Six months had passed since Zay, Renzo, and Lily had been training under Kazren. In that time, they had endured countless storms, felt their bodies pushed to the limit, and mastered combat that Kazren had imparted upon them. Yet, amidst all this, they had come to realize something—though their skills had sharpened to a fine edge, Renzo and Lily were still without the power that would truly mark them as formidable warriors: their Seals.
The sky above was a clear blue, the storm clouds that had so often roiled across the mountains now nothing more than distant memories. For the last four months, the skies had been calm, as though the world itself had finally taken a breath after months of turmoil. The atmosphere felt heavy with anticipation, as if even the air itself knew something significant was about to unfold.
Zay stood near the center of the hut, Renzo and Lily stood a few feet away from him, their gazes focused on him.
"Come outside. I think it's time for this." Zay's voice was steady, carrying a tone of finality as he turned and made his way toward the door.
Renzo glanced at him, confusion flickering in his eyes, but he didn't question it. With a glance at Lily, who seemed equally uncertain, they both followed Zay outside, the door creaking shut behind them. Kazren leaned back against the wall of the hut and sitting on the wooden step.
Lily lowered herself to the rocky ground, the pebbles crunching under her feet. "Time for what?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and hesitation.
Zay's gaze shifted to her briefly, before he looked back at Renzo, his expression hardening. "It's time for your Seals. You two could have done it months ago but I didn't think you could handle it before now. But don't even think about complaining. If you do, I'll make sure you can never walk again. And if by some miracle you find a way to walk... I'll break your legs again, tear them off, and shove them up your ass and out of your mouth."
Renzo's mouth parted to respond, but Zay's gaze locked onto him, and he instantly closed it, sensing the weight of Zay's words. The moment of hesitation passed, and he stood there, shoulders tense.
Zay's lips curled into a small smirk, a flicker of pride in his eyes. He spoke with a touch of finality. "Now, close your eyes. Focus on your aura. Feel it surrounding your body and within you. Breathe in, slowly and deeply. And then... think of what you desire most. Picture it in your mind, and let that yearning guide you."
With a slow, deliberate movement, Zay stood up, turning his back to them as he walked toward Kazren, settling onto the wooden step beside him.
Kazren remained silent for a moment, his gaze flicking between the two as Renzo and Lily closed their eyes, their bodies already beginning to relax in the quiet. He spoke softly to Zay. "How long do you think it'll take them to connect to it?"
Zay looked back toward the two figures before answering, his tone contemplative but confident. "Five minutes, maybe... no, three minutes at most, with the way their aura has been growing."
Kazren grunted softly, his eyes never leaving them. "You think they'll succeed?"
Zay gave a small nod. "They will. They've come this far. I know they're ready."
Meanwhile, Renzo felt his aura expand outward, filling the space around him like an invisible embrace. He felt the warm, tingling sensation of it—alive, thrumming within him. The deep breath he took seemed to fill every part of him, his pulse quickening as his thoughts turned inward. 'What do I desire most?'
The answer came swiftly, like a rushing river. 'Strength. Power, to protect those I care about. Power that won't leave me weak, won't betray me when I need it the most.'
He clung to the thought, focusing all of his being on it, allowing the yearning to grow stronger, louder, until it consumed him entirely.
Renzo was the first to react.
His aura flared violently, erupting outward in a brilliant crimson blaze, illuminating the entire clearing with its intensity. The air itself trembled, a deep vibration coursing through the ground as his body tensed. For a brief moment, the pressure felt suffocating, like a storm about to explode. His eyes snapped open, now glowing with a deep, molten red, and he clenched his fists as energy surged through his veins.
'Where the hell am I?'
The world around him was empty, a vast void stretching infinitely in all directions—except for one thing. A massive, ancient crimson gate stood before him, its surface carved with intricate symbols he couldn't decipher. Something about it felt... familiar. Almost as if it had been waiting for him.
