Free Web NovelChapter 18: By Dusk
Back within the cave of the Nether Lands, the eight exiles had already sprung into motion.
The atmosphere inside the cavern had changed completely from before as now, they are no longer merely frightened children abandoned by their Houses.
Instead, they are survivors now seeking strength.
At the center of the cave sat four figures cross-legged upon the cold stone floor. The flames crackled as it illuminated their features dimly.
Those four were Regaleon, Veyrath, Kaeloris, and Caelestra. They were already deep into meditation, attempting to awaken their Essence Runes.
At the entrance of the cave stood the remaining four; Aureleah and her younger sister, Sylveris, Valmyr, and Vaelorin.
Weapons tested in their hands while sharp eyes remained fixed upon the forest outside. They were in guard duty so none of them dared to relax now.
Inside the cave, silence reigned. Only the sound of crackling flames and distant winds disturbed the stillness that settled over the chamber...
Regaleon slowly descended into meditation. His breathing calmed and his thoughts quieted. This was not his first time trying to connect with his Soul Essences and Soul Link, so it was quite easier...
At first there was darkness... Then, he felt it. There was a faint connection; it was thin and mysterious. Yet undeniably real.
That connection was his Soul Link. The moment his consciousness touched it, then it was as though the world suddenly vanished.
Because suddenly, Regaleon found himself standing within a strange space. It was vast and endless...
The surroundings glowed with four intertwining colors; gold, silver, crimson and black.
The lights drifted endless like rivers flowing through the void itself. The air carried an ancient pressure; it was heavy and majestic.
And before him towered four massive silhouettes...
The first was a colossal suit of Armor radiating golden brilliance...
The second was a gleaming silver Halberd emanating a sharp killing intent...
The remaining two flickered constantly. Like incomplete shadows. They were unstable and unformed...
Regaleon frowned faintly. He has no idea what the last two were supposed to be, hence, he ignored them for now. freēwēbnovel.com
Instead, his gaze locked unto the Armour and Halberd.
Shock flickered within his eyes as he stared at their towering forms. These Soul Essences looked nothing like the rusted ones he manifested in reality.
No! These ones were glorious...
The Armour stood like a divine relic forged for kings and conquerors.
Golden radiance flower across its surface while ancient crimson lines pulsed faintly beneath it like living runes.
Just standing there, it carried overwhelming majesty.
Beside it, the Halberd was no less awe-inspiring. It gleamed with terrifying sharpness as silver light danced across its blade while dark crimson patterns wrapped around the weapon like flowing veins.
It was cold, elegant and deadly.
Regaleon stared at them silently.
Could this truly be the real form of his Soul Essences?
Who would believe that the rusted Armour mocked by Valoria actually hid something this magnificent?
Who would imagine that the broken Halberd dismissed and ridiculed as a peasant-tier actually carried such overwhelming presence?
It really was something inconceivable, especially if he hadn’t witness them with his own eyes.
Slowly, Regaleon then stepped forward towards his Essences. The closer he moved, the heavier the pressure became.
Yet he did not stop. Eventually, he reached out his hand. The moment his fingers touched the Soul Essences...
BOOOM!
Golden and silver light erupted violently throughout the space. The void trembled greatly as ancient power surged.
Then suddenly, six glowing symbols appeared before him; three golden symbols floated near the Armour while three silver ones floated near the Halberd.
They drifted slowly through the air like ancient stars. Regaleon couldn’t read them as the characters were unfamiliar.
Written in a language he had never seen before. Yet strangely, he understood them instinctively.
The three golden symbols were the Essence Runes of his Armour while the silver ones were the Essence Runes of his Halberd.
Slowly, the six Runes circled Regaleon and then, one after another, they rushed toward him.
The instant they were assimilated into his body, a flood of information exploded within his mind.
There was the power, knowledge and instinct. His body trembled violently as images flashed endlessly through his consciousness.
They weren’t clear but he managed to glimpse a few things. There was the battlefields, blood, kings, and broken world.
Then above them all, he saw the figure of a warrior clad in golden Armour standing amidst oceans of corpses.
He couldn’t make out the outline of the figure clearly but instinctively, it felt like he had some faint connection to that warrior.
The sensation nearly overwhelmed him but somehow, Regaleon managed to persevere. Eventually, the images disappeared and the pain faded.
Then, silence returned once more.
The towering Armour and Halberd remained before him silently and for the first time since his awakening, he felt connected to them.
Now he wasn’t just going to be wielding them anymore, he was beginning to understand them.
