Chapter-39
Let's hurry," I urged Zei, as we made our way back home through the dimly lit streets.
However, the next moment I glanced in the direction where the figure had been standing, and there was no one there. No trace of the crimson mask or the lingering silhouette.
Thankfully, we reached home without incident.
It was the next day, the sun shone brightly in the sky as the winds swept by us. Soon, we spotted Asher in the distance. He stood idly amidst the garden of wildflowers, his crimson katana hung on his side.
"You're here," Asher murmured, his gaze steady. "Today marks the beginning of your training, so we will start from the very basics."
"We understand," I replied, exchanging a glance with Zei.
His expression darkened. "Though you can wield both Ember and Aether, you must never reveal your Aether nature. If word gets out about your bloodline…..He paused, letting the weight of the words hang heavy between us. "...it will be disastrous. You would be sentenced to death or might be kept alive for experiments. Either way, it won't end well."
He paused for a moment, "...so make sure to hide your origins at any cost, it could endanger not only your life but others as well."
"We understand," I said again. My throat felt dry.
A faint smile was painted on his face. "Then let's begin." He reached into his pocket and took out two amulets, throwing them towards us.
I caught it with my hands, it was a small piece of gemstone threaded with a small lace.
"Wear this around your neck," He instructed. And we did as he said.
"That charm will suppress your Aetherian blood," Asher explained, "since we will construct Ember channels throughout your body, the Aetherian blood might merge with the ember."
"What will happen if something goes wrong?" Zei asked quietly.
His gaze sharpened, "You will suffer from internal bleeding, your organs will be ruptured, or in the worst case scenario, you might die a painful death."
We both flinched at the bluntness of such words.
Don't worry, I will make sure nothing of that sort happens to either of you. However, you still have to be careful. If you feel anything is wrong, you must stop immediately. You understand?
"Yes," we said in unison.
"Good," He nodded, "Then let's get started."
He unsheathed his katana in one smooth motion and made a small cut on his wrist, and dark red blood welled up. Pulling a small vial from his pocket, he let a few drops fall inside. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. But then, suddenly, the vial started to shimmer in an iridescent glow, flickering like trapped starlight.
The first lesson will include constructing your ember channels to let the Ember flow through your entire body. He said, holding the vial in his hand. Crimson runes flared to life on his wrists,
"Only when your Ember channels are forged and the current flows in harmony will the runes awaken within you."
"How long will it take?" I asked.
"Normally?" He met my eyes. "Although it depends from person to person, it takes around a year to form a stable channel."
"...A year?"
He nodded, "Indeed, the ember channel contains millions of nerve-like micro channels throughout the entire body. It's a long, painstaking process.
"But that is for most people." He added, his lips curling into an unsettling smile.
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The vial you are seeing in my hand can hasten the process of constructing the ember channels by ten times, so it should only take around a month for you.
His tone darkened, "However, throughout that month, your body might experience immense pain, you might even pass out a few times during the training process, but that's supposed to be normal."
"That's supposed to be normal?" I asked solemnly.
"While the method may seem gruesome and inhumane, it also provides several advantages over the natural method."
"And what are they?" Zei asked.
"Your body will undergo tremendous changes and will be able to absorb Ember at an astounding rate compared to others. Moreover, your healing capabilities and stamina will improve as well, which will be extremely helpful to you when battling against those horrendous creatures in the barren land."
He brought his hand, holding the vial, forward. "The choice is yours— you can endure the agony for a month or wait another year, forfeiting your place in the upcoming academy enrollment."
"So what will you choose?"
I glanced at Zei. Her amber eyes blazed with determination, though fear was imminent in them. I let out a sigh, "We'll take the fast, gruesome method. The sooner we become stronger, the better."
"You choose well," Asher murmured, nodding approvingly. He gave us both the vial.
"Your first step towards becoming stronger begins now."