro said!”

Alais: “It doesn’t die, it just waiting for the student to enter. You should notice every student who enters and then the base will turn to green lights. San, go quickly. I also want to see that.”

Gulping. She glanced around. There were still so many students (T.T).

Vera patted her back; “It’s okay, we cheering you on.”

Your words didn’t help at all (T.T).

San sighed and take a slow pace. Approaching the base. She took the grand staircase. She grumbling inside, why the base she should enter was located EXACTLY at the center. the fourth one since there are seven altars for seven Guador.

Now she is standing before the altar. One more step and she will enter the boundary of Zeeloreis’s base.

Silence and whispering filled the entire room. San swore she could hear anything almost clearly from the upper side.

“is that San Roel?”

“its Zeeloreis right?”

“hope that she is still alive until the training ended”

“Hey, don’t say anything like that!”

Woah, being Zeeloreis chosen one would become popular like this. San thinks; one death will be remembered than thousands birthday. As she felt them so.

Leis: “GO, FIGHT, SAN BIG SIS!!”

Heaven. Please.

Qaile: “I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!”

Leis: “YEAH, LET’S EAT TOGETHER AFTER YOUR TRAINING ENDED!!”

Seriously, they just met and they feel like the bond tied quickly.

San chuckled a bit and bracing herself. She takes the last step.

The moment she entered the base. All the voices and sound outside become muted. She could see the color of the gleaming turned into a green one. she can’t see the audience’s response below since she is back facing them.

Then a sound comes right to her ear.

“San Roel.”

San as being silent as it is, still thinking for a moment. She thought some kind of system called her for confirming it was her. But afterward, there is nothing come out.

“…”

What? Don’t tell me that is the password?

“WAS MY NAME?”

Where is the safety and privacy reason for this? It’s not safe and private, her name already popular enough among all the students. Good grief, of all kind of password. Make it more epic, for example, a question or morses code. A suddenly-I-become-famous name, and it is HER NAME?

She wanted to make feedback and justification for this. No, it will be better if she is permitted to access the setting and jabbed the modify-your-password. After this, she must go to Sentra.

This is too much. She knew she is taking too long inside the base. She turned to the side only to find all the remaining bases become dimmed greyish, as there is no one step inside. She turned again and find all the students fix their gaze straight to her.

Ugh, she is not feeling well.

Since all the sounds muted, she cannot hear what happen outside. But the conversation exactly goes like this:

“why she is not entered yet?”

“What happens? She looks shocked or panicked inside.”

“maybe the password was too much for her.”

“you meant, too long.”

“poor her, being the only student of Zeeloreis. The safety must be higher than us.”

“…”

While san thinking; “they think, I must be crazy.”

San deep sighed. She closed her eyes and mumble the password.

“San. Roel.”

A flashing green comes straight to her view. As she was being absorbed inside.

When she felt nothing comes again, she slowly opened her eyes. and she meets a huge hall without the roof surrounded by green plains and clear blue skies. She was standing at the stone floor, the hall filled with pillars side by side, there is nothing roof above as she can see the sky. Around the hall, filled with greeneries plains.

This is her training grounds.

A moment ago, once she comes, she is feeling normal. But then, she can feel the familiar feeling around her. She knew Zeeloreis was there.

“Welcome. To your training session.”

There. That voice enough to shaking her mentally. Dr. Dairis was true, no living-being can bear this as their habit. No matter how often they met.

San was looking around, as she found nothing anew. She didn’t know the original figure of Zeeloreis. Does that mean, Guador doesn’t have a physical form?

“yes, Guador doesn’t have a physical form.”

How she missed the slip-slapping conversation with Zeeloreis.

San standing and facing the sky. Really. It looks awkward, she doesn’t know where to face Zeeloreis since the voice filled the entire ground.

“let’s get starting with a warm-up.”

San: “Wait, wait. May I inquire a question?”

“Sure. Go ahead.”

San: “why my scroll is empty? There are no schedules nor letters here.”

“Oh, our training different than the other. Our session will begin every hour in your world.”

“…”

GOOD GRIEF.

San: “Pardon me, every one hour?”

“Yes. Hence, you will surpass faster. I recommended you to visit the library and train your Faltea here. If you find yourself tired, you can visit the Gallery area for a bit rest. Then come back to your world and the next hour you will continue your training.”

Everything was wreaking havoc. Surely it is convenient when we enter the Aelux Open-Hall Realm while our time in our world is stopped. Should we back we will find the exact-seconds we departed, not decreased nor increased.

San: “one more. How come the password for me was my name? “

“because it’s simple and clear.”

