As soon as Ace felt the cold water, he slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was back to the place where he used to be. It was not the place of the Flowing Souls, but it was under the same cave where he first came. He looked towards his companion Icarus but, he wasn't there anymore.
He stood up and took his belongings beside the water and climbed the stairs, up to the surface. He felt so weak and hungry. He can feel his knees shaking and teeth chattering as he walk.
"Ace!"
He looked and saw Icarus running towards him.
"You made it! It took almost four months but you survived!" he muttered.
"Four months?" the only thing he could say because for a moment his stare fell to the shop were fresh fruits are displayed. Icarus knew his friend was hungry, so he took him to the shop and ordered food for his friend, which Ace gobbled up.
"Hey, slowly...." Icarus spoke.
"How long were vyu asleep?" Ace asked, mouthful.
"2 months..." he answered.
"You're amazing Icarus, you just finished the training for two months."
"I was just newly hatch so I had one of the purest souls in the area so it was easy to soul shape." Icarus answered his friend.
Icarus then held his hand. A slight tingle in his hands occurred then followed with a formation of a blue needle, not bigger than his finger. It had a light blue color, resembling that of a tiny bolt of lightning.
"Amazing Icarus. It took me 4 months but all I could do was this." the Ace scooped his right hand, and a dark blue orb emerged to his palms, almost as big as a baseball.
"No way! An orb soul!" Icarus muttered, quiet surprise with his friends power.
"What's wrong with my orb?"
"Well, as far as I remembered, souls in the spheres are divided by category. The Needle, the Cube, the Shield, the Web and the Orb. Aside from strengthening our souls to create shapes, Soul Purification is also the moment when we can identify our soul category. As you can see, I belong to the Needle. It means my soul is for attacks or offense. I cannot defend so much with my soul unless I train myself." Icarus started explaining. But Ace was quiet confuse.
"Then, what about the Orb?" he asked.
"Well, before I can introduce the Orb, you need to learn the other souls."
"The Cube, people with this soul are best for storing materials which is very important when collecting rewards, tokens and even powers. However, they have less attack power considering the nature of their soul shape. But they can create ways and use other methods of attack and defend, there are other things used for attacking too."
"Next is the Shield. Like its Soul shape, it is best for defense so people with this soul are best for defenses. But they can attack using their shields."
"Next is the Web. People with this soul shape are best for information gathering. They can connect with other people using their souls that stretches its length to reach others. Last soul shape is the Orb. The truth is, there are only few people who have Orb souls. No one has seen or studied what this souls best feature,"
Ace stared at his palms. He was expecting to hear from Icarus a clue on how he can use his power. But since nobody has studied this soul shape, it's up to Ace on how to improve himself. Yet on the good side, he can finally see himself towards the doors of his dreams. Hopefully, this will lead them to their dreams.
The two young lads finally decided to leave the place. This time, they will take themselves to the nearest village where the door is supposed to appear in the next rotation, the Fedor, one of the oldest villages in the land of Februa. It is said also that this is the place where the very first Polars rested. No one ever knew what happened to them.
But the journey was never easy for our two lads. As they passed through the savanna, they meet rather peculiar creatures, the Horses of Heaven. This are considered as one of the most majestic beings in the land that only few of the living februans could actually find. To think that they have crossed paths with these creatures is already a miracle. Or maybe, a bad omen, and both of them knew what they need to do.
Immediately, the two young lads took the longer path to the Village of Fedor. They knew that when someone crosses paths with the Horses of Heaven, they are being stopped and is suggested to take another route.
However, to their surprise, the horses followed the lad's path, not crossing their paths but following them which confuse the two young men. It appears that the horses were not attacking or defending. More like, it wanted to tell something to the two.
Many hours have passed and still the horses followed the paths of the two. This drove Ace to stop and turned to look to the horse's right behind him. Icarus stopped his friend so he tried to speak to horses as to what they wanted and why they were following them.
The Horses of Heaven were silent. Ace spoke again and still no reaction except at some point, the horses started scratching the dry soil beneath its feet as if telling Ace to come closer. Both of the lads were scared but they followed.
Slowly, they went closer to the horses. Ace came first while Icarus was a little farther, preparing his needle in case it might attack Ace. But of course Icarus know he can't defend himself that well. He just learn to soul shape and he doubt if this have an effect to the heavenly creatures.
