The air in the Axiom hummed, thick with the lingering energies of the completed trials. Several glowing orbs pulsed softly above the ancient obsidian table, a testament to the trials passed.
But the ninth chair, where Cami O'Connell sat, remained untouched by such light. Her face, though still weary, was set with a quiet conviction that stood apart from the triumphant, calculating or bewildered expressions of the others.
"Welcome, then," Barry's voice had resonated, echoing through the chamber. "To the Astral Germinal gathering. You have proven yourselves. Now, the real conversation can begin."
As he finished, Cami pushed back her chair, the scraping sound sharp in the sudden quiet. All eyes turned to her, a mix of curiosity and impatience on their faces.
Klaus's lip curled in a silent sneer, clearly expecting a dramatic outburst.
"Wait," Cami said, her voice clear despite a tremor of lingering exhaustion. She looked directly at Barry, her blue eyes unwavering. "I… I don't want to be a part of this."
A ripple went through the group. Klaus scoffed audibly. Aya watched, her expression unreadable, while Freya looked on with a knowing sadness. Maxwell shifted nervously, and even Qetsiyah's intense gaze seemed to momentarily soften with something akin to curiosity.
Barry merely tilted his head, his exotic purple eyes calm and accepting. "Your desire is accepted, Miss O'Connell," he stated, his voice as smooth as polished stone. "After all, I did say you were to free to leave at anytime. The Germinal Garden values free will above all else. Your refusal, after enduring your trial, is noted."
Cami felt a surge of relief, but before she could fully process it, Barry continued, his tone shifting, becoming almost regretful. "Though, I must confess, you should have waited for me to finish, Miss O'Connell."
Cami frowned, confusion replacing relief. "Finish what?"
A faint, almost impish smile touched Barry's lips. "I was going to pass you anyway."
The words struck Cami like a physical blow. Her eyes widened, her jaw going slack. "What?" she whispered, the single syllable filled with disbelief. "But… but I didn't… I didn't kill him. I failed the test."
Barry's gaze held hers, unwavering. "Your trial was not merely about action, Miss O'Connell, but about absolute adherence to your core principle.", he sighed, "You were presented with the ultimate temptation to compromise, to break your own immutable rule for a perceived 'greater good.' You refused. You chose the path of unwavering moral conviction, even when it meant foregoing invaluable knowledge." He grinned widely as he began clapping,"That, to the Axiom, to this gathering, is a form of resonance as profound as any other. It is simply an absolute will of power that sparkles, even in my eyes."
A profound shock washed over Cami, mixed with a strange, dizzying validation. All this, the torment, the impossible choice… and she had passed by not acting.
Her mind reeled, trying to grasp the implication, the sheer scale of the power that understood her so completely.
"Therefore, you had passed" Barry continued, raising a hand, "but your desire to be exempt from this gathering is honored. Go now, Miss O'Connell. Live your truth."
Before Cami could utter another word, or even fully comprehend what she had just heard, a soft golden light enveloped her. It wasn't the violent tug of her arrival, but a gentle, almost comforting push. The room, the faces, Barry's knowing eyes—they all blurred, fading into a swirling vortex of light and sensation.
She felt herself being lifted, transported, away from the ancient table and the enigmatic gathering, back towards the life she had just fought to protect.
A quiet descended once more upon the Axiom, broken only by the soft hum of the golden orbs. The remaining participants quietly exchanged glances. Some were stunned by Cami's departure and Barry's revelation, others merely observed.
"A rather unique outcome," Marco mused, adjusting his posture. "A pass, yet a refusal. Fate truly works in mysterious ways."
Annabetha nodded slowly. "Her principle was without a doubt beautiful. But her essence, her will to stick to it, was even more splendid to me."
Klaus, who had watched the entire exchange with a growing, cynical fascination, finally spoke, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. "So, the little human proved herself worthy by not becoming a monster. How utterly quaint. What a waste of an invitation."
Barry ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the remaining eight. "Her path is her own. Your paths, however, are now intertwined with that of this gathering." He gestured to the glowing orbs hovering above the table.
"Indeed... Where one journey ends, another shall continue in its place." The beautiful lady called Qetsiyah hummed lowly," This however funny it is, iss the guiding principle of fate, an always present guiding force."
A voice low enough to not be loud, but clear enough to echo in the quiet halls of the Axiom. ~ Journey's end as the endless threads of fate continues weaving.
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A tangible hum filled the Axiom, no longer the oppressive quiet from before, but a thrumming energy born of ancient magic and new purpose. The now glowing orbs that had represented the successful trials now floated before each of the eight remaining figures, including Freya, and Mikael.
Cami's chair remained empty, a silent testament to her unique, unchosen path.