San: “uh, I was expecting more safety and privacy reason for this.”

“you already acquired them, without you noticed.”

San sighed, “lastly, why you don’t say that I’m the only student from your branch?”

“that is not important, child. Now, this training is going nowhere. Let’s get going.”

San deeply-sighed, she knew she would never retort back. Guador is strict with rules.

“First, for our early session: Warm-up. I will list the sequences for warm-up.”

From under the soil, a tablet stone rises. It’s huge. From the surface, a letter formed by blue radiant ink. Thus, they formed letter by letter. The stone around the upper-middle corner forming a cycle. It forming a huge clock as there is the digital one under.

The table stone goes like this:

Warm-up I session

Heel raises counted for thirty minutes each one Side lunges counted for thirty minutes each one Arm rotations counted for thirty minutes each one Jumping jacks counted for thirty minutes each one jogging around the hall, thirty times every training session.

San was shocked.

This is not warm-up. This is tormenting. Wait, did she recall this is ONLY a warm-up? How will her training go?

“As you can see the tablet stone can change the list, each list will vanish as you finished them. The clock and the digital below will help you to count the time. After the warm-up session finish, we will head to the inner part-session. Of course, We will accompany you during the training.”

It’s not that she is weak. She is only ordinary. She is not too excelling at academics nor sport. She is doing fine. Therefore, recalling the list for warm-up; she could only say, I’m just human being.

Ok, she is weak. She admitted that.

San could not retort back. Is she doing the chores semi-obediently.

…

…

…

San staring at the sky. She was lying on the floor since she just took a small rest.

Now, she is already in the middle of her training. Still not finished though.

She raised her right hand to the sky as she was deeply thinking.

Warm-up. Basic learning of sword practice, archery practice, galloping horse practice. Basic meditating practice. Basic self-defense practice. Basic life-skill practice. And at last, evaluation.

She counted one by one. she sighed when she realized something, she is still at sword practice. There are still six practices to do.

“done with your rest?”

My, she positioned herself to sit.

San: “I don’t understand. I know we will face them, soon. But we are lived in the modern era, 21st century. Pardon me for my rudeness, I fear if the opponent using guns and bomb we will be obliterated quickly. Sword, even bow is not enough to confront them.”

“your way of thinking is beyond help. They are effective as it is. Everything, there is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Keep trained and managed them, those essential to strengthening both physical and mental.

Child, the important lesson you should remember when you face opponent using mass destructive methods; don’t respond them with mass destructive methods, focus on yourself and the opponent, you may avoid or defend, but when you choose to attack, instead of the mass method you should go with the combined method. Therefore, you would not be obliterated quickly.

That’s way, learning the basics is essential to develop how far you can attain. The basic is the foundation for Faltea after all.”

San thinking more deeply. Zeeloreis is right.

In conclusion, the stronger your body, your mind will follow. As for mass method, Zeeloreis must be meant, an AOE skill won’t do any good to AOE user. Since you will damage your surroundings further. it would be great if you defend or avoid when AOE has been release and attack at the cooldown period before the opponent attacking again with another mass method, that called combined method.

Honestly, she has one more advantage; she is fairly experienced related to RPG games and combat systems. She has upper handed when it is related to RPG’s theory.

Yes, she is too weak.

San gets up and starts to handle the wooden sword.

…

…

“Again. Your posture is too stiff.”

“redo it.”

“follow your airways while breathing. Closed your eyes and eventually, your pupils will follow the breath too.”

“Keep your composure. Hold your horse.”

“what this? It’s too salty, you never cook before, aren’t you?

“don’t complain. Life-skill is essential for living-being. you should learn how to survive.”

“Alright, we have finished the whole training for now. as for your evaluation, everything except meditating is not even near to our goals. Eventually, intensive and routine training will make up for this. You may leave the training ground. When you get back to your world, see you at the next hour.”

…

…

San was sitting lifeless at the bench near the Plaza. She could not believe it she counted the training was almost taking the whole day to finish them. She wanted to take some rest and eating at the Lodge, oh and sauna for replenishing her energy.

But her body already ran out of energy and she finds herself sitting at the plaza. There were not many students around, only four to five people here, maybe they still doing the training.

San gazing around. She should have taken a bath first, her sweat making her body more uncomfortable.

She stood and begin to walk slowly to the sauna.

…

“Ah, so refreshing.” San drying her hair. She just comes out of the sauna. It’s great, once she comes, all her tiresome gone. Now she only needs something to fill her stomach.

And something crosses her mind.

Huh?

Eat?

Can she eat here and when she comes back to her world, she still feeling full?