"Please, let us through…" Ace spoke.
The horses was at first silent but they moved to make way for the young lad to pass. Icarus was surprised but he went closer to Ace and walked in between the Horses of Heaven.
They both felt scared as they passed between them but a sigh of relief escaped them the moment they passed through.
Long last, they saw the gleaming bell from one of the churches of Fedor. They have arrived in their destination. They passed through the wooden gates of the village and the lively living of the place welcomes them. Everyone is busy, walking here, talking from each other and laughing too. For the young lads, they haven't seen a busy place before since the village they knew was a little quieter.
"Good day! Are you here for the opening of the door?" a lively lady Februan welcomed them. "If there is anything you wanted to ask, just tell me."
"Oh thank you Ms.….."
"….Carmen"
"Thank you Ms. Carmen and yes, we want to go through the door." Ace spoke.
"Well, that's good because tomorrow is the fated day of the door again. But it may seem a little rude but, are you sure you want to get through the door?"
Both the boys nodded. Ms. Carmen then smiled and led them to a certain apartment where adventurers of the door rests before the fated day. As expected, the place was quieter.
"It's been three years since we had an adventurer. To think that there were three, it's almost like a miracle." Carmen spoke as they were lead to their rooms.
Just then, the door of the next room flung open revealing a Februan. He had huge wings, a gold plated bracelet and a white robe. His eyes were the deepest blue. The two lads stared at him.
"So we have another adventurer. It's a good thing, I won't be lonely." He spoke and went closer to the two boys now mesmerized and frozen.
"Hope that we could survive the other side young Februans." He continued.
The two boys nodded. The giant Februa passed through the boys and went inside of the rooms.
"Who was that?" Icarus whispered. "He looked so majestic, and powerful."
"That's Craytos. He's been here for 30 days, waiting and preparing for the fated opening of the door. To be honest, he is one of those februans with powerful souls."
"You can actually see his ability?" Ace asked again.
The lady smiled.
"I happened to have the Web soul but mine wasn't really focus with the communication. Mine is more of the ability finder, I can read soul abilities of a being."
The two stared at her and she eventually knows what the boys want at that moment. She sighed them smiled at the two young lads.
"Very well." She spoke.
Their faces lightened up as excitement took over. Lady Carmen first reached for the head of Icarus. Icarus didn't move as the palms of the lady is right above his head.
"You are a Needle holder. You are one of the purest souls I have ever saw. You are freshly hatched and I can see that you are experiencing wanderlust, quiet uncommon for a Februan. Your soul is strong but not strong enough to fight yet but with few soul shape, you can become the best."
Icarus felt joyed after hearing the Februan lady. He wanted to be strong, he felt that he has to and knowing few ideas about his soul gave him idea. The lady then tap Ace who is now excited to learn his soul abilities as well. Slowly she lowered her hand, just enough for her skin to feel his head. Within few seconds, the lady grew a little anxious and unsure.
"You are an Orb holder, the most uncommon soul shape. It is my first time seeing one too. It felt majestic and very unusual. Beings with these souls are said to possess something very valuable, something very important. To be honest boy, I have little idea about Orb holders." The Februan spoke as she released her palms from Ace's head.
Icarus then tapped her friend's shoulders.
"There is nothing to be sad about it Ace. We can find out about your soul shape ones we get through the door."
"That's true," Ms. Carmen suddenly with her sweet smile. "Actually there is a famous myth that has been going on around this place for a hundreds of years. They said that the Sun is not a Triangle but a big circle, like a giant orb"
The two lads sighed. "We already know about that myth Ms. Carmen." Ace spoke with a rather peculiar smile.
"I know that but the most interesting part of the myth is that the sun is actually someone's own spirit orb. According to the myth, he was the most powerful being in the whole sphere that he could create such powerful shining orb."
Ace knew it was a myth but boy was he amazed! If it is true that the sun is actually a giant orb created by someone with a massive power, maybe just maybe, he can finally see the sun up close. Icarus was also thinking of the same thing.
Ms. Carmen then smiled. "I can see that the two of you are now having more reasons to go to the center of the Sphere. I wish you two boys my best regards and hopefully, you two will have the safest adventure."
"Thank you Ms. Carmen." The boys spoke.