Barry, ever calm, gestured to the orbs. "These aren't just symbols of your success. They are the manifestations of the Principles you embody. Each one holds a special card known as the Origin Card."
He began to stretch forth his hand towards the orbs, the purple of his eyes deepening as the orbs shattered to form beautiful fireworks.
"So, you're a Magician now, boy?," Mikael questioned as he observed the light work festivities.
He reached into his jacket, pulling out a plain, well-worn woodenbox."Not really, just wanted a build up," He placed it on the table, opening the lid to reveal a deck of cards within. They were uniformly dull, a simple ashen color, unassuming and identical.
"These are Origin Cards," Barry explained, his voice taking on a new, almost ceremonial tone. "When a member is newly introduced, they gain the chance to select one. These are special cards, made using manifested colors as their base design, and the name of that color shall serve as the Seat of the person. However," He paused as he began smiling once more," they possess a special function: gaining a new form, design, and a true name with a new color scheme becoming the card's background."
He paused, his gaze fixed on each of the eight. "The change is determined by your deposition and personality. This means two people can obtain the same card form, but it will still have a different true name and design specific to them. Once a card is chosen, its color bonds with you, preventing anyone else from ever selecting that color again."
He gestured as he threw the deck, onto the table for them to see. "Feeling excited yet?, doesn't matter? Now then, kindly select one from the laid out deck of cards."
One by one, the eight reached out, their hands hovering over the deck before each chose a single, bland card.
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Aya, her expression calculating, picked a card. It solidified into a stark, cold Silver, precise geometric patterns forming across its surface.
In an elegant, sharp and beautiful calligraphy, the name; The Demoness appeared.
As Klaus, with a dramatic flourish, snatched a card. It pulsed, then erupted into a vibrant, Shifting Crimson, swirling like a storm of blood and fire.
The design morphed into a snarling beast, forever changing its form, and beneath it, the name; The Apex Shifter gleamed.
Did it end there? Definitely not as Francesca, with a shrewd glint in her eye, selected a card. It suffused with a deep, earthy Green, lines like coiled power forming across its surface, with faint impression of a snake in the far back of the card.
As the name; The Sleeping Serpent, emerged on the card
Finally, Sabine, with an ancient grace, took a card. It shone with a luminous Gold, its surface shimmering with an almost magical energy, like a grand performance, but with a soft, diffusing glow, settling into a pervasive Whisper Grey.
The design was subtle, a faint, rippling aura, and the name; The Silent Hand was coalesced into life.
After witnessing the beauty of change, the witch eager for a tatse of it stretched out
As the one called Qetsiyah, with an almost predatory glint, took a dull card. The card then deepened into a mysterious, captivating Turquoise, its design intricate and ethereal, like moonlit mist.
The name that was burned onto its beautiful surface was The Twilight Maiden.
Maxwell Clide, after a moment of gathering his nerve, chose a card. It flared with a warm, decisive Orange, radiating a clear, balanced glow. The name that emerged was simply Justice.
Mikael, his grim face showing a hint of grim satisfaction, snatched a card. It darkened, solidifying into a deep, resilient Brown, etched with symbols of endurance and challenge.
As the name The Ashen One was formed
Freya, her eyes closed for a moment as she selected, felt her card warm. It swirled with a rich, mystical Indigo, patterns of chains and ethereal bindings appearing on its face.
The name it bore was titled; Chained, was this alluding to some major sign or just simply a name! No one could tell.
The silence in the Axiom stretched, filled only by the soft hum of the eight newly transformed Origin Cards. Each member, card clutched in hand, seemed to weigh the immense, impossible destiny Barry had just laid before them.
Barry, leaning back in his Seat, observed them with a calm, almost paternal gaze. "Now that your Principles are acknowledged and your Seats revealed, we can truly begin. The Astral Germinal isn't merely a collection of titles; it's a nexus, a source of unparalleled opportunities. Here, within the Axiom, you can acquire virtually anything you desire. Information, magical artifacts, power beyond your wildest dreams."
Klaus scoffed, though the glint in his eye betrayed his intrigue. "Information? What kind of information could possibly be worth… this?" He gestured around the ancient chamber, clearly still struggling to fully grasp the reality of his situation.
Barry's smile widened, a sickening smile with, a knowing glint in his purple eyes. "The kind of information that reshapes destinies, Mr. Niklaus. The kind that pulls back the veil on hidden truths and unseen forces. The kind that reveals the complete tapestry of past, present, and even probable futures. Think of me as a..." He gestured proudly with his arms,"Particularly well-informed historian. I've had the distinct pleasure of observing countless timelines, countless sagas unfold. Your own, for instance, are quite fascinating. I know the intricate paths you've walked, the choices you've made, the adversaries you've faced, and even the ones you've yet to encounter. All of it, accessible here."