"I'm impressed by your progression with these courses. Not only did you learn basic language in a matter of a day, but you also learned how to listen and communicate with this language. You can read fully fledged stories that are not on par to your Lexile score."
"Really?" Chloe said curiously. "I thought… it would have taken longer."
Realma shook her head and released a chuckle of disdain.
"N-No… not at all, Ms… erm… Chloe. Actually, if you continue and read this last book, I will acknowledge Mr. Toivo that you have excelled and passed all lessons given to you."
After she had been informed, Chloe's chocolate brown eyes sparkled with awe and surprise, unable to believe how she had learned so quickly.
As her gaze transferred from the skyscrapers of the bookcase to the table, she slowly slid her thumb underneath the hardcover and pried it open, revealing a whole atlas of knowledge before her. Chloe asked faintly with a confused and breathless expression.
"Why… is there so much here?"
The crimson-haired maid tapped her fingers and expressed an amused chuckle.
"Oh, you don't have to read all of it. Just the pages that you feel most comfortable with reading."
Chloe nodded and skimmed the pages, looking for ones that were easiest to read. She felt overwhelmed seeing several areas of the page inked with black, all with scattering paragraphs and numerous colors. It was almost an eye sore for her.
The red-haired maid's gaze eventually fixed on the image of a S mark inscribed in the top right corner of the page as she continued to study Chloe's bewildered expression.
An avalanche of vituperation bit and swept Chloe's mind, seeing the several illustrations inked near the paragraphs. She wanted to complain so badly, but knew it was rude to do so. In correspondence to what was ahead of her….
"What is this?" She asked as she slid the pried-book toward the maid. "It looks… strange."
A carefully appraising eye came on the maid's face as she leaned her back against the chair.
For a moment, there was absolute silence.
A childish belief in her own impeccability got to her. Not even she knew the contents within this strange and oddly familiar book. Her lashes fluttered at the same token she queried with a high-pitched voice.
"I'm not sure as to what was in that book myself. Be careful…"
Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"Be… careful?! What do you mean?! I thought you knew what this book was about."
"Just be careful." Realma said calmly as she placed the book back on Chloe's open palms. "I don't want you to go too far in your discovery."
The young woman's gaze shuffled from the book back to the woman repeatedly before coming back to the book, thinking and remembering about the white-haired boy she met a few days ago. Asahi. She was still struck with disbelief on how such a name could exist in a world such as this one, but even then… she knew it was no surprise. Anything happens in a fantasy as far as Chloe was concerned.
"Asahi… I still can't believe an otherworldly being like that boy could possess such a name. It's… fitting for his personality too. The Rising Sun. It's poetic. Much like all the other names that have meaning." Chloe murmured under her breath while she slowly peeled the page open. "Even so, there's still so much mystery in that boy. How much does he know about this world then I don't? How was he born? What was it like in the past?"
When that thought of curiosity flooded into Chloe's clueless mind, what replaced it was a memory she never owned.
"At the time of the grand ceremony among the ancient ages of The Second Incarnation of this world, an awakening for the Church and religion for Adtraic Gods was born."
* * * * *
Among vanilla-coated meadows, rested the fading hope of an ambitious civilization all compressed into one group.
A calm and premeditated prudence brooded upon the fresh but hollow air. Her dark sweeping, thick, fierce and sharp eyelashes glittered among the golden sun, milk skin reflected the vivid, honey hues of the dandelion fields, and her faint, sweet frosty hair fluctuated with the tame winds.
"Blessed lands, united as one at long last. This is truly, a heaven for all."
She had long, lustrous silky snow skin as smooth as a baby, and tattoo like-substances inscribed on her right, exposed shoulder. Her ash-gray eyes darted over to the statue, then to the thousands of people gathered in front of her. A feeling of admirable love dawned up in her beautiful appearance as she saw the silhouette of tall, cloud-piercing mountains.
"Such a heavenly sight. And all of it…" She shut her eyes gently and embraced herself. "Belongs to me, my handsome strong husband, and my beloved and beautiful children."
Her gorgeous black fingernails caressed her daughter's hair beautifully before she then clenched tightly and announced to the rest of the church with her smooth, mature, rich, and resonant voice.
""Our lands have been blessed. The war has ceased! Our prayers have been answered by the gods."
The tall, undeniably voluptuous woman's voice was so soothing, that it was enough to comfort anyone who had heard her. She and her fellow allies were showered in praise. Even the two children who had dark halos above their heads, spread their wings and commended their righteous victory.
