He opened his eyes slowly and found himself lying on his bed, wearing a pant and no shirt on. Suddenly wakes up and check his chest driven by involuntary sense of insurance.
" Huh? "
" What's happening "
" I thought I was... wasn't I...wait didn't I die yesterday " he muttered impatiently as if he's been running for hours straight without stopping and he's out of breath.
Silence prevailed across the scarcely lighted room, for a moment the world seems to have gone mute. He seems to be lost in thought, soaring amidst the scattering memories of his past which seems like it was stored in a huge jar, the jar was cracking ' creak ' then suddenly the glasses shattered in instant after a pause and he was pulled back to the reality and he gasped for air.
" Huff,Huff "
" Was I just dreaming but it felt so real ". When the surrounding was full of troubled atmosphere, a cold and chivalric wind swept across the room and the window opened slowly on it's own, almost like a scene from a ghost movie. The voice whispers to his head again but this time it was a lot clearer than the previous.
" Good morning "
"The awakened one" the voice sounds like a a celestial being speaking from a faraway abyss but slightly resembles the voice of an old man"
" This voice?, it's the same voice I heard yesterday."
" You are now one of the Awakened "
" Choose your path."
" Wait wait, before you continue further can you tell me what the hell is happening?"
" Who are you,more like what are you? "
" Seems like you're in completely unfazed state, then please allow me to explain ".
" I'm Dero and I'll be your loyal guide until you become a full fledged Awakened ".
Castor was confused to the core and stood still not sure what to do and not able to grasp what's going on at all .
" Now will you lend me your ear." The voice sounded more commanding, like a Captain filling the soldiers with spirit and courage before going to the war.
" When someone is chosen as awakened he or she will start hearing things like whispers, even the voices of Devils and Gods sometimes and of course that is only when one's spirituality is exceptional."
"This is the first stage of becoming the Awakened".
" Most of the people usually freak out and never fulfilled the necessary requirements
As a result only a few are able to become Awakened ".
" In order to complete the first stage one's only need to simply follow the voices they heard, and ofcourse they do not possess a tiny bit malicious intent."
They're the voices of their guide which have been assigned to those newly Awakened.
"Assigned by whom?"
" I'm afraid I can't tell you that."
" For now think of it as our master "
" Is that so? Then I might have hard time believing you and your master of yours." Castor asked him in with a testing intention.
" I'll leave that for you to decide ". Castor was slightly disappointed with the answer and thought that it was strange, he was expecting more explaining or revolting answer.
" And now for the second stage, one must die within three days after completing the first stage ".
" Although your death yesterday was quite unexpected"
" You've completed both so you're now one of the Awakened."
" Now choose your... ".
' Thud thud '. Someone knocked at the door and interrupted their conversation. He was alerted thinking that something bad is after him regarding yesterday's incident, before he gets the door he asked Dero's of his opinion.
" Should I go get the door ". Castor asked Dero to assure that there's no danger in opening the door. After a few seconds Dero assured him that there's no danger in opening the door.
" Yes, besides I don't sense any corrupted spirituality nor a corrupted spiritual beast ".
" Coming! one second please." Castor hastily put on his shirt but he finds a hole around the chest so he reached for another shirt and put it on.He opened the door, it was the landlady- Mrs Sheron, she had come to collect the rent. With her usual tidy, bustling and pertually wearing a crisp white apron. She smells faintly as lavender and beef broth.
" Good morning ma'am" Castor offered a polite,if strained,smile.
" Good morning, I see you're home today so I have come to collect the rent ". She clutched her white linen purse, her knuckles white.
" Is that inconvenient for you? ".
" No ma'am I was rather expecting you "
" Please come in." He stepped aside, gesturing into the room.
She lifted her neck a little,peering past him into the dim interior. A hesitant smile, thin as parchment, displayed her face.
" Oh, thanks but I'll be fine here ".
" Then please wait here for a moment. I'll go get the money ".
Castor turned, retrieving a small, leather bound pouch from a hidden compartment in his desk. He returned counting a handful of coins and notes.
She looked the money, her fingers quick and practiced, counting under her breath.
"Four,five,six".
Her smile softened, transforming her face, a brief almost a startling glimpse of warmth.
" You know there's one thing about you I like."
" And what's that ma'am? " He gave an rigid watching her.
" You never miss the bell. You're the best tenant in the town."
She chuckled a brief, dry sound with a final nod, she turned and descended the stairs.
After the landlady left, he shut the door and mutter to himself " I usually prefer a discount rather than a compliment." After saying that He went over to the hearth,starts a fire and prepared his breakfast, he toasted a bread on top of the hot pan near the embers. Porridge cooked slowly in an iron pot suspended over the fire. He went over the table at the left side of the bed and placed the bowl of porridge on top of the table. He pours out the tea from the kettle heated in stand near the fire,holding bread on his right hand and the tea on the left, he sat down at the sturdy wooden chair. After dipping the bread on the porridge he takes a bite and said
'' You still there?''.
'' Yes, are we okay to continue now?''. The voice speaks again.
'' Yes go on I'm listening'' Castor answered while sipping tea from the cup.
'' As I was saying you need to choose your path now since you have cleared the first two stage."
" What is this path again?"
" It's like a trial you'll be allowed to choose one power temporarily, you'll be taken to the spirit realm also know as The Netherlands and after completing the trial you'll be here again with your new power."
" But be careful by possessing one of this power you'll be exposing yourself to the threat of the shadows."
" There are seven path in total. Should I elaborate all of them?"
" Seven? Well save it for later, I don't want want to storm my brain early in the morning."
After finishing his breakfast he washed the dishes and sat down taking few deep breaths.
With a determined look on his face he said
" I'm ready "
" Oh you are?" Dero responded as if he didn't expect him to say that and make such quick decision ".
" Then please choose a path to proceed "
" I'll go along with your recommendation since I don't want to listen you blabber about it for hours."
" I'll recommend telekinesis, which is harnessed through intense concentration, willpower, or heightened emotional states. It can be channeled through body parts (like hand gestures) or direct mental focus. You can lift things at will, fly and even destroy and recreate things."
A cup spawned in front of him slowly drifting in air towards him.
" Drink it, it's the potion for telekinesis "
" You'll completely digest it once your trial ends."
Without hesitation he takes the cup and drink it all in one gulp. As soon as he drink it he could feel power surging through his body and then the sensation suddenly disappeared as if it's completely dissolved.
" Now repeat after me "
Aetheries...Aetheries
Vora...Vora
Unveil.....Unveil
He repeated him with word for word. A few moments later, a bright light flashed the room and he disappeared in an instant.