Besides, the glimpses he could make out from the images were enough to tell him about how mysterious and magnificent these Soul Essences of his really are.
Regaleon lowered his head slightly, bowing toward his Soul Essences.
Then, the void shattered and his consciousness returned to his body...
Inside the cave, Regaleon slowly opened his eyes. For the briefest moment, there was a flash of gold and silver within his gaze sharply before it faded slowly.
The first thing he saw after coming back to his senses was the various stares directed at him by everyone.
Regaleon frowned slightly. "What?" His voice was filled with confusion as he asked.
The failed Alchemist immediately threw both hands upward dramatically. "What do you MEAN what?!"
Veyrath’s voice echoed throughout the cave. "Were you trying to sleep inside you Soul Link?!"
The others also sighed helplessly. Apparently, they had already finished with their meditation long ago. Only Regaleon remained unmoving.
Veyrath continued. "We’ve been waiting for you like forever." The failed Alchemist said while folding his hands irritably.
Regaleon wasn’t sure how many of that was his fault but he didn’t bother quibbling with them.
Instead, he observed the trio before him carefully. Bedside Veyrath, Kaeloris and Caelestra already looked noticeably different.
They looked more focused and energized. Clearly, they had successfully awakened their Essence Runes as well.
Regaleon remained calm under veyrath’s rants before speaking again. "Will you stop the complaint? I am here now, aren’t I?"
The failed Alchemist’s face nearly twitched from irritation. There was one thing about Regaleon that seem to frustrate him to no end. It was his calmness!
"We can all SEE that." Veyrath’s said with a loud groan.
Then immediately, his eyes lit up with curiosity. "So..." Then he leaned forward excitedly. Like an idle woman eager to gossip.
"What kind of Essence Runes did you awaken?"
Immediately he asked that question, the atmosphere shifted.
Regaleon slowly turned towards him; his golden eyes cold and sharp...
Veyrath froze immediately. Then realization struck him. "... Right."
He coughed awkwardly. "Forget I asked." He said, moving backward to stand in a corner.
Everyone knew that Essence Runes were private matters among Awakeners.
They were extremely private to the point that most people would prefer nudity to exposing the kind of Rune they awakened.
This was because revealing one’s Essence Rune was equivalent to exposing hidden weaknesses and abilities.
And in noble society, asking such questions was deeply disrespectful and intrusive.
But unfortunately, the failed Alchemist’s mouth often moved faster than his brain can process common sense.
Or perhaps, he simply lacked common sense entirely.
Kaeloris snorted loudly as he insulted. "Idiot!"
Veyrath glared at him sharply. "Shut up!"
Suddenly, from the cave entrance, Aureleah spoke. "It’s our turn now..."
The four of them turned toward the rest. Regaleon studied her briefly before nodding calmly, "Very well..."
Then, he stood up. Fit as a fiddle. As though his previous injuries were nothing more than a fleeting dream.
The rest blinked in shock. Especially Veyrath whose eyes widened as large as saucers. "Wait! You’re standing already?!"
Even Caelestra looked surprised.
Just earlier, Regaleon could barely move from his injuries. Yet now, though still wounded, his posture stood firm once more.
Regaleon himself wasn’t surprised. Because after awakening his Runes, many things and changed within him.
His body felt lighter and sharper. Even his connection with his Soul Essences had deepened immensely.
Aureleah narrowed her eyes slightly upon noticing this. Then without another word, sh walked toward the center of the cave alongside Valmyr, Vaelorin and Sylveris.
Though the fourteen-years-old is yet to awaken, no one dissuaded her. It might actually be a good thing for her to get use to the feeling now because there would be plenty of mediations to come...
Meanwhile, Regaleon quietly moved toward the cave entrance, standing guard this time. Beside him, Veyrath stretched lazily while Kaeloris adjusted his spectacles.
Caelestra was in one corner of the cave sorting through gathered supplies...
Hours slowly passed afterward as the cave remained peaceful. Then one after another, the trio awakened their Essence Runes successfully.
Seeing this, the atmosphere among the group changed noticeably. There was excitement, anticipation and confidence.
For the first time since arriving within the Nether Lands, they possessed power truly belonging to them.
As dusk slowly approached, dark red light seeped across the skies outside. The forest suddenly grew quieter and more ominous...
Regaleon then slowly turned towards the group. His golden eyes reflected the dying sunlight as he spoke.
"Since we have awakened our Essence Runes..." His voice echoed calmly through the cave. "... it’s time for us to prepare."
The others immediately focused instantly. Then finally, Regaleon spoke the words that would begin their next trial.
"We move out by dusk."
