ASTRALUM
This was the name bestowed upon the powers obtained by the inhabitants of earth, it was a discovery that came to light during their Trials of Power.
To obtain an Astralum, one had to undergo the Trial of Power and unlock their first seal.Unlocking the first seal was considered the easiest task, as it merely required absorbing Etherium and channeling it towards the seal.
However, the challenge intensified for the subsequent seals, as discovering the location of the second seal was not enough; one had to be prepared. Ten sub-levels lay between each stage of progression, making it impossible for anyone to unlock their second seal without surmounting these ten sub-levels.
As Tom had recently unlocked his first seal, he found himself at the Novice stage, at the first sub-level.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the clearing, Tom took a deep breath, steeling himself for the next phase of his test. This new phase of his test focused on his different astralums, namely, the manipulation of time and his more mysterious ability of deconstruction. Since he had already used time manipulation – namely in the café – he decided that he would start with the time manipulation.
He focused his mind on the task at hand, drawing upon the mysterious power of the Etherium within him.
His core tingled with energy, and he could feel the pulsating waves of the Etherium coursing through his veins. This time, he wouldn't rely solely on his innate instincts; he would consciously channel the Etherium to amplify his temporal manipulation.
Taking a deep breath, Tom focused on his target – a small pebble being gently carried by the wind. He extended his hand towards it, trying to connect with the essence of time that surrounded the object. He visualized time slowing down for the pebble, imagining it becoming almost motionless.
However, as he concentrated, nothing seemed to happen. The pebble continued to sway with the wind, unaffected by his attempts to manipulate time. Frustration began to creep in, but Tom reminded himself that he was only beginning to understand his powers.
He took a moment to calm his mind and refocus his efforts. This time, he decided to try something even simpler. He observed the delicate petals of a nearby flower as they danced in the breeze. With all his concentration, he attempted to slow down time around them. Yet again, his efforts were in vain, and the flower petals continued their graceful dance without any change in their movement.
Tom could feel the sweat forming on his brow as he attempted multiple times, but the outcome remained the same. He couldn't help but feel disheartened, wondering if he was lacking some essential connection to the flow of time.
Focusing his mind, Tom visualized time slowing down around a leaf that was falling from one of the trees, much like he had done before. However, this time, Tom closed his eyes and visualized the leaf's motion slowing down, like a clock's pendulum losing its rhythm and gradually coming to a halt.
He felt the surge of Etherium respond to his intent, and to his surprise, the leaf began to move sluggishly, as if submerged in thick syrup.
"I did it! Well, kind of," he muttered to himself.
He took a moment to catch his breath, realizing that using his temporal abilities required intense concentration and a delicate touch. It was clear that he had a long way to go before fully mastering his powers, but this small success ignited a spark of determination within him.
A triumphant smile graced his lips, and he knew he was on the right track. Each small success was a step closer to understanding the full extent of this power of his. He continued practicing with the leaf, honing his control over the temporal flow.
However, the strain of using the Etherium and manipulating time weighed on him. He could feel the energy draining from his core, reminding him that he was only at the first sub-level of the Novice stage. He needed to be cautious not to overextend himself.
A little physically and mentally tired from his training, Tom decided to rest for a moment, to recover the Etherium he had expended before attempting the next test—this time with his mysterious power of deconstruction.
Tom rested at the base of a giant tree for two hours, during which he focused on replenishing his Etherium. His control over the Etherium was still relatively weak, as he had only recently begun to harness it, which prolonged his recovery. He laid his sword beside the tree and concentrated on regaining his strength.
After replenishing, Tom stood up and prepared to test his enigmatic astralum of deconstruction. Uncertain of what to expect from this ability, he knew that the only way to find out was to activate it and observe its effects.
Tom tapped into the Etherium, invoking the astralum of deconstruction. As he activated the astralum, he anticipated seeing some change, no matter how subtle, but disappointingly, nothing happened. There was absolute silence; his power seemed dormant.
Feeling a tinge of frustration, Tom pondered, "Perhaps I need to touch something for it to work." With that thought in mind, he approached a sizable rock and touched it while attempting to employ his astralum of deconstruction. Yet again, nothing occurred.
Tom began to wonder if he needed something smaller to test his power's effect. So, he picked up a dry twig from the ground and focused on it, employing his power of deconstruction, but still, there was no change.
After another fruitless attempt, frustration crept into Tom's mind, and he couldn't help but think, "Why isn't this darn power working?" Doubt clouded his thoughts as he wondered if he would ever be able to fully comprehend and wield his enigmatic ability.
Taking a deep breath, Tom tried to remind himself that learning to control such powers was a gradual process. Just as with his time manipulation, he had to start small and build his way up.
He decided to review the information he had gathered after unlocking his first seal, hoping to find some clue on how to use his power. However, after revisiting the information, he found no leads, and he began to consider giving up on the test.
But then, as if fate intervened, Tom's eyes caught sight of an insect nearby. It was the second form of animal life he had encountered in the forest, and what intrigued him was the insect's peculiar behavior. The tiny creature was carrying a small pebble on its back and arranging it into piles.
Tom couldn't help but wonder, "Why would an insect build a shelter with stones?" He had no knowledge of insects' habits, so he pondered if this was normal behavior.
While he was lost in thought, the insect continued its work, steadily arranging the pebbles. However, when it reached the top of the pile, it attempted to place another pebble on the stack, but it was one pebble too many.
The delicate balance was disrupted, and the whole pile crumbled. It was an unfortunate turn of events for the insect, but Tom found himself frozen in amazement.
After a few seconds, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning – "What if…"
Without finishing the thought, he hurriedly made his way to another pebble pile, presumably made by the same insect. Arriving at the stack, Tom activated his power of deconstruction, and what happened next greatly astonished him.