"I have to become stronger first though; I need someone to teach me how to ascend." Emma talked to herself looking all over the outdoor market.
Emma only knew what ascension was due to Kushtaka's memories. There were 4 major stages of ascension, each stage changing you into a greater being then you were before.
The first stage or the base for ascension is Lesser Spirit. They're just as strong as a normal human and dumber than one too, the only thing that makes them special compared to humans is that they have Gifts. Most skip this stage for a reason that will be told later on.
Next was Spirit, Having superhuman strength and a human level of intelligence. From this stage onward it is impossible to become smarter due to ascension, Spirits were the average joe of this world.
Spirits also live quite long here, the life expectancy they have is 200 years!
Third was Wanderers of Agony, or Wanderers for short. They are to be considered some in power in this world, having at least the same amount of raw strength as a silverback gorilla, plus they would usually have an advancement in their Gift.
For example, if your Gift before was becoming 2x stronger, then when you reach the level of a Wanderer it's now 4x stronger. They also have a massive increase of lifespan, going all the way to 400 years old.
Finally, there was Great Spirits, the rulers of this world. No one but Great Spirits themselves know where their peak strength lies. Their lifespan is also unknown, but throughout the 10,000 years of recorded history in this world, not a single Great Spirit has ever died.
Emma was trying to become a Wanderer of Agony, except Emma didn't know how to advance to this stage, she only knew that it was possible for her.
Emma had looked around for a bit, looking for people that might be Wanderers themselves. She had wanted to become a Wanderer, so naturally Emma searched for Wanderers to teach her how.
But alas, after talking to a bunch of people, through their own language. She couldn't find anyone who was one, she only found stares after uttering a sentence like she was a newborn baby. Emma still hadn't been used to such a new language, but she almost got it, Kushtaka's memories were proving to be very useful for her.
These people hadn't even known how to become a Wanderer too, and there's a good reason why.
Agony evolves whenever you do. At the stage of a Wanderer of Agony is when it finally becomes a big issue. That small burden you would have as a spirit would become enormous problem that would affect how you live after ascension. People avoided it so much, they didn't know how to ascend.
Emma had to continue though. Her issues were simply too much bigger to stop because of this. It didn't matter to her whether others hadn't or had wanted to become a Wanderer.
She just wanted to save Luna; Emma didn't want to be a monster. If she could bring Luna back, she wouldn't even be a monster anymore, her mistakes would be reversed, erased! That was why she continued to move forward even after turning into human mush soup.
Emma flinched at the thought of her turning into mush. Just the thought of it gives her pain.
Just then, Emma notices a group of people near one of the many alleyways. They looked the oddest people here, at least compared to the rest of the crowd.
"Maybe they might know how to turn into Wanderers."
Emma went up to the people there, and got a clearer look on them. One was a 7ft, or 2.1-meter-tall snake that was standing up right, the oddest part about it was its square belly.
The other two guys looked relatively normal, except for one having most of its face being covered by a large eye covering its face. And the other having antlers for teeth.
"What do you want, disgusting normal pipsqueak." The cubicle python was the first to notice Emma approaching,
"A normie? Don't they know what's best for themselves." The antler mouth said, while the Eye face fellow just continued to look, but somehow, he looked at Emma arrogantly. Or maybe he was holding in something, Emma didn't know.
"Are any of you guys' Wanderers?" Emma bluntly asked, ignoring their words.
"Why do you care? Even if any of us was, what use would it be to you?" If the python had eyebrows, they would definitely be frowning at Emma right now as he talked.
"I'm trying to become a Wanderer myself. But I don't know how to, so I figured I'd ask people who already became Wanderers." Emma replied honestly.
"Are you trying to make fun of us?! I swear some of you idiot normals just want to die." The antler mouthed guy suddenly spoke up.
"Who set you up for this? Was it Shy House? Doesn't matter though, you insult Abnormalities lack of manpower, you insult us all. Get ready to die normie." The standing cubicle python said in a hushed voice, slowly moving towards Emma.
"What? How did I insult anyone? I just asked how to become a Wanderer! What even is Shy House!" Emma shouted in her head.
"You guys can stop that now." A deep but feminine voice said from behind Emma.
"Avid's pawn? Were you the one who set this up? Are you trying to start a war!?" The cubicle python shouted.
Emma turned her head to see who they could be talking to. She saw a humanoid person with what looked like literal light for skin, long blue hair. And clear blue eyes. She was wearing jeans. And a long black coat that had a shiny gold badge that displayed teeth.
Emma turned towards her completely, and her first thought was "Would she know how to become a Wanderer?"
"No. But I can arrest you guys for attempted murder, if you guys still want to fight then sure. I would have to start a war. " The shining woman responded with a calm expression.
"Scram guys! She's trying to deal with things legally! Boss wouldn't dare to help us then! " The python shouted before it disappeared into the floor, while the others just ran away.
"Thanks, I thought that something bad was going to happen here just because I asked a question. Why'd you help me in the first place?" Emma asked, trying to make small talk before she asked how to ascend. She wouldn't want to offend anyone for a reason she didn't even know, again!
"Because Ms. Olga doesn't like killing." The shining person responded, looking towards Emma silently.
"She must be an amazing person then, would you mind if I get your name?" Emma asked.
"Alita, and yes she was great." The shining woman said, looking towards the ground.
Alita had told Emma that Ms. Olga had died during an accident. Emma sympathized with this person, Olga was like a parent to her, Emma had lost one of her parents to.
"Alita, my name is Emma. By any chance are you a wanderer?" Emma asked with pleading eyes, go up close to the shining women.
"I am, why do you ask?" Alita responded, unfazed by Emma's sudden closeness.
Emma did it!
She finally found a wanderer! It was her first step out of the trillion she has left.