[Prepare for appraisal…]
Aelon found himself in a space between dream and reality. It was an endless black void illuminated by a myriad of stars. Between those stars, countless strings of silver light were woven into a beautiful and inconceivably complex net, forming various nexuses and constellations. It was truly breathtaking.
Time passed, but a new announcement interrupted Aelon's thoughts.
[You have received a Memory: Minos' Soulblade]
An image of the blue longsword that struck Aelon's soul in his fight against Minos appeared in his mind.
'As far as I know that was his Aspect Ability though... did the spell manage to create a memory from it?'
Deciding not to overthink the mysterious matters of the spell, Aelon was consumed by excitement.
An awakened memory, that was most probably a weapon as a sleeper would be of immense help. Aelon didn't have the funds nor connections to buy memories, and a weapon was what he needed the most at the moment.
Aelon wanted to check the memory, but before he could, his appraisal was done.
[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]
[A child forged by misery crossed a mountain of corpses. Trust was rewarded with betrayal, kindness with steel, and mercy with blood. Standing before inevitable death, he refused to let even his soul break.]
Aelon didn't know how to feel about that description, but he continued reading anyways.
[You have defeated thirty one dormant humans, names: Colossus...]
The spell listed the names of those who Aelon had killed, until it finally reached one last name. [Corcus.]
[You have defeated an awakened human, Minos.]
[You have done a splendidly.]
[Final appraisal: excellent.]
'Excellent.'
Aelon didn't know if that really was a way to describe his deeds, after all he had killed many humans. Many more than he wanted.
[Dreamer Aelon, receive your boon!]
He was an Aspirant no more. Aelon was overjoyed.
[You have unsealed your innate ability.]
Checking his status, Aelon finally reached his aspect, and indeed, his innate ability stood there.
Aspect: [Beholder of Souls].
Aspect Rank: Sacred.
Aspect Description: [You are strengthened by the many, but will your perturbation of them come in the way?]
Innate Ability: [Junction of the Many].
Ability Description: [Every soul leaves behind an echo. Yours was born to answer them. Among many, it shall become unyielding. Alone, it shall fade into silence]
'Well thank you dear Spell, that description helps me a lot.' His thoughts were filled by irony.
Aelon didn't know what the meaning of any of that was, he just knew one thing: His innate ability had something to do with the presence of other souls.
Considering his first nightmare, it made sense. Being watched by those disgusting wretches wasn't a pleasant endeavor at all, yet their cheers ultimately helped him sometimes.
[The First Seal is broken.]
[Awakening dormant powers…]
Excitement bubbled up, just to be immediately interrupted. Aelon felt something waking up inside of him. With a startled cry, he clutched his chest and stared into the darkness, trying to understand what was happening. The feeling was not painful or unpleasant, yet it was like nothing he had ever experienced. It was as though his soul was being shaken awake, infused with strange new energy.
However, that energy did not come from some outside source. Rather, it was coming from within, as though it had always been there, sleeping.
The energy filled every fiber of his being. Aelon felt his emotions becoming clearer and sharper. Then, his body began to change, too. He felt as though a miniature star was burning in the center of his chest: waves of heat were radiating from it, slowly reaching his stomach and shoulders, then his arms and legs, and finally his hands and feet.
Under that heat, his bones, muscles, organs and blood vessels were being rebuilt and revitalized. Aelon felt like he was being reborn. He was becoming stronger, faster, healthier, and his arm... formed newly.
It was euphoric.
With each second, his transformation was becoming more profound. New confidence settled in Aelon's heart. He was not a weak, frail street kid anymore. He was not as vulnerable against anyone who would wish to bully him as he was in the past.
After some time had passed, the star burning in his chest finally cooled down. The heat was replaced with a soothing coldness. That coldness washed over Aelon's body, taking away all the aches and discomforts that had been accumulated there over the years. Then it moved up, reaching his brain and, finally, his eyes.
His vision strangely doubled.
He could still see the void populated by an endless pattern of stars. But he could also see something different.
A beautiful blue sea, under a night sky, which was illuminated by a bright star. The star illuminated his soul sea, but still left the sky dark. In the sky, multiple constellations and nebulae covered the view, making it a mesmerizing view. As if his own soul had a galaxy full of life and beauty.
The Spell's voice suddenly pulled him out of the Sea of Soul.
[Awakening Aspect Ability…]
Sacred Aspect or not, his immediate future still depended on the first Aspect Ability he would receive. His role in the Dream Realm would be based on its characteristics. If it was a combat ability, he would be most useful on the frontlines of the bloody battles against the Nightmare Creatures. If it was tied to sorcery, he would likely become a powerful, but fragile ranged fighter.
If it was something having to do with utility, he would be a vitally important part of the behind-the-scenes workings of the Dream Realm. Utility Abilities were also extremely valued in the real world, where Awakened performed many tasks that kept it going.
If he was lucky, he could even become a healer. Healers were very rare, and as such, sought-after specialists.
[Aspect Ability acquired.]
[Aspect Ability Name: Resonance Shift.]
'Resonance?'
Aelon could feel a theme permeating in his aspect, his innate ability had described itself as every Soul having echo. Now his dormant ability had something to do with resonance.
Checking his runes, he found it.
Name: Aelon
True Name: —
Rank: Aspirant
Soul Core: Dormant
Memories: [Minos' Soulblade].
Echoes: —
Attributes: [Concentrated Existence], [Faint Remembrance], [Soft Carapace, Strong Flesh], [Seed of Souls].
Aspect: [Beholder of Souls].
Aspect Description: [You are strengthened by the many, but will your perturbation of them come in the way?]
Aspect Abilities: [Resonance Shift].
Aspect Ability Description: [The echoes of souls answer your presence. You may deepen their resonance or dull it into stillness.]
'I knew it! The echo thing was mentioned here too...'
But when his attention returned to his Runes, he noticed a difference in his Attributes. Two differences to be exact.
He had gained a fourth Attribute, and his [Focused Existence] attribute seemed to have evolved.
[Concentrated Existence]
[Your presence is naturally ignored unless actively observed or mentally anchored. You function as a "no-priority" presence.]
The "low-priority" had changed to "no-priority". At the very least the spell was apparent about what his Attributes did.
[Seed of Souls]
[Hidden roots spread through the depths of your soul. Those intertwined with them may be perceived, and the essence within your grasp shall become clearer.]
He took that statement right back. He didn't know what that was supposed to mean in the slightest, but at least he gained a new attribute... right?
The spell's familiar voice resounded in his head once again.
[All power has a price.]
'Oh fu-'
[You have received a Flaw.]
Setting aside the generational trauma, and endless agony, this was the worst part about surviving your first nightmare. The flaw.
[Flaw: Self Erasure].
Flaw Description: [The presence of others fills your mind with dreadful thoughts, as panic and shame seep into your heart.]
He was damned. He was absolutely damned.
Just in that moment a change underwent in him, a psychological one to be exact. Self hatred filled him. He felt inferior to others, like no matter the praise, no matter the achievements, he'd always be less than others.
Alone the thought of talking to the police when he woke up made him panic.
"FUCK!"
If his innate ability made him grow stronger in the presence of others, this flaw wasn't only threatening, it was absolutely mortifying.
His innate literally said, "Among many, it shall become unyielding. Alone, it shall fade into silence." Only now did he understand how much of a disadvantage the last part put him in.
The black haired boy would be weaker when he was alone.
Aelon was about to scream and curse, but at that moment, the Spell spoke again.
[Wake up, Aelon!]
The black void spun and disappeared.