Renzo approached, cautious yet drawn in by an invisible force. As he neared, the gate creaked open, revealing nothing but darkness beyond. He stepped forward without hesitation, and the moment he crossed the threshold, a towering pillar of deep crimson energy erupted before him, its surface pulsing like a living heart.
"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, staring at the pillar.
Instinct told him to reach out. The instant his fingers touched its surface, the pillar shattered into countless shards of glowing crimson light, each one embedding itself into his very being. A rush of raw power surged through him, igniting his aura core like never before. His entire body burned, but it wasn't pain—it was awakening.
[Arbiter, Seal of Crimson Tempest has been chosen. The following Routes are now available for selection.]
Scorching Blood – Everything must be reduced to ash. Let the world burn in blood and flames.
Crimson Fuse – Infuse your aura, your body, and your weapons with the blood of those you've slain.
Hemorrhage Oath – Convert blood into strength, agility, vision, and endurance.
Renzo exhaled, reading over his choices, his mind racing.
"All of these sound insane... Oath gives me an all-around boost, Fuse lets me channel power from kills, and Scorching Blood—" He smirked. "Well, that one just sounds destructive as hell."
After a brief moment of thought, he reached forward.
"Scorching Blood."
[Selection complete. Good luck.]
The world around him shattered. Renzo's eyes snapped open as he found himself back in the clearing. His breathing was heavy, his body still thrumming with the lingering energy of his awakening. Slowly, he stood, flexing his fingers as a new sense of power flowed through him.
Meanwhile, Lily was within the Seal Realm.
The space around her was vast yet tranquil, filled with a deep violet mist that shimmered like liquid starlight. Before her, two things stood out—a grand, swirling gate of violet energy and a staircase seemingly made of flowing water, suspended in midair.
She turned her gaze to the steps, mesmerized by the way they moved yet remained solid. Without hesitation, she placed a foot on the first step. The moment she did, the gate behind her faded into nothingness, leaving only the path ahead.
Step by step, she ascended, the water beneath her feet rippling with each movement but never breaking. At the halfway point, she encountered a small altar, a pristine pond surrounding it. The water within was clearer than anything she had ever seen, untouched by impurity.
Drawn by curiosity, she crouched down, brushing her fingers against the surface.
The instant she made contact, the altar dissolved, and a voice resonated within her mind.
[Arbiter, Seal of the Flood chosen. The following Routes are now available for selection.]
Flood's Perfection – ??
Deluge – ???
Falling Rain – ?
Lily's eyes widened. Unlike Renzo, who had seen only three explanations, she was met with something different—question marks instead of explanations.
Her heart pounded.
"What does this mean?" she whispered, staring at the unknown paths before her.
She took a deep breath. She had to trust herself.
After a moment of deliberation, she reached out, her fingers steady.
"Deluge."
The world around her erupted into a cascade of endless water.
[Selection complete. Good luck.]
Lily exhaled, steadying herself as she stood. Her light blue aura flared. The moment it expanded around her body in a thin layer, the skies above twisted unnaturally—what had once been clear and calm darkened in an instant.
Thunder rumbled. A deep, resounding echo that sent vibrations through the mountaintop. Then, the first drop fell. And then another. Within seconds, a torrential downpour crashed upon them, heavy and relentless.
Zay tilted his head upward, letting the rain soak his clothes and skin, before shifting his gaze toward Kazren. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he wiped water from his face. "Looks like my sister was chose something... quite extraordinary."
Kazren let out a low chuckle, wiping a few droplets from his face. "Indeed. Shaping the environment with nothing but an aura surge? That's rare. But the real question is—" his sharp eyes flickered toward Lily, watching her closely, "—can she control it?"
Renzo stood frozen, staring at the sky as the rain pounded against him. His soaked clothes clung to his skin, but he didn't seem to notice. His hazel eyes gleamed with something between awe and curiosity. He muttered under his breath, "Powerful..."
Then, just as suddenly as the storm had appeared, it was gone.
The moment Lily's aura faded, the thick clouds unraveled, dissipating like smoke in the wind. The sun pierced through once more, bathing the soaked ground in warm light. Puddles formed between the cracks of stone.