Ast: Ouch… what just happened? I only saw a flash. Little by little I started coming back to myself, and the first thing I heard—and felt—was Stella's desperate crying. Wait, why is she crying? Hold on… I know I'm conscious, so why can't I move? I can't do anything. What's happening? Okay, stay calm… one thing at a time. First, I managed to open my eyes. Then I tried to speak. It was like muscle memory—my hand clenched into a fist and I punched my chest, which made me sit up and vomit blood.
Stella: Asch! Are you okay? Let me help you—I'll heal you. Stay still and don't make any sudden moves. Look at this situation… I wanted to teach you, and the first thing I do is nearly kill you. How did this happen?
Ast: What happened? The last thing I remember is a flash and an endless stream of voices asking me what I desired most.
Stella: Voices? Wait a moment… you heard voices? And saw something? This goes far beyond what I hoped you'd achieve. Can you tell me what happened?
Ast: Sure. After I placed my hand on the rift, I felt like I passed out. But then, suddenly, I woke up… and there was nothing. I don't even know how to describe it—no black, no white, just nothingness. That's when I saw… beings, made of smoke or shadows. I'm not sure how to explain them. I tried to speak to them, but they didn't answer. I got angry and tried to find a way out, and then I heard what sounded like many people speaking at once. They asked me a question. After that, I woke up. What happened after that? Why are you crying? And why am I so tired?
Stella: Honestly, you never stop surprising me. What I'm about to tell you—never share it with anyone unless you fully trust them. What you achieved… kingdoms, gods, and beings of unimaginable power would kill for it. You reached the origin of everything. And not only that—you were able to speak to it. Him… her… I don't even know what to call it. But you did it. However, I think you had to pay a price for it.
Ast: Pay? Don't tell me it charged me with something important. I'm just getting started, and I'm already in debt?
Stella: I wouldn't know how to answer that. What I saw was… after you placed your hand, you fainted—which is normal. When the contract is made, one receives energy, or something like that, and it overwhelms you. But after you passed out, I felt this immense pressure, like a god stepping on me. All I could see was your lifeless body on the ground. Then suddenly—a spear, a sword, and chains pierced your chest, and you started bleeding out. [sobbing] It was horrible. I felt so helpless. I couldn't do anything. Then the pressure and the weapons vanished. I ran to you, but couldn't feel your pulse. I started treating your wounds—I used healing magic, potions, herbs… I even begged to trade my life for yours. You can't imagine how horrible that feeling is, and I hope you never experience it. Then, you punched yourself in the chest and suddenly I had hope again. I don't know what you did, but it worked. I'm just so glad you woke up. Never scare me like that again—or I won't love you anymore, you silly boy.
Ast: With a huge smile, I looked her in the eyes and said, "Don't worry, Mom. I'll become so strong that no one will ever make you cry again. Not even me."
After that moment, something unexpected happened. She carried me in her arms and gave me a bath to wash off the blood. In the bath, I started checking my body to see if there were any scars or marks from those weapons… but there was nothing. Not even a scratch. I asked Stella if she had healed me, and she said that was one of the strange things—when she tried to treat my wounds, there were no signs of any injuries. Just blood. She tried to heal me, but there was nothing to heal. As she washed my hair, I asked her what she meant when she said I had paid a price.
Stella: I don't even know how to explain it. My knowledge is limited, but… those wounds, that attack—it didn't come from the being you saw. It was something else. This is just speculation, based on words I've heard from people who claimed to have seen the Origin. We mortals always desire something at some point. And that desire must come from somewhere, right? Well, at some point, someone—or something—must have thought "what is the origin?" Nobody knows if that question came before or after the entity appeared… but that's when it manifested. Even I don't know how to refer to it. Anyway, in several places, miracles started to happen. Impossible things. That phenomenon became known as "The Echo of the Nameless Miracle", because no one knew what god or being caused it. That's how it was named.
Ast: And what does that have to do with what I paid?
Stella: That's where I'm going. This happened even before I was born—and I've lived many years. This goes back further than the oldest elder in my village, and he's ancient. These events were what gave rise to magic in our world. Sure, there are beings who can control elements or are born with incredible powers… but no one knows if it's due to a special organ or if it's derived from magic or something that gave them those abilities.
Ast: Hey… what if what makes them special is that being exposed to magic allowed them to adapt it or use it in their own way?
Stella: Even I don't know. In my case, I'm an elf, but I wasn't born knowing magic. I didn't have any special ability, like talking to animals or flying. I learned those things with time and tricks. What truly makes us special is our longevity and our long ears—and some say we're attuned to Gaia's magic.
Ast: Gaia?
Stella: I'll explain that when your lessons begin. Anyway… what I meant by "you paid a price" is that something must have been taken in exchange for what you were given. Don't you feel different? Is there anything new in you that you don't understand?
Ast: Not really… I've checked every part of my body. Nothing appeared, and not even in the spots you said were wounded. And about what you said—being given something—I'm not sure. But just before I came back, they asked me the same question you did: "What do you desire most?" I answered: Everything. But I don't know what that "everything" is or if I can use it in some way. Still… I'm sure they gave me something.
Stella: And to think you didn't flinch before such a being—and asked for everything. You're still young, but you have great ambition. That, I'm sure of. Well, you're clean now—rinse off and change for bed. I'll be there in a moment.
Ast: Okay, I'll go ahead.
Once I left the bath, I went to my room to change. That's when I realized something she hadn't noticed—and I lied about it to avoid scaring her. While it's true I don't have any visible marks—if we can call it that—the truth is… when I looked at my reflection in the water, I nearly died of fright. What I saw… looked like that thing that asked me what I desired. A formless, textureless shadow. That's why I examined myself so carefully. But my body looks normal. She didn't see anything strange in the bathroom—so it seems like only I can see this. I don't know if someone using certain magic or abilities could see it too… but for now, only I can.
I'm not going to dwell on it for now—but this will be a problem. How am I supposed to comb my hair or see myself grow? I used to see my normal reflection without a problem, but now… it'll be complicated. Well, that's tomorrow's problem. I changed clothes and laid down. Stella, still worried, decided to stay with me for the night—like she still felt guilty and wanted to protect me at all costs.