The gentle visage of a child, the body of a teenager, and the serious, aged expression of a grown man. The smiling uncertainty was laying down over a big, soft red pillow that had its edges embroidered with golden patterns.

The strange figure had a wicked smile plastered on his face, as he periodically twirled up a few strands of his cascading, curly black hair. A small, pure white column elevated him from the ground. From its proximity began a long queue of both humanoid and quadrupedal creatures.

Nestor and his teacher Lenard were among them, patiently waiting for their turn.

Nestor had been teleported here, at the Gate of Hope with his teacher, being it the first time that he experienced such an occurrence, he had been pretty anxious a few minutes prior.

However the travel had been quick and painless, he just felt a strong sense of disorientation as soon as he put a foot on their destination. Lenard quickly reassured him, that his soul wasn't yet properly synchronized to his body. The teleportation had temporarily further accentuated their imbalance.

'The view here is truly stunning, even after a few hours that we have been standing here, I cannot remain but astonished.'

Nestor glanced a few times more down the bottomless precipice ahead of him. It was none other than the great fracture that halved the great Citadell in two. Nobody knew how deep it really went, nor if really did have a bottom or if it simply reached the depths of the abyss.

'These chains again, I can finally observe them a little bit closer, and I can't believe how massive they truly are. Their diameter probably spans over a few kilometers.'

He peered over the dark horizon, observing the black chains blend with the void that surrounded them from all sides.

His eyes lingered on until the lights from the bridge permitted him. Ochre-colored stone bricks composed the ancient bridge that elongated itself over the black pit. An arched structure extended itself under the bridge, encasing itself on the side of a rock formation.

"That is Esprit, the walls that you see behind the smiling uncertainty are part of its fortification. However we won't be entering the city, if you really want to you'll have to find a way back on your own.

I will now start explaining to you a few things, also keep that bread intact for now, before eating it wait until we finish."

Lenard had remained silent after their arrival at the bridge of hope as if lost in thoughts. The scholar displayed his weak constitution, having trouble properly standing still and doing a few steps forward along with the queue.

Even if he drank a few tonics on the way, only, after a while his frail body went inevitably back to square one.

'Too bad I was starting to get hungry, and I could have used a few bites of this magical bread. I guess I'll holt it in, Teacher must have his reasons.'

Lenard coughed a couple of times to clear his throat as if to encourage Nestor to pay attention to his next words.

"Before anything else, I must warn you. Even if I mean to reveal you accurate and complete information, I am not omniscient nor are the other scholars back at the academies.

However, we have studied the principles of this world for many years. Thus we have acquired a great deal of information, of which I will disclose to you only a tiny portion.

Listen well. Magical powers, Mystical and special abilities, arcane powers, however, you wish to call them. What are they, an extension of your inner self that defies the biological capabilities of your body.

You have already experienced them yourself. You've told me to have developed some kind of sixth sense. I am personally baffled by this since it shouldn't be possible, but I won't pry any further. Just be careful not to disclose it so casually.

Anyway, here, there are two known kinds of mystical powers. Them being, souls powers, and spirit calling. Any questions ? "

Lenard took a small pause, to take a few breaths of respite and let his disciple digest all the information.

" I understand teacher. Still, I'm not getting the purpose of us coming here."

Lenard sighed in annoyance, probably having already been asked such a question.

"You could have just waited for me to tell you, but oh well, I might as well explain it since you're so curious. The smiling uncertainty is a special and precious creature. We call them soul entities, they are classified as a kind of sentient animal that can utilize soul powers.

Unfortunately, this kind of creature is very hard to deal with, as you'll never know either the extent of their capabilities or their true intentions.

The smiling uncertainty is extremely important for the inhabitants of ceres, as it will tell you the kind of power you have more affinity for. Thus it indicates the best starting point for you.

Now, let's resume the previous topic. I'll start explaining about spirit calling. It's about the practice of linking your soul with a wandering spirit and establishing a pact with it so that it'll be able to share its powers with you.

Once you'll acquire at least a spark of their powers you'll be able to increase them on your own. Of course, such a pact can't be only one-sided, for every concession of the spirit you'd have to fulfill one of their requests.

You'll be probably curious about what kind of powers they'll be able to share. The pact is a double-edged sword, thus you'll have to rely on your luck here and manage to find a good spirit.

The stronger the spirit the higher the chances of being able to obtain a 'special ability', however, the stronger the spirit the more difficult their requests will be.

Fortunately, smiling uncertainty might be able to point you in the right way.

Spirits are normally able to share powers related to the elements of nature, them being wind, earth, and water. They can also, more rarely, share combat-related skills called martial arts. Finally, only from the strongest spirits, you might receive a 'special ability'.

I would say, that choosing this path is a safe bet. Spirits are usually mild creatures, they can be commonly found even here in ring number zero of the underground. They usually don't have malicious intentions and won't ever betray you. Plus the powers you receive will put you at an advantage early on.

Yet, accepting a contracted spirit will preclude you from the path of the soul. As it would require you to link your soul directly to one of the aspects of reality.

Depending on the aspect of your choice, you'll acquire certain powers related to it. Of course, you won't be able to choose from all the aspects known, which are exactly twelve, but only those you have a high enough affinity with. Here smiling uncertainty would come in handy.

We have created a ranking system to determine the strength of each individual. Every aspect has its set of unique titles, to advance towards the next one you'd have to fulfill certain requirements.

Each time you rank up, you'll gain new powers and abilities. In truth, that is not the real strength of this path, which are the soul arts. A range of incredible capabilities that only those adept in the art of the soul might be able to wield.

Intense study and training are necessary to master such arts, yet the payoff is real.

That we know of, there are no limits to soul powers, you won't ever hit a definitive wall. In addition, your body will age less and less the more powerful your soul becomes.

At the same time, there is an important downside to linking your soul to an aspect of reality. A curse will be put upon you, one that comes from your own soul and cannot be dispelled by normal means.

The choice is yours. You'll have about a few hours before we'll have to start making due preparations to meet smiling uncertainty.

What is that you wish to accomplish, Nestor?

To live a life in obscurity, coddled by ignorance. Do you desire peace?

Or will you step forward, to the unknown, to see for yourself the

foundations of our world.

But do you have what it takes, truly?"