"Cheers for The Adtraic!"
A soft yet loving laugh came from the woman. But although her body was as clear as day, not once could Chloe's soul see her face. It was shrouded in a thick and faint blur; one so tidy that not even the strongest could see it. But despite that, Chloe admired that beautiful woman to the point where she heart-ached from her beauty.
(She's… absolutely beautiful. Is this… Asahi's mother?)
Before any more questions could be asked, a man with a long dark beard, golden eyes and dark skin shook hands with an individual.
The symbol of an S was suspended and marked on each white building wall, with windows and stained glass on the left and right. It looked to be a massive church. He continued as he offered a grail to the individual.
"We grant you our gratitude for your performance. You brought peace to our country and answered all our prayers. Is there anything we can do to commend you for two of your selfless acts?"
The large crowd cried with happiness.
As the man kindly awaited their answer, the white-haired boy stepped forward, pointed to the stained-colored windows, and raised his voice with all his energy.
"All we want in return is for this church to expand to every corner of our world. Whether deep below or high above, we shall perceive our efforts and spread our love to everybody."
The crowd grew wild. The dark-skinned man replied.
"Such a great meaning behind this. We understand, my lord."
Aletha clapped her hands cheerfully and snapped her fingers in front of the crowd."
"And if you can, erect two statues on that hill to bless this holy land and capture this beautiful moment. No matter where we are, the spirit of our love is intertwined."
The past vision flashed and fast-forwarded ten years after the announcement. Asahi, Aletha, and the crowd stood atop a flower-covered grassy hill a few meters from the church, waiting for the reveal.
"And so… through our determination and blessings from the gods, I present you…."
The same tall woman, presumed to be Asahi's mother; stepped in front of the announcer and interrupted him.
"Excuse me… I will take it from here. Despite your doubts hindering your efforts, all of you persisted in putting your sweat and tears into this masterful creation."
She licked her lips and snapped her fingers.
"All of you never cease to amaze me! This lovely art piece will be the eternal guardian for all of us… It's the evidence of our pride, determination, and strength."
The woman gently moved Asahi and Aletha away and grabbed the sheets.
The only features of the woman that weren't visible from this memory were her upper body and her face. Her attire was the color of dark obsidian; white spots dotted around her tight, revealing suit like the stars sprinkling over the night sky, and a gray ribbon spanned over her right shoulder.
She pulled the covers off from the statue and giggled.
"This is proof of our love and commitment. Each angle, detail, and carving represents all your hard work, effort, and love!"
The woman's palms ignited with a white glow. She hurriedly forced it on both the statues and formed an impenetrable barrier around them.
"I will forever preserve this lovely creation for eternity! No matter if the art encounters disaster, this piece, and the church, will be indestructible! "
The audience erupted.
"Horray!"
The woman continued while the luminance melded into the identical Asahi and Aletha replica statues.
"This is what defines true beauty! It will forever be preserved no matter what!"
She leaned over to the young siblings, scratching their heads and patting their backs.
"Don't worry, kids, you will be fine. Remember, if you're in trouble, just give up. There's no need to waste energy on something you can't fix. But always try if you know you can do it! Now isn't that right, my sweet little angels?" Another luminous grin came from the mother's blurry but presentable face.
"Of course…"
Both the siblings, including the silver-haired girl, jumped and hugged the caring woman, responding with bright smiles as her sweet scent touched their nostrils.
"Yes, mommy!"
Just before her face could be revealed, the memory, along with the pages corresponding to this moment, abruptly cut off from Chloe's trembling grasp.
* * * * * * *
(Meanwhile, in the dining room.)
"H… Hey. Are you alright?"
Asahi's vision blurred to a relatively warm room with a chandelier, white table, and flower pots all around the corners. He backed up and coughed, finding a blue-haired girl kneeling near him and fidgeting with the fluffy texture on Asahi's soft white hair.
It felt to her like touching the fur of a chinchilla. So soft and so smooth, that it was more of a convenience for her.
"So… fluffy."
As she rubbed Asahi's strands with both her fingers, Toivo intervened.
"Hey, Kendra. I know you're all worried for him and all, but can you let the guy have some free-space?"
Instead of abiding by his orders, Kendra continued to sniff the riveting vanilla scent lingering in Asahi's soft bristles of hair; relishing and savoring this moment as much as she could. She whimpered as her face turned red.
"His hair smells SO sweet.~ AGH, I just want to--"
Asahi gasped.