Nice question. When she trained here, does it affect when she comes back? The times have stopped, right? Can this be true?

“want some refreshment?”

San turned to the side and find a familiar figure. “Vera,”

“I suppose you already finished today’s training, right? Here, I brought some sweet.” Vera offers her a plate of cookies and muffins.

San: “Thanks. I guess I will take a cookie. I wanted to eat some rice thought.” San grabs a cookie and started chomp.

Vera: “I will accompany you.”

They started heading to the lodge and order some food and beverages.

San: “It’s free, wow, how convenient this realm. I should visit this place often.” San played her food for a while she takes an omelet and warm lemon tea.

Vera took a chair across her. “Well, I don’t have any objective. This place builds for rest after all.”

San: “Just now, I was wondering, do everything we do here will take effect when we go back?”

Vera: “Yes. If you eat here then you will be full even when you go back.” Vera took the first bite of her sandwich. San wondering if she should not go back and play her games or read her comics and novels here instead. “But you cannot come back here if you are not in training or invitation periods.”

Yeah, San cannot say either she should be feeling grateful or sad. Her training schedules are every one hour in her world.

Vera: “normally, we can go and back as we pleased if that is because of training or invitation. But if not, then you cannot.” Vera is a nice woman, she might have a stoic expression and less talking to people, but she talked a lot with San.

San: “that reminds me, how is your training Vera?”

After taking a sip of water, “Not bad. I supposed tomorrow will be different. Today I just have to recite and make a review about basic Faltea and meditating course.”

“…”

Heaven calamities mentally.

San: “that’s all?”

Vera nodded. “I just been into the library, they sure have so many books then I come to the lodges to take some sweet. After that, I met you.”

San: “Pardon me, today’s training? When is your training schedule, Vera?”

Vera opened her scroll and showed them to San as she was explaining, “my session began once a day. The hours it’s random though. How about your training San?”

San could see a detailed-schedules even the list of practice for training. If she made a comparison, she wanted to say, that she is being bullied. But San slowly showed her scroll. The empty.

Vera: “Why is it empty? Does that mean you are not taking any training?”

San: “No, quite the opposite. My session began every hour.”

Vera calmly took a sip of her drink. She coughed and said; “Must be hard. Your training more intensive than us. May I ask the reason?”

San: “I’m hopeless in every aspect and practice.” She is not lied, that the conclusion when Zeeloreis announced her first evaluation.

Vera Oh-ed and drank her water again. “training every hour huh… May I accompany you? when you already finished your training I mean. We can spend some time in the library, take a bath, have some refreshment and explore somewhere. If you wanted, we could do some spar.”

San sighed. “please, stop with training, I’m being bullied here. But I’m fine if you wanted to.”

Vera finished her meal. “Don’t worry, Zeeloreis doesn’t torment you. If I seek what the background, Zeeloreis wanted you to be strong and more independence.”

San: “everyone will say something like that to console me.”

Vera: “No. I heard this from Gevee, the Guador who trained me. Gevee said Zeeloreis is different. Despite being the most-feared, Zeeloreis more understand what is life and regrets. Surely being the Guador who responsible for lacerated living souls, Zeeloreis is the closest with all living beings. hence, no wonder Zeeloreis wanted you to surpass them. If I may say; Zeeloreis cared your being.”

San choked her meal. Vera patted her back and calming the brown-haired woman.

The latter part sounds sweet (UwU). Despite everything that happens to her.

“You know, I will tell you how I was before this happened.”

Thus, San started her tale.

…

“You have it hard.” Vera drank her water for the second time. San is nodding.

San: “I know, what would you do if you are in my place?”

Vera: “I cannot imagine that, but if you say so; I will surely faint.”

San: “Huh, why?”

Vera: “It’s over my capabilities. Gevee said all living beings will be scared and fear when they met Zeeloreis. Thus, I will add; something happened to you, it’s meant for you. Even if another trying to reach them, if it meant for you, no one can then.”

The latter was familiar when she heard this. Why is it people around her was more enlightened? She wanted to grow up faster and be enlightened too. She drank her warm drink.

She is lucky to meet Vera. Indeed, the students who were chosen weren’t a bad person. They may be talked a lot, but that is natural for living-being.

San understands, Vera wanted to motivate her. San stood up and said, “please accompany me to the library. I… wanted to learn more.” Vera smiled and nodded.

…

…

As they were spending time at the library.

