The moment Erik stepped into the portal, the world twisted.
It wasn't like falling.It wasn't like flying.
It was like being folded — like every part of his body existed in multiple directions at once.
And then — silence.
Then, suddenly, he stood beneath a violet sky.
The sky above wasn't blue, but a deep indigo with threads of gold running like rivers through clouds. Three moons hung overhead, glowing softly in different hues — one red, one silver, one almost black.
Before him stood a towering structure of crystal and stone:The Azure Spire.
It seemed endless, rising above the clouds, held together by ancient runes that pulsed in rhythm — like the tower itself was breathing.
"This place wasn't built by mortals,"the soul murmured."Nor by gods. This was carved in a time when fate still had a form."
🌀 The Arrival Hall
Seris led Erik through massive arched gates into the Spire.
Inside was a grand chamber — the size of a city square — where dozens of people moved about. Scribes floated using magic scrolls. Runes hovered midair. Crystal orbs spun slowly, displaying visions from other realms.
And there, scattered around, were other children. Some older than Erik. Some younger. All wearing pale azure robes.
Seris spoke without turning. "The Order doesn't only watch — it recruits. Children who survive divine marks. Hosts. Carriers. Awakened."
"Are they all like me?" Erik asked.
"No," she said. "You're rarer. But they're all… close enough."
A tall man with a sharp jawline and silver eyes approached. His aura was cold, but precise — like a blade honed over centuries.
"This is Master Velkhar," Seris said. "He'll oversee your evaluation."
Velkhar didn't offer a smile.
"Strip him of all outer enchantments," he ordered a nearby scribe.
Before Erik could react, a sphere hovered near his head — glowing blue. It pulsed once.
"...Interesting," Velkhar muttered. "The mark isn't just a brand. It's interwoven with his essence. Someone didn't place this on him. They became part of him."
His eyes narrowed.
"...Or maybe they still are."
⚔️ The Trial Arena
Velkhar led Erik through corridors lined with shifting murals — paintings that moved like memories trapped in walls.
They entered a stone chamber shaped like a dome, where four children stood in robes and wooden training gear.
"This is the Echo Chamber," Velkhar said. "It shows not your strength… but your intent."
Erik blinked. "Intent?"
Seris clarified, "Here, your attacks don't harm bodies. They reveal what your soul would do… if it could."
"That's dangerous,"the soul whispered."They want to study me."
One of the other children stepped forward — a girl with long black hair and crimson eyes.
"I'll spar him," she said.
Velkhar raised a brow. "Already eager, Arenya?"
She smiled. "I like seeing what hides behind quiet eyes."
Erik stepped into the circle.
"Begin," Velkhar said.
Arenya rushed forward — fast, confident, with a feint and sweeping kick.
Erik barely dodged, stepping back.
She pressed harder.His wooden blade met hers in a quick cross.
Then — her eyes widened.
A pulse of golden energy rippled from Erik's block. Her blade cracked. She stumbled back, blinking.
Velkhar watched carefully.
Erik hadn't meant to release anything.
But the soul had responded.
"I won't let anyone hurt you unless you allow it,"it said."Even in play."
Arenya stared at him.Then smiled.
"...You're not what you look like."
🧭 The Whispering Library
Later, Seris took Erik to a tower level filled with floating books and crystal memory-cores.
"This is where you'll study," she said. "History, power structures, divine language, realms, and relics. You'll also begin inner channeling lessons."
She placed a palm against a wall — it shimmered, revealing a map of realms: hundreds of spheres connected by glowing bridges.
"This is our current universe," she said. "We reside in Realm 6A-Theta. Your home was a low-magic fringe world… until you awakened."
Erik stared at the vastness.The knowledge.
It felt heavy.
Exciting.
Terrifying.
All at once.
🌑 That Night — Erik's Quarters
He sat alone, staring at the silver window where moonlight fell in straight lines.
He missed home.
Mira's cooking.Lia's giggles.The way his father sharpened tools even when they weren't dull.
This world… was beautiful, but hollow.
"You feel the weight of power,"the soul whispered."Most children crave it. You mourn the peace you lost."
"Did you ever have peace?" Erik asked.
Silence.
"Once," the soul finally replied. "But I ruined it. That's why I chose you — to try again."
Suddenly, the room temperature dropped.
Erik stood.
His door creaked open on its own.
A shadow passed through the hallway — swift, quiet.
Not a guard.
Not a servant.
"Follow it,"the soul said sharply.
Erik stepped out silently.
🕳️ The Hidden Chamber
He followed the shadow through the eastern wing — until it slipped behind a massive tapestry.
There, he found a secret door, slightly ajar.
He pushed it open.
Inside:A dim room of cracked mirrors.And in the center — a chained stone obelisk, wrapped in golden seals.
But what shocked Erik wasn't the object.
It was the whispers.
"...He has returned...""...The soul breathes again...""...This time, don't fail..."
The soul inside Erik roared:
"GET OUT."
He stumbled back, nose bleeding.
The door slammed shut on its own.