"Huh?!"
A gruff, masculine voice sounded after.
"That's it!"
Followed by Kendra's squeals, the elderly man stepped in and pinched the maid's left ear, dragging her away from Asahi, unable to tolerate more of her desperate attempts. As Asahi watched the maid get viciously dragged back to her room, and heard Kendra's whines vanish into the distant hallway, the gray-haired boy stepped forward and analyzed Asahi's every muscle.
He commented as the veins on his arm pulsate and throb.
"So, you look different."
A silence dawned up inside the room.
Glasses were heard shuffling and shining within the kitchen.
Asahi nodded his head and gulped down a breath of anxiety.
"Yes, even I...…" He looked over through the window and saw his reflection cast clear as day on the shiny window like a mirror, revealing his body gleaming with the sunlight. All six of his abs thickened like rock, coupled by his arms which had also presented his hard work he had done throughout these two days.
Asahi's new features seemed to express a fine arrogant acrimony and harsh truculence to Canyon's mind; So much so to where he grew envious and questioned how this transformation was even possible.
He questioned as they heard Kendra hurriedly racing through the hallways toward the dining room.
"How did you become… that? We just saw you four days ago."
A drowsiness coiled insidiously in the young man, feeling his anxiety flood his emotions. Following a complete silence had suddenly intruded the moment, Asahi stepped forward and exclaimed with a trembling tone.
"It's been awhile since I have seen you all."
Asahi bent over to Toivo, took a long sigh, and asked.
"Is this part of your scheme, too, Toivo?"
Brunella clenched her fists and screamed as the red carpet reflected the light.
"ARE YOU BLIND?! JUST LOOK AT YOURSELF!"
At that moment, Toivo and the group dragged the young man down the hallway toward a large mirror. He gasped, his eyes rounded in shock, and his face skimmed his chin as Kendra and the other maids smiled with excitement.
"I… completely transformed."
Toivo coughed awkwardly and turned away, crossing his arms, and squinting with envy.
"You were supposed to become this in five months, not two days. I don't even know how you did it, but I guess… you paid off."
Brunella coughed and released a gulp of anxiety, hearing footsteps sound behind her back.
"Maybe you don't need that adventuring training after all. If I knew you could do this, perhaps that might motivate Katib to get ahead of himself."
Canyon commented with just slight hints of jealousy blooming in him.
"Wow, you look surprisingly different now. And to think that it just took some training. Hell, I might as well join you if that's the case. I think that green-haired girl and all the others would pass out if they saw you return like this."
To add onto the humor, Joshilyn pushed her silver spoon away from her mouth and included.
"Correct, people may think you're some sort of demon seeing this. At that point, I might even get ahead of… myself." She hurriedly shook her head and coughed. "Y-Yup… but still, you have to go through the process. It's just I don't think it would be a challenge with what you have."
The gray haired boy complimented as Toivo tried desperately not to get envious.
"How. Just how are you able to do that?"
Asahi shrugged.
"I have no idea."
"CLEARLY you do. Because you wouldn't look like this if you had no clue what you are doing."
After the commotion that eventually stirred up between them, Joshilyn returned back to her serious state, stepped forward and included as the sounds of a raging storm came outside the mansion.
"On a serious note, what happened after we lost you was something so catastrophic, nothing could describe it other than chaos?"
Asahi cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
"W… What do you mean?"
"You know your sister, Aletha?"
The young man replied with a tone of sarcasm as the roof of the building trembled and shook.
"Yeah. What about her?"
In a grave expression, everyone including the group turned their heads downward and gulped with disdain. Asahi started to grow panicked, hoping to goodness that his sister hadn't lost herself during the trip. He asked as a roaring and whistling wind shattered windows furthest from them.
"Just tell me! Stop standing here, and tell me! Please!"
Toivo backed away in surprise as he saw two gleaming daggers fall from the pockets in Joshilyn. She quickly picked them up and slid them over to Asahi, replying as the sounds of glass shattering came from behind.
"Aletha and their entire group was caught from the storm of chaos a day ago. Everyone, including the strangers that were in the ceremony watched as your sister dueled and raced with all her content."
Canyon said with a cold tone resonating in his shifting voice.
"Dark monsters invaded that place. Even though we were far, me, Joshilyn, and Brunella could just see from the sidelines, that even though the geysers were at their most active, it wasn't enough to stop… them from k-killing…"
(THUNDER)
A tremulous expression came from his panicked scream.
"Isa."
* * * * * * *