The overwhelming sensation of floating in the void returned.
"Isn't this the same feeling I had when he transported me from Earth to this place?" Ash thought, his mind racing.
'Incredible'
The sheer magnificence of Modros' abilities filled him with awe. Ash understood that what he had experienced so far was likely just a fraction of Modros' power. He was called the Lord of Knowledge for a reason and recognised as a god by those in Perindo. Seconds passed, though they felt like an eternity, and Ash suddenly found himself standing in a modest wooden house.
He was greeted by the earthy scent of wood and a warm furnace. Sunlight streamed through gaps in the thatched roof, illuminating the worn wooden floor and a worn-out wooden table surrounded by mismatched chairs. Shelves lined the walls, holding clay pots and other miccalaneous tools, while a woven mat with folded blankets lay neatly in the corner. A faint creak echoed as Ash attempted to stand.
Ash immediately fell and groaned; his body felt as if it was weighed down by unseen chains. The cold floor pressed against his palms as he struggled to push himself up, his limbs trembling with the effort. He barely made it halfway before a sharp, searing pain shot through his skull, forcing him back down with a loud gasp.
"AAAAARRRRGHHH"
"Whats...happen- AAAAARRRGGHHHHHH"
Ash's screams tore through the still air as wave after wave of agony coursed through him. His breathing grew erratic, his cries more desperate. He wailed and wailed, but the pain seemed to only get worse. In the chaos, he became dimly aware of something unnatural: memories, emotions, and ideologies foreign to him were merging with his own. As Ash screamed and tears streamed down his face, all he did was claw at the rough wooden floor, the sharp splinters biting into his fingers. The pain of his injuries offered brief relief from the firestorm inside his head
"He never warned me about wanting to kill myself the second I got here!"
"AAAAARRRRGHHH"
The screaming wouldn't stop no matter how much Ash tried to resist, but as if it were never there, the pain suddenly vanished off the face of the earth. Ash was momentarily flabbergasted, sweat dripping from his face The pain was no longer imbedded in his head, but it was certainty deeply imbedded in his memories. Ash began to stand up as he stared at his hands in astonishment; blood was flowing out of the splinters he acquired while grinding his finger through on the wood, but that wasn't what amazed him in the slightest. The source of Ash's astonishment was the sheer amount of damage he had done to the wood.
The wooden floor beneath his hands wasn't intact—it was shattered. Splinters and shards of wood surrounded the area he had been wailing in, in a chaotic mess. The grooves where his fingers had dug in were deep, as if the wood had been carved by machines rather than bare hands.
'Even a mere 15-year-old boy was capable of performing such superhuman feats unconsciously'
After the pain dissipated, Ash was able to connect the dots on what had occurred; he was gaining the memories of this body. He knew that he was a fifteen-year-old boy, had a sibling 2 years older than him called Marcus, and two parents who had died protecting them from Luminaros.
"Shame he had quite a sad life; both his parents died in front of his eyes, Huh...?"
"What's going on...?''
While Ash was talking about how sad his current body's life was, an unexpected tear streamed down his cheek, followed by another and another. He began to wipe his tears in confusion.
'Why am I crying?"
Ash was struggling to understand why he had suddenly begun to tear up at a speedy rate. As a few moments passed, he began to reach a clear realisation for this unexpected sorrow.
'I understand... it's not he had a sad life; its I had a sad life.'
'It's not both his parents died; it's both my parents died.'
'Im no longer the Ash from Earth but the Ash who is both from Perindo and Earth.'
"A combination," he whispered
It would be a bit tricky for Ash to completely come to terms with it, but in due time it would be second nature.
"Well, that's enough, amazement for now."
Ash spent a few minutes in silence trying to understand all the different experiences and memories he has gone through, ranging from the death of his parents to his brother leaving him to become an Arcanist capable of deafeating anyone who ever tried to harm him.
Arcanists—a term unfamiliar to most, including Ash until he recovered all his memories. Arcanists are individuals who possess a profound connection to the spiritual realm, enabling them to manipulate and control spiritual energy to a higher degree than the common individual.
They are a diverse group, ranging from powerful conjurers who shape reality with intricate spells to augementers who enhance their physical abilities with spiritual energy, and even those who innovate and combine the paths in a way that suits them. Each Arcanist's abilities are as unique as their connection to their spirit, making them the most formidable figures in existence.
Anyone can become an Arcanist as long as they try. The Arcansists as a whole's main goal is to free the world from the Luminaros, and that is why nearly every single person tries to become an Arcanist and why so many resources are poured into finding talented youth who can aid in the battle to free the world.
Ash's original goal was very similar to his brothers' but it took a slight turn now that his being was 'updated.' It still remained rather similar, with the added goal of finding capable companions who would have his back and he would have their back. Ash couldn't help but shiver in excitement.
' I need a proper plan...'
Ash had an array of choices, such as joining the yearly draft at a prominent clan or being a wanderer, but he had his sights on something else, which was probably the most formidable of them all... becoming a spirit guardian.
The Spirit Guardians are one of the smallest organisations of Arcanists in terms of membership but by far the most formable, with various different clan patriarchs and matriarchs being squad captains. They were, in simple terms, the main force in charge of safeguarding all of Perindo. You would probably think that if they were so great, why are they one of the smallest? Well, that's due to their strict recruitment policies; it was required for all members to have the capabilities of a Deep Green Core Arcanist.
The level of an Arcansit is separated by the colour of their core, which symbolises the purity and connection between both the spirit and the soul. The specific colours are also separated into their own grades.
The grading system for cores begins with Grade One, which represents the foundation of power. At this stage, the core is raw and untapped, appearing as a Black Core.
In Grade Two, the core develops further, with two variations: the Deep Red Core and the Pure Red Core.
Grade Three continues this progression with the Deep Orange Core and the Pure Orange Core.
Grade Four cores exhibit shades of yellow, transitioning from the Deep Yellow Core to the more refined Pure Yellow Core.
By Grade Five, the core takes on hues of green, ranging from the Deep Green Core to the fully developed Pure Green Core.
In Grade Six, the energy manifests as shades of cyan, beginning with the Deep Cyan Core and culminating in the Pure Cyan Core.
Grade Seven introduces blue tones, with cores evolving from the Deep Blue Core to the polished Pure Blue Core.
At Grade Eight, the core undergoes a significant transformation, becoming a Silver Core which has no clear levels.
Finally, Grade Nine represents the pinnacle of power in Perinso, embodied by the White Core.
With these rankings, the Green Cores are seen to be the level where a person is nearing the level of a master.
Luminaros also have their own unique grading system, which is far more complicated, which even Ash doesn't know properly at the moment. All he knows is that many Luminaros have more than one soul core.
Using this information, it was obvious that it would be hard and take time before Ash could even join the Spirit Guardians draft, but Ash was determined to join them and build his influence as time passes. For the mean time, he would need to be a wanderer, build up his power, and hopefully find comrades who will stay with him through thick and thin.
"Well, I think its finally time to leave this house and begin my journey."
Ash proceeded to pack a bag filled with some dried meat, water, a knife, and other common tools and goods that would need to last him around a week. Once Ash had finished packing his bag, he turned to face the door, where he saw a fine steel longsword lying in wait for him. He held it, taking a deep, controlled breath, and strapped it to his waist.
'Life begins now.'
Ash held the door handle, pushed the door open, and was ready to begin his journey.