San recognizes that Vera was a pharmacist at Public Health. She was working in Non-Governmental-Organization. Since her project takes around the world, she doesn’t have a stable residence. But she mentioned that she spent mostly in Uddsey city since her main office located there. Since she is wanderer, she made a house in each city for a convenient reason. She has been an orphan since she was a child. Her parents died from a tragedy in Mime city. She only mentioned that a group of delinquents suddenly rampaging an office where both her parents work at. San stated her condolence and apologized for making her recalled unpleasant memories.

They spent reading some book and discussing to comprehend more.

Meditation is the easiest practice but mostly forgotten. All you do was practice to recollect your inner compassion and clearing indecent thought by breathing. Just breathing slowly then deeply. You may try this;

Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Inhale and hold your breath in for two seconds. Focus the part where you change from inhaling to exhaling and vice versa. Try not too fast. Focus on your muscle reaction when you are breathing. Inhales, and feel the diaphragm, throat muscles, and shoulder shift as you will exhale. If you need, you may place your hand on that part so you can feel the muscles. For slower meditation; inhales for four seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds then exhales over the eight seconds.

Tips for meditation provided you to try this at quiet places, have a comfortable position and remove any distractions. It would be great if you practice this every day and in no-time, you will do this more naturally.

San closed the book. she is feeling dissatisfied, she realized she only excel one thing. Meditation. While the book clearly said that is the easiest practice. She cannot be proud yet, she should start her training again and prevailing the other practices.

She stood up and start heading to the combat bookrack.

…

…

…

“San big Sis, what you are reading?”

“Woah, nice. As expected from the Zeeloreis’s only student. You must be ambitious. The book about mastering archery faster, huh?”

“stop that Qai. I’m not ambitious, I just lacking in every aspect.”

“I’ve been trained with archery when I still in high school, I can teach you some tips.”

“That would be great, I appreciate that, Alais.”

“Let me in, let me join!”

“Leis, calm down, this is the library.”

“San, look at this book. ‘Life-Skill #1: Medication and Fitness’ I’ve read some and I think it’s enough understandable. Here.”

“Thanks a lot, Vera.”

They helping San a lot. As time passed, they decided to give a short trip to the Gallery, finding some rest and go back to the world.

…

…

…

A day has passed. The next morning, San wakes up from her slumber. Her face looks fairly paled, she blinked and get up. Her room was as tidy as ever. Before this occurred, she would found herself awake at her chair. Right in front of her laptop. Also, her room always in a messed state. By the time she arrived home from campus, her room mostly tidied up by her grandma.

Since yesterday. Since her training sessions began. No, exactly every 18 hours left. She spent most of her time for training, go back to her world, reading quick-notes she makes when she read the books at Lebera (The library where take place at Aelux Open-Hall Realm), take a quick-nap, and began her training again. Except when she asleep, Zeeloreis told her training no matter how long, when she goes back she will awake exactly at four o’clock in the morning.

She glanced at her clock. It’s exactly pointing at 4.

Being an early-bird, she opened her window. Usually, she would be slapped with the brightness of the sun. yet, she found only darkness and dark purple sky. Indicating, the sun is hidden yet.

Her stomach growling. Yeah, since the last training yesterday she only takes a bath and quickly goes back in the Aelux realm.

“Oh, wow. I’m hungry.” Thus, she exited her room and head downstairs. She walked straight to the corridor, quietly. Since she doesn’t want to disturb her family slumber.

She saw the light in the kitchen is turned on as she saw her grandma stirring something warm.

“Grandma… “. San greeted her. Her grandma turned around and smiled at her.

“My dear, it’s rare to see you awake around this hour.”

San shrugged, “Yeah, I just happen to awake and hungry at the same time.”

Her grandma poured the black and warm liquid, with ease she poured them in another cup. “Here, I make a warm coffee.” San accept and put the warm cup. “bad dream?”

San shakes her head while blowing the steam.

“what happened? If I recall the past, when you still a child; you only awake early when something bothered you. Mostly nightmare.”

Silenced filled the room as her grandma took her sip leisurely. As expected, her grandma knew her too well.

San: “Well, it’s just… this past two days, a lot had to happen.”

Her grandma humming.

San continued, “I don’t know. I should quit, then at the same time, I think; if it’s not me, then who else? I know I cannot do much, I’m lacking and full of mistakes. I’m far from perfect, independence and reliable person.

I’m not that heroine.”

Yes. Reality speaks loudly than mere fantasy. she is reading too much fiction novels and comics. She makes a comparison to herself:

She is not that overpowered heroine in the beginning. Cultivated or meditated for a short period then suddenly you can make thousand sacred-divine-wow-magnificent-refinement pills or something like that, could boosting your power and more. Summon sacred creature or beast? Keep dreaming.

She didn’t know well about her Faltea too. Unlike the heroines, they can dive into the fountain of their power and control their power inside. Hence the authors would mention something like a terrific aura, greater potentiality and so on.

After all the training, she only learned how to composing her heart. The combat practice also essential to her, but when she sparred with an animated-grey figure in the training grounds; she quickly defeated. In conclusion, she is powerless. Unlike the heroines, mostly before being transmigrated or reincarnated; they have a past lived which is also their advantage. For example, the heroine is an assassin, mafia, a general, captain, marshal, commander or already learned a martial art before.

Something felt off; life-skill practice. She learned how to prepared cooking, medication and common first-aid, tailor and other needlecraft, common scout, Track and field and additional soft skills (communication, decision making, critical thinking, self-awareness, assertiveness, resilience, and other social skills). She doesn’t know why she should have learned this, but she still trained them as it will benefit her future profession.

But none of that matters, what matters is; she is frustrated.

San feeling depressed even more. She just said the aching part; hurting herself, she makes a cringe mentally. With yesterday sequence-training, her last evaluation only said ‘getting better, that’s the same with going nowhere (T.T)

“Dear…”

San looked at her grandma solemnly.

“you are you, why you compared yourself with a hand-made being?

San ah… maybe you less knew this. the first time you were born, you are easy getting infected and fever. Your health was worsened on your second week after that. Your parent and I hurriedly go to Uddsey City to receive well and high treatment. Yet, the result was not satisfying either. You already on your death door during the third week, and all the professional health workers had give-up, we almost give up. All of us were waiting for your last breath at your side-bed.

But you don’t give up, dear.

You, with difficulty and limply, raised your hand at that time. You spoke your first word. We are shaken that time, the doctor and other health workers hurriedly doing their job since you already gained some consciousness. Thus, here you are. Healthy as ever.

You are not simply the heroine. You are unpredictable. That’s the way we never restrict you. Because we understand you are more than what you think.”

Oh.

Glowing bubble things show up again. This time, it’s filled the entire house and bigger than before. San was mesmerized within the warmth and soothing feeling. Her anxiousness, depressive and other bad feeling has lifted.

Faltea resonating between her grandma as she smiled brightly to San. Much to her surprise, crystals formed between her and her grandma. Glowing soft red and peach color as they gathered each other crystals.

San reminds some of the books whom she read. Its advanced book called Faltea Arte.

It’s clearly stated that to use Faltea directly other than the basic practice you will learn the advanced one. by using Faltea born from your environment. They are called Faltea Arte. Formed from Faltea rate in an environment. The highest rate, thus they formed crystals and can be activated as permanent utilization. But if the rate is low, then it won’t form any crystals but you can use them for the time being.

Faltea from the environment meant; it is the blessing outside your internal Faltea. If you may say, it is ‘Intercession’. Another term of aid, good deed, support, assistance, and loyalty. Therefore, if it becomes crystals, once activated, it will become your aide or assistants permanently. They will stay at your side, in the deepest mind and subconsciousness. You may freely talk or having interaction with them, you also can call-forth them if you want to see their form or order them. Their physical form, as well as their ability, depends on where you found them.

Some literature also mentioned them as spirits or anima of essential nature. Whatever that, they have emotion and they have two things similar; loyal and adoration toward their owner.

San suddenly gets up and raises her hand toward the glowing crystals.

“WHAT!?”

Her grandma shocked and stared at her. “Dear, did something happened?”

She could not believe it. Her grandma, just now, give her AN INTERCESSION. WAHOO (\T-T/)

“Grandma…” she looks at her grandma gratefully. She walked around the table and hug her grandma tightly. “Thank you, thank you! I love you, grandma!” her grandma hugged her back and patted her head as she was accepted them.

She smiled as she is one step forward again.

…

But the situation will also move forward. Meanwhile, inside her room, her smartphone vibrating. Indicating there is a message coming.

[From Dr. Dairis]

[Hi, I hope you do well yesterday training. We just wanted to inform you; the Trial will begin the next three days. Terms and requirements will be explained shortly before the Trial starts. Come to your training ground at noon afternoon, Tuesday.

please don't be late, this is Trial specifically from your Guador.]

…

To Be Continued

.

SIDE INFORMATION

AOE: sort from Area of Effect. Used for abilities that deal damage or effect to all opponents or targets in certain areas. NPC: sort from non-player character. Any figure a gamer or player encounters while roaming that they cannot control them. Stimulate-blocker. Just a slang for a salty person. (salty; grumpy, bad-tempered, cranky, irritable person). If there is a foreign or unknown statement, please feel free to ask; then I will edit them later.