The beautiful red setting sun illuminated the land of Paris. Many people were returning back to their homes. Some were in parks, or on their balconies, witnessing the setting of the beautiful sun.
Anna, with her daughter Anya, was also on the roof of her house, looking at the setting sun with a small smile on her face. There was a clear contrast to her appearance and expressions when compared to the sunrise.
Eric was also walking down the footpath. He was in his Mike Jackson persona; the Imperator's Cross on his left earlobe jingled with his movements.
He had done a lot of things today. He was truly tired, both in mind and body. First, he had to convince a suicidal lady not to commit suicide and give her some hope, then help numerous people, help Anna again, figure out how the Imperator's Cross actually works, divine for hours straight—Eric can't even count how many times he had lost his way, that took a lot of his time too—help a teenager awaken and guide him for the day, help him and answer all his questions.
Eric checked the Imperator's Cross and found out that it was now at 40 percent and not at 39 percent. Uriel hasn't returned till now so it seems that the beggar he hired had done all the work he had told him to do. "He is quite the honest man," Eric couldn't help but praise that old man. He was fully ready to see him die by Uriel if he had bought something bad like cigarettes or alcohol with the money he gave him.
Eric had thought of hiring beggars like this and paying them to go and do good work. It will give him less good deeds and be less efficient due to several reasons like him not directly doing it and not having the intent fully, but there is nothing he can do. He can't take off from his work as a police officer every day to go around and be this kind man who helps everyone.
Yes, there are chances that many people won't do as he says and end up dying, but is it his fault? It is their own greed that will make the angels he sent with them kill them. In the first place, most of those beggars were in their current position due to their poor decisions in life. If even after getting a chance in life they decided to chase their addictions, then they deserve worse than death.
Some beggars might even scheme against the others and implicate others, but Eric can't do anything about it. It will take a lot of time and effort to train them. He also is reluctant to use the Imperator's Cross to influence their mind but he is inwardly wary and scared of the entire church. He is holding back from using it to its full potential.
After walking for some minutes and passing through many shops and people, Eric reached a crosswalk. He however didn't walk further and just looked up at the setting sun. In that moment, he realized that he has a lot of problems to take care of.
His friend's marriage, becoming stronger, being a good ally to the two great bodies he is allied to while being wary of not being used by them, making sure to always have an escape route for himself, being wary of the Truth Seekers who till now have been silent and acted like he doesn't even exist—he has a bad feeling about them—safeguard himself from the attack of the Organisation, request information from Voyage and Edward and probe some details of this Paris operation, even make preparations for his advancement ritual and resources that he doesn't know about till now, investigate that family the voice in his head told him to kill, why he needs to remain a virgin?, not lose control and figure out the secrets behind the Church of Serenity and the voice in his head. And the most urgent: farm good deeds.
There are many threats. The upcoming road is filled with uncertainty, danger—some external, some internal, some mysterious, some unknown, some he vaguely knows.
However, Eric wasn't scared of moving forward. He was excited even. Only with troubles and setbacks is life fun and worth living. He doesn't mind a peaceful life but only a troublesome life can ignite his inner fighting spirit.
This Paris operation was very mysterious. He has found himself trapped in here but it is only in danger can he find rare opportunities to grow. Just look at all the relics he has gotten from so many organisations? He is surely valued. He may not know why, but is it that important?
Taking a deep breath, Eric turned left and started to walk. It was almost dark now. He has to get back home soon. Ruby must be waiting for him.
On the way, he was constantly thinking about various things. Suddenly, a question popped up in his head. This question had been worrying him for quite some time and he had been subconsciously avoiding this question.
Stopping in his tracks, Eric looked up at the dark sky and asked himself, "What is my ambition?"
He once had a dream, a goal, a want, a meaning in his life when he was young but now that he had grown up, he had forgotten it. He doesn't remember how he forgot it, when he forgot it. He doesn't remember anything regarding his goal. If he doesn't remember or figure out what his goal is again, then that would be very catastrophic to him being able to advance.
Why is it? What does him being able to remember his dream have to do with his advancement? In fact, it does. If he is unable to remember his dream and be clear on what he wants to do, then not only would he not be able to advance, his life also might end as he will eventually lose control.
There are six ranks in which an Aura user can advance to, from the weakest, Nova to the strongest, a True Supernova, with every rank having its own method of control to increase the rate of control of an Aura user's Aura and avoid letting its sub-consciousness take over their mind and becoming a monster. In every method of control, there are three steps.
The first step increases the control from 1% to 40%, the second step then makes it from 41% to 70% and finally the third and last step makes it from 71% to 100%. After an Aura user gains one hundred percent of control on their Aura, they are very likely to not lose control. They are also able to then know about the advancement ritual and resources they need to collect to advance.
The process of advancing in itself is a different concept. Identify yourself, recognize yourself and accept yourself—these are the three steps of the Lysi Nova rank. It is solely based on the understanding, identification and the acceptance of oneself.
The first step is to make a list of your morals and follow them religiously like Eric, Max and all the other Aura users, even after passing that step do. The second step is to recognize oneself: who you love, who you hate, how you portray yourself to the outside and how you are from the inside, what are your thoughts of something, figure out if your feelings for something or someone are true, whether you like or dislike something, what are your goals and ambitions?, what do you want to do, be clear of the direction you will take in your life, what you will do. Every little thing matters. In a nutshell, you have to be true to yourself, your emotions and be clear of them.
The third step is to accept yourself. Sometimes, there are parts of oneself that one doesn't know exist. It is through the past two steps that one finds these sides of themselves. It can break the image of yourself you have built in your mind all this life.
It is quite mystical how intricate these steps are. If any step was misplaced, then one wouldn't have been able to accept, recognize or even identify themselves. This is why one has to walk according to the steps and can't skip any steps.
For example, why Eric became close to losing control after confessing in the Church of Serenity? It was due to this. He was accepting himself subconsciously when he confessed. He hadn't completed his second step and was still on 60% control of his Aura but was starting the third step. It caused his mind to weaken and allow the sub-consciousness of his Auras to attack his mind. Luckily, it wasn't fatal and he didn't lose control.
The two previous steps allow the vision of one towards themselves to clear and become simplified and focused, thus bringing huge help when a Lysi Nova starts the third step. If not for the first two steps, one would have much more trouble when it comes to accept oneself.
Eric has finished the first step long ago and most of the second step. But two big questions have been stopping him from completing this step. First, does he really love Ruby or is he just using her? This question makes him uncomfortable and he avoids it constantly. The second question is already being contemplated by him: what is his main goal and ambition?
He has been roaming around his whole life, confused, unaware of what he wants, what meaning he wants to give to his life. He had tried many things but achieved so much, but he still feels empty and lost inside his heart. It feels suffocating. It is like the answer is right there but he is unable to grasp it. It is a very frustrating feeling.
Eric's sky blue eyes became black as the smile on his face disappeared. He turned his head in front of him. He saw a young mother and her son coming out of a shop. The boy had a football in his hand. "I love you mama! I will practise hard and become a great footballer! Even Ronaldo will be in awe of my skills."
The mother simply smiled and laughed at her son's screaming. She nodded her head and encouraged him as she took his hand and led them toward their home. Eric was gazing at them emotionlessly. He heaved a long sigh and started walking.
Whatever his goal is, it is unclear and forgotten now, but he will one day figure out what it is and when he does, he will do whatever he can to achieve it.