My steps barely made a sound as I crept along one of Ascendent Academy's shadowy basement passageways well after midnight. Cold torch flames danced across heavy stone walls carved with ancient runes and sigils worn by time. The air itself carried an electric charge saturated with eldritch energies - no doubt why the archives hoarding the school's most restricted mystical lore were buried so far underground, sealed by magical locks and bounded fields.
But such mundane barriers posed little problem with my nascent mastery over spatial energies. A quick runic gesture tore open a shimmering violet portal straight through the nearest defenses. Heart racing, I ducked through before the transient gateway destabilized back into normal reality.
Infiltrating restricted zones this late was undoubtedly risky. But the specter of being torn apart during broad daylight by the terrifying space-warping powers of that raven-haired prodigy Zeref haunted my thoughts. Brute-forcing greater might from my own SSS-Rank spatial talent was not progressing fast enough to match his overwhelming eldritch skills. And repeated attempts to request personal mentoring from an Archmage or liberty to browse exclusive grimoires were all coldly denied to a mere novice.
Perhaps answers lie in some ancient tome gathering dust down here instead...
Fingertips brushing the rough stone for balance I crept down the passage now saturated with strange energies making my skin tingle oddly. Glowing violet runes marked a heavy oak doorway reinforced with mystically hardened black steel bands. If anywhere sheltered knowledge to strengthen reality-rending domination, the secrets must surely dwell within this vault!
Just as I reached to brush opens the sealed archive a polite slow clap echoed suddenly from the darkness behind me. I whirled, hands immediately blazing with half-shaped spatial annihilation spheres for defense - then froze in dismay.
Detaching from the shadows was another student trainee like myself, though a few years my senior. He had shaggy snow white hair swept back from his forehead to reveal a red tattoo-like marking. Sharp features held a mixture of amusement and stern appraisal.
"Well now, looks like we have ourselves a renegade first-year," the older boy said, arms crossed casually over his school uniform despite having clearly caught me red-handed breaking campus rules. "Not exactly behavior befitting one who aspires towards the Viewers of Eternity, hmm?"
I clenched my fists uneasily letting the spatial charges slowly dissipate. The tattooed stranger's relaxed poise unnerved me. Getting reported sabotaging my chances of combating hated Zeref this early would be beyond disastrous! But what was that odd title he had referenced?
Seeing my obvious questions the white-haired watcher sighed. "The true power players around here - though only fourth years who unlock sufficient talents and insight get approached." One eyebrow raised appraisingly. "Raw warp manipulation potential clearly isn't an issue for you. But such gifts must serve greater awareness rather than mere ego."
I shuffled my feet, unsure whether I was being subtly mocked or guided. My infiltration had clearly backfired somehow. But before I could stammer some excuse the older apprentice whistled softly through his teeth while glancing at glowing markings along the walls.
"Relic crypt is flowering nicely. Spatial bloom always peaks this time of year when the celestial rivers align..." He trailed off cryptically, clearly seeing more in the mundane stonework than me thanks to his training. Suddenly his red eyes refocused, narrowing. "You still desire a shortcut to stand against the crow boy, yes?"
I started slightly. Was my humiliation against Zeref somehow general knowledge already? Swallowing bitterness at the memory of being so easily outclassed I nodded tightly. Only victory could wash away that shameful defeat, proving my worth.
"Follow me then. And speak nothing of this to the overseers." Turning sharply on his heel the strange tattooed student briskly led me back up the shadowed stairways. We surfaced through disguised side doors into one of the academy's hedge gardens bathed in gentle starlight. The nameless mentor crossed swiftly to a weathered sandstone fountain depicting the six-winged goddess Ava, Founder of the Celestial Choirs.
With a scholar's reverence the white-haired boy knelt beside the fountain base where flower offerings had collected. Fingertips brushing the carved feathers at Ava's feet he whispered too softly for me to make out distinct words. But whatever the prayer it seemed answered - light suddenly bloomed outward highlighting previously invisible runes etched into the statue's wings and flowing robes. They shone like stardust forming a halo around my guide's awestruck face.
"Behold, neophyte. Sacred foundation symbols granted by she who initially ignited creation's first dawn." His smile held feminine warmth and ageless memory. "None may walk the mysteries of cosmos' origin alone. Power flows both through martial conquest yet also surrender to natural law."
Standing gracefully again the white-haired student now fixed me with powerful eyes burning cerise red. His body visibly emitted waves of ancient authority that raised gooseflesh. A radiant manifestation...had gazing upon Ava's blessing unlocked some meta-dimensional spirit through him? I shivered feeling insignificant dust before an infinite stellar majesty.
"My true name is Rohini, Fourth Cycle Scholar Initiate bound to the celestial wheel's rotation." Her melodic voice spoke not boasting but stating self-evident fact. My fearful awe must have shown plainly as Rohini-Ava next laughed gently while gesturing upwards through Academy towers towards the glittering night sky.
"Be at peace, young warp adept. All of us share the same stellar origin if we but reflect." As quickly as it came the vesseling avatar dimmed leaving the boy Rohini behind again rubbing reddened eyes. He regarded me with wry empathy rather than any offence taken at my stunned silence throughout the miracle.
"Apologies, still integrating Lady Ava's aspects smoothly." With a self-conscious cough he extended one hand in proper greeting this time. "We who map the symmetry patterns binding macro and micro universes must move carefully lest losing self between layers." A rueful chuckle. "I am Rohini Astin as you perceived earlier."
Mind still reeling from the impossible insights I shook Rohini's hand mutely. He studied me for a moment then smiled. "Yes I believe you witnessed precisely enough to comprehend your next stage of growth. The infinite void glimmers beyond sight only for those willing to surrender human limits embracing unity with all creation. "
With that he winked once sending my thoughts spinning wildly yet again. Then before I could frame any response Rohini had turned leaving only trailing words hanging in the night air.
"We shall speak again once you pierce the first shell, little void walker..."