In this moment of profound revelation, Marcellus was confronted with the harsh reality that the pursuit of power often came at the cost of one's innocence and security.
He stood at the precipice of a dark and perilous journey, with nothing but his wits to shield him from the abyss that yawned before him.
Marcellus's mind worked feverishly, drawing more inferences and conclusions about the perilous nature of the aspirant pathways.
The knowledge he had unearthed painted a grim picture of the consequences faced by those who strayed from their chosen path.
Deviation equals madness.
It was clear that for an Aspirant, consuming potions from a different pathway was a harrowing endeavour, akin to a self-inflicted descent into madness.
The best possible outcome in such a scenario was a state of half-madness, a fate that Marcellus found utterly chilling. It was a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the mystical powers he sought to harness.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged from the shadows of despair.
There was an Idea that surfaced in Marcellus's head, a tantalizing possibility, that Aspirants at Higher sequences could shift to a neighbouring or adjacent pathway with similarities in domain(s) without facing the same dangerous consequences.
This possibility, though faint, offered a flicker of optimism in the otherwise gloomy tapestry of his newfound knowledge.
Marcellus's mind churned with contemplation.
In theory, it might be possible to switch to a pathway at a lower Sequence, but he understood that the risks would be far greater.
Lower-sequence Aspirants lacked the life-preservation abilities available to those at higher Sequences, as his readings had indicated.
However, if successful, such a transition might not result in the dreaded half-crazed madness or the loss of control that typically accompanies such drastic shifts.
The deeper Marcellus delved into the enigmatic world of aspirant pathways, the more intricate the web of knowledge became.
The revelation that, in the event of a successful switch, an Aspirant retained all their previous Sequence powers was a revelation of profound significance.
As he pieced together the implications of this conjecture, he understood that the old powers, hailing from a previous pathway, would merge with the newfound abilities granted by the current pathway potion.
The result was a fusion of mystic energies, a convergence of domains that gave rise to unique and bizarre powers. It was a phenomenon that defied conventional understanding, creating abilities that were both enigmatic and unpredictable, making Aspirants who underwent such transitions exceptionally formidable.
The realization that these deviations from the norm made Aspirants more unpredictable and challenging adversaries for their enemies was a chilling revelation. It was as if they had become walking enigmas, their powers shrouded in layers of mystique that confounded even the most prepared foes.
In light of this revelation, Marcellus couldn't help but ponder the gravity of his conclusion. While the prospect of switching pathways held the allure of unlocking new and potent abilities, the conventional wisdom suggested that adhering to a single pathway until the end was generally the safer and wiser choice. The intricacies of this mystical world were fraught with peril, and the path he chose would shape not only his powers but also his destiny.
As Marcellus concluded his exhaustive thinking through the labyrinthine knowledge of the aspirant pathways, he found himself standing at a crossroads. His mind was brimming with inferences and conjectures, yet the elusive answers he sought for his current Sequence remained just beyond his grasp.
On a macroscopic level, he felt that his comprehension of the Path of the Divine was, for now, sufficient to guide him through the complexities of this mystical world. The broader strokes of the aspirant pathways were becoming clearer, like an intricate tapestry of power and aspiration.
However, on a micro level, his struggle persisted as he wrestled with the enigmatic Hollowed Sequence. With a sense of determination, he delved into the descriptions and case records of previous Hollowed encountered by the Church of Storm, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together.
He desired to digest the potion faster and bloom his sequence, even though he realized everyone he knew above sequence 9 was an older person, Priest Corwin, The governor and Old Man Aulus were all in the late years. This hinted that as one grew older, they would digest the potion better.
However, his youthful nature refused to accept this idea. He believed that there must be others who could digest the potion more quickly.
Essentially, he was seeking a shortcut.
When he trained with the sword with his priestess in Wisbech, he had asked for a shortcut, like learning specific breathing techniques. However, the church's policy was to become a sword saint without these techniques. He couldn't comprehend why, and he didn't understand why he should choose a more difficult path when an easier one was available.
His motto in life was to take the path of least resistance.
Yet, some organizations, like the Church of Combat, seemed to intentionally make the easier tasks harder and the harder tasks even more challenging.
He even vaguely recalled his priestess mentioning a 12-year-old slave boy who had become a knight due to his skill. Even now, he found it difficult to believe because he knew how challenging it was to master swordsmanship.
He couldn't help but wonder if that young knight had taken some kind of shortcut, as achieving such skill at such a young age seemed nearly impossible unless he had been swinging a sword from the moment he was born.
Marcellus decided to make some guesses.
They possess Cold Resistance, resilient minds that shed derangements and quirks, and resistance to mind manipulation. Proficiency in rituals and sigils, he murmured to himself, trying to glean the essence of the Hollowed from the scattered knowledge.
With a contemplative air, he mused further, Since I imbibed the potion, I've made efforts to explore the intricacies of rituals. As for sigils, the Church has not provided any guidance, and no one has ventured to manipulate my mind. It's possible that I have not yet reached the point in my Sequence where these aspects come into play—perhaps the full bloom of the Sequence is still beyond my grasp."
And then, "Sequence 9: Hollowed. The corresponding Aspirant gains enhanced senses, spiritual perception, creates strong barriers, enables passage through spiritual walls, and increases dexterity."
As Marcellus continued his exploration of Sequence 9: Hollowed, a sense of resonance began to take hold. The description of the corresponding Aspirant's attributes seemed to align more closely with his own experiences.
"Now, this sounds more like me," he mused with a wry smile, his mind racing with newfound clarity. "My senses may not have expanded in scope, but their intensity has grown. I may not see farther, but I see with unparalleled clarity. I feel more deeply, and my hearing is as sharp as ever. In essence, three out of five of my senses have bloomed."
His spiritual perception, in particular, had undergone a profound transformation. It was not about seeing spirituality; it was about feeling it, like the visceral awareness he had experienced during the attack by those mysterious assailants. The memory of their assault hung in the air, a reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows.
He chuckled softly, reminiscing about the encounter with assailants. "I can't see spirituality, but I can certainly feel it. Like that attack by those assailants, it was as if I could sense the very essence of their intent. Whatever happened to them, well, it's of little consequence to me."
"Unlike Finn's spiritual vision, I cannot see spirituality; I can feel it," Marcellus continued his analysis. "However, I only sense it when it's directed at me. I have to be the target to perceive its presence."
The revelation about his ability to create barriers, albeit limited to spiritual entities, intrigued him. "I can craft barriers that ward against things with spirituality, but things without spirituality can pass through," he noted, understanding the limitations of this ability.
"And as for dexterity," he mused, "it's a bit tricky to assess, given my background as a sword saint. But it's safe to say that my agility and precision have seen improvements, making me even deadlier with a blade."
These descriptions, though vague and shrouded in mystique, resonated with Marcellus.
The Hollowed, it seemed, were a unique breed, possessing a blend of mystical attributes and defences that set them apart in the world of aspirants.
Marcellus found himself deep in contemplation, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts as he pondered the enigma of how to digest the potion he had consumed, fully. It was a riddle that had consumed his thoughts, a puzzle that demanded a solution.
He ransacked the recesses of his mind, searching for clues, insights, and any hint that might lead him down the path to mastery.
The complexities of the aspirant pathways, and the mysteries of the Hollowed Sequence, all converged in his thoughts, forming a complex tapestry of knowledge that begged to be unravelled.
Marcellus's mind became a tumultuous sea of questions and uncertainties as he delved into the complexities of the potion and its profound effects.
The enigma of Aulus's divination abilities lingered like a persistent riddle, and Marcellus couldn't help but doubt the authenticity of Aulus's claim that he couldn't employ divination.
"Could it be that Aulus was orchestrating an elaborate deception?" Marcellus mused, a sly grin forming on his lips. "Was he, in fact, capable of divining our most suitable pathways but chose to conceal this knowledge for his own reasons?"
The possibility that Aulus might have been running a deceptive scheme added another layer of intrigue to the puzzle. Marcellus recollected his conversation with Edwin, who had stressed the pivotal role of divination in pathway selection. Edwin's words implied that certain pathways naturally suited individuals better than others.
As Marcellus dug deeper into his contemplations, a fundamental question tugged at his thoughts. "Why would some pathways be innately more compatible with us while others remain distant?" he wondered.
The idea of destiny in pathway selection crossed his mind, but it clashed with his personal observations.
He mulled over Aulus's apparent choices to him and Finn, pondering their significance. "If options exist, why does divination continue to hold such significance?" he mused.
The paradox gnawed at his intellect, and Marcellus recognized that unravelling this enigma was crucial to his understanding of the potion and his journey as an Aspirant.
Marcellus couldn't resist the temptation to plunge even deeper into the intricate web of the potion's nature. The suspicion of Aulus's possible subterfuge beckoned him like an elusive thread, compelling him to unravel the true essence of divination.
"Is it conceivable that faith or belief exerts its influence?" Marcellus pondered, "Could it be that the potion's transformative effects are swayed by the depths of our convictions and the unwavering strength of our beliefs? This would provide a rationale for the necessity of divination—to align our faith with the most compatible pathway."
However, even as this hypothesis took shape, Marcellus discerned its potential shortcomings.
It seemed overly simplistic, almost too straightforward for the intricate realm of the Mystical.
The more he scrutinized it, the more apparent its limitations became.
With the agility of his intellectual acumen, Marcellus redirected his thoughts toward an alternative theory. "Or could it hinge upon matters of personality?" he speculated, his brows furrowing with contemplation. "Perhaps specific pathways inherently resonate with distinct personality traits. Individuals possessing certain characteristics naturally gravitate toward corresponding pathways, and divination serves as a compass to identify these innate affinities."
This fresh conjecture held promise, yet it, too, bore the weight of